(212) 288-8555

1439 Second Avenue (at 75th St.)
New York, NY 10021 40.7707 -73.9573

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Neighborhoods: Upper East Side, Midtown

BARAONDANY.COM

Years in business

Established in 1997

Hours:

Mon-Sat, noon-3:30pm and 5pm-11:30pm

Sun, noon-3:30pm and 5pm-10:30pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Cuisine:

Italian

ambiance
89.28999900817871% positive
  1. “Sunday nights are so much fun with dancing after you eat.”
  2. “Really nice atmosphere, good food, and a nice place to bring a date.”
  3. “Sunday nights are always fun until you get the $3000 bill for the bottles.”
  4. “This place has the worst food, desserts, service, and atmosphere!”
  5. “Located on the corner of Second Avenue and 75th Street, this Mediterranean flavored restaurant offers nights full of fun but dishes empty of flavor.”
  6. “The pastas are hearty and delicious, the salads are fresh and inventive, and the atmosphere is loud but cozy.”
  7. “really nice atmosphere for a night out with friends.”
  8. “The atmosphere is fun!”
  9. “Not the best place to go if you want a quiet romantic dinner, at least the night that I went.”
  10. “Loved the atmosphere and the vibrancy.”
  11. “The food is delicious, the wait staff is friendly and they play fun music!”
  12. “The atmosphere is great, the people and the music.”
  13. “The atmosphere of this place is great for a date, even if the tables are a little close together.”
  14. “The food was excellent, the service was great, and again the ambiance and atmosphere was a good escape from the dreariness outside.”
dessert
50.0% positive
  1. “This place has the worst food, desserts, service, and atmosphere!”
  2. “from appertizer to dessert, everything was very delicious.”
drinks
50.0% positive
  1. “the wine menu was pretty pricey, and the bill definitley added up quickly!”
  2. “blink-and-you-missed, tiny bar lines the lefthand side wall as you enter, which is packed with neighborhood hipsters, but it sadly interferes with the tables filled with dining patrons that are forking out mega bucks for mediocre fare.”
  3. “Even to order a THIRD bottle of a $50.00 bottle of wine, we had to endure the waiter's attitude, like he was doing us a "solid", if you're into huge "Euro" crowds and don't care about what you eat and how it is served to you, Baraonda is your kind of plac”
  4. “It is a nice place to visit for drinks or even maybe some appetizers but if you are looking for a dining experience skip this place.”
  5. “Great UES bar and restaurant with nice outdoor seating”
  6. “Horrible service, below average cuisine, asked to leave the table before finishing our wine, and forced to have our port at the bar.”
food quality
78.5699987411499% positive
  1. “The owner is rude, the service is horrible, the food is OK, the place is crowded, loud, dirty.”
  2. “Nice place, nice food, but POOR STAFF ATTITUDE”
  3. “the food was actually pretty good, and the service was okay.”
  4. “Really nice atmosphere, good food, and a nice place to bring a date.”
  5. “Lobster pasta was tasty and the pasta was fresh made.”
  6. “Located on the corner of Second Avenue and 75th Street, this Mediterranean flavored restaurant offers nights full of fun but dishes empty of flavor.”
  7. “I'd also recommend it for a group of girlfriends, looking to splurge on great food, and flirt with cute waiters.”
  8. “Baraonda has the best gnocchi (potato pasta) i've ever had, and i've been to Rome.”
  9. “the food is always consistenly delicious and the portions are quite large for the money.”
  10. “The food is delicious, the wait staff is friendly and they play fun music!”
  11. “Horrible service, below average cuisine, asked to leave the table before finishing our wine, and forced to have our port at the bar.”
  12. “The menu looks amazing, but the food was just your everyday italian restaurants food, nothing special here.”
  13. “The creme brulee is also some of the best I've had, and the dressing on the house salad is fantastic.”
  14. “was expecting a great dish with reliable service from all the hoopla I heard about this place.”
  15. “The food was excellent, the service was great, and again the ambiance and atmosphere was a good escape from the dreariness outside.”
  16. “The pastas are hearty and delicious, the salads are fresh and inventive, and the atmosphere is loud but cozy.”
  17. “The food is great!”
  18. “This place has the worst food, desserts, service, and atmosphere!”
  19. “The tuna didn't taste fresh and the vegetables were about the same.”
  20. “from appertizer to dessert, everything was very delicious.”
  21. “will not waste anyone's time with any description of the bad food we had.”
menu variety
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “The menu looks amazing, but the food was just your everyday italian restaurants food, nothing special here.”
  2. “What might strike you, as a colorful and artsy place with a somewhat interesting sounding menu; it will soon dawn on you when you sit down in this loud, badly organized and horrific place that you just entered Freddys equivalent of the Elm Street Diner lo”
  3. “the wine menu was pretty pricey, and the bill definitley added up quickly!”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It's by far my favorite Italian restaurant on the upper eastside, maybe even the city!”
  2. “always a great place!”
  3. “Not the best place to go if you want a quiet romantic dinner, at least the night that I went.”
  4. “Baraonda is a great place to be, I always feel very welcome and well treated.”
  5. “this is a great place for a girls night out!”
  6. “Baraonda is a great place to have dinner.”
  7. “Really nice atmosphere, good food, and a nice place to bring a date.”
  8. “was expecting a great dish with reliable service from all the hoopla I heard about this place.”
  9. “It is a nice place to visit for drinks or even maybe some appetizers but if you are looking for a dining experience skip this place.”
  10. “If you like the small yet fulfilling environment with great people and music then this is the place to go.”
service
57.890000343322754% positive
  1. “all the waiters were very friendly.”
  2. “The food was excellent, the service was great, and again the ambiance and atmosphere was a good escape from the dreariness outside.”
  3. “I'd also recommend it for a group of girlfriends, looking to splurge on great food, and flirt with cute waiters.”
  4. “In addition the waiter was TERRIBLE, at one point I was saying loudly "excuse me" and waiving my arms to get his attention to offer us parmesean cheese for our entrees.”
  5. “The service was so bad for a 400 dollar tab, if any of you were there you would be shocked.”
  6. “The food is delicious, the wait staff is friendly and they play fun music!”
  7. “The atmosphere is great, the people and the music.”
  8. “Horrible service, below average cuisine, asked to leave the table before finishing our wine, and forced to have our port at the bar.”
  9. “This place has the worst food, desserts, service, and atmosphere!”
  10. “If you like the small yet fulfilling environment with great people and music then this is the place to go.”
  11. “the waiters are great and very attentive.”
  12. “Very poor service and attitude.”
  13. “was expecting a great dish with reliable service from all the hoopla I heard about this place.”
  14. “The bartenders are professional and entertaining.”
  15. “the food was actually pretty good, and the service was okay.”
  16. “The service was terrible, it was like we were not even there.”
  17. “This is one of the worst service/price ratio I have eaten at since coming to New York.”
  18. “Even to order a THIRD bottle of a $50.00 bottle of wine, we had to endure the waiter's attitude, like he was doing us a "solid", if you're into huge "Euro" crowds and don't care about what you eat and how it is served to you, Baraonda is your kind of plac”
  19. “The owner is rude, the service is horrible, the food is OK, the place is crowded, loud, dirty.”
value
28.570001125335693% positive
  1. “Even to order a THIRD bottle of a $50.00 bottle of wine, we had to endure the waiter's attitude, like he was doing us a "solid", if you're into huge "Euro" crowds and don't care about what you eat and how it is served to you, Baraonda is your kind of plac”
  2. “The price was quite expensive for what we got.”
  3. “blink-and-you-missed, tiny bar lines the lefthand side wall as you enter, which is packed with neighborhood hipsters, but it sadly interferes with the tables filled with dining patrons that are forking out mega bucks for mediocre fare.”
  4. “the wine menu was pretty pricey, and the bill definitley added up quickly!”
  5. “This is one of the worst service/price ratio I have eaten at since coming to New York.”
  6. “the food is always consistenly delicious and the portions are quite large for the money.”
  7. “The service was so bad for a 400 dollar tab, if any of you were there you would be shocked.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/15/12

Upper East Side Favorites

by Christina Murray

Yes! The Upper East Side has a chosen few amazing restaurants. Baraonda is a place that has been around for over 18 years. After that length of time you can call it an institution. The food is always consistent, the waiters are always happy & most importantly the FOOD is just simply Italian. Yesterday on Valentine’s Day I ordered the Homemade Tagliolini with Braised Lamb Ragu’ & Burgundy Wine and it was like a Tuscan Dream. The Lamb Ragu to perfection. Then Veal Scalloppine topped with Sage & Prosciutto served with Spinach & Mashed Potato and it’s no wonder why I keep coming back. I love the Food. The people next to me were also pleased with their meal and we raved about how happy we were that this restaurant is still here. There are not that many places in New York that have longevity so when restaurants are around for so long that must mean something. I recommend this place and they do deserve 5 stars for FOOD, 5 stars for being around for so many years and 5 stars for having regulars that are always cool people. It can be romantic and it can be fun. A New York City Classic and a must try!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/07/12

One of New york city's true gems!!

by foodie1987

Outstanding Italian dining in a NYC neighborhood setting. Gnocchetti di Patate was great - the pasta and sauces are unbelievable! Prime Beef Tenderloin with dry Figs, aged balsamic glace served with asparagus and Potatoes would be my ultimate meal!

The ambiance and food would make me happy if i were in Italy !! that is the how high my regards are for this restaurant! The staff are very hospitable and warm! My favorite restaurant in NYC hands down!

1 Star Rating: Poor

01/15/12

Be careful ladies the manger is a groper!

by SHAWNETT ROBINSON

I have been to this restaurant for dinner several times. The food is reliable deliciousness and the wait staff is warm and pleasant. My girlfriend invited me on a Sunday night and it was packed. We were standing against the bar and people were passing back and forth constantly. I felt someone grope my ass! I turned around with urgency and get this, the groper asked me what is my problem. I was very uncomfortable in the situation and told him you just touched me. He knew what he did, why did I have to mention it. He came really close in my face as if he would do physical harm mouthing off I pushed him with my elbow. I was shocked. After asking to speak with a manager, turns out the groper is the manager! Giacomo, is a horrible person and should not be in the restaurant industry. He didn't apologize he was very defensively aggressive and put his fingers in my face while he was talking. I will never be a patron at this place. Giacomo feels it's ok to blatantly disrespect women. No woman should ever be treated this way. This rotten apple spoils the entire place!

1 Star Rating: Poor

10/02/11

How NOT to treat a loyal customer

by marlev48

How not to treat a loyal customer? Follow Baraonda's lead. I have been going to Baraonda for a few years. I have probably been there half a dozen times. The food is good not great. I go for the fun scene. Especially a certain night of the week. I may start there by myself but end up with friends and spend $50-$100 per person. I have told many people about Baraonda. Not anymore. A couple of nights ago, I stepped up to door and was barred entry. First I was told there was a “private event” in progress. This was not true and when I challenged it I was told that the owner was limiting who could enter. This is not a hotclub; this is an Italian restaurant in NYC! Apparently with an attitude. I don’t hold the door guy , who was new to me, responsible even though I told him that I was a long-term customer. I'm not going to beg to be let into a restaurant but he hostess could have a taken a moment to look at me before she also turned me away. Baraonda aint seeing my money or me again.

1 Star Rating: Poor

07/28/10

so not worth it

by nads22

I went for brunch this past Sunday with my bf bc the menu looked decent. Upon seating we order some water and my boyfriend gets a bloody mary. It doesn't occur to us to ask the price because we assume it can't be THAT much since it's brunch and bloody mary's are a staple. The bloody mary comes, we order and waitt. I notice every table around us had a breadbasket... ours was just "forgotten" and never brought out even after asking for it. The food came, I asked for a diet coke, it tasted like the filter hadn't been cleaned in years. I had two sips and couldn't take it anymore. Even my bf said it was awful. Food was simply ok. I got an omelet with crappy deli ham w/ way too salty cheese. I asked for more ketchup & by the time that came around i was practically done. Our creepy hostess was standing behind the curtain peering at everyone (not helping) while sipping a bloody mary. At this point we had already written up the restaurant as poor then the check came. $12 for a bloody mary?! You've got to be kidding me! Both our meals weren't even $12! how can you possibly charge more than a meal for a drink? We asked her if that was correct, she was rude and just said yes that's how much it is. I couldn't believe that it cost 1/4 of our meal. After crappy service, a creepy hostess, and not great food I'll never return. Suggestion? Look at your pricing, it should make sense. I'd be willing to pay $12 for a drink at the nicest brunch spot in town, but this dump? Hell no.

  • Pros: good outside seating
  • Cons: but thats not even worth it

The Details on Baraonda

Place Categories:

  • delicious food
  • great place
  • great atmosphere
  • horrible service
  • very attentive waiters
  • much fun sunday nights
  • great music
  • sucked experience
  • fresh potato pasta
  • full entree
  • inventive salads
  • best gnocchi
  • worst dessert
  • somewhat interesting sounding menu
  • order full entree
  • beautiful women
  • mediocre fare
  • nice setting
  • best outdoor places
  • professional bartenders
  • friendly wait staff
  • yum artichokes
  • great dish
  • fantastic dressing
  • huge crowds
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