I was really impressed with Bardo from the moment we walked in the door. I have spent most of my life in cities known for their food and cocktails and am admittedly a harsh critic at times.
What I loved about this place is that you get the kind of friendly and attentive service and banter of your local watering hole mixed with the quality and mastery of an inner city hot spot that would give any trendy Sydney establishment a run for its money.
The tapas were excellent. It can be a nightmare for me to eat out because I am a pescatarian with severe allergies to gluten and casein. It takes a lot more than just knowing that you can't use dairy of flour to make me feel confident and comfortable eating your food. These guys were extremely good and knowledgeable on accommodating allergies and the sous chef checked over everything g twice and came out to see how the food was after.
The cocktails were impressive and the bartender clearly has a very well honed understanding of flavours and taste because each cocktail has a medley of things in it and when you taste it the initial taste is the flavours merged together but then you realise that it "pulls" apart and you can distinctly taste the different flavours of peach, coconut and whatever else.
We will definitely be back and highly recommend it to anyone in town
Definitely a great place to go for tapas plates and be kind people, eat it all family style!
The menu is split into sections that would mimic appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts but named differently. There are a few staples in the menu and some added newbies; all of it with different options you can pick from so you'll always be able to try something different.
The kitchen is generally quick even when they're busy but even when they're bogged down, the servers do a good job of keeping you informed.
The last time I was here it was HOT inside. I credit that to the open kitchen and perhaps a malfunctioning HVAC. I didn't mind so much but it would make for somewhat of an uncomfortable meal once you're a few plates into your meal.
My favorites are Buddha Buns, calamari, chicken satay, wasabi mashed potatoes, and dip sum donuts. There are also plenty of options for vegans and a beautiful bar to order from. There are some tables that are extremely comfortable, areas great for intimacy, and even large parties. There's one round table with a plush wrap around booth that is very comfortable but beware, make the people who get up for the bathroom frequently sit on the outsides.
Just went here last night. Pretty cool place! The food is very different here, so if you don't like trying new things or dont have an open mind to food then you might not be pleased with this place. But for me, that's EXACTLY what I look for when trying new places. I wasn't impressed with the martinis, then again I rarely am. But the cheese fondu, calamari, lettuce wraps, and spicy cucumber salad were fantastic! We got the house pickles-not a fan, and something that started with a V(it was some Indian dish and I LOVE Indian food but the potatoes were huge and undercooked and there wasn't much meat)...again not a fan. But we finished off with the doughnuts which was an amazing choice! I could have just eaten those all night! I would highly recommend this place just for the experience! We are definitely going back because there were sooo many things we wanted to try!
Review Source:If you really enjoy eating tapas, Bardo is the place to go. While most of their meals can be 'entree-ized', dont short yourself but only eating one meal. Enjoy the experience!
I came with two girlfriends here for dinner one night and ended up sitting for 3 and a half hours and didnt stop eating! Our waiter, I think his name was Ryan, was great - a little too attentive at first but then realized we werent trying to be in and out and let us relax and enjoy ourselves. And no, he didnt just stop paying attention to us, I caught him checking the levels of our drinks and watching our plates so that he knew when to come by. Much appreciated!
We started with a bottle of wine and edamame (the plain option is VERY reasonably priced - $3.88 for a good little serving) and then moved onto mahi tacos (just okay), crab club on foccacia (definitely a one person menu item but omg I could have eaten it every day for the rest of my life.) and masman curry gnocchi. When the plates first came out I was pleased with the presentation and the quality of the food. They make sure every dish is truly prepared to order. The portions looked small at first but I think the dishes that they used - small bowls - created that illusion because I was pleasantly full by the end.
For dessert we had fried bananas which I was initially skeptical of but I may have to come back for them. They werent greasy and were light and flaky. They were drizzled with something, possible honey, that really gave them a good, sweet flavor.
We were so impressed by the fried bananas that we decided to try another dessert item. We asked about the chocolate coconut cream pie but our waiter warned us that it was a small portion and maybe not the best for sharing. Instead he directed us toward the chocolate hazelnut fondue which was the same price. Any waiter who actually suggests without immediately trying to up sell me gets a point in my book. When the fondue came out, I was grinning. Poundcake, sliced bananas, strawberries and bite sized cookies? Yes please! Everyone was able to get a bite of everything and a little more. Wow, top notch there and only about 6 bucks. I would come in for just this a drink any day.
I've been to Bardo four times before this and have always been impressed with the food, the swanky Asian fusion decor, and the service. All in all, my total for half a bottle of wine, edamame, masman curry and fondue was $32.50. For all of the savory tastes in that meal, I would say thats a bargain price.
Thanks Bardo for a great experience!
More of a 2.5. Â Nothing wrong with the place, just not impressed.
Wanted to try a place in Ghent since I heard the "scene" there is nicer than in Portsmouth. Â The place was okay. Â After finding out they don't have Yuengling (sadness) I got a double Woodford Reserve. Â The bartender asked if I wanted to try the food so I ordered the "kim chee" and "steamed rice." Â Well, the kimchi wasn't kimchi, and the rice wasn't too tasty (a bit dry as well). Â The bourbon was a little pricy, but I was drinking Woodford so I guess that's to be expected. Â The atmosphere seemed nice though and the staff was friendly, when not busy. Â I'll probably go back and check it out again.
My wife and I have been coming to Bardo's since they opened and they have maintained a consistently high  quality and serve some of the most innovative food in this area. The most difficult thing about eating at Bardo's is choosing.
At a recent visit my wife had the crab stuffed avocado which was fried in a tempura style batter and artistically served with tomato coulis (we think). I had the seared scallops with bacon and Brussels sprouts hash which was delicious. We shared a plate of the eggplant fries which comes with a hot (and I do mean HOT) dipping sauce. Just a little dab will do you.
They did not have our favorite desert on the menu (caramel curry ice cream) but the chef said that if we wanted it, just call the day before and he would make it.
In addition to the wide menu, they have an excellent mixed drink, wine  and beer selection.
Bardo is a gem in Ghent and would be so in any city, including some of the gastro meccas of the United States.
My boyfriend and I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Their tapas style plates are consistently on point!
Great selection of liquors and desserts as well.
The chefs here are clearly quite talented.
They are also open (serving food and drinks) until 2am every night! For such a trendy little spot, that's hard to find!
Definitely check it out.. and get the doughnuts for dessert!
How weird is it that A: I've lived here for quite awhile now, B: I basically live in Ghent (expect that isn't where my house is), and C: I'd never been to Bardo.
There, I said it. Â I was the oldest rookie in the room. Â But so much better for the experience. Â It was one of those evenings, I had some time on my hands and wanted to feel especially stupid...so I called up one of my brilliant hipster friends and set up a meet and drink. Â Bardo is what he suggested, how could I refuse?
When I arrived, we discovered that neither of us had eaten yet, so I ordered a Wagyu Sloppy Joe because I was especially in the mood for a sloppy joe which is genetically predisposed to intense marbling and to producing a high percentage of oleaginous unsaturated fat.' (Wiki knows everything....) and sat back to sip on my Bardo Cosmo.
We need to get one thing very clear right now, though. Â If you are a pretentious person (and the fact that you would be sitting in a bar in Ghent is a pretty darn good indication...), then you will fit in just nicely here, thank you. Â However, if you have a nasty streak of faux pretention, you will absolutely adore this place! Â You can let all that pent up pretention frustration roll right out onto the floor, baby! Â Nobody cares, you are amongst friends here!
You could call Bardo the Anti Dive Bar.
Since I consider myself the type of guy that can easily work both sides of the street/spectrum/whatever, it will become a go to spot for me I'm sure. Â Mostly because they have a way huge menu of drinks with cute names that are fun to say. Â And more fun to taste and reorder!
Besides, another Ghent Hipster Bar on the list can never be a bad thing (Mental Note to Self: Make a list).
She says: I hadn't been to Bardo in about 2-3 years when some friends decided to get there after yoga class on a Monday night. There aren't many options on Mondays, and it was close by. I was a little anxious about it, because as I recall, the cost was pretty high and the portions are small (they are tapas sizes).
I was pleased to see they have a more extensive menu and the prices seem to have gone done slightly (or maybe they are just slightly less i.e. $5.88 instead of $6 something - those are the most inexpensive ones).
I don't eat much gluten or dairy, so I picked the arugula salad with lime. It was very delicious and I'd definitely have it again. A friend was doing the paleo 30 day detox (no sugar, no dairy, no gluten, no salt), and she also got the salad and liked it.
A few friends ordered the hot nuts (I think they cost $2.88, a good deal), and the friends are also gluten free and got some Chopin vodka in a drink. I ordered hot tea and the waitress never brought it. She seemed a little scatterbrained and was slow, even though the place was rather deserted. She blamed the bartender for not bringing the Chopin martini, which seemed like a bad sign because she should have just gotten the drink and not blamed a co-worker, in my opinion.
I also got the lettuce wrap sampler (3 kinds of meat in 3 small containers, I would say about 6-9 ounces of meat total) with lettuce to wrap it in and a soy sauce dip. I didn't ask if the dip had gluten, but I'm guessing it did. I needed a little flavor, so I dipped my wrap in that. The meat was pretty salty and I don't recall now what it was. It was a little greasy, but good. My tab was $20 for the two items I got, which left me a little hungry. For $20, I could've gotten a steak somewhere, but the food was still good and I'm glad I tried Bardo again.
Also -- they fry in tempura, which I believe is gluten free. This restaurant would be very gluten free friendly, in my opinion. And, don't leave any visible items in your car. Many cars are broken into in this area. Also don't walk to your car alone at night.
Came to Bardo with my girlfriends to celebrate a one of the girl's birthday that last friday of March. Â
We had a great time ordering all kinds of things from the menu and sharing. Â Everything was delicious and no long waits between each round of dishes we ordered. Love love the Dip Sum Doughnuts! Make sure to take the chocolate chopsticks and put pieces of the chocolate in the doughnuts...Oh my!
They have an extensive drink menu and several of us tried various drinks. I loved the Leaden-N-Squally drink, their house made ginger beer rocked.
Our server Bret and he was fantastic! He kept our drinks flowing and was on top of things, never once missing a beat.
Make sure to make reservations, they are always busy.
Looking forward to coming back for another girls night!!
Up until my last visit, Bardo would've earned 5 stars. Unfortunately we're now down to 3 based on the last visit from the end of March. So being the organizer for my employer's monthly teambuilders, I chose Bardo since this is a restaurant that I held very close to my heart based on my previous experiences.
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  Now for the good, the bad, and the ugly (unfortunately we experienced all 3). Now I will say that I was the last of my party to arrive, but once I was seated my colleagues did let me know that they had been told that they couldn't order until everyone was at the table. #pardon the rant..if anyone understands this ridiculous rule that some restaurants have, please explain. Â
  So our server (who based on my receipt) was a lass by the name of Jamie. I'm hoping that she was just new at the time because we did not receive the level of service that I've become accustomed to @ Bardo. She did ok, but forgot some things and didn't really seem warm.  In general the food was good although there were some misses. On the first course, 1 person's veggies were still cold/borderline frozen in the middle. It was sent back and replaced and was satisfactory.
  Later during the dessert the same person had hair in her food. We advised the waitress, her response, "Oh well my husky sheds uncontrollably and I can't get rid of the dog hair on my clothes even with a lint brush..#pump brakes...um I'm sorry why was this shared? On top of that, because we were a party of six, an automatic 18% gratuity was tacked on. I can understand the policy but after the experience it didn't quite add up.  I understand mistakes happen, but after two big mistakes, there was no offer to do anything to compensate for their mishaps, which would've gone a long way.  To end on a good note though, the donuts are A-mazing, worth going for alone.
This place is pretty awesome. Great food, amazing atmosphere, excellent alcohol selection...it has it all. Despite the bluish, dark romantic lighting and the cute little seats, I would not go here without at least another couple. The way the food is served and the somewhat expensive prices make it a great group outing, and in fact it appears from the seating layout (they have these semi-circular booths against one wall) that it is meant for a family-style experience.
We went with two other couples, and I think we must have ordered the entire menu throughout the course of the few hours we ate and talked and laughed. Our waiter was a mix of hipster and surfer dude, but he was extremely personable and seemed very pleased to keep bringing out tons of food and drinks. We ordered a few of their specialty martinis, as well, and all of them were delicious. All of the food is Asian-fusion for the most part, which at first deterred me but after trying everything I was sold. A highlight for me was the tuna. They bring it on a heated slab of stone raw, and then the stone is so hot it cooks the tuna. You get to decide when it's cooked enough for your own taste. It comes with asparagus you can cook too. Â I tried many things I'd never had before, and everything is a small-plate of food but certainly sharable. Everyone was able to taste all of the food we ordered. At the end of the meal, we ordered the Bento Box dessert, which is an assortment of all of the desserts they serve with amazing dipping sauces, including a caramel sauce, a fruit sauce, and a chocolate sauce. It had little doughnut balls and fried bananas and was so filling after all the small plates we'd already eaten, but it was all delicious and I would definitely recommend trying Bardo if you're in the area!
I was very pleased with the service and especially the food and drink at Bardo. It took ten minutes or so to get the attention of the wait staff, even while sitting at the bar, but worse things have happened.
We ordered a KimChee (spicy martini cocktail with cucumber) and a Bardohattan .. and were both pleased. More than pleased.
Our menu: the fried calamari (exquisite), the fried pork and ginger dumplings (made us weak in the knees), and Waygu beef lettuce wraps (you can choose your ingredients -- the spiced Wagyu was our choice).
The tapas plates are more generous than in some tapas restaurants I've been to.
More than that, the food is extraordinary. We were pleased, not at all disappointed.
All of this for $40 or so dollars. You won't stuff yourself, but that's the Asian way, right? We left feeling content.
Also, I can't speak for the rest of the restaurant, but sitting at the bar was amazingly quiet and given to conversation. YAY.
We'll be back.
My husband and I went with some friends to Bardo's in Ghent earlier this week. It was a Wednesday night, and was not crowded when we arrived shortly after 6, although it did look to be picking up by the time we left around 8:30. The cocktail menu is creative, and no one disliked their drinks. The rest of the menu took us a while to read through, plus the list of specials was long and delicious!
We got two Level II dishes: Massaman Curry Gnocchi, and lamb vindaloo. The gnocchi was AMAZING - just the right amount of kick for a spice-level wimp like me. The vindaloo was a little too hot for me, but my husband enjoyed it immensely. Â We also got sides of rice and the wasabi mashed potatoes. We were expecting the wasabi mashed potatoes to be hot, but they only had a hint of the wasabi flavor, without the heat.
I'm also very glad we saved room for dessert. We ordered the Dip-some Doughnuts, and they were absolutely delicious! Fried dough + dipping sauces + chocolate "chop sticks" to eat them with = yum!
Lunch at noon on a weekday. Sacrcely any other customers, sat at the bar. Nice by-the-glass wine list. Wide selection of spirits including quite a lot of whiskey. Menu is small plates in a nice variety of Asian fusion & other eclectic styles. Tempura avocado stuffed with crab was pretty good, balanced by the astringent, flavorful sauce accompanying. The duck prosciutto & potted ham was very nicely done. Thai rubbed filet of beef was sublimely tender cooked rare, and the accompanying wasabi  mashed taters added a nice dimension of flavor. Dessert sampled of doughnuts with chocolate, dulche de leche & raspberry dipping sauces, as well as the "Heaven & Hell" of grilled angel food cake with dulche de leche, whipped cream & sliced strawberries. Doughnuts were amazing just by themselves, and nicely broadened with the sauces (especially the dulche de leche for my tastes); and the H&H was a perfect combo of light & fluffy with crispy & caramelized with the strawberries to boot. Would come back again & recommend yo those who like a quality, uniquely blended food experience.
Review Source:This is one of my happy places--one of my go-to restaurants for absolute gluttony and I never have any regrets about what I put in mouth while I am there. Â I have been going to Bardo since it was a baby and I am thrilled that it has been consistently and dependably delightful. Â There are nights where I want to go to sit at the bar and have Holly take good care of me and just talk to random Ghent-goers that I meet there but my absolute favorite experience comes from sitting at the food bar--you get to watch them make everything and just like the concept of getting better drinks when you sit at the bar, I definitely get spoiled by their chef, Ed Storey, when I sit up there and gaze at the masterpieces he is preparing.
The menu changes seasonally, but there are some plates that are tried and true, standing the test of time of changing menus, and I will mostly talk about those. Â First and foremost, you must get the Beef Carpaccio--this is already a pretty cool dish because it comes with a cooking stone, but it is just really smooth, really good. Â The fine slices of Kobe/Wagyu are drizzled in truffle and chili oil -- don't go overboard on the cooking stone because they are so much better with just a whiff of fire. Â Next, I love the tuna tataki--this is fresh minced raw tuna topped with masago--this is always top notch tuna and there is a reason this has been on the menu since opening day. Â The crab stuffed tempura friend avocado is original and leaves me ooohing and ahhing with every bite. Â Next, just trust me on this one--get the fries!!! I always get the chipotle ketchup for dipping but I also like the habanero plum sauce with them--you get to pick 2 dipping sauces. Â They always have a few additions each night, so keep an ear out for those--they always feature a fondue, butter/oil & bread, sushi rolls, and more. Â Don't overdue it on the main plates because you have to get dessert here--in fact, go all in 100% and do the bento box--this the dessert sampler! Â It always comes with their special doughnuts, so don't worry. Â I am always melting off my barstool when I get the bento box and you will too.
Go make Bardo your happy place. Â The surroundings are intimate and friendly while maintaining a modern upscale trendy appeal. Â They have about 10 tables in the main dining area and some of them are great for larger parties (since they are round and you can actually talk to everyone at your table). Â If you do have a big group, definitely call ahead. If it is just a couple of you, I think you will love sitting at either the main bar or the food bar, sipping on a sultry martini laced with an orchid. Â But, even if you are just there as a bar rat, you must eat--it is sin to come here and not eat. Come experience the wonder!
My boyfriend surprised me by taking me here for our anniversary, and he picked a perfect location! Everything about Bardo was fun, hip, and delicious. This place is definitely on the pricier side (in part because we ordered a lot of different tapas - it was my first time at Bardo), but perfect for a special occasion.
We ordered a couple of different tapas to share - our favorites were the pork & ginger dumplings, the steamed dumplings, and the sloppy joe sandwich. I spent a month in Beijing last summer, and the dumplings were on par with the dumplings that I had in China. Very tasty! Also - dip sum doughnuts. Oh. My. Goodness. Very rich, and VERY delicious - definitely save room for dessert.
The portion sizes are small (tapas = small plates), but can be upgraded to an entree size. The dumplings came out in servings of four, so we didn't have to fight over who would get the extra dumpling. The only thing that we ordered that was somewhat difficult to split was the sloppy joe sandwich (the focaccia bread kind of crumbled as we were cutting it in half), but trust me, that sloppy joe is DELICIOUS.
Our waiter was also wonderful; after we ordered, he came by only to drop off food, top off drinks, and to bring fresh napkins and forks for dessert - just the type of waiter I like!
All in all, an awesome experience!
Bardo is a great food, cocktail, wine and liquor place but the atmosphere isn't what you would expect. We went on a Saturday night had two cocktails and appetizers per person. Fried Wasabi Mashed potatoes and Lobster tempura. Fried Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, though the concept and texture was amazing, there was barely any of the wasabi flavor that was to be expected. The Lobster Tempura was GREAT! I loved the texture and softness. I also loved that sauce which I think might have been spicy mayo on top.
Over all, food and drinks are great. Atmosphere, lights were too dim to be able to read the menus. The vibe was a bit off, the crowd isn't what you would expect at a tapas bar.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! I went to Serenity Spa for pedicures with a girlfriend and the owner there suggested Bardo. I'm so glad I went. Wanted to go just for drinks but ended up stuffing my face. It's an Asian Fusion tapas restaraunt. A little fancy, but still a good time. The bartender Holly (I pray that was her name..I was a little tipsy) is just the nicest. We had her choose 3 random tapas for us because there were so many goodies we couldn't make up our minds. We had the kobe beef- served raw but you can cook it on this awesome Japanese cooking stone. Then the fried PB&J with a peice of chocolate bacon. Not exactly my favorite, but good nonetheless. Finally- this fried crab cake thing. Fantastic. The service is fantastic, the food was awesome, and the drinks were AMAZING. My girlfriend and I have made a decision- we'll be there every 2 weeks to celebrate pay day :)
Review Source:Excellent choice for a vegan with a non-vegan: they offer a nice variety of vegan tapas along with many non-vegan items. The extensive wine list was a nice surprise, and we tried out something new that absolutely satisfied the palate. I loved sitting in a booth; my companion requested one when he made the reservation, and they definitely gave us a good spot.
Also: lovely bar area and very friendly bartender and waitstaff. I felt very welcome while I sipped wine and waited for my companion, and they automatically added my glass to our table without fussing over giving me a separate bill.
Highly recommended for vegans and vegetarians dining with a carvivorous friend.
I have lived in Ghent for 4 years and just recently visited Bardo. I like that setting of the small restaurant and intimate bar. It was modernly decorated with chic new light fixtures and faddish tables.
The food was cooked to perfection!! The only down fall was the price of each tapas, to receive your fill of food you would def have to share with another person or a couple pf people. The appetizers were bigger than the meal. They also did not have a happy hour. To be located so close to a metropolitan area you would think they would have some type of happy hour.
My overall experience was ok. The wait staff was attentive and delivered our food and drink in a timely manner.
One of the best tapas places I've been to in Hampton Roads.
Bardo is fun and original with its Asian-themed food. The vibe is laid-back and hip. Everything about Bardo is thoughtful: its menu selections and design, layout, the food presentation, and decor. The waitstaff is always friendly and accommodating.
I had edamame for the first time here several years ago, and I was an instant fan. Their Caesar salad with tofu croutons is amazing in its uniqueness.
Lately we've been going to Bardo at the end of the night for a final drink and dessert because the Dip Sum Donuts are THAT good. They are like little round balls of warm funnel cake that you eat by inserting a white or dark chocolate "candy" stick (cake-pop style) and dipping into one of the three sauces (chocolate, raspberry, or caramel). I would pick the Dip Sum Donuts to be my final dessert in life.
Thanks to Yelp, I am about to become a regular here.
We had a blast at the recent launch party for Yelp in the 757, hosted by Xerxes. And we spent the entire time noshing on some really tastey tapas. The drink selection here is long including many a craft beer. The service was on point and the atmosphere was just right.
I will update this review the next time I go and give a more detailed account. This time around I was too busy hoarding swag and meeting some great people to give the locale my full attention.
It's been seven years since I've been here and for some reason the place looks a lot different from what I remember. Oh well. I had a blast there tonight. Perhaps I am biased because I held my first Yelp event there...a Meet and Greet. My party was close to 20 deep and never did we have an issue with the service. As a matter of fact we had one person serve us and she was fantastic. She was even attending to other patrons in the restaurant and still took care of us without skipping a beat.
I picked up a couple of appetizers for the group. Their fresh cut fries had this seasoning that made me feel like a crackhead because I kept wanting more and more. I tried some of Yajaida P's eggplant french fries and they were a hit. The steamed lobster and potato dumplings were a nice treat. The sauces were what made this appetizer super delicious.
What was the best sight of the night was my girlfriend's pan seared shrimp and scallops. One moment I'm talking to someone with intentions of asking her for a taste and the next moment all her food is gone. Tonight she definitely lived up to a"fat kid yelper" moment. Thanks for offering because I would have loved a bite. The dish was a dime piece in my eyes.
I'd definitely like to go back there for a sit down dinner.
This place is AMAZING! It truly is culinary art, not just the plating, but the unique blend of flavors and ingredients are like an adventure for your your pallet.
A lot of people comment on the service, we sat at the food bar and got to meet Andrew the executive chef. He was very nice and explained each meal and how to properly eat it to truly enjoy the experience. Our waiter was kind of blah.... He just checked up on us and refilled our waters. He did overcharge us, the chef was nice enough to give us a complimentary side dish to try, but our waiter charged us for it. Honestly our experience was so good here, I didn't bother bringing it up, I was happy to pay them for the experience we were given.
We will definitely be going back!
We came here with another couple after going to the Tattoo this past Sunday. Â It was an excellent choice. Â A tapas joint was exactly what the occasion called for.
The absolute favorite items of the evening were the lobster tempura (multiple orders!), Kobe carpaccio and of all things...multiple martini flights. Â The bartender has a martini repertoire of more than a dozen martinis that come out in mini glasses. Â Its a fun way to get hammered.
The only downcheck was that the computer system crashed meaning the staff could not finalize our bill for well over an hour after we asked for the check. Â We weren't in a hurry so it really wasn't a big deal. Â The owner was working hard to get the system rebooted but to no avail. Â It eventually worked out, though, as all things do.
Tasty tapas style shindig! The food is pretty amazing here, but be aware, tapas style usually means small portions to be had over conversations. So if you plan on having a full meal, be ready to fork over twice the money. Trust me this place is no joke when it comes to burning holes in your wallet. The small portioned food and drinks can quickly add up.
With all the cons being said, this place is the spot! Their Tao drink comes with an edible flower! You must try it! Also in my list of must for this place is the chocolate donuts! They're served hot and fresh so you can dip either the vanilla or chocolate sticks in them to melt. The donuts also comes with 3 dips. As far as taps, try their tuna tataki! It's phenomenal! I love the sauce they place with it.
The vibe of this place is casual but classy. Make sure you are dressed well. It is a dimly lit type of establishment with plenty on the menu. Also, note that they do NOT split checks! So come with cash if you're coming here as a group. Better yet, come with lots of it because you will more than likely burn through your funds rather quickly.
I have lived in Norfolk for four years now (Portsmouth born and raised, what? WHAT?!) and have never been to Bardo until this past Saturday night. Shame on me for not going sooner, because I think I'm now in love with this place. They have several things that I love in a restaurant: good food, good drinks and good atmosphere (it's like Norfolk goes NYC).
In all seriousness though, I love the fact that they have an open kitchen. We sat at the 'food bar' for a while and watched them cook. What can I say? It fascinates me. There are two bars, one for drinks and one for food. We then moved over to the relaxed seating area by the door and enjoyed our delicious drinks. A Basil Mojito for me and a Pomegranate Martini for my friend. I am a Mojito stickler, and this one was made just right. I thought the drink pricing was really right on as well, with some drinks starting around $6. We didn't get to eat that night and that's the only reason I'm giving Bardo 4 stars, which I'm sure I'll be changing to 5 after I get a chance to sample the food.
Bardo has a great concept but it misses the mark a little with the price and service. Â
My first impression upon coming through the door was that it is a cool and trendy little place. Â We were seated at a square table by the window. Â
The menu was impressively lengthy and just a little confusing. Â There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the order the food was listed in and I found myself just skimming over it several times.
I ordered a drink called the "Bingo". Â The drink was very tasty but $7 for a 4 oz drink is not my idea of a good time. Â I couldn't believe how small the drink was.
We ordered quite a few tapas and everything was decent, the shrimp and scallops were wonderful.
Our service, however, was not wonderful. Â Neither was the kitchen's performance. Â They were very understaffed. Â There was one server and one man in the kitchen. Â The restaurant quickly filled up and they could not handle it. Â Our drinks sat empty through the majority of our lunch. Â The server didn't know the answers to any of our questions. Â We each ordered three courses of food and my companion was finished with two and starting on her third by the time my first one came. Â
At the end our lunch was almost $80. Â They don't allow separate checks so we were left to separate it ourselves. Â "No separate checks" always gets me. Â I am a server in a restaurant and yes, separating checks can sometimes be a pain in the ass, but it really isn't that hard. Â Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be that lazy?
Overall I wasn't super impressed. Â I will give it one more try for dinner before I give up.
The drink menu is lengthy and overwhelming for a first timer, but the staff is good at getting you started on something you'll enjoy while you peruse a bit. When my husband and I were there, the bartender asked what we usually like to drink (and we're kind of picky), but we humored her and told her what we like and let her make her suggestions. The drinks she chose for us hit the spot while we read the menu to pick out our meal and next choice of drink.
The menu- very creative and seasonal, so the ingredients you're consuming are at the top of the flavor scale. I notice some people have commented that certain dishes are "nothing spectacular", but I think if you put a little more thought into what you're actually getting, you may change your mind. We ordered meatloaf when we were there and it tasted like- well, meatloaf, but it was definitely the first time I'd had meatloaf with a lamb/bison combo, and it was incredibly tender. It didn't taste new or spectacular to me, but it was good. Big deal, order something different next time.
Overall, I've found a number of the tapas there that are delicious, and you absolutely should not leave here without trying the donuts. The Bardo experience is very enjoyable and is a great place for a romantic dinner or drink. The atmosphere is set up to stimulate the kind of conversation between friends that you aren't going to get at Taco Bell, or even another sit down restaurant of similar pricing. You get what you pay for, and the experience is well worth the money.
The menu was pretty cool and had quite the selection... just be careful of the awkward flip style around the candle flame (spells disaster). Â While the food was pretty good and nothing to really complain about it wasn't all that. Â We tried three seafood dishes (mahi, crab cake, shrimp/scallops) and the crab cake was the best. Â The Mahi was a bit too dry and not all that flavorful and the scallops weren't the best quality either.
The drinks were definitely the highlight of the night and that menu as well is quite impressive. Â Try the Mojio-No or the Tao.
Atmosphere gets a good mark although the servers were visibly killing time on their cell phones in front of the dining section and could have been a bit more attentive and friendly.
Overall a decent experience that everyone should try at least once if not twice... just don't do so if you've got a big appetite that night unless you have a big wallet to accompany it.
UPDATE: OK, you know what? Â I won't be coming to Bardo anymore. Â I have been here many times, and originally wrote it a very favorable review, but in retrospect, I really just don't like Bardo. Â I have NEVER gotten good service here, ever. Â Considering there are only a dozen tables, the wait staff is super inattentive. Â Also, even if you tell them what order you want your tapas in, they just bring them out in any kind of random order, even to the point that they'll cover your whole table before you've finished your first dish.
They do have a huge menu and huge selection, but if I am honest, none of it has been fantastic. Â There is definitely something very cool about Bardo, and it's certainly an experience, but I can't pretend to like it anymore. Â The food is mediocre, and I must have tried 30 of their different tapas at this point. Â Out of all of those, I have only ever left thinking favorably and craving ONE dish (the lobster stuffed deviled eggs -- and I don't eat meat anymore, so I can't get that anyway these days!).
Yes, I do still think it's worth it to go. Â It's one of the hippest spots in Norfolk, and like I said above, it is an experience. Â Don't make the same mistake as me though, and keep going over and over, wasting more money on overpriced, mediocre food and awful service. Â Just go once or twice, and make sure to get dessert and drinks. Â Those, at least, are always on point.
Below follows my old review. Â I don't agree with it anymore, but I'll leave it here for posterity. Â Here it is:
Bardo is truly a treat. Â If you're familiar with tapas, you surely have some idea of what you're getting into before you get here. Â Small portions of interesting dishes, to be savored and shared! Â At Bardo, however, the interesting dishes are more interesting than any other restaurant in Norfolk. Â I have had quail, kangaroo, and bison at Bardo, just off the top of my head. Â They have vegan and vegetarian dishes as well, which are just as delightful.
They have a full bar, with a captivating list of house drinks. Â Some of them are not quite as good as their descriptions may make them sound though, so caveat emptor! Â I highly recommend the martini flights.
Bardo is a very small restaurant, however, with between 10-12 tables. Â They accept reservations, but only for groups of 8 or more, so if you don't want to wait around, then do try to come early. Â If you do have to wait, though, be sure that the wait is most definitely worth it.
Probably the snazziest restaurant in Norfolk. I've been here twice and both times it's been a nice reminder of more metropolitan moments in my life. I sound like a total snob, and maybe I am.
They do have vegan options, but if you eat meat you'll probably get a much more exotic meal. Service can be patchy, but seeing as how this is a tapas bar, perhaps they're going for the Spanish kind of service? Being ignored in that case is really just a sign of authenticity, no?
If you've got a date to impress and you're in Norfolk, take her here. I can't think of a more romantic place in the city.
Wow, most impressive! Â We dined at Bardo for the first time last Friday evening. Super good food, super service at the back bar by the kitchen.
Highlights: Â "Lumpia of the moment," which at that moment was Maine lobster; Tataki, a delicious puck of minced sashimi ahi with flying-fish roe on top; spicy Thai fish sliders, which were actually little taco-type shells with tasty grilled filling and suitable veggie additions; garlicky grilled green beans; soba noodle slaw (mmm, will make some at home now); and delicious super-light calamari tempura. For dessert, some fresh, not beignet-type donuts with various sugars and dipping sauces.
ALL sauces with everything were delicious, in fact - well thought-out and no two alike. Service from the perky Katlyn could not have been improved upon - she knew the entire menu and provided valuable intelligence.
Fine beer list - my lovely wife had a Duvel (served in a proper Duvel glass) and I had one new to me - Kuichi Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale, which went well with everything (except maybe the cinnamon sugar donut).
We shall return: you should go.
Although I no longer live in Norfolk, I still go back to Bardo whenever I'm in the area and in the mood for Asian tapas.  The bar is a hip spot for drinks & meeting up with friends.  Service can be spotty at times, but  never so much that it ruins a meal.
Great for late-night dining.
Lots of good selections of wine by the glass, mixed drinks, and beer...every category of drinker can be accommodated here...they even have grappa!
Keeping with the Buddist theme (Bardo is the state between death & rebirth...hunger and satiation too!) they have sushi and lumpia 'of the moment'. They also do a-la-carte asian sides...seaweed salad, kim chee, rice, etc.
My wife and I have been going here for several years now and they always keep the menu interesting, introducing a steady stream of new items alongside some favorites. Â Here's a list of dishes to try:
Kobe Beef Carpaccio - Thin slices of beef are decent, but this dish is about playing with your food...served with a sterno flame and flat stone, you cook your beef to desired done-ness.
Scallop Lollipops - Perfectly seared scallops served with a trio of hot, sweet, and savory dipping sauces.
Pistachio-Encrusted Lamb & Wasabi Potato Mash - Although they sometimes skimp on the lamb cuts (unequal portioned lamb chop) they flavors are awesome and tasty; crunchy nutty crust gives way to rare juicy lamb. This is a dish so good that we guessed at the recipe and re-created at home.
Elvis in Tokyo - This is a new dessert and it's all about bacon, banana & peanut butter. Peanut butter mousse served like a napoleon with crispy fried springroll wrapper, bananas, chocolate and bacon brittle. I must learn how to make bacon brittle...
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