Insider Pages Reviews for Bacco Ristorante & Bar

5 Stars: Best North End Spot (by stephanieB)

stephanieB — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Bacco is my favorite spot in the North End and I have been to most over the years. The food is absolutely to die for. Pair that with an incredable atmosphere and it's really hard to beat. I have tried most things on the menu and have yet to dislike anything. They have a great wine list but I usually stay with the red. It's warm, cozy, and makes you feel like your part of the North End charm!!!

4 Stars: great bar (by C. T.)

C. T. — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 02:07:00 GMT

It's tough to find a good bar to go to in the north end, but Bacco is pretty much my standby. The dining room upstairs isn't very impressive in terms of atmosphere, but I would highly recommend the downstairs bar. They have great food and a great wine list, and it's a decent enough size that you can usually find a place to sit or stand without feeling too cramped. Although they open their windows in the summer, it does get extremely hot, so I'd stay away from Bacco on the hottest summer days.

5 Stars: My Favorite In Boston! (by irishadam1978)

irishadam1978 — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I just went back to Bacco for my 5th time this past Saturday night and have to say this is my favorite restaurant in Boston. Great spot in the North End and the restaurant is romantic, beautiful, warm and cozy. Great wine selection and service is good and polite, not the best in the world, but the real key is the food. Absolutley amazing and they are good portions with good prices. I keep reading people say it's expensive, well clearly they don't get out much because I could name 100 places in Boston that are far more expensive and not as good. Bacco has great specials each time I go, but the Butternut Squash or the Lobster Ravioli is increadable. I keep ordering one of the two each time I go. I can't bring myself to try more of the menu. I would highly recommend Bacco!

4 Stars: Very nice experience in Boston Italian dining in the North end. (by anne2346)

anne2346 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

We visited as tourists in Boston, but not as "fine dining virgins." It was a beautiful Monday evening and we wanted a really good restaurant with a full bar (surprisingly difficult to find in Boston - ask your concierge.) Bacco provided relaxed elegance. The windows (not really windows actually - no glass to be found) were open to the street and it was a wonderful city atmosphere. We were taken to the second floor and seated near an opening over the street, which was busy with foot traffic. I loved the setting and the atmosphere.

Our server was both pleasant and knowledgeable. We enjoyed a leisurely cocktail without any pressure. I ordered the evening's seafood puttanesca special with shrimp and mussels. It was excellent. The pasta was perfect and the shrimp were crisp and sweet. My husband ordered chicken marsala with asparagus and polenta from the regular menu. His chicken was fresh, tender and delicious. He reported the asparagus (a favorite of his) was perfectly prepared.

We both enjoyed our dinner thoroughly. The chef is clearly talented, ingredients are fresh and the wait staff knows what they are doing. The atmosphere is lovely, both of the neighborhood and the restaurant itself. We took a cab from and back to Cambridge for our dinner in the North End and had a wonderful experience. This is a lovely restaurant.

5 Stars: Best Italian in Boston (by summer2008)

summer2008 — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Bacco is my favorite restaurant since I moved to the North end. The atomosphere is amazing and romantic.
The staff are attentive and friendly. My fav. is the risotto del giorno, loaded with fresh seafood with tomato creme. I take all my friends and families there when they come visit. Sometimes they sent me complimentary tira misu after my meal, how can you beat that!!!

4 Stars: Great italian food! (by LaurenMarie2)

LaurenMarie2 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Wonderful Italian restaurant in the North End. Fabulous desserts and a great atmosphere in the bar!

2 Stars: overrated and bad service (by foodie0206)

foodie0206 — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The food at Bacco is overrated, expensive, and comes in tiny portions. While I thought the garlic oil and hummus that comes with the table bread was delicious, the bread itself was stale and the food took over an hour to arrive at the table. My boyfriend ordered the carpaccio appetizer and the Mezzolune entree with two glasses of wine. We waited over an hour to receive our entree and despite the high prices, there was no apology for the incredibly slow service. Although I appreciated that they split the entree for us (we were sharing) and the food was decent, there was nothing that wowed us except the high prices.

5 Stars: feel like being in Italy (by hancock89)

hancock89 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

My husband and I were in your restaurant on Sunday
evening and I just had to write and let you know what a wonderful time
we had. We were in town because of an appointment at Brigham & Women's
the next morning. As we were a little anxious about the appointment,
we really wanted to find a place where we could have a lovely meal and
a relaxing time without having to dress up. We were concerned about our
attire (shorts and shirts) but we were warmly welcomed by your
hostess. We sat at the two top right at the entrance and proceeded to
have an incredible evening. Appetizers, wine, entrees - everything was
just delicious. Our server, Katie, was very sweet and attentive
without being overly so and not once did we feel rushed to give up our
seats. The atmosphere was so inviting (especially with the open
windows and the sunlight on the buildings) that is was hard to believe
we weren't in Italy.

We will highly recommend Bacco to anyone visiting Boston and we hope to be able
to return again soon.

2 Stars: Overrated (by jcorwin12)

jcorwin12 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The night did not start off well. We had an 8:30 reservation and didn't get seated until 9:30. We weren't offered complimentary drinks or apologies until I complained about the wait at a little past 9. Any quality restaurant would have tried to keep the experience as pleasant as possible by offering us drinks or seats at the bar prior to us getting upset. It was restaurant week, so it was no doubt busy. But the reservation manager did not plan appropriately for the crowd and the hostess' response to the unhappy customers was a poor display of customer service.

The bruschetta appetizer was nothing more than a slice of bread, a slice of cheese, and some tomatoes. I thought the presentation was poor and the taste mediocre. The caprese was average, but nothing I couldn't prepare at home. For dinner I ordered veal florentine, and the veal was overcooked and gnocchi was dry.

The only part of the cooking that was worth complimenting was the tiramasu, which was light and tasty.

5 Stars: Great restaurant (by southie617)

southie617 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Bacco Ristorante is a unique restaurant in the North End. The atmosphere is fun and romantic. The bar serves great cocktails and the food is even better. I love the carbonara and the butternut squash ravioli. i have never been disapointed with their service or any other aspect of the restaurant, if your looking for a great north end experience, you should definetly try Bacco on Salem st.!

5 Stars: Best North End Scene (by bigspender166)

bigspender166 — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I had the opportunity to wine and dine at Bacco the other night and was very impressed! The open windows and beautiful flowers present a very inviting look as you walk up to the restaurant. I saw a busy bar as soon as I entered but was happy to see the bartender clear off two seats as my date and I walked in. TJ was happy to recommend a nice glass of red wine to my date and for me a delicious Mai Tai made from 8yr old rums! We intended to sit at a table for dinner, but found the bar to be very comfortable. For dinner I had the Gnocchi and was happy I did. The dish had a hearty bolognese sauce and fresh mozzerella tossed on top. My date loved the Butternut squash ravioli made with a butter cream sauce! I will definitely return to visit the Bacco bar scene soon!!

5 Stars: Burnt Orange Martini rock! (by radius90)

radius90 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Bacco on my friends recommendation after work. Started off at the bar with some Martinis and $5 appertizers special( from only 5-7pm). The bartenders were super friendly, TJ made us a burnt orange martini and a ginger Mojito. which was out of theis world. We also had some calamari and antipasto. Both were delish. Love the ambiance and the service. Checked out the dining room and got lots of windows seats, can't wait to try out dinners there.

5 Stars: Great Food (by GLJM52)

GLJM52 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I had the opportunity to eat at this restaurant with my family and loved it. I will absolutely dine there again and will tell others to eat there as well.

1 Stars: High price for low value service and food (by SaintLouistoBoston)

SaintLouistoBoston — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

As someone new to Boston, I was hoping my first experience in the North End would be a good one. Bacco did NOT provide that. We were told by the hostess that the wait would be 35 minutes. An hour and a half later, after asking twice and being told "Only a few more minutes" we were finally seated upstairs. The tables are crammed together, which really wouldn't have bothered me if people, especially the waiters and waitresses, wouldn't have kept hitting my chair and knocking my purse off evertime they walked by.

After the waiter gave us our drinks, it took him 20 minutes to come over and take our food order. Maybe I should have ordered a specialty platter, but I thought I'd stick to the traditional chicken parmigiana. Big portion, subpar taste. I'm not the best cook, but I have made a better chicken parm than that! And for the pasta....it tasted like it had been frozen, thawed, and reheated. The next day, when I was eating the leftovers, my rooomate tried it and asked if I had opened a can of spaghetti. No joke.

On the plus side, my friend seemed to like the squash ravioli, no matter how small the portion...

1 Stars: Beware (by katy1014)

katy1014 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Mediocre at best. Calamari was rubbery, tough, and cold. Tasted as though it had been microwaved. Entrees were bland and unmemorable. Anyone with modicum of good taste for food will not enjoy Bacco.

5 Stars: Best Italian Food in Boston (by PK2008)

PK2008 — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I had a chance to go in there two weekends ago. As I was walking up I noticed its by far the best looking restaurant on Salem St. I ate at the bar and had jumbo shrimp scampi. WOW. The sauce was amazing and it was filling. It wasn't too little of a plate and not too large, it was just right.

My girlfriend told me to try the apple martini and the chocolate martini. Im not much a martini drinker but those were the best Ive ever had. I also like the big open air windows to the restaurant. It was a nice day out and brought a nice breeze in the restaurant. The bartenders were exceptional and always attentive.

If you want good Italian food, especially in a quieter part of town this is the place. Ive eaten at plenty of Italian restaurants and this one is right up there.

5 Stars: Taste like keylime pie (by simonfucca)

simonfucca — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

North end has so many restaurants, took me a year to try out all the place. So far my fav is Bacco, great bar with nice open windows. Very romantic for a date. i requested a window table, overlooking quincy market.
The place is a bit crowded but the food is exceptional. the risotto di giorno is the best dish. Lumps of lobster meat , shrimp and scallops. feel like being in Roma... I highly recommanded.
I would suggest book a table ahead of time. I noticed with the reservation in the north end, they still make you wait. Thank god they had a Bar with my favorite drink, keylime martini.

5 Stars: best service and delicious meal (by dollnNE)

dollnNE — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I went there for Restaurant week on friday night, the place was very busy... I got the veal florentine with pumpkin gnocchi, the dish out of this world. I was impressed with the good food and the service consider they were packed. My family had the butternut squash and seafood scampi. Will definetly go back and revisted my favorite place now in the North end.

2 Stars: Horrible customer service (by mags12)

mags12 — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The food was ok but the way I was treated by the hostess ruined the dinner. I decided to try Bacco during restaurant week and made a reservation for 7:00 p.m. for 2. We show up at 7 and give our names, at that point we are handed the buzzer which will notify us when our table is ready. I asked the hostess how long it would be and she told me she had no idea. I then asked what the point of the reservation was and she told me "it was to reserve a spot. They have 260 reservations tonight so they won't know when I will be seated" It ended up being about a 20 minute wait but due to the rudeness of the hostess I probably won't be returning.

5 Stars: Creative excellance (by Franpiper)

Franpiper — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

On a very rainy and miserable night for traveling, my wife and I really needed for the restaurant we chose to come through in a big way. Bacco did just that. From the delicious martinis to a most creative entree, Bacco's delivered just what we needed: an excellent meal. Our entree was the special of the night and it was a dish that included a good portion of salmon, sensational jumbo shrimp and lobster meat ravioli
with asparagus. It was to die for. Pricing is a little high but it was worth it. We sat overlooking a coozy north end corner. We'll go back again in a heart beat. After all, it's the second time around that tells you a better story.

5 Stars: Highest recommendation for Bacco in Bostons North end! (by kcjammy)

kcjammy — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Since moving to Boston ~6 months ago from San francisco i've had the pleasure of eating at Bacco several times. Bacco is a perfect sized restaurant with a great bar area downstairs that is perfect for enjoying dinner or apps and drinks with a date or friends and there are 2 hi def TV's (had to comment - sports guy)
The upstairs area is very classy and great for if the parents are in town or a more formal setting.

The food is always consistent and excellent. Presentation is also well done. My personal favorites are the
scallops puttanesca and the other seafood dishes are also very tasty. If I got a run in before I also have a cannoli! Awesome!

Service overall is also excellent - professional, timely , and most importantly, friendly.

I highly recommend Bacco and will be back again soon!

5 Stars: best in the north end (by obo90)

obo90 — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I took my friend to Bacco for her birthday and we had the best time.We love the atmosphere, staff were very friendly and accomodating. My friend had the best tira misu for her birthday. We had a nice window table overlook the north end. It was a spectacular evening.

5 Stars: food and service A+ (by good2b)

good2b — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

A friend of mine had reccomeneded me to dine at Bocco. I was very pleased! The atmosphere was very sweet. Our server was quick and percise. She was very nice as well and always had a smile on her face. I wish I could remmember her name. The food was delicious and I will keep going back. I reccomend Bocco to any Italian food lover!

2 Stars: Subpar Service and Soggy Salad (by shannon100)

shannon100 — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We were disappointed that we had chosen Bacco for a night out with so many other wonderful options in the North End. We waited 20 minutes for cocktails and the order was wrong. My ceasar salad was soggy and limp and had probably been tossed about 5 hours previous. The food was of a quality you would expect from a take-out lunch joint. We do not recommend this establishment.

5 Stars: Well worth the wait (by dromer)

dromer — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My husband and I made a reservation for two last Friday. Upon arriving we were greeted with a smile and led to our table in the upstairs dining room, which was a more intimate romantic setting than the hip bar downstairs. The service was great and the food was better. I had the stoney island clam dish with spicy italian sausage served over a bed of linguini. It was FABULOUS. My husband had the chicken piccatta and he seemed very pleased with his meal as well. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening at Bacco and recommend it to anyone else searching for a romantic dining environment.

5 Stars: Take me out. (by mmmbacco)

mmmbacco — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Bacco Ristorante in the North End is a fabulous establishment. My mother and I have been there a few times and love the food, not to mention the ambiance and the service. Not only is the place beautifully decorated with a granite bar and large windows extending toward the ceiling, but the waitstaff and management are amazing. They really make you feel welcome and aim to please each customer. My mother had the lobster ravioli in a cherry tomato cream sauce, which I tasted and found to be quite a delicious plate and a perfect portion size. I had the vitello (veal) florentine with spinach and a pan-seared gnocchi, which was to die for. Even though I am not yet old enough to partake in the bar seen or drink alcoholic beverages, the downstairs bar seems to be a hotspot for cocktails after work and later on at night serving exotic drinks like mango martinis. I highly recommend this place to anyone whether dining with your parents or a beau because the food is great and the service is even better.

5 Stars: Try the butternut squash ravioli! (by quinniebear)

quinniebear — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I visited Bacco Ristorante last week for an intimate dinner for two in the upstairs dining room overlooking the North End. Our evening was great starting off with an espresso martini for me at the downstairs bar followed by some shrimp bruschetta appetizers before we were led upstairs. My boyfriend had the chicken saltimboca, which he said was delicious and I had the revered butternut squash ravioli, which was an unusual plate, but phenomenal. The service and management was great and greeted every customer with a smile. I would go back to Bacco any time because great food and great people makes for a great time.

1 Stars: Pass this place..dont get suckered in by the windows!! (by puhlease)

puhlease — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Very Dissapointed, if you are visiting Boston, and have such a variety in the North End pass this place. The open window seating will lure you in, however aside from the great people watching, you will waste your perfect evening plans of a great Italian. The food is right of a box, and the tables lack S/P and oil. the bread was plain, and they offer a smashed refried bean paste as a spread. This also had no taste. The special is greatly over priced, and the you are charged the same for a side salad, as a regular salad. The salad is completely bare, only greens. The service was average and did not leave an impression, despite sitting the candle directly under the waitress, she never struck a match. Pass this place and head back to thge main drag for a good meal. This location will dissapoint you. Bar is too loud to sit downstairs, and they will not sit a couple upstairs (you must be a party of four). Boston has some great places to eat..this is not one of them, and they dont seem to care.

1 Stars: High priced and low value. (by marietina)

marietina — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Very loud downstairs near the bar! Requested a window seat upstair and they refused as they only seat parties of 4 upstairs. Never saw anyone go upstairs the entire time I was there. Meal is started off with bland bread and tasteless bean paste. Do not put salt and pepper on the table. The candle on the table was never lit. Dirty knife put on the table. Ordered a side salad which costs as much as any other salad on the table and was lacking in flavor. The special was over priced and the food was not great. There is a large selection of Italian restaurants in the North End of Boston, and I'd suggest finding a different one to eat at.

3 Stars: I recommend going during the week (by kris10w99)

kris10w99 — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I've been there twice. The first time the hostess staff was very accommodating since we were late for our reservation on a busy weekend evening. I thought the food was just average. After going back a second time during the week when it was less crowded in the evening I thought the quality and the freshness of the food was much better.

3 Stars: so, so (by ar1568)

ar1568 — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The food was okay but I thought they did not use fresh ingredients in there food and the service was good.

4 Stars: It was good, not great, but close (by lisakennedy)

lisakennedy — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

It has a great atmosphere, the wait was a little much, but understandable and the food was good.
Almost perfect, just need a better sense of time.

4 Stars: Great food (by bubbypoker)

bubbypoker — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The food here is unbelieveable. My wife and I loved the ambience as well as the service...it was just overall an amazing experience.

5 Stars: Great Cosmopolitan Martini and Best Chicken Marsala I've ever had. (by myhobby)

myhobby — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Visiting Boston on a weekend and decided to try Bacco's for a martini. They have an attractive, long bar. The restaurant is very romantic and comfortable. The bartenders were attentive and charming. Steve made the best Cosmopolitan I've had in a long time. We decided to stay at the bar and have dinner. Everything was a treat, beginning with the bread. I had a bowl of minestrone soup. The broth was rich and tasty and the vegetables were fresh and al dente. Next was a spinach salad substituting with romaine lettuce (spinach scare) The citrus dressing was refreshing and light, and the amount of dressing was just as I requested. My boyfriend had the calamari and said it was crispy and light, not greasy. We shared the chicken marsala, and the sauce was like a fine wine reduction, not a heavy gravy that you get in some restaurants. We asked for extra vegetables and they were also cooked to perfection, al dente. We shared a delicious tiramasu and finished with cups of fresh and HOT coffee. We enjoyed this restaurant so much that I introduced myself to Vina, the manager, who was friendly, professional and eager to please. We were so taken with this restaurant that we went back the next night. Our waiter was attentive without making us feel rushed. Had almost the exact same dinner, except we tried the steak pizzaiola. The steak was very tender and cooked to order. Loved their sauce, and the pasta had to be homemade. We topped off dinner that night with the chocolate lava cake which was a melt-in-your-mouth desert. Made it a point to meet the owner on this night. I was impressed with the fact that the owner and manager were busy pitching in and cleaning tables and helping the wait staff. That signified great team work and a feeling that their customers are a top priority. We felt the prices were right on the money. This is a memorable restaurant that will be on my list of favorites and I will be dining there on my next trip to Boston.

5 Stars: Butternut squash dish is the best (by sambeacon)

sambeacon — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I visit North End often and Bacco is my favorite restaurant.
From service to decor, I take all my dates there. sit by a table by the window, feel like being in Florence.
Butternut squash with sage cream sauce is out of this world.
chocolate martinis, dolce vita.

5 Stars: Great North End spot (by was1888)

was1888 — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I had our first date at Bacco.
Food is really good, I love the calamari, veal florentine and mango martini.
The bar is cozy and romantic. The bartenders are amazing. Servers are friendly.
I highly recommended it.

3 Stars: Good Italian (by Wendy C.)

Wendy C. — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:41:00 GMT

Bacco is not the best Italian restaurant in the North End of Boston- but overall is a nice environment to grab a bite to eat. I must say that this used to be my favorite dining destination- but then changes to the menu and kitchen staff last year have negatively impacted the quality of the dishes. It's very disappointing if you used to eat here and love it- but I guess the food now isn't bad so eating here still might be recommended to those that don't expect too much.

The bar at Bacco is still top notch- they have an excellent martini list and make a mean mojito in the summer time. It is still a great place to grab a drink before or after eating somewhere else.

4 Stars: Beautiful Bar/Nice Location (by doginit)

doginit — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I recently met a brother and sister there on a Wed. evening. We enjoyed a couple of seafood dishes and the veal. Surprisingly, we were also offered a sampling of a new Zinfandel and plate of calamari. Our dining experience was greatly enhanced by Vina, who appeared to be both manager and hostess during this quiet evening....

5 Stars: A Fantastic North End dining experience (by clarkcorp)

clarkcorp — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 09:00:00 GMT

My wife and I starting going to Bacco several months ago and we keep going back for "more" The ambiance is incredible with a magnificant mahogany bar which ovelooks the North End. During the warm weather the side doors are open to the ceiling and one feels like they are in a Roman restaurant. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. The food is simply fantastic. We have tried most of the items on the menu and we can't wait to get back again.

1 Stars: Service Please - any service will do (by pgraves1)

pgraves1 — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 09:00:00 GMT

My wife and I ate here a while back - tried to anyway. We sat for 15 minutes with the staff buzzing by and not one stopped to even take a drink order. Out of shear irritation and amusement we sat another 5 to see if anyone might notice our obvious lack of refreshments. We left promptly thereafter, thirsty and very hungry and certainly never to return.

5 Stars: Romantic place, great for a date (by D. V.)

D. V. — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 08:54:00 GMT

This is a romantic place, great for a date. It is located in the North End and it has incredible Italian food as well as a very diverse wine list. Downstairs has this gorgeous and classy mahogany bar where you can sit at the bar or at your own table. There are two flat-screen TVs. If its warm out, they open the windows alongside the tables which is very cool. The bar does become pretty crowded later in the evening. Ive never had to wait to be seated here although weve always gone early for dinner. The upstairs dining area is pretty but a bit cramped. It gets quite loud up there when full. I dont believe this room has any type of sound absorption. It can make it difficult to talk although it does make for a good excuse to sit closer and have a more intimate dinner. The upstairs doors open almost entirely as well in warmer weather. It is nice to people watch from up there. The place is overall beautiful and makes you feel as though you could be in Italy. The food is unbelievably good especially the lobster ravioli!

PROS: Romantic, fantastic food, diverse wines, reasonable pricing
CONS: Dining area can become extremely loud when full

3 Stars: over-rated (by gomi)

gomi — Thu, 05 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

good location, ambiance is nice but food is just overrated and has nothing in common with italian cusine. don't recommenede this place. never go back

4 Stars: Lucked out...Good Food, Long Wait (by mbooty)

mbooty — Sun, 03 Apr 2005 09:00:00 GMT

It's always hit or miss with Italian restaurants in the city. A friend was in town and we made a dinner reservation for 9:00pm on a Saturday. We didn't end up getting sat until almost 10pm; disappointing. However, the decor, ambiance and floor to ceiling windows were awesome. The calamari with peppers was very good. They had a good mix of traditional Italian dishes and unique dishes as well. The Butternut Squash Ravioli special was to die for. From then on I've been obsessed with this dish and have even tried to make it myself..not as good. The server was nice and the prices were decent. I would go back again....make sure you make reservations and ask for a table away from the front door!

5 Stars: Great Place! (by milo200)

milo200 — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:00:00 GMT

BACCO is one of my favorite boston haunts. I went there in a large group when I graduated from college, and also for my boyfriend's birthday. Both times the staff was so friendly and accomadating. I'm a vegetarian and they handled my questions and requests with flair.

In the spring and summer, the huge open windows overlook a small north end street. It makes you feel like you're in Italy!

4 Stars: always nice and accommodating (by elizmbaker)

elizmbaker — Wed, 22 Dec 2004 09:00:00 GMT

My husband and I celebrated our engagement at Bacco last year - and again this year! The food is delicious, the ambiance romantic and cozy, and the staff is always very friendly and accommodating. I recomment Bacco!

4 Stars: mixed feelings (by laurasimon)

laurasimon — Wed, 08 Sep 2004 09:00:00 GMT

I had a wonderful time here. Wonderful ambiance, a bit loud in the dining room though. My lobster ravioli was too salty - calamari was good but a bit bland. I had higher hopes but still enjoyed the experience overall -

2 Stars: Overpriced Spaghetti_O (by jojo22)

jojo22 — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 09:00:00 GMT

With all the great dining in theNorth End, don't be fooled by this form-over-substance pusher. You will be rushed in and out to a menu of bland and ill-cooked food, waitresses who don't tell you that "specials" cost alomst twice as much, a wine list charging six times more than market and a general sense that after youve paid, you o longer are wanted in the retsaurant. This city, and this neighborhood, has so much better to offer.

5 Stars: Fantastic! (by acf128)

acf128 — Thu, 03 Jun 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Recently my sister came to visit me in Boston for an extended weekend. For her last night in the city, we decided to cap the visit with dinner in the North End. After looking over storefront menus for about an hour, we settled on Bacco Ristorante for its cuisine and ambience (we wanted interesting high quality ingredients, vegetarian options, and a quiet atmosphere). We weren't disappointed!

We were promptly sat at a quiet table for two by the window, which was open to the street. We ordered the wild mushroom ravioli, the lobster ravioliand a bottle of merlot -- all were absolutely incredible!

The only drawbacks to the dinner were based on service. Although the service was not poor, it was unfriendly at times.

The food and ambience, however, made up where service was lacking. We had a wonderful evening, and I can't wait to return for a romantic date.

4 Stars: Ah, amore... (by zapato_azul)

zapato_azul — Fri, 14 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Friendly staff, fantastic service, and excellent food all come to mind when I think of this North End beauty. The food was outstanding and the hostess never let us touch our own bottle of wine. She almost seemed to enjoy her job as she poured the vino. Now, that's amore...

5 Stars: Impressive! (by foley)

foley — Wed, 08 Oct 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I was impressed by the staff at Bacco and how they handled the wait with such efficiency on a Saturday noght. It's definitely worth the wait for the delicious food there! Will come back!

5 Stars: I like their style! (by burak)

burak — Wed, 17 Sep 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Best Italian food I've had in Boston! I'm a frequent traveller and Bacco is the one place I always go back when I'm in town!
The staff always made me feel welcome!

5 Stars: Will be back! (by puffyball)

puffyball — Wed, 17 Sep 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The best calamari ever! Cool drinks and nice staff! I will definitely tell my friends about it.

5 Stars: Excellent choice! (by fundate)

fundate — Wed, 03 Sep 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Bacco is my favorite Italian restaurant. Warm and welcoming staff, excellent food, great martinis, especially the chocolate martini!
I love the open windows and romantic atmosphere.

3 Stars: Decent meal. (by goblue99)

goblue99 — Wed, 23 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

We ate here on a Saturday night. Lines on Hanover St were huge, but this place is hidden and not as crowded. Free bread was decent. My caesar salad was huge and very good, but the entrees were only average. My manicotti was salty and no better than Olive Garden. My friend said her eggplant was undercooked. Portions are large though, and ordering wine by the glass is a solid value. No dessert served here. I would only come here again if other places are packed.

5 Stars: calamari!!! (by thehumped)

thehumped — Fri, 26 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

two of us sat at the bar the other night and I had the best calamari i have ever had. Great north end spot!

5 Stars: great place (by goodasnew)

goodasnew — Thu, 23 May 2002 09:00:00 GMT

This place has a great atmoshphere! I went and had appetisers and drinks at the bar the other night and it was the best calamari I ever had