My friends and I popped in to Bacaro for a late night bite after seeing some art in the area. The restaurant's dimmly lit and accommodating. Two of us had been there previously, so we knew it would be the right choice for a Monday night. We opted to sit at the long table that overlooks the large open windows because it was the closest to alfresco we were going to get. My rule is if the weather is nice, and it's not buggy, sit outside. We shared the Pea Salad, Burrata, Crispy Mashed Potatoes, and the Gigante Beans. The salad was underwhelming due to the dressing. The Crispy Mashed Potatoes and the Gigante Beans were my favorites. You're probably asking yourself, wait, what about the Burrata? Burrata is always a safe bet. No notes. In summary, Bacaro has it all. Ambiance, wine, cocktails, and flavorful bites. It's the kind of place you'll want to revisit time and time again. read more

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I don't love giving this place three stars. It is one small step from 4 but I will get to that. First, the good. Lovely staff, a lively well lit and comfortable atmosphere. The drinks are fine. Whoever is cooking the pasta nails the cook time perfectly. And, whomever handles the fish cooked it perfectly and seasoned it well. The sole was great. The problem. Damn near everything is under salted. You can make a lovely sauce and if you add no salt to it it will be lacking. The Duck ragu suffers from this, the rice balls, the zucchini appetizer. Additionally the rice balls are dry. More filling, with more moisture, or a sauce on the side. That's the choice and someone needs to make it. As far the stuffed zuhini flower goes, the core dish is well fried. The filling lacks seasoning, and the sauce just isn't there. The anchovi is wasted, it is so oil forward. Eliminate the anchovi, cut the oil and add more basil to thicken. It needs a more formidable dip. At this price point with a bit of changes this restaurant could be an excellent well priced evening out. But for now, it does the unforgivable, serving bland food. Again I must stress whomever is manning the grill is doing a great job, and the service is keen. read more

Awesome food! Solid service, and cool vibe. Went with a few friends and ordered an entire table covered worth of food. Everything was fantastic, not a single weak dish on the menu!! Delicious, highly recommend , would love to go back. read more

Bacaro - Meats! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Honestly every dish was a hit. The meatballs were a great start and the marinara sauce paired so well with the bread. The salad was very refreshing and the cheese that came with it was so good. The spaghetti nero was delicious (even tho our mouths were black after eating this lol). The medium rare ribeye was absolutely phenomenal and cooked to perfection. This was definitely my favorite dish! It came with potatoes on the side and they were amazing! I loved how crispy and well seasoned they were wow. Shoutout Beli recs for this hidden gem read more

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Wanted to like this place and didn't. Service was inattentive, the room feels dated and charmless, and the food never rose above fine - the pasta and the salad were both forgettable for the price. There are too many good Italian restaurants downtown to spend an evening here.Wanted to like this place and didn't. Service was inattentive, the room feels dated and charmless, and the food never rose above fine - read more

Everything always great at this restaurant! Food and service always pleases... No complaints here. Tom always makes everyone feel right at home. read more

Overall rating: 4.5 Super popular Italian place that seems to be best for group of friends or a date. Very tight on the main floor, but the bottom floor seems super romantic I went with a group of 6 and the underground feeling transported me. I had the duck cavatelli and it was good. But was it $$$ good. Eh. I've had better. The service was also a tad rough. They were very busy and it was hard to order, get a drink and close out. Not sure if this is the place for me. read more

Bacaro - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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We were searching for a dinner spot on Sunday and everything seemed to be closed. Fortunately Bacaro was open and in the neighborhood. I've lived in the area for 5 years and didn't even know they existed. Apparently they've been around for over 16 years? Unheard of in NYC. The restaurant has a very rustic look and is huge. They have an entire downstairs area with exposed brick walls. We had an early bird dinner so we were the only ones in the restaurant. That said, service was attentive and friendly. We went with the lamb ragu pasta to share and the fried seafood and vegetables. The portion sizes are huge. For our mains, we ordered the shrimp with polenta as well as the rib eye. We had food to take home. The steak was good. The polenta was very good. We finished off with the tiramisu. Overall you get a lot of value for pretty decent food. Space is huge so potentially a future spot for get-togethers. read more

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I ordered the marinated steak. Delicious! The accompanying potatoes were terrible. Clearly cooked in old oil. Inedible. The staff was superior to any other New York restaurant. I love the location and the vibe. It's my 2nd time here. I'll definitely be back. read more

Gorgeous & intimate dinner spot! Upon entering it looks like a tiny restaurant, but down the stairs you enter a dimly lit brick room. Flowers and tea light candles everywhere. Seriously so pretty - go for an anniversary or even a book a room for a small rehearsal dinner. Food was yummy -- for a group we shared a few apps & pastas. The squash blossoms & straciatella and the gnocchi was deeeelish! read more

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We went to bacaro spontaneously as we stumbled upon it online. Haven't ever heard anything. The location is very cute, I would try and sit upstairs or outside though. We were seated downstairs and still cute but the tables are all very close together and the basement feel is definitely prominent. The service was friendly and average paced. The hostess was slightly dismissive but I would just say that it had been a long day, as she wasn't rude. We got the rice balls and stracciatella with figs and honey to start. Portions are large, we shared everything. The rice balls were amazing and so was the cheese however that one was a little heavy, would have wanted to try the meatballs as well. We then shared the gnocchi pomodoro as our main, delicious! I was stuffed after, everything was good but nothing stood out as amazing. Reasonably priced as well. Cute spot but there is definitely better Italian in the city. Don't know if I would necessarily go again. read more

Bacaro is one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. The food is delicious and the ambiance is unique and cozy. We've enjoyed big family dinners as well as smaller, romantic dinners or meet ups with visitors to NYC. Shrimp and polenta, green bean salad, stuffed zucchini blossoms, steak and potatoes, spaghetti Nero (squid ink!) are some favorites. read more

This place is a GEM! MUST TRY THIS PLACE! Have your birthday there, engagement parties, divorce parties, any celebration. This would be a great spot. The ambiance it's so cozy and romantic, and the food is delicious. We had a lot of appetizers to share, and the ones that stood out to me were the meatballs and the crab salad. Those two were delicious. I would skip on the fried seafood, and the charcuterie board doesn't come with any crackers or bread. When the entrées came, they didn't notify us that they ran out of the potatoes, so they gave us all lettuce instead. We waited almost two hours for our food so when we saw lettuce we were not happy. They ended up comping a few crab appetizers and made us pasta, so I'm not really mad about the lettuce anymore. Overall, the food is good, the space is beautiful, and the service is great minus the timing, but they have a small kitchen so kinda understandable. We had a great time. I highly highly recommend this place! read more

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After a long day of exploring New York, Bacaro made for a good place to stop for dinner. We were staying in Chinatown and Bacaro was a decent walk from our AirBnB. We were sat fairly quickly as we were okay sitting outside. We started with the Salumi E Formaggi (meat & cheese platter). I don't recall all the meats and cheeses that were on the platter. There was a blue cheese that was pretty strong and seemed a bit misplaced. There was fantastic prosciutto on the plate that was mouth-watering. We were also given a small basket of bread to accompany the platter. Our platter was about $26. For dinner, we got Gnocchi con Funghi (with mushrooms and asparagus) and another gnocchi plate with a red sauce. I found the gnocchi bites to be huge. The flavor of the mushrooms and asparagus dish was very muted. The red-sauced gnocchi dish was more flavorful, though just as filling. Each gnocchi plate was about $19. That being said, we had WAY more food than we needed. My advice would be to order an app and/or entree to share and see how you're feeling after. The portion size was pretty fair considering the prices. I would say overall, the meal was good. Nothing I was super crazy about but I would consider going back if I was visiting and in the neighborhood. 8/10 recommend read more

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Had my 80th at Bacaro with kids, grandkids and partners. Each dish was perfectly done and the service was friendly and well paced. A brilliant neighborhood gem. read more

Had dinner here solo and had a lovely time. The food was delicious - I got the stracciatella and duck cavatelli. The stracciatella had hazelnuts with honey, figs, and rosemary and bread on the side. All the flavors paired so well. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the duck ragu was extremely flavorful. Both portions were generous. The general vibe and decor was gorgeous. I sat in the bar, but I heard people leaving say how nice the downstairs dining room was. The staff seemed bored and weren't super attentive, but they were still polite and checked in a few times. Would definitely return on a future visit. read more

Bacaro - Stracciatella - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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We loved the underground dining area, especially when it was cold and rainy the day we came in. The pasta had the perfect texture and the seafood tasted super fresh. The fried rice balls weren't our favorite but really enjoyed other aspects of the meal. read more

Bacaro - Seafood pasta - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

pretty cool vibe in here, felt like I was eating in a romantic cave. Food was okay, the lemony fried calamari dish stole the show

The vibe in this place is so good, chill but attentive! We were a party of 6 and were seated in the downstairs dining room by the service bar. I can not say enough how attentive the staff was and I have not even discussed the food! We started with Baked Asparagus (with Egg), Misto Frittes, Gigantes and the Fried Artichoke Flowers (all sublime). We were able to partake in the last moments of Happy Hour and took full advantage of that. Regardless ordered two (2) bottles of the reasonably priced Gavi. Our dinners ran the gamut but my Chicken Milanese was wonderful with orders of Gnocchi, 2 Pasta Dishes, Shrimp Pasta were also amazing. Highly recommend Bacaro if you are down in this area, or are looking to expand your locales for great food. Very reasonable and will definitely go back again!!! read more

Discovered this place on a walk through LES. The entire area near Seward park is actually filled with gems like this one. They were able to seat our party of 2 with no reservation on a summer Friday evening. Upstairs looks rather small but they have a large downstairs seating area. This place has dim lighting, exposed brick and rustic meets industrial vibes. I'd recommend for a group of friends or a date. The plates are super rich. They had a cuttlefish which was intriguing but we went with salted over polenta (which I love) and a gnocchi dish. They were both extremely tasty and very filling. Pair with some white wine and you absolutely get your money's worth read more

Bacaro - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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-First Impression- Looked VERY small, but when you go downstairs there's much more space (whew!). We had a large party and were seated in a private area on the lower floor. -Food- I felt like there wasn't much to choose from. I stepped out of my picky eater comfort zone and ended up ordering the cuttlefish ink pasta. It was really tasty and good portion size. Also, the bread and oil was good (but you can't really mess that up) -Service- Our party of 10 was very satisfied with the service. We weren't smothered, and we weren't forgotten. Our server was super nice and definitely helped me decide what to order since I had no idea which -Price- -Did Not Like- no substitutions. Sorry, I'm that person. People have allergies, sensitivities, or things they simply don't like. -Noteworthy- Be careful on the stairs! -Recommended?- I will have to go back for that pasta. So good! read more

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Cute little place by Chinatown Good for two people and limited to large group. They offered outdoor seating in the fall with heating fans read more

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I crave this place when I'm not here. I'm super surprised by the 4 star rating. This place is delicious with excellent portions. I've tried the squash blossoms and the fritto misto, and damn, *chef's kiss.* My only complaint though for the appetizers is that they're just a tad bit tiny. The ribeye steak, the spaghetti nero, and the eggplant marinara? TO DIE FOR and SUPER FILLING! I brought a lot of my co-workers as a company treated us (we're medical residents) and everyone felt the same way. The ambiance too, just kills it. The majority of the dining hall is downstairs and it feels like you're in a small italian mom and pop restaurant that's open late at night. LOVE it. One of my favorite places that are well-priced in the city. read more

what a fabulous restaurant! We had such a delicious dinner and I love the look and feel of the place. lots of brick and wood and just warm and inviting. We tried a few different apps and entrees that were recommended and one was better than the next. burratta was divine and creamy, mussels delish, the green bean salad with anchovies was really special plus we had stuffed zuchinni flowers that might just be my favorite. Hard to believe, but we ate more after that with the most incredible ribeye & potatoes. Also, eggplant dish and fish with arugula plus the spaghetti nero that is a must. To finish, the tiramisu & panacotta were exceptional all washed down with tastes of different amaros. It was like taking a little trip to Venice! i highly recommend going. ciao read more

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This is potentially my favorite restaurant in New York. I discovered it while working at Partybus Bakeshop, who supplies Bacaro's bread. The owner would come in with the best, kindest energy, which is a plus! The food though is truly just unreal. I've brought my grandparents here, friends from out of town, coworkers, you name it. It's a hit for every age and audience. Here's what I love about it: - You can almost always get a table, especially if you are making a res. - The basement is like an old, Italian wine cellar. It's dark and cozy and sexy and cool ... the vibes are just unreal. - the Spaghetti Vongole. - The fritto misto.... with olives? artichokes? it's my favoriteeee - the cocktails and wine list are also perfect Also it somehow doesn't have the over-hype of place like Kiki's which is next door (respect to Kiki's though) which means it has fewer tiktok bs'ers and doesn't require waiting for hours. read more

We live Bacaro. Located down on Division Street away from the usual hustle bustle of the city. Feels like you're in Venice. Food is fantastic and the stuffed zucchini blossoms are always a go to appetizer. Servers are attentive. Ambience is dark and cozy. Great place for groups or couples. read more

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I was so thrilled to go to Bacaro because they have Spaghetti Nero on the menu which was excellent and price was fair. Where my rating of 3 comes in is ordering the Frito Misto appetizer for nearly the same price of a main and they bring to the table the most minuscule portion I have ever been presented with. The two positives about the dish is the grilled Lemon and olives with the Misto. That was brilliant but having a reasonable plate of calamari and shrimp would feel so much better than the feeling of being ripped off. It really sat the wrong way and I made mention to the manager and she had no clue how to handle a constructive suggestion. I wrote now because I felt that my suggestion would not be passed on to the chef and parties that be. I plan on going back and having a bowl of Nero and a glass of wine.m read more

There wasn't a single thing I didn't like. Meatballs were fantastic. Sauce was perfect. Arancini were perfectly crispy. Staff were super cool and attentive. Vibes were great. read more

Bacaro's a charming LES spot with a great ambience, great bar, but not so great food. This is my second time here and I give it a firm 3/5 stars. Here's why: Let's knock the ambience out of the way. 10/10 here. The place looks great. It's a dimly lit, rustic decor restaurant that also has a homey feel to it. Check my photo of the table we sat at downstairs. Kinda nice for a group setting! This is what drew me back to give Bacaro a second try. Service: the hostesses upstairs were fantastic- upbeat and enthusiastic, and I think that's so important in any restaurant experience. Kudos to the two ladies working tonight. The bus staff were also super attentive! Our waiter though.. was lazy. Aside from when we ordered our food and drinks, we didn't see him again. When we'd ordered the steak, I'd very kindly asked for them not to oversalt our three orders of it (because from my experience, any restaurant that highlights their steak seasoning tends to over do it). The waiter goes, "we don't oversalt it. It's just got some marinade on top of it." Trusting that he knew what he was doing, we said OK. Next thing you know, we get three steaks that we all collectively felt were way. too. salty. What a bummer! Management: try your steak. Secondly, the fritto misto came uncooked on the inside with pastey breading. Either it wasn't in the fryer long enough, or the oil wasn't hot enough. We'd asked for another order and they'd quickly fixed the issue. The tiramisu was delicious though. Like so delicious that I'd order takeout of it if I could. Verdict: Come here for decently priced drinks with some nice ambience. Also come here with a larger group for their accommodative seating. Arrive with lower expectations for their food and you'll be fine. read more

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This is a cozy LES Italian spot, not of the kitschy red sauce and meatballs as big as a small child variety, but more subtle and seasonal--delicate gnocchetti, insanely creamy polenta, super flavorful Spaghettini Nero (cuttlefish ink pasta). Portions are on the modest side, favoring quality over quantity. The staff also try to make hospitable connections with diners--they know their food well and are proud to serve it. I ate here twice--once at the bar and once as part of a group dinner in the lower level cave-like space. The cave space is intimate but gets insanely loud and echoey when it's fully occupied--my ears were buzzing uncomfortably when I left after so much noise. I preferred sitting at the bar--less space, but the food came up fast and it wasn't quite as loud. Overall the place feels like a true neighborhood establishment, where locals enjoy meeting for drinks or to have an understated yet delicious meal out. read more

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My partner walked in last night seeking a table. they were told there was only outside seating. then a few mins later their friend came and asked for a table then all of a sudden there was a table inside. my partner is a Black person and their friend is a White woman. this may have been a simple oversight but to people that seem to always be oversighted it appeared to be racially motivated. I hope that in the future your hosts will pay more attention to this behavior. thank you read more

A great dinner date or group spot. I was there toasting a birthday but there were several groups that visited. It's an unexpected location because you are seated downstairs and you pass Canal Street. The food is good - steak and duck ragu. I'd prefer the noodles for duck to be wider but the flavor was good as is. read more

I went here last night with a group of 11 for my birthday dinner. They could not have been more accommodating. They normally do not offer large parties a la carte, but they took my group of 11 with no extra charge or fixed menu. They gave us a semi-private large beautiful table and the ambiance was amazing. The waiter was great and gave good recommendations on which wines to get. I had the Duck Ragu pasta and it was absolutely packed with flavor and was so amazing. I could not have been happier and I wouldn't change a thing about my experience. My group had a great time. I would definitely come back. read more

Came here for a birthday with a party of 12. We started off with a meat/cheese platter - pretty standard. Then we ordered some of the razor clams, which were pretty good. For my entree, I had the steak, which was overcooked and a bit bland. Plus it took forever for the food to come out. Not worth the high price tag for mediocre food. read more

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After a round of drinks, we were pretty hungry and arrived at Bacaro for a quick dinner on a Tuesday night. Luckily there were plenty of empty tables available. I couldn't help but notice how dark and dreary the room downstairs was. We decided on the following items: Tiny spicy fried meatballs ($10) Spaghetti Nero ($18) pasta with cuttlefish ink Whole wheat pasta with duck ragu ($18) Hazelnut and lavender/honey gelato ($4 each scoop) They weren't kidding when they named the meatballs "tiny meatballs". They were a lot smaller than I imagined them to be. They were pretty unique and had a nice spicy kick to it but I don't think it's worth the price though. Both of the pasta were very flavorful and were cooked al dente. The spaghetti Nero was recommended by our waitress over the tagliolini cuttlefish pasta. I liked it but did not think it had much of the cuttlefish ink taste to it. The one piece of cuttlefish on top was really good though. There was also a lot of sauce in the dish and the sauce was very creamy. The whole wheat pasta was a great choice too. The cheese on top melted and added a nice touch to the dish. However, the portion size of the two pasta were definitely on the smaller side and not very filling. read more

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We went to Bacaro on Valentine's day to celebrate "Galentine's" day! First off, the reservation process was seamless! I reserved through OpenTable and was able to get a table for 8 people. When our party grew to 12, I called and they were so accommodating to change our number. Now for the ambiance, I couldn't have picked a better location perfect for the occasion. Bacaro has a rustic, romantic vibe that was perfect for Valentine's day. They had red rose petals and candles everywhere that made the whole restaurant so cozy. We were seated at the basement wine cellar and had a semi-private area for our big group. Service was outstanding! Our server was knowledgeable and everyone who helped with our table were so attentive. We had someone in our party who ran really late but they didn't rush us. Now for the food, everything we tried were really good! For starters, we had the Burrata and tomatoes, the presentation was ok but it was well seasoned. My friend had the mushroom Gnocchi, which I tried and was so tasty and tender, it was really yummy! I had the pasta in Cuttlefish ink, it was also very tasty but the Cuttlefish was so tiny. I think next time, I will have the gnocchi instead. They also had a great happy hour with their select wines for $6, that was totally worth it! Overall, we had a great time at Bacaro. What a hidden gem in LES!! read more

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The perfect find in LES. A cozy, quaint, and intimate spot for conversation and great Italian food. read more

Bacaro - Gnocchi with mushroom cream sauce. Amazing. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Tip: ask to be seated in the basement specifically. The basement area has this fantastic medieval ambiance. Stone walls, dim lighting. Whoever designed this did a great job. The design is such a unique, unexpected take on the Italian restaurant. I felt like I was in a Caravaggio painting the whole time I was here. I always recommend this place as a date location. The food was also amazing -- I had the squid ink pasta (Spaghetti Nero) and the Panna Cotta. The food had great presentation and decently large serving sizes -- it was well worth the price. This place is truly a hidden gem -- it has a somewhat unassuming storefront but completely transforms into a lively, romantic dining spot when you head into the basement. I'm honestly surprised that this place isn't more well-known. read more

The food here is so good. Every bite blew my mind. Helpful, friendly staff too. Yelp is stupid and made me write more read more

Bacaro - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Rudest waitstaff I've ever encountered. Yelled at one of our party because she didn't immediately know what she wanted then brought the check to kick us out. Pure trash. read more