Bacaro
Quick info
About Bacaro
Down a flight of stairs on Division Street, Bacaro spreads its Italian dining across two floors, with the main room below in a candlelit basement that reads like an old rustic cellar and holds small semi-private nooks for couples and pairs. The upper floor is small and tight on space. Pasta anchors a menu of around 20 dishes, with Spaghetti Nero among them alongside duck cavatelli and gnocchi with mushrooms, while small plates such as Fritto Misto are ordered to share before them. Eggplant parm, salads and broccoli rabe fill out the kitchen's range, and wine and cocktails come with the meal. Walk-ins are accommodated, though the rooms get busy and service can run slow at those times. A private dining room takes larger groups, and the restaurant opens daily for evenings only.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Paid street parking · Difficult to find a space
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating · Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsHigh chairs available
- DietaryServes vegan dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
20 dishes · mains $11–27- Spaghetti Nero$22.00
- Tiramisu$11.00
- Fritto Misto$21.00
- Panna Cotta$11.00
- Eggplant Marinara$20.00
- Gnocchi Con Funghi$27.00
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention rustic cellar downstairs dining, spaghetti with clams, duck cavatelli and fritto misto and eggplant parm.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention rustic cellar downstairs dining, spaghetti with clams, duck cavatelli and fritto misto and eggplant parm.
Customer Review Summary
The downstairs dining room draws the most attention, described as an old rustic cellar with semi private nooks and an underground feeling that several call cozy, intimate and romantic, though one notes the main floor upstairs is very tight. On the food, the fritto misto is singled out as a hit alongside the eggplant parm, and others praise gnocchi with mushrooms and the small plates. A spaghetti nero didn't match its photos but still tasted decent to one diner, and a duck cavatelli struck another as good without justifying the cost. Service splits the room sharply. Several describe attentive, wonderful care, while others report slow or scarce attention, difficulty ordering and closing out on a busy night, and one recounts a server who nearly tipped over a glass of wine twice without apologizing. A reviewer who got spaghetti with clams found most shells empty and the noodles barely sauced. The clearest counterweight comes from an overcooked broccoli rabe, which staff offered to remake or strike from the bill.
Customer Review Summary
The downstairs dining room draws the most attention, described as an old rustic cellar with semi private nooks and an underground feeling that several call cozy, intimate and romantic, though one notes the main floor upstairs is very tight. On the food, the fritto misto is singled out as a hit alongside the eggplant parm, and others praise gnocchi with mushrooms and the small plates. A spaghetti nero didn't match its photos but still tasted decent to one diner, and a duck cavatelli struck another as good without justifying the cost. Service splits the room sharply. Several describe attentive, wonderful care, while others report slow or scarce attention, difficulty ordering and closing out on a busy night, and one recounts a server who nearly tipped over a glass of wine twice without apologizing. A reviewer who got spaghetti with clams found most shells empty and the noodles barely sauced. The clearest counterweight comes from an overcooked broccoli rabe, which staff offered to remake or strike from the bill.
Featured reviews
- Karina
“Got the spaghetti with clams….. 70% of clams were empty shells lol. The sauce made the plate look good but not enough for the pasta itself. You’re paying for barely wet noodles. I don’t recommend at all. Service left a lot to be desired. The lady barely came by but obviously tip is still expected for their little work.”
- Dan Nienhauser
“Great delicious Italian spot! Loved the small plates and gnocchi w mushrooms. Yum. Wonderful service and fun intimate atmosphere. New manhattan fave”
- Loc H.
“delicious food, service can be a little slow”
- Clara Hopkins
“i spent almost 200$ for very disappointing italian food, but nothing compared to how bad the service was, she almost knocked over my wine twice/didn’t apologize, never told me her name or answer my questions, never smiled and when i didn’t …”
- Olivia N
“Overall rating: 4.5 Super popular Italian place that seems to be best for group of friends or a date. Very tight on the main floor, but the bottom floor seems super romantic I went with a group of 6 and the underground feeling transported me. I had the duck cavatelli and it was good. But was it $$$ good. Eh. I’ve had better. The service was also a tad rough. They were very busy and it was hard to order, get a drink and close out. Not sure if this is the place for me.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Chic, candlelit basement eatery serving pastas & Venetian small plates alongside Italian wines.”
- Has fast service
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great coffee
- Has great wine list
- Popular for popular for dinner
- Popular for good for solo dining
Amenities
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Has outdoor seating
- Offers delivery
- Offers takeaway
Show more amenities
- Serves dine-in
- Serves vegan dishes
- Has bar on site
- Casual
- Serves beer
- Serves coffee
- Offerings· 10
- Serves alcohol
- Serves cocktails
- Serves comfort food
- Serves happy-hour drinks
- Serves happy-hour food
- Has private dining room
- Serves small plates
- Serves spirits
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves wine
- Family-friendly· 1
- High chairs available
- Planning· 1
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Dining options· 4
- Serves dinner
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Highlights· 3
- Has fast service
- Serves great cocktails
- Has great wine list
- Popular for· 2
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Accessibility· 2
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Facilities· 2
- Has gender-neutral toilets
- Has toilet
- Atmosphere· 3
- Cosy
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Crowd· 4
- Good for groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Popular with tourists
- Transgender safe space
- Parking· 2
- Paid street parking
- Difficult to find a space
Location
Italian restaurants near Bacaro
- Casa D'angelo New York4.66,2890.4 mi$15–30
tableside cheese wheel pasta, truffle pasta, pesto gnocchi
- Forsythia NYC4.44400.6 mi$80–90
agnolotti, 22% service fee, unfriendly host
- La Lanterna di Vittorio4.52,4341.2 mi$20–60
lasagna flights, tiramisu, bruschetta
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacaro | 4.4415 | — | $50–60 | rustic cellar downstairs dining, spaghetti with clams, duck cavatelli |
| Casa D'angelo New York | 4.66,289 | 0.4 mi | $15–30 | tableside cheese wheel pasta, truffle pasta, pesto gnocchi |
| Forsythia NYC | 4.4440 | 0.6 mi | $80–90 | agnolotti, 22% service fee, unfriendly host |
| La Lanterna di Vittorio | 4.52,434 | 1.2 mi | $20–60 | lasagna flights, tiramisu, bruschetta |
The 3 nearest italian restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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