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Baco - CLOSED
Category: Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
71 Jay St(between Water St & Front St)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Neighborhood: DUMBO
(718) 694-2226
- Nearest Transit:
-
York St (F)
High St (A, C)
Clark St (2, 3)
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
We Spealize in all Events From Weddings To showers. * Let us bring our world-class cuisine and old-world charm to your next special event. Whether it's… read more »
19 reviews for Baco
19 reviews in English
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Review from Matthew P.
Brooklyn, NY
11/14/2010 2 Check-ins Here
The vibe here reminds me a bit of South Beach, combined with some Dumbo kitsch. Not exactly my scene, but not unpleasant.
You have your choice of tables, couches, or a coffee bar.
Baco is really two places in one:
There's a cafe with coffee drinks, smoothies and pastries. The coffee is excellent, and their smoothies are the best I've ever had, especially the banana/date. Yum.
Then there's a restaurant aspect, with a full menu that's influenced by Israeli and Moroccan cuisine. Some of the food is very good, it's hit or miss. The burekas with scented yogurt are delicious. So is the salad. The panini's are a bit soggy, but tasty. The hummus is one dimensional.
On previous occasions I've also had the entrees and enjoyed them, especially a Moroccan fish dish that was memorable.
I give Baco four stars for the cafe, three stars for the restaurant, and four stars for ambiance. So this is really a 3.75 rating, but I'll round up since I believe other Yelpers have unfairly punished this good addition to Dumbo. Stop in if you're in the nabe, or work close by. -
Review from Sasha T.
Brooklyn, NY
6/3/2011
I just started a new job in the area and decided to check this place out for lunch. I ordered the Israeli salad to go.
When I got back to my office I found out that the portion size was tiny - the salad was at the bottom of the plastic container and absolutely did not justify its' $10 price tag.
Do yourself a favor - if you are next to Baco and you want a salad, just go to the deli across the street.
I ended up returning the salad. The manager was very nice and had no problem reimbursing me. She thanked me for my constructive criticism. Nevertheless, i won't go to Baco again. -
Review from Spencer G.
New York, NY
2/26/2011
Beware the service needs major improvement.
The lunch menu has light & tasty items. Nice atmosphere, cozy or communal seating areas with an artistic decor theme.
Ehhh...hmmm the service PLEASE. -
Review from Britton B.
New York, NY
11/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
"Put Your Hands Behind Your Head And Slowly Bacoway From The Cafe"
The employees of Baco Cafe are obviously a product of their working environment. Walls covered in what I suppose some people would call "eclectic" artwork clash with chairs and tables that look like victims of the latest NYC bedbug crisis. Plucked from what was meant to be their final resting place, these chunks of furniture have been moved from the gutters and into Baco.
If the place had a theme it would be "chaos". And the music fits the bill perfectly. Moving from reggae to Bosnian sitar soloists to the power-pop of ten years ago. All over the place, nonsensical, and without any sort of transition. It really set the place up for a nervous atmosphere.
Four women, each sporting an Eastern European accent, served my party of two at one point or another. They brought us the menus which listed hot and cold drinks as well as food. I opted for the "Hazelnut Chocolate", which was listed right under "Hot Chocolate". You might assume that that means it's hazelnut hot chocolate. And shame on you for assuming.
What it is is a decent cup of joe with hazelnut flavoring. I was expecting something else, but wasn't disappointed with the taste. The coffee was good, but not spectacular.
The hummus appetizer with mushrooms was bland and lacked any sort of seasoning whatsoever. Blended chickpeas with sliced mushrooms on top. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. Some may find the simplicity appealing, I found it lacking any sort of flavor.
The panini wasn't any better. Sounding quite enticing on the menu, this pressed sandwich of "pesto, spinach, melted mozzarella, and sun dried tomato paste", which they assured me they could add grilled chicken to, came sans chicken (even though it showed up on my bill as with chicken... not sure what happened there) and wasn't really great. At all.
All I could really taste - save for a few bites - was the pesto. It did a very good job of overpowering all the over flavors, so in the end I was eating a very, very thin panini (made with pita bread) that tasted like pesto. And sometimes mozzarella.
When it came time to pay the bill we asked to split it down the middle. "Who got the pesto?" I raised my hand. Not sure as to why that was relevant, due to the fact that we were splitting the bill, I exchanged a glance with my companion.
Twenty minutes later our bill arrived. $12.79 on one, $19.33 on the other. I guess they split it differently in Eastern Europe.
On top of all that: there were four or five flies (and some of their smaller cousins, gnats) chilling by our table. Oh yeah, and to the parents who CHANGED THEIR TODDLER'S DIAPER ON THE FLOOR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAFE: you're not in the commune anymore. I don't want to see your baby's ass on a good day, and I especially don't want to see it when fecal matter is involved.
Take my advice: if your heart is set on enjoying a slightly above average cup of coffee and you're in the neighborhood, get it to go. Grab it and get out and never look back.Listed in: Places I Like... To Avoid
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Review from Andrew C.
Eclectic mix of tables and bar up front and couches in the back. We thought it might be a bit healthier than Pedros next door (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) so came in to give it a whirl.
I ordered the Turkey Panini and the g/f ordered the watermelon salad which our server said was new and off the menu. We maybe should have stuck to the Mediterranean side of the menu.
The watermelon salad had some feta and basil and was drizzled with olive oil (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). It needed something more. Feta. Basil. Maybe some balsamic and less oil. It tasted like some oily chopped watermelon.
From the pink color, I thought i was delivered some kind of ham panini, not turkey, but found it was turkey pastrami, which was not mentioned in the menu (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). While I love pastrami, this was really, really, really salty stuff. I couldn't finish it and I started out hungry, love pastrami, and am a notorious salt-a-holic. Almost inedible.
The friendly staff keeps this from being a 1 star review.Listed in: Big Apple in June
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Review from Lucy L.
5/18/2009
I would like to start off this review by saying.. I AM SO COMING BACK HERE!!
I was having a typical case of SUNDAY ( tired, hungover, need coffee) On my way back home from photo festival... I passed by this street. this place completely standed out for me..
I couldn't help myself walk inside and check it out.. WOW... I couldn't figure out if this is a store, a cafe or dessert or a restaurant.. I loved how this place kept me guessing. eventually I read the menu.. looks like they are ALL THE ABOVE.. how can it be possible??
I ordered my usual CAPPUCCINO.. it was very good...
It's been few days.. I can't get you off my mind.. I think I'm in love..Listed in: Love is all we need
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Review from S N.
Brooklyn, NY
8/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
Baco reopened last week (early August 2010) after an extensive renovation and overhaul. The new interior is quite pleasant! It also seems that they have addressed many of the complaints put forth in other Yelp reviews.
When I went in, I was promptly assisted by friendly staff who immediately gave me a sample of an iced coffee slushy sort of drink while I waited. My halumi cheese salad was delicious and arrived within a few minutes of my order; at $7 it was average-priced (nothing on the menu is over $8). My iced coffee was also good - again, not a bargain, but normal for the neighborhood. The servers were friendly and welcoming, but not overbearing.
Seems like a nice family-run business with good food and drinks. And it's right across the street from my office. I'll be back! -
Review from Robert T.
Manhattan, NY
8/27/2009
I work down the street, so when it opened up I had to stop in to see what it was all about. I asked the barista what they served, meals, drinks etc. They seemed very flustered by the question and not sure how to answer other than "yes".
I am the type that hates *bucks so I love the small coffee house that serves great coffee... only had a cappuccino there, but at the prices they were asking I would much rather just go to Jimi's and grab a large for $1.25 and be on with my day. Just because you aren't *bucks doesn't mean that a small cappuccino has to be $4.00
Anyway, my second experience was mixed as well. There are two owners first off, husband and wife, the husband was quite nice but a little too talkative while the wife was just plain annoying to talk to. She spoke down to customers and went on and on as others have noted.
On my second vist, I was going with co-workers who wanted to try it out so I allowed it. Not only did they not greet us, (we went inside to ask if we could take the table outside, they nodded). The two of them actually sat across from us and smoked the entire time we were eating. (Yes this is NYC and you can smoke where ever you want, but if you are the owner of a restaurant please don't smoke within range of your customers it is quite rude)
On to what we came for... the food, menu was very limited, like 3 entrees all a bit pricey for the ingredients. Portions were not large but enough to fill you up if you have an app as well. The food was so-so, but pair that with the service being painful I will save my money for just about anywhere else. -
Review from Jade H.
11/11/2010
It is true that I am a very generous reviewer.
Really, this should be a 2.5.
The service was about average. The decor was pretty but difficult to eat a lunch in such an arrangement. This is a weirdo place. Is it a coffee shop just for hanging out or do people really eat here? Who can eat from a plate that is two feet below their waistline? You'd have to hunch down and reach down like a doggie might to eat at this much lowered coffee table. Maybe they shouldn't seat anyone at that table. Wait, there are two other tables just like that one! Worse yet are the fun little cushions that they put instead of chairs. This is fun but difficult for a winter wear customer to eat at. The food is very basic and not so special that it cannot be made at home. At least the ingredients seem fresh. I was just so unimpressed by the experience. Cost just didn't equal to what I received. I felt bad my boyfriend paid for this. -
Review from Rebecca A.
Brooklyn, NY
9/29/2009
Love the design of the interior. So funky, mod, mixed with Middle Eastern touches (mainly Morrocan). One thing that kinda annoyed me was the back area made for babies. But I guess that's BK. Ugh.
The Iced Mint Tea alone is worth the $4. I didn't try the food, but this tea....oof. It is so friggin good, and unique (as far as I know) in NYC/Brooklyn places. A new take on an age-old Moroccan classic, the iced mint tea is kind of like a slushy in texture, has some fizz, and tastes oh so yummy and sweet. I notice someone said they wouldn't share the ingredients list, but I believe all it was was: mint leaves, black tea, ice, sugar, and rose water (that is probably their "secret" that white people would not recognize).
Omg. So so good. I will be back for that. -
Review from Don C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/13/2009 1 photo
We were enthusiastically greeted when we entered and given a sample of a very refreshing mystery drink. We finally found out it had mint and lime in it but the other ingredients were kept secret. The bartender then made us a mango lime smoothie that was awesome.
The menu is café fare with a middle Eastern slant. The atmosphere was cool and the music worked.
A great place in DUMBO. -
Review from Alex S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/8/2009
This review is purely for the espresso, as I did not try the food. I have to say, this was perhaps the best I have ever had in my life. Really perfectly prepared, nice and fresh with a distinctly rich, velvety texture. A little on the expensive side at $3 for a double shot, but this was no doubt very high quality.
The environment is also very charming; modern and sleek, yet relaxing and laid back. The seats at the bar are outrageously comfortable. There is a little bit of a strange vibe here, and I don't say that in a bad way; the owners are very low key, so you have to speak up when you're ready to order, which I would normally find irritating, but found it sort of pleasant here. They even gave me a taste of this delightful, fancy, fruit drink they were blending. The younger man working the counter is extremely friendly too, and made me feel quite welcomed.
Very chill atmosphere and dynamite espresso. What's not to love? -
Review from Megan C.
Brooklyn, NY
1/27/2011
Coming to Baco was kind of a weird experience. I had a job interview in the area but overslept and didn't eat breakfast or have time to make coffee beforehand (not good). So, when I walked back to the F train after the interview, I noticed Baco and thought I'd stop in for a cup of coffee to go. However, when I walked in, I was immediately greeted with a menu and an offer for a table. There didn't seem to be a coffee to go option, and since I'm really awkward, I just went with it and took the table. I figured, what the Hell, I hadn't eaten anyway, I'd just order something. The table, however, was such an awkward place to sit--the chair was normal sized, but the table, though it looked like a normal table, was at coffee table height. I couldn't even fit my legs under it(and I'm truly not a very tall person). I had to sit at such an awkward angle with my legs off to the side, and this became even more awkward when I actually started eating. There were a number of other table options in the cafe, but none of them looked any better (some were actual couches with coffee tables in front of them where one is supposed to have his/her food served. I'll save that for when I'm at home in front of the TV).
The service was kind of strange, too. The waiter just sort of...came up to my table and stood there. I ordered the eggs florentine and a coffee. The food was good enough--it came with potatoes and a side salad, and all were pretty tasty. Instead of regular coffee like I ordered, he gave me an Americano, which would have been fine if he didn't charge me the extra dollar for Americano. Kind of weird, but again, I'm awkward and wasn't about to confront over a dollar.
About fifteen minutes after I had clearly finished my food, napkin on the table, ready to go, I finally stood up to walk over to the counter and ask for my bill (at this point I had been in the restaurant for about an hour). The waiter apologized, saying he thought someone had already brought me my check. Who? Again, kind of weird. He brought it over, but indicated that their Internet connection was down and he couldn't take my credit card. Apparently that's what he "had been working on" when I stood up to ask for my bill and he was chatting behind the counter. Lucky for him, I had cash (rare for me), so I quickly paid and got the Hell out of there.
In short: the food was pretty decent so I'll give it an extra star, but the service was weird and the tables were incredibly awkward. I'd keep walking. -
Review from Andrew D.
Brooklyn, NY
4/12/2009 1 photo
Nice new hangout in Dumbo. It's a Tapas Bar/Furniture store. I went here with my friend one morning to kill time. We had a croissant and mint tea. Since the place is just opening, we also sampled some of their middle eastern tapas. The homemade tzaziki and roasted garlic on pita bread were my favorites. The furniture is a nice mix of contemporary with a Middle Eastern vibe.
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Review from Matt R.
Brooklyn, NY
3/6/2011
Awful, awful, awful. Service is bad. Really bad. Slow, inattentive, and overly self-promotional.
Food is forgettable and the portions were so tiny is was criminal. This is not some "fancy, delicious, the portions are small because of attention to detail and great taste." This is just a rip-off. I ordered the Israeli salad which costs $9. It was a quarter of a cucumber and half a tomato chopped up, with 2 tiny slivers of avocado, drizzled with olive oil and dusted with dried spice. All in all about 75 cents to $1 of food. FOR $9. I was gonna say something, but decided to just pay and get out quick, and here I am writing a 1-star review.
Every 30 seconds the coffee guy banged his espresso scooper so hard on the counter he made me wince. This place made me wince. I've lived in NYC most of my life, and this is honestly one of the worst establishments I have been in. Hope they go out of business. -
Review from Steve K.
Brooklyn, NY
1/11/2010
The food is good, but the service is terrible. I stopped in to get lunch to go, and it took a LONG time. (over half an hour for a small cup of soup.) After I left I realized the order was incomplete, but at that point I didn't have the time/patience to go back and wait for them to correct it.
This area has plenty of businesses, and Baco could be a convenient place to stop in to grab lunch, but with this kind of service it's just not realistic. -
Review from Bobby A.
Brooklyn, NY
11/21/2010
Since Dumbo truly sucks for food (other than Rice and Vinegar Hill House) Baco gets my vote for a great informal lunch or dinner. A goat cheese and beet panini with side salad is quite satisfying and only $8. BYOB is always good while it lasts. The service is very European (slow as hell), and the menu makes the food seem boring when it isn't.
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Review from Johanna W.
Brooklyn, NY
7/26/2011
Don't bother. This is middle eastern as interpreted by TGI Fridays. We had brunch. My scrambled eggs were as if off a buffet warming tray. The potatoes and pita were characterless. The "Israeli" salad had no dressing at all...where's the lemon and olive oil? Worst of all, sausage seemed like a Jimmy Dean patty. My husband's shakshouka and hummus were equally uninspired. His food, with boxed OJ, for $12? And a small kids serving of macaroni and tomato sauce for $8! Never again. Nice ambience and service, but that's about it.
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Review from Dave C.
Brooklyn, NY
6/17/2009
I gave one star because I had to. The Owners are fast talking, intense and two faced who tried to hustle me as soon as I met them. They talked to me for way too long and made me feel not so comfortable. Too much ass kissing. The space is beautiful but the service and food is bad. I had a friend who was an employee of baco. After they quite they said that the owners were unable to keep up with many health code standards and where very abusive to their staff. Yikes ! I really don't think I would ever go back after hearing that.
