We sat downstairs and had a good dinner. I could see it getting a little crowded, but for an earlier dinner it was fine.

The definition of a hidden gem. Beautiful, hidden Italian restaurant with a perfect menu. I wanted to order everything. Start with the meat & cheese plate, you will not be disappointed. Fabulous wine list. Service was a little slow to start, but they were packed on a Saturday night. Plus, you don't mind waiting in a place so charming. Only reason for the missing 5th start is that I found bones in my duck ragu :-( Too bad, because the dish was delicious. Really great date spot, or a nice for a private party due to the little nooks in the basement with bigger tables. Price was incredibly reasonable for such a trendy/fancy spot. read more

I read all the reviews here first and still went to meet friends. The reviews were spot-on correct: good for wine and apps, awesome environment, horrible for dinner. My dover sole was a plate of flavorless mush, and like several other reviewers, I got quite ill. There is something wrong at this place!! Staff was friendly and attentive; dessert was super. It's the main courses that seem to be the problem -- and the gut-wrenching after effects. Be careful what you indulge in or just go for a glass of wine. read more

I've been staying in the Lower East Side, checking out many of the recommended restaurants in the area over the past week. Bacaro wins hands down. I had razor clams for starters then spaghetti nero with cuttlefish and everything just oozed deliciousness. Wine matches were perfect. A distinct notch above the average "authentic" NY Italian joint around these parts. If it wasn't my last night, I'd be back tomorrow! read more

90 Minutes for tiny plates of pasta, in a less than half full restaurant, is not acceptable. Service was inattentive to the point where we had trouble even finding anyone to pay to get out of there. On the plus side, gorgeous use of basement space, pity the portions and service did not live up to it. read more

Should've taken the hint when I read another review calling this restaurant the "dungeon of romance," but unfortunately I ended up going to dinner here with my boyfriend who was visiting from out of town with the hopes it would be a special night. To my disappointment, the dungeon of romance was more like a dungeon of deli cheese with a side of mayo. Allow me to explain. First, the restaurant's ambiance leaves much to be desired. It is so dark that you can hardly see your food (if you can even tell what it is, as per below) and it is so loud that I consistently found my waitress yelling over the noise to ask me to repeat my order. Also, the main source of light are glowing red exit signs which seem to be everywhere. I'm sorry, but if your restaurant is so hard to navigate that regulations require you to detract from what could otherwise be a great ambiance, you're doing something wrong. I brought a very special bottle of wine to the restaurant- a vintage Brunello di Montalcino- that I was excited to pair with a delicious Venetian meal. I knew there was a $30 corkage fee, which is steep even in New York, but was dismayed as I watched our waitress struggle to remove the cork from the bottle, almost instantly tearing the cork and leaving us with little bits of aged cork that had to be strained out. Not off to a great start. While I fumed about the wine, we were served bread and olive oil. While the oil was actually delicious the bread was incredibly spongy and difficult to chew. Ugh! We started with the salumi e formaggi and fritto misto, which were also disappointing. The fritto misto, which is traditionally lightly fried in Venice, was a mass of indistinguishable vegetables and seafood more reminiscent of beer battered fish and chips. The "aioli" that comes with the dish is actually just mayonnaise, making the situation even less appealing. The "salumi e formaggi" was even more disappointing. The slices of cheese were so thin and bland that I wondered if they were deli cheese. It was paired with actual cubed ham and paper thin slices of what appeared to be salami and serrano ham, but was actually so flavorless that I am still unsure. The only redeeming part of this experience was the entrees. We had the pasta with duck ragu and gnocchetti with mixed vegetables. The duck ragu was delicious (although lacking duck) and the gnocchetti was admittedly delicious. Left with a much lighter wallet, and a much heavier heart. Needless to say, I will be cooking at home tonight. read more

The snails were nice but the steak was waaaay to big to be appetizing. When a $20 steak is the size of a small cow, something is not right. It tasted gamey and not in a good way. The service was fine but our server went on about how much he loved to make martinis so I ordered one and it was, well, A-OK. Not bad, not great. The space itself is nicely decorated and well-lit for a night spot. The pasta menu looked great but I didn't taste it...the wine menu also looked thorough but I swayed by the martini maker. Bacaro may need a second attempt. read more

First off, the place is really nice. It's spacious, the the brick dungeon is super cool. Food wise, we ordered the snails in garlic sauce, pasta with cuttle fish ink and the gnocchi and all were very good. I especially liked the pasta, though it was very plain and simple. I would like to come back and try some other dishes. One disappointing thing was the tiramisu. We had one bite and had no urge to eat more. Kinda boring and the cream was all wrong. read more

The food was decent, but not off the charts and the ambiance was special even the resto was subterranean. Service was very attentive. The one thing that I didn't like was that the benches are stilted and slanted a bit. Although this is potentially a good date spot, the communal benches suggest otherwise -- that it'd be better suited for group dinners. The secrecy of the place is the best feature so the resto wasn't crowded on a weekend evening. 3.5 stars! read more

Would get five stars except for table at bathroom entrance--Why? Sit at the communal table if you're offered that awful two-top.

SO happy to finally break my 3 star rut. And with Italian too- one of my top 3 cuisines. Finally, I got 2 friends to make the trek down with me to this Italian speakeasy-gem (strangely located in Chinatown) on a Friday night at 8:30. I'd been curious if Bacaro took reservations- but my friend persistently tried calling then (they open at 6pm) but no one picked up the phone. My friend and her boyfriend got there at 8:20 and they said no one was in the restaurant so the put as 4th on the list to be seated (so, to answer my question- no reservations. Or maybe ressies for a party of 6 or more). Thanks to the good ole' MTA, I was late and got there around 8:50. And by this time, the place was packed. The decor is really nice. It's dark like a wine cellar (that's how you know it's Bacaro- dark. I just guessed because there's no name on it from the outside). It has a very gothic feel; from the medieval wood, to the chandelier lighting, to the creaky tables...it feels very old and historic. I also heard the bathrooms were nice, but ancient. We were trying to guess if this was just the decor on purpose or if the place was actually really old. There is very small seating upstairs, but most of the bar/dining room is downstairs. There's seating at the bar, and also communal tables- we were 3 and we shared one table with 3 other young 20 something girls. The table was lit by 2 old-school candles. It wasn't the most comfortable table- it rocked a lot and was kind of hard, like a park bench. No a huge deal. Crowd was definitely (as my friend's bf pointed out) was not that diverse, filled with trendy 20 something girls. I don't think Bacaro is a place for pretend foodies though- they have some really great Italian dishes. It definitely is a scene-y place though, and a wonderful place for a date! (So romantic and intimate :). Onto the food. For apps, we went with the raved arancini (rice balls), and the fried oysters. I didn't really want the oysters, but my dining partners did. The fried nature masked the oyster flavor- plus I prefer mine raw. The batter wasn't too heavy though- it was light, and crispy and not like the kaki fried oysters you see at Japanese places. I wouldn't get this again. It came on the shell, with a tartar- like sauce, which was nice and tart but overall, a meh app. Comes in a batch of 4 for $9 (I think). Though yelped, I also thought the arancini was good but not great. I've had better. They were firstly really tiny and not piping hot. More lukewarm- the risotto wasn't as creamy as it should have been, and there a lot of stringy/gooey mozzarella. It was too stringy and hard to eat. Maybe this wasn't really supposed to be arancini but it was ok. I'd go back to try other apps. 4 for $9. For the mains, my friend's bf got the gnocchi ($16?). My friend, the sole with arugula (healthy bitch!- $16), and me: the whole wheat pasta with duck ragu ($16). I think in the past, my dish has gone with papardelle but it was more like spaghetti when I had it. They don't say the pasta type because they probably change it up (also: menu online doesn't reflect the actual menu). I thought the gnocchi was the winner. Super buttery, soft but not mushy, and strongly flavored with sage and mushrooms. Definitely will get this next time. My friend's sole was thinly pounded, extremely fresh and nicely seasoned with some kind of lemon jus (or maybe that was just her putting it on ha), and fresh arugula. A simple but clean dish. Not exciting enough for me (esp. since this is Italian and I'm a pasta freak!) but not bad by any means. My pasta was good. I liked the gnocchi better. For one, the pasta could have been a bit more al-dente. But maybe that's just me because I'm an al-dente (almost undercooked) freak. I also didn't taste a lot of the duck in the ragu- it tasted more like a juicy clam sauce. I swear. Lots of tomatoes, the sauce was more runny-watery. The good thing is that is was more watery, and not creamy so it tasted more or less healthy. I didn't feel like I was going to burst in other words, at meal's end. Alas! The meal is NOT over. We had dessert! We went with my classic fave, the tiramisiu (panna cotta gets honorable mention). But it was way too creamy and disproportionate to the coffee liquor and cake/lady fingers. There was also a lot of cocoa atop so we all choked a little. Biggest complaint is that there was way too much cream; it masked the liquor flavor and became too rich to eat. Not the best or even in top tiramisus (see Paprika). Service wasn't bad- but very slow. I guess they were busy. The waiter seemed to be able to answer most questions. It's fine because we actually got to talk. They were a little lax with refilling waters but then again, they left a jar of water on the table. I would come back but not order entirely different dishes. One con is that it's a bit pricey- $80 for dinner for 3- so we paid roughly $30 each. Will return! read more

It's a cute space and very rustic design. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The food was ok, except the snails were delish! I definitely recommend getting the snails! They had a great texture and were seasoned perfectly. read more

Met up with a couple friends here on a Friday night. It's a cool space and somewhat romantic (dimly lit), underground. We ordered a few appetizers and I got the spaghetti nero. Portions seemed small but maybe I was just hungry. read more

This place is the real deal. It's on a non descript block surprisingly flanked by other restaurants. It's such a gem. My first time going here. This review is for 11-18-17. It was a semi rainy day..we arrived at the restaurant no reservations because we went for happy hour. OMG. Drinks check food check decor semi dark it had a romantic vibe going on perfect for a date. Leave the kiddies home.. we ordered meat and cheese platter delish I wanted more, however I would suggest crackers because they had some sweet jelly like substance in the middle of plate. I ended up using my cheese to scoop it up. Tuna egg and olive sandwich simply divine. Baccala and marinated artichokes and speck crostini so yummy . My belly was very happy. The drinks were good as well we had Sgroppino and Vino Spumante very crisp flavors. read more

Love the setting, like a French underground... good mixed drinks as well...

Came here a few years back for a birthday dinner - we were able to reserve a private dining section for about 15-20 people, which was nice. They offered us a special pre-fixe deal - I can't remember exactly what we ordered, but I do remember thinking that this place was overpriced for the food that was served. Granted, we didn't order from the regular menu, but still... I felt like we were paying more for the ambiance than the food itself. The service was alright, but again, the only commendable quality of Bacaro, as far as I can remember, was its milieu. read more

Hidden gem in lower eastside. The restaurant is dim and lit with candles, good for dates. Love the squid ink pasta here. The other appetizers and entrees were good too. read more

We hosted my BFF's bridal shower here, and it was fantastic! They have semi private spaces in the basement, and the food was really good. Gnocchi, rice ball, variety of cured meat, salads were the menu items, and we liked them all. The exposed brick a dim lighting added romantic touches to the place. Unlike most places in Manhattan, where you have to sit on top of other patrons, there are actual spaces between tables! Definitely a good place for group hang outs! read more

I came here only for drinks downstairs. The drinks were great and the setting was cute/intimate with helpful bartenders! I got the Rossini which is prosecco and muddled strawberries. It is totally a girly drink but it was absolutely delicious. They also had Bellinis, and Negronis on the cocktail list. Their dinner menu looked amazing and will definitely come back for dinner. read more

Came here with a group of 7, and was able to make a same day reservation. Granted, we had to sit downstairs and share a communal table, but frankly we were just happy to find a place for so many people. The food was pretty good too. I tried the fried zucchini flowers, fried oysters, the nero pasta, and some kind of meat dish. Everything was good, and the ambiance was conducive of a great night with a large group of friends. However, service was very slow and we thought they had forgotten us at one point. Ultimately a good place for large groups, but I probably won't return for any other reason. read more

The service here is phenomenal. Our waiter Ahmon was very attentive without being overbearing. He had excellent recommendations based on our tastes. He was friendly and courteous as well. He did us the favor of making a list of places we could go after we ate as our prior plans had been cancelled last minute. We ended up taking one of his recommendations and it turned out wonderfully. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was chic and relaxed. I will be highly recommending this restaurant to family and friends. read more

I recently revisited Bacaro with a large group with no reservation. The staff was more than accommodating and they now are the proud owners of a full liquor license. 5 Stars for sure. read more

First off, I must say that decor of this place is top knotch. If you're looking for an intimate, romantic or private space, this is the place for you. My friend threw a very intimate 12 person going away dinner here, and I truly felt as if I was in a wine cellar at a friend's home.We started off with appetizers (meat and cheese platters), and we all shared the tapas. I thought the food was extremely fresh, and very well prepared. Also, the wait staff was very attentive and more than friendly. I would highly recommend this place and wouldn't hesistate for a moment to bring several friends there for a special occasion. read more

order the steak. it melts in your mouth. and get the stuffed artichoke to start. it's amazing. and a bottle of marzamino to top it off and you have a perfect meal! read more

The ambiance here (especially downstairs) has me really loving this place. Its not vegetarian friendly but its a good spot to come for wine and cheese and some small plates. It is pricey, but the ambiance is what you're paying for. The service is friendly, courteous, and on point as well. I'd recommend this spot for a date! It is good for big group dinners as well (which is why I came to check it out). read more

Really great, hidden away subterranean space with friendly service and delicious food to go with. Went here for a friend's birthday dinner and the set up was perfect as we had our own private nook for about 10 people. And with a fixed price menu of $75 for food and wine, a very good deal as well. Highlights were the spicy meatballs, tempura, lamb with polenta, and the chocolate cake and panna cotta. Consesus was to stay away from the rice pudding though -- still, a great spot regardless. read more

Oh yum! I love the pasta dishes, the steak, stuffed zucchini flowers, and pana cotta! THE best pana cotta I have ever had the good fortune to sample. The cherries served with it are beyond. When dining at Bacaro, you feel as though you've been transported to a Medieval cavern of sorts complete with candles and private rooms. Drinks are lovely, wine is good, and service is friendly and helpful-- they even comped a dessert as they remembered me from the previous week! My only qualm would be the menu can be limited, and this is not the place to come with a picky eater who doesn't like mushrooms, cuttlefish, or meat... but then again, leave your lame picky friends at home and come with folks that will appreciate all that Bacaro offers in terms of excellent Northern Italian fare. read more

who knew and in my own backyard took my family to bacaro for daddoo day dinner and the fam was happy happy joy joy they loved it and they loved me even more of bring them frogs leg razor clams cheese plate meatballs sole cuttlefish ink pasta pork shank tiramisu flourless chocolate cake all over the above is YUM YUM YUMMY good eats happy pooping read more

This place is in such a weird area - for a good reason. They have a lot more space than the usual restaurant in NYC. I loved the seating area downstairs with the little - literal hole in the wall - with additional seating. It's dark and romantic, the food is delicious and they have a big wine selection. read more

Third time here and never disappointed. Food is amazing and my favorite was the Spaghetti Nero (squid ink). The fried meatballs and the snails were awesome. read more

Wow, wow, wow, what a place! Amazing atmosphere, warm candlelight, stone walls, just awesome. Service was great, he knew his wines and menu. Food was incredible. We will be back often!!!!!! Favorite Italian place in all of Manhattan. read more

What a LOVELY place! We went here last night for Valentines Day and everything was absolutely perfect. The ambiance is great, and the staff was extremely accommodating. We got to sit in this tiny back room with only one other table. It was dimly lit with candles and rose petals and just truly unlike any restaurant I've been to around the city. The restaurant has a traditional italian style so the portions are small, but that just means you should order the rice balls as an appetizer! Definitely one of my new favorite places. read more

I love this hidden gem. If you go you must sit downstairs. Great place to impress a date or go with a group of friends. Food didn't blow me away. It was good but not great. I did enjoy the beef stew over polenta but the Artichoke was soggy and the pumpkin risotto was bland. I would definitely come back because the place has such a great vibe, and I also love to go for drinks across the street at White Star. read more

The black ink squid pasta was really salty but the tiramisu is pretty good! Atmosphere is intimate and music is not too loud, good for first date ;) read more

love, love this place! Order the Spaghetti Nero and the cheese and meat sampler- so tasty! Service was top notice as well. Try to get a table downstairs if you can. it's like sitting in a wine cellar-cave. Very romantic spot. The wine list is so extensive it's almost overwhelming, Our server recommended us a great bottle of red Cab which was great. Can't wait to return someday soon. read more

My bf and i went there a week ago and really liked it. I loved the spritzers. We had the artichoke and a cuttlefish pasta that was really great! Also... don't miss out on dessert!! Definitely a great vibe and great place for friends to catch up!! xx read more

Great food, love the basement space, amazing wine( Tommasi). Great for a romantic dinner in this lost part of the city.

Extremely good food. Listen out for their specials! The atmosphere is romantic, but prob not the best. Being in the cellar, and with the candle lighting, it easily gets stuffy and uncomfortable after a while. read more

The cellar is nice but it was crammed with too many tables which took away from the romantic atmosphere. Our waitress was super sweet but the food was the biggest disappointment. While my scallop appetizer was pretty tasty, my entree was downright awful! I got cod over polenta and it looked and tasted like cat food. My martini was also pretty bad. read more

I loved this cool spot when I was last in NYC in February. I plan to return at the end of August (I hope it's open!). I am looking forward to having the steak in barolo wine sauce--outstanding! Loved the ambience, like being in someone's wine cellar. read more