Outstanding! If you're looking for a one of a kind dining experience, this is the place. Located on a side street, don't be fooled by how small this restaurant looks from the outside. Head downstairs and there is ample seating. I worked with Beatrice to plan a dinner for my family that included a private room and a pre selected menu. From the second I submitted an inquiry to a follow up after the dinner took place, I was blown away by the service, care and professionalism I received. I've worked with other restaurants with much larger budgets and never received the kind of service that I did with Bacaro. They don't care about anything other than delivering you an experience and amazing food. More importantly, the food. We ordered almost every dish on the menu and everything was delicious! The rice balls and asparagus as appetizers and the squid ink pasta as an entree were the stand outs and I couldn't get enough. The food was outstanding and one of the best meals I've ever had. Between the food, the help I had with planning the dinner and the service on the day of, I can't say enough about Bacaro. If you're looking to entertain, impress a date or just grab some dinner, this is the place to go! read more

The meatballs were lilliputian for the price despite tasting good. The pork shank was very tender, with the meat falling off the bone. Among the orders of that entree in my party however, the size of the shank fluctuated and it seemed some dishes had larger portions. The polenta accompanying the pork was great and the broccoli rabe was cooked well. read more

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Bacaro has the potential to be the go-to Italian restaurant on my list on this side of the city, but the food falls a bit short. Echoing what everyone else has said, the atmosphere is brilliant, whether it's for a date night, group event, or whatever else. The downstairs "dungeon" is fantastic and the bigger tables are in their own little caverns. The service is fine - it just takes some warming up to get the conversation going, otherwise yeah, I can tell some people might feel a little put off. The service is also fairly slow, but honestly in this environment of a restaurant you really shouldn't be rushing anyways. As far as the food goes, I ordered the pork shank for my main. The portion is definitely plentiful, however it wasn't a particularly "moriesh" dish. It was tender enough but I felt like it wasn't really braised in anything flavorful. There is a lot of fat on the cut which was fine by me (because that's the only thing that gave it flavor) but I can see why others wouldn't be too excited if they aren't comfortable eating the fat. The polenta it was served on was fine but there were only two or three little tomatoes - I wish there were 3-4x as many to help cut down the richness of the fat. The appetizers really weren't anything to write home about. The mozzarella and tomato dish was very simple and wasn't served with any olive oil or seasoning so you're left to your own devices there. The fried calamari was just spongy batter with hardly any seafood. The meatballs did actually taste quite good but as others have pointed out, they are very, very small and it really isn't worth sharing them. The drink menu is solid and prices for both cocktails and wine are good, although some of the others felt their mixed cocktails on the rocks were just fine, so I'd suggest sticking with the wine or spirit-forward ones I'll definitely look forward to coming back down the road, trying some pasta and seeing if anything has changed - I just hope they don't get complacent and rely on the ambiance to continue bringing traffic in. read more

Bacaro is a romantic Italian restaurant and wine bar located strangely enough in Chinatown. You might think its a little out of place in Chinatown, but trust me the feel of Bacaro is nothing like the restaurants over in Little Italy. Its more like the Italian restaurants you find in Chelsea and the West 4th neighborhood, dinner by candlelight sitting outside, and never full of loud and belligerent drunk patrons like some other places. Its really a great place you can sit down and have a nice conversation while enjoying your food and wine. I chose one of their most popular pastas, the mushroom gnocchi in a rich cream sauce. The gnocchi was just perfect, soft but not too soft with just the right little bite left in. The mushrooms and cream sauce really had this nice aroma, and tasted amazing. I also ordered a side of meatballs. They were lightly pan fried which really added a nice, slight crispy skin to the meatballs. For dessert I had 2. I had both the Tiramisu and 3 different scoops of sorbet. The tiramisu was a decadent square of creamy marscapone cheese alternated with layers of Italian cake. And the sorbets were natural and freshly made, I could even still feel the strawberry seeds LOL. read more

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Eh, idk. I guess I had a higher expectation. They are cute but dark af downstairs. HH is only allowed on the 1st floor bar are. Downstairs is like a treehouse they really tried to utilize the space. We had the rice balls as appetizer. Not too bad the cheese is a bit weird-tasting inside. My friend had the hanger steak- they didn't even ask how well she wants it cooked... I had the duck spaghetti- small amount prob not enough for a guy. Service needs improvement! read more

Bacaro - Rice balls - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Amazing food, couldn't get enough of my spaghetti vongole. I would come back over and over just for that. Weirdly our server never came back to check on us after I asked for more bread, it seemed like she was offended even though we were nice to her. That left a very bad taste in our mouths. Great service is as important as great food. read more

What a treat to find this lovely restaurant! The food is a varied "italian fare" with a flare! We sat at a beautiful table and tried multiple Italian fishes which were impeccably presented by the seasoned staff and tasted authentically Italian, paired with lovely wine! It was an evening I shall cherish and definitely will repeat! read more

The waitresses were very rude, and the food was meh and overpriced. It wasn't very pleasant.

Very simple menu. We were seated downstairs in the cellar area near their collection of wine. It was very dark but the ambience was very pleasant and not too loud. I got the duck pasta and my only complaint is how small the portion was. Other than that it was delicious! Their bread was kind of hard, but went well with the pasta. You can ask for a side of butter to soften it up as well. read more

Bacaro - Duck Pasta - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Just 10 min off the East Broadway, this Italian restaurant is the hidden gem! Great crowd too. I will definitely come back for Spagetti Nero and hazel nuts gelato read more

Bacaro - Spaghetti Nero has zesty tomatoes under the black cuttlefish ink. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Love the space downstairs, very old NY. The food was excellent (try the eggplant marinara) and the service friendly. I took out of town guests that enjoyed the NY vibe but I think it would serve well as a date spot too. read more

I've been in the lower Eastside my whole life I must've passed this place 1 million times what a great place wonderful food the hostess Samantha wonderful the owner the nicest person you want to meet great food great stay inexpensive classy is a perfect date place or if you wanna have a party to party rooms wonderful wonderful wonderful read more

Bacaro - Great place - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

The food here was AMAZING! The restaurant itself is also super cute and cozy. We came here for a friend's birthday. They do have tables for big groups if you are considering to have your birthday here. We ordered a few dishes to share, and that way we can also try a little bit of everything. Please note, portions are quite small. My favorite was the spaghetti negro. Pasta was al dente and filled with savoriness in every bite. The steak was also delicious, couldn't get enough of it! The little meatballs are a great as well, fun small bites. Service was also amazing, our waiter was very patience with us and gave us great recommendations. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Here rabbit rabbit. Like Elmer Fudd I wanted to try some grab it. Fortunately for me these guys already caught Bugs Bunny and put him in a well flavored lasagna. The flavor of the cheese really brought out the dish for me. I really don't have too too much to say. Another talking point would be the ambiance if you choose to go downstairs... nice.. dark... candlelit and romantic. Maybe you will sweep her off her feet read more

Bacaro - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

VH and I came here last Saturday night with a friend. I am from Venice, and since I first heard about this place I wanted to check it out. A "bacaro"[1] is the Venetian equivalent of a tapas wine bar, where people would go to get a glass of wine (an "ombra", which means "shadow") and a small plate (a "cicheto") before going home for lunch. So, is Bacaro an authentic one? Let's find out... The ambiance is beautiful: split on two floors, it has a gorgeous marble and dark wood bar on the first floor plus 4-5 small tables, while the more cavernous space downstairs also has more tables (including a couple of communal ones), exposed bricks, pillars, a wonderful ceiling, and an interesting layout. This place definitely has character. The fact that it is a bit off the beaten path is a plus, since it is not too crowded or too loud. A nice place for an unpretentious date. The small dishes make sharing easy, which is always more fun. The typical Venetian cocktail is the spritz[2], which Bacaro makes pretty well although I would suggest to get it with Bitter Campari rather than Aperol. I got a Venetian, which was basically a Negroni with dry vermouth. Their wine selection is also pretty good. The most typical Venetian dishes you could try here are: - sarde in saor ($11; two large marinated sardines; sweet and sour) - stuffed zucchini blossoms ($12; unfortunately they were out of them...) - risi e bisi ($9; fried rice balls with peas) - bovoleti ($9; small snails with parsley and garlic) - baccala' mantecato ($14; creamed codfish over polenta) - spaghetti nero ($14; spaghetti with cuttlefish ink) - bigoli in salsa ($12; wholewheat pasta with anchovy sauce) We shared the stuffed artichoke ($9; a single, large artichoke); sarde in saor, gnocchi with mushrooms in brown butter ($14), spaghetti nero, and a salad with blue cheese and radish. The gnocchi were delicious, with big, flavorful chunks of juicy mushrooms with a wonderful consistency. The spaghetti nero are a personal favorite of mine[3], but unfortunately this dish lacked the meat of the cuttlefish, which I love[4]. In the end, is Bacaro a real "bacaro"? Well, the dishes are pretty authentic, but a real bacaro in Venice will have the small dishes on display, while Bacaro doesn't. Moreover, a bacaro in Venice would have other dishes like olive all'ascolana (deep fried stuffed olives), or crab claw meatballs. Bacaro is more like a bacaro-themed restaurant, I would say. Nevertheless, as a Venetian, I recommend this place. ----------------------------------------------------- [1] The best bacari in Venice are close to the fish market by the Rialto bridge, like "Le Do Spade"and "Cantina Do Mori". [2] Very simple and very good: equal parts of prosecco, seltz water (or tonic water), and Campari or Aperol (but you can also use Cynar or Select), 2-3 ice cubes, a slice of lemon/orange, or an olive. [3] Ink and cuttlefish work their magic in a risotto as well. [4] Mercat Negre, a tapas restaurant in Williamsburg, has a similar (and superior) dish called "Fideua negre": short noodles, cuttlefish meat and ink, and aioli. read more

We kind of stumbled onto Bacaro wandering along Division St looking for something to eat. On a cold night we wanted something comforting and Italian sounded good. The sub terrain dining area feels like a cozy wine vault and softly lit candle light but still bright enough to read the menu. We had an early dinner so the choice of tables was our to chose. It filled up a bit late as dinner time came. Our server was friendly and recited the daily specials. The food came out at a reasonable time not too long and not too quickly. They seem to like their polenta there. I guess nothing says Italian like polenta? We started with the Insalata di Granchio over you guessed it polenta. The crab was delicate and fresh as the salad. The polenta was more of a congealed mush but wasn't bad. The beet tips sautéed with garlic was a good accompany with the whole wheat pasta in rabbit ragu and the beef shank on top of a creamy polenta! While I don't remember if the whole wheat pasta was housemade or not but it was cooked al dente. The rabbit ragu was well seasoned. The beef shank was tender and meat fall of the bone. The polenta was nice and creamy. I can't imagine how many stick of butter went into this but I just won't think about it. Bacaro was a good dinner in a quite setting. The service was good and out water always filled when needed. It would be a good date dinner night with food that is solidly good. read more

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My friend and I had our birthday dinner at Bacaro. We made reservations for 13 but 2 people could not make it. There is a $50 pre fixe for large groups that comes with a lot of food but because we weren't able to make the changes to our reservations before noon, we had to pay for the two people who didn't show up. That kinda sucked but I totally understand from the restaurant's point of view...but it still sucked =(. They don't have a very extensive cocktail list, but there was this blood orange drink that was delish! The food was plentiful!! We got the cheese and meat plate, seafood salad, a goat cheese and beet salad, spicy meatballs, pasta, fish, pork, and dessert!! We ended up wasting a lot of food though because there was only 11 of us and the portion sizes are ridiculously large. They gave us this private area that was very rustic and had a wine cellar in the countryside of Italy feel to it. We loved the candles and wooden tables/chairs. All in all it was a great dinner and we thoroughly enjoyed the food!! read more

Bacaro - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I specifically booked this place for the chill atmosphere it's gives for my birthday. I had a prefixed 3 course for my 12 guests, and was told everything is "family style". The portions are not family styled, because no way can 4 thin strips of fish feed a group of 12. Their "family styled" meal is basically what they serve al a carte. Big waste of money here. The only thing my guest were full on was wine/cocktails. Advice for those planning birthday here: don't order a prefixed course, not worth read more

When living in NYC, it is near impossible to figure out where to eat, drink, spend your time, simply because there are too many options. We were at a local bar one night, speaking to a man who has lived in NYC most of his life, and he suggested this as a dinner as it was his favorite restaurant in all of NYC. Thankfully we listened, because I think it is mine too. Upstairs is very small, with only seating for a few tables and a small bar. However, downstairs is magical. It's definitely a place to eat in the winter, as its dark, romantic, intimate, small. It is an old basement of the LES converted into many small rooms but combined as one, creating a very funky shape, but plenty of room for both large groups or small. My favorite part was the back back room, which we found when we thought we were sneaking out the back, but its a private room that is extremely elegant, intimate. I would love a dinner party there, ideally every night. Everything about this restaurant is authentic but chic NYC. The ambiance is everything. Beautiful exposed brick, low beams, amazing chandeliers, dark with lots of candles, hundreds, everywhere. You can truly feel the LES history and are transported to a different era. They had fresh flowers. Everything was simple but elegant. My only complaint was that it was very loud. The food options are mostly Italian, but all seem to have a unique flare. I opted for the Spaghetti Nero, the dish they are known for, which is squid ink pasta with Cuttlefish. It was delicious, full of flavor. We also got the meatballs, arancini, tiramisu, as well as a few bottles of wine. Prices are reasonable. I want to go back to try so many other things. This is so far one of my favorites for ambiance, decor, the feels, as well as the food. read more

There are two Bacaro's. Barcaro's before Covid, and the Barcaro's after Covid. The Barcaro's before Covid was, without question, five stars. I went there twice since they re-opened. (The second time with a group of three.) We all agreed on the gist of this review. Barcaro's now, as far as I'm concerned is a disappointment (and it breaks my heart to say this). One of my group heard the original chief had left after the pandemic and I hope they get him back. The sauces tastes way more bland (If you open a jar of Trader Joe's Marinara or Arrabiata sauce, threw in some freshly chopped garlic and dumped it all over spaghetti it's at that level.) The Spaghetti Nero is now just grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and spicy red sauce. The Duck Ragu is watery and has a duck fat base, but not actual duck. (It used to be there piece de resistance!) I'm giving them three stars BECAUSE: 1. I'm sure they suffered financially from the pandemic and I'm hoping they get back on their feet. 2. The wait staff and atmosphere is every bit as good as before. 3. I can't comment on any of the entrees because none of us ordered them so they may still be good. Barcaro's still has time before their hardcore fans realize it's riding on it's past reputation, but it has to act quick. Either come up to speed or (maybe?) change up the menu. (BUT don't lose that original Duck Ragu, PLEASE PLEASE back that amazing Lasagne and also bring back those fantastic Crostini -1 dollar each!!- but they stop serving them at 7PM ) read more

Food was ok. Standard Italian food. We got the steak and it had more fat onto it than meat. Proportions were very small so if your hungry I don't recommend it. The place was extremely loud and the tables are very small hardly, any room to eat. I literally just got home 30 minutes ago and I am in my fridge looking for something to eat. I ordered the black ink pasta and there was one peace of meat in it. For apps, we got some fancy dish which just turned out to be fresh mozzarella with literally 2 slices tomatoes and one one piece of Basel. Seriously???? And you're charging $16 for it??? The chairs were extremely uncomfortable. And don't sit on the booth, because you will feel like your 7ft tall and whoever is across from you on the chair will look like a midget. I been to many places and never walked out so dissatisfied. Waste of money. And as for the drinks... Just like any other place. $10 Bottles of wine and you pay $13 for the glass. So classy.... read more

Bacaro - Fatty steak with hardly any meat and black ink pasta with... Well just pasta. It was so dark you had no clue what you were eating. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I normally don't like Italian food, but this is my mother's favorite restaurant, so we went. What an a solo delightful dinner. The food was great. I loved the shrimp with polenta. And the ambience was perfect. I loved both the ambience of the upstairs, with open windows and sidewalk seating. And the basement was wonderful. It would be perfect for a romantic date. On a related note, we had a lovely conversation with Kama, the owner. Absolutely delightful. I now understand why my mother loves Bacaro so much. read more

Classy, dark, seductive. Came here for dessert and drinks only. We were led downstairs to the bar area. Panna cotta: Thick, dense cream. I've never had one like it. Tiramisu: Packed with flavor. It's not hard to find tiramisu, but it's tough to find good ones. This is it. Paired with the right dessert wine (check), and life is sweet. read more

"What is this random cute non-Chinese restaurant doing in the middle of ghetto Chinatown? We have to try it!" So we did. It is quaint and small on the first floor. Downstairs, where most of the seating is, is a completely different feel. Exposed brick walls and very minimal renovation work done. Lighting is dark, and it gets dimmer through the night. Chairs are low, which I'm not a fan of. I can't tell if i like it. On one hand, it feels different and novel and maybe even tasteful as a wine cellar. On the other hand, I kept having visions of this being a creepy basement where the prior owners used this space to butcher pigs and cows. Or thoughts of beauty and the beast with the candle lights - but referencing the beginning of the movie when you're actually pretty creeped out by the beast. Or a one of those basements where you discover a dead body 10 years later. My imagination can run wild. My boyfriend didn't think this at all and thought I was crazy, which could absolutely be true. Appetizers: Stuffed artichokes (it was a special) - this was my favorite dish. It was very flavorful and perfect as an appetizer. And really, I just miss eating artichokes. Marinated Sardines - not what I had in mind, I would skip. The toppings served on top of the sardines are cold, making the dish cold. Also, the vinegar just overpowered it. Squid Ink Cuttlefish - mmmmmmm very delicious! the cuttlefish was so tender. sad there was only 1 piece. pasta flavor was good, but wish the pasta was cooked a bit more. Pork Shank with Polenta - alright...i don't see the big deal at all. other than the fact that it was HUGE. I felt like Fred Flintstone eating it. To me, it was pretty dry. I would skip. Tiramisu - meh, standard. Overall, I might come back. There are a lot of things on the menu I want to try. And next time I'll try sitting on the first floor so my mind doesn't wander. read more

Bacaro - Cuttlefish ink pasta - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Booked this place for private dining with a group of 12 for my birthday party and I was blown away. This place is definitely a hidden gem. Perfect place for a date, super romantic! It felt like I was dining in a real underground wine cellar. For the group dining, they start you off with 3 cold appetizers and bread that they leave on the table for people to munch on until the whole party gets there. I ordered the meat and cheese platter, seafood salad, and green bean w/anchovy. Then came the shrimp risotto and mushroom gnocchi, followed by pork shank and whitefish, and lastly the quad dessert platter (tiramisu, panna cotta, chocolate cake, and rice pudding). Everything was pretty delicious and it definitely was more than enough food for the table. There was one plate per 3-4 people of every item. My ultimate favorites: Gnocchi con funghi, shrimp risotto and pork shank. My only gripe is that service was a bit rude. If you book a party here, make sure everyone comes on time! My party showed up 15 min. late. I felt really rushed, plates kept coming and leaving before we were done eating and the waitress kept reminding, the birthday girl...while I was trying to enjoy the company, that we had to get out of there by a certain time. We ended up leaving 20 min. before the end mark, but I was really agitated that we were forced to rush through the meal. read more

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I am impressed, Bacaro was really fabulous. More than anything, Bacaro has an awesome vibe. I had Garlic Shrimp Over Polenta, but I really think that you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Team is very helpful and will help you with anything. Bacaro - I'll be back, hopefully sooner than later. read more

Where do I begin... My friend and I arrived and were greeted by two hosts... how nice... until they began non verbally ushering us to who knows where the bar downstairs, I can't even say they were mumbling... I can forgive that, perhaps they were tired or found out terrible news whatever it was I don't really care since I came here for the food. The food spoke volumes about the place. Bland, generic, not fresh and too salty. I chose to go there over Inoteca because I wanted a special treatment... the waiter was very rude, some Asian woman, mid thirties... she basically insulted me when I was looking at the wine list... when I asked about a wine measurement she immediately made a loud snappy comment in a cold tone about the price being affordable or cheap which I did not inquire about in the first place... As if that wasn't enough... finally the dessert was the only dish that was made with some sort of skill... and just as I was thinking to myself "hmmm I'd totally come back here just for this" the suggestive waitress and her boss the host or manager came up to us insisting that there are too many people waiting and that we need to leave. we paid our bill and made our way out... there were maybe 4 parties waiting, but plenty of seating. I have never been asked to leave a table. Avoid at all costs... mediocre food and expensive, rude service, disorganized, and the ambiance was very half hearted. read more

Bacaro is the best, sometimes it is crowded with scensters on Friday and Saturday nights but hey its New York- What do you expect.

Bacaro has definitely become one of those places that has made itself come to mind whenever friends are asking me for a recommendation of a cool and casual spot that's low key and trouble free. It's a perfect spot for a casual catch up session with friends. A perfect spot for a date. A perfect spot for a small celebration. Nestled a short stretch of street on the edge of the LES and Chinatown this little spot is definitely one of those "hidden gems" despite the number of people who've actually been here. The downstairs dining room/bar is where most of the action happens and it's an unpretentious experience. The candle lit cavern feel is perfect and from the bartender down to the waiters are all very laid back and arrive whenever you need to make an order. The relatively low pricing and high quality of the dishes are all perfectly in balance with the atmosphere. A very decent wine list without any of the snobby wine folks to tarnish the vibe. Grab a glass here with some cheese plates and a generously portioned entree and you're set to drink the night away. Took a peek in their private party room and it looks like a perfect spot for a less than 20 party to have fun in. Overall definitely worth venturing to. read more

Neg: Outside area is sketchy. Pos: One of the best kept secrets for group dining. Food and service was great. When we arrived, all the apps were ready, and the room was cool. Candle lighting throughout, and family style eating. We did not do the open bar ($15 per person per hour), but that seemed like a good option for next time. read more

Bacaro - Private Dining Room - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Great ambiance,remided us of places we have loved in Tuscany. Exposed brick, candles everywhere, tiny stairs leading downstairs. Perfect for a romantic meal for two, or a large family dinner, Food was delicious, as was the wine. NOt a huge menu but everything we ordered was great. We chose 3 appetizers, a main, and a side and had no room for dessert as the portions are all quite large (the tiramisu at a neighboring table will have us returning and ordering less!). The waitstaff were lovely as well. Can't ask for more, will for sure be back. read more

My all time favorite Italian restaurant in Manhattan. Came across it by chance and my oh my is it ever good, in fact, I think it's the city's best kept secret when it comes to true Italian dining. If you can, eat downstairs, it has a really romantic, dark, dungeon feel. If they have the stuffed artichoke special as an appetizer, get it (and I don't even like artichokes). Gnocchi is very good too but during my most recent visit, I tried the rabbit lasagna and IT WAS AMAZING. Pair your meal off with a bottle of red wine and you are going to be in complete heaven. Then, once you've reached heaven's gates, see if you have some room for dessert, because the flourless chocolate cake is awesome! Perfect food, service, and atmosphere...plus it's totally AFFORDABLE and the ingredients are quality, you can taste it. A++ read more

I've been eating here on and off for a few years. Bacaro is usually a backup option when I can't get a table somewhere else. Food isn't amazing but can be good. There are better and worse places in the area. Overall, an average restaurant. Last night saw several roaches. Mentally, delete from my list of restaurants. Won't be eating here again! We were a table of 4. 3 of 4 had dined at Bacaro on several occasions. Mid way through our meal we notice several roaches on the floor. We stopped eating, finished our wine and left the restaurant wonder whether we ingested roach dropping! Pros: - Atmosphere - Prompt seating - fried oysters Cons: - Tables too close each other (seems they added more tables to maximize $$) makes it appear the group on either side are part of your dinner party - Unwanted insects - a little too much salt to some dishes (cod dish) read more

4.5 stars for a great date night in Chinatown/Little Italy. Make a reservation, get taken downstairs past the lovely bar, and be seated in the cozy confines of a great Italian spot. We started with cocktails, one named the Pablo, a nice bourbon drink with aperol, amaro, and lemon, and the Pompelmo, with vodka, pamplemousse (grapefruit), lemon, and lavender. Nicely balanced, not especially strong, and worthy of another round. Then crusty mini baguettes of bread. Don't fill up on this even though you will want to. Then came two excellent appetizers: fried oysters, which we were lightly fried, juicy, and cleverly plated in their shells, and pasta e fasioi, a hearty and incredibly tasty soup, perfect for a winter's night. Entrees were also stellar, including spaghetti con vongole: pasta with manila clams that were perfectly prepared. The other winner was whole wheat pasta with duck ragu. Portions were on the small to medium size, so they were hungrily gobbled up, leaving empty plates. We still had room left for dessert and splurged on panna cotta with cherries plus, separately, two scoops: one of amaretto crunch gelato and a tart lemon basil sorbetto. All were great, we left happy. Service was very good and, in a city of thousands of restaurants, we would happily return. read more

Hidden gem in Chinatown! Bacaro literally transports you to Venice with an atmosphere that is cozy, romantic, rustic and sexy rolled into one. Better yet from the greeter to table side service the hospitality was first in class, genuine and unobtrusive. They took the greatest care to ensure our experience was memorable. Now as for the food, simply delectable. From the quality, taste and presentation Bacaro certainly exceeded our expectations. Kudos to the chef and entire team for an amazing culinary journey!!! read more

I hosted my birthday party at Bacaro last night and from the moment I sent my inquiry to the end of the night yesterday, they were nothing short of amazing! The food was divine, service was excellent, ambiance was perfect and I couldn't have asked for more! Special shout-outs to Ana, Elise, Glen and Ethan who made last night so special for me!! The staff at Bacaro knows exactly what they're doing in and out of the kitchen. If you're thinking about hosting an event there or even grabbing a meal, SAY YES! read more

I upset with our experience here. The food was awesome, the wine was really quite good however, we were very very rushed by waitstaff and our waitress. They clearly wanted us ordered and out! She over poured our wine and rushed us through our courses. I welcome the opportunity to discuss my review with bacaro management, but as it stands we will not be heading to this restaurant again. read more

This is our favorite Italian restaurant in New York - although possibly overrated because of our personal motivations. Great food, better-than-average wine list, very good service, and amazing ambiance, especially in the basement! The neighborhood around it has become a little sketchy, though, and the menu is rather limited. read more

Bacaro - Cool basement grotto. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Okay, Bacaro - you get four stars from me but for your charming interiors, not for the food. I wanted to like this place way before my first visit. The website, some pictures I've seen on line, some of my friends stories, all that were promising, anticipating a great night. Me and my friend L. walked in one night and we were surprised to find a great table downstairs ( that's where you should ask to be seated )... This is the type of place where vampires would gather for a feast...Their nooks and secret cellars and candles and the maze of exposed brick cave rooms will charm you from the very beginning. It is sexy, misterious and medieval. What we did NOT like - our Pear Martinis - very very strong, way too stiff - the appetizers - boring and blend , especially a seafood and potato salad which had no taste whatsoever... - desserts ( my favorite part of the meal ) - I had better Tiramisu or Chocolate Cake in many many other places - the fact that our waitress warmed up only towards the end of our meal What we like - the Gnocchi with Funghi - a must have at Bacaro - the Cuttlefish Ink pasta - Spaghetti Nero - our splendid bottle of Prosecco rose I will definitely go back. read more

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My friends and I had dinner at Bacaro last night to celebrate a birthday. I was a little hesitant because I have lots of dietary restrictions (any kind of seafood, gluten-free). I shouldn't have been concerned--lots of really delicious choices! The prime rib was perfection and the polenta was just like my grandmother used to make (maybe better!). My friends raved about the mussels and shrimp with polenta. For dessert they brought out a tiramisu with a candle in it for my friend's birthday and some panna cotta (gluten-free!). Great food, great service, great time! read more