Il Bacaro Cucina e Bar

9.2 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Drinks  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  7     

My fiancé requested Italian for his birthday dinner and I choose il bacaro based on the raving reviews. We weren't disappointed. I liked the place from the moment we walked in. Tables aren't cramped together like at some other restaurants, and it had a romantic feel.

Food is amazing, highlights being the prawn filled zucchini flowers, the special pasta of mud crab tortellini, and the cheesecake dessert. The servings are a touch on the small side, but they usually are at restaurants of this caliber. It's not cheap, but it's definitely worth the money and we will be coming here again.

May 20, 2012 

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  5     

Positioned on Little Collins Street Il Bacaro wouldn't be out of place on any restaurant strip in the motherland. From the moment you walk in it feels warm, cosy and welcoming, and the food is good. The waitstaff are also friendly and knowledgeable about the food and wine on offer. If I am going to be overly critical, I expected a little more, for a little less. Yes I know it's an ambient trattoria, and it now has a chef's hat. I just expected less art on a plate, and more homely style Italian food. Having said that, the Agave cheesecake with the stewed rhubarb, jelly and pop rock candy was a standout of the meal. I wouldn't say no to coming back here, but in my view for value and price, it would be limited to special occasion.

Oct 12, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

Great food, the pasta with beef cheeks was the best pasta I'd had in ages, it just melted in my mouth!, and the chocolate dessert was amazing. My husband ordered a bottle of wine which he did not finish and was able to take it home, not many places do that these days.

Jul 19, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

Had a lovely romantic dinner here on a Monday night. You could see how popular this place is as there was not a spare seat in the house. Service was outstanding, very attentive yet discrete. The food!! Still dreaming of the duck main and the cheesecake dessert. The price is up there, but felt with the level of the food and service and location, it is justified and the value is there. Will definitely be back.

Jul 06, 2011 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

Had a great night here on Good Friday. As a visitor to Melbourne, the location and vibe of this place is what makes Melbourne special for foodies and so different to Sydney. Entree and mains were good, but the standout for me was dessert. A rich velvety cheesecake with popping candy and fairy floss may sound over the top, but it was a triumph.

Service is friendly, accommodating italian cool.
It was only two nights ago, and I've already forgotten how much it cost. Only remember the good stuff, so the value must have been Ok.

Apr 24, 2011 

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

What a great place. Really enjoyed our night here. Food and service of a very high standard. Can't wait to dine here again.

Apr 23, 2011 

6.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  6     

Had quite a nice meal here, especially the indulgent dessert. The mains we had were nice too. The service was quite slow though, which I would have liked to have been better for the price.

Apr 21, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  8     

I took my wife to Il Bacaro for her birthday. It was our first time there. We had a great experience there and were not disappointed in anyway.

The restaurant has a very romantic atmosphere. It's small and dimly lit so was perfect for our occasion. The waiters were friendly and attentive without being overbearing.

The food was wonderful. My wife a whole encrusted barramundi with pumpkin seeds (a special) which in her words was spectacular. I tried some and agree. Absolutely delicious fish. I had a pasta with moreton bay bugs, garlic, chili and oil and it was also beautiful. Definitely the best seafood pasta I have ever had.

We shared a dessert plate, a chocolate pudding, which came out on a plate with some ice cream, some chocolate mousse-like thing, decorated with a streak of delicious tangy orange sauce. One of the best desserts of our lives, we both agreed. It is not cheap but it is not overpriced either, and it is worth every cent.

In summary, Il Bacaro is excellent and definitely one of my three best restaurant experiences. Try it and you won't be disappointed.

Feb 05, 2011 

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  4     

Both my husband and I were really looking forward to dining here after reading so many great reviews. Whilst you could not fault the food it wasn’t worth the cost. Presentation was good but not great! I started with the Carpaccio of salmon and barramundi. The problem with this dish was that it was sliced far too finely which made the dish bland and tasteless. You didn’t know what fish you were eating it could have been flake. My husband had the tortellini made with squid ink - three small tortellini which were a bit dry but had some taste.

Main course I had the pork. Presentation was great, however it lacked flavour. The pork itself was simply pan fried with no taste, though tender. The port belly had a bit of flavour at least but the crackling not crispy enough for me. My husband had the duck breast and leg which was good but no great flavour. Dessert was the liquorice panna cotta. Not a true panna cotta but more pudding in texture. While it was good it didn’t excite me. My husband enjoyed the cheese cake very much which was the highlight of his dinner. Conclusion glad we tried it but won’t be going back as it did not deliver the wow factor nor value.

Jan 19, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

Disappointed I did not find this restaurant earlier. Best Italian meal I have had this year, easily in my top 3 meals for the year. Great, intimate little space, it has an air of authenticity and obviously the owners have a very focussed vision of what they want this place to be.

I started with the beef cheek pasta, it was just fantastic, so much flavor it just makes you wonder why so few restaurants can achieve this standard of cooking. Followed that with the duck breast main. Once again just loads of flavor with no one element dominating the rest. Finished with liquorice pannacotta. Best dessert of the year for me, could not fault it.

All my dining companions were equally impressed. Cannot fault this place, you must try it.

Dec 13, 2010