Italian Dishes...Barbuto Style

2.28.10 Barbuto was one of the restaurants on our list of places to go. When we got a reservation a couple of weeks ago, we were excited and shocked at the same time since we couldn't get a table before. Nevertheless, my bf and I were happy campers. Unfortunately, this Sunday in particular, we were feeling lazy and grungy. After a night of endless House Hunter re-runs, we didn't get enough sleep the night before. It also didn't help that we were on the East side, and the restaurant was on the total opposite side of us. But, in our sluggish state, we trekked out to the Meatpacking District for some Italian food. To be honest, I was a little disappointed when I first walked in to the restaurant. Not only was it too dark, but the place was half empty. With very little expectations, I ordered pasta from the limited Primi selection, and my bf chose a fish dish. In an attempt to eat healthy, we both ordered some vegetable appetizers.

• Insalata Barbabietole: roasted beets, warm goat cheese, walnuts & mache
• Bruschetta: creamy cannellini beans, arugula & white anchovies
• Gnocchi alla noce: potato dumplings, walnuts & gorganzola cream
• Salmon
• Polenta Fritti: crispy polenta & parmesan

olives for the table

roasted beets salad

Bruschetta

Gnocchi Salmon Crispy Polenta

Now I know what the American proverb, "Don't judge a book by its cover," means. Despite my poor judgment of the restaurant from its outer appearance, the food was delicious. There really isn't anything special about bruschetta, roasted beets salad, or even the ever-popular salmon at Italian restaurants. But, all the dishes at Barbuto had a unique flavor to them. It definitely wasn't your everyday Italian cuisine. The bruschetta with cannellini beans, arugula and white anchovies was divine, and the walnuts in the roasted beets salad helped compliment the simple dish. If it wasn't for the walnut in the gnocchi dish, the pasta would have been a typical gnocchi entree covered with cheese. I like Barbuto's Italian cuisine...it's one of a kind.