"1) When making our reservation, they inquired if we were celebrating a special occasion (an anniversary, in our case), but sadly, no mention of this was made throughout our meal, which was a bit disappointing.
2) The ambiance does not align with the menu and pricing. Entering the restaurant felt like we were sneaking in through a back door, navigating a cramped space by the bar. Paper tablecloths? I half expected crayons to be provided. The cheap-looking lights, seemingly sourced from Amazon, served as the centerpiece on our table. The noise level was so high in the dining room that my wife and I struggled to hear each other. Although most guests were dressed appropriately, it was odd to have a fellow diner at the next table wearing a baseball cap. Our server was young and inexperienced; after delivering our drinks, he disappeared for 8-10 minutes and did little to enhance our dining experience—he was merely an order taker.
By far, the atmosphere was the most disappointing aspect of the evening.
3) The food was decent. My wife and I ordered a multi-course meal and sampled various dishes, but unfortunately, all of my selections were overly salted. On a positive note, the after-dinner cappuccinos were excellent.
Bari comes off as trying to be an upscale restaurant. They impose two-hour time slots for reservations and charge for no-shows. They offer an extensive Italian wine list, mostly available by the bottle, along with a separate cheese menu. It’s clear they have invested significant effort into their food and beverage offerings and aspire to be a high-end establishment, yet the overall dining experience does not reflect this.
We had been eager to try Bari for several months, given its high ratings and recommendations from various sources. However, I can’t say the experience was worth it. At $100 per person, there are fundamental expectations that go beyond just the food in a restaurant. Unfortunately, several recent reviews echo a similar sentiment."
