Walked in, fist time, woried that it wasn't packed on a Saturday night. Then they walked us up stairs, and it was mobbed.
You get a menu, pencil and, a check off sheet with about 70 different italian cheese and sliced salumi etc. This adds an additional twenty minutes looking at the menu. FORGET-ABOUT-IT
Just read the real menu it has cheese and salumi combo's.
After the others at my table ordered there main courses, and saw no one got the pizza, I knew what i had to do.
Tasted everyone's dish. ( of corse )Then went for Rhode Islands famous grilled pizza. The bottom was very thin but well-done. The top bright with fresh sauce, but missing the best part, The Crust.
TOOK A BITE AND COULDN'T STOP TILL EVERY LAST CRUMB WAS GONE......
Bacaro is easily one of the best restaurants in Providence. The service and atmosphere is pretty good, but the food is just to die for. They have an extensive Italian tapas menu from which the glazed pork belly and arancini risotto balls are my absolute favourite. Their main menu is composed of salads, appetizers, pastas, meat, and seafood. I usually order the pasta con i fungi - a light pasta dish with mushrooms and a poached egg. The dessert menu changes seasonally, but everything is always amazingly delicious and fresh.
I've been thinking about this a lot, but Bacaro really is my all time favourite restaurants hands down.
Had dinner here last week with a big group. We liked the cherry pepper, pork belly, cracked baby potatoes, cheese panini, and sausage trio with mustards. We found the mozzarella with speck a bit too small to warrant the price. My friend liked her salted cod and eggplant. I liked my white sangria and peach bellini. Our server was nice, though a bit slow after the food came. It took forever to get the check and to get change. This is one of our favorite places and we will return
Review Source:We went for Tapas and their menu is extensive. Â Two full pages of choices: Â Ham, sausages, cheeses, seafood, pork items, vegetarian, you name it... Â I liked the crostini with steak the best, the beef was medium rare with a delicious horseradish sauce. Â The panini with ham and cheese was nicely done, crispy and flavorful. Â Â We had the sangria, which was good, but not great... Â Service was excellent.
Overall a great choice for a nice night out on South Water St. Â Â Parking in adjacent lot or on the street.
Food and service were good. Â Atmosphere was good. Â I think it might be a nice place to go with the BF and sit at the bar and have a drink and an app. Â While I dont have any specific complaints, I found the entrees to be waaaay over priced. Â My basic pasta entree with no meat/protein or even fancy cheese was close to $30. Â It was good. Â But not worth the money. Â
The dessert on the other hand was phenomenal. Â I hate having to order in advance when i order my entree - just in case I change my mind. Â But the salted caramel chocolate torte was amazing. Â
I might go back to give it another shot, but my first experience left me thinking that it was a bit overrated.
The only reason they are getting 4 and not 5 stars is our initial service. Myself and 2 girlfriends made an 8:45 reservation. We are always on time and showed up at 840, we didn't sit down until 9:05 and the hostess were unapologetic.
However, once we say down we were very happy. This was my first time and we wanted to experience a little bit of everything. The tapas menu is amazing and a great thing to do with a few friends. We each got 3-4 tapas and a cheese. The highlight for me was the bacon wrapped stuffed dates and eggplant Parmesan. The mango champagne tart for dessert was also delicious.
Overall another win for a local restaurant. But they should try to get friendlier and more competent hostesses.
Was very excited to eat at Bacaro after the write up it received about the pizza. Went with a large group to celebrate a birthday. We ordered the pomodoro/margharita pizza and the onion/goat cheese pizza for an app. I did not try the pomodoro but I heard it was very good. The goat cheese on the other hand was awful. The pizza was dripping in oil and so salty. And it didn't help that my water was never refilled.
There was a mix up for the entree. The waiter put in the wrong eggplant entree for me. I somehow ended up with one 1/2 inch round of soggy fried eggplant with a slab of mozzarella. It was so tiny it was served on an appetizer/bread plate. The waiter snapped at me immediately when I questioned whether this was the eggplant rollatini I had ordered. The young man dropped a snobby comment with an extra dose of attitude and stomped away. Luckily the manager came over and told me my dinner would be over in a few minutes. She was extremely nice and concerned.
The rollatini arrived 15 minutes later and was delicious but it wasn't worth the wait and having the rest of your 7 friends sitting there, having had their plates cleared a while ago. The entrees of my friends were mediocre, sxcept for the bolognese which was delectable.
The waiter didnt make eye contact with my side of the table for the rest of the night. It was just awful. Not exactly the service I enjoyed when I was tipping him 20 percent on 450 dollars. He also forgot about our dessert, which we ordered when we placed our entree order because they are made from scratch. Our chocolate tart was absolutely delicious though, and worth the extra 40 minutes of thumb twiddling.
Bottom line: awful waiter, kind staff. Good food when you order the right thing, mediocre when you don't.
Another food gem in Providence. Â Yes! Â
I had no idea there was an upstairs dining room -- it was a pleasant surprise when we were seated just next to the kitchen and I could watch the action from my seat. Â I do so love an open restaurant kitchen. Â
I also appreciate when you are able to order a 1/2 bottle of wine. Â My friend and I split a 1/2 bottle of a red that was recommended by our waiter, Daniel. Â He did an excellent job, as it was delicious. Â I only wish that I remembered to write it down off the menu. Â
We did not have apps or charcuterie (but that is certainly what I will try the next visit). Â My friend had the baked pumpkin pasta, which was stick-to-your-bones comfort food and perfect for the cold winter night that we were there. Â I had orchiette pasta with pancetta and brussel sprouts. Â It had a lemony flavor, which I loved. Â
For desert, we had the bombollinis -- fresh and warm with the melty, rich hazelnut center. Â Perfect ending. Â
Our server was great. Â Attentive, funny, and made excellent recommendations off the menu. Â We were seated at a table next to a pole, which is awkward for serving. Â But he and the runners did an excellent job maneuvering it all. Â
Looking forward to visiting again.
We went here quite a while ago so if they have changed chef in the mean time I apologize, BUT. If the bill hadn't been so high I would've given them 3 stars, but the fact of the matter was that it just wasn't good enough to justify the $180 bill for two of us.
We started with a an antipasti board. I like me some cured meats as well as the next guy, but hey 3 slices of cured meat for that price, no thanks.
Wife got the Black sticky ribs, which had a nice glaze on them but the meat was sorta dry. My lamb was tasty but not tasty enough to justify the bad taste in my mouth that the bill left.
I had a lovely evening with my brother here...in anticipation of an upcoming trip to Italy, I decided this was the place to discuss some details and get in the mindset with some delicious Italian food, and it certainly fit the bill!
We started with oysters and soup, moved on to the Northern Italian board, and shared a pizza. Â The food was all delicious, the service was great, and they had some nice wines by the glass options. I really enjoyed the space. It was very nicely decorated and arranged, and the view of the sunset across the river on a winter's evening was a nice touch. Â
Will certainly be back...I want to try entrees and desserts!
New Year's Eve can be hit or miss with restaurant dining but we had a total hit when we dined at Bacaro this past NYE.
We had an early reservation and were seated promptly after having our coats hung for us. The atmosphere and decor are exactly as you'd hope for; ambient lighting, tea lights on the tables, white linens, large tables and comfortable chairs. The building appears to be an older restored space and has great high ceilings, exposed beams and an open kitchen on the second level.
Pasta Con i Funghi was delicious tagliatelle with a truffled, poached egg. This dish was decadent but by the last few bites, I found the truffle essence to be quite overpowering.
The Roasted Little Neck app was perfection, however our server wasn't sure of a certain vegetable in the dish and didn't seem willing to find out when we inquired...even though we raved about the dish.
They have a huge selection of Italian tapas dishes like cold cuts and cheese, olives, chutneys and more. The San Daniel prosciutto was the best my husband ever tasted. Additionally, the dessert menu is quite long which is nice considering some of the finer dining establishments in PVD don't even offer dessert.
Overall, atmosphere was extremely sophisticated, just as I like, and the food was mouth-watering, but the service could have been a little more precise.
Word to the wise, prices are a bit steep and it can be tempting to over order. The portions are very generous so do yourself a favor and don't order the HUGE apple tart (almost $20, yikes!) dessert for two. It seems romantic at the time, but it's not wort the belly ache or the wallet ache.
Robust (food & drink) menu offerings
Highly enjoyable views
For business or pleasure
Bacaro does standard fare, tapas, drinks, and service very well. Â I've enjoyed my experiences here thoroughly, across several different visit types and perspectives. Â
Their Garganelle Alla'amatriciana is a contender for status as my last meal if I am told I'll be executed - though it's not always on the menu (more's the pity). Â It ably vies with Broadway Bistro's weighty entries as elementally-powerful meals. Â Tapas is a strength - each segment of your platter will likely delight, complement others, and impress with quality. Â Come dessert time, you may ask yourself..."these bombollini; are they a joke?" Â And I will assure you THEY ARE NO JOKE. Â Wine and beer are also taken seriously here, and the lists are lengthy and considerably impressive.
My recommendation - sit upstairs, and up front. Â Once seated, of course pay attention most to your date or whatever party you're with, but glance into the open kitchen's cacophony from time to time, and by all means, gulp in the views of this fair city through those accommodating windows. Â It's part of what makes this meal excellent.
I'm a fan.
I rarely give 5 stars but this place is something special. I feel like I am in NYC when I dine here. There are two levels and I prefer upstairs. The menu is amazing. I enjoy the Italian style tapas, wine, olives, yum! Tons on the menu so it's a place you can visit often and never have the same thing twice. You can go here to have a traditional dinner, or just have wine, cheese, and tapas. LOVE it.
Review Source:We've been here several times. Â I can't attest to the entree's as my wife and I always go with the tapas menu with one or two bottles of wine. Â It's a great place to have a fun night talking with people. Â We typically spend 1.5-2 hours there just enjoying the food, wine, and good conversation. Â It's amazing how much tapas can keep conversations go since no one is ever stuffing their face with food and you can just keep talking. Â We always enjoy going here, definitely one of our favorite places in Providence. Â Can get expensive though if you order a few bottles of wine.
Review Source:It fills a niche for fine Italian in Providence, and it does its thing well and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a nice meal. Â But there's something not quite there- like it's missing just some slight touch of sophistication or something else in the ambiance and menu refinement that would bring it to the next level. Â But it is quite delicious and good as it is and I think anyone would enjoy their experience here.
Review Source:I have only been to Bacaro once and I would definitely return. Â I ordered from the tapas menu and was pleased with everything that I was served. Â It is an interesting menu and definitely for those out there want spaghetti and meatballs. Â It is an upscale restaurant that serves food with some soul.
Review Source:I went here with my boyfriend for our 1 year anniversary and it was a great night. Â The atmosphere in the dining room was lovely, with the view of the water and the kitchen. My boyfriend said it looked like something from food network and he was right, it was a beautiful kitchen and not too noisy. We had a corner table that was intimate, but didn't give a great view of either water or kitchen.
We sat next a table of people with a lot of money and watched their experience compared to ours. Their waitress offered them grated cheese and fresh cracked pepper, our waitress did not. The chef even came up to their table, I was jealous. Our waitress wasn't extremely friendly or helpful, but she did her job. When a spider was crawling on the wall near us and my boyfriend squished it and then told the waitress and she said "that's sick"? Hah okay..
The olive oil that was put on the table was delicious, very italian, robust olive flavor like the olive oil I had in Italy, doesn't need added herbs and spices. The bread was okay, nothing special. Our candle kept on going out because there was a draft near the window which stunk. But what really made the night, besides being with my sweetie, was our delicious entrees and desserts! The food is why this restaurant gets 5 stars in my book.
I could tell you the italian names of our dishes, but I don't think it would really matter, you'll get the gist. Â I got the fungi tagliatelle with a truffle scented egg on top and it was amazing, my mouth literally died and came back to life. I just wanted to lay in my pasta, the delicious flavors, textures and scent, yumm. I don't even like seeing egg yolks, but when this creamy truffley yolk entered my pasta, it just made it even better. My boyfriend got the eggplant pasta and it tasted so fresh and the penne was perfectly cooked. It was very good, but mine was better ;)
For dessert we got the freshly baked pear tart which was like heaven, not too sweet, the perfect dessert. It was very fresh tasting. It had to be ordered with our entrees and was made while we ate. It was steep in price, but it was very special and a huge portion of goodness.
My boyfriend wasn't too sure about this place at first and I had never heard of it either, but we were both so happy we went. For an Italian restaurant, they are very vegetarian friendly and have a great menu. Next time I go I really want to try the tapas, they sound delicious!
What a great meal!!! Â Several Yelpers had told me that this was a great restaurant and were they spot on.
We had friends in from out of town who love tapas. Â We had a blast going through the extensive menu of meats, cheeses, veggies and other delectables. Â The hardest part was not ordering more. Â Everything that came out was perfect! Â We loved the mini panninis, the eggplant rollatini, the charcuterie plate, duck breast, tapenade, polenta (with speck and with the grilled onions) and the olives. Â The only miss (and it was slight) was the not so flavorful caponata. Â Otherwise, all four of us enjoyed our plates a great deal. Â While the dessert menu looked to die for, we passed because we were too full. . . next time for sure!
Our server was prompt, courteous and helpful. Â The atmosphere featured a great view of the river but it was a bit dark. Â More than one patron (ourselves included) needed to use a flashlight to read the menu. Â This would be a very nice place to take a date as a more dressy attire would have been appropriate (three of the four of us were wearing jeans and we didn't feel too underdressed). Â There is parking on site. Â The wine list was very nice and extensive- we got a very tasty bottle of Montepulciano for about $40 (not too terrible a mark up) but they had a wide variety of options including half bottles and tasting sizes (3 oz). Â
Overall this was a highly enjoyable meal and one of the best we've had in Providence. Â Without a doubt we will be back with more friends to try out the whole tapas menu and the rest of the desserts. Â A Providence gem for sure!
Mmmm, Bacaro's...How I dream about Bacaro's. This place is my favorite restaurant. Period.
Here's the thing: If you are seeking a traditional sit down restaurant experience (shared appetizer, single entree, dessert, etc) , you will not truly experience the wonder that is Bacaro's. Instead, suspend all expectations. Share an entree (or forego it all together), prepare to spend some dough, and immerse yourself in the hot and cold appetizers, grilled pizzas, salumeria, and cicchetteria.
I daydream about their scallop ceviche and pork belly. Being a cheese girl, I could spend a day eating my way through their amazing meats and cheeses. The grilled pizzas are the inspiration for all grilled pizzas (and don't let any restaurants on the Hill tell you otherwise!). The arancini are both crisp and creamy with a hint of truffle oil.
The ambiance and customer service will blow you away. If you sit upstairs, the kitchen staff will entertain you. The wine choices are phenomenal.
Can you tell how much I love this place? If only I could afford to go more than a few times a year...
I've been here several times and it never disappoints. The menu changes frequently because they offer seasonal items. When you go here, they hand you a regular menu along with a two sided paper tapas menu and a pencil. It's nice because you can order as much or as little off the tapas menu as you want. So if you want to try the squash flowers, you can get just 1 rather than commit to a full appetizer. Their pizzas are slammin - nice and thin and crispy. Â Entrees are always delicious too. One of my favorites is the grilled vegetable plate. It's $28 but the plate is huge and I'm never able to finish even half of it. It's a different selection of veggies every time you get it - you're getting whatever is fresh and in season.
The restaurant is two levels. The bottom level is the bar and a seating area. Upstairs is an open kitchen and a larger seating area. I prefer to sit upstairs because there are huge windows that overlook the water. There is also outdoor seating available.
Bacaro is pretty solid. My parents hate it, and I've heard some poor reviews from other friends...but that has never been the case on the 4 times I've dined there.
In short, more than half of the menu mirrors the one from Al Forno, but Bacaro succeeds in capturing the same high degree of quality, so I guess that's what matters. Everything is executed well with great presentation and robust flavor. Moreover, they even have some dishes that have since been removed from the Al Forno menu while others are novel and equally as delicious. Ingredients are of the highest quality here. As far as the service- the wait staff has always been excellent, friendly, knowledgeable and attentive, even those who were new...so no complaints there.
Food:
-Grilled pizza- best grilled pizza in the northeast (unless of course, you get it at Al Forno)...they also offer their own unique takes with prosciutto or goat's milk cheese. These are fantastic, a must if you go.
-Chef's Salumi Board- really interesting, and an awesome, diverse offering if you are willing to spend the $32
-Traditional Caesar Salad- also excellent, well dressed, and the freshly grilled croutons make it.
-Rigatoni With Veal Bolognese- this will be one of the better bolognese you'll ever have.
-Pasta Con I Funghi- good if you are a fan of truffles and mushrooms. it is really rich though, so keep that in mind...I couldn't finish it.
Dessert:
-Be sure you leave room for the tarts...they truly offer the perfect finish to the meal. Don't get caught up with the having to order them early...don't hesitate, just order something with your apps/entrees, you won't be disappointed.
-Assortment homemade chocolates- personally, I thought this was over-rated. But it might be a lighter finish to a filling meal. I'd definitely try the other desserts, namely the tarts, over this.
Last, and more importantly, don't come here without getting the CRISPY CHICKEN.
Crunchy chicken, buttered noodles, and salty parmigiano reggiano over pasta fagioli. Honestly, other items might sound more appealing...but give this a try. It is one of the more popular dishes and really is amazing.
One more thing, I haven't been since they changed the prices...but as good as the dishes may be, I don't think they are worth $30 a plate.
This is one of my favorite places to eat Italian food in RI. Really at the top of Italian food offered in RI. Everything is fresh and well prepared; I have never had a bad experience at Bacaro.
The salads are extremely fresh and well prepared, the meats aged to perfection, the fish is always fresh and well prepared. I can't recommend it highly enough. Try Bacaro you will NOT be disappointed.
I hate to be the barer of bad news, but if you're looking for a special 5* dining experience please take note - Bacaro might not be the place to fully experience all that you're wanting. Â The food is good, the view amazing, but this restaurant is missing certain things that make for a true 5* experience. Â For $30+/plate I have to review based on what I believe we in Providence have come to expect from fine dining.
For starters, what about the simple things in life, like taking our coats? Â Nope, can't be bothered. Â Why don't you have any music playing on the second floor? Â You've got a view of the river but without ambiance my table of four couldn't help but focus on the click clack of the forks coming from the only other table (of 14) in the restaurant, oddly placed smack dab next to us.
Our server, bless her, knew NOTHING. Â Nothing about wine, couldn't really make food recommendations, and had a general air of insecurity about her. Â The manager stepped in at certain points to accommodate our cohort's gluten free needs and help with the wine selection, and call me caddy but she was way too casually dressed to be given any street cred. Â Pink and brown striped Old Navy V neck with jeans doesn't really scream I should be spending a lot of money here.
I will say the bottle of wine we were pointed to was excellent. Â But call me crazy, where I come from, wine bars offer wine flights and I got a blank Bambi stare when I asked for one.
We started with the pork belly appetizer, a small plate served salty and glazed. Â Then I moved on to the duck breast over risotto. Â The duck was too bloody for my taste so I passed most of the middle on to my partner, and the rice portion tasted like the butter it was made in had been accidentally burned during preparation. Â With the richness of the dish it was sadly lacking in the vegetable department. Â Michael had a whole fish as they were out of the other two pesce options on the menu. Â It was fine but not satisfying.
If you're looking for some place special I have a list of top 5 in the state.  Go to anyone of these establishments <a href="http://www.yelp.com/list/big-5-in-little-rhody-providence">http://www.yelp.com/list…</a> and enjoy the total package!
Can't say enough good things about this place. We've been many times since they opened and never disappointed. Just had the pleasure of introducing my visiting family to Bacaro and they were blown away by the food and service. They get many ingredients fresh locally and you can taste how much the chefs care about their product.
Some tips from our many visits:
Try whatever seasonal pizza they have at the time, especially if it has pumpkin or corn on it.
Save room for dessert. Check the dessert menu early as sometimes you have to pre-order with dinner for items to be done in time.
Their two menu staples Pasta con Fungi and Crispy Chicken are both seemingly simple but wonderfully executed. I could eat the crispy chicken every night.
Have wine. If you're unsure, ask. Their servers all seem to know their way around the list and I've found them quite helpful when making decisions on what to order.
They have an outdoor patio in the summer that looks beautiful, although I've never eaten out there.
If you haven't been to Bacaro, you must go try it soon. You will not regret it.
4 stars for the food, but 5 stars for the atmosphere!
First of all, let me just say that this restaurant is beautiful. Â High ceilings, exposed wooden beams, and amazing views of either the river and downtown or the bustling kitchen makes this a really lovely place to spend an evening. Â The first floor has the bar, but if you go for dinner, I'd definitely request a table on the second floor which seemed more lively to me (plus, that's where the kitchen is!).
Bacaro has a huge menu of salads, charcuterie, pastas, pizzas, fish, meats, desserts, etc., and also a tapas menu filled with a ton of different small bites. Â We came here for the restaurant week prix fixe, but we just couldn't resist trying one of the tapas dishes. Â They all looked so good! Â We decided on the duck breast with blueberry chutney on toasted brioche. Â It was amazing. Â Loved every bite. Â
Our other food was good, but not as delicious as the duck breast. Â I had the pasta con i fungi (basically pasta with poached egg + mushrooms + cheese + butter) which was served perfectly al dente. Â Future husband had the crispy chicken over pasta fagioli which was decent but a little bland. Â
For dessert we had the doughnuts filled with a Nutella type sauce and the quince and apple crisp with caramel ice cream. Â The crisp, which came out piping hot, was by far the better dessert.
We will definitely be coming back to Bacaro, but next time I think we'll stick to the tapas menu!
It's hard for a new Italian restaurant to impress me given all the heavy hitting Italian restaurants that have been around forever, but WOW! It feels like your eating in some futuristic part of Italy.
The whole dining experience was so different and unexpected.
The tapas style antipasti was perfect. We assembled our favorite combos of meat, cheese, and olives, with none of the fillers or overly large portions that keep us from getting it for just the two of us. It went perfect with their Italian bread!
We shared the pasta with egg plant and it was incredible. The pasta was so fresh and oddly shaped (in a good way) that we asked if it was homemade. Nope, just flow in from Italy. Flown in by a De Lorean I wonder?
This place was not gimmicky at all. Just really great food in a nice modern, light and airy atmosphere. While it may be more of a splurge then then your local Italian restaurant, for us it was completely worth it. Bacaro is a really fun.
Yum.
The menu can be overwhelming. Â Entree? Â Mouth-watering tapas paper-menu check list? Â Northern, southern, or self-selected board? Â You know what: take your time, enjoy whatever you select and change your mind as your meal unfolds. Â Well, at least that is what we did.
Our server, Adam, deserved 5+ stars. Â Fine dining attention to detail, knowledgeable to the nuances of the menu, and a wonderful personality. Â He truly made our meal spectacular.
Not to say the food wasn't phenomenal as well. Â It was. Â Narragansett-caught oysters and grilled pizza to start. Â I had the pasta with mushroom, and truffle infused egg: to die for. Â It seemed impossible for a meal to be both so light and so rich! Â I can't remember everything the rest of our 5 dining companions had: but we shared, and it was delicious.
The ambiance is nice, brightly lit and somewhat minimalistic. Â This can be nice, but also can make a busy night quite loud and difficult to carry on conversation with your table. Â But the food and service: definitely out of this world.
I tried Bacaro again, and this time I got it. Totally and completely and quite happily, too. We came in and our waiter, John, totally swept us off our feet. We started with glorious oysters on the half-shell and a really fabulous bottle of wine. Then, we moved on to the creamy bakala over seared polenta, which was perfection. Up next? The stuffed squash blossoms with marinara and Narragansett Creamery Ricotta... I know, right? How RI-Italian can you get? Needless to say, we were giddy with pleasure. But I haven't even gotten to our entrees yet... or dessert.
I had the amazing and delectable saffron-scented rice with little necks and chorizo. OMG. OMG. It was like a take on paella, but without the crusty bottom and loads of other meats. It was beyond good - beyond. My companion and dear friend Sarah T had some outrageous pasta dish with truffles and a perfectly fried egg on top, but to be honest I was so involved with my dreamy goodness I can't remember a thing about hers other than that. All I know is this: we were both so happy and overloaded with joy we wanted to make out with our waiter.
Then he brought out the dessert.
Sarah was too full, so she left it to me. It was a puff pastry filled with local figs and topped with a melted cheese akin to camembert. Yup. It was a non-sweet lover's dream dessert. Crispy, gooey, sweet and savory. It was genius. Dreamy.
So, I may have been a little harsh last time. Just a tad. But the service that time really was bad and that can ruin a meal for me... especially when it's supposed to be one of the best restaurants in town. But being able to admit you were wrong is a sign of dignity, right? Right. And John made all the bad things into good things, and my meal was, well... perfection. 5 stars, kids. They earned every single on of 'em.
Went for dinner with some friends a few weeks ago for the first time.
I was simply amazed at the wide selection of appetizers, so we ordered a few for the table.
The waiter, who was very courteous, first brought out a basket of warm fresh bread and olive oil which we all devoured.
The appetizers we ordered looked amazing but portioned smaller than I would have liked for the price. Â But they were great!
The date stuffed gorgonzola wrapped panchetta was probably the best thing I've ever put into my mouth. Almost a perfect balance of a sweet, salty and smokey flavor.
We also ordered the grilled sausage with spicy mustard and the arrancia fried risotto stuffed with with mozzarella that were amazingly good.
For dinner I ordered crespelle in the style of apulia which was basically a pasta crepe with burrata cheese. Very good but also very filling. One thing about the main entrees is the portions were were very satisfying.
My friends ordered a grilled corn margarita pizza off the special's menu, which was fantastic. An entree of assorted seasonal vegetables which was huge and had at least 7 different types of really fresh vegetables. And some sort of white fish dish, that although tasted good, the plate somewhat resembled a bloody crime scene.
A bit pricey for your typical night out, yes. But overall the food and dining experience as a whole was very satisfying.
Don't get me wrong, Bacaro is one of THE BEST restaurants in Providence. Their food is absolutely delicious and unique, from their tapas menu to large selection of entrees to their tasty desserts which make my mouth water every time!
Some of  my recommendations include the pork belly from the Tapas menu, the beet salad, the pumpkin pizza or any of the pasta dishes. Each season the freshest ingredients are used and incorporated into the dishes. I'm particularly a fan of the penne with with the squash flowers and goat cheese!
Don't forget about dessert! Although a bit pricey, it can't be missed. The little donuts with nutella are spectacular as are all the fruit tortes. Â
The reason I cannot give it 4 or 5 stars is because the service is lacking. Sometimes you can wait what seems to be an unusually long amount of time for a glass of water or utensils. It's unfortunate because this delicious food is right in front of you and the aromas are begging you to attack. It seems to have gotten a bit better but every time I go and hope for a better experience, it's usually the same.
Would you rather eat good food or enjoy the ambiance? If you prefer great food, you have to stop in and try for yourself! Be sure to ask to be seated upstairs....there's a great open kitchen!
Very Impressive Ambiance, well trained staff, and the food was excellent - just like "Al Forno", and you can never go wrong when replicating Al Forno's menu.
I recommend eating upstairs, with nice westerly views of the Providence River. Â There is one huge blank wall upstairs (north wall), that could use some Tuscan countryside murals, (or something creative) to give one the feeling of eating in Cortona, or another Tuscan village, but I'm sure Brian will figure that out in time... Â
Much of the food was perhaps too much like Al Forno...  The Pizza Margarita, Caesar Salad, Scallops and mashed potatoes were clearly taken from Al Forno's menu.  I was hoping to find more of a variance from the restaurant that Brian trained in, and ran, for so many years, but  I guess I can understand how a chef will do what he knows.  I was just very surprised with the menu similarities, and in some cases, identical duplications... Â
The quality of food, and food preparation was as excellent as I expected it to be. Â I'd just recommend to Brian to lose the Al Forno signature dishes and show us more of his own originality, which I'm sure he has...
I think I'm in love. Â No, really! Â I think I'm officially in love. Â My dining experience at Bacaro was nothing short of exquisite. Â I was dining with a very large party (about 30 people) and the restaurant was able to accommodate us, which was fantastic. Â My table ordered a bunch of Italian tapas to share. Â I tried the following:
Stuffed "Mortadella alla Griglia" - Grilled purses of mortadella stuffed with talleggio cheese and served with Mostarda Fruits: Incredibly good, perfect combination of salty and sweet with a spicy fig jam. Â It was remarkable how well the flavors worked together.
New World Bruschetta Buffalo Mozzarella, Roasted Red Peppers Agro Dolce & Wild Rocket: Really good, flavors went great together, bread was crisp and toppings were just the right amount.
Grilled Figs drizzled with Local Wildflower Honey: So amazing! Â They were warm and delicious and just melted in your mouth. Â A burst of fresh flavors... absolute perfection.
Gratin of Scallops and Pancetta: We should have ordered more of this. Â We only had one and I probably monopolized it! Â The scallops were chopped up with the pancetta and then covered in the herby bread crumb mixture. Â Really delicious! Â It was a novel take on Scallops with Bacon!
Wood-Grilled "Piadina" - Grilled flat bread with chickpea puree, Jerusalem artichoke chips, smoked capsicum, lemon, crispy parsley & virgin olive oil: Such a great vegetarian option. Â Sounds like a lot of ingredients, but it all worked well together. Â The Jerusalem artichoke chips were great! Â My first time trying that!
Fried Olives: Again, something I had never tried, but it was surprisingly good! Â The olives were still hot!
Crostini with Salt-Cured Foie Gras and Homemade Sweet Blackberry Jam: My first experience with Foie Gras and I really did enjoy it! Â It was sliced thin, so it wasn't overwhelming in any way, and the blackberry jam was the perfect accent!
Next it was time for dinner... shockingly I still had room in my belly to polish it off!!! Â I had the Wood-Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Wild Mushrooms and Fresh Rosemary, homemade apple sauce, mashed potatoes. Â I usually shy away from ordering pork at restaurants. Â I never feel compelled to. Â I stick with chicken, beef or seafood, but I'm SO glad I chose the pork because it was honestly the best pork I've ever had. Â The tenderloin was so juicy! Â The applesauce and mushrooms were a perfect accompaniment to the meat. Â It was a little bit of heaven! Â I also tasted a friend's Wood-Grilled Steak "Pizzaiolo" -bistro steak topped with roasted San Marzano tomatoes and sweet garlic with roasted potatoes, which was also divine!
Finally, dessert. Â Wow. Â Seriously. Â Wow. Â I had the sweet potato and pumpkin crostada which was soooo good. Â It wasn't overly sweetened or seasoned. Â Just very fresh flavors in a delicious crust, swimming in a pool of happiness aka creme anglaise. Â The lavender panna cotta was amazing! Â So creamy... just absolutely incredible.
Soooooo, there's the long version. Â Short version is, this place has incredible food! Â It's not cheap in any regard. Â But now that I've had a taste, I don't think I can stay away! Â Raman Noodles 6 nights a week... I'm saving up for another visit here.
Excellent dining experience at Bacaro. Â My wife & I recently went with a friend of ours and had a thoroughly pleasant dinner.
The salumeria selection offers a great way to start a meal. Â In addition to both cured meats (try the speck) and cheeses, there are also some small plates (both hot and cold). Â The menu offers a range of options from a full blown multi-course meal to individual options like pasta or wood-grilled pizzas. Â Excellent wine selection as well, heavy on Italian wines though plenty of options from other regions.
Place itself is reasonably open w/ high ceilings. Â There's seating both downstairs and upstairs, the former adjacent to the bar and the latter offering a view of the kitchen. Â Service wasn't exceptional, though still very good overall. Â But the food was definitely outstanding.
4.5
Environment: 4/5
Food: 5/5
Service, 3.5/5
I finally had the chance to try out Bacaro after reading endless reviews of the now former Al Fornos restaurant chefs new home Bacaro.
I was somewhat scared away from the prices, but i was in town with some other foodie friends and said hey, lets do it! (I ended paying 50$ for my share which included an exxcellent wine! My meal included an a shared antipasta, wine, and a main dish with bread)
We came a bit early for dinner, around 6, so the tables were a bit emtpy, but around 7-9 the tables were jam packed. Parking is easy...its located in a parking lots for 50 or so cars...and if that is packed, theere is plenty of parking on the streets for free.
The menu is huge(almost overwhelming) and delightful. Tons of variety with everything from pastas, to starters, to desserts, to seafood, and a very cool salumi antipasta thing (it's like sushi for antipasta)which was amazing! The wine menu is also flawless with a larger variety from all over the world.
Service: It took some time for our waiter to service us for some reason even though the place was empty. Lots of waiters standing around...so we were a bit confused, but eventually our waiter came over (I think he was new and a bit shy) He was informative but was unfamilar wine pairings, so he sent over the manager who was very knowledgable of her wines, but also yawned a few times even apologizing because she was tired (even if you are tired, dont tell us....your shift just started and you have another 6 hours to go!)
Environment: the first floor houses a large lit up bar overlooking the entire restaurant whch is nice. Near the stairs to the upper floor is a mini meat fridge holding all the dry meats and cheeses for your antipasta. It's a nice rustic setting though the I'm a bit picky on interiors and though they could match the furniture and wall colors to the rustic smokey vibe of the bar and open kitchen...the Open Kitchen is upstairs...you cant really see much action, but it's well lit and it gives youa nice fresh vibe for the food to come.
Food: Excellent!!!!! I had a tasting of the duck, scallops, and al dente pasta! the breads also fresh...no complaints here...just damn tasty. 5 starts for sure. The wine might have helped some, but the food still rocked!
Audience: The crowd is the genral Al Fornos crew; dress nicely, wear a tie and a coat, and dress to impress italian style. The nice thing is that the restaurant doesnt feel like a must for this, just a hint. I wore a fancy shirt w/jeans, so, no worries on the dress code...just wear something comfortable that's dark cause it seems everyone including the staff does so. Keep away from shorts and sandals though.
Come here for a dat, with a crew of friends, een a large crowd. There were several tables setup for 8+, including one corner for 20 people.
Hopefully i'll get to come here again, perhaps sit downstairs and compare, though the kitchens upstairs, so I i my food hot! Be prepared to be a bit confused about ALLLlll the dishes on the menu. I was a bit overwhelmed, but this only calls for several more visits.
It is so sad to think that there are people who will not eat pork.
What a delightful restaurant, butressed by its over-achieving salumeria and wine bar. Â The restaurant has an extensive menu. Â But when I was presented with the list of meat's and cheeses available, I put down my menu, and picked up my pencil. Â
You see, ordering here is a bit of a different experience. Â Our waiter told us there are a lot of different kitchens and things come out at different times, when they are ready. Â To order the deliious meats and cheeses, one must actually fill out a form. Â Luckily, the waiter has an extra supply of golf pencils.
This ordering gambit can be a bit tricky, especially if you are with people who are interested in all sorts of different things. Â
For me, a highlight was the thin cold slices of roast suckling pig. Â I have no idea how they did it. Â My guess is they deboned a whole baby pig, tied it up, and roasted it with herbs. Â Then put the whole thing in their hand powered meat slicer. Â
A little more education from the staff (a plate of 3 meats was dropped off without acknowledging what each one was), smaller portions of the gargantuan entrees (with slightly lower prices to match), and a slightly more accomodating ordering system would make this place unbeatable.
Oh, and the pizza is fantastic. Â Just don't bring a child who loves pizza and think that THEY will be happy with pizza. Â It's a bit rustic. Â Thin and crispy and delicious. Â But it doesn't LOOK like pizza. Â After all the anticipation, when it came, the little one burst into tears. Â Hearbreaking, truly. Â Luckily the kiddo filled up on prosciutto. Â
That's my boy.
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