I Carnali - San Nicola Arcella, Province of Cosenza

Janet C.

We are back in San Nicola this summer and were very happy to enjoy another wonderful dinner at I Carnali. Tony is very accommodating and patient with us since we are vegetarians. Even though this is clearly a meat bistro, Tony and team created another wonderful dinner for us. We started with roasted potatoes and escatole with sun dried tomatoes and olives. The main course was mammoli made from purple potatoes with a pesto and pistachio sauce - gorgeous and delicious. The Girasoli stuffed mascarpone with a hazelnut sauce was fantastic. Such creativity - a nice change of pace from the local fare. And the dessert was amazing - Snickers and Rocher. This is an unique dining experience and we will be returning this week with friends!

This is the best restaurant in northern Calabria!!! Each dish is made with fresh ingredients in a unique way. The presentation is beautiful - a five star experience! The potato gnocchi is firm with pine nuts, herbs and burrata. The Cacio e Pepe was the best south of Rome. Good choices for vegetarians. The atmosphere is modern and sleek. The bar serves cocktails and a decent wine list. I Carnali is a winner - hope they will still be there next summer. A wonderful dining experience - sophisticated and sublime. Loved every moment tonight.

Aisha M.

Review turned into open love letter😘Truly 1 of the best, if not the best restaurant experience we've had in Italy. Have you ever had food & service so good that you left amazed & confused? We showed up without a reservation, The owner is sitting outside, having a drink on a beautiful outside seating area. He introduces himself and asks if we want to sit inside or outside. We say inside, and there's a lovely table for four that he turns into a table for three in less than a minute. Two out of three of us are vegetarian. The owner says no problem. He offers to do the dishes without meat. They left the meat off the purple Gnocchi pistachio pesto dish & the speck off the gorgonzola walnut dish. THOSE DISHES😍 WOW! We we're truly overjoyed eating those main courses.We also had the potato meatless "meatball" as a starter and a Gnocchi pomodoro for the kid, both really delicious. What about dessert? Also delicious😋 A homemade tiramisu, that tasted like it was made with love & care and a nuttela cookie tart that was crunchy & soft & chocolaty in the middle. Honestly, I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. Owner & staff; kind, caring & overall top notch. Atmosphere; lovely inside & outside seating, chill music in the background..

Walter M.

If you are looking for a fancy night for tour date, look no further. We really enjoyed our dinner at “I Carnali”. The meat was absolutely delicious. Wine pairing was also very good. Sides were a bit meh, but overall I have really enjoyed the food. Service was fine and the owner was really helpful to guide us through their offering. Finally, he also offered us a taste of his amaro. Absolutely delicious!

quartz M.

If only there were more restaurants like this in Calabria!! This is the best all-around meal we've had in Italy, from the cocktails to the dessert, even the quality of the olive oil I put on my bread.
Tony makes superb cocktails. The beef tartare was so simple, yet the quality of the beef shined. They brought me a Calabrian peperoncino upon request and I added little pieces to the tartare...delicioso!
The house-made Bombette pasta filled with gorgonzola sat in a radicchio puree. It was pure heaven! Yolanda made a perfectly balanced dish that was so delicate, yet had a full strong flavor. Brava!!
The Argentine steak was exactly what you want from such a dish. Perfectly cooked, tender and flavorful. The best piece of beef I've had in Calabria!
The Bergamot & Tahitian Vanilla Tartufo was dreamy. So often bergamot gets lost or is too strong. Absolutely perfect!
You must finish with the Espresso diSranno martini! The best ever!
Tony and the waiter, Stefano, were so welcoming and kind. The place is elegant yet understated. This restaurant should be full every night! Go, enjoy, and tell everyone about it. Tony has created something special that needs to be shared. In a sea of restaurants that are so similar, his is a breath of fresh air for any person that truly relishes fine cuisine!!
(and to the person who complained about the owner "not letting him know that he only speaks Italian"....stay in Rome!)

Michele S.

A wonderful dining experience. The best artichokes I have ever had. It’s a must try. Great food, presentation was beautiful. Service was great.

Christopher S.

Very delicious food. Nice wine, lovely people and service. Just order chef’s choice and you will be happy.

daniela S.

Ottimo cibo, bello l’ambiente e il personale è gentile. Buono anche il rapporto qualità prezzo. Il locale all’interno è perfettamente climatizzato e il proprietario si occupa personalmente dei clienti. Il menù non è il classico calabrese, ma ha continui riferimenti ai prodotti locale che, a mio avviso, sono ben valorizzati

Federico B.

Location molto bella, ambiente raffinato e personale molto gentile ed educato. Il cibo veramente buonissimo e la carne veramente eccezionale. Producono anche amari a km 0 che vale assolutamente la pena provarli. Molto consigliato.