Cafe Spaghetti

How to Get In and What to Order

How to get in: Located in the heart of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, Cafe Spaghetti is a hidden gem amongst Italian restaurants. From the chef as its sister restaurant Swoony’s (located just down the block), Chef Sal Lamboglia’s Cafe Spaghetti is relatively easy to get into, especially for lunch time. We walked in at 12pm on a Sunday (2 people) with no reservation and were seated immediately. It did get quite packed, so you might want to make a reservation on Resy just to prevent some heartache. Dinner reservations are not usually available the day of, so you might have to plan that a couple of days in advance. However, the fact that not many people know about this neighborhood spot makes it a lot easier to walk in and not have to wait in lines. 

Vibes and drinks: The first thing you notice when walking into Cafe Spaghetti is the cozy and welcoming atmosphere. We opted to sit in their heated backyard and were very happy we did. The backyard made you feel like you were at a cafe in Rome, sitting outside on the beautiful streets of Italy with little tables all around. If you are looking for a fancy spot – I wouldn’t recommend going here, but if you are looking for delicious food in a home-y atmosphere, this is your spot! To drink we got a non-alcoholic Cucumber and Lime Acqua Dolce. This drink was so refreshing that we finished it before the food even came out – not too sweet and the fresh pieces of cucumber made it lovely.

Food: Once we ordered, they brought us some warm, toasted baguette slices with olive oil drizzled on top. Then, to start off, we ordered the Cacio e Pepe Riceballs and the Arugula Fennel Salad. I was nervous that the riceballs would be too heavy as they are fried, however I was pleasantly surprised when we took the first bite and they were so perfectly creamy yet light. The rice was cooked perfectly and each bite was fluffy and full of that peppery and cheesy flavor. Next, the salad was a beautiful mix of arugula, fennel, radicchio, marcona almonds, fresh parmesan and a tangy lemon dressing. We really loved this dish. It was so refreshing and every forkful was filled with a crunchiness from the almonds, bitterness from the greens and tanginess from the dressing. 

The next dish was my absolute favorite – the Rigatoni Alla Vodka. Think Carbone’s spicy sauce. I know that is a bold statement, but I really think this was comparable to Carbone’s famous Spicy Rigatoni Vodka.Cafe Spaghetti is the Anti-Carbone. The pasta was al dente, tangy, had a bit of a kick, and was creamy but not too heavy. We did not leave a single bit of sauce on that plate. I found myself thinking about that pasta the rest of the day and wondering how I only just discovered this place.

Overall: I am really happy to have found this little gem! The food was all fresh and flavorful, and the atmosphere was so inviting. I would recommend going and taking advantage of the ability to walk in without a reservation while we still can! Cafe Spaghetti is exactly what I think of when the words “local neighborhood spot” come to mind. We will be back to try more items and the dinner menu.

Must orders: Cacio e Pepe Riceballs, Arugula Fennel Salad, Rigatoni Alla Vodka and if you have room (which we sadly did not) – the tiramisu.