Carbonara

My son and I came for dinner on November 24th, for his birthday. We chose Carbonara because of the wonderful reviews. Perfect decision. Everything throughout the evening we can only describe as incredible and stunning. We were the last customers and were shown around the upstairs, and informed of the very interesting history of the building, by the owner and Manager. If there is a 6 star rating, then Carbonara has 6 stars. We will be returning for sure, thank you for making Lewis's birthday so memorable

From the moment we walked in, the warmth of Sam set the tone for an exceptional evening. Every detail was perfectly executed — from the thoughtful wine selection to the artistry of the food. The carbonara was simply out of this world: silky, rich, and perfectly balanced, with that authentic Roman touch that’s so hard to find. The hosts were not only attentive but genuinely passionate about what they do, creating an atmosphere that felt both elegant and welcoming. Each glass of wine complemented the dishes beautifully, showcasing a deep knowledge of pairing and taste. This isn’t just a meal — it’s an experience that celebrates great food, wine, and hospitality at its finest. I left already planning my next visit. Absolutely brilliant in every way.

It’s an absolutely amazing place me and partner went twice when we stayed in Chester 5 nights. Everything was great from food to atmosphere. We tried something new every time and every time was soooo good 10000% recommend

+6

The food was great.The apple pie was out of the world and really hit the spot!The tiramisu was just purrfect it felt like heaven. The staff were the best part. They welcomed us with open arms, they even lent me their roman chess board to play.!!!!Overall we had a whale of a time and even cracked some joke with the owner himself. Highly recommended.

We visited Carbonara and had a great experience. The food, service and atmosphere were all excellent. The staff were very attentive and friendly, with the perfect balance of being helpful without being intrusive. We ordered the Scottish Angus beef with roasted potatoes and everything was delicious. The meat was very tender and the potatoes were perfectly roasted. For dessert we had the apple tart, which was also excellent and a perfect way to finish the dinner. Definitely recommend this place for a nice dinner with family or your partner. Grazie mille! 🇮🇹 Дуже дякуємо! 🇺🇦

I can’t thank the team at carbonara Chester enough.Everything from making the reservation ,to the food and service was flawless. Being as we were a large table of 15 sitting upstairs I was concerned that the service would be different to what were used to but the service was fast as usual each course was brought promptly but with enough time in between. The staff gave exceptional service, half of our guest were Italian speaking and half were English and the staff were able to explain meals in both English and Italian which is a great asset to carbonara as it made communication seamless for everyone. Every guest left with full stomachs and smiles thanks to the staff at carbonara Chester , the food was delicious as always and there wasn’t a plate left with food remaining. Some of our table were returning guests and ventured out by trying the specials for that day and not one person was disappointed! Great value food, would recommend this restaurant to anyone!!

I recently dined at Carbonara, a charming little Italian restaurant in Chester, and it was an unforgettable experience! From the moment I walked in, the warm, inviting atmosphere made me feel right at home. The decor is cozy and authentic, perfect for a romantic dinner or a relaxed meal with friends. But the real star of the show was the food—absolutely amazing! Every dish was bursting with fresh, authentic flavors, and the pasta was cooked to perfection. I highly recommend their namesake Carbonara—it was rich, creamy, and just like you’d find in Italy, veg and Gluten free available! A special shout-out to Julius, who provided excellent hospitality. He was professional, attentive, and genuinely kind, making sure our dining experience was flawless. His passion for great service and delicious food really shines through. If you’re in Chester and craving real Italian cuisine, Carbonara is a must-visit. Thank you, Julius and the team, for a wonderful evening—I’ll definitely be back soon. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the best fine dining Italian restaurant in Chester. The service from greeting to end was immaculate from all members of staff, the atmosphere was lovely and cosy and perfect for our anniversary meal. Orders were taken in what felt like the perfect timings, no super long wait and not to rushed even though the place was busy, it felt like a smooth well organised pace. The Food - A great sized menu, not too big or small, and for my girlfriend who is vegetarian, all the pasta dishes could be made vegetarian, so it was perfect. We had 3 courses, and each portion size was fantastically proportional to not making you feel too full but just the right amount of full at the end of the meal. I had garlic bruschetta and Sam had Arancini. Both were absolutely amazing, and to be honest the side salad was delicious too! For mains I had carbonara (had to be done in a place named after it) and Sam had Pasta al Pesto Romano. My carbonara was one of the best I've ever had, I need to know what cut of bacon they used because the flavour was so smoked and powerful, it was some of the best meat I've tasted in the UK. Sam said her dish was beautiful! She would happily have it multiple times over! For Dessert, Sam had what she described as the best Tiramisu she's ever had, and I had a fresh and beautiful lemon tart. Not the best I've ever had but the strawberries and syrup were very nice components. Overall, I'd come back here for special occasions because its on the pricoer side in my opinion, however I do recommend coming here for a gorgeous Italian meal.

+2

Fantastic restaurant. We were a table of 13 for a late lunch and were seated at a large table upstairs. The food was excellent. I didn't get the waiters name but he was a lovely young lad, nothing was too much trouble. Great menu with something for everyone, and it was probably the best Italian food ive eaten outside of Italy. We had one gluten free who was happily catered for (and the gluten free pasta was reportedly also delicious). For the quality of food (and the quantity - no small portions here!) It was very good value. Would recommend and will visit again should we find ourselves in Chester in the future.

I recently tried this Italian restaurant and it was amazing! The food was super fresh and full of flavor, The atmosphere was cozy and the staff were really friendly and helpful. I loved the whole experience and I definitely recommend this place if you’re craving delicious Italian food The waiter (Julius) was super polite, attentive, and really knew the menu well. He made great recommendations and checked on us just the right amount without being intrusive. His attitude added a lot to the overall experience and made the visit even better

Stunning restaurant, couldn't fault anything 👌 ordered too much as we were hungry 😋 large portions but soo tasty. Service was amazing, definitely go again 🥰

Carbonara in Chester is outstanding in every possible way. From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with warmth, genuine hospitality, and an atmosphere that feels effortlessly elegant yet comforting. The food is exceptional — authentic Italian flavours, beautifully balanced, and clearly made with care, passion, and high-quality ingredients. Every dish tastes like it’s been perfected. The pasta and the other dishes we had were cooked to absolute perfection, the sauces are rich, and the flavours linger in the best way. Service is equally impressive: attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable without ever feeling intrusive. You’re made to feel like a valued guest rather than just another table. Carbonara isn’t just a restaurant — it’s an experience. Whether you’re visiting Chester or lucky enough to live nearby, this is a place you must try and will absolutely want to return to. Easily one of the best dining spots in the city. Highly, highly recommended.

This is an authentic genuinely gorgeous, hidden gem. I recently visited Carbonara for the second time with a friend. I had raved about it to them following another visit and our second experience did not let us down! Such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, and the knowledge from the delightful owner is exceptional. A truly special place with some wonderful history attached to the building, well worth a visit and you will want to return again and again.

Absolutely delicious food, atmosphere and most of all service from Julius ! This resturant is a real credit to Chester and is a must visit spot for anybody who wants a taste of Italy in the UK Also honorable mention to the amount of gluten free options !

Absolutely fantastic food and service. Would give a higher rating if I could. Fabulous building and setting (owner lives to give a little tour and explain the history lol which adds to the experience). Food was absolutely brilliant. Bruchetta, scallops, steak, chick in tomato and roasted pepper sauce were all amazing. Highly recommended and would definitely return if in Chester again.

I had an amazing dining experience at this authentic Italian restaurant run by Romans. The food was absolutely delicious. I enjoyed their seafood pasta so much - every strand was perfectly coated with rich, flavourful sauce. Highly recommended! The service was exceptional too. They warmly shared the fascinating history of the restaurant building, which added a special touch to our meal. Just a heads-up: the restaurant isn’t on the ground floor, so after reaching the navigation point, you’ll need to climb a few steps to get there!

Thank you to Sam and Juluis for your amazing hospitality. We thoroughly enjoyed your amazing food. For starters, spaghetti carbonara and scallops followed by the steak which was on the specials and mussels spaghetti. (WOW! delicious!!) Its the best Italian food we've eaten in a while The tour of the restaurant made the night special. You can tell you are both proud of your restaurant and the tasty food you serve. Fabulous food, fabulous owners and we will definitely be back. Highly highly recommended.

Had a lovely meal here and had seats out on the row so was lovely . Service was fantastic and food was excellent. Definitely go back when we are kid free again as I don’t think there’s lots of choice for our children there ( shame lasagne isn’t on menu so we could bring them lol ) thanks carbonara had a lovely time

Yesterday 11 of us rocked up here without pre booking following a funeral. The team here were AMAZING! They pulled a table together for us and looked after us all night! Glasses were never empty, they cheered our loved one with us, even the chef Rambo! The food was amazing! I can’t recommend this family run restaurant enough! Thank you so much! You made a very sad day a lot more bearable!

A cozy Italian on Chester’s historic Rows. We had a lovely meal as a party of 6 here, the staff could not have been more attentive to us, we were made such a fuss over and even shown some of the buildings interesting history. Food was very well prepared, menu had a good selection of classic dishes but also many specials offered. Freshly home cooked with new recipes being added. Once the place got busy it was a little loud, so if you prefer a quieter dining experience maybe go early like we did (6-6:30pm). From a price point the food options for mains are around £15 and up, and as with most places the drink options is were your bill total will increase. I will absolutely visit again.

We recently celebrated my 71st birthday with a weekend in Chester and had a wonderful time especially with the weather being kind as it has been 30 years since we last visited despite living only an hour away in Manchester. Naturally we visited numerous cafes bars restaurants during our stay and whilst returning to our hotel one evening just browsing in the many great shop windows many which are housed in beautiful very old preserved buildings we came across, Carbonara. The name caught my wife’s eye first as she loves Italian food especially Carbonara when it is made correctly. The restaurant was closed as it was very late but looked beautiful from the outside and the menu to die for, so once back in our room we booked online for the following evening. On arriving we were met outside by Tristan the waiter who took us to our table and then the manager Sam who introduced us to the restaurant and the menu and the days specials. He fully explained everything and that all is freshly cooked the Roman way and that the food order may take a while due to being freshly made and as we could see the restaurant was very busy even though it was a Monday night. Tristan then looked after us and the attention to everything from both Tristan and Sam was both professional and warm and friendly and nothing was too much trouble which was perfect for us as we don’t like to rush our meal and prefer to chill & relax with no deadlines. Our Bruschetta was the best we have ever had and the same applied to my wife’s Carbonara and my Sea bass absolutely amazing and bursting with flavour. A family nearby were also celebrating an occasion and it created an additional lovely atmosphere in the restaurant. We ended with a Limoncello and then Sam and Tristan offered all the remaining guests a small tour of the restaurant as they rightly so proud of restoring this beautiful historical building which adds credit to their excellent service thank you so much we will return as soon as we can 😍

Me and my husband have booked a table here for our anniversary and it is safe to say that it was a wonderful experience! The service was incredible and the food exceeded our expectations. Do book a reservation as not long after we arrived there were groups of people waiting for a table - not surprising, for such an amazing Italian restaurant :)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Absolutely blown away by the food at Carbonara in Chester! Every dish was a masterpiece—bursting with fresh, authentic Italian flavors. The carbonara was creamy perfection, and the tiramisu was divine. Cozy atmosphere and top-notch service made it an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend!

I was satisfied with the food, really great, so delicious, I wouldn’t change anything on them. The father and the son are the owner, so kind and friendly people. They said goodbye by shaking our hands and with a nice smile. I recommend this place ☺️

Sam, Ramba and the staff were absolutely brilliant, they made us feel so welcome, the food was of the highest quality and was absolutely beautiful. We will definitely be returning after the best Italian meal I have ever had and the steak was so tender it melted in your mouth. I would highly recommend, a true family run business in a beautiful grade 1 listed building. Can't ask for more.

Excellent, delicious food. The service was outstanding, very friendly staff. The pasta was as good as any we have had in Italy, the tiramisu is probably the best I have ever had. We were with our Italian friend who confirmed the food was very authentic. The venue itself has a very nice feel and is spacious. The bathroom had proper baby-changing facilities which will be great for families - this is something other restaurants should aim for! I highly recommend this restaurant! We will definitely be going back!

Wonderful restaurant, food and service. The carbonara was the best I've ever had and I have travelled Italy extensively. The service was second to none, with even a private tour from the owner of the 17th century interiors. The staff were so good and friendly - Will and Zara. A special thanks to Sam for making our date night extra special. 5 stars, must go there!

We had so delicious meal and absolutely amazing wine list they have. Also dogs friendly 🩷which is not many places in Chester. Couldn't wish for more... Food excellent 👌🏻 wine the best👌🏻and service very welcoming and friendly 🩷 thank you so much Carbonara team

Wow! What an amazing find. 5 star service, atmosphere and food!! Love that it is a family run business too. We sat outside and ordered two pasta dishes along with garlic bread. The quality was amazing and everything was so fresh! If you want real Italian food THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE! Highly recommend and definitely give it a go next time you are in Chester.

Top tier food, very attentive staff.

I went to Carbonara with friends last night. From the moment we walked in, we were treated with great charm and professionalism by Julius and members of his staff. Julius, who is half Roman, had exceptional knowledge about all dishes on the menu and gave most interesting detail of where ingredients were sourced. Fish is apparently deliver fresh every morning from Fleetwood, other ingredients are locally sourced and others from Italy. The food was beautifully presented and was totally delicious. The whole experience was superb. Carbonara is a very special place. Kathleen.

We dined here this week on Tuesday Evening 11th November, from the moment we walked through the door the staff were all lovely, made time for each diner & recommending dishes. We must say a massive Hello to Julius as his hosting skills and attentiveness are second to none, plus the food whether it be Steak or Pasta are perfectly cooked and delicious, we will definitely be back. Thank you for a most enjoyable evening.

It was a magnificent experience, since waiting for a table with a drink, a starter and a nice atmosphere until the service and obviously the food. My wife loved the Carbonara and the specialty fish soup was divine. The building is 350 years old and they are proud to show the details of it. The staff was absolutely great, including this young chap who works at the kitchen and was serving for the first time. Lucky us who got a deep explanation for each dish. Can't wait to visit again.

I visited Carbonara for lunch and was blown away. The service was outstanding, careful, concise and so polite. Owner and his son (so sorry we didn’t catch their names) even gave us a tour of the old rectory upstairs, sharing the fascinating history of the building—despite living in the city most of my life, I learned things I’d never known. We ordered the Pesto Romano and, of course, the Carbonara—both absolutely fantastic. The desserts and wines were equally excellent. A truly memorable experience, and for the price for 3 in the city for an authentic Italian, we will definitely be back!

We stumbled on this place, in the Chester rows, after searching for somewhere to eat on a very busy Sunday in Chester. We felt instantly relaxed, in this little Italian oasis. My wife and I started with calamari, which was lightly floured and fried, very nice. We then went onto the star of the show, Carbonara . It was without a doubt the best carbonara I have ever had. Cooked in the traditional way with egg yolk, guanciale and Pecorino cheese. We shared a starter size and it was gone in seconds. We both had fillet steaks for our main course, cooked to perfection. We enjoyed it that much we even had dessert, coffee and liqueurs. The added bonus was a tour of the very historic building and we even got to meet some of the family. Fantastic service, food and wine in a lovely relaxed setting, a real home from home. We will be visiting again very soon

We had a night of phenomenal food here. The atmosphere is classy and intimate, and we appreciated that it wasn't too busy as I think it would have felt a little cloistered otherwise. The service was a little rushed, it felt like staff weren't interested in spending time at the tables. However, as a celebration of Italian cooking, Carbonara smashed it out the park. We loved everything we ate and I would go back for the food alone.

Excellent service and decent menu. I found my food too oily and a little over seasoned for my tastes. I was also cold and kept my coat on! My partner said his carbonara was excellent though.

Food was fantastic. Lots of choice especially given I’m gluten free. Services was lacking. When we entered our party of 2 were 50 percent of the customers yet it took a while to get service which was disappointing. I’d still go back for the food though

Extremely busy so not seated at the time we expected but was well worth the wait. Had the carbanara which was out of this world. Kudos to the chef. Staff were great. Ambience was warm and welcoming. 💯 recommend xx

We only had main course so can’t judge the whole menu, what we did get was a pasta dish each and the portion sizes varied dramatically my wife had a portion you would maybe expect for the price of £18 unfortunately that wasn’t the case for me I only had what could be called as a child’s handful of pasta on the plate with sauce which made my wife offer me some of hers. We had two mains and two soft drinks which came to £50 and I left hungry, this my be a one off but was left disappointed after reading great reviews.

Worst “carbonara” I’ve ever had. Completely flavorless. Calamari was equally bad, tough and chewy with an awful tasting batter. Even the “grandmother’s cake” tasted like a cheap Tesco lemon tart. Sea bass was the only thing good. Service was insanely slow. Took 2 hours for lunch when we just wanted to get moving.

Hi everyone I’m from Westminster in chester i have been told about Carbonara been one of the best restaurant due to their foods and atmosphere but it was not the case at all. Long story short I have booked a table because it was my girl 5th birthday, i gave a cake to the server that opened us the door for later to celebrate my girl birthday. I understand the fact that the restaurant was busy however the owner of the restaurant (Sam) was constantly been disrespectful because me and my family asked him a question about when any table will be free because like i said I have booked a table. 20 mins later we had a table and one server got us a starter. As the server talk to us and apologise for the fact that we wait and the starters delivered a bit late the owner Sam came to him shout him for talking to us and grab him a bit hard by the neck and tell him to stop talking to the customers even they start the convo and start talking in Italian with a rough tone. In that moment I felt bad for him because he clearly trying to be nice and be respectful to us. As the first server got scream at i haven’t seen him for while so the owner itself came to serve us the main 12 min laters acting all nice and stuffs. Anyway as I see the first server that serve us the starter i asked him if he could put the lights in the cake that i gave him earlier the server immediately went to the owner and told him about the birthday cake however the owner seemed to not care and the server came back to me telling me that he need to keep working and not come to our table because the owner think that we bothering him. So the cake as been light up after 40 min. So I am overall so disappointed about the way the owner treated server and us. The food wasn’t even that amazing i do respect the chefs but the food they had on the menu weren’t on of the best. The carbonara itself wasn’t that great at all .I am not a politician or trying to use racism towards Sam but the fact that the server was colour he treat him in a way that make me feel uncomfortable. My own wife a 30 second talk with the server because she felt very uncomfortable and bad for him. God know if the owner treat him like that often. Thank for reading it.