Barbalu Restaurant Reviews

We were regulars of the predecessor to Barbalu, Barbarini Alimentari, before it was shut down by Hurricane Sandy. Naturally when it was reincarnated as Barbalu, we paid frequent visits to the restaurant. This is a really nice Italian place in the downtown FiDi neighborhood and was not crowded by tourists; the service is authentic, the food is down to earth and delicious, and the atmosphere is casual and relaxed but modern and sleek at the same time. My personal recommendations are the beet salad for appetizer and the rigatoni or the spaghetti for entree, coupled with a nice Peroni on the side.

Fully booked on a saturday night, but a great idea with high tables for drop inns in the corners. Smal meny, but very varied dishes. Meat Lasagne was tasty, Veal Scalopine with mushrooms was god accompanied with a glas of Barbera. A tirramisu that was fantastic and a chocolate cake that tasted as gid as it lokked.. Two small things that doesn't give it a 5... The specials should be given in writting. The waiter talks really fast in a mix of italien and New York english and wasn't easy to understand. And the hurbs that you put on a meal should be left out if it doesn't look fresh... But a very good ecperience! 20$ for the main courses is a god deal...

As Michiganders visiting our adult New York kids, Barbalu is a must-stop for us! Everything we’ve tried has been amazing, but we especially love the Lasagna and Pear and Ricotta Fagottini with Cream and Truffle Oil is to die for!!!! The atmosphere and service are special as well.. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Located at the picturesque waterfront at the end of Fulton Street, this restaurant features delicious Italian cuisine. The grilled octopus appetizer was perfectly done. House-made gnocchi stands out too. The table arrangements allow for audible conversation.

Dropped in unannounced with 10 people after nearby restaurant declined. We were promptly greeted and seated. The area towards the street was darker, yet the very light area in the rear, seemed to hot for us. Few patrons were around. All got the drinks and food they liked, including some personalization. The food was tasty with an average presentation. The restaurant is clean and modestly decorated with attention to Italian style food. Service was attentive and friendly.

Had a business meal at Barbalu. The food was authentic with some speciality type ingredients. Menu was small on choices with lots of pasta dishes. Cheese platter and meat platter for appetizers was very good and perfect to share. And the meat lasagna was great. Decor is casual with exposed brick and interesting artwork for sale. Liked it a lot.

good service and freshly cooked pasta - the restaurant itself is lovely and in a convenient location if you're downtown.

I lived in Seaport when I first moved to NYC and the district was re-building after Sandy. I visited Barbalu often. It was small, intimate, friendly and offered great food. I went with my girlfriend a few weeks ago and it was busy (good!). However, after being shown to a table and sitting there without menus for fifteen minutes and being ignored we left. Not good enough. I know that this means nothing to them, but I will not go back. A good restaurant looks after their customers whatever the circumstances.

We had Octopus, Seafood black pasta Shrimp/Crab Salad and Beef Pasta and they are all very good. Good presentation. We had it during lunch time. Price is reasonable, but you have to wait for a while for the waiter to get you bill.

We visited here years ago before it was remodeled and had a wonderful meal. When we returned this Fall I thought we had "misplaced" the restaurant as we weren't sure about the name just the location on Front St. When we realized it was the place we were looking for we were delighted with the remodel and thrilled with the food! the atmosphere is lovely and the food first rate! Would definitely return!

We ate here on a Saturday evening after our first days sightseeing as our hotel was close by and it was just what the doctor ordered. Friendly attentive staff, good food, pleasant surroundings and a nice atmosphere. The menu is quite short and was complemented by a number of specials. We shared a starter of mozzarella and oven roast tomato, followed by lobster ravioli from the specials and spaghetti with spicy sausage, followed by a shared soufflé this was washed down with a bottle of gavi, all of which was excellent. The bill fort above was $125. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

We'd walked in and out of many area restaurants before finally choosing to eat here. Hector saved our night & put us at a nice table and both he and Paula created a great experience. Also the older gentleman with the glasses added to our nice experience. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed the Pear & Ricotta Faggotini with Cream & Truffle Oil! OMG. I am still thinking about it! Halibut special was also brought to our table which was very good. When we heard the tiramisu was made in house, we had to try. And that too was great. The only thing that I would say is to please ask the staff to stop banging dishes & silverware. It does nothing for the ambiance! Anyway - a lot of greats here. Keep it up. We'll all be back!

What a great place. We dropped in without booking. A lovely ambiance, good menu and good daily specials. I had the wild boar pasta my wife had the Cod, both from the specials,our daughter had the Chicken from the main menu, we also had deserts. It was a lovely meal which we will remember when we think about this holiday in the future. Well done

We found Barbalu by searching online for somewhere to have a heavy, late lunch after seeing the van Gogh installation at Pier 36. It was well reviewed but especially in the time of COVID, I was nervous. On arrival I was relieved to see an A rating from the Health Department in the front window and pleased to find that in the mid-afternoon lull, we had a bright sun-lit back groom to ourselves. I was disappointed that the wine list didn't include a sweet-ish white (surely an Italian restaurant should have at least a moscato) but my wife enjoyed her L'Amalfi Gimlet and I made due with a satisfactory lambrusco. The cheese plate for two was delicious though it might have been better if we had more bread to have with it. The penne al brucio was tasty and the chili flakes not overpowering. My wife enjoyed rigatoni prosciutto. The portions were reasonable and we ate most of what was served but end up full enough to pass on dessert.

My daughter recommended we go here for dinner. It was so good. The pasta was very good. Their wine list was Italian wines. The service was great. It was a perfect place to relax and enjoy the meal they serviced. It felt like it was a locals restaurant, which is what we were looking for. When we travel we like to get away from the usual fare and experience the unique things that the locals know about. This seemed to be one of those places.

Visited a different part of the city during our recent stay, and we really enjoyed both the food and ambiance. We sat in the back dining area and were able to have a conversation without talking loud (that's a plus!). We ordered the meat and cheese platter for starters, then I had the spinach salad. My friends had sea bass and the special that had sausage in an alfredo sauce. All entrees were delicious! It's a lovely place to dine!

We visited here one evening in early December and were blown away by the food. Everything we had including the wine was of a really high standard. It's much more of a modern Italian restaurant than a traditional which we preferred!

We went for a bike ride and before departing we asked the people from Blazing Sadlles for an Italian restaurant. They sented us to Barbalu. This was an excellent choice. We had a great meal, in a very nice restaurant. The personal was very friendly. It is about 10000 miles from home, otherwise....

I had a real craving for pasta on a recent trip to NY and since I was in the seaport area and saw Barbalu had good reviews I thought I would try it. The service was great; quick and friendly and when the food arrived it was delicious! Probably some of the best pasta I have ever had. I had the Bolognese and it was exceptional, really flavoursome whilst not being too saucy. The pasta itself was of great quality. My friend who had the penne with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil said hers was just as tasty. We also tried the arugola, tomatoes and shaved parmigiano salad which was beautiful. I thought the prices are pretty reasonable too considering the area. I came back for a second visit before I left and the food was still just as tasty as the first time. If you are in NYC and want some good quality, tasty pasta then you have to check this place out.

One of my general rules is never to dine at a place with too many open tables. However, we had walked quite a bit and just needed a place to sit and have a bite to eat. Food wasn't bad, but not great... and wine was decent. The place and service were actually quite good but for the price and food quality it all comes up as average. Likely wouldnt go back.

Very good Italian food, interesting menu with varied options. The Fettuccine with Beef Ragu alla Bolognese was excellent. My dining companion had Rigatoni Salmon with Mushrooms which was different but quite good. We split the spinach salad which was big enough for two. The comfortable atmosphere contributed to the dining experience.However, paper napkins in this type of restaurant was totally unacceptable. I hope that the management takes notice! I visit the Seaport/FiDi area several times year and other excellent Italian restaurants are just around the corner!

Haven't been to the Seaport area in several months. So happy to see that things are coming back to life. We walked past Barbalu and looked at the menu outside. Decided to try their prix fix menu. A real pleasure. Everything was excellent; fresh and delicious. Pasta was especially good. You can really tell the difference when pasta is homemade. We will definitely be back! Give this place a try. Well worth it!

in an accurate old-style restoration a warm atmosphere both Italian and American, ideal for lunchtime, seafood, or pasta

We were walking around at the South Seaport area and really needed something to eat. This place looked appealing and so we entered. Mistake. We had to seat ourselves and then wait a long time for someone to come by with menus, etc. At other we had to get up and find our own salt and pepper. My friend had the gorgonzola pasta with walnuts. Couldn't really find more than 2 walnut pieces and there was definitely not enough sauce. She asked nicely for more sauce and they apparently just put some hot water or something in it and brought it back to her. I could perhaps have understood the inattentive service had the place been jammed up but it was not. We expressed our feelings to the owner and he didn't seem surprised. Said it was not a good day. No it wasn't.

Food and service were mediocre. We had the fettuccine with beef ragu and spaghetti with sausage and cream. The waitress told us the fettuccine sauce was tomato sauce with beef short ribs, it was actually ground beef. The spaghetti noodles were good and tasted more homemade made pasta but the sausage was undetectable in the sauce. The bar offered a very limited drink menu, like 7 drinks. We ordered an old fashioned that mediocre (bartender just tossed in an orange slice and maraschino cherry) and the latte we ordered was served luke warm. The bread was nothing special at all. The roasted beet salad however was delicious. In a city like New York, there are so many phenomenal restaurants, I hated wasting a meal at this place. However the meal wasn’t bad, just mediocre and average. If you are near by and just want to grab something to eat or if you are not a foodie, then this place will be fine.

Italian food at its best at this restaurant. The pastas available are so very fresh and delicious. Not to be missed are the Fagottini with truffle oil, Ravioli with sage butter, and the Rigatoni with salmon and peas. Also delicious are the Fettuccine Bolognese and Penne Gorgonzola. The beer is priced at market and there is an extensive wine list. The cozy exposed brick and reclaimed decor is comfortable, even for a big party. Located near the South Street Seaport.

Had fabulous daily special artichoke ravioli with shrimp and mushroom white wine sauce. It was exquisite ! Quality service and recommendations. I will go back

Went here for lunch with some friends and everything we had was delicious. Food was fresh and simply put together - very authentic Italian. Sandwiches were served with a small side salad. I had the prosciutto, artichoke pesto, and shaved parmigiano reggiano and I would definitely go back here again.

The food here is great. We had the cheese board to share and I had the salmon. Very tasty but not incredible and the service is adequate. I would eat here again. They have high chairs too.

I have been here several times noe, with a fro p aswell as just with my partner. The welcome, the food and the service just gets better every time. It is our go to restaurant. We were there last night and it was better than ever. We will be back and would recommend it very strongly. Excellent value

Barbalu in my favorite Italian Restaurant in NYC. Everything about this place is incredible. The food is to dye for, the location is gorgeous, the ambiance is amazing and inviting. If you're in NYC, you should definitely try it, you'll be very glad you did!!

If you want to enjoy good, well-made Italian food I recommend Barbalu'. Cozy and informal place. Friendly staff without being intrusive. The lasagna is excellent and the tiramisu is sublime. The raw materials used to make the dishes are of excellent quality. To try!

Stumbled upon this restaurant while we were exploring the South Street Seaport area. The food and service were excellent. The prices were not very expensive and affordable. The place is very bright and although quite busy during lunchtime, it did not feel crowded at all. We shared a starter of burrata with aubergine relish which was very nice. Burrata was very creamy just how I like it! I chose the main of fettuccine with shrimp, cherry tomatoes and zucchini which was fantastic. The pasta was cooked al dente and freshly made too. My partner had the spinach and ricotta ravioli which was also very tasty. A great place for gathering or simple office lunch considering it is very close to Wall Street.

As someone who grew up in the area, I'm glad to see that there's a decent place to go to. I'll admit I'm the first to critique on the tourist traps in this neighborhood but this place isn't half bad. Not everything is on point but many things were. The squid ink pasta, the fettuccini, and mussels were all amazing. Overall the place accommodated large parties, had delicious food, and were very respectful. The problem with restaurants in this area is that there's not enough foot traffic. I mean sure, you have the locals and the weekend tourists, but that's not even to sustain New York rent prices. I hope this place sticks around. It's an asset to the neighborhood.

I had dinner here this week. The setting is ver comfortable and has a less congested feel than many other seaport places. The service was quite attentive as well. The food was very good and reasonably priced. I had the best salad which was loaded with fresh beets. It really was big enough to share. The pasta with meat sauce was excellent. The pasta is fresh and the sauce is very flavorful. My associate had the salmon and loved it. I will be back

My daughter, her fiancé, my husband and I had dinner at Barbalu last Sunday. We sat in the back room. Cozy and relaxed. Food was definitely delicious and service was phenomenal! Thank you, Jaime, for making it a memorable one. Will definitely return.

This is great Italian restaurant run by a real Italian! The food is rustic and of good quality. It is situated in a special community that was badly hit by Hurricane Sandy. However, day by day the vibrancy is return epitomised by the expansion of Barbalu. Visit, you will not be disappointed. Try the kale salad to start followed by any of the paste dishes. Salut.

Great place for a heavy Italian dinner with a large wine selection. The pasta dishes are very fresh and well-made. The lobster ravioli was not great, but the rest of the dishes and drinks were excellent and delicious. The arancini was perfectly cooked - crisp on the outside with a spicy marinara sauce to pair with it. The service was even better than the food. Portions are large and shareable. Ambience is intimate.

Four of us were in the Seaport area looking for a place to eat and stumbled into Barbalu. As soon as e walked in the aroma was so pleasant we knew we found our spot. We did not have reservations, but the place it larger than it appears so they sat us in the atrium area - very nice. We has salmon carpaccio and a mushroom polenta both of which were wonderful. Followed this up with some pasta dishes with their homemade pasta that we all enjoyed. One was with spinach and the other was pear and ricotta stuffing. Everyone was quite pleased with the meal and would recommend to others.

Amazing homemade pasta, excellent service, cozy place. You must try Pear and Ricotta Fagottini with Cream and Truffle Oil.

I was there with another 3 people, the food was amazing, the wine really good. All dishes were excellent but my red beet salat was the best thing I had in NYC and we had great food all the time. Price-quality ratio is good.

2 salads + 2 pastas for lunch. Service was pretty slow, it took about 25 minutes to get our salads. Pastas needed a lot of salt and still were rather lackluster.

The decor is really nice. If you are visiting in summer try and get seat more towards front since the glass roof in back can make it a bit tough from a heat perspective. The food is very good. We had the melon and prosciutto which was awesome. The pasta is fresh and I would recommend. The service is also excellent and I would definitely go back.

This was my second time to this restaurant, once for lunch and this time for dinner. Neither time was I disappointed. I'd say the service wasn't as good the 2nd time but the food was good enough, it didn't matter. Had the buratta appetizer and the bolognese for dinner. Such authentic Italian food, I was blown away. The restaurant itself is so cute. Exposed brick and really nice seating and decor. Highly recommended!!

We found Barbalu by comparing the displayed brunch menu of many restaurants in the Seaport area. The small outside seating area hides an elegantly designed and comfortable interior. Menu is not long but choices are plenty. Food comes with great ingredients and solid preparation. Did not expect much but we were thoroughly satisfied from food to service to ambiance.

Happened to be at South S Seaport area and try out Barbalu for lunch as our party love pasta and Italian fare. Very cozy, spacious and I particularly like the dining area is divided into few sessions that give you more privacy. Good for all combinations: family, bigger groups or few friends gathering or a romantic dine out. Food are excellent, their Lasagna is a must and also their salad is good. Plus, the unbeatable price. The only reserve is Tiramisu, Sweetness has covered the of blended coffee-Kahlúa-flavor.

This restaurant became our favourite during our ten day stay in New York. I was supposed to be trying different cuisine as a writer and reviewer but honestly, I just had to keep going back. The service is impeccable and the ambience is just right. Set in the South Seaport area of the Financial District the vibe is almost continental and very upcoming. Stefan, the manager, runs a smooth ship, appropriate as the building like others around, was a port building at one point. The food is delicious. Best of all for me was the offering of a gluten free pasta, with a choice of sauces available. The pasta used is a non gelatinous one, I'm sure all you Coeliacs out there have suffered the horror of the white goo from washing the pasta that never quite goes. Well this pasta is incredible. No goo. Sauces range from my favourite Gorgonzola , leaf salad and walnut, to salmon and mushroom or mozzarella, basil and tomato as examples. For normal dishes my husbands favourite was the mushroom truffle oil dish. But for us it was more than the food. Friendliness, excellent wines and the right ambience coupled with an excellent gluten free choice ( including desert by the way!!) had us returning a total of four evenings out of nine. Top marks. Highly recommended.

Visited Barbalu on a Thursday. It is a nice little restaurant, with a relaxed atmosphere. Menu is small, but has enough variation. We asked for a mixed platter of meat and cheese antipasti. Only 22USD, definitely enough fot the both of us. Tasted really nice. We both had a pasta as a main, tasted great. Nice selection of wines. You can get agood botle for under 50USD. Bartender makes amzazing cocktails. Definitely a place to go back to. The seaport area is really developing into a very nice area to have a drink and some food. Lots of nice restaurants now.

Short review warning: We were a group of 5 that was there when it was empty so the service was great of course. No one was disappointed with their dishes and the prices are high but normal for that locations. Very nice vibe but could be very dark during the day if you're not in the back with the open/enclosed area with natural light.

We called in here for a late lunch and weren't disappointed at all. The decor is industrial which is not surprising given its location. We sat around the back under a glass ceiling. The place wasn't busy due to the timing, yet a few locals were in. We had been sightseeing all day so needed something filling, so both chose pasta dishes which were excellent, washed down again with a couple of house red wines - all good. Service was great and price also.

We walked into this restaurant quite by chance and what a wonderful surprise. This was probably one of the beat italian restaurants i have ever been to. Every single plate was perfect!

This place is the real deal! The bolognese is awesome. The noodles are definitely homemade. It's really not that expensive. Please don't let others discourage you by visiting because they say it's "too expensive." It's not. And the story of how they got their name is so cute! The four of us ate in there with a bottle of wine and a beer and three of us got salads and four of us got a pasta plate for a little over $200. Delicious, go go!

I've been here with family, friends, colleagues, and for romantic dinners and it has never disappointed. The place is larger than you can see from the door but it's broken up into at least four distinct areas so you never feel like you're in a big unfriendly place. Staff is excellent. Wines have always been pleasing. They also have some delicious vegetarian options. Love it here.

We've been to Barbalu three times in the last couple of months, once as a couple, once as a threesome, and once with six of us. The sequence demonstrated our growing confidence in Barbalu as a reliable place you can take friends and family and not be disappointed. It's smart and low key, with limited background music (hurrah! - although perhaps a bit echo-ey in the back, some soft furnishing would help) and friendly service. The menu isn't vast, but everything we've had has been nicely cooked and presented, and the prices are reasonable.

We had the Mozzarella and tomato appetizer and then shared the Fettuccine alla Bolognese and roast chicken, all very good and nice portions. Excellent wines and good service top out this lovely place. Enjoy!

We had a wonderful lunch at Barbalu. The decor is urban rustic and very inviting. I had the salmon dish and they prepared it for me without gluten. It was fabulous! My friends had the rib eye steak and Branson’s. We started with a cheese platter for the table which had a nice assortment of interesting flavors. Overall a really enjoyable experience.

I was at this place on a Saturday night for a family reunion. The decoration is simple and confortable. My Spaghetti all Chitarra all Norcina with Sausage and Cream was really good. Portions are generous and service is pretty fast. Waiter was friendly, with good knowledge of the menu. The wine selections is also good. Prices are reasonable for NYC. Street parking is difficult but there are a few paid Parking nearby.

Always fresh and authentic, great location in Seaport. A must visit whenever I am in New York. The pastas are to die for, particularly the pesto and bolognese

Dishes were perfect and Delicious!! Fresh ingredients and shareable!!! Service was attentive yet not invasive.

We were having Saturday brunch, food was excellent, and service was good. Once you have ordered, service becomes quick, but it may take several minutes until your server arrived at first time

From the moment you walk in this place is wonderful! We were greeted by Stefan ( hope that is the right spelling) and seated immediately. Our waiter was lovely and efficient. I ordered the Pear & Ricotta fagitoni and it was scrumptious. What a great place in a great area, authentic Italian cuisine. Do yourself a favour and come eat here. This Canadian will def be back

This place hits the mark on every level. The atmosphere is on trend, upscale and cozy. The outdoor seating is wonderful for a summer's day. The food was outstanding. The pear and ricotta pasta is unique and as delicious as any pasta dish ever! The spinach fettuccine with mushrooms was excellent. Service was smooth and pleasant. We'll be back! This is fine dining with high middle prices.

My wife and I have been to Barbalu more than a few times now and have yet to be disappointed a single time with regard to any dimension of the dining experience. Attentive service without any smothering, excellent food that arrives hot from the kitchen, an accommodating bar including a nice wine list. We recommend highly.

Met some friends at this lovely restauraunt. It's one of their faves, and they are locals. Food was delicious, location was fantastic (downtown by river) and atmosphere was quaint and not difficult to get a reservation. The best part was probably the price. So very reasonable for the city! We'll be back!

my husband and I loved Barbalu! Everything we had was delicious, service was great and it was a good atmosphere. We started with a cheese plate, ordered 2 pasta dishes to split and tartufo.

One of the best authentic Italian restaurants in all of NYC!!!! I love the decor and the ambience. The service is first rate too!!!! Definitely try the pasta bolognese, it's fantastic. Everything is homemade and everything I've had has been delicious. I've been to Barbalu countless times now and I plan to continue to go.

Food = five stars Service = 3 stars We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner - pasta, seafood, and drinks. Service was good... just slow. It felt like we had to flag down our server for drinks, to order and to get our bill. Other than that, it was a great date night spot.

I do so wish I could give this restaurant a better review. The food was good and the prices were reasonable. But they committed a sin which in my view cannot be forgiven. I brought a party of four there. When I ordered the second bottle of wine the waiter stood behind me and asked if I wanted to test it. But my daughter, who was sitting across from me noticed and stated forcefully, "But it's already open and not full." The waiter said: "Oh, my mistake," and then went away and returned with an actual unopened bottle. I'll tell you truly, if it had been only my daughter and me, we would have stood up right then and there, and walked out. We do not take kindly to being cheated. Neither should anyone else. I shall never return to this restaurant, not even if the kitchen is manned by Paul Bocuse. I cannot abide being cheated.

Since Hurricane Sandy decimated this area, Barbalu has rebuilt in chic, minimalist style and our dining experience was very, very good. Our meal was excellent and the service was attentive. The beet salad was fresh, light and lovely and the seafood pasta was delicious. We enjoyed our evening immensely and, unlike many places where dessert course is a let-down, both the tiramisu and the profiteroles were delish. We'll return...and often!

A very cute place with excellent service. Perfectly located near pier 17. Perfect for early dinner after spending the day at the water front.

I had the papardelle and they were so good. My partner had a chicken sandwich and he loved it. This is a place to go in New-York, close to Wall Street. Just great!

I return to Barbalu every time I am in NYC. Great food and great owners. Adriana and Stefano will treat you like family. My favourite is the spinach pasta and mushrooms. It is delicious!

My husband and I were a function at the Sea Port recently and decided to stay nearby for a dinner date. We were referred to an Italian restaurant across the street but were lured in by the ambience of the high tables set out on the sidewalk in front of Barbalu's. We ordered Spritz and nosh of burrata and prosciutto. As we waited, quite a while actually, as the couple next to us that ordered a salad after us received and almost finished their food before we received ours. Thankfully we were happy sipping our spritz and enjoying the nice evening. Anyway, we were also eyeing the special, a house made pappardelle with lamb ragu, and it looked wonderful coming out. We finally received our antipasti... so disappointing. Maybe we were to harsh to judge on only this, but the prosciutto was sliced like a thick ham, not chewable. This is no way for an Italian restaurant to serve prosciutto. A man, looked like a manager, was the one to come to see how we were. I quickly mentioned displeasure with prosciutto and asked for the bill because he seemed unconcerned and put off. He didn't ask any questions, promptly brought the bill, antipasti removed. He was very curt. We paid and I looked for him, asked if he was the manager, he was the OWNER. Very short with me. Threw his hands up exclaiming "Señora" in full Italian accent. Please note, I was very kind, only wanting to know why he was so curt and that the pasta coming out of the kitchen looked wonderful and we had every intention to stay. We won't return, too many amazing places to eat in NYC to deal with that. We walked across the street to where we should have gone to begin with and enjoyed a lovely meal.

We were visiting New York with family and chose this as a lunch option when exploring the South Seaport area. What a lovey find. Light and airy restaurant. Amazing wine list. It was a boiling hot day and we just wanted a light meal. The menu was perfect for this - lots of salads and sharing plates. We would definitely return if in NY again. Worth a detour.

We went there for lunch during spring holiday and the server were realy nice. We ate realy good: we all have taken differents pasta and they all were realy tasty! I recomend you this restaurant in the brooklyn bridge neighborhood.

Small Italian Restaurant near our hotel. We did not have a reservation but was seated within a few minutes. The restaurant was busy with mostly diners that were going to the Diana Ross concert nearby. We waited a few minutes before signaling a waiter. He took our drink order. Drinks, water and bread were brought a few minutes later. The waiter finally took our salad and entree order, items from the menu. There were a few specials, but they were never offered. I wish they had, as we were leaving a saw the board outside. The food listed seemed good and something I would have ordered. The salads were OK. I had the (roasted) beet salad with goat cheese. The beets were canned not roasted as stated on the menu. My husbands Arugula salad was much better. My dish was delicious Pear and Ricotta Fogatinni on a cream truffle sauce. My husband had the spaghetti with sausage he said it was good too. We shared a Tiramisu, it was OK. No mascarpone cheese, mostly whipped cream. The food was good. I’ve had better Italian in NYC. The service was not good. It seemed like they can’t handle being busy. It was pricy for the food quality and service.

Barbalu is the perfect place to host a bridal shower! We occupied the back room of the restaurant which was very well lit and made it perfect to take pictures. The room itself is very beautiful, highlighted by brick walls giving it a very cozy feel. The food was great! We ordered finger food for our guests and the chocolate cake was a hit. All our guests kept on complementing the cake. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Barbalu team, most especially to the servers who helped us that afternoon, for making our bridal shower a success!

Attended a baby shower. Very nice venue. Rustic look. Omelettes were very good, and the pancakes even better. Very good service.

We would recommend this restaurant when in the seaport district. A good selection of wine choices, tasty menu items, fairly affordable prices, and attractive decor make this a solid choice. I had the ravioli with scallops and Caesar salad which were both excellent. The sound does echo, so our party of seven had challenges when talking. Overall, everyone loved their meals, the service was very good, and we left happy. What more could you ask for?

this resturant is a hidden jewel! we had a wonderful dinner there and the food was really amazing! the service was perfect with a lot of attention and perfection in details. the prices are decent and the portions are not too small. I can only reccomend to go there - also the rest of the neighbourhood is very charming.

Went here with my family during restaurant week on a Sunday for Brunch. Had a reservation, although it was not needed. When we arrived, the waiter told us that we were too late for brunch, even though my reservation was made for brunch. We sat down and were given a dinner menu. I asked for the restaurant week menu and was given the dinner one..... Maybe third times a charm bc after asking again, we got a lunch restaurant week menu.... Close enough! The restaurant week menu on the NYCgo.com website (attached) CLEARLY states that both "lunch and brunch INCLUDE bottle of Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Rose or Spumonte" for $30 per person. The menu that we were given in the restaurant stated that wine was an additional $30 a bottle. I mentioned this to the waiter who just so happened to be the manager (yea okay) and showed him the menu online and he said this was a mistake. I said it's not my fault, this is what it says online and you have to honor it. It was currently still showing online as I was sitting there showing him and his reponse was "people make mistakes". That's a whole sentence of a mistake with 4 different bottles of wines listed!!! As a paying customer this is not how the manager should have handled this. I understand that yes, people do make mistakes, but, this was wrong!!! I'm definitely NOT a tourist, but instead born and raised in the financial district, and I will not be ordering from here ever again!

So I’ve eaten here multiple times and the food has always been higher quality at reasonable price. Way better than briganti across the road. That said I’ve eaten at briganti more often because the staff are just so much more friendly and less starchy. Here they are courteous attentive but just don’t connect in the same way.

I went to this restaurant with my friends when we wanted something with meat, and we found it close to Brooklyn Bridge. We ordered lam, salmon and beef and it was great food and the prices are under our budget. It was good finding and would recommend people to visit this place!

Oct 2018 Just down the cobblestone street from Cipriani Seaport. Cozy, warmly lit, friendly and sophisticated place. Arugula Parmigiano, Norcina Spaghetti and Parmigiano Cauliflowers were all perfect

Great little place tucked away by Fulton fish Market. Arrived before 6pm on a Saturday and we were the only patrons. The food and atmosphere were superb. Nice and quiet with attentive service. Prices are very reasonable. Highly recommend.

Food delicious, stuff kind and polite, food again delicious. Ambient comfortable and clean. Barbalu thank you. :)

Had a large group dinner in a back room at this venue, food was good, service was good, did not see the full menu but no complaints.

Overall experience was nice, I made a reservation for brunch at 11am for a Saturday....and upon arrival, no one was in the restaurant except a couple employees. The gentlemen who helped me said they typically don't start serving until 11:30....so Open Table has the wrong hours for reservations. Nothing to worry about as I got to have the experience of renting out a restaurant for myself without actually paying for it! Hahahaha Got coffee and the egg benedict with pancetta. Coffee was delicious and the egg benedict was good too. Pancetta was too salty for me, and there was quite a bit. Service was great once I got seated and I'd go back to see the vibe with other patrons.

We found this restaurant by accident. The service was very friendly and helpful. We were told about different options in the menu. The food was so very good, that we even ordered dessert. It was a good idea. The ice cream "system" was so good, that there are not words for it. We would definately go there again!

The decor is wonderful, but the food was average at best. Ordered the lasagna and it was luke warm around the edges and cold in the center. Had to send it back to heat up. While waiters were efficient it felt like they were trying to rush us out, even though it wasn't crowded. Bread was dry and hard. A veggie should be standard with entree. I would not recommend, nor will I return.

Every dish - from the familiar to the reinvented classics - was perfectly prepared, generous and simply delicious. The wine list is hand picked by the owner (Stefano!) and so be sure to ask for suggestions as there are many wines not widely available in the US. The special items were fantastic - such a nice variety and everything was very fresh. The tiramisu and cannolis were the perfect finish.

Three of us went to dinner here & we all really enjoyed our various pasta dishes. We then shared profiteroles which were yummy! Service was good.

This fantastic jewel was recommended to us by one of the locals and what a find it was! The food and service were fantastic and the renovations made by the owners after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy are ingenious. It's a delightful setting for a gathering with friends or family. I love this place!

Delicious Italian food served in an inviting room with reasonable noise level. Home made spinach fettuccine was excellent meal on a cool fall evening. Solid list of Italian wines at fair prices. Have eaten here several times and always pleased with the experience. Close by Pace University campus for visiting parents looking for a solid choice.

Financial district denizens are very happy that the former Barbarini Alimentari, closed by hurricane Sandy, has been reborn as Barbalu, one of the best restaurant bets in near the South Street Seaport. The Italian food is simple, flavorful and well prepared. The pastas and risottos never disappoint. And the price is right.

Best Sirloin Stake Ever. Penne with Salmon delicious. Great atmosphere and lounge music. Definitely worth a visit!

We used to be there every time we went to New York. This last time was bad and expensive. I don't know if they change administration but we'll never return

Went to this restaurant near the South St. Seaport as it was near my friend's hotel and had vegetarian options for her. I had the fettuccine with shrimp which was good. My friends had a couple of the specials, one pasta and one veal, and they said their meals were good. Not crowded for a Friday evening. Quiet, romantic atmosphere.

Excellent restaurant downtown close to the South street seaport. Great atmosphere , great service, great food. The Olive oil they put on the table with the bread is the best I have ever had (yes, olive oil).

My parents and I went here for dinner and the place was so cozy and nice. The food was amazing - we had beet salad, Salmon, Sea Bass & Filet Mignon. Everything was mouth watering and the service was equally fabulous. I would definitely go back there.

Barbalu was recommended by family, but based upon weekday experiences. Our experience on a crowded Saturday night was one of very poor service. Our reservation for a party of 4 was not ready and our seating was delayed. Management seemed unconcerned about our wait. The meal service was slow and spotty. We needed to repeat requests for items. My brother-in-law gave up at one point and retrieved the bread plates himself. I would have purchased a second drink if the server had ever asked. Everything was slow and reactive rather than proactive. Everything took too long. Couples seated after us received food earlier. The food did not make up for the wait. One salmon dish was bony. Another dish of rigatoni salmon was served partially cold. Perhaps they were overwhelmed by a full house. But if they are going to fill the house for Saturday night, they ought to be prepared to serve the customers well.

I enjoyed a single meal here, eaten during a recent stay in the financial district. Everything I ordered was delicious, and delivered with efficient, friendly service. I will say that the portions were larger than expected, and could have easily been divided in two (both the steak and salad.) The sirloin was served with a red wine reduction, medium rare, very tender and flavorful. The salad was a huge heap of mesclun baby greens, served with two large shaved slices of parmesan cheese. The wine was Pace 2010 Barbera, which I know this because of the picture I snapped with my phone, hoping to buy it upon returning home. I think the steak was $25, the salad ran $11, and the wine was $10. That seems about right, and trust me, it could've been a lot worse!

It is a quiet place at lunchtime (at least on Saturday) and thus a nice place to stop and rest, for a sandwich made with fresh ingredients or pasta cooked with good ingredients and traditional Italian recipes. Do not leave without trying the tiramisu.

Italian at a reasonable price and good service, what more does one want from a local Italian resteruant Pasta was great and desert even better Staff are very attentive Would recommend and will go again

Fine dining, excellent presentation and customer service. The salmon was cooked perfectly. Low lightning and ambiance. Very attentive staff.

I attended a cocktail party with appetizers. Excellent wine choices. Servers were very pleasant. Appetizers were wonderful - italian meats, delicious aranciata, eggplant, bruschetta.

Restaurant looks very nice, Food ok for the Price. Unfortunately the staff and Chef are very unfriendly, they refrained to order a taxi for us, as we were still sitting on the table they turned the light fully on like they wanted to let us know that they would like to close (it was 10.30pm!). No one was saying good by and thanks for the visit - very unkind behavior. Unfortunately would not recommend this place at all, as there are plenty of excellent restaurants in the area. Hospitality = ZERO

Went for an early dinner with our family and everyone loved their dishes. Staff was great with our kids and everything was wonderful!

The food was excellent but the acoustics were not good. Good selection of wine and pasta dishes. Couldn't carry on a conversation with my friend since it was so loud in there.

This restaurant is cozy and nicely decorated. Great for lunch better for late dinner. The menu is carefully prepared at the moment and pastas are homemade. Something different and special.

Barbalu is a standard on the short list of restaurants that we regularly frequent near Seaport / Financial District. Tucked away in the back is a great spot to catch the midday sun with their glass roof while enjoying a range of tasty sandwiches and fresh pasta. There are a number of daily specials that change with the season. Great for a casual weekday dinner or weekend brunch. Get the pesto eggs if they have them on the menu - best eggs in town.

Love their home-made pasta and their seasonal menu. The food is always fresh and delicious, and they always keep the menu interesting. I seriously haven't tried anything that is not amazing. The restaurant is beautiful too.

Everything we ate in this attractive restaurant was excellent. The lasagna was as good as the lasagna we had one rainy afternoon in Rome, which has become a favorite travel memory. The melon and prosciutto starter and the fennel salad were equally great. If this restaurant were in our town, it would be a regular stop.

My husband says I make the best lasagna in the world, and I do truly get a lot of compliments on it. So for that reason I almost never order lasagna at a restaurant. I have to say that if I wasn't partial to my own I might say this was the best lasagna I had ever had. My colleague ordered a salad and crab cakes which was the special for the evening. He was equally pleased with his choice, stating the crab was very fresh. Barbalu has a short but well thought out wine list at reasonable prices. The service could have been a little more attentive, but was acceptable. I would absolutely go again if I were in the area.

We stayed in the Financial District last week for a quick weekend getaway, and were surprised to come across South Street Seaport in our meanderings. Our dinner at Barbalu was delicious, the setting relaxing and the people friendly.

This was my worst dinner experience ever ! It started with an very "not welcome situation" when we arrived ! Nobody was really taking care of us as guest nor our reservation ! Then our waiter - obviously that guy never heard of a good service - he was rude unfriendly and judging! When we told him we won't have any wine he started to become even more unfriendly! We had 4 different dishes which one of was good (salmon) the 3 pasta dishes were not tart at all and the pasta wasn't properly cooked ! And we know what all dente is supposed to mean ! Pasta was hard and maybe 2 minutes in hot water ! My dish - a simple Caesar salad with extra chicken - was unbearable! The chicken was cold and dry almost hard to bite and the salad looked "just sad " When I returned my dish the waiter didn't even apologize or offer anything else .. All in all a bad and poor experience in service and quality of food! And btw. Overpriced ! I can't recommend this place at all and regret to waste My evening there ! DON'T GO THERE PEOPLE !!!!