Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it – Confucius
The legend of Confucius is so legendary that in modern times he is often compared to Jesus. Both men were great thinkers and preachers whose believes written down well after their death. Confucius, much like Jesus is viewed as a religeous figure. Except that.. he wasnt really. He was a teacher and a great philosopher, but not so much a preacher. Confucius, as the name implies… a misunderstood figure. Even some of his philosophies are either misunderstood or misapplied
Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star – Confucius
Just like great thinkers like Confucius and Donald Trump, I feel that Bar Pitti is misunderstood. Perhaps the most misunderstood restaurant in NYC. If you are to visit NYC and read reviews about this place on Yelp, chances are that you will likely pass on it. Which is fine I suppose. There are plenty of Branzini in the sea. What you will read is mostly about service. “I did not get the special board right away”, “The board was too confusing and heavy”, “The wait staff is hurried and rude”, “We were hurried”. “The owner walks around like he owns the place” I can go on and on. You can read about it yourself.
When you hit the wall, it will hurt for a few days – Ziggy
But the truth of the matter is, Bar Pitti is just about as Italian as it gets in NYC. The owner and the entire staff are Italian. The chalk board is in Italian. Everyone speaks Italian. And if you ever set foot in a true Italian Trattoria in Italy (not Staten Island) you may have noticed the contrast. Italians are more direct. Just like the rest of the world, they dont work for tips. The “wait staff” is not there to “serve” you. It may be the owner, the sister, the cousin that takes your order, brings you the food, and helps you select the wine. But the biggest difference the way I see it, is that the number of workers in a typical Italian restaurant in NYC far outnumber a similarly sized Italian Trattoria in Italy. In another words, they work their ass off. That work ethic translates to “Hurried” by some here. The directness and the language barrier may translate to rudeness. Their policies (like cash only) are… well.. their policies. Its all in the open. If you choose to eat their anyway, you dont have the right to complaint. Its like saying “This Pizza place sucks because they dont sell slices. Only whole pies. AVOID!”
Some girls are bigger than others. Some girls mothers are bigger than other girls mothers – Morrissey
You know who doesnt think there are service issues at Bar Pitti? NY celebrities. Bar Pitti is one of those NY celebrity magnets. Which also means good looking people lining up the sidewalk waiting for a table. Its a places to see and be seen, partly due to that wide sidewalk and prime West Village real estate. Jake Gyllenhaal was in the next room while we dined there the other night, joining a slew of celebrities dining there at some point. Bar Pitti is also one of the only restaurants in its class that has no website. Reservations for four and over are taken like in Italy, the old fashion way… via conversation. which means you can score a table even on a busy Saturday night. Want to stay for a while? Keep ordering. This is not a place to linger, unless you are Jake Gyllenhaal
You can observe a lot just by watching – Yoggi Berra
Yoggi Berra is talking about the specials board at Bar Pitti. That’s where the action is. Starting with the great Pappardelle Rabbit ragu or whatever meat ragu, and ending with the Taglierini with summer Black Truffles. One of the only NYC places offering black truffles the entire summer. The Burrata is another strong board option, and so is the Veal Milanese. This place will also make you question your ban on creamy dishes, starting with the Pappardelle Alla Fiesolana, perhaps the most popular dish of the house. For mushroom lovers, the oyster mushroom app is an absolute must.
Bar Pitti is old school at its best. And I pity the fool who passes on it
Bar Pitti
268 Ave of the Americas
$$$ (cash only)
Eating With Ziggy 