We recently had the opportunity to chat with Mario Carbone, chef, co-founder of Carbone, and co-founder of the hospitality powerhouse Major Food Group (MFG). With a portfolio that includes global concepts, Carbone has built a reputation for turning meals into memorable experiences, and we got to pick his brain on his dining philosophy, MFG's growing presence in Dallas, and an exciting new venture for the hospitality group!
Updated May 2025
ABOUT MAJOR FOOD GROUP
As a co-founder of Major Food Group, Mario Carbone has helped create some of the most iconic hospitality experiences in the world. Known for bold, theatrical restaurants that still manage to feel intimate, MFG is behind concepts like Carbone, Sadelle's, Contessa, The Grill, and more.
Two of MFG’s standout concepts have already made their mark on Dallas. In the Design District, Carbone brings 1950s Italian-American nostalgia to life, and in Highland Park Village, Sadelle's offers an elevated take on all-day dining where you'll find everything from caviar and bellinis to breakfast tacos and pastries.
WHY DALLAS?
With most of MFG's concepts originating in New York City, we had to know what drew Carbone to opening in Dallas. “It felt kindred,” he said. “We have a lot of friends here. That energy—it’s similar to New York’s... It felt like it would be just as at home here as it is in New York.” That instinct has played out! Both concepts have seamlessly woven themselves into the city's dining scene, with Dallas offering the right mix of vibrancy, familiarity, and appetite for hospitality!
DINING AS THEATER
When you sit down at one of MFG's restaurants, you’re not just getting a meal, you’re stepping into a carefully choreographed performance. Carbone often likens restaurants and the dining experience to a play: “You're portraying a story with the same cast, same uniforms, at the same time, to different audience every night.” What matters most to him is crafting a moment that goes beyond the plate. "Everything can be delivered to your doorstep now. But what can't be is that experience."
Centre x Sadelle's
One of Carbone’s more unexpected but fun Dallas moments was the limited-edition merch drop with local streetwear brand The Centre. What started as a late-night idea with his friend Nick, the co-founder of the brand, quickly turned into a sought-after collection. “There was no grand plan,” Carbone admitted. “We just thought it would be fun. The best ideas come late at night.”
The collab fuses Sadelle's vintage-inspired restaurant aesthetic with The Centre’s bold, modern design, proving that the MFG's influence extends far beyond food!
MFG'S FUTURE IN DALLAS
Since opening Carbone in 2022, Carbone has watched Dallas evolve into a more dynamic and competitive food city. “You’re going to get a constant influx of new brands wanting to prove themselves here, and you need that, alongside the homegrown talent. That’s what makes a city’s food scene truly thrive,” he said.
But for Carbone, the future of hospitality in Dallas may go well beyond the restaurant table. “I’d love to affect the hotel community here,” he said. “There’s an opportunity to take care of someone from morning to night.” With Major Food Group already expanding into residential and lifestyle projects, hotels could represent a natural next step and that vision could very well take root in the Design District! Carbone sees the area as the next frontier for MFG in Dallas, "We were there early with Carbone, and now I’m emotionally and physically invested in that neighborhood.”
As Major Food Group continues to expand its footprint, Dallas is clearly a city where Carbone feels at home and inspired, and we can't wait to see what else they have cooking!
