Perhaps this is due to my higher expectations, but I left the restaurant feeling very disappointed about the food. As a wine bar, I'm sure this is one of the better places in the area. Only this fact, and the beautiful cellar seating keeps it from receiving two stars. read more

Went here on Valentines Day a few weeks ago and it was amazing! They didn't overbook so we were seated right at out reservation time. Had a couple drinks at their bar upstairs which was also nice. Atmosphere is great for dates and they are pretty hidden which keeps out a lot of walk in traffic. Food was excellent! All in all it's a great place that we will be back to sooner than later! read more

What a hidden gem!! My gf and I were in NYC w/ our two 15 yr olds. We asked the concierge for a Italian restaurant. She directed to Bacaro's. Barely could fun the place on this nasty dark unlit alley but BAM! You walk in and the place is lit by candles . We walked down the steps and were transplanted to Italy! The food was incredible Squid ink pasta, the shrimp and grits and the "meat platter"!! It was authentic Italian food. Not American Italian of lasagna and meatballs! It was incredible! So much we kept ordering! And our picky 15 yr old couldn't stop eating SQUID INK PASTA!! Delicioso!! read more

This restaurant was amazing. Everything from the food, decor, ambiance and service was stellar. The flour less chocolate cake was the best one my husband has ever had. Enjoy! read more

Very nice looking spot. Dark wood, dark brick. The atmosphere is great. Food is good, but the service was awful. We waited 20 min for the waiter to take our order, which may have been tolerable if they'd taken our drink order. It didn't get better. We left feeling like we'd been ignored by our waiter. Won't be going back. read more

What's not to like about this place -- great food and atmosphere. The food is served in small plates, so perfect for sharing. My favorite dishes were the gnocchi and the stuffed artichoke. The staff was friendly and attentive. The candlelit wine cellar makes you think you're somewhere in Italy and not Chinatown. I am sucker for details and totally loved the decor down to the candelabras and ornate wine glasses. Not to mention they were playing Beirut when I was sitting at the bar! read more

Wonderful atmosphere, surprisingly fitting and original background music and delicious food. We sampled the zucchini flowers, stuffed artichoke, risotto, gnocci, lasagna, and pork shank. All were well prepared but in my opinion the risotto was the prize-winner. I will definitely return to Bacaro if I find myself in the neighborhood, but perhaps not make a designated trip there. The restaurant was indeed cozy and delightful, but I found it a bit overpriced for what it is...mostly glorified appetizers. read more

Went there last night, it was kind of rainy, so we thought it might be a good night to go since they don't take reservations, we got there around 9, and we got sat right away downstairs, but honestly that was just lucky because the place was pretty packed and got more crowded as we were eating, the food was great, 4 of us shared the fried meatballs, stuffed artichoke and the crostini platter as appetizers, and for dinner we had the lasagna, the gnocchi, pumpkin risotto, and the sliced steak. We basically just shared everything so I got a chance to taste every dish and couldn't even pick a favorite, they were all very good. Was way to stuffed to even contemplate dessert. The place is also really cozy downstairs, definitely a good spot for the cold weather with lots of nooks and crannies, and little tucked away corners, great date spot, now if only I could find the date to go with ha ha read more

We really liked this place , David Fernandez was our server and he did above and beyond to show us a good time. Great food and a perfect spot to enjoy a not so fast passed NY read more

Such a cute place. Lots of character. I called at the last minute for a table for 2 for a date. We got in no trouble. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and great with his recommendations. We had the Zucchini Blossom which was filled with ricotta cheese and fried. Its was an appetizer special. Was very good. We ordered the Duck Ragu and Vegetarian Lasagna. I highly recommend the food here. We even received a complimentary dessert. I will be recommending this lovely restaurant. read more

This is the 1st time HIGHMONSTER gives a 3 star, HM lives in this neighborhood for yearrrrssss and been coming here for yearssss and always been 5 star, great food for my picky taste buds, best staff, you know what I'm saying??? BUT last time I came here it was a NIGHTMARE HM do not want to recall ever again. I came with a large group, food was FANTASTIC as usual BUT damn this ONE waitress kinda killed the vibes!!! She was rude, not nice to ANY of HighMonster's friends, and refused to take our check and money, walked passed our tables multiple times, BUT SMILING and being nice to other tables, we had to call THE OTHER waitress over. I mean DAMN, everyone was confused and kinda bummed. We don't know what the reason was, maybe because we are not the most monotonous group, maybe we are too diversed? Like HM always say, (don't wanna sound like a grandpa) these NEW NY ppl think they are so cool and running the world, ruinning the authenticity. Being rude =\= being cool. GET YO FACTS STRAIGHT read more

Great little spot close to Chinatown that I went to a few weeks back. The setting is romantic, I guess, very dimly lit place and the downstairs has a pretty big area as well. My date ordered black squid ink pasta and I ordered Pasta with clam sauce which was pretty good as well. The waitress was super friendly and she was very attentive as well; we never waited too long for more water or to change our dirty plates. I would come back to take a look at some of the other options on the menu. Overall, not a bad spot and I would try it again. read more

There is better Italian food in New York but not in the immediate neighborhood. Not a destination restaurant but a destination for a glass of wine. read more

I have been coming to Bacaro for a few years now and the food is consistently fresh and delicious. The atmosphere is so romantic and chic, perfect for a date night or a dinner with friends. My favorite appetizers are the Crab Salad over Polenta, the Escargot (the flavor is incredible!) and the Rice Balls. For dinner the Braised Pork is melt-in-your-mouth tender, the Linguine with Clams have a ton of flavor, and the Duck Ragout Pasta is so fresh and delicious. Like other reviewers said, the portions are on the smaller side but that IS authentic Italian (not the "American Italian" portions we have here in the US). The wine list is extensive and you can get a great bottle of wine for under $35. Bacaro is tried and true and I can't wait to go back! read more

Had a lovely dinner last Saturday night. We shared 7 small plates plus individual dessert (4 ppl) and was pleasantly full. Love the fried zucchini flower special and the panna cotta... read more

Beautiful & romantic (both upstairs and downstairs). You feel like you're in a secret wine cellar. Plenty of nooks for large group dinners too. read more

The food here is great, and I especially love the way they prepare their fish. The basement reminds me of a dungeon, which provides a cool ambience and I find this to be a great place to take out-of-towners. read more

Hidden underground Italian place in Chinatown with great food and wine. The cellar is good for party of 4 or more. Always wanna go back.

it's a nicely decorated restaruant. Lots of brickface. The tables are TINY. I had the Nero and my buddy had the beef with polenta. Both were delicious!!! the pasta was al dente. The flavors were good. The polenta was supple and the beef melted in the mouth. The fried rice balls were like marbles though so don't order that. It's priced accordingly for the type of atmosphere and food. (aka, pricey) The tab came out to about 150 for two with a couple of drinks. read more

Such a good experience. We had a big group of family -- 13 total -- in from out of town and needed a special dinner. Bacaro set us up with a per head price and pre-ordered family style eating. Good of choices for each course and a measured amount of food so everyone ate as much as they liked without feeling like there was tons of food left on the table. The pacing was perfect for the courses and the waitress was attentive, keeping us supplied with wine and drinks. The table was thoughtfully bused and we felt very well taken care of. We had a 6 PM reservation and arrived a bit early and they were ready for us and even let my husband and I sneak downstairs to set out favors. The ambiance was nice, the space made us feel like we were in our own world and big group could feel like we weren't making the whole restaurant crazy. read more

I've been to this cute little china town gem twice and was blown away both times. I like how you can get 2 separate vibes depending on the mood that you're in. For a date night or intimate dinner with friends you can dine downstairs in the cellar by candle light amongst great wine rooms and simple yet chic decor. There is also an upstairs bar and small dining area as well for when you feel like people watching out of the glass windows, and if it's summer time they are wide open for lots of fresh air. As far as the food goes the appetizers (clams, sardines and mini meatballs) are great to share and the Spaghetti Nero is amazing! I will keep coming back!! read more

Great atmosphere and very reasonably priced. Rich and hearty Italian food and a very un-intimidating wine list. The staff were all very easy going and warm. The large tables in the dining room made for a bit of a noisy and almost annoying level of noise because of the large groups that were sitting at them, but it was not unbearable. Everything we ordered was delicious from the pork over polenta to the tiramisu. The highlight was probably the buffalo mozzarella appetizer. Ive never had mozzarella cheese this delicious, it was perfect! My girlfriend and I were uncontrollably making yummy noises with every bite. This is definitely a "when your parents are in town" go-to kind of place. read more

They don't take daily reservations (for small tables) but if you have a larger party they will reserve a table for you, according to our server Alaan (sp?), who was incredibly accommodating. The Polpette, while teeny, were delicious. We had several very good bottles of a red called Tremino (don't quote me on the name, but I think it was 4th on the list). It came recommended by the bartender as a more economically priced red, I believe it was $24 a bottle and $9 by the glass. Easy decision! Anyway, my friend said the Risotto was a bit too salty and I don't think the cheese plate was anything to write home about. None of the cheeses or meats were spectacular. People liked the Gnocchi quite a bit and I believe the Fritto Misto was a hit as well. But the BEST part was the Tiramisu at the end. I don't normally like Tiramisu but this was spot on. Anyway, the food didn't blow me away but the grotto-like ambiance more than compensated. I didn't feel like I was in NY at all, it reminded me of the tree bar in Barcelona off of Las Ramblas that had full grown trees INSIDE the bar. I'd say this is a great date place. But oh, the bathroom sinks need hot water. read more

I have a friend who it seems knows all of the best kept secretes in NY. This is the kind of place you would have a hard time finding if you didn't know what you were looking for. From the outside your on any random street in NY, from the inside you are in an old world Italian castle. As soon as you start down the stairs you will notice the exposed brick walls that surround the inside of the restaurant. There are several thick wooden two, four& six top tables a communal as well as an ancient looking bar in the main dinning room. The low light from the sconces cast a spell of romance over the rooms. we did not have a reservation upon arrival so were happy to be seated right away at a table along the wall. Much to our surprise and displeasure we came to learn that my chair was against the side of the bathroom door! Mood Killer... after moving to the communal we recovered and just about forgot the false start once the fantastic meal began to arrive. I tried the squid ink pasta and octopus salad for the first time here. both were unusual but good- I have been expanding my pallet lately and will try almost anything- To finish the meal we had tiramisu, no complaint but not the best I have ever had either. While we dined I watched several large groups trickle in, meet at the bar then be ushered off to another room through a shadowy brick hall lit only by the flickering wall mounted candleish fixtures. If you want to take a vacation and never leave this island try this restaurant. read more

Cozy, GREAT italian food, the service is eh and the food took a while to come out. I would go back , this place deserves another chance !

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

Spaghetti Nero is my favorite dish in the city. I come here for special occassions even though the food is priced very reasonably. The wine is what gets me though. I end up spending more on wine. The service is usually very good, couple times it's been hard to get the waiters attention. The seats are actually very uncomfortable but it's worth it for the food and the beautiful atmosphere. read more

The 40th b-day dinner was amazing! I highly recommend this location if you're looking for an intimate gathering for a group of 8-12 people.

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

This is a great addition to Lower East Side/Chinatown restaurants. I agree with the poster that said it's the epitome of downtown cool, but I did not have a negative experience. This place is casual, hip, and a bit mysterious. The downstairs area is cavernous, but not cold. Our party of four took in the fried meatballs and meat and cheese plate for appetizers. They were fine, but nothing knocked me off my feet. However, our entrees were spectacular. Particularly the spaghetti with clams--cooked to perfection. The gnocchi with mushrooms was quite good as well. It should be noted that the portions are quite small for the price per plate, but we had come from a bar and had many appetizers before coming here. It's a great little spot, perfect for romantic dates, or just a beautiful night out with friends. We found the staff friendly and helpful. No complaints. read more

Bacaro is the epitome of a date spot. It's a gorgeous little restaurant. Most of the seating is downstairs -- an earthy, dimly lit converted tavern or something of the sort with tall taper candles on the side of your table (I was deathly afraid I was going to knock one over the entire night). The restaurant manages to make you feel like you're in a secret cave with your SO while it still boasts a completely vibrant room full of patrons. The food? We definitely got ambitious and ordered two small plates, two large plates, and a dessert, which the waitress told us would be more than enough food. We got the zucchini blossoms which were delicious, so lightly crisped with just the right amount of batter and filled with cheesy goodness. The tiramisu was heavenly! It might have been one of the most delicious tiramisus I have ever tasted. As full as we were, we managed to devour the whole thing. But, those were probably the highlights of the meal. Were the rest of the dishes bad? Not at all! They just didn't wow the two of us. We got the gnocchi in brown butter with mushrooms, the razor clams which did have a really delicious sauce to dip the bread into afterward, and a shrimp and polenta dish as well. The polenta was runny, though the shrimp was well flavored. The gnocchi was stiff and a much heavier dish than I expected. And gnocchi with mushrooms is my favorite!! *sigh, if not for that, this place would have gotten 4 stars. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't go back again. The ambience is incredible and the food is definitely above average. The best part is the affordability! Under $85 for the entire meal and dessert -- in New York is a deal that can't be beat. Most places you end up paying twice as much for food of much poorer quality. So for pretty good Italian food and a gorgeous setting to share it in, you can't go wrong with giving this place a try. read more

This is a wonderful Italian restaurant. Eat downstairs if you can--I think it's like dining in a sexy dungeon. It's a great place for a date; dark, candles, great service, excellent food, portions aren't too big, and not very expensive. They change the menu a bit seasonally too. I brought a friend who doesn't like seafood and she tried the razor clams and the sea bass and thought both were absolutely delicious. read more

The door staff can make or break a place So sad. The food here is good - the sardines reminded me of Venice, the gnocchi were light and the steak melted in your mouth. The razor clams however were a bit on the sandy side. The wait staff was nice and attentive and the ambiance, well - who would know? I reserved a table downstairs and the door staff decided that we should be seated upstairs - right next to the kitchen and bathroom. This was a 7:30 reservation - not a full house at all. We weren't late and the place was empty and yet she claimed the downstairs was all booked (yeah, i was one of those bookings!) Even her co-worker was surprised when we were seated by the bathroom. I wish these restaurants realized that the experience begins when you walk in the door - I was made unhappy right from the start and with that it marred the rest of my experience. Did i like the food - yeah, it was ok. Would i ever go back? No. Would i recommend this place - certainly not. read more

Great vibe,the food was just OK. Nice bartender despite the long wait for a table downstairs. We sat at the bar for a long time after being told it would be just another couple of minutes. I would go back and try again during the week. The downstairs is really cool though and worth checking out. read more

Awful. Seriously. They have a "half-glass" wine option on the menu which instantly skews what you think you are paying. (Who has ever heard of or ordered a half glass of wine???) The food is underwhelming. The tiny meatballs are so tiny you can barely taste. The sole is good but the side of arugula is a cop out. The steak is spiced with pumpkin. Ewwww. The only thing that saves that is the good quality of the beef. Way better food in a one block radius. $135 for two people later we will both be starving in an hour. read more

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

Great ambiance here, solid wine list, and really nice food. This is a go-to restaurant that never disappoints. Great for larger gathering of close friends. 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

Good food, romantic atmosphere, great service... What else do u need ?! Italian food in china town...a little awkward but other than that very nice !! :)) read more

My second time here... I didn't enjoy it as much as my first time. Maybe it is because the novelty of it wore off and although the menu is extensive-I found myself reordering a few dishes and a little bored this time--but are the other dishes enticing enough for a try? I guess they weren't. The basement level, dark, brick setting is unique. It is definitely a special place. The tiny meatballs taste are fried and melt in your mouth. 2 per fork and they will go very fast. We tried to order the zucchini appetizer special both times we went here. We were told "just sold out"... Is it even really offered?! Just wondering. Rabbit lasagna was ordered each time I've been here. It is delicious. A little different because it is In a cream sauce. We also tried the signature black ink spaghetti. A little gummy. I would say you can get better pasta dishes at osteria morini but you can't beat the romantic setting here and the prices are really not too bad.if you haven't been here yet, go! And if you have some time to kill before your reservation... Try clandestino around the corner. In writing this, I am wishing for another batch of tiny meatballs. I could eat them all in 2 minutes. God they are good. read more