The food, service, and ambiance were all great. The kale salad, bolognese, and fennel pizza were amazing.

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

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Why I'll go back: 'cuz when I'm in the mood for straightforward, high quality "comfort" Italian dishes and pizzas, Bar 'Cino delivers the goods You HAVE to try: one of the pizzas - crispy (but not too crispy), with high quality toppings and no grease. Plus, they give you scissors to cut it! Tony's Tip: the Green Line is a super convenient way to get here. St. Mary's on the C line stops literally across the street. So, we meet again Bar 'Cino! How I've missed you. Since our weekend dalliance in Newport two Summers ago, I've longed for another rendezvous. I loved your refined but laid-back attitude. I remember your intoxicating smell. Oh, how I longed to taste you one more time (ummm, a little much? ;) What are the chances that I would happen upon you practically in my backyard, on the edge of Boston, nestled inconspicuously within a row of other neighborhood destinations on Commonwealth Ave. in Brookline? No matter, I was thrilled at our reunion. And in an instant, it was like no time had passed at all. I enjoyed a cold, tangy kale salad, followed by the most classic of all bolognese preparations and a sausage and onion pizza so light and bursting with flavor that it instantly transported me back to the evening we met. It was so comfortable being in your space again (a booth made it all the more intimate), and you catered to my every need, from refreshing my water to a sweet guilty pleasure for dessert - by then only one scoop of salted caramel was all I could handle. I wish we could have lingered longer. Alas, I know you have so much more to offer. I suspect we will be seeing each other again quite soon. Until then, ciao bella. read more

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

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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 Brookline - Sausage Pizza - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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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

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

Barcino! Top fave at the moment for dining. I feel it's hard to find good quality tasty food in Boston. This is worth the price, and for Boston it isn't too expensive. All good pictured was DELICIOUS. They have a great Moscato as well. Add to your list! Ambiance is great, with wonderful outdoor seating. Food comes quick and servers and fast and attentive. read more

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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

My wife and I arrived early for our reservation and were seated without an issue, notwithstanding the place was busy. On the table was a small can of Italian olive oil, however, when the bread was brought to the table, no herbs came with it. We ordered a fritto misto as an appetizer. It was hot, it was not spicy, but it was certainly delicious! The San Pellegrino mineral water came in a can. I was expecting a bottle. Interesting twist. My wife ordered the house Pinot Bianco, nice choice. As entrees my wife ordered "cacio e pepe" but the chef adds a twist, clams. Personally, I am a traditionalist, however, my wife enjoyed it immensely. I tasted the pasta, it was delicious, however, the dish did not come as in Rome. Here the entree is made with spaghetti instead of the bucatini. The pasta was al dente, the cheese was not clumpy, and the black pepper did not overpower the cheese. I ordered the rigatoni Bolognese, however, in place of the rigatoni, I requested the homemade ricotta cavateli. Simply put, the dish was EXCELLENT! As a desert we both ordered salted caramel gelato. Takeaways: 1. Go hungry! 2. The service is excellent. 3. The chef is gifted! 4. Excellent portion to price. 5. Parking is difficult - it's Boston! read more

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Fun Italian spot in the neighborhood with a variety of appetizers, grilled pizzas, and delicious pastas. The charcuterie and calamari here are great. Pizzas can be a bit inconsistent but when they grill it up right - it's absolutely delicious. The pizzas being unconventionally shaped, they serve it to you with a pair of chicken scissors - so cut/make your own slices which is kinda fun. Personally, I've never had a bad pasta dish here - although sometimes the serving sizes can be inconsistent. Overall, a great addition to the neighborhood and the outdoor seating is lovely when the weather is nice - just make sure you have a rez/request outdoor seating - otherwise the wait can be pretty long. read more

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Good service, nice ambience mixed opinions on the food. Salmon was good but my panzanella salad had too much Gorgonzola cheese, and bread was actually croutons, not bread at all. It was also way too acidic. Kids liked the pizzas but they told us each one was good for 1 1/2 servings, or one person. Maybe one very hungry person, but it was decent pizza, not spectacular. Salmon was the best thing. Skip the home made chips. read more

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

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Looked interesting, Stopped in for a light lunch. Antipasto and a cider. Tasty, not skimpy at all. Friendly staff. Loved the olive oil cans right on the bar. Will do it again next time we are in Boston. read more

Wanted to love it but sadly the service was lacking enough that I had to review. The food wasn't bad, on par with Italian fare in the area and the restaurant itself was clean, upscale, and not too loud. But our waitress was ready for us to leave seemingly from the moment we arrived, eager to turn our table to the next guest. It was just the two of us on a busy but not overwhelming night. We ordered an appetizer and entrees. The moment our forks hit the table when finished, our server picked up all the plates. She then swooped back to ask us if we wanted to see the dessert menu, and we did. Not 30 seconds later she was back to ask if we'd decided - we had not. After another few minutes of hovering around us, she came back and we'd decided against dessert. Of course, the check then immediately landed on our table. It was dealt with swiftly, and every few minutes thereafter, our server came back to passive aggressively shuffle us out. First she picked up the water glasses, then a few minutes later our beverage glasses, then she slammed a takeout bag on the table. We will not be back, at least to this location. If a server is upset about turning tables or having to wait for guests to leave before they can be cut for the night, speak to your manager, not us customers. I was trying to enjoy my meal but unfortunately felt like a burden the entire night. read more

Hidden Italian gem in Brookline! Came in without reservations on a Wednesday evening and didn't have to wait at all. It was a nice day so all the outside tables were taken but I didn't mind! Did not look a reviews prior to coming so I had no expectations but everything was so light, fresh, and flavorful. The pizza was more like I crispy flatbread in the best way possible. We didn't think we could finish it but it was so light we (2 people) finished the whole thing. The pasta and sides were all so good! Everything was well cooked and not too heavy. Will definitely come back for fresh Italian fare and vino read more

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

A good standby in Brookline. I picked it mainly because it was one of the few spots with open reservations for a large group on Sunday night, and the food and service turned out to be excellent. I love a good spicy + vegetable cocktail, so of course had to go with That's All Folks, with tequila and house-made carrot juice. Delicious and very, very generous on the tequila. We started with the calamari as an appetizer for the group. First time having fennel and lemon as additions to the dish - can't say I loved the deep-fried sourness when I bit into a piece of the lemon. The fennel was good but a tad hard to eat gracefully and the dish as a whole could have used more of a blot coming out of the fryer. I went with the Caesar salad and salmon, though the pastas and pizzas also looked good. The piece of fish was cooked exactly to medium rare, and the salad was nice and healthy-ish. Also tried a bite of the tagliatelle - loved the al dente texture. Too many places make their pastas so undercooked that it turns out crunchy. The desserts, however, were the star of the dinner. We went with the pistachio ricotta cake, pistachio gelato, and the tiramisu. The tiramisu deserved the highest of all Asian compliments - "not too sweet" - and had beautiful layers of lady finger and cream. The cake was my favorite, though. They give out little bundles of bread with olive oil. Lots of street parking out front, free on Sundays. read more

Everything from the cocktail, to main dishes, to dessert was fabulous! Staff were friendly and attentive read more

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Good dishes: Broccolini, Margarita Pizza Decent dishes: Crispy Maitaki mushrooms Don't order: Fettucine with mushrooms (very bland) The service was good. The ambiance was great inside for drinking wine, catching up with friends, and sharing large plates. I'd recommend going for the ambiance alone, just be very selective about what dishes you try to / keep your expectations low. read more

My favorite neighborhood Italian! Amazing food and drinks, beautiful seating inside and out, and great staff! I always walk by and think I should make a conscious effort to go there more often. Every time I do I walk out very happy. read more

Very comfortable and fast service in this location. I really enjoyed the meatballs and the broccolini. The Tiramisu and cappuccino was delicious too. I really like Orlando our server who was attentive. The location is ideal for nearby residents . They have a patio too. Every time I pass by, it looks like it's busy during the summer. read more

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So happy I tried this place! It seriously blew me away. Staff was super friendly, food was pretty good as well, and the ambiance was great. It was cozy and the level of noise was also low so I loved that. I felt like we were kinda there alone. Would definitely come back for a date night or just to grab drinks. Their drinks are great! read more

I came for dinner here with a friend and was pleasantly surprised by the level of food served here! Everything was quite tasty, and although it wasn't the most traditional Italian food, it was an elevated take on Italian-American and honestly, they do it well. Cocktails were good, servers were the appropriate amount of friendly, my friend and I shared a few appetizers and a couple of pasta dishes and we were more than satisfied by the end of the night. The only drawback? Prices. I get that it's in Brookline and they're obviously trying to draw in more of the high-end crowd but it's a bit difficult to swallow pasta dishes that are all above $20 as well as the pizzas. The food was good, but is it worth it? I am willing to give it another go but with other places that are boasting cheaper prices with honestly better food, I may be drawn away to another place in the saturated Brookline area. read more

I came here for my 22nd birthday dinner with some friends and family, and the ambiance and drinks at this establishment were top tier. I had the espresso martini and it was one of the best I've ever had. However, I ordered the orecchiette and it was not my favorite. I felt the chicken lacked flavor, and ate less than half the plate. On a better note, the tiramisu was delicious! It was extremely moist and we enjoyed sharing it after I blew out the candle. It was a complete table pleaser. We also ordered the limoncello mascarpone cake, and that was tasty and moist as well. I am definitely looking forward to trying a new main course if I get the opportunity to return to Bar 'Cino! read more

Bar 'Cino Brookline - Espresso Martini - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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Attentive service. Apps arancini & frito Misti very good as were baked clams. Enjoyed bolognese but bruschetta disappointing. Excellent focaccia bread. Would return, though broader menu would be appreciated. read more

Wicked good food and lots of gluten free options including pasta! I usually stick to the North End of Boston for Italian BUT this place definitely compared. I ordered the bolognese which was delicious. Everyone else at my table ordered the short rib over polenta and raved about it. We had the fig and burrata bruschetta as well as the antipasto for an appetizer and both were delicious and enough for our group of 5 people. The kale Caesar salad was not typical, it had a lemony flavor. I didn't mind it. Following our dinner we tried the salted caramel gelato and the lemon cello cake (and a few shots of lemon cello). The service was great AND VERY accommodating to our allergies (celiac/gluten and nuts). I would most definitely come back. Thank you Bar Cino! read more

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Barcino has some wonderful offerings which include many vegetarian options for all of us who do our best to eat healthy. Tonight we purchased among other things, the Cacio e Pepe, which is a delicious dish modified with big Rhode Island clams. Kudos to Chef Diego for attempting to customize the dish to the old fashioned way my Northern Italian friends and family cooked it in the old country. I realize that's a very big ask! All in all, Dinner was a success! read more

Super delicious and interesting offerings with a great wine and cocktail list. Very solicitous staff with a lovely airy modern atmosphere. The olive oil - Partanna - is so good that I could drink it. Love the Brookline location! read more

I've frequented Bar'cino three times now so repeat customer here! Our first visit the pasta Bolognese was phenomenal. Unfortunately, we have tried to replicate this the following two times and found the pasta dishes to be more standard. We frequently enjoy sitting at the bar where we find the bar tenders professional and welcoming. The mixed drinks are well made with a variety of ingredients that should appeal to most. On our last visit the prosciutto and fig pizza was delicious. Pistachio and ricotta cake for dessert was solid but not amazing. read more

Bar 'Cino Brookline - Pistachio Ricotta Cake - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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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.

Great food at a reasonable price with decent sized portions! The food all tasted fantastic -- highlights included the EVOO poached tuna spaghetti and the burrata special for the night -- both were refreshing and flavorful, and the bread was so soft and wonderful. Service was great as well, and the ambiance made for a nice date night. This was my second time back and this place is consistently tasty. read more

Bar 'Cino Brookline - Crispy Cauliflower, Burrata special - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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I came here with some friends in late April. We sat outside which was nice but cold at the time. We did ask for the heater to be moved and they did move it for us which was nice. I ordered an App (pictured first) and it was good but the real star of the show was the braised beef. I don't usually eat meat but was craving it in this particular day and it is some of the best I have ever had. Very simple dish but executed perfectly. Would recommend the dish to anyone. My other friends seemed happy with what they ordered but I think my dish was the star of the show. read more

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

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Came here with a friend and had a nice time seated at their bar. My drink was super yummy and was enough to last me the whole dinner. Portion sizes were also large and filled me up perfectly with some leftovers for lunch tomorrow. I loved the meat and sauce on my pasta, it was interestingly tangy and sour, but I think after eating it for awhile I was overwhelmed by these flavors. Our servers were also great, it was easy for them to check in with us at the bar and I enjoyed their drink recommendation. Overall, this restaurant is in great proximity to Fenway and would be a nice place to catch up with friends. It had a lovely atmosphere and was quite loud, so definitely keep this in mind if you plan to dine here. read more

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restaurant has a very nice vibe inside and service was super fast and attentive. they bring bread to the table which is always appreciated and the food was great. especially loved the crispy cauliflower! read more

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I was doubtful but I love this place! We ordered a few dishes and every single one of them was delicious. Calamari - a different take that I very much appreciated! Also thought it was cool they had breaded lemon slices. Braised meatball - very tender and delicious sauce Short rib- tender and still juicy! Love the sauce. Baked clams - fresh and big clams at a fair price Pasta - perfectly Al dente, great sauce I can't wait to come back and try more! read more

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With the quality and quantity of food that my friends and I got for what we paid for, Bar'Cino definitely stands out as one of my favorite restaurants for outstanding pasta! Not a single one of their pasta dishes failed to provide an explosion of complex and delish flavor! The sausage cavatelli was slightly spicy with a rich tomato sauce; the fettuccini had great earthy flavors from the mushrooms, and the rigatoni bolognese was meaty and hearty! Of course, all their pasta was cooked to a chewy Al dente, just the way they should be cooked. The restaurant itself was also very beautiful! Spacious with a calming atmosphere, perfect for when you want to go out with friends! They even have an outdoor patio for when the weather is nice. Their bathroom was also very clean! Finally, service was fine. While they did take extra precautions to accompany my friend's dietary restrictions, they never gave us out complementary bread :( granted, it was a busy night, but still! Anyway, put Bar' Cino on your list! It's definitely worth the visit. (p.s. If you like my review and photos, you can check out my other Boston restaurant reviews on my Instagram food blog @eathanymeng) read more

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Hopping Italian-inspired spot in Brookline Food: Highly recc any of the bruschetta for sharing- we got the roasted RI one with stracciatella, kale pesto, mushroom and bread crumbs which was delicious- the bread was toasted and soft, and the pesto was so fresh Also got the orecchiette pasta with chicken, broccolini pesto, provolone, and lemon herb breadcrumbs. The chicken was ok, tasted parboiled, but the pasta and vegetables were flavorful, and you can add some red pepper flakes for a satisfying kick! The mushroom tagliatelle looked good as well. Other: Fast service, friendly staff Chic Friday-Saturday night vibes similar to Barcelona Brookline/Boston Not a long wait for seating at the bar TLDR; Come here for great food and great ambiance in a fun part of Brookline! read more

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

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We have been regular customers for years. Always have been satisfied with service, quality and portion size. Our experience this evening was quite a shock. Our server was friendly and efficient. The order of cauliflower was shockingly small. It was almost as if a good half the serving size was omitted. The cacio e Pepe pasta was also tiny! I had hope to share some with the person who ordered but that would have been impossible. The 1/2 chicken was more like a tiny Cornish Hen with a pile of potatoes and squash. Very disappointing overall. Not sure if we will be returning. read more

Ordered a Grilled Shortrib sandwich, got a sloppy, soggy mess. Thought I would at least salvage the inside, taste was undesirable. Feeling hungry thought I'd eat a few of the side chips, also soggy tasted the same as the sandwich. read more

Nice place. My daughter recommended..Clams, pasta dish and drinks were great. Little bit of a wait even with reservations but that's what popularity does ‍ read more

Bar 'Cino Brookline - Gonna go for it, my daughter said she knew I'd order this - Italian Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Made a reservation here right before walking in on the later side but the service was still good, we didn't feel rushed to leave even though it seemed clear that they were trying to clean up! The crispy cauliflower had a dense tempura-like batter, and lots of the Calabrian chili honey although it wasn't spicy at all, in fact a bit too sweet overall as the savory caper/olive/shallot topping felt disjointed. 4/5 The portion of beets was surprisingly very small, but I did enjoy the combination of walnut brittle and Gorgonzola that somehow reminded me of banana bread?! 3/5 I was most impressed by the New York strip! I usually don't order steak at restaurants since it's underwhelming and expensive and I could make it home but this steak was grilled perfectly! The crust on the outside was so audible and thick while the meat was so tender! I didn't think restaurant steak could be this good. The herb roasted garlic sauce was super flavorful too, an interestingly thick and goopy texture that doesn't strike immediately as garlic. However the zucchini that it came with was undercooked and crunchy and the potatoes a bit bland. 4/5 For dessert we had the pistachio ricotta cake - a thin top layer of plain cake, a layer of ricotta that lacked that ricotta tang, then a very sweet and dense pistachio mousse. The toasted pistachios on top contributed the most pistachio flavor, there were some soggy pistachios on the side that hadn't had their full pistachio potential released. 2.5/5 I'd come back here if I was craving a solid steak! But probably wouldn't reorder the other items. read more

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