Chef Mike Cordero To Open 'Old School' Italian Restaurant In Arlington

ARLINGTON, VA — Northern Virginia restaurateur Mike Cordero is planning to open an old-world Italian restaurant in the Ballston area of Arlington.

Cordero’s restaurant group, which includes his sons Nick and Anthony, has signed a 20-year lease with landlord American Realty Advisors at 3865 Wilson Blvd. for Carbonara: Old School Italian & Wine Bar. The 4,800-square-foot indoor and outdoor restaurant is scheduled to open in July 2023.

The space, which formerly housed Next Day Blinds, is located on the corner of Wilson Blvd. and North Pollard St.

Carbonara will have a rustic Italian look, with décor that will showcase the Cordero family story and streetscape views on all sides of the restaurant. On certain nights, live entertainers will perform traditional Italian music.

Cordero, who is known for Taco Rock, Rockwood and Bronson Bier Hall, began his culinary career at the age of 15 making meatballs at a New York Italian restaurant. His Carbonara concept will allow him to re-explore his culinary past and present Italian recipes that he’s created over the years.

“I’m ecstatic to relive my early years of training as an Italian chef with Carbonara and work with my sons on this project,” Cordero said in a statement. “My new concept will offer delicious old school Italian cuisine with a twist where nothing is store bought and everything is made from scratch. Cooking fresh Italian food is in the Cordero blood.”

Carbonara will offer a menu featuring old-world Italian cuisine, focusing on the southern region of Italy, with all food made in-house and fresh homemade pasta prepared daily. The restaurant will serve hearty Sicilian pizzas, classic Italian baked dishes like eggplant rollatini parmigiana, zesty Italian sandwiches, tiramisus and savory chicken, veal and seafood dishes.

A wide selection of wines from all regions of Italy will be offered. To better dispense and preserve each bottle of wine, Carbonara will showcase a state-of-the-art cruvinet system, used widely by international sommeliers, that will extend the flavor and life of the wine.

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Designer Yvette Irene will develop the interior design and Carlos Construction will conduct the buildout. Cordero will serve as executive chef.

Plans for Carbonara include a 150-seat eatery that includes a variety of components for indoor and outdoor dining. The existing structure of the Ballston Gateway building offers an ornate rotunda extension, which wraps the front entrance of the restaurant and connects to the west and south sides.

For outdoor dining, Carbonara will accommodate up to 30 guests on the patio with six outdoor tables and two bars with six stools nestled up to the interior bar.

When guests enter the restaurant, they will be greeted by a large bar area with more than 24 barstools and a restaurant floor plan filled with circular booths, two- to four-person tables and large banquets aligning two walls.

Carbonara will be open daily for lunch and dinner and will have takeout and buyout options for private events.