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Bar Pitti

4 star rating
based on 132 reviews

Category: Italian  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
268 Ave of the Americas
New York, NY 10014
(212) 982-3300
Nearest Transit:

W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)

Houston St (1)

Christopher St (PATH)

Attire:
Casual
Accepts Credit Cards:
No
Parking:
Street
Price Range:
$$
Good for Groups:
No
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Lunch, Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar
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132 reviews for Bar Pitti

Review Highlights   

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"I thought I would hate it cause I hate Da Silvano (next door." (in 10 reviews)
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"My main course was the Pappardelle Alla Fiesolana, which was good." (in 7 reviews)
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"The cash only thing is the only drawback - so be prepared." (in 20 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Daniel P.

 

67

171

Daniel P.

New York, NY

5 star rating
1/26/2010 1 photo

Truly one of New York's Top Italian Restaurants. Great, authentic Italian Cuisine that is consistently good, unlike its neighbor next door
Da Silvano, which may or may not be good. However, the food at
Bar Pitti is always good. Unlike many followere, i have been going there since "Day !'  about 10 months before it caught on.
 Anyway, besides consistently excellent food, Bar Pitti always has a good buzz and the prices are reasonable.
  Teh menu is quite good, but thee Best Route here is with the
"Daily Specials" which are usually phenominal. Amongst the specials that are incrediably good are; the Calves Liver, Trippa,
Bolito de Manzo, Melanzane Parmigiano, and
Paparadelle with Rabbit ragu.
  P.S. "BAR PITTI" is one of Thee Hottest "Celebrity Spotting Spots"
especially at Lunch.

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Photo of Dan F.

Elite '10

22

155

Dan F.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/14/2010

This is going to be one of my standard restaurants that I will bring out of town visitors.  Its authentic (as far as I could tell because we could barely get past the thick Italian accent), reasonably priced, atmospheric, and TASTY!

Fast, quick, friendly service.  Will be back here again.  I'm still craving their ravioli.  Get there a little early for quick seating.  The place isn't huge.

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Photo of heejin l.

Elite '10

90

705

heejin l.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
1/18/2010

3.75*
i'm not a big fan of italian.

but this place is good. if you like your pasta sauce really rich..
the pink sauce is very creamy.
the lobster ravioli was good.

and the lasagna was good but very hearty.

don't get the carpaccio.  the meat quality isn't that great.

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Photo of daniel c.

 

1

19

daniel c.

Miami, FL

3 star rating
2/10/2010

I got a huge numbers of tips saying that the food there was amazing. That was good, but nothing special. My biggedt complain about this place was about the waitress. She was rude and after I paid the bill woth cash, she return to the table complaining that I had to pay 20% of tip ( I had payed 15%)!! ilIf i think about all the places that I went on my trip, this was the worst, cause was on of the most expensive, had this problem and the food was normal.

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Photo of mary l.

Elite '10

15

85

mary l.

New York, NY

3 star rating
1/28/2010

I go here for solid, simple Italian food, casual dining, and a cozy (read: tiny) atmosphere.    A weird bonus is loads of celebrity sightings.  I bypass the specials and usually go with the tried and true pastas .  My fave is the taglierini ; the first pasta on the menu.  Most pastas are $13.50 and come with free crusty bread and robust, spicy, olive oil.  It's a fun time especially in the summer when people are spilled on the sidewalk and eating under the stars in the W Village.

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Photo of jean n.

 

0

9

jean n.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/31/2010

Cadre agréable et bonne table. Accueil excellent. Il faudra revenir!

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Photo of Judy T.

Elite '10

159

229

Judy T.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
8/20/2009

Wednesday night at 8 pm and this place was very, very crowded. I came here with an Italian friend who knew the owner, so we got very lucky and had seats outside in the warm summer air in about fifteen minutes.

There is no bar inside, and it is very tight so you can't really get a drink before your meal unless you want to stand next to the stairs that go to the bathroom. Don't go next door, and if you do, be discreet. The owners are sworn enemies, and if they see you sneaking into the bar next door, you will probably wait twice as long.

I had linguini with truffles in a white cream sauce, and then salmon. My acquaintance had a delicious pasta with meat sauce and a white fish. I hear the carpaccio is excellent, it smelled really good from the people next to me.

Two glasses of wine later, we had the tiramisu which was homemade. It was absolutely perfect for a hot summer evening.

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Photo of Lola P.

 

1

16

Lola P.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/13/2010

Love love love this restaurant!  I'm very picky about Italian food because my family is from Italy, and Bar Pitti passes the test every time!  The pasta and bread are fresh, dishes taste authentic, and the Papardelle is to die for.  Wooden table and chair ambiance is crowded and quaint.  There is often a wait, but the food is well worth it!

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Photo of Catherine H.

 

28

36

Catherine H.

New York, NY

4 star rating
8/10/2009

To me..italian should always stick to the basics with fresh and simple ingredients done well.
If you master those two points and you mix in some attentive and friendly staff then youve go a pretty A-OK place.

I love down to earth, relaxing, non-pretenticious places.  Mind you i didn't experience the hustle of this place that I read about, but then again I went on a monday night. Just like Clinton St. Bakery (another monday experience), I didnt see much of a wait and was never rushed during the meal.

We had a large selection of food due to our party size, but the highlighted ones are the ones that stood out the most.

The Linguini with clams- simple, refined and tasty, but the downside is how tiny and scarse the clams are and a tad on the saltier side.

Large flat pasta with smoked bacon in a tomato cream sauce- FREAKIN fantastic. Talk about party in my mouth.  A real nice distinct bacon taste that is cohesive with the tomato cream.

Penne Ragu- Basic, but nonetheless done well and I love the fresh pasta that can stand well  and not overbeared by the savory sweet tomato sauce.

Rigatoni Pitti with turkey sausage, peas, in a tomato cream sauce- very similar to the flat pasta dish, but no complaints since the waiter informed us it was the same sauce. But if it had to be one or the other, head straight for the flat pasta dish.

Altogether, a brief walk away with little wait time for a table and a nice place for people watching. Portions could be better, but the taste is there.
Tip: Cash Only.

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Photo of Adrienne M.

 

9

41

Adrienne M.

New York, NY

5 star rating
9/27/2009

Mmmm... this place is the real deal. Pasta cooked to al dente perfection. Try the eggplant parmigana -- it will melt in your mouth. An octopus salad ordered of the chalkboard special menu was fresh, tangy, and delightful. Side of spinach drenched in garlic and olive oil got devoured within minutes. House red complimented everything beautifully. It was the most fabulous meal I had all week!

Service is no-nonsense, friendly, and as accommodating as they can be in a place as busy as this. Prepare to wait, especially if you go on the weekend. But being right on 6th Ave, you'll have plenty of good quality people-watching to entertain you, not least of which is clientele of the other Italian restaurant next door...

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Photo of Helena G.

 

10

27

Helena G.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
10/8/2009

Went here recently on a Wednesday night around 9ish and it was mobbed!! Since they take no reservations, it's a first come, first serve basis. We waited for about 20 minutes in an extremely crowded front area, and since there was virtually no bar area, we didnt have that option. Once seated, as others mentioned, we got a big board put directly on our table by a waitress who always seemed like she was in a rush. Granted, the place was packed, but in some places you dont' "feel it" once seated. We would have sat outside, but it was freezing.

Now onto the more positive, the food was outstanding and the prices were extremely reasonable! So I totally get why this place gets as crowded as it does (with a very attractive clientele). I would be back because I want to try some more items from the menu.

Just wish they had a bar area where you could have a drink while waiting.

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Photo of James H.

Elite '10

63

118

James H.

New York, NY

4 star rating
11/20/2009

What's not to love about a place that hasn't changed it's menu (on a chalkboard by the way) in 10 years. I only know because my older Italian friends frequent this quaint restaurant in the West Village often. Bar Pitti overall has given me a higher appreciation of good home style Italian food that Olive Garden never left me with. I usually get the meatballs and baratta cheese... something so great about simplicity. Milky cheese with a tomato and some good huge meatballs. I've tried a few of the pastas (can't remember the names), but all were fantastic.

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Photo of Scott H.

Elite '10

25

106

Scott H.

New York, NY

3 star rating
8/30/2009

Quite delicious.   Just a really nice place with tons of outdoor seating and open air inside seating.  The host was super nice and got us seated pretty quickly.  The service thereafter was so-so.  We waited at least 10 minutes for the waiter to come back and he wanted us to order in less than 5 seconds - seemed kind of impatient, though pretty nice in retrospect.  

A crisp bottle of rose, two tasty pasta dishes, and a caprese salad came to $80.  Not too bad.  I was surprised the caprese salad had grape tomatoes rather than heirloom or what not, and the mozzarella was "ok".  My pasta was decent, though I won't be dreaming about it tonight.  But all in all, a nice solid lunch with good service and people watching.  I totally forgot I was in NYC.  I hardly heard any English - mostly italian, which is a good sign.  If you told me I was in Italy, I would have believed it.  

Very inconvenient that they accept cash only.  I forgot my debit card, which was in a pair of shorts on my bedroom floor from a crazy last night.  Thank God my friend was with me at lunch, though as the unemployed one at the table, I'm sure she wishes she didn't need to go to rush to a deli to get cash out, along with their $5 fee.  Otherwise we would have been washing dishes.

All in all, a pretty good experience.

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Photo of Amanda H.

 

0

6

Amanda H.

New York, NY

3 star rating
10/9/2009

Great food, but the service-- not so much. My friend arrived a little earlier than I did so she was seated, but the waiter seemed a bit put out that she was waiting until I got there to order. As I was walking up the sidewalk, he started motioning towards me to come sit (and not in a nice welcoming way)!  I felt rushed to order my drink and even more rushed to order food as the blackboard was promptly shoved onto our table. We both enjoyed our food and ordered several drinks, but we definitely felt like we were getting the evil eye as other people were waiting to be seated.
Great location and food, but be prepared to feel rushed... That is the only thing that would keep me from going back.

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Photo of Ana P.

 

5

35

Ana P.

New York, NY

3 star rating
6/8/2009

OK so first of all you have to like sitting in the middle of the street being stared at by people waiting for a table, having people trying to peek behind your own sunglasses in order to establish your rank of celebutardness. Because, you see, Bar Pitti, is Da Silvano's overflow catcher... Anyone who doesn't snatch a seat at Da Silvano because Naomi Campbell just took up a table for 8 with her entourage, gets to sit at Bar Pitti...and if you're lucky enough to sit on the sidewalk...pardon me, at the sidewalk cafe, then please take your time staring right back at those nosy passer-byers (is that even a word?)

Anyhow, the food is quite good, the parmiggiano (which i like to get cut up in chunks and enjoyed with a chilled glass of white wine while i wait for my main) is sharp enough and the atmosphere is...well, the atmosphere is what it is.

Is the place overrated? Yes. Is the food. Maybe. But their specials are amazingly fresh (even if they are written in illegible Italian on a chalkboard facing the indoor dining room), their pastas made in-house (and they taste like it) and the wine list long.

I'll take brunch here on any given Sunday. Minus the hoopla.

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Photo of Pam Z.

Elite '10

19

109

Pam Z.

New York, NY

2 star rating
7/20/2009

First the pro's:  We sat at a table halfway inside, halfway outside.  It was perfect weather, so we really enjoyed the setup.  Three of us split a bunch of dishes and everything was very good, although not particularly memorable (although this is partially my fault, as most Italian food tend to blend together).  I do remember the Pappardelle Alla Fiesolana, which was fantastic.

Now for the con's:  I am a stickler for service, and was very underwhelmed by the staff at Bar Pitti.  One of the girls in our party choose not to split the appetizers and ordered the salmon dish.  She specifically said this to the waiter (even though it was fairly obvious).  Anyway, the rest of our food came out after, but not hers.  We ate, and were finished before she received anything.  She finally went to the waiter (since the waiter was not checking up on us) and asked them to cancel her salmon, as she was getting irritated and did not want to eat her food alone.  The waiter told her that it was on her way, so she could not cancel.  It was extremely annoying.  She did not receive an apology or anything.

Being an Italian restaurant in New York, it is very easy to blend in, and having poor service and rude staff does not help a restaurant stand out.

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Photo of Natalie B.

Elite '10

11

82

Natalie B.

New York, NY

3 star rating
7/16/2009

I'm torn about this place.  I love the food, wines, and space (not mention the affordable prices) but everytime I've eaten there I always feel like there's a mad dash to turn the table - like the servers (and thus service) is on speed or some stimulant.  This rapid-fire pace of service really detracts from the overall experience, which is such a shame because the food is really quite superb.  Their mushroom (Funghi) appetizer is really nice, though a tad too heavy on the olive oil for my taste.  The bruschetta is refreshing as is the baby artichoke appetizer.  Any main dish I've ordered, I've liked a lot.  

Regarding the usual mob surrounding the area outside the door waiting for the highly coveted see and by seen table (or a table at all), I'd say it's not worth the fight through the mosh pit.  Go for lunch or brunch and you'll surely snag an outside table.  Or you can go for an earlier dinner which will most likely have no wait or max 10-15 minutes.  

Great food and great place (despite the hustle & bustle of the staff) will make for an enjoyable meal.

PS Cash Only

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Photo of joseph p.

 

175

168

joseph p.

Holmdel Township, NJ

5 star rating
2/3/2010

A must try authentic Italian friendly people and cozy

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Photo of Elizabeth E.

 

2

21

Elizabeth E.

New York, NY

1 star rating
11/10/2009

Every time I come here, I ask myself why I did. I've only ever been here for a late afternoon alfresco bite. I just don't think the food is that good. It is low on value and high on attitude.

The last time I ate here, Binn from 1OAK was sitting next to us. He and his buddy were fine, but then these super obnoxious Euro chicks rolled up. Very annoying- we couldn't wait to leave. I've sworn that I won't be back and hopefully it holds.

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Photo of Erica J.

 

0

60

Erica J.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
8/6/2009

I went here with my boyfriend after a friend raved about it. I was excited becuase I've also read about lots of celebs going here so I figured it was good.

My first experience there wasn't positive. I found the staff pretty rude. Their specials menu is presented on a small blackboard and they ramble it off to you. I couldn't even catch the specials. I ordered from the regular menu and just got a ziti with marinara.

It was bland and not special.

I decided to give this place another try. We waited for about an hour since we wanted to sit outside and this is a prime sit outside people watch type of spot plus we were a big group for this place (5 people) Finally, we were seated and starving! I ordered from the specials and got grilled chicken with endive and sun dried tomatoes. Although, not too fancy it was delicious. I also like the portion size, just enough.

I'm glad I gave this place another chance. It's good for some basic Italian food.

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Photo of Jo K.

 

10

100

Jo K.

New York, NY

5 star rating
11/3/2009

I think bar pitti is one of the greatest pasta joints in NY. For the price you pay the food is excellent! The eggplant parmasiana is great, artichoke appetizer is fantastic and even the chicken liver is delicious. I got the linguini with clams and I finished every bite. I think this is my new favorite Italian joint!

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Photo of David L.

 

1

29

David L.

Manhattan, NY

5 star rating
1/29/2010

Great food, awesome ambience especially in the summer.

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Photo of Miguelito C.

 

0

13

Miguelito C.

New York, NY

4 star rating
11/28/2009

Serious Italian and they know it as you can tell from some of the snooty smug "I'm so cool because I'm from Italy and I speak Italian" waiters

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Photo of Dominick Q.

 

5

6

Dominick Q.

New York, NY

4 star rating
3/11/2009

I put this in the category of "great weeknight dinner spot during the cold season because there's only a handful of tables indoors and on the weekend you'll probably wait a while for a seat."  Come spring/summer, the tables outside effectively double the number of seats.  

On an unrelated note, I'm working on streamlining the names of my categories.  

The food is reasonably priced ($6-$9 apps, $11 harty bowls of pasta) and you can get a good bottle of wine for $39-$50.  

I'd classify the waitstaff as "weird-friendly," kind of like the guy at the vintage shop who proudly wears the clothes and can't wait to help you mine the clothes rack to find your hidden treasure.  For example, my date wanted something with truffles...and our waiter suggested a special that was like, and I quote, "a FESTIVAL of truffles."  His smile was ear-to-ear as he said this.  

In summary, a fun neighborhood spot with a lot of life on the weeknight.  I'd probably avoid on the weekend until the outdoor seating opens.  

Need to know: Cash only!

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Photo of Jane K.

Elite '10

2666

559

Jane K.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/16/2009

Perfect neighborhood Italian spot. The dinner menu has most of the key favorite dishes (though I wish there was a lasagna) with a notable sandwich section. The pastas are always winners, perfectly al dente with simple and addictive flavors. Portion size is ideal, not too much so you have to take it home and not too little where you feel ripped off. I'm not crazy about the appetizers--the caprese salad was entree sized--but really you go here for the cozy, relaxed atmosphere and simple, traditional plates.

Can't wait until summer when I can indulge in their outdoor seating!!

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Photo of John R.

 

86

69

John R.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
2/16/2009

5 stars for the pitti penne pasta -- just a simple, delicious pasta dish that warms and fills the belly.

Also recommend the tuna and cannellini bean dish as well as the spinach, great sauteed spinach.

Last but not least, they are a heavy pour on the wine -- which is always nice when you're out with good friends.

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Photo of Emily R.

 

21

56

Emily R.

West Hollywood, CA

5 star rating
6/24/2009

Very cool. I have eaten some of the "finest" Italian in NYC according to zagat and yelpers alike, but I really enjoyed my dinner at Bar Pitti. It is cash only (annoying for a larger group), and they don't really have a menu (everything is scrawled on a partially erased board and the servers have heavy accents... therefore I really wasn't sure what I ordered), but they are very accommodating! First of all they didn't hem and haw about securing a reservation for us (lupa never has reservations, and when I went to esca they could just squeeze us in... but the place was empty), and the restaurant was packed. We ran late, but I called ahead and even though people were waiting they held our table.

I had a mix of sauteed mushrooms, my dad had a lentil dish, the table had heirloom tomato with buffalo mozzarelle- we basically licked our plates. Our server was so honest about wine, and brought us three bottles throughout the night all priced around 30-40 dollars, all better than 90 bottles I've had at restaurants of equal quality. They also know how to pair wine to their food! lovely.

For dinner there was some chicken milanese (that my brother and boyfriend loved), my mother and I had a homemade pasta with seafood- the pasta was perfect. Chewy, flavorful, clearly fresh.

For dessert we had orange sorbet served in an orange, a custard that our server made jiggle, and then said "well at least in my country we find it funny," and tartufo. I wanted the tartufo, if I am going to go non-vegan and get sick, I want my chocolate. My brother said I was ordering too much, our server said "nod and say yes, just say yes to her, learn early, you'll never win." He was really hilarious. His sign out line was "rock and roll."

We all left will full bellies and smiles after dining at Bar Pitti. Its one of the better places to get Italian in a city brimming with solid Italian restaurants.

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Photo of Kim V.

 

7

79

Kim V.

Little Rock, AR

4 star rating
6/2/2009

I went to Bar Pitti yesterday with a group of friends. We only had to wait a few minutes for a table since it was a Monday and it was fairly early (6:30 p.m.) and most people were probably still busy slaving away at the office.

The place has an average-sized menu consisting of your run of the mill Italian dishes. Although the menu is by no means adventurous, the dishes I ordered were nicely cooked and executed. I ordered the crostini for my appetizer, which was a generous serving of chicken liver piled on "country bread." The dish was delicious, but the amount of liver was overwhelming, so I made extra crostini from the complimentary bread they brought us earlier.

For my entree, I ordered parpadelle al cinghiale (wide egg noodles served with a wild boar ragu' sauce).  It was delicious. The noodles were just the right texture. I took a bite of my friend's parpadelle (the one with bacon and all that good stuff) entree as well, and I think I liked hers more (!!).

I had the tiramisu' for dessert, which I wouldn't recommend. It wasn't impressive and I thought it had too much filling and not enough savoirardi (breading/cake). And at $6.50 for a small bowl, it's overpriced compared to the inexpensive entree this restaurant offers.

I would definitely go here again. It's a great, inexpensive place to enjoy a basic Italian meal and see a celebrity or two (I saw Kate Hudson when I was there).  My only complaint about Bar Pitti is that the waiter took forever to refill our water. I had to request one after our cups were sitting empty for at least 10 or 15 minutes. I needed second refill near the end of my meal but was never offered it. The manager/owner was friendly and more attentive than the waiters, so it kind of made up for that.

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Photo of M V.

 

0

8

M V.

New York, NY

3 star rating
10/18/2009

I ordered off the regular menu.  Definitely can't complain about the price, but the pasta was solid but nothing to brag about.  Famous and overrated,.

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Photo of Darbi W.

 

82

101

Darbi W.

New York, NY

4 star rating
8/15/2009

I am such a Bar Pitti fan.  I'm only leaving off a star because the waitstaff can be assholey at times and they don't take plastic.  The food is amazing and their prices are beyond reasonable.  One of my all-time favorite NYC joints.

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Photo of Jaime Patricio M.

Elite '10

57

537

Jaime Patricio M.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
3/17/2009

Bar Pitti is small and intimate and the place that succeeds in being what we want it to be.  It is the Italian restaurant that we all have in the back of our mind.  It is the Italian restaurant that is not only in the back of our mind but also the one we want in New York.  Exceptional antipasti and the pasta here is king--everything and anything you order will be spectacular.  I rarely eat pasta and never eat pasta out Bar Pitti is my only exception.  You will be presented with the daily specials which you may need help to translate.  Bar Pitti is charming, well priced and absolutely wonderful--the service is personal and attentive.  

Bring cash--no credit cards accepted--I had to run to a convenience store ATM to pay for my dinner--and that is something I never do either but it was worth it.

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Photo of Oriana P.

 

6

37

Oriana P.

London NW3

UK

2 star rating
4/27/2009

I pitty Bar PITTI

One pittiful, overrated establishment.

The food is nothing spectacular, just Italian comfort food.

The service was entirely rude. so it really depends on how many courses you order.

Selection of booze is wine/beer only? and they call themselves a "bar" one DRY bar it is.

It was 7 of us waiting for a table at 11:45pm (almost midnight) and we patiently waited for over 40 minutes because our group just wanted snacks and drinks and after all we didn't mind waiting on an amazingly warm april evening.

I polietly asked the "host" how long the wait would be, and he just shrugged and said "I dunno. just wait out there" so very very hospitable of him. NOT!!!  I have never met ruder italians in my LIFE.

As soon as we sat down we let the waiter know that we would probably just be drinking and getting a few apetizers. He rolled his eyes and went to cry over to his manager as we didn't go there to "clean the kitchen" - my real bet is that he just doesn't want to split tips with the bartender so resigned to be a real a$$ to the next customer.

So then, ANOTHER guy comes to get our order and continue the service for the remainder of our visit... we get a couple of desserts, bottles of wine, and beer. He brings everything scoffing. Mind you it's 12:15 am and "bar pitti" is emptying out (and not because it's closing), so we wanted to get a couple more apetizers, and the guy goes.. yea... sorry.. no more bread. Then the table next to us gets up and the buzz boy quickly cleans it.... just  a couple of minutes later, they bring us a "basket with three pieces of bread." I am surprised they didn't just take it from the adjacent table and serve it.

My guess... he must have had a bad night too, as he goes to talk to one of the ladies (colleague), looking in our directions and motioning with big arm gestures, and then goes to another waiter and does the same thing.  The other waiter then approaches and just starts staring. Then he speaks to us in our language in a very rude manner asking if we needed anything else. we were just speechless!

I have to admit that many times when I read not-so-stellar reviews about good restaurants that I do like, I tend to be very skeptic, because I think maybe they went on  a really off night, maybe they were just rude to the watier... etc etc.... I learned my lesson.

Bar Pitti is Pittiful!!!

I would give them 3 stars for the food, as it was tasty (NOT spectacular), and I would give them 1 star for the rudeness of their staff. I avg that to 2 stars.

We got two panna cottas that are drowned in fudge. it was tasty, but the fudge entirely overpowered the panna cotta. i have DEFINITELY had much better (and they should be EXPERTS at this dessert). also the tiramisu was truly a disappointment. Even the deli 2 blocks down has a better selection. Can't say much about the wine and beer, b/c thankfully they couldn't stick their hands to mess with it.

I am never going back. There are plenty of wonderful italian restaurants with much more hospitable staff and menu. They included the 20% tip in our bill (as we were over 6 people). We paid the bill, and then we (again so very politely) told the waiter that we don't have an issue with it, however we were really disappointed with the service.

He scoffed, and left.

I was embarrased in front of my friends, because I suggested this place based on the many reviews here, and thought it would be a nice place to hang out, drink and snack late at night. WHAT a disappointment!!

My first and last time here. The only memory of this bar really will be this review.

buh bye $shitty pitty

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22

30

dave r.

New York, NY

3 star rating
11/1/2009

i got the Pappardelle Alla Fiesolana which be both found to be AMAZING.

but my girlfriend got Rigatoni Pitti which niether of us enjoyed.

the food is authentic, but the ambiance left a little to be desired.

but for what u get the prices are spot on.

(got a bottle of wine that was crap, but i forget the name so i guess thats not to helpful...but once i find out i will resubmit)

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0

16

Dima S.

Sunnyvale, CA

2 star rating
11/9/2009

I am not sure what to make of our experience at this joint last night. The food was quite good, while the service was abysmal. Waiters have no manners, they are thuggish-looking, irritable and snippy. Not coming back here.

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Elite '10

65

216

Lorena L.

Mesa, AZ

4 star rating
1/7/2009

Stopped here for lunch my first day in the city and had a long wait, but it was well worth it. Had the caprese to start and everything was so fresh. I ordered the Pappardelle alla Fiesolana (it has smoked bacon, tomatoes, parmigiano, in a cream sauce) and every bite was heavenly. I'm not from NYC, so this is the freshest and best pasta I've ever had.

Great patio to sit on during the nice spring months. And great for people watching. Griffin Dunne was sitting next to us. I loved, "Who's That Girl," with him and Madonna when I was younger.  :p

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30

29

Alex G.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/14/2009

If stereotypical Italian 'tude were a restaurant, Bar Pitti would be it.  

Have to give it four stars because the food is amazing (buffala mozzarella, pasta, even the basic salad dressing), but for the most part you get the feeling they'd rather not have you there. Do they accept credit cards? Puh-leeze. Cash only. The specials are all in Italian (what, you can't parlo Italiano?), but they'll give you a translation if you ask

Wine list is good but the cheapest bottles start at $40. As a friend pointed out, bottles start much cheaper than that even at much more expensive/upscale places.

But, again, the food is infreakingcredible.

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6

14

A W.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
12/17/2008

This is my favorite restaurant and one that I frequented multiple times a week when I lived in the Village.  

Before I forget...it is *CASH ONLY*....that's how they roll.

If you stop in for dinner, plan to wait a bit for a table (it is worth it).  There is excellent outdoor seating in the summer (best people watching spot), otherwise the inside seating is cozy and comfortable.  The specials are written on a chalkboard in Italian, the server translates for you.  The servers are excellent at their jobs (they are not there to chit chat and they don't ).  

The wide array of Italian food is delicious.  You can not go wrong with anything you get here.  I love the Rigatoni Pitti (so much so that the staff asks me if I will please try something else!), Spinachi, Panna Cotta and a glass of Montepulciano.  The price for a meal is VERY reasonable for NYC (pasta dishes around $13, wine $7, desserts $7...there are also some more expensive dishes, but there is truely something for everyone here).

They will, although rarely, take reservations.  All depends on the date, time, number of guests (I think it is over 4 people and under 10)...etc. since the place is tiny.

**Be sure to take a look at those seated around you, you will no doubt see some "familiar" faces (too many to name).

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Elite '10

9

215

Mark H.

NY

4 star rating
3/13/2009

I went here for the first time today, and really really liked it.  It was an early dinner, so it was pretty empty inside, and the waiters were very friendly.  The bread intro was delicious, crusty, unseeded (as I like) and very yummy, and the olive oil was nutty and terrific.  Specials were written by a seemingly-Italian hand in Italian on a chalkboard (and translated one-by-one for us by the Italian waiter), and there were lots of them.

I had the tagliatelle with wild boar, and it was great.  Not a humungous portion - good to have with an appetizer, if you're into appetizers.  (The oyster mushrooms looked scrumptuous, the guy next to me was having them, and I could have kicked myself for not having them too!)  Prices were reasonable, and I had a glass of a nice Montepulciano ($7.50), even though they didn't list glasses on the menu.  The whole thing had a family-run feel to it.  Maybe that changes when it's summertime, or super-busy, I dunno.

Service was very fast, perhaps too fast, and the pasta came out very quickly.  It's not like I felt they were trying to get us out of there, but things moved pretty swiftly.  But the atmosphere was just right and perfect for a quiet dinner.  I must go back and try more things.

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1

15

James G.

Long Island City, NY

2 star rating
7/16/2009

Definitely overrated.  The food was OK, but nothing special in any sense of the word.  My grandma makes better Italian food.  And she's Irish.  
The service was brusque.  Just having an Italian accent does not make a waiter charming.  Filling my water glass does.
This is one of those places where people would rather be 'seen' than eat good food.  If that's what you're looking for, you may like this place.

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61

54

Michael S.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/13/2009

Bar Pitti is awesome Italian food in Greenwich Village.  They accept reservations, but because the place is small, there is usually a wait.  

In the warmer months, I would definitely recommend sitting outside.  The restaurant has an extensive list of specials each day that are written on a chalk board - if you don't speak Italian, kindly ask the waiter to translate for you.  The food at Bar Pitti is top notch.  I highly recommend the pizzas, mussels, and the buratta.  Pitti is a slightly cheaper alternative to its neighbor, Da Silvano.

Unfortunately, no one in my party realized that the restaurant does not accept credit cards.  We each had to take turns leaving the restaurant to find a nearby ATM to settle the bill.  The CASH ONLY policy is annoying, but if you come prepared, you will not be disappointed.

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