After passing by the lively bar to the hostess stand, we were quickly seated. We came in for Negroni week, since it's my favorite cocktail. The specialty Negronis were great, as was one of their regular cocktail ("Craft of Daedalus"). Bari offers a unique selection of Italian amari and wines. The food was great. The simple Mediterranean / Italian dishes packed a flavorful punch. The frutti di mare included the best calamari I've had. Also, who knew fried slices of lemon would be so good? Everything was perfectly cooked. The two mains we ordered were the scallops and the prawns. For me the scallops portion size & flavor were lacking compared to other dishes ordered. The prawns were packed with a lovely punch of spice and shell fish flavors. The sides ("verdura") were great, and fantastic portions for the price point. Also, the dessert was one of the best slices of cake I've had (homemade by the owner?). I understand why the bar was so busy when we came in- when I go back, I'll be tempted to sit at the bar, order an app, a couple drinks, and dessert. That being said, I'll definitely be back to the dining room. I'm eager to explore the other pastas and seafood on offer. read more

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Date Night!! Yall the food, drinks & ambience was fantastic! Nice, quaint Italian restaurant the feels and taste like Italy!! We ordered: Bruschetta: grilled Bari bread, red bell peppers, arugula, buffalo mozzarella, white anchovies Spaghetti alla carbonara: pancetta, caramelized onion, fresh egg, parmigiano-reggiano Penne with house made beef short rib ragu with chili flakes and parmigiano-reggiano Patate arrosto: roasted new potatoes, garlic, rosemary Drinks: dirty martini old fashion Negroni espresso martini A great gem in midtown Memphis!! Our server was great explaining the menu! read more

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We absolutely LOVED Bari! There wasn't a single thing we tried that we didn't enjoy. From the food to the drinks to the service--everything was phenomenal! We started with a few fun appetizers: the shishito peppers, mussels, and calamari. Each dish was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. Next, we enjoyed the Casa and Lattuga salads before our entrées, and both were outstanding! For dinner, we had the carbonara and the scallops, and both dishes were absolutely delicious. We ended the night with a sweet treat, the perfect finish to an incredible meal. We had such a wonderful experience and can't wait to go back! read more

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The service and ambience was really great very attentive. The inside is a very nice vibe. However, the food was OK. The soup was tasteless and described as if it would have been promising or more ingredients unsure but wouldn't get that again. The pasta was pretty dry and also wasn't my favorite. I actually got it to go and I ended up throwing it away. There was also a salad that we ordered which also wasn't that great. It was just salad. Nothing special but again the vibes were good. Maybe other things are better, just needs a little more flavor beyond salt and pepper. read more

Bari Ristorante - Potato soup and Rigatoni con Funghi, Broccoli e Formaggio di Capra - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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We had a great experience at Bari for a date night! We got the octopus appetizer and it was DEVINE. We also got the halibut which was just okay and the Carbonara pasta and it was incredible. We were a little overwhelmed by the wine menu as it was all in Italian and were not huge wine connoisseurs but our waiter was a huge help and guided us to a bottle we ended up loving. read more

Very classy establishment with an abundance of fine wines, cheeses, and Italian dishes to choose from. I started with a hard cheese and meat recommended by the bartender and a delicious espresso martini. While sitting at the bar, a regular patron offered for me to try her orzo, which was positively scrumptious. It was full of flavor and decadent as could be. I decided to order the spaghetti alla carbonara that was very filling and had an adequate amount of carbonara balanced with cheese. Overall, a chic experience worth visiting. read more

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Food was way overpriced. Steak wasn't cook the right temp at all. Server acted like he couldn't care less. Fake upscale restaurant id rather go to McDonald's ambience was cheap read more

The service was great. Ben was very attentive and helpful. The olive miste was beautiful. I've never had a red olive. The martini though small but cute with basil oil. It was delicious. The pasta entrees were just okay. The sponge cake with raspberry and pistachio filling was very good. They have a very extensive wine and cheese menu. Overall I recommend. read more

Bari Ristorante - Olives and yes that's a red olive. Yums - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Wonderful selection of Italian wines with excellent Italian food in an intimate atmosphere where locals hang out. Highly recommended! Five star read more

Bari Ristorante - Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

We were at Bari to celebrate my birthday. Some food is okay. Some is tasty. The restaurant has a pretentious rule about ordering everything at once. They will not accept substitutions or let you change the dish in any way. Oddly, if this is to keep things efficient, the process to get drinks took a very long time. Which delayed our ordering process too. Our waiter, never introduced himself, seemed out of sorts most of the night, and barely acknowledged we were there for a celebration. We asked for a recommendation on wine. The waiter said he didn't know anything about wine and offered to have someone talk to us, but no one ever came. We ordered a bottle anyway, and he never said why he didn't follow through. With the no altering of dishes, some people had trouble finding something to eat. My daughter for instance hates onions, and they turn her stomach. But they are in the carbonara there. She loves carbonara, so she tried to pick through the dish and it was not a great experience. Pasta dishes were good, but all were overly salty. Portions are medium to small. Cheeses were good but were served with no accompaniments. We had to ask for bread which is served cold. Not room temp, but cold. Zucchini fritters and the salads we ordered were fresh. The portions are not consistent. $11 for a very small butter lettuce salad with grapefruit and hazelnuts vs. same price for a huge arugula salad. Tiramisu was one of the favorite dishes of the night. Gelato was also well liked. Cannoli is not traditional, so it doesn't have the exact bite you are looking for and the ricotta filling is grainy. $445 with tip. 1 bottle wine, 2 cocktails, 3 cheeses, 2 salads, 1 hot app, 4 pasta dishes, 2 meat or fish dishes, 3 deserts. read more

It was freaking outstanding. *plays Earth Wind And Fire "Outstanding" in the background* I have never had a salad with no dressing...I ate the entire thing. The Carbonara...CHEF'S KISS! They know what they are doing there. I love the history and the knowledge they understand about Italian food because it shows in their menu! Gotta give my foodie friend his props on putting me on this one! And yes, everything you've seen or heard about Hunter is true. That's a true MIXOLOGIST. read more

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Good seafood and pasta dishes. Fried mix seafood, seared scallops, roasted beets, rapini... were great options

Hip Italian restaurant in Midtown. This was the spot my wife picked for Valentine's Day. They had a special set menu for the occasion, but still had a variety of options. It was a four course meal. We started with the raw oysters which were really good. Second course was pasta, which was outstanding. I can't remember what type of fish they had for the third course, but it was great. Last course was desert. The vanilla cake was excellent. The service was outstanding. Our server gets an A+, she was awesome at selecting wines to pair with the different courses. It's located in the heart of Midtown and I enjoyed the atmosphere. The recommended attire is 'dressy', which is partially true. It's more hip so you don't have to go blazer and loafers. I highly recommend for a date night and special occasion dinner. If it's something more casual they have a great bar area as well. read more

Bari Ristorante - Wine list - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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You can't just hang out and enjoy a leisurely dinner. They make you order everything at once and then bring it out in stages. It's not very relaxing and the food was just OK for the money. read more

The bar is fabulous. The food is fabulous. It's our go-to date night in Memphis restaurant. Make a reservation, they'll be booked. read more

Bari Ristorante - Bari curates a fantastic selection of meats, cheeses, and wines - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Went to celebrate a birthday. From the moment we entered the restaurant the Service was impeccable, wine list is fabulous and the food was delicious read more

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It has been too long since we have had a Memphis restaurant meal that was truly a dining experience.Sat on their patio where it was quiet and peaceful. Monty 75 cocktail was new to me and perfectly balanced. The food was delicious and obviously thoughtfully prepared. Service was friendly, knowledgeable and well-paced. Thank you for continuing to care and not ride on your laurels. While other restaurants close in Memphis excellence never goes out of style. Bravo Bari! read more

Five of us went there for the carbonara which had been very good in previous visits. So disappointed this time. The romaine salad was pretty much just lettuce with oil....no cheese or other extras. The carbonara was spaghetti in oil and peppers....quite the kick but no creme, meat or cheese. WHen we asked for parmasean the waitress said they didn't have any as it was too expensive. Service was slow. While some of us have had good experiences in the past this one was extremely disappointing. No reason to return to this place. read more

Our service was great! Ambiance definitely felt nicer in the pictures than in person. Everything is a la carte which adds up quick. Extensive wine list. The bread was cold, not room temperature, at the beginning which was odd but other than that ... you can tell they care a lot about how the food is made which was nice! read more

I guess I'm odd gal out again, because this is a very popular restaurant I simply did not care for. The prices on the cheese is just plain nuts. My friend got two little slivers for $8. We all ordered pasta dishes, none were great. One friend ordered the Orecchiette Alla Pugliese, which had an over powering fish taste from the anchovies, I had the Rigatoni- cooked perfectly Al dente, but so salty from the goat cheese that I could not finish my small plate. Others at the table ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara, the Orzo pasta and theFrutti Di Mare Fritti. None of the other dishes were stand outs at all. The atmosphere is quite plain, yet still has the ability to seem slightly pretentious. The dead plants in the bathroom were a major turn off. The service was great, courtesy of Joy, but there is literally nothing else in the space that impressed us. read more

Awesome food staff is very nice I would totally recommend going here very little wait time and it is awesome 5 stars

Love the food here, everything is fresh and delicious. I keep coming back for the carbonara. It calls to me like a siren song. Hunter is great behind the bar. We really enjoyed the scallops as well as the cheese menu. read more

Wow, lovely hidden neighborhood gem with a non pretentious downtown vibe. We didn't have reservations and they were apparently booked for the entire evening but their bar was open and ended up being a great choice. Received good service and tailored recommendations from the bar tender who also appeared to be a neighborhood fixture among the local crowd. Great low key date night spot. Their pastas are only $12 each, yummy and tasty. Skip the rigatoni with broccoli, very plain and tasted like something you'd make at home. I'd get the spaghetti carbonara again and maybe the bucatini bolognese next time. Their pastas are so good, the guy next to us ordered 2 for himself... definitively doing the same next time! ;) read more

Bari Ristorante - Can't remember but their cocktails were all great - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Very nice Italian restaurant specializing in the food of Puglia. Service is outstanding, menu is interesting, food is outstanding. The dining room is a bit noisy but otherwise a very nice small restaurant. Attached parking helps in a crowded restaurant district. We had the Carbonera and the orichette. Both beautifully prepared and served. Portions are reasonable, not the gargantuan plates that seem to be everywhere these days. Left feeling satisfied, not stuffed. read more

For a restaurant at this price point, there are some high expectations and unfortunately Bari misses them. 1) They ask if you're celebrating a special occasion when you make the reservation (an anniversary in our case). But nobody made mention of this at all throughout the meal or greeting which was mildly disappointing. 2) The atmosphere does not match the menu and price point. Coming into the restaurant feels like your coming through the back door with barely room to squeeze by bar. Paper tablecloths??? (I halfway expected some crayons) Cheap looking lights (obviously from Amazon) as the centerpiece of the table. The dining room was loud enough that my wife and I could barely hear each other talk. And while most guests dressed appropriately, it was strange to have a table next to us wearing a baseball cap in the dining room. Our waiter was young and inexperienced. After getting our drinks, we didn't see him for another 8-10 minutes, and he certainly did not enhance the dining experience. He was your basic order taker. The atmosphere was by far the biggest disappointment. 3) The food was pretty good. My wife I ordered a multi course meal. And made sure to try many of the menu items. Unfortunately all my dishes were heavily over salted. The after dinner cappuccinos were excellent though. Bari is a place that pretends to be fancy. They have two hour slots for reservations and charge you for missing. They have an entire Italian wine list, most of which are only by the bottle. A separate cheese menu. They've obviously dedicated a lot of time to their food/beverage offerings and want to be a high end restaurant. But the dining experience does not match this. We have been wanting to try this place for several months because it's highly rated and recommended by several sites. But I can't say it was worth it. For $100 a person, there are some basic expectations beyond food for a restaurant. read more

We had so much fun. A gastronomic delight!! We had a little of everything and just go. You might have to let loose of some cash but it was worth it!!! So happy for the new location. I waited too long and now I'm not 100% sure but pretty sure Bobby was our server. He was wonderful! read more

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It was hard to write this review for me. I really wanted to like the place. My husband and I wanted to visit this place for a while now, but on all past occasions the place had a private event or they had stop seating at 8:30. We finally made reservations, which I had to give a credit card to hold the reservation. But no charge since we made it. Now, I did read past reviews about the small platings. So we made sure to ordered appetizers. The mussels were yummy, the fried calamari too. Ordered the sardines. Big mistake. It gave me awful bad indigestion. My hubby had the carbonara. He loved the flavors. The main reason why I gave only 2 stars is because many items in the wine menu did not provide the wine by the glass. You had to purchase the whole bottle. Maybe It works for a large party but it did not for us. They did offered some glass options but were not a lot. Also, the portions were really small. Don't come here with a big appetite. My poor husband was still hungry. He ended up eating a burger an hour later from a beer pub. read more

Portions were small. Italian restaurant that doesn't provide nice bread only toast points doesn't make the grade. The bar, however, was really really good. They make their own mixers and drinks are fabulous. Not as good as the old location. read more

Fantastic fantastic fantastic. My girlfriend and I went to Bari for our anniversary and had a phenomenal time. Our server was kind and knowledgeable about all the dishes and gave us great recommendations. The Bronzino, the orzo, and the arugula salad are always on my mind. Definitely a spot to hit. read more

Bari Ristorante - Bronzino Alla Griglia - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Always, always, always hits the mark. The service is fantastic, cocktails are unique and creative, and the menu always delivers amazing freshness and taste. read more

Bari Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Amazing food. Great service. Knowledgable waitstaff. We loved having our anniversary there!

At night, its romantic ambiance will set the mood for a good night after the meal. For $150, you can taste the most amazing cheeses from around the world. I would say the cheese platter is highly underpriced, and you can split the price among a few good friends. Your mouth will water at the exotic tastes from the parmigiano-reggiano delle vacche rosse to the pecorino al tartufo...you will find a cheese, or a few, to add to your weekly shopping list. Ofcourse, the meet platter goes along great with the cheese, and the wine was spectacular. It is a gem within Memphis. Visit with your loved one, or for quality time with your family or friends. While I ony rate restaurants based on their food (service, ambiance, presentation and price are all irrelevant if the food doesn´t taste amazing), I do have to admit that our waiter was incredibly attentive, kind, and the lighting, table clothes.......and everything...just made the night special and unforgettable. read more

Bari Ristorante - Over 40 cheeses from around the world. Call 5 hours before to order, and you will be glad, you did. - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Walked in and was seated without a reservation at 7pm NYE. So disappointing. Gave 2 stars because the waiter was great as was the wine he recommended. I nearly broke a tooth on the bread, the risotto crabmeat pasta dish had strong garlic and fishy taste. We didn't finish any of the dishes. I'm adding a picture of the entire cheese appetizer tasting before we touched it and you can decide what you think about it- I won't even comment on that one. read more

Bari Ristorante - Cheese appetizer - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

A little disappointing. We loved the "Old Bari" in their previous location. Great cozy atmosphere. The new building is much larger, which I assume they needed. Bar is large and "colder" now. Patio was not really an option due to the heat. The main courses were good, drinks were good and not a lot has changed on the menu. Had all of our old favorites. It was the little things...the wrinkled, crumpled paper menus, having to ask for bread multiple times, slow service. Also they lost the meat/cheese appetizer options they had before. Was always fun to try new things. Would give it another try in cooler weather when the patio is open. read more

We visited on a night when they had staffing problems but the service was great. For about $115 per person, was the food that stellar? I'd say it was just OK. Nothing special and no wow moments - so with that , I guess I'd say it was overpriced. read more

Outstanding dinner and experience. Great food served slowly so as enhance the experience with your group. We had a party of 6 so a variety of items. We all loved the food and the service was excellent! read more

Finally tried Bari!! Cute place with not so great parking but hey it's the square. The menu is a bit confusing on 1st glance. Everything is a la cart. Portions are small but enough. Lattuga salad was great. The meatballs were amazing but had to order pasta to go with it. I ordered a pasta with sausage. It was salty goodness! The noodles were small tubular macaroni style which kinda blew my mind. My wife had the whole grilled branzino. We were having a pretty great meal until dessert happened. I ordered the gelato cookie and my wife the cream puffs. I took one bite of the cookie and about broke a tooth. Clearly frozen. The cream puffs seemed frozen but the cream was running out. It seems they make good desserts and then freeze them...why? All in all a cool place with great food (a bit pricey though). Our bill was $180 for 2. I would definitely go back minus the dessert. read more

Bari Ristorante - Gelato cookie - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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We had a lovely anniversary dinner at Bari, I'm not sure why we hadn't been before. We opted to sit at the bar which had a great ambiance. We enjoyed the oysters and frutti di mare fritti appetizers as well as the carbonara and rigatoni pastas. The cocktails were fantastic and unique! Thanks for a wonderful night, Bari! read more

I had forgotten about this wonderful little gem! My girlfriend and I had girls night here last week...it was amazing! We sat at the bar, had a few drinks and one very delicious cheese plate. The bartender was a doll and I really liked the crowd. Very chill but chic in an understated way. The location is great and it is easy to find parking! read more

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Apulia (Italian: Puglia) is the southeastern region of Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east and the Ionian Sea to the southeast. It forms the high heel on the "boot" of Italy. Bari Ristorante is a perfect representation of Puglia. Every plate, every morsel is a trip to a region of Italy that is overlooked and under appreciated. Puglia's cucina povera (peasant cooking) is legendary. Olive oil, grapes, tomatoes, eggplants, artichokes, peppers, salami, mushrooms, olives and fresh seafood are the regional staples. Yes, I love Puglia. As a young American, I was fortunate to grow up there. While it has some of Italy's best food and wine, it's rare to hear a foreign voice in Apulia. Puglia is sun-bleached landscapes, olive groves, picturesque seascapes and memorable coastal towns. It's a lush, largely flat farming region, with a long coast that alternates between limestone precipices and long sandy beaches. And props to Bari's intimate bar. In a city riddled with substandard "bartenders", Brad Pitts (yes, that's right) is an exceptional mixologist that demonstrates the art, craft and mastery of making cocktails. Memphis is fortunate to have this stellar example of Italian cuisine. Bella! FYI...if you're looking for red/meat sauces, unlimited breadsticks and fried mozzarella, this is not your venue. Hustle your way down to your favorite chain. read more

Bari Ristorante - Spa Water - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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