Barbuto

Ever since Jonathan Waxman was referred to as the Yoda of cooking on Top Chef Masters I have been dying to try his restaurant. I have walked by it countless times. Nestled on a quiet corner of west 12th street, the big garage doors that(weather permitting) are always open- making the place seemed laid back and inviting. The room is open and the kitchen can be seen from almost every angle. You can watch the chefs masterfully working around the kitchen which brings a more personal feeling to the dining experience. The atmosphere is cosy and comforting- which as it turns out is a perfect reflection of the food that comes to the table. 

Our table decided to craft our own version of a tasting menu and order a plethora of items and share. We started out with the fall salad which was fantastic. It had pistachios, figs, pear and a sweet balsamic honey dressing. The crunchy pistachios and the sweet fruit were fantastic with the bibb and frisee lettuce mixture.

We also tired the bruschetta which was topped with a goat cheese and squash mixture. It was drizzled with balsamic and adorned with a piece lardo. I would never think to put squash and goat cheese together but the combination is out of this world. The goat cheese cuts the sweetness of fall squash and makes the texture more hearty. Served on a rustic piece of Italian bread, it was a perfect bite!

Since Barbuto prides itself on being a beacon of Italian cuisine we had to try the bolognese. It was fantastic. So warm and hearty it made you want to curl up by the fire. The noodles were cooked to perfection and it felt like something you should only be able to get from an ancient Italian grandmother. This dish made the giant wood burning oven and the homeyness of the restaurant make sense. It seemed to embody the idea that you don't have to be fancy to be fantastic. 

We also had the pork shank. It was paired with caramelized apple and fennel and was fall off the bone tender. Again it was not a fancy looking dish but the flavour was so comforting. We also had a side of brussels sprouts with our main course. These were hands down the best brussels sprouts I have ever had. They were roasted with hazelnuts which accentuated the crispy aspect that roasting provides. They seemed like they must have been cooking and developing the perfect flavour an texture for hours Again, a seemingly simple dish, but it was executed with such perfection you cannot help but marvel at the masterful level of food coming out of the open kitchen. 

This meal left me wanting more, and as soon as I can come up with a good reason to go out for a nice meal, this will be my destination. Our server was also nice enough to clue us into the fact that they serve lunch! I can now totally understand why Mr. Waxman is so highly respected by his peers. This place was simply phenomenal! 

Barbuto

775 Washington St

New York NY 10014

212-924-9700