Place: Barbuto
Neighborhood: West Village, 775 Washington St. (between 12th St. & Jane St.)
Mimosa Rating:
The scoop: There is a lot of hype surrounding Barbuto because former “Top Chef: Masters” contestant Jonathan Waxman is the chef/owner of the Italian restaurant in the West Village.
Inside Barbuto
The Italian menu is focused, yet there are plenty of options — from antipasti to egg dishes — that are sure to please anyone. When I was at Barbuto, most patrons seemed to be chowing down on the Pizza Uovo and frittata. These shouldn’t be overlooked as average dishes.
I absolutely loved Barbuto’s hip atmosphere. It’s literally one large garage, that allows the restaurant to be completely open, making it a fantastic choice for a warm, sunny day. I felt like I was dining al fresco, even though I was inside. The service was attentive when needed, but nothing special to note.
Chew on this:
Fresh olives / Complimentary
Pizza Uovo
Pizza Uovo $14 / Oven-baked eggs, salsa verde & pancetta
OMG, amazing! Where do I start? The crust was so incredibly fresh. It was soft and a little doughy. The crispy pancetta resembled delicious pepperoni and added incredible flavor. The salsa verde was not highly noticeable, which wasn’t an issue, because the perfectly poached eggs ran over the top with one little fork pinch. I would highly recommend this dish. It lives up to expectations.
Speck con Uovo
Speck con Uovo $15 / Smoked Italian ham, fried eggs, arugula and toast
This dish was just OK. A layer of Italian ham laid under the fried egg and bed of arugula. There was way too much unnecessary arugula, and it was not something that would fill up many; however, it is obviously a great healthy choice if you are in the mood for something light and fresh.
Frittata Stragionale
Frittata Stagionale $13 / Seasonal Italian style omelet
I loved the spin on an Italian omelet. The serving was quite sizable. The frittata was not too thick the way some can be. They change the ingredients often for this dish, and the week I was at Barbuto the fillings were goat cheese, green onion, mushroom and potato. I liked how all of the ingredients added some fantastic flavor. If you are an omelet lover, definitely order this dish.
Barbuto’s al-fresco dining
The final bite: The menu — Italian-inspired with fresh and local ingredients — and atmosphere lived up to the hype surrounding Barbuto. I would recommend this restaurant for a casual, relaxing and no-frills afternoon of brunching al fresco. It’s a great place to take a group or out-of-towners.
Reviewed by: Erica
