Bar 'Cino generously donated to the nearby elementary school for our annual cultural event this year - they are a huge supporter of the local community. The food is delicious - I always enjoy every plate and dessert every time I come here! Their wine selection is also great. Check them out! read more

Came w a friend and got the picky pear drink, bomboloni, and scrambled eggs & fontina grilled pizza - TASTE: 3/5 - couldn't taste the pear in my drink, and thought the pizza was missing seasoning: the potatoes were tasty, but the garlic aioli didn't come through. Loved the lemon curd filling and sweetness of the bombolini TEXTURE: 4/5 - liked how thin the grilled pizza was PRICE: 4/5 - standard brunch prices. My total came to $38 SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - much larger pizza than I expected SERVICE: 3/5 - made an OpenTable reservation beforehand for 11:30am brunch on a Sunday, and there lots of open tables upon walking in. Service was a bit slow: drinks came out 15min after ordering, and food 40min after that ATMOSPHERE: 4/5 - large open & airy space w an elevated Italian vibe PARKING: 5/5 - plenty of parking in the lot behind! read more

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I attempted to dine here just before 6pm on a Wed night. I was asked if I wanted to sit at the bar but noticed it was very crowded and didn't see any seats available. I've had mixed service experiences when previously dining at their bar. I asked for a table since I saw many open and was told they didn't have tables for one. As a single female diner, this happens at many restaurants. I suggested it wasn't the best idea to force single females to sit at the bar if tables were available. The two female employees didn't say no tables were available or offer suggestions (such as having me wait for an open table or reserving a table for me within 30 mins). A man came over to help- later identifying himself as the manager. He said nothing was available for one and he clarified that all tables were reserved. Again, no offer to have me wait for a table. I walked around and there were no seats open at the bar. I did photograph many open tables that may have been reserved. I also checked the reservation system after leaving- they could have offered me a later reservation as demonstrated by the photo. But they didn't. Again it seemed there was little interest in a solo diner except at the bar. It was clear they didn't need or want the solo business. My advice is to make a reservation and perhaps consider other nearby options when dining solo. The food has been good during my previous visits but this type of experience sours that memory. read more

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Date night! Yes please! Ever since Bar'Cino's opened in Watertown we have been enjoying this lovely restaurant! The decor is super cute inside and they have a nice bar display in the center of the restaurant. The patio seating is also very nice and it's perfect for a romantic dining al' fresco on a nice summer night. Every dish we have tried had been packed with so much flavor! Their pastas are amazing and salads always taste fresh and seem to be curated on whatever is in season with fresh vegetables and fruits. We were lucky enough to catch the last night of "Dine out Boston" which we have been here before for that. They always have an impression "Dine out Boston" menu with several options for a three course meal at a really great price! My boyfriend and I made reservations for the patio seating and had an amazing dinner! We shared all of our delicious dishes. We ordered the beets salad and eggplant for appetizers. The beets were cooked perfectly and the eggplant was very flavorful. For our main entrees we got the scallops which had an amazing sauce and the bolognese. The meat sauce on the bolognese was mouthwatering, every bite made me happy! The very attentive waitress made sure our water glasses were always full and made sure we were taken care of. The desserts at the end made our dinner complete! We had a wonderful Saturday date night! read more

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Didn't realize it was restaurant week! What a treat. Three courses of excellence times two! Patient server (my date and I were deep in conversation from the start and kept forgetting to look at the menu!), creative cocktails that went down verrrrry easy, a pear bruschetta app, a spectacular tomato/pomodoro/ burrata-type cheese app, a rich and perfectly cooked bolognese, a spectacular chicken milanese, and two perfect desserts (one blueberry lemon cake on chocolate mouse cake) and done! Was it the ambiance or our chemistry that kept us there and enjoying everyy minute for hours!?? Either way, it worked! Thanks Bar'Cino! read more

A return visit to this wonderful spot. The food is always amazing but when the waitress brought this special dessert at the end it was the icing on the cake..literally and figuratively . Highly recommend for a special occasion or just a fun date night. read more

Bar 'Cino Watertown - Special dessert - Italian Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Bar'cino is at a location of a beloved (long gone) Italian restaurant. While I miss that place, Bar'cino is a pretty good replacement. I usually sit at the bar to meet friends and have noshy things and/or drinks or both (and since I can walk home, no worries about having more than one drink). Recently, my uncle wanted to hang out with the family at a place locally. He made a reservation here for 10 of us on a low-key Saturday afternoon. It was awesome. We ran the gambit of breakfast stuff and lunch stuff. This particular time I just had the fig prosciutto bruschetta - as I write this I really really want to walk over now and have some. So far, have not had a bad dish there. The cocktails are done just right as well. They also did not rush us out but it was a pretty quiet Saturday afternoon. read more

Honestly, this place is just ok. Interior is good, food is a miss. It's a great place to hang out and catch up with some friends, but the food is average, at best. Service is ok too. I have a feeling I should've ordered a pasta dish, maybe my review would have been different. I ordered the grilled chicken wrap which came with a ton of leafy greens and a side of homemade potato chips. Skip it. Better sandwiches at McDonald's. The ratio of the greens to the chicken was disproportionate, there was too much green. Also, as I kept eating, the pieces of chicken kept getting fattier, until it was all fat and I had to leave it. Came home and my stomach was not happy with me a few hours later. The "wrap" itself also could've been better, I've noticed they have a trend of using flatbread for their wraps and pizza-- it didn't work out great. I saw their version of a presumable Margherita pizza by the kitchen and was shocked... it looked like an arts & crafts project. That is not a Margherita pizza. Shirley temple was good, though! Overall, I'm glad I tried it but I don't think I will be back :( read more

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The Pizza was good. Portions of mushroom ravioli were small. Service was so so and desserts awful. The chocolate dessert tasted like packaged choco pudding I know they can do better read more

Somewhere between 3 and 4. I like having a fancy-ish, sit-down Italian place near me; this particular stretch of Watertown is more known for smaller Szechuan and Persian eateries. I've gone to the Bar Cino in Brookline often for dinner and always had a nice time - the food isn't particularly exciting but it's tasty and consistent - and I appreciate the Watertown location for having easy off-street parking (look for the massive lot behind the restaurant on Google maps). I think my group of diners was still reeling from the indulgences of the past month because, to a person, we stuck with the salad portion of the menu. I went with the Caesar salad with chilled shrimp. The reason I'm docking the extra star is because I guess I had in mind somewhat larger sized shrimp (maybe the cocktail version?) for an add-on of $9 but when the plate came to the table, I almost burst out laughing. It was the tiny baby shrimp that you get frozen or in a can at the grocery store. If you're getting a salad here (the salads here are great, I'm partial to the kale and the farro ones), don't make my mistake of getting the shrimp with it. My friends' salmon portions were also pretty tiny. Good if you're not too hungry but I'd order something more substantial or add on an appetizer next time. We came on a weekday night for dinner and the place was pretty empty but I've seen it packed to the brim on Fridays and weekends. read more

I thought the food was pretty good and the service was great. Appetizers came fast, entrees a lot slower . Server was an amazing. I wasn't blown away by the food , probably wouldn't go back read more

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Bar Cino is one of my favorite Italian spots in Boston and this was my first time at their Watertown location! I honestly like it better because there's more space and feels less crazy. We went on a Sunday so we could participate in their 'Cino Sundays and I'm so glad we did!! 'Cino Sunday is only at the Watertown location. It's $25 per person to get a salad, focaccia, 100-layer lasagna, and tiramisu. The salad was so refreshing and the focaccia was sooo soft with amazing crust. The lasagna is actually 100 layers! 25 iterations of noodles, meat, cheese, and sauce. The char on the edges from the oven adds more texture making it even better. The tiramisu? Sooo much cream and so light. We also ordered baked clams and the chianti-marsala braised short rib. The clams were cooked perfectly and the sauce was so impressive because you can really taste the seafood. I would've loved this as a pasta. The short rib... man. First off. the meat was so tender and seasoned perfectly. The sauce was the perfect pairing and the parmesan polenta was so impressive with its texture and flavor. We ended with the pistachio ricotta cake and it was so delicious. The pistachio wasn't too overwhelming and the ricotta wasn't too sweet. Delicious. I would 10000% go again and I probably will soon! read more

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Boston restaurant week is the perfect to try a new restaurant or something from the special menu. This menu had some heavy hitters ranging from something light to something that'll keep you full. Dinner was overall tasty but tasted saltiness on the porkchop. The server was very caring and detailed about her service which made us feel well taken cared of. Lastly, parking is in the back so no need to worry about that! read more

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The onion dip is incredible. And great service. I love the outdoor patio in the nice weather.

After hearing about Bar Cino for so long, I finally got the opportunity to eat here not too long ago, and it did not disappoint! I have not eaten at the other locations, but the parking situation was easy and accessible, and the restaurant isn't too crowded. Started off with their espresso martini and I think it's one of the best in the Boston area! I've heard a lot about their Caesar salad (especially on foodie Instagram!) and am happy to say it was fabulous! I love the deconstructed/crushed croutons, as this ensured you were getting an equal amount of crunch in every bite. Additionally, there was a lemony (probably just squeezed?) taste to it that really brightened up the salad. Best Caesar I've had in a while. Started with an appetizer of Bolognese arancini, which was fairly standard but delicious. The arancini were hot and crispy, and I liked the aioli that goes with it. For entrees, I got the Chianti-marsala braised beef short ribs and they were damn good! The beef was tender and the mashed potatoes with the braising jus sauce were mouthwatering. My boyfriend ordered the carnaroli risotto, which I think he was pleased with but said I definitely "won" dinner with the braised short rib. For dessert, we each ordered some espresso and a piece of pistachio ricotta cake and an affogato. Pistachio cake was tasty but not too sweet, would order again. The service was attentive, and the food came out stupidly fast. The Watertown location is a nice spot for a medium fancy date night if you aren't in the mood to schlep into the city. Already looking forward to my next Caesar salad from here! read more

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Stoped by for a late lunch and pleasantly surprised by the great service and food choices. One of us had the mushroom melt sandwich with a side salad and the other ordered a margherita pizza. Both were delicious. Will return when we're in the area. read more

One of our favorite restaurants. Easygoing friendly atmosphere, really good food, fun cocktails, great service. As a celiac I appreciate all the gluten free options and special care they take with allergies. You should try this sweet neighborhood spot! read more

This is new to Watertown, replacing Stellina's in Watertown Square for reference on the location. What a nice spacious spot. A dark wood interior, friendly staff, creative ways of including wine bottles in their decor above the bar, plenty of seats, and a convenient parking lot out back with meters. We started with the meatballs which were delicious. 3 get served with marinara sauce and we had some bread saved to dip into it. Highly recommend the meatballs. For dinner I ordered the grilled chicken panini wrap meal which came with chips topped with cheese. The wrap was really loaded with arugula - it was pretty overpowering so I didn't absolutely love this meal but all in all it was still good. read more

Bar 'Cino Watertown - Grilled chicken panini wrap - Italian Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

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We were quite excited for dinner as were big fans of the location in Newport. But I suppose our expectations were too high. Our favorite dish was probably the kale Caesar salad. The rigatoni bolognese was also good. However, the prosciutto pizza and carbonara pasta were let downs. The carbonara was probably one of the worse we have ever had. It was extremely dry and lacked any flavor. The pizza had scattered cheese and very little figs, that each bite was missing the flavor profile. It's a shame because the restaurant has a great vibe with an awesome bar. Our server was great but not sure if we would be coming back. read more

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Sat at the bar. I had a delicious, but very filling farro salad, would go back for that. My husband had the arancini and devoured them . I then had a mushroom flatbread pizza, which you cut with scissors, and my partner had the gnocchi. Fun night out, about $150 with tip. read more

Glad this space is now occupied by Bar cino. This is just what the area needed. Love the Italian food here. Great meatballs. Great Flatbreads. Amazing server! The staff is so nice here. They gave a cool patio for outdoor dining as well. I was very happy with this visit. I'll be back because it's so close. read more

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A really sparkling gem of a restaurant. The menu offers something for everybody. I had a wonderfully substantive chicken soup and delicious kale avocado salad. They also have seating for parties of various sizes, although if you have a large party, reservations are highly recommended. Our party of 8 had a large round table at the front corner windows and it was just lovely. It was Friday lunchtime and was quite popular. read more

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This is the new sister restaurant of the Bar 'Cino in Brookline. They've been open for about 6 months and if you liked the Brookline location, you're gonna like this one even more! It is bigger, more spacious, and better service than the original location. The menu and food quality is about the same, but the service here is slightly better as I felt less rushed here. For parking, there is a big free parking lot in the back of the restaurant and street parking available. The ambiance is upscale, with modern art on the walls, dim lighting, an open concept kitchen, and a large bar in the middle. For the appetizers, definitely order the Braised Meatballs (3 large soft juicy pieces served over ricotta cheese), Fritto Misto (calamari, shrimp, and lemon aioli) that was fried perfectly and had good variety, and Grilled Broccolini (delicious and very slightly spicy with served with a zesty sauce). The only thing I wouldn't recommend are the baked clams. The shells came broken in pieces and the taste was overwhelmed by too much tomato sauce. For the entrees, the clear favorites were the 14oz New York Strip with Roasted Potatoes and Broccolini plus the Chianti-Marsala Braised Beef Short Rib with Parmesan Polenta and Roasted Mushrooms. The meats were very tender and melted in your mouth and worth every penny! The Roasted Rhode Island Mushroom Pizza came out whole and we cut it ourselves using a scissor that was provided. The Rigatoni Bolognese and and Whole Roasted Branzino were also pretty solid. The fish came with a lot of arugula which was a perfect combination as a side. For dessert, we got the Pistachio Gelato + Pineapple, Orange, and Guava Sorbet. The gelato was rich, creamy, and full of pistachio flavor. The sorbet had a lot going on and overall tasted tart and sour so I wouldn't order it again. For 5 people and ordering a lot, our bill was less than $250 so it felt like a deal for the portions and quality. They didn't charge us automatic gratuity and you can sign up for restaurant rewards with them and their sister restaurants if you're interested. Overall, Bar 'Cino is a solid choice for Italian food if you're in the area. read more

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Revisited Barcino twice in one week and was very happy. Their Tri-Colour Salad with Salmon was excellent. They do dressings very well. Revisited the oven roasted chicken piadini with arugula, pesto, chicories grana padano and oh boy, is it back!!! My favorite item on the menu!! It also appeared their grilled pizzas are back - crust is thin and flaky vs like pizza dough. They were slammed yesterday and still everything was timely and delivered hot. Even the manager was delivering plates! That's team work! We'll be back! read more

Bar 'Cino Watertown - oven roasted chicken piadini - Italian Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

I love Bar'Cino Excellent food and service. They really opened up the design. Lots of light. read more

First time going to this Watertown location, and I definitely plan on going again. I usually go to the Brookline location, but I love the parking convenience of this location. FYI - There is a shared parking lot with meters behind the restaurant. There's also a back entrance to the restaurant , which was sooooo convenient!!! My dinner reservation was later in the evening, so parking was actually free too. What a win-win!!! The inside ambiance of this location is very similar to the Brookline location. I can't tell if it was more spacious inside ... or just felt that way compared to the crazy-business of the other location. The food was equally amazing at this location, and the menu seemed to be the same. Just something to think about if you can't get a reservation at one of locations, especially since these two locations aren't that far apart from one another. That's actually how I ended up at this location. Maybe it was the night, but I definitely preferred the service at this Watertown location. It was much more genuine and assertive. I sometimes feel like the service at the Brookline location is rushed and less attentive. Fortunately, the food is always so good that the service can be lacking a little ... JUST A LITTLE THOUGH. Thankfully, I had good service and food here!!! I got my usual Tuscan Kale Salad. So flavorful and a must have!!! I also got the Tagliatelle, which was perfectly garlicky and mushroom-y. It's so good that I've actually been craving it and cannot wait to go back!!! Just as a side note ... took my friend here. It was her first time, and she loved it!!! Therefore, I know you'll love it too!!! read more

Bar 'Cino Watertown - Italian Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

We went on a snowy night. The atmosphere was great. We sat by the window and watched the snowfall. We ordered several of the appetizers and entrees that our waitress recommended and they were all delicious. I am planning on going back. read more

My friends and I were looking for an Italian place to take a friend out. I found this place and made a reservation for a Sunday evening. Didn't realize it was restaurant week so it was a little busy but fine. Some of us ordered from the normal menu and some ordered from the set restaurant week menu. Everyone enjoyed everything they had except for maybe the arancini appetizer and flourless cake. The arancini was bland and had a strange sauce with it. The flourless cake was more dense than expected so felt heavy to eat. The food we did enjoy.... -short ribs with polenta. The meat was flavorful and easy to eat a good portion size as well -pork chop with peppers and onions was huge! It was juicy and perfectly cooked. -the bolognese rigatoni was a perfect al dente. It wasn't smothered in too much sauce and again portion size was pretty good. -bruschetta, meatballs and mozzarella balls apps all were delicious Drinks were made well and prices to portion size was reasonable. The service was very good. Just to point out when the table ordered drinks and were brought to the table, one person was only drinking water. The server offered a lemon or something else to add to the water if wanted. What a nice suggestion. The only issue we had was the airflow and temp. I don't know if it's where we were seated or not but it was a little annoying. When we first were seated it was cold, cold air blowing down on us. *just to note it was a cold night, like 20F cold* At some point the air flow changed to warm air and it was very comfortable but then it changed back to cold air blowing. We just happened to have an engineer in our party who made a comment at the poor layout of the ac/heating units. Overall everyone had a good time with good food and atmosphere. We will def come again sometime but maybe sit at a diff table. Never take my word and check it out yourself. read more

Visiting from out of town and I as looking for a dinner spot before a concert I attended. I cannot recommend this place enough! The food was amazing, and the service was wonderful. Our server was attentive and kind. We arrived around 4 for dinner and the restaurant was busy but not too crowded. We received all of our food in a timely manner. The fritto misto was amazing, perfectly crispy and not too oily. My dad had the beef short rib that looked and smelled amazing, and I had the rigatoni bolognese which was phenomenal! I also tried the blueberry basil spritz, the flavors were blended perfectly together! I would definitely come back to this restaurant if I was ever in town again. read more

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Went by accident this summer and have returned on purpose The food is amazing and the staff is great read more

Just went back - was goodish. Some underwhelming moments. Dessert was a savior and very good.

Their "brandt beef burger" is (by far!) the best burger I've had in years. Unfortunately it seems to no longer available- I hope they offer it again soon! read more

Came here with a friend to celebrate our birthdays and had a great experience. Our server (Georgia-I think!) was great. Just the right amount of attentiveness, friendly, and professional. read more

We came in for dinner Sunday while being in town for a funeral. Lou was our server and was so kind and even though we came in close to closing time reassured us that there was time to wait for the rest of our party and had time to order with no pressure. She was great with food and drink recommendations. We all really enjoyed our pizzas and salads. Thank you Lou for your kindness!! read more

Tried Bar 'Cino for the first time on a Thursday night and ate on the outdoor patio. Great atmosphere inside and out. We ordered a few apps, a pizza, and a pasta to share as a party of four. The food was delicious and fresh -- highlights for me were the prosciutto bruschetta and bolognese. The pasta with the bolognese was cooked perfectly al dente. Service was a bit slow, but our waitress was extremely friendly and doing her best. The pistachio ricotta dessert is a must-get. Overall, this is a solid spot and I wouldn't hesitate to go back. read more

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Solid place. The place can get really loud though. Came here 2x once for brunch a few months ago and more recently for the Dine Out Boston dinner. The Dine Out Boston dinner was totally worth it. Great sized portions. The asparagus app was big as they have huge sizes of grilled asparagus. It tasted delicious. The chicken Milanese was more like a chicken cutlet (I thought it would be grilled). It was fried to perfection and the topping was bright and acidic so the dish didn't taste too heavy. The panna cotta was okay. Good service and good food. If you don't mind the loud noises then this is the place for you. read more

The food is delicious! We got the crispy cauliflower which I am OBSESSED with, and the meatballs to share. I then got the bolognese, one of us got the Caesar salad with chicken Milanese, and the other the carbonara. The chicken Milanese looked so good and I will definitely try that next! My friends got wine and I tried the South Shore daiquiri which I was not a fan of sadly. The waitress was very nice, but service was a little slow. It is a pretty restaurant and got more and more crowded around the bar area as the night got later! read more

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A rather nuanced take on certain traditional Italian dishes. The farro salad with greens, Brussel sprouts, squash, and orange dressing was excellent. The greens were crispy and well balanced with the softer elements including the cheese and the roasted squash. The dressing was a bit heavy, but the dish was otherwise good. The crispy cauliflower with shallots, capers, and Calabrian honey were nicely fried and seasoned ... the honey was a bit too sweet but the allium bits were diced in small bits as not to overpower the dish. The fried seafood was probably the weakest dish of all, as the fried bits got a tad soggy over time and the lemon aoili was a bit too rich and there was too much of it. The fried lemon slices were a revelation though. The braised meatballs were excellent, accompanied by a polenta. The polenta was a bit too creamy and congealed after a while. Upon reheating though it's delicious. The grilled broccolini was tender and yet had a nice bite in it; again a little less olive oil could have been helpful. The Chicken Milanese was delicious; the meat was nicely fried and not super thick, with a pesto sauce on top. I think it had a bit of an anchovy flavor, which might have been a tad strong, and again, in general there was a bit too much oil content in the batter. The accompanying salad was also very good; it contained some chicories stems which I never really liked but I liked them here. The salad again was dressed a bit too heavily. The chocolate budino tart was excellent, with a crust that had a bit of an interesting spice in it (might have been star anise, or might have been something else). The raspberry sorbet was exceptionally refreshing, although a bit too sweet. The environment was a lot of fun to be in, although I can imagine it getting quite loud during weekends dinner service. Service was amazing; Alex was very attentive and informative about the various items on the menu. read more

Very spacious inside with high ceilings. They have a nice outdoor patio. Decent size menu. Food is pretty average. They have a pre-fixe menu for $36 includes an appetizer, entree and a dessert. Not everyone at the table is required to get it. Our servers were very attentive and polite. read more

I love this place and usually prefer this one over the Brookline location. They have great pizza, and their appetizers are delicious! My go-to is the broccoli rabe and cauliflowers drizzled in honey! Very budget friendly menu! read more

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