Bring a large pot of water to a boil (some people like to salt the water, but I prefer not to because the other ingredients are already very salty).
While the water is coming to a boil, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook for 4-5 minutes until crispy. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Pour into a bowl, and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, parmesan, and black pepper.
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until slightly softer than al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain.
Immediately add the hot pasta to the bowl of eggs and toss until combined. Add the bacon, garlic, and heavy cream (optional) and toss again. If the pasta is too thick or sticky, add a little bit of the reserved pasta water to thin it out. Enjoy!
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.