My friends live close to this restaurant and they really love it, so I decided to give it a try. I had the linguine with light cream and wild mushrooms. Although the pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was really bland. I mean, incredibly bland--so much so that every other bite I felt like I had to keep adding more salt, more pepper and more parmesan cheese. Everyone else at the table really liked their dishes [seafood pasta, broccoli rabe with sausage and cheese pizza]. So I'm not really sure what was up with my mine. Service was crazy slow but it didn't really bother any of us. The bartender overheard us saying happy birthday to one of our friends and she went out of her way to notify our waitress, who, thoughtfully brought over a slice of tiramisu cake with a birthday candle. If I ever get around to it, I'd try this place again. read more

I'd actually say 3.5 stars for this one, but I'm feeling nice so I'll round up. A group of 4 of us came here late on a Friday night for dinner. There wasn't a lot of seating when we arrived, but there was a table right by the door that would seat 4. However, we were confused because there was no "host" or really any employee in sight. So, thinking it was a "seat yourself' kind of deal, we proceeded to sit down. We then found an employee and double checked to make sure it was okay to sit there. He told us a group at the bar was waiting for that table, so we moved over to the bar to wait for an opening. Then we were told that said group was fine at the bar, and we were welcome to the table. As we were sitting down, someone else stopped us to tell us that, again, said group was waiting for this table. We explained that it had become available, and he left us alone. Not a great first impression, but whatever. We sat down and proceeded to enjoy a pretty good meal, but not without a few difficulties. Their menu is basically all over the place - American, Italian, some vegetarian options, soups, salads - so it's difficult to classify what kind of restaurant this is, but it was nice to have options. I ordered a Pesto Panini sandwich that was delicious, and my boyfriend got the short ribs, which were also excellent. Our friends across the table didn't particularly enjoy their plates - one got plain pasta and the other got an eggplant dish which was disappointing. The Antipaso appetizer, however, was excellent and sizable, and their beer/wine selections were good as well. The major issue we had that night was with the cold. Our table was right next to the entrance, and despite 2 heavy curtains between us and the door, it was freezing even when the door wasn't open. If I went back, I would either insist on sitting far away from the door, or on them making the necessary alterations to ensure that those NY winters don't freeze customers out of an appetite. The setting is also quite nice - it's dark with romantic lighting, and though small, it's a good use of the space. I enjoyed the atmosphere and would recommend it for a date, plus it's quiet enough to carry on a conversation without having to shout. As long as it's not December-February and you're not near the door, I'd say it's pretty easy to enjoy Bar Toto. read more

I must say I agree with most of the reviews. The place has a really nice ambiance, somewhat bohemian in feel. But it is missing a certain something that make you fall in love with a place. Its nice but its a bit average. The food is good, the service was ok. The place isnt a bad spot but you are more likely to fall in like with the place instead of falling in love with it. I have no plans of going back there b/c I need to be in love to go back for seconds. read more

I'm going for the five stars on this one. Excellent wine list, cozy atmosphere, great food. It can get a little pricey, but I'm convinced that's mainly because their wine list is so incredible you don't want to limit yourself to just one glass. I asked the waitress for a recommendation on a dry white wine and she gave me exactly what I wanted--awesome. Mussels were scrumptious and the perfect amount for a party of 4 or 5 to share. I got the tilapia entree. The fish was a little overcooked for my taste, but the excellent seasoning more than made up for it. Shared a bread pudding after the meal--by this time I was too full to eat much of it--which was excellent as well. Warm, gooey, and fruity. This place is small, so I wouldn't recommend it for big groups. Our party had 5 people and we took up quite a bit of space. I would definitely come back for an intimate date with my boyfriend, or to sit at the bar and have drinks with a friend. read more

Brunch sub par. Noting tasted good... gave it a try for the second time ... go elsewhere

This place LOOKS phenomenal. Beautiful leaded glass windows and interior mirrors to match. An old-school bar, fun olive oil tins on shelves high above the patrons' heads, a great atmosphere... ...too bad the food doesn't live up to the decor. The style of italian here is definitely americanized. Pizzas have an overabundance of oily cheese and a bit too much not-quite-smooth red sauce atop a very nice crust. Paninis are crisp but quickly saturate with the excessive oil of their contents. Fries are delightful, cappucinos and Guinness pints are perfect. Pasta is... a little overdone, american-style, oil-licious... and the sausage is unimaginative. Salads are beautiful, but again, awash in an Exxon sea of olio. This is a beautiful romantic spot for drinks, just beware the dinner. read more

Feels like this place just gets better each visit (is that even possible?!?) The pappardelle here is amazing. The sauce is rich + flavorful. Can't keep stop eating it bite after bite. Yummy rigatoni with kale. This has become one of our our regular go-to joints in the neighborhood. Must try their warm apple tart with ice-cream. You won't regret ordering it. read more

Bar Toto - Soup+ half a panini+ salad only 9.95!!! - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Get it together, people. C'mon, you can do it. I've been here a total of ... twice and had exactly the same "like" and "dislike" both times. I enjoy the cocktails and food here, certainly. The Aperol Spritz is a joy to imbibe. They make a great one, and with one sip you'll feel like you're in the south of Switzerland. The food - yummy. I've nearly scarfed down a whole pizza on my first visit, and their panini(s) is certainly made with love. And now for the "Area of Further Development." The service. Nervous, weird and slow, to put it mildly. It's shockingly slow. The place often seems busy, but it's probably because half the people there have been waiting 30 minutes for a glass of water ... or a menu. They seem like they have enough staff, but wow, they really need to get this place organized as far as all front-of-house matters are concerned. It's a shame too. The interiors are quite nice and the food IS good, but when you have to wait an excessive amount of time for evvvvvvvverything, it makes the rest of the experience suffer greatly. Don't go in there if you're looking for a "quick bite to eat." read more

I must say their Cubano Italiano is one of the better inventive sandwiches I've had in a long time. It consists of marinated short ribs, prosciutto, cheese and garlic mayo inside a crisp panini. It's the short ribs that give the sandwich character. Well done meat which is moist and scented with nutmeg. One should really try it. Toto's fried calamari is decent as well. Not greasy or over cooked. You can actually taste the squid. The last time I had good fried calamari anywhere was at the now shuttered snack stand on the Canarsie Pier. My only complaint is they don't include legs. The house coffee is semi strong yet not bitter. Pour some milk in the cup and it's balanced. Toto has a nice interior as well. They saved the old black and white floor tiles as well as the tin ceiling and bar, which by the way seems to be stocked with some very nice top shelf booze. But don't quote me, I'm not that much of a drinker. I'm usually not a fan of nouveau rustic but this renovation seems to be a professional job. They do need to work on the timing. It took way too long in between my appetizer and the sandwich. I don't blame the bartender/waiter, he's there alone and did the best he could. I'd like to go back and try their smoked mozzarella pizza. read more

I like brooklyn a lot... It's a totally different vibe than manhattan and I love heading out for a day trip. It's like going to a different city where there's this different rhythm, and things are a little more mellow. Also there isn't so much pretension... I used to go to this Bar Toto every so often with a friend of mine who lived around the corner. It's great food, and the waitresses would always flirt with me. I didn't mind cause they were cute. This doesn't happen in Manhattan! Also they have good pizza... did I mention the pizza? It's easy to get to, F train to 9th street (7th Ave) then walk a couple short blocks and you're there. Have some wine too... Yum! read more

Like many expressed, wanted to like this place due to it being on 6th, it being open late, outdoor seating and the very en vogue vintage interior but sadly the food did not inspire. Got the prosciutto n' pea penne pasta--pow p's! It actually was alright, the prosciutto was pretty good and the cream sauce was okay. Penne was clearly not homemade but overall it was satisfying. The vegetarian pizza however was not good at all. It tasted flavorless. It was 'under-baked' and limp. The dough needed salt and the whole pizza just seemed lifeless. It didn't help it was served cold too--c'mon have to time dishes going out together. One decent dish and one flop wouldn't be that bad in some contexts but there's no shortage of Italian food or restaurants in the Slope. So alas, if absolutely need be might back to try something safe like a panini but more than likely it will fall into that category, "oh, yeah, meh, I ate there once..." read more

Came here recently with a friend. We sat outside because it was a beautiful day. It didn't look busy--when we sat down, there was only one other table of two next to us. I didn't go inside but it seemed pretty empty as well. So it was surprising that service was terrible. Our waiter, although a super nice guy, was never around. When he was outside, he never looked our way so it was hard to get his attention without calling to him, which I had to do. At one point, I looked in and he was just talking with the bartender inside. When we finally asked for the check, he disappeared again only to return to see how we were doing--without the check. At least, he was attentive at the end. The food was okay. We shared a pepperoni pizza, which was good. The shrimp salad seemed a bit sad with too much salad and not enough shrimp. The lemon vinaigrette was good and went well with the salad. I ordered the Bacio, which I could have sworn was supposed to have alcohol in it. But it was just pineapple juice. I can't see why people love this place so much. Maybe I went on an off day. Maybe the waiter was having an off day. But I think people overlook its flaws because of the location and convenience. read more

This is everything I like in a neighborhood spot. The food's satisfying, if never mind-blowing (though the burgers have come close on occasion). The drinks are good and fairly priced. The ambience is cozy without veering into twee. And the service is warm without being obtrusive. Oh, and they're super baby friendly, which I suppose cuts both ways, depending on your perspective. read more

I've only ordered delivery from Toto but it wasn't a great experience either time... Aside from the fact that the second time I ordered the exact same dish it came prepared completely different - there's the issue that it was drowning in (a totally different) sauce to the point that it resembled soup. In addition, the pasta is WAY past al dente, and, after tax and delivery fee (!?) you're looking at $22 for one pasta dish. Save yourself the money and frustration and make your own... This place is ridiculous for what you get. My Sicilian Grandma would spit twice on the ground before she fainted onto same. In summation: "Meh." read more

We really only come here late on weeknights. About once a week. For the last year. Other reviewers have comments specific to brunch. Brunch, schmunch. This place is great at, specifically, 10:45 on a Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday night. It's just you (and maybe us), three other patrons, a nice waitress or two, and the full menu at your disposal. Sit at the bar, try three or four different wines, it's casual and wonderful. We love the fact that the kitchen is open until midnight. We get home late and head here for their pizzas and for the fresh pasta. The papardelle is really beautiful. You might question the price of the simple-sounding papardelle bolognese ($14) but it really is worth the price. Or get a full pizza and take half home for breakfast tomorrow, it keeps really well. Yes, if you come for regular dining hours, the tables are indeed too close together and it can be a bit noisy, and under stressful service conditions you might find something to complain about. But come here during off-hours and it's really perfect; the kitchen really knows what it's doing. read more

Stopped here while visiting friends in Brooklyn and absolutely loved this place. Staff is pleasant, ambiance is perfect for the neighborhood and food is superb. The Cubano Italiano is a must-try read more

Bar Toto - Cubano Italiano at Bar Toto.. Must-have! - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Meh. Couldn't have said it better myself, Yelp. Bar Toto is consistently average, however we just got back from brunch this morning and I now feel it's fallen below average. After seating ourselves (the server jerked her head towards the table where she wanted us to sit), we waited several minutes before getting our own menus. Another several minutes before being given water or having our order taken. The service didn't improve throughout the visit (maybe I'd blacklisted us already by grabbing our own menus?), no one asked us if our food was ok, although we were offered a coffee refill. The food arrived quickly, but was not hot. The cheese in my panini wasn't melted. The fries (actually the whole reason we chose to go there in the first place, the fries used to be so good!) were soggy, chewy, and tasted like the oil they'd been fried in was slightly off, or old. There were grinds floating in the coffee. Several hours later, my stomach is hurting. Ick. With so many other delicious brunch options within a few blocks (Piccoli, Sweet Wolf's, The Prospect, SeaWitch) we won't be coming back to Bar Toto. read more

What a disappointment! Ate here last night -- we had a mussels special for an appetizer. There were easily a half dozen that made it to the table closed and a few tasted fishy, so we didn't bother to finish that course. The pizza vegetale was bland and my boyfriend said his pasta with eggplant and mozzarella was not as good as the way I make it, and I'm a pretty mediocre cook! The portions were huge, if the food were good it would be quite a value, but I'm not going back. read more

I love this place! Have been many times for brunch, dinner, or drinks. I recommend the french toast as well as the prosciutto pizza. There's a nice outdoor seating area, as well as a comfortable interior with classy decor. The staff is always warm and friendly, and I've yet to have a bad experience at all. I live in Crown Heights and make the trip over to Park Slope frequently for Bar Toto! read more

Misleading Pricing?? I decided to order eggplant parmigiana to pick up that was priced as $8.00 on their website as well as on menupages. When I picked up my food, my bill was $15.17. I thought perhaps I had misread the menu and paid the amount. When I came home I checked only to find out that I was right. Ok mistakes happen, I thought. When I called to bring this to their attention, the woman who picked up the phone said that those menus were outdated and that there is nothing she can do but pass on the message and then hung up. WOW. Not a good way to handle the situation. The food itself wasn't that great either. There were two slices of eggplant drowned in cheese and oil with barely any sauce. Hardly a meal- within two bites it was gone and the hunger remained. I have to agree with most of the reviews, I'm not against returning to Bar Toto but I'm not for it either. read more

I really enjoy this place. I have been for lunch and dinner and both were well done. I went here on a date and was worried about the close seating and the idea of pasta and Italian food on a first date but it all worked out. The food was seasoned perfectly and the Rigatoni with Broccoli Rabe was spicy with the bite of the rabe and mellowed out by the olive oil and cheese. Once your date begins to enjoy the food you forget that you both are going to have garlic breath and stuff between your teeth so its all good. The panini's are all cooked nicely ( my favorite being the homemade sausage with taleggio and caramelized onions) with a nice crisp grilled crust and warm melted fillings. I have taken friends here for casual times and even my parents who are hard to please. Everyone has enjoyed.Tables are a bit close but it's not so awful and unbearable that you feel like you may as well sit in the lap next to you and spoon feed the person. It can get crowded however so be aware there may be a wait read more

I never waste my time and write review but they just wasted my time so here we go Really bad services !! I've been waiting for an hour and half the food nobody called me - just waiting and waiting I asked if they can still deliver the food and they said no. Another time I went there - feels like we was asking too much to the waiter - we only asked for a coffee and bread- no smile or anything- So basically one hour and half of wait for absolutely no food at all + really bad services all the time- Food just ok anyway - read more

A cute spot in South Slope, great for lunch. The bruschetta was amazing. I loved that each piece was different. I had the pomodoro with sausage, so good! Can't wait to go back and try more dishes. read more

Bar Toto - Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Humans have a tendancy to think of the world in terms of cause and effect... one thing happens, and later in time, something else happens because of the first event. However, this is a case where something that comes after the inciting incident is so great that it changes the space/time continuum, making the trailing event actually create the event that would later create it. Confused? Take Toto... Brunch at Toto is so absolutely incredible it created some sort of wormhole through time and implanted the idea of brunch in Britain sometime around 1896, thus, Toto gave us brunch. Had it not been for the creation of Toto, we would still just have late breakfast and drinking would still be reserved for the afternoon. What makes it this way? The Gorgonzola and mushroom polenta for one, their kick ass not-too-spicey-but-still-got-a-kick margaritas, and a veggie panini with fries will make any hangover feel like a day on the beach. I can't imagine a better Park Slope brunch spot. read more

I went here with a friend of mine who was sober but extremely loud and annoying but in a funny cute way, cursing at the bartender and belittling me in front of the staff, oh good times. The bartender seemed to enjoy it. and served us most of the night. The place was cute and had a real chill vibe with great lighting and their drinks were nice and strong. The food was meh and that's why it got a 2. The calamari tasted fine but it had a poor texture and it turned to rubber. My burger was decent but the panini it was on was tasty and a nice surprise. The pasta with eggplant and smoked mozz was okay, It tasted like something I could have made at home and the mozz was not smoked. I would come back to drink but not to eat. read more

Came here tonight and it was still nice enough to sit outside. Great service, good food, and nice ambiance. I'd come back here again!

I completely agree with all the reviews that give a thumbs up on the decor here. Really dig the molded ceilings and the general old-timey vibe. Now, perhaps the chef took the night off (we went this past Friday early evening), but our food didn't live up to the rave reviews I'm reading on here. We got the margherita pizza and the sausage and kale rigatoni, and they were both very middle-of-the-road. Would I come back? Maybe for drinks because we really liked the vibe of the place, but for Italian food I'll go elsewhere in the Slope. read more

This has become my local favorite! I have only been here 3 times so far, but that will double in no time. The staff has been very nice and attentive. The food simple and delicious. They have a wine list that compliments the menu. We are new parents, and they were very accommodating to us with the baby. I wouldn't be mad if every Sunday I had a little Rosé and Pappardelle late afternoon snack!! read more

All bacon lovers, I do not know how they make their bacon here, but it was some of the best I have had! It was not too salty, was crispy but not dry, just perfect. Went for brunch and the same thing can be said for their pancakes...not doughy but light and full of flavor. Our bartender, Roger, mixed perfect cocktails and I will be going back for certain. The ambiance is nice as well, what a wonderful neighborhood spot. read more

We came to this spot a few nights ago for some drinks and appetizers and to escape some rain, and overall it's a decent place. The antipasti dish that we got was generous, with grilled vegetables, cheese, meat, and toasty bread. The drinks we had were okay too. The service was pleasant and polite, and overall we had a good experience. Nothing blew my socks off, but a good neighborhood spot. read more

A new friend took me here and I'm surprised I had never been or heard much about it. We went after work at about 7:30pm. We walked in and all the tables were filled, which to me is a good sign, this place is no secret! But thankfully there was plenty of room at the bar. Bar Toto has a good selection of beers on tap. My friend recommended the Margherita pizza which was $8. It was a massive pizza and it was one of the best pizzas I've had but also very different than any pizza I've had. It was a thin style crust but very chewy. I believe it was a corn meal sprinkled crust and it was slightly sweet, I can't quite place it but it was amazing. We also tried the mussels appetizer and the calamari appetizer which were both delish. I will be back! read more

Good, but not the best. Although I have never had a problem with the quality of the food, the service varies depending on the night. Pricing increased which made it a less worthwhile place to go, spending 4 dollars on a tiny piece of Bruschetta isn't really fair for Brooklyn, especially knowing the ingredients used. Maybe they're special organic tomatoes imported from a valley in italy, but it's unlikely. Either way, I'll go here once prices drop, or quantity increases. However, I have enjoyed many summer evenings in the seating outdoors, when you can sit outside and enjoy the weather, and there's no humidity. It's not a noisy block, so it's worthwhile. The pizza isn't bad, it's got good crunchy crust, thin, and tasty. Panini's are also really good. read more

This great little place serves up some really wonderful Italian food. There are dishes on the menu that you don't see very often (like their bread salad.) There isn't a lot of seating, so sometimes there is a wait, but it's worth it. I'm pretty sure their chocolate pot de creme is the best in the city. read more

Came back to this place after couple of years since I moved to a different neighborhood. I was excited to seat outside with my dog and honestly came to this place only for this reason. As soon as we arrived we were informed that the dog had to be kept outside of the gate. I asked why since the law has finally changed and you can keep your dog inside the outdoor cafes now. The waiter responded by saying that yes the law has changed but now it's up to the restaurant to let you eat inside the gate or not. Ok thanks, so you don't want my business because my small super well behaved dog is going to bother the customers that you don't have (there was only one table with one person eating outside). Good luck with your business and thank you for your (lack of) hospitality! read more

Just grabbed brunch here. Thoroughly enjoyed my eggs florentine which was served in a creamy parmesan sauce accompanied by polenta. The spinach was sautéed with onions and tasted light and flavorful. I often have trouble eating sautéed spinach because I think it can become soggy and chlorophyll-ish very easily. They also serve your meal with a side salad or fries, which is a pretty good value for ~$10 for a meal. I also shared a kale salad with ricotta, shallots, and a mustard-dijon vinaigrette. I appreciated the fact that the kale was shredded and the dressing was evenly distributed but not too heavy. It was a beautiful day so we sat outside, I enjoyed admiring the little flower boxes along the fence that surrounded the outdoor patio. The umbrellas were also helpful since it would have probably been a little uncomfortable to sit out there without being in the shade. The service was a little slow and we got our meals after some couples who had arrived later than us, but it didn't matter to me since I wasn't in any rush. Would recommend this spot if you happen to be strolling by. My tummy is quite pleased :) read more

Yummy & nice ambionse. I had a the Toto burger, a delicious panini burger with gorgonzola cheese and red onions. The french fries were reallllly good! It was hot and muggy out, so I wasn't feeling the red wine vibe...but I really don't like beer... so I ordered their Cidre from France. It came in my very own ice cold 375ml bottle, and it tasted like apple juice champagne. Happiness!! The only non-perfect thing about my visit, was I sat too close to the door. The A/C was not a workin to well. read more

Bar Toto has a good panini burger (hamburger on a panini instead of a bun), which comes with some of the most delicious french fries I've ever eaten. That's why it gets 3 stars and I have gone there a few times. However, I ordered a pasta dish off their regular menu and it was absolutely horrible. Cold, tasted super-pre-prepared... The service is so-so and very slow (hard to get our menus, hard to get our order taken, hard to get our check, etc). It's overpriced for what it is, although the interior has a really cool old tin ceiling and I like the ambiance. read more

This place is like my kitchen. My neighborhood go-to place when I dont feel like staying at home. Great pastas, panini & salads. The help is really friendly & accommodating. They just added free range chicken & organic beef to their menu which is a big plus. Brunches are great & the outdoor space is just what the dr ordred during warm weather. I love having this place in my neighborhood. read more

Bar Toto is a nice neighborhood bar/restaurant. I've been here many times for brunch and dinner. The prices are really cheap for the food. And the service is good as well. Their best dish is their pizza. The crust is thin but still chewy. There's not too much sauce. It is just overall very well constructed, with a clean taste. Where they falter is their entrees. I had a risotto with roasted salmon. And the rice came out so dry it was just not edible. The salmon was overcooked too. (The owner did take this off the bill). I also had a dish with polenta and parmesan (I can't remember the full dish now) and it was over-salted. I think their kitchen is perhaps not consistent on the entrees and specials. But their pizza has consistently been in top form. I would recommend coming here for their pizza. I really wanted to give it 3.5 but, alas, it's not available on Yelp. read more

Overrated. Nothing spectacular. Simple Italian food, cooked just fair. I've been here on several occasions ordering a pizza, panini and burger. All times the food was just fair. Ambiance is nice with bar, small tables and dim lighting/candles. read more