Said yes to the bread. Had the olive oil served on a plate by itself - superb. The flat bread pizza is insane. I would go back just for that - crispy + slicing with scissors adds a whole other feel to it. I feel in control of my flatbread. Calamari was good but I'd choose the flatbread over anything. Can't go wrong with fig, goat cheese, and prosciutto. Emma didn't like the dill on there but I didn't mind. Enjoyed with a nice glass of white wine while we dined outside. read more

See all

Had such a great experience at Bar Cino! The interior is so cute and the service was truly amazing from start to finish. Parking in the area can be a bit tricky, but it's super convenient to get to via the Green Line, which made it easy overall. For food, everything was delicious: The Romaine & Kale Caesar was good, though I wish it had whole anchovies for a little extra punch. The prosciutto bruschetta was incredible, definitely a standout. The crispy cauliflower was my favorite dish of the night, so flavorful and perfectly cooked. The rigatoni bolognese was solid and comforting. The Chianti-Marsala braised beef short rib was insanely tender and cooked perfectly (just wish there were a few more mushrooms!). Also have to mention the dirty martini was so good. Overall, such a great spot with a fun vibe, amazing service, and really tasty food. I'll definitely be back! read more

See all

Sad to report that not only has the quality of the food gone downhill since my last visit, the hospitality remains lacking at this establishment. We walked in around 5 on a Saturday and were seated promptly in the mostly empty restaurant. The only words the host said to us in the entire interaction were to remind us that there was a time limit on the table. I'm not opposed to this in general, but you have to deliver it in a way that doesn't scream "your presence here is an inconvenience and the customers coming in after you are more important, peasant!" We shared the arancini which was average. I ordered rigatoni bolognese which was just ok-- if it was home made, didn't taste that way. One friend got something that was marketed as a pizza but ...well ... yeah I don't know.... see pics. The other got a carbonara, which he enjoyed but I had a bite and that just ain't it. All in all, the food was below average in my opinion, service lackluster, and the host wasn't lying- by 6:15 it was packed and SUPER loud so we had no issue packing up ahead of our allotted time and leaving. Eastern Standard a few blocks down is a much better choice, albeit with a lot fewer parking options. read more

Bar 'Cino - Pizza? - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

**AMAZING FOOD ** AMBIANCE (4/5): This place was pretty empty when we came for lunch, it had just opened and there was only one other table. SERVICE (5/5): Service was prompt from beginning to end. FOOD (5/5): LOVED EVERYTHING WE ORDERED!! Starts off with FREE focaccia bread. Super soft, fluffy, perfect amount of salt, served with the best olive oil you'll ever eat! Trust me. $3.50 ICED TEA $15 BAKED CLAMS: The most amazing clam sauce that's ever touched my tongue. We had to ask for more bread to eat every last drop. $22 CACIO E PEPE: Simple, yet amazing! Can't go wrong with this pasta classic. $24 TUSCAN SALAD with CHICKEN MILANESE: perfectly flattened and crispy chicken, seasoned amazing! The salad was absolutely delicious. OVERALL (5/5): This place blew my expectations through the roof! The seasoning on everything was TOP TIER! The flavors, bursting! Service impeccable. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE! & just order one of everything on the menu. read more

See all

I ordered this as food to go (UberEats), so take this with that grain of salt. I ordered the Chicken Milanese, which obviously (seen in photo) delivered as the incorrect order. I believe I was given the Rigatoni Bolognese, and for not being what I ordered, it was actually very good and tasty. Even as a delivery item, it held up well. The side salad however was horrible and tasted extremely bitter. The dressing has an incredibly strong taste. Would recommend the bolognese; would not recommend the side salad. read more

Bar 'Cino - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

ABSOLUTELY LOVE this spot! It delivers on all fronts from speedy service, cozy and slightly upscale vibes, and absolutely delicious food at a reasonable price. We tried some of their most popular dishes, and I can confirm they're popular for a reason. The cauliflower was cooked to perfection with a light crisp on the exterior and soft and pillowy on the interior all without being too heavy. The sweet sauce that accompanied it makes it even more addicting. As for the salad, while it's not the best caesar I've had in my life (coulve used some more dressing), the tender chicken pairs very well with the fresh, crisp lettuce and the crunchy breadcrumbs on top making for a very satisfying and refreshing bite. Really though, the pizza was the star of the meal for me. While different from any traditional style I've seen, it was as thin crust as it gets for pizza, having an ultra crispy bottom crust that held up beautifully to the tasty toppings which pack in the flavor and also had a slightly more fluffy crust for some additional contrast. All in all, with large portions perfect for sharing, an atmosphere that feels like more than just a casual dinner, and prices that won't break the bank, Bar'Cino is a MUST TRY and is certainly a restaurant I will visit frequently from here on out! The meal was so tasty without being overly heavy, and overall the experience was one to remember! read more

See all

I loved the interior of this restaurant! It's very open and spacious, there was also outdoor seating available, but my friends and I got seated at a booth. We made reservations ahead of time but you could probably do a walk in. All the food was delicious! Highlights: cacio pepe pasta & fig and prosciutto bruschetta. The pasta was DELICIOUS and good to share because it's a heavy/creamy dish. Honestly I enjoyed all the food we ordered and would order them again. Next time I want to try their pizza and other pastas. There are metered parking spots nearby and some side streets have free parking on Sundays. I would try to get here a little early to make sure you can find a spot. There's also plenty of other small cafes and stores in the area that you can browse. Overall, great location & ambiance, amazing food, very satisfied with our meal :) read more

See all

Nice ambience; service was good and food was very presentable. I liked the leeks on a goat cheese spread, and cauliflower was ok. read more

See all

I love it but my kids didn't enjoy the employee tone and attitudes. But you go for the food and I can't complain!

I can't believe I didn't type this review up immediately after our visit. I was meaning too but life and time have habits of getting away from you. This is just a fun, happening place (even though we were all 20 years older than the average age) with great food and efficient service. It could get loud I'm sure. But on this occasion, it did not seem to interfere with our experience of it. If anyone has read any of my prior reviews, you understand we are old (70's and 80's0, but we are not dead. And, a little hubris; once upon a time, we were "hip". We ordered a variety of dishes and everything was great. We had such a delicious meal and enjoyable evening, I forgot to take pictures. Forgive me. Don't hesitate to try it, younger people in your party will love the vibe, it is truly restaurant "theater" with very good food. read more

I stopped by on a Friday around 5:30pm and the place was already packed. Luckily there were a few bar seats still available so 2 of us were able to get seated immediately without a reservation. We decided to split the fritto misto ($15), antipasto ($22), carnaroli risotto ($25), and finished with a slice of the limoncello mascarpone cake ($10). The food arrived quickly and barely fit into the space we had at the bar. We really enjoyed the zesty, slightly bitter fried lemon slices in the fritto misto, but the rest of the fried seafood was not particularly memorable. The lemon aioli had such a mild lemon flavor that I thought it was plain aioli. We realized that the antipasto might be better split between 3 or more people. There were generous portions of cured meats and olives but everything together was pretty salty! I liked the assortment of flavors and textures from the sweet fig jam and tangy beans to the crusty bread and juicy tomatoes. When we first received the risotto, the dish still looked pretty watery, but over time the rice absorbed all of the sauce and became creamy. There were lots of mushrooms and chestnuts in the dish to enjoy with every bite of rice. The mushrooms and chestnuts added so much umami and texture. I wouldn't have minded if the rice was a little firmer. Finally, the lemon mascarpone cake was not too sweet and had a strong lemon flavor. I was not expecting the raspberry on top to be frozen. The mascarpone cream on the side added moisture without being too overwhelmingly creamy. read more

See all

I was excited to try this place since it looked so nice, but it definitely let me down. I got the campanelle and it was super dry and bland. The portion was super tiny. The pasta didn't seem homemade and the chicken was just ripped pieces of rotisserie chicken that was unseasoned. The food did come out fast and I think the bar area looked nice so maybe just come here for drinks. read more

Bar 'Cino - Campanelle - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Pretty popping on a weekday evening but easy to make a res. Some free bread to start but nothing memorable. The rigatoni bolognese blew me away--so rich and meaty! I also loved the roasted chicken grilled pizza, very unique and fun to cut with scissors. The pasta portion was on the small side, so splitting that and a pizza (large) was perfect. Would return fs! read more

Bar 'Cino - Rigatoni Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

See all

Loved our visit to Bar'Cino yesterday! The restaurant itself is in a great location right on the C line. The decor was so cute with lots of natural lighting. Our waiter was also super nice and gave us good recs. We shared a few dishes that we really loved. Everything we got was pescatarian friendly! The Tuscan kale salad was great as a kale lover. The risotto was cooked well and had great creamy flavor. The fritto misto had a good variety of seafood, but probably not the best I've ever had. And we enjoyed the tuna pasta which wasn't too fishy. Topped off with the tiramisu which was a great portion to share and had yummy crunchy toppings. read more

Bar 'Cino - EVOO Poached Tuna Fritto Misto Tuscan Kale Salad Carnaroli Risotto - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

See all

I went to Bar'Cino for Dine-out Boston and I was thoroughly impressed by the food. THE CRISPY DUCK WAS HEAVENLY. I practically licked the plate and the duck bones clean. The crispy, fatty duck paired with the fresh, acidic fennel and the creamy parsnip puree and sweet agrodolce was a masterpiece in my mouth. Would return for the duck and the roasted beets. They were overlaying the creamiest burrata cheese and the fat from the burrata complemented the acidity of the lemon dressing on the arugula and the sweetness of the beets. Such good flavor pairings. Masterful. The service was fine. The ambiance was nice and chill. It was a little chilly where I was seated. Must have been next to an air vent. read more

See all

Really family friendly and delicious neighborhood spot! Came to Bar 'Cino for a weeknight dinner and every dish was really spot on. Especially loved the calamari, cauliflower, and the spaghetti shrimp. The flavors were super well balanced, and everyone enjoyed their dishes! My one complaint is that it took us a while to get seated, even with a reservation, but we were a larger party so I understand. Will definitely be back to try more! Food: 4.5/5 Price: 4/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 read more

Came here on a Saturday night for dinner and I really enjoyed my experience! You get a small bit of bread when you are initially seated- would have preferred it to be warm and served with some butter. I have had better bread in other Italian places. I got the farro salad and added the shrimp to make it a bit more of a meal. It was very delicious. They didn't scrimp on the shrimp which was nice! For dessert I tried the pistachio ricotta cake! Was very light and fluffy and came with a bit of whipped cream. Overall the experience was very nice, food was good and the atmosphere was relaxed and chill. The menu has a lot of options and will be back to try some of their small plates! read more

Bar 'Cino - Italian Farro Salad - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

See all

Tried the Dine Out Boston pre fix dinner menu. Food was great. Like the website suggests, it is mostly traditional Italian food with a healthy twist. Service was great. Very friendly staff. read more

Such delicious salads. I had the Farro salad and it was scrumptious. It's all in the dressings which were so good. Our awesome Bellman, Jimmy from the Marriott recommended Bar Cino and it did not disappoint!! Mikaela was our server and she was very attentive and did an awesome job keeping us happy during our meal. I'd highly reco Bar Cino for an amazing meal in Newport. We were lucky to just walk in for lunch. I'd make a reservation just to make sure you get your table! read more

Bar 'Cino - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

See all

I'm so surprised by how much I loved bar 'Cino! I came on a hot weekday night and sat on the patio with a friend, I loved that there is a patio option for the summer as there aren't a whole bunch in the Brookline area. The patio had cute little lights hanging and a modern aesthetic (and the inside is very cute as well). My friend and I got the 'Cino sangria and split the roasted chicken pesto pizza - both were soooo delicious. The sangria was fruity and sweet. The pizza was definetly not the most appealing presentation but I was surprised by how much flavor the cheese and pesto packed - would recommend for sure. We ended the meal with the pistachio cake and oh what a TREAT!!! It was so light and fluffy, so good. The hostess and waitresses were super friendly. A great decent priced spot for dates or hanging out with friends! read more

See all

Headline: This is a terrific restaurant. Let's start with the wins. Food and service. Each dish we had was tremendous. The quality of the food is obvious from the moment you have the first app put in front of you. We went with the "crispy cauliflower" which was a great first dabble into the menu. It's fried and sweet. Quite pleasing for the hungry bunch we were! I then decided on the "Oven Roasted Chicken Pizza" which is a thin crusted delight served as one giant slab of pizza (they provide you with kitchen shears). Enough for two if you're sharing. Wife went with the Shrimp Spaghetti and said it was one of the most delicious pasta dish she can remember for quite some time. Daughter went with the Rigatoni Bolognese, which to be fair is difficult to mess up. That being said, she indicated the dish was solid. It sure looked good. Important to point out food comes fairly quick for a restaurant of this caliber. If you're the type of person who gets annoyed by food coming at ya after only a few minutes, this might not be your place. Service is exceptional with frequent visits to ask how things are or if we needed anything else. Couple things to point out. This is a date place. Is that a bad thing? Not at all. But you'll see a lot of young people on a lot of dates in here so it's kind of a scene. Also, it's a smidge crowded for the space. Not terrible, but close enough that tables can hear each other's conversations which, judging by the age of the clientele, are probably about Instagram or the grades they got in their class. The bar looked cool. Kinda place you could pony up to on your own for a great meal drink without feeling weird about it. Prices are decent for the caliber of the food. Great location in Brookline. I'll definitely be back. read more

My friends and I went to Bar 'Cino to celebrate a birthday this week. We've heard a lot of positive chatter about this place, but we wanted to see for ourselves. Needless to say, it lived up to our expectations. The experience started with complimentary bread and olive oil. The olive oil was delicious, and very few restaurants offer complimentary bread these days. It was a fantastic precursor to our meal. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the wine list and gave us excellent recommendations for a Sauvignon Blanc. One of our friends is gluten free, and they had a great gluten free beer option. We started our meal with the stuffed bruschetta with goat cheese and jam -- so good! For entrees we had the bolognese and short rib. Absolutely fantastic -- the short rib especially was fantastic. Would definitely recommend this dish. Overall we had a good experience! Our only critique is that we had a reservation, but weren't sat until 20+ minutes of waiting. Otherwise, would recommend a visit! read more

Bar 'Cino - Caponata Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

See all

Great italian fare in a chic yet casual atmosphere, nice comfortable seating. Had the braised short rib with delicious Parmesan polenta. Wait staff was friendly. Wonderful dinner with friends and unique and refreshing drinks. read more

Bar 'Cino - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

See all

We ordered the chicken milenese sandwich. Off the kids menu, the spaghetti and meatballs was perfectly tasty for kids and well portioned. Great spot w a beautiful view, wonderful service. Simple and classy. A go to when you are in town. read more

See all

We love this restaurant! Came with a large group, it was quiet enough to talk and the food was great.

Have only had takeout from here. Both times have you gotten the short rib without mushrooms. It's not anything special but does the job. A relatively small portion. read more

I visited bar Cino on a Friday evening as part of dine out Boston, Boston's restaurant week. On entering, the space feels grand and inviting, yet still homey and cozy. There were no tables available, so I took a seat at the bar. The bartender was attentive, and must have refilled my water glass around 10 times. Throughout the evening. I started with the bruschetta, which frankly was unlike anything I've had before. I believe it was topped with cooked peaches, which added an incredible sweetness and lightness to the already well seasoned crostino. But my second course was the star - the corn and squash pizza. The pizza was grilled rather than baked with a thin crust. It came out soft and crispy, and it was quite rich. The orange sauce on the pizza added a touch of salt, and I was overall delighted with this dish. And finally, I ended with a roasted banana dessert. This was good, but it paled in comparison to the first two courses. Certainly worthwhile, though, given the fresh whipped cream. Overall, I definitely recommend bar cino, and I will definitely be returning. read more

See all

The food is consistently good but the service is less so given the price point. Warm, comfortable space with a large bar at the center. Meatballs are excellent. Chicken Milanese is a highlight and go to for me with a generous serving. Chianti short rib is solid. Spaghetti carbonara is okay, but a smaller serving and an average flavor profile. Had three of the desserts that were excellent. The service was slow, and the restaurant was at 75% capacity. You shouldn't run out of your drink while eating dinner. After having dinner at a similarly priced restaurant in the south end, it changed my view and I updated with a generous 4 star. The price to value is a little high. read more

See all

Service was great. Their outdoor seating is lovely. My friend and I got a table without a reservation- even when they were very busy. Our food and drinks came out very fast despite the crowd. I recommend their Caesar salad! You can't beat it! read more

Bar 'Cino - Aperol spritz - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

I had heard good things about Bar 'Cino and was excited to finally try it, but I'm a little disappointed. Service is not great. Management is very nice, but our waitress wasn't the friendliest, brought us red wine when we ordered white, and we never got water refills. I got the house made ricotta cavatelli, which was mid. No ricotta or capers to be found, the chicken sort of hid both flavor and portion wise, and the overall dish was oiler than I'd have liked. My friend got the bolognese, which had a much more generous portion of protein and generally was better made. This also could have been of my doing but I got a terrible stomach ache after dinner- not a good impression after dining at a new restaurant. I will say the ambiance is incredible, and I loved the roasted RI mushroom bruschetta. All the flavors melted together wonderfully. I would also want to try the grilled pizza, cocktails, and other menu items, so I would return as there is definitely potential. Just 3 stars for this particular visit. read more

Bar 'Cino - House made ricotta cavatelli - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

See all

We did our little post graduation dinner at this place, and it was lovely. First off, we were able to get a private room for 24 people and our server was very nice and organized. Despite taking orders for so many people, no orders were messed up! I ordered grilled salmon and it was delicious plus also very filling. We also ordered tagliatelle which was a vegetarian dinner with penne pasta, pesto and mushrooms, which was also pretty good!! read more

See all

good food and interesting but great cocktails! came to bar cino for a date night and was presently surprised by the food. was slightly upset that we had a reservation but had to wait by the door for 20 minutes to get a seat - understandable due to them having to close their outdoor patio due to rain, but 20 minutes was a little absurd. partanna EVOO is my family's EVOO of choice so i was happy to see it was at the tables. waitress was kind and attentive. great date spot, looking forward to coming back! read more

See all

Food was great. Pastas and meatball appetizer were the highlight. The Fritto misto and baked clams were fine. Our least favorite. Ambiance: casual Service: the service was awful. The server and food runner didn't move any dishes from our table until the end of the meal. We had to take utensils from the table setting beside us, because we waited for the server who never came and the bus runner ran away before we could ask. Waited forever for the check. I had to ask the bartender for the check and proceeded to ask a different server for the check a few moments later. Service was disappointing for our first new restaurant of the year. Would I return? Maybe, but would sit at the bar. read more

Been to Bar 'Cino in Brookline several times and have enjoyed it every time. The food is creative without going overboard The staff are attentive and friendly, and the place has a good, positive vibe. I found this and several other restaurants using eatmeinthemiddle.com (oddly named but useful!) read more

Roasted Rhode Island Mushroom Pizza 4/5 Rigatoni Bolognese 3.5/5 Tagliatelle 4/5 ~First Impressions~ The restaurant's interior is simple with a calm atmosphere, but full of activity. We were able to have a comfortable meal without being too interrupted/distracted by other diner's or the server. The food also came out in a timely manner and the waiters were seamless. ~The Food~ The roasted mushroom pizza was a good starter. It had a pita like crust and the mushrooms and meat opened up the appetite. The bolognese wasn't too special, but it was a great filler that left a savory tomato taste with the meat. The tagliatelle was a good balance against the meat and tomato heavy bolognese. The food itself wasn't spectacular, but I enjoyed it very much. ~The Logistics~ There's lots of street parking near this area. I don't think a reservation is necessary, but it could get pretty busy. read more

See all

Stopped in for a graduation dinner with small group (6). The place was hopping and the interior was modern and music had a great vibe. The crowd was clearly enjoying themselves and the smell of great food was everywhere. The menu was terrific and I could have chosen several items to try. We started with bruschetta (excellent) and crispy cauliflower (arrived as we were finishing dinner). My first selection was sold out at 6:00pm, however with lots to choose from I toggled to the roasted chicken (excellent comfort food), while others choose pasta, margarita pizza and others. Everyone appeared to really enjoy their food. I received the appetizer as we were finishing dinner, with the server apologizing for the mishap and telling me we would not be charged for the item. Since we were moving to desert at that time, it basically became takeout. Deserts were yummy, tiramisu, mango gelato, and pistachio cake. All in all, I think this would be a better experience on a less busy night, and possibly a different server. While thy appetizer was a small pre-dinner irritant, when we were irritated again when it arrived, and an irritant post dinner WHEN THEY BILLED ME FOR IT. At that point we were ready to go and not going inquire yet again about the food we wish we had never ordered. I would try this place again, but pick a better day. read more

Bar 'Cino - Half Roasted Lemon-Scented Chicken - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

The food and service at this Bar 'Cino was excellent. Our server Derrick was very friendly and knowledgeable and gave us some solid recommendations. We had the tri colore salad, chicken milanese, the tagliatelle and the fennel sausage pizza. The milanese was my favorite, the salad dressing was delicious. The pizza was more of a flat bread than a traditional pizza but it was pretty tasty. read more

Bar 'Cino - Sausage Pizza - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

See all

What??? I'm so confused. Italian joint in the heart of Boston/Brookline food hub and they don't make their own pasta. I had to ask the waitress twice because I thought maybe she just misheard me. Nope. She heard me correct. No homemade pasta. Box pasta people. And the mushroom ravioli they have shipped in from somewhere. That's sounds wonderfully delicious and fresh...not! Shipped in from where?? From whom??? My daughter ordered spaghetti cacio e pepe but we had to send back. Came with clams taken out of the shell (not sure if they were frozen or what). There were only five measly pieces. As soon as she seen it, she said, "No ma. Just No." Chicken Milanese was decent. Not dry but subpar for $25. It literally was arugula salad with a piece of chicken cutlet. I'm so disappointed in this place. Wanted to love it. Guess I'll be back on the grid for a place again. If you can't go to EB or North end just cook your own damn box at this point. To end with a positive light, hostess was so sweet and attentive, making sure my daughter had a good seat because of her messed up knee and crutches. Waitress was patient and nice, despite everything. She definitely felt awkward but who wouldn't. read more

Too noisy! The food was okay but I'd never go there again. My throat hurt from trying to speak loud enough to be heard. Cafe atmosphere.

Bar'Cino was packed when my friends and I arrived on a Friday evening. We had a reservation but needed to wait a short while before the table was ready for us. We ordered crispy cauliflower, braised meatballs, fritto misto, carnaroli risotto, and one of their grilled pizzas. Honestly, everything tasted pretty good. I found the portions on the smaller side though as I did not feel too full after the meal. The crispy cauliflower lived up to its name and had a nice sweet crispy glaze making it a great treat to share. The meatballs tasted fine, but there was nothing too special about it. I did enjoy the sauce that paired with it though. The fritto misto tasted nice and crispy as well, but the amount was on the smaller side. I enjoyed how lightly breaded it was. The carnaroli risotto was also nicely flavored. I most enjoyed the grilled pizza. It was a bit of a pain to cut it with the scissors, but the taste was worth it. I loved how crispy and thin the pizza was, and the ingredients were fresh and lovely. The toppings paired very well together. For drinks, I had the 'cino sangria which turned out fruity and enjoyable. We then ended the meal with dessert by ordering the pistachio ricotta cake, tiramisu, and chocolate budino amaretti tart. The pistachio ricotta cake was amazing. It was soft and light, and everything paired well making this dessert very enjoyable. The other desserts felt a bit lackluster. The tiramisu tasted fine but had an overwhelming amount of cream. The chocolate tart tasted rich but did not leave much of an impression. Overall, I really enjoyed the food here and would love to come back and try their other items. read more

See all