Barbetta

09/21/08

Avoid, especially pretheater

by abracadbra

Overpriced old restaurant with indifferent snooty service and mediocre quality food at a high price! Don't drink the "house wine"...at $50 a bottle is not good. Go elsewhere especially pretheater...there are plenty of better nearby restaurants. Also, make sure you check your credit card receipt before you sign it.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Poor quality, overpriced

01/24/07

New York's Finest

by dane04

Barbetta is still one of NYC's finest restaurants. The decor is gorgeous and the food is always wonderful. I love how it is so different from all the other cookie cutter elegant dinning experiences in NY. I do not know anyone who has not loved the food here or how amazing the decor is!!! Perfect place for a romantic night out. Or even for special occasions, I just ate there last week with my family for a birthday and we loved it!!

• Pros: Beautiful setting, authentic great food, always wonderful service

08/19/06

Just okay...

by lmwarren

We had dinner here after reading how romantic this restaurant was. We were seated in the garden, next to the door with all the waiters going in and out of the garden. I had the canneloni and beef dish for dinner - that was pretty good. My husband had the rabbit - which was just ok. Food was fast so we definetely had enough time before our show, but service definetely lacked. Our waiter wasn't very helpful in describing the dishes to us and never really came back to check on us until it was time for him to serve us dessert. The restaurant is very beautiful, the garden as well but the food and service doesn't hold up to that standard. I'm sure there are other restaurants out there that can be just as romantic and have great food and service.

• Pros: Nice garden area
• Cons: Average food, not so good service

08/13/06

Perfect evening

by leshka

I was Damek's date and agree with everything he says (see below.) I would like to add that the waiters were attentive, but not clingy, so you didn't have to wait long for service, but you still had privacy. We were seated next to the fountain, and my legs got bitten by insects, so either dress appropriately or request a table around the outside. Even though they forgot the appetizers, they more than made up for it with complimentary food, which was some of the best Italian food I've ever had. Overall, an excellent night.

• Pros: Fantastic food, excellent service
• Cons: None

08/01/06

Excellent service, outstanding food, romantic atmosphere

by Damek

My date and I had the best night here. The food was outstanding (and largely organic/free-range, which was a pleasant surprise). We sat outside in the garden and enjoyed the weather & fountain. The serving staff actually forgot to bring our appetizers, but the waiter was charmingly distressed and made everything right. I could tell from other guests dining inside that this also makes a good family destination, but definitely leans towards romantic and couples. I would highly recommend Barbetta to anyone looking for a perfect, lovely evening. Food and service to die for.

• Pros: service, service, service! food & atmosphere
• Cons: none observed

04/03/06

Private party

by tolui1190

We recently gave a party in Barbetta's private rooms. The reception and dinner were perfectly organized, the food was delicious and the service friendly and flawless. We visited other places but the deciding factor in selecting Barbetta was the incredible ambiance of its private rooms. These are the original rooms of Barbetta's townhouses dating from 1874 and it's amazing that they preserve all of their original wood paneling, fireplaces and period furnishings (we discovered that the owner is an art historian). It's a truly patrician setting - not like entertaining in a public place, but in the grand home we all wished we had. Very highly recommended!

04/03/06

Dessert

by hannes

If you are a desert lover like me, head to Barbetta. I had heard about their dessert waggons featuring 16 different desserts nightly ! late one night together with other foodies we dropped in just for desserts. There cannot be sweeter way to end an evening.

04/03/06

Exquisite Dining Experience

by grosvenor

Barbetta has to be the most beautiful restaurant in New York! It's like

being in a European palazzo. The elegant yet tasty food matches the

surroundings, as does the stylish service. A must visit.

• Pros: romantic, lovely desserts, good location

03/13/06

Most Elegant New York city Restaurant!

by shenkin99

One of the most romantic exeperiences of my life. My boyfriend took me here on my one year aniversary and he could not pick a better restaurant. Food was amazing, decor was absolutely stunning, and service was outstanding. I go out to eat quite a lot and this is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city period! Thanks Barbetta for a night to remember.

• Pros: Decor, Food, Service
• Cons: NONE

03/19/04

The stately doyen of Manhattan Italian restaurants.

by Contributor

The Scene
Barbetta is a graceful and commodious dining space, with twinkling chandeliers, pale rose walls, a soaring ceiling and generously spaced tables. A magnificent outdoor dining garden is open in clement weather. Although it may seem like a formal Old World place, it has a young attitude: You can get decked out and go there for a romantic special occasion, or just drop in casually attired for a bowl of pasta.

The Food
The restaurant specializes in the cooking of Italy's Piedmont region, with special historic dishes going back to the restaurant's early 20th-century opening. Nice light starters include the grilled sweet peppers with anchovy sauce and stuffed zucchini. Thick, restorative minestrone is another good bet. A house favorite, pollo al babj, is a pounded, peppered and deliciously seared split chicken. Service at Barbetta is vigilant and caring, but if you need to catch a show, make it known when you sit down.