02/09/09

Absolutely the best

by AMandK

This is one of our all time favorite places in the neighborhood. The food and the service are wonderful and we've taken many, many people here over the years. Our friends rave over the regular menu and the specials. So do we!

10/21/08

Underpriced, ambitious East Village trattoria has some of the best pasta and wine values in town.

by Josh Ozersky

In Short
After a false start, Barbone is now flourishing under the direction of owner Alberto Ibrahimi. As chef, he introduced a large menu of unusual, well-executed, and generously portioned pastas, ranging from a buttery chestnut agnolotti, to an aggressive, guanciale-laden carbonara, to a wild boar lasagna. The wine list is still a major draw, thanks to Ibrahimi's knowledge of Italian regional wines and his willingness to sell them as inexpensive quartinos. The look--a deep but narrow room with family pictures on the brick walls and decorative bottles of wine--is very much that of an old-school Village Italian restaurant, but the food and wine program are anything but.

06/17/08

Bravi, ragazzi!

by kaibab1

A great place to kick back, relax, spend some good hours with friends and enjoy absolutely first rate home-style Italian specialties.

What a joy to find a comfortable place with well-spaced tables, no blaring "music," good wines/drinks and a cuisine that brings back memories of evenings in Italy.

Charming service, great atmosphere and a cuisine that will bring us back.

Yummy wine list and expertly mixed drinks (our Martinis were A-1) and a charming wait staff add to the attractiveness of this welcoming place. Bravi!

• Pros: Wine list, Martinis, out-of-the-ordinary dishes
• Cons: You gotta be kidding!

05/13/08

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

by tmowens

I have lived in the city for nearly 5 years and acquired several favorite spots; this is at the top of my "100% guaranteed great meal" list. The food is simple and fresh - all pastas are homemade on-site each morning with the exception of the spaghetti and linguini. My favorite dishes are the asparagus fries and red beet gnocchi. The homemade cheesecake mascarpone is out of this world. The owner, Alberto, is a true gentleman and caters to his diner's needs. We've taken our parents, relatives, friends and acquaintances with us to Bar Bone and have always had a fantastic time and meal. You will truly not be disappointed.

• Pros: Service, Food, Ambience

01/03/08

The Best place in East Village!

by brentandre

Unbelievable experience!!!. The wine list was excellent. Such a tasty food. Cozy atmosphere. The owner Alberto is the best. He makes you feel like you are home. The staff is very welcoming. I will recommend this place to anyone who is visiting New York.

• Pros: Food/Wine/Owner
• Cons: None

10/08/07

Not the same anymore...

by btour

Went there on a Friday assuming the place was going to be packed and there was nobody. The hostess even decided to order dinner right there and eat it with her soit-disant boy friend... Friend of mine ordered beef and it was so bad he returned it...

• Pros: Location, nice garden
• Cons: Food can be bad

08/16/07

Average.. over priced and feels dirty...

by maddeline

I remember this place when it was Joeys.. a seedy bar with rodents in the garden.. this might be why i couldnt eat the food (which was overpriced and not that good) without thinking about how poor a job they have done in redoing the place...

i had the beet appetizer and the grilled calamari appetizer -- and water- for $30!!!!

the graden is ok-- but i am sure all the dirt is still there..

08/06/07

FANTASTIC!! Great food and friendly service

by nanagirl

This place is truly a gem. Whether you go by yourself or with a large group, the service is always friendly, helpful, and comfortable. The owner is this wonderful guy who puts everyone at home. I have never had a bad dish there, and though it sounds corny, it tastes like everything there is made with love. The garden is an unexpected surprise. The wine list is well appointed and rather extensive and has enough variety to appeal to a wide variety of tastes. I just love this place and think everyone should try it before you can't get a reservation!!!

• Pros: Great wine list, terrific food, lovely garden
• Cons: NONE!!

07/15/07

Amazing Food

by annonmc

I had dinner here last night, and everything was outstanding. The service was great, and the food was perfect. I had the scallops, my friend had the steak, and we shared a filled pasta - I had high expectations, and they were exceeded. The back garden was very nice, and the inside was well done. It is definitely a new favorite.

• Pros: Food, service, location
• Cons: None

05/24/07

Best reasonably priced Italian food in the city

by climbonnyc

We went for the first time last night. Arived at about 7:30p and the restaurant looked empty. Was this really where we wanted to go? The man at the door (who turned out to be the owner) saw our apprehension and with an honest smile (like he knew we were in for a surprise) said come on in, everyone's in the Garden. We followed him though what looked liked a small, typical Italian restaurant to a LARGE bustling outdoor space. We were surprised.

The food was excellent. The flavors were perfectly blended. The wine list was clearly put together by someone who knew what they were doing.

As for a previous comment about the wait staff. As a previous waiter myself, I can tell you when a restaurant first opens it's difficult to get good help. Good help typically already has a job and will only move to a new location if it's proven to be profitable (e.g. customers willing to spend, an owner willing to wait out the initial limited volume).

Barbone hasn't been open a year and people were waiting for tables (on a Wednesday night nonetheless).

We will be regulars (if we can continue to get in).

• Pros: Food, wine list and price
• Cons: none