4. Restaurants

Arlington Club

1032 Lexington Ave, New York, NY, 10021
  • (212) 249-1115
  • Store is closed

Arlington Club Menu

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  • James E.

    I had brunch at Il Bastardo with 4 friends for my buddy's 29th birthday on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in late March. While I can't recommend the food (especially the bland, tasteless, vaguely pink homefries) it's hard to beat $20 for 2 hours of mimosas, bloody Marys, and sparkling wine (I'd personally go with the mimosas as they are the hardest to screw up). The service certainly left something to be desired, and the atmosphere of pounding top 40 and hip-hop isn't quite my scene. But Il Bastardo is what it is and definitely serves the purpose of providing boozy brunches to the unclean bridge and tunnel masses.

    (3)

  • JesSica H.

    Went here for a birthday brunch. All you can drink mimosas and bloody Mary's with a good size brunch menu. Food was great and staff was attentive/accommodating. Live DJs create a fun upbeat atmosphere. Good for large group of people and Sunday Funday. I would avoid if you are looking for a more intimate one on one setting only because of the party atmosphere (loud music and dancing).

    (5)

  • Ben R.

    I would suggest getting the octopus salad if they still have it! Food seemed thoughtful, well balanced flavors and textures. Truly a delight to explore.

    (4)

  • Nuch P.

    we went here for brunch. food is alright. nothing to brag about. people come here for the all u can drink brunch special. we ended up watching one drunk 20 something people being assisted out by their friends every half an hour. it was entertaining. the music was very loud. too loud if u ask me. this is the place where people would start standing on their chair and start "woo hoo" with their friends. our waitress was really nice. u couldn't pay me enough to deal with these drunk young people. my only advice is to just lower the music a little so people can hear each other talk.

    (2)

  • Shirley Z.

    For a large group this place is really accommodating. BUT due to its size the service was slow and you have to flail your arms around to get anyone's attention. Once they do come they're very nice. As for the food, I've definitely have had waaaaay better. The crab cakes were decent, but the oriechette (sp?) was bland and overcooked. I had some of the other dishes my friends ordered. All the pasta seemed the same way. The scallops in one of the mains were definitely overcooked and rubbery. Not good eats. Overall, if you have a large group and don't really care to wait or don't really care what you eat this is the place to be. Oh! It's saving grace was definitely the sangria :).

    (2)

  • Jen D.

    Came here for brunch last weekend with my gay husband. While we were waiting for our other two friends, we took advantage of the all you can drink special for $10. Our friends were an hour late, but who cares?! We were drinking and giggling and carrying on like two teenage girls. The food: Grilled Chicken, Fresh Mozz, Caramelized Onions and Tomato on a grilled panini - YUMMMM.. I think they drizzled a little olive oil and pepper on the sandwich. That was a nice touch. My friends all got eggs... But the best deal here is the all you can drink special. They come and refill your glass without you even having to ask. And the glasses are HUGE. And the bathrooms downstairs are AWESOME. This is another place that has bathrooms with kinky possibilities. Just sayin'.... **Note** They also offer space for private events. They have a large space in the back with a separate bar that can hold up to 100 people.

    (5)

  • Sara B.

    I go here for dinner a lot, and I like it everytime. It isn't going to be the most unique menu you have ever seen, but the food is tasty and the staff is good. I gave it 4 stars b/c it is consistently good.

    (4)

  • Peter V.

    We fell in here. Traffic was horrible in the city yesterday so we stopped to eat in Chelsea and found this place. Menu and prices looked good. The food was great. Atmosphere good but a big noisy (especially after the 15 girls--they looked older but acted like girls) sat down near us. Service was poor--inexperienced busboys upgraded. The breast of duck was superb as were the soup special, caesar salads, risotto cake and coffee. Crab cakes were NOT Maryland crab cakes but good. The dessert something Nero was great. We'll go back. Maybe the service will be better next time.

    (4)

  • Rae S.

    The upfront: the food here was great, but I can only give it 3 stars because (a) EVERY drink I attempted to order with my meal they were out of (even something as simple as a rum & coke) even though there were only two other parties in the restaurant and (b) with the prixe fix menu they don't tell you what the dessert is. We got pistachio ice cream and no one warned us there were nuts (thank god no one had an allergy). Overall, the prixe fixe option is a fantastic deal for some fantastic food. The soup I got was pretty decent, but the pasta! They obviously make all their pasta fresh on-site and it shows! I really don't like spaghetti but I ate all of my sun dried tomato, garlic & olive oil pasta up with no issues. If anything, go there for the pasta. It's probably the best pasta I have had anywhere.

    (3)

  • Paul D.

    Excellent place to have dinner. My friends and I had dinner here during my birthday. The ambiance is relaxing and New York City feeling. Great place to celebrate special occasion. Date? Depends if you click with your date it is cool to be here. "The City" MTV show made a shot scene. Just check the website. Enjoy! xoxo

    (4)

  • Terry K.

    It's spacious and seems nice enough. Came with another big group for a couple birthdays. But the food - wow. Probably the worst Italian I've had in Manhattan. Pizza bread - okay, nothing special. Calamari - same, nothing special. Taglierni - almost no flavor. Clearly there was sauce on there, just no flavor, it was astounding. Rolled chicken breast - according to the waiter, one of the more popular dishes here. I made the comment that it tasted like something you would get from an office cafeteria. Lamb shank - if you like a ginormous piece of unrefined, stringy, and gamey lamb, this dish is for you. With the meal we had a bottle of Labastida Rioja, which we couldn't finish because it was so terrible. Followed that up with a Barbera D'alba that seemed better only because it followed the rioja.

    (1)

  • Kimberly C.

    Went for brunch on a Saturday and it was very packed- so we ate at the bar, which was fine with us. The music was way too loud and I wasn't into the club beats for brunch. Food was not impressive but the drink special is what you go for. The mimosas are served in gigantic glasses and the bartender always made sure our glasses were filled. Left very tipsy. I'd return again.

    (3)

  • Bern H.

    A nice place to grab a glass of wine (or more) with a friend or two on a nice weather night. I can't say much about the food because I haven't tried but in terms of ambiance, it reminded me why I love New York City.

    (4)

  • Julienne S.

    There's nothing too spectacular about Il Bastardo Lounge. Good menu, good selection of steak and pasta, and great wine list. My boyfriend and I typically go for steak and red on multiple locations, and Il Bastardo is on our "let's just go back there again" list. The good thing about Il Bastardo is there food and quality is consistent and the prices are very reasonable. We both got the filet with a side of veggies, pretty simple, but sometimes simplest is best. Reservations are suggested since this place does get crowded all the time. I'd prefer ordering steak over the pasta here, any evening. Excellent service, friendly staff, overall great spot!

    (3)

  • Sheila L.

    While I was not appalled by the food when I ate here in its earlier days, I have refused to support Il Bastardo in any way for the past few years, as they are a bit of a blight on the neighborhood. I suspect it has a lot to do with their AYCD weekend brunches, because that is when throngs of drunk 20-somethings congregate in front of the place, before drunkenly making their way back to the path train. It would be nice if they could figure out a solution that allowed their neighbors to avoid the chaos when simply walking by.

    (1)

  • Dana F.

    Five stars because the waiter at AYCD brunch made sure my mimosa glass was never half empty. A few of my friends raved to me about brunch at Il Bastardo. I looked the place up and came up with episodes of The Hills, so I was skeptical. (Not in the mood to run into Lauren Conrad). After a solid brunch with two of my girls, I was sold. AYCD brunch (champagne, bloody marys, mimosas) for 2 hours will set you back $15, which is such a deal. There are a lot of entree choices ranging from eggs to sandwiches; I opted for the frittata. A majority of the time, eggs will be really bland at brunch. The frittata was nicely seasoned and had plenty of veggies. Quite frankly, no one goes to AYCD brunch for the food, but I was pleasantly surprised. Oh, did I mention that my glass was never half empty?

    (5)

  • Paula E.

    Im giving this place 4 stars based on their saturday brunch alone. Il Bastardo has a great afternoon party scene and if loud music, crazy people dancing on tables and unlimited drinks is what you are looking for, then this is your place. I celebrated my bday here this past saturday and all 18 people in my group had a blast. Everyone was in shock at first since the back of the place (where we sat) looks like a club; super dark with club lights and all. Piece of advice: If you are coming for their brunch make sure you eat beforehand because they take a while to bring the food out. I went with an empty stomach and got drunk as soon as I smelled the mimosas haha, really from the moment you sit the drinks will just keep coming and you'll never see the bottom of your glass. By the time the food came out, it was too late for me, I was far gone and showered in champagne, can't even remember what the food tasted or looked like so this review is not based on their food either. I think they brought out cake as well but maybe I imagined it, again all I can remember is that this place was a BLAST!

    (4)

  • Delina O.

    I have eaten at Il bastardo on several occasions and while it is one of my go-to restaurants; Overall, I would describe it as so so. Appetizers: They are all standard fare and nothing to write home about. Entrees: The pastas are good, but my favorite dish is the chicken that is stuffed with spinach and asiago cheese, that dish is the only reason I come to this restaurant! Dessert: Like the appetizers, pretty standard. Pros: The decor to the restaurant is nice and good to bring a date to. The unisex bathroom is wierd at fist but keeps it interesting. Some of the dishes are good. I would recommend the chicken dish to anyone unsure of what to get. Cons: Most of the food is unimpressive. I hate that they serve you cold bread. Why wrap the bread in a cloth if its cold. Its a little thing but it annoys the hell out of me. The staff is slow. It is better to order an appetizer just to have something to nibble on while you wait.

    (3)

  • Joseph R.

    It's a very cool looking place but it is very loud with a very large busy bar area. The service is really awful and inattentive . The waiter never came by to ask how everything was. I hated my entree it was very spicy and had it mentioned being spicy on the specials sheet I would have never ordered it. Our water glasses were empty most of the time . I had read the reviews mentioning the awful service they definiitely did not exaggerate with so many dining options in NYC I will not be going back

    (2)

  • Lacey S.

    I came to il Bastardo with a group of about 15 people for brunch a few weeks ago. The place is huge and there was no problem getting a large table in the back to accommodate everyone. We all indulged in the $15 all you can drink champagne/bloody mary/mimosa option ($15 in addition to your meal) and within 20 minutes, our server had resigned himself to the fact that he should just leave a few bottles of champagne on the table for us at all times. We appreciated that. I had the crab cake benedict and thoroughly enjoyed the meal, but the booze was the reason for choosing this spot and thus the booze was the highlight of the brunch. I recommend this place as a great spot for large groups and not too pricey given the neighborhood and surrounding brunch places.

    (4)

  • Lauren H.

    Il Bastardo is one of my favorite restaurants! Their food and ambiance is amazing. The carpaccio and scallop appetizers are my favorite. For main course, I usually get the mixed grill and share with my boyfriend. The portions are big enough that we're always stuffed by the end of the meal. Their wine selection is also very pleasing. But my favorite part is the server, Humberto. HE IS FABULOUS! We always make sure he's working before we go, because he always makes the experience perfect. There is also a bus boy (i forget his name) who is adorable and extremely attentive. I give this place 5 stars, but I would give it 6 if I could. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Kristina D.

    I have never before been treated so poorly by staff at a restaurant. Yesterday, I walked in at 3:30 to enjoy brunch with a friend. I had spent time looking up restaurants with a good menu and drink special. Il Bastardo boasted an all you can drink special for 2hrs for $15. I was told with much attitude by the hostess that we would only be able to drink until 4 when brunch ended. I have been to many places for brunch around the city and never once has there been a cut-off for finishing your drinks. As long as you get your order in before four, you can enjoy your brunch and drinks until you're finished. Apparently, this is the only restaurant that begs to differ. No where on their website did it list this stipulation. I asked to speak with a manager and the hostess promptly said "No." I was shocked. That certainly is no way to treat a customer. After a server overhead my insistence, he said he would get the manager. A few moments later, he returns without the manager and relays a message. He apologizes (which the hostess didn't do once) and explains why they stop at 4 and can't make an exception. This is absolutely the WORST way to ever deal with patrons. As a manager, you are the representative of the restaurant. You are suppose to deal with customers if there's a problem, not ignore them. Turning away business is not a smart move. As a hostess, you are the face of the restaurant. You should be friendly and accommodating. If you cannot deal with people in a nice manner, I would advise finding another job. I wasn't even able to try the food, but after the way I was treated, I will never set foot in that restaurant again.

    (1)

  • Jen C.

    Some nights are just perfect. Warm and breezy, nary a cloud in the sky. Such was the night I visited Il Bastardo. We consider this a neighborhood restaurant, even though it has recently been cast in the spotlight due to the travesty of a TV show entitled 'The City'. Nestled on 7th avenue, frequented by the sceney Chelsea residents, Il Bastardo serves up quality Italian. We sat outside on the eve of July 4th for a late dinner. Instead of opting for heavier meal, we decided to share two appetizers and a pasta dish accompanied by a bottle of Montepulciano. We ordered the platter of assorted cured meats, cheeses, olives, roasted red peppers, and fruits and the stuffed mushroom caps topped with goat cheese and Italian breadcrumbs. The two dishes paired lovely with the cherry red wine. We went for the goat cheese stuffed ravioli in a light and creamy tomato vodka sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, just the right firmness to bite. The innards were creamy and warm. For dessert, we chose the crepes stuffed with nutella and strawberries. You can never go wrong with nutella. It was a beautiful evening in Chelsea over a lazy dinner.

    (3)

  • Jackie G.

    Very lukewarm experience. Portions were absolutely tiny for the not-so-tiny prices. Waitress seemed depressed, pretty slow with the food. I've only been there once for a weekend brunch, but I hear its better at night when the dance floor opens up. Extremely loud, but some people like that type of atmosphere. Kind of weird mix of people; half tourists, half Chelsea residents. Not terrible, but there are much better brunch options just a few feet away. 7th Avenue in Chelsea is crawling with them.

    (2)

  • A F.

    This used to be my favorite restaurant. I've been a "regular" at Il Bastardo for years, have had most of my office dinners here and have had countless drinks and meals at the bar. I've tried and I've tried many times lately to love this place. But since the renovation, it's become unbearable. The food is still okay, tho the food has never been the restaurants strong suit. And the fact that the food came out wrong this time didn't even bother us all that much. But by knocking down a wall that once separated the two halves of the restaurant, it has created a sea of square tables. If it weren't for the godawful black chandeliers (a style popular in Morgan hotels back in 2008) it would look like a cafeteria. Although the previous decor wasn't very good either, the new design creates a more chaotic and disorganized ambiance now. And it gets loud. Real loud, Bagatelle brunch loud without the fun. While I may come here with a group of four or more, Il Bastardo won't be my regular place anymore. I'm giving it two stars instead of one because the staff is still always wonderful.

    (2)

  • Anna S.

    The food and drinks at Il Bastardo are delicious, the atmosphere is very classy and warm, and the service is great. It's a little pricy, but it really does end up being worth it. I was here for a birthday dinner a couple of weeks ago and I left having tried a new dish that I loved, some good wine, and our waiter let my friend try several prosecco's before choosing one, so of course I got to taste test from her glass as well. They were all great. A nice place for a date, small gathering, or dinner with a friend.

    (4)

  • Hannah C.

    Had a late dinner with a friend on Tuesday evening after class and couldn't be happier with the service and food. We were actually on our way to cafeteria just down the street, but the il bastardo just caught my attention before we walked down the street. I am all about the decor and atmosphere of a restaurant and il bastardo is pretty nice inside...especially the bathrooms downstairs. I ended up ordering the pollo ripieno and my friend ordered the bistecca con salsa verde. both were delicious and perfect portions!! ended up getting dessert -- apple something...wasn't that great. at the end of dinner, my friend took my back to the cutest lounge area all the way in the back of the restaurant and realized it would be a perfect place to throw an intimate bday party or something of that sort. i would definately go back.

    (5)

  • Melissa T.

    I came here for brunch with unlimited mimosas with my girl friends! it was a great choice!! interior is really nice, yet feels homey. perfect place for brunch! i ordered a burger, which was HUGE...it was good, but I needed to take some home. the unlimited drinks deal is awesome!! mimosas yum. they have a great selection of food also. i would definitely come back sometime!

    (4)

  • Cate P.

    I'm not a super active YELP reviewer, but the customer service at Il Bastardo demands that I write this. Discovered because of a discount coupon and showed up without mine printed. I've dealt with many, many managers on redeeming groupons, living socials, etc. but Christopher at Il Bastardo gets the award for going well out of his way to make sure I could redeem mine. The food was lovely, but in a crowded field of NYC restaurants, the one like Il BAstardo, which exceeds my expectations on customer service, gets a great review and a high rating. Thanks, Christopher!

    (4)

  • Kristen U.

    One of my favorite local restaurants. The food has never dissapointed me. I love the octopus and pesto spaghetti. So yummy!

    (4)

  • Dewey T.

    Went here for brunch. Probably one of the craziest experiences ever. You can get bottomless cocktails by adding $20, and you definitely get your money's worth. I "think" I had 6 mimosas. The food is actually very good as well. I had a chicken caesar salad. We had a reservation and sat at the long tables in the back. It was an overall good time. Good looking people, good food, and was with good company. The only drawback was the LOUD music blasting at 1:30pm on a Sunday. Kind of felt like you were in a Chelsea nightclub. But after a few drinks, you almost don't care. Honestly would go back though!

    (5)

  • Elle M.

    Came here for the bottomless brunch. They kept the mimosas refilled consistently but the drinks and food were both just ok. The atmosphere is definitely unique but there are better deals with better food and drinks, so I won't being returning.

    (2)

  • Di X.

    I went there after work with my boyfriend for a dinner. The food was so yummi. The servise was excellent. It's a little crowded place but worth to try the food and drinks. Highly recommend this place!!!

    (5)

  • Chris K.

    "We should never repeat the horror that was today's brunch." (4:35pm Sunday, Gmail inbox) (2 hours earlier) Disastardo. Brunch. Fail. - Worst eggs florentine in life. The hollandaise sauce, a congealed mess of rancid. - Contemplate gargling with my watered down OJ. Or chew napkin. Possibly both. - Bite tongue, don't complain. Do not risk payback from offended cooks. Surgically scrape off sauce, attempt to rescue precious poached eggs and satiate whimpering stomach. (still hungry). Suspiciously poke english muffin base. Overly buttered, hardened hockey pucks. - Guiltily peek at friends' orders: - crab cake eggs benedict: "not good and i'm still hungry" - scrambled eggs: "overly cooked...how can they mess *this* up!" - ice cream: "it's ice cream." (30 min earlier) - "Did he just give me the dinner menu?" (1:57pm) - "Hi there...dessert menu please?" (1:53pm) - He clearly forgot... (1:46pm) - "Can you bring the dessert menu?" (1:32pm) - "I love free, but this plate of cold mini muffins is gross." (1:23pm) - "Bon Appetit-O!" (Our waiter, University of Olive Garden, Class of '05) (27 min earlier) The companions were famished, increasingly snippy, and the 45 min wait at Cafeteria was not an option. "How about Il Bastardo? Plenty of seating and looked like there was a $15 AYCD mimosa/bloody mary deal." (Date night, long ago) Il Bastardo. So romantic with your cavernous brick walls, dim lighting. Lovesick Bambi is entranced despite having zero recollection of your food. La sigh. Googly eyes. Hi! (Present) Brunch friends, I'm truly sorry. Bambi promises to be more emotionally sober before recommending places ever again...

    (1)

  • Alan G.

    Il Bastardo - what a fitting name! Let's just say they're not being ironic as much as they're hitting you over the head with a self fulfilling prophecy. To be fair, my experience with the baaaaaastard happened quite a while ago. Having said that, let's be real here - in the restaurant biz in New York, you get one shot to impress. So here's the dirty: Food wasn't all that memorable. I believe it was fair. No serious complaints, likewise no raves to be found here. But that wasn't my main problem. What torpedoed this place in my mind is the fact that the waiter manipulated the fucking tip to give himself a nice little extra somethin' somethin'. We're already good tippers, so that was pretty dick. If it weren't for my sister's diligence in reading her credit card statement the next day, it would've gone unnoticed and the bastardest of the lot at Il Bastardo would've made out like a bandit! To be fair, the manager was very apologetic when this was brought to his attention and this was a while ago, so the douchey waiter could very well be gone, but still. Seriously shady business*. Check your receipts, folks. But hold your horses there buddy; look on the bright side! Il Bastardo's co-owned by that male model guy who dates the girl model on that "reality" show, The City (or as my sister lovingly calls it, The Shitty)! OHMIGAWD, RIGHT!?! THEY'VE FILMED THE FRIGGIN' CITY HERE!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (...Need I say more?) *I was originally going to bestow the 1 star for this experience, but I'll bump the restaurant up to 2 since it's not necessarily the restaurant's fault they had one bad egg of a waiter (they weren't abysmal; their waiter was). The bastards should thank me for being a bloody saint though (preferably in complimentary mimosas).

    (2)

  • Jason R.

    Decided to stay close to home with some out of town guest for brunch. Usually venture down to the LES for AYCD Brunch. A friend of mine recommended this place to me. So we decided to try the AYCD 2hr brunch for $15 + your entree, so around 26 average person. So we got there about 15 mins late and they we're nice enough to still seat us with out a hassle We sat down and the (best waitress) came over and took our drink order. We all ordered our brunch entrees and 1 guest ordered of the regular lunch menu which was extremely accommodating of the waitress, since i know during brunch its always rather restrictive. Lets just saw my mimosa glass was never empty. At first my wine glass was filled to the normal 1/2 way point. Every time we got a refill the bar was raised by the end of brunch our glasses were being filled to the top. And no it wasn't just orange juice, after 2 of those glasses I felt the mimosas. Honestly I can't wait to go back it was so much fun and the drinks were flowing. I recommend it for big parties

    (5)

  • Diane L.

    So I came here for a friend's bday .. a bunch of guys looking for a good meal and fruity drinks ahahaha.. anyways, we arrive and the waiter immediately gives us a round of shots on the house since its a birthday - NICE! but then the food came, and disappoint dripped about... all the plates are TINY.. the manly men all became drunk off of our wine and beer bc they didn't have enough to eat... the ambience is nice in this place, and service is amazing.. if only we didn't feel so starved when we left.

    (3)

  • Jesus G.

    The wine was not very fresh tasting, the service kept interrupting our conversation, the whole atmosphere was very chaotic and disorganized. Will not be going back there.

    (2)

  • Jennifer C.

    I came here with a group of six girlfriends for dinner. I was wary, due to the reviews, but I thought the service couldn't be as bad as people claimed. When my friend made reservations, she specifically requested a time which would allow us to order from the prix fixe menu ($18 for an appetizer, pasta or main course, and desert before 7 p.m.). They gave us 6:45, assuring us that it would allow us plenty of time to take advantage of the special. We were seated promptly at 6:45, but didn't see a waiter until after 7 p.m. When we tried to order, we were told that we couldn't order from the prix fixe menu because it was after 7. When we told the waiter that we had made our reservation with the time cut-off in mind and had been waiting for over 20 minutes for a waiter to acknowledge us, he said that he would get a manager. The manager was very polite and allowed us to order from the prix fixe menu, although warned us that next time we should make reservations early enough that it would not be an issue. I really appreciate that the manager addressed the situation promptly and politely, but I think that they should speak with the person who makes their reservations and inform that a 6:45 reservation is not, in fact, early enough for the prix fixe. We ordered, and waited for a while for our appetizers to come out.... the waited a long time for our entrees.... then waited a long time for our desert.... after this, we actually brought out our cell phones to time how long it would take after desert for the waiter to come by our table again. An hour. We had no food or plates left on the table (the bussers are pretty on top of things), no drinks. Yet the waiter decided to take an hour after desert to stop by and see if we needed anything. Luckily, we were having a nice night out and spent the time happily chatting, but if I had been having a dinner with fewer people I would have been very annoyed. So yes, yelpers, the waitstaff is as bad as other reviewers say (although, in my experience, we were lucky enough to have a great manager and bussers). They add 20% tip to the bill for large parties, which is expected and reasonable, but seems a bit presumptuous when the waiter seems to be actively attempting to forget that you exist. Oh, right, the food. It was okay, not the best but certainly not bad. The portions were large, and the food was certainly worth the price. I would go again, but only if I had a long time to spend over a meal.

    (3)

  • Jim U.

    I went here last night for a lovely Italian dinner. It is a fairly large restaurant in Chelsea capable of handling several large groups simultaneously. The restaurant is effectively split into 3 seating areas with the main dining room having a bar, several tables, including deuces along a side wall; then there is a wider middle section; followed by more private group seating in the back. The ambiance was very nice and relaxing for a Sunday evening, and I felt very comfortable here. I started off with an appetizer of grilled calamari, shrimp, and mussels with a treviso salad and a section of lemon. Each item was perfectly prepared and the grilled taste resonated throughout the dish. This was very good. For the main course I opted for the Lasagna with bolognese and bechamel sauce. I am on a quest to find the best lasagna in the city, and this one is faring well in the competition. It was untraditionally presented in a circular dish and being right out of the oven, it was piping hot and did not stand up well to individual cuts. But the taste was very good, and it was not too heavy for a lasagna. This was good as well. For dessert I had their Torta Nera which was a chocolate cake served with a little bit of raspberry compote. As you worked your way to the center of the cake, it became moister, more chocolatey, and just more decadent. This was a very nice dessert. For the wine, I went with the house Sangiovese. It turns out, the "house" has their own line of Il Bastardo wine. So this worked out very well and complemented my heavy entree just fine. I recommend this place as a good casual Italian restaurant offering many traditional American favorites prepared well. So in that category, I give them 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Nicole C.

    You know in Harry Potter during the Quidditch tournament, when they Harry & co are going to sleep in tents and they walk in and find it's not a small tent but a HUGE area with a kitchen, rooms et all? This is kind of how I felt when I walked in here-- HUGE place! Lots and lots of space, dim lighting, large wine list, great menu selection- great place for a first date. Our meal was great, we ordered: 1. Ravioli filled with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes in a tomato - vodka sauce 2. Breast of Duck with madeira wine reduction and radicchio risotto cake 3. Tiramisu! I actually ordered the ravioli, it was delicious, with a heavy sauce, great balance of sweet and savory, but it came with like five pieces and for the price of this individual dish I would have liked a little more. My date ordered the duck (which I of course tried) and it was also really good, well done, strong flavors. The tiramisu wasn't the best I've ever had, I think the coffee flavor was too over powering, but not bad. The wine we ordered was pretty good too. The service was also good, our waiter was friendly but not always present. My date and I split the check, came out to about 45 a person. Now, this was a first date, and I always offer to pay as I don't think men should always pick up the tab. But it was our first date, he picked the place, should I be a bit put off by this? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated- Thanks!

    (3)

  • Melissa L.

    Had a 2pm reservation for Sunday Brunch. The special is an additional $18 for a 2 hour limit AYCD of Champagne, Mimosa, Screwdriver and Bloody Marys. Once seated it took about 15mins to sort out who would be our waiter. Then after a round of Mimosas I decided to switch to just champagne (which I have the option to do). Come to find out from my waiter that they are out of champagne!! How is that possible when they have this brunch special every Saturday and Sunday. IT's not a new restaurant so I'm sure they know how to accommodate a fully booked brunch crowd. The reason I'm even writing this is because although they were out of champagne they still managed to make watered down mimosas to serve everyone in the restaurant. O and the food was also nothing to write home about. (so sorry for mentioning it) Waste of time & money. WAYYYYY Better AYCD Brunches in the city.

    (1)

  • Alee H.

    $18 bottomless bloody mary's and mimosas.. did I get your attention? Being from out of town, some friends brought me here for brunch and we had a great time! We were lucky enough to get a table near the front so it was nice to people watch as we chatted and sipped our drink of choice. I ordered the eggs benedict with Maryland crab cakes and it was especially good. I really suggest stopping by here and leaving as my friends and I did, full, drunk and happy.

    (4)

  • Julie B.

    I'm basing my review on my friends night out in new york and based on what they told me I will never set foot in this place ever. Short story: there was a MOUSE involved (seen at the restaurant), along with rude NASTY service, and a WRONGFUL charge of a credit card. Long story: My friends went to New York to visit the big apple. As a group one of them decided to go to this place as a nice dinner. While they were eating they heard a fuss around these 2 ladies. the fuss was about a MOUSE! There was a mouse running about the restaurant. My friends were shocked to find out there was a mouse running around. The waiters and staff then tried to conceal the area in which the mouse was. For obvious reasons my friends asked to see the manager or someone in charge....the staff lagged....and lagged...they finally spoke to their waiter who said they can talk to the person in charge after he eats.....they waited......then they inquired about the person later.....the staff replied with saying that he left! They then inquired about another person in charge who or the owner who was named Nasty (quite fitting), he offered 10% off and a bottle of wine. My friends (a group of 8) obligied. When they got the bill they paid then asked about the free bottle of wine. The waiter asked and Nasty said that he never said to give them a bottle. My friends were furious, the worst customer service ever! They wanted to tell other diners that there was a mouse but staff blocked them off as they were leaving. ----Not the end of the story. They paid with separate credit cards and cash being in the group. il bastardo charged a member of the group with a 250+ and she didn't even sign the receipt to give consent. They charged her extreme amount when the group paid for the dinner. Such a horrible experience they had. they really are bastards!

    (1)

  • Tonya C.

    I met my friend, who was visiting from out of town, & his NY native friend here for brunch. I can't say I was overwhelmingly impressed. The mimosas were tasty but the service was horrific!!! The waiter acted like he was pissed every time we asked for anything..i.e.- could you please pour some of the water out of the pitcher in your hand into our empty glasses? The place was crowded, but mainly I think because people couldn't get into the place next door and just came here, that's how we ended up here. There are a ton of places offering brunch in the area, try them before you come here.

    (3)

  • David K.

    I think i've found the best brunch spot in Chelsea. I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Paul M.

    I really like this place. I have been a few times and each time I go, I feel that it just gets better and better. There is nothing like splitting a few of their appetizers over some drinks or just enjoying a full meal. I definitely recommend this place!

    (4)

  • Deep B.

    After Morning Sex and Pedicures, Drunk Brunch is my third favorite activity in life. Nothing cures the hangover from partying till 4am like pounding mimosas in a race against the clock that turns into a race against liver failure. Il Bastardo had great ambiance, beautiful people, and strange bathrooms. The food was tasty, though I was in such good spirits that anything would have tasted great. Toss in the fact that its summertime in NYC and Bastardo+Drunk Brunch= Success

    (4)

  • Jane K.

    This place was (wiggidy) wack. There was an epic duel on Yelp between Cookshop and Il Bastardo this morning. Cookshop won by a landslide with Yelp reviews but Il bastardo had one less $ and was closer and in the state I was in (sick and tired) it served a KO uppercut to CS. Off we skipped with expectant bellies. My friend and I snuggled into a nice seat outside (it was the warm calm before the storm) and quickly ordered up some endless mimosas (c'mon, I'm sick but I'm not made of steel!). Well...the food was edible. The portions were so teensy tiny that even if it was inedible we might have breathed our meals in through our nostrils by accident. I ordered the crab cakes benedict--my breakfast staple--but this is the 1st time I only received one puny cake. Yes, there were 2 english muffins, 2 poached eggs, and 1 crab cake. C'mon guys, would you make regular benedict with bacon on just one of the muffins? Lame. The potatoes were weird and soggy, more like stew than breakfast fare. And that's it. That was my breakfast. Obviously, I had to drink many many mimosas to compensate. And now it's 8pm and I'm blaming you Bastardos for my current hangover.

    (2)

  • Scott H.

    That damn music. I can't bear the 4 star anymore. Unless you're sitting outside.

    (3)

  • Robert L.

    Not a good brunch place. I've only gone to this place for their unlimited mimosa brunch and it was not really worth it. The food is mediocre at best. The service is not really good. The mimosas are difficult to get. You have to keep asking and their mostly orange juice than champagne. What's up with the lame music too? Honestly it's just a strange vibe at this place. I'm not really a fan. If you're interested in a great unlimited mimosa brunch place, go to Intermezzo. It's majestic supremo. This place doesn't really hit the mark with me. Thanks

    (2)

  • Michael M.

    Excellent food, atmosphere and service. This place is perfect for a reasonably priced quality meal. The wine list is sufficient with some real nice choices including a wine from taurasi Italy which is excellent. A good amount of specials and great appetizers to start with. I had the Pappardelle with Veal Ragù very nice Can't go wrong here. The bar looked cool too would like to try it out one night.

    (4)

  • Jillian M.

    Stumbled upon this place while hunting for a place since our initial restaurant didn't work out. It was the best choice ever. The food was delicious. We had calamari for an appetizer which did not disappoint. I had a skirt steak which was juicy and perfect. I cannot remember what my friend had, but she was very happy with her choice. Dessert was great as well. Too top off the great food, the service was just fantastic. I would go back in a heart beat.

    (5)

  • Sarah D.

    I went to Il Bastardo with a friend on a Sunday night. Perhaps it was because of the Oscars, but we were the only ones in the place. It was pretty, quiet, and calm. The music was a bit erratic and odd, but the food was excellent. I had the organic salad and sea scallops, while my friend had the lentil soup and vodka ravioli. Both of us were very satisfied.

    (4)

  • John M.

    i love italian food, and this place has a great name, so i was excited to try it. it's only all right. prices are reasonable, but food is only so-so. i'd recommend treating yourself to l'artusi or one of the other standout west village italian joints.

    (3)

  • Sarah M.

    I live just down the street and actually fell into it one beautiful afternoon with my boyfriend. I ordered a drink and found out it was all you can drink for 2 hrs for 15$$$. Amazing. You can order mamosa, champagne, vodka. Needless to say I've been there twice for lunch and let's just say they keep the drinks filled to the brim. I felt those mamosa's after the 1st refill. Not only is it amazing to go there for drinks but the food is amazing as well. I also have been there for dinner recently for my boyfriends b-day. The risotto melted in my mouth.At the end of the meal the waiter found out it was my boyfriends birthday and he gave us 2 free glasses of champagne!! I'll be bringing my out of town guests there very, very soon.!! Everybody needs to go there. My favorite NYC restaurant for sure!!!

    (5)

  • Clara Y.

    Was here for brunch and although you may be able to find cheaper brunch deals elsewhere, I've found that my experience at Il Bastardo was always worth the money. Our waiter filled up these gigantic wine goblets full of mimosas...I would literally take a sip and he would be back to fill it up even higher. My friends and I were officially gone by the end of our brunch but laughing and having fun. I remember I got the eggs benedict with crabmeat and it was amazing.

    (5)

  • Daisy R.

    I went there for brunch this past Sunday. I love the seats by the bar, very nice and comfy. The bartender could be more attentive. I ordered eggs and steak, and the steak was sad to look at. I believe at $16 i could get great steak from L'Express. by the way, food was cold, probably the bartender's fault. we sat at the bar. Probably won't return, chose in the first place because convenient location for my friend.

    (2)

  • M L.

    We arrived for the prefix at 5:45. We sat for 15 minutes in an empty, dirty, dining room. Finally, a server shows up. I asked about the prefix and was told it stopped at 6. It now 6:01. I informed the server that the restaurant lists it as offered until 7pm. Server says website is wrong. He was surly and downright nasty. We walked out. So should you.

    (1)

  • Pauli C.

    Went here on a Saturday evening for dinner. Was surprised that it was somewhat empty -- given the amazing decor, very attentive service, intimate atmosphere (you can have a conversation at a comfortable volume without having to hear the conversation next to you), and delicious food. Food could have been served a bit warmer, but it was a great dining experience overall.

    (4)

  • fred c.

    We popped in specifically for the Prix Fixe dinner, served til 7PM....y'know, fast dinner and a movie. Ressy was for 6:30, we're seated by 6:40....menus arrive, no prix fixe menu. Ask the waiter, who tells us it's only available til 7PM. I pull out my phone, my buddy rolls up his sleeve to expose his watch, both @ 6:45.... He stammers, goes and gets the manager....who tells us that the computers won't let the waiters enter an order after 7PM....at that time, it's 6:50. Screw it, we order from the regular menu....but I must look like either a tourist, or an idiot....or maybe both? I wonder if they pull the same crap at lunch? Just clarify before you sit down.

    (1)

  • Carolyn B.

    good italian-inspired food, very hip atmosphere. they do have lots of outside tables as well. i enjoyed my dinner here, but it wasnt anything too special, not sure if i would go back. delicious pomegranate margaritas, although i thought that was a little strange for an italian place! we started with salads, and then i had the lamb chop special for my entree. the lamb was very tender, cooked perfectly. i liked the sides that it came with - spinach and butternut squash. my friend had the salmon and said it was good too. our service was just ok, the waiter was attentive at first, but then took forever to come back at the end to give us the check.

    (3)

  • Bruce L.

    This is the first time I have ever written a bad review on anything. We just came from this restaurant. I think that is the name for a very good reason. After we finished our brunch we waited 30 minutes for someone to come to clear the table. After the long wait someone from our party went to find a member of the wait staff to let them know we were waiting. Still no one showed up. We went to find someone again and finally some one arrived to the table. We told them that there were two birthdays and we would like cake for them. Another twenty minutes past. We complained to the waiter about the long wait and he became argumentative. We asked for a manager. Ten minutes later the manager showed up. He told us the weekend brunch was quantity over quality. So if you want to go somewhere that you can pay regular price for a poor quality food and service come to this restaurant.

    (1)

  • Jane D.

    I've been here a few times, for different meals, and it just doesn't cut it. I really wanted to like it because I lived so close! However, service is consistently very very slow. My friend and I sat for 15 minutes desparately trying to flag down a server to take our orders. In terms of food, I thought the brunch items have been consistently bad, but I had a tasty pizza there.

    (2)

  • Kyla L.

    I came here with a friend and I had a great experience. I was a bit confused when I walked down the stairs to the bathroom because it was one big room with one enormous sink. When I came out of a stall I saw men washing their hands and I was embarrassed that I had walked into the men's room, however it ended up being a co-ed bathroom lol. Anyways, the ambiance was very nice and relaxing: good music, nice decor, and the lighting was perfect. I enjoyed our bottle of Italian red wine, and ordered off the specials menu: risotto with a creamy pesto sauce topped with shrimp and pine nuts. I'd have to say it was delicious! My friend ordered some type of chicken with salad and he enjoyed that as well. For dessert we ordered some apple pie with ice cream, however I would have to give it a 2 on a 10 scale range. It wasn't even warm but room temp and the ice cream was pretty generic and bland. Overall I would definitely come here again :)

    (4)

  • H H.

    this is exactly a 3 star place. everything is good, but nothing stands out...

    (3)

  • Jess E.

    I went here on a Thursday night with a few friends and was pretty surprised by the poor service. We were basically ignored when we walked in the door and then waited more than 5 minutes for the bartender to acknowledge us. After placing an order for wine, the bartender did not allow the customary tasting of the wine, which I expect for a $16 glass of wine. Our waiter did not offer any specials or really engage us at all. He just took our order, which is fine for a diner but again, not what I'd expect at a restaurant like this. The food was decent but nothing exceptional especially given there are about one million Italian restaurants in Manhattan. The evening concluded with a black mouse running under our feet in the dining room while we were having our coffee. I have lived in Manhattan for many years and eat out 4-5 times a week and I have never seen a mouse in a restaurant. I was appalled. A group of waiters were standing behind us when the mouse made its dash across the dining room and they made no apologies, only rushed to give us the check and get us out of there. Needless to say, I will never return to Il Bastardo.

    (2)

  • Tammy E.

    Went for Sunday Brunch for my birthday. AYCD is really AYCD! We all stumbled out by the time we were done. The food was OKAY nothing to write home about. The waiter was a bid odd, there were 10 of us. 8 meals came out and the other 2 showed up like 30 minutes later. The place is fun though, we were very loud and no one seemed to care. Glasses are never empty for AYCD. I'd go again definitely.

    (4)

  • Donald N.

    After eating here more than a year ago, I booked a reservation for a business meeting with my boss and two others. I guess the fog of time must have dimmed my memory of the place, either that or the restaurant has gone downhill. My first visit, I recall a lovely meal in a lovely setting with attentive service. My most recent visit was nothing like the first time. It was the first week in February after a blizzardy day. The hostess seated us at a chilly front window table, rather than the cozy intimate back room. Do they not have a coat check, we weren't even asked. My fault? I could have spoken up. Next, the bartender failed to deliver a decent round of drinks, my scotch and water was just that, no ice. The second round included ice in a separate glass, the third time was the charm and my drink arrived as expected. The waiter was inexperienced, had to read the specials from a list, pronunciation was an issue, no upselling of the needed sides (meat on a plate is a bit lacking). The shared appetizers arrived but without sideplates, we reappropriated the bread plates for the task (where was the bread anyway?), and soon after, three different members of the wait staff attempted to place sideplates. Coordination? The entrees arrived and so did additional utensils, things were looking up. But sadly, the pork loin special was overcooked and tough. I was afraid to ask what the others thought of their meals. Thankfully, we had a lively and fun conversation through the meal, so the evening wasn't a complete loss. I did feel the need to shoot off an email to my colleagues the next day to apologize for the restaurant. We would have been better served at the Outback. This could be a good restaurant with experienced well-trained personnel, but sadly no.

    (1)

  • Jim H.

    It really took me a while to find this place (that is, it's existence, not it's location)...but I sure am glad I did! I'm from Philly, and I organize a broadway show trip for my friends & family once a year. Finding a restaurant is always the trickiest part (ironic, as there are literally thousands of them throughout the city, right?)! Anyway, this place was perfect - good for both vegans and carnivores alike; it has something for every taste. The food here was really really good. No problems making reservations for 12, and no problems with a wait or with seating. The servers were great, and nice too. Honestly, I really don't see where some of these bad reviews come from - the people who post them must be really up-tight and WAY too critical! The best part about this place is the atmosphere - really cool....much cooler than what you would think from the outside. The prices are good too - nothing too crazy for NYC. I'd hate to eat at the same place twice is this vast city, but I'm pretty sure I'll be back to Il Bastardo! The Phantom of the Opera, on the other hand, didn't do much for me...I had trouble following the story. I think I enjoy plays & shows rather than musicals. But that's just me...

    (5)

  • Abby S.

    Did you ever wake up on a Sunday morning regretting the fact that you were too lazy to go out dancing and drinking with your friends on Saturday night at some hot, sweaty, crowded lounge or club, probably in the Lower East Side or MPD? Well, don't fret because you have the chance to do it here at Il Bastardo. Dancing, strobe lights, DJ, the club crowd, and unlimited mimosas!!!! And to top it off, you get all that plus a satisfying brunch meal. Welcome to Il Bastardo. The front half is your normal run of the mill brunch resto. Request a table in the back room and you will walk into a huge, dark room, bar on the left side, strobe lights galore, and the dj pumping your favorite Lil Jon club mix. You also get a sprinkle of guidos and guidettes all around to add to the ambience. Your server will sit you down and bring your table a slew of enormous chalices filled with the golden poison that is mimosas which never seem to empty throughout the two hours that you are there. Now this is what I call unlimited brunch! The food was surprisingly good, especially for a boozy all-you-can-drink brunch which usually have very mediocre offerings for eats. I had the pancakes with fresh berries on the side and they were fantastic. Nice, fluffy and warm. I also had the side of chorizo sausages which were delectable as well. My friend's crab benedict was delish too. Food-wise we were all very satisfied and it was worth the thirty dollar price (which included the mimosas). As you eat your wonderful breakfast and sip on your intoxicating mimosa, the DJ will be spinning your favorite mainstream pop and top 40 music that will make you wanna wiki-wiki on your seat. Actually, you probably will because everybody will get up and start dancing away as if they never left the club on Saturday night. And you will love every minute of it! So If you are up for a very cheesy drunken afternoon brunch, drag yourself to this gem of a place in the heart of Chelsea and shake your tail feathers just for a little bit more to close off your weekend right!

    (5)

  • Jonathan W.

    DISCLAIMER: AYCD BRUNCH EXPERIENCE ABOUT TO BEGIN One time long ago aka last weekend, I went to Il Bastardo with a group of people for a birthday celebration. It was really crowded with lots of young brunch-goers eagerly awaiting and actively enjoying copious amounts of alcohol. For $39 you get all the champagne/mimosa/screwdriver/bloody mary you can pour down your throat. And they keep it coming, I will say to that. As for the food, it was decent. I had a veal parmigiana sandwich that didn't really even aspire to the level of good NY deli experience. Others at the table had more standard brunch fare including poached eggs. Nobody made any really positive comments about the food. But let's be real here, it was all about the alcohol at this brunch. As for the atmosphere, it's great. The space is huge and everyone just is really into the whole brunch experience. We frequently chatted with the table next to us and people would even get up on the platforms they have in the restaurant to dance to songs. I decided to grind up on one of the brunch-goers I was with, without any regret, when Call Me Maybe from Carly Rae Jepsen came on. Thanks, AYCD! I shall return one day.

    (3)

  • lila k.

    F-. Worst. Experience. Ever. I would give 0 stars if I could. I went there for lunch with my cousin. The restaurant had maybe 2 or 3 other tables that were filled; the place was basically empty. They have a pre fixe lunch menu that we were ordering from, if I remember correctly it was $12.95 for lunch and an extra dollar for dessert. We ordered our salads and lunch. It took such an incredibly long time for our lunch to be served, and when we finished eating we sat there for a really long time waiting for someone to come over. We said we would like dessert, so the waiter brought us over the dessert menu. We both ordered chocolate mousse, and when they brought it to us we asked for the bill because we didn't want to sit there for another 20 minutes waiting for them. We were brought the bill and on it we were charged $9 each for the chocolate mousse, so we asked the waiter why we were charged - he said it was because the dessert we ordered was not on the pre fixe menu. We argued with him that he is the one that brought us that menu, he knew we had been ordering off the pre fixe menu. After a few minutes of arguing he brought over the manager AND THE MANAGER ARGUED WITH US. It was our fault because we ordered from the dessert menu. He said something like "how can I make money if I give a $9 dessert away?". The argument went on for a few minutes and he said "how about we meet half way, I will only charge you for one". We said we didn't want the dessert; the waiter took away the mousse which we both had taken a few bites out of, and the cost was taken off our bill. I have never experienced anything like this, the restaurant would rather throw something away than to apologize. We honestly did not think that we should have to pay for the waiters mistake. Most restaurants would have just taken it off the bill and apologized. So now we didn't pay for the desserts and we didn't give a tip. Choke on it Il Bastardo. Really, how much could it possibly cost to make chocolate mousse? Am I right here? The food : the bread was good, salad was average, I ordered a pasta with Vodka sauce and chicken - the chicken was so dry and chewy I left it all in my bowl, but the pasta and sauce was good. The whole experience was about an hour and a half.

    (1)

  • Alison D.

    Had a reservation for a friend's bday, that meant nothing, the hostess even said the manager just picks who should get a table, guess I'm not pretty enough, yes its a party brunch and if that's what you're looking for it works but to me the food and drinks and experience were not even worth $20 let alone $40

    (2)

  • ElBraa A.

    i have a list. About 50 brunch places for SUNDAYS. I have done 50% of them. This place just became top 2, hands down! fun atmosphere, awesome music, great mimosas, and superb food. DEF! going back! only negative thing, music tends to be kinda loud, which is not a big deal since the music is actually good. but if you want to have a conversation go to the bathroom lol 6 stars for this place, see you next week.

    (5)

  • Jason F.

    I describe this as the B&T version of a Lavo brunch. While they do OK for the party Saturday and Sunday brunch atmosphere with a loud sound system and some hired dancers, the food is basically inedible and drinks disgusting. I went for a large birthday brunch party, with the $39.99 brunch + pitchers of brunch cocktails menu. Ordered a bloody mary. It came in a huge quart-sized mug, and tasted like ketchup or cocktail sauce with a splash of vodka and some tobasco. No ice. I wanted to vomit. Instead, I brought it to the bar and asked for a beer. Their beer selection was the worst of any restaurant I've been to in NYC. Had about 5 bottles to choose from, nothing on draft, and nothing beyond Heineken, Budweiser, Amstel Light, Corona, and Bud Light. Skip this place.

    (1)

  • Christina H.

    ohhhh boozy brunch, one day i will learn that you should only happen on saturday and not sunday... but lesson not learned yet. i was excited to check this place out based on reviews, and it did not disappoint. the music was pumping, people were dancing (think conga lines through the restaurant every once in a while), and the lights got low around 3 pm. drink options - mimosa, bloody mary, screw driver. the menu also said champagne but i couldnt seem to get that out of our waitress. the most she did was top off my mimosa with extra champagne. i can only drink so much OJ! the food was actually pretty darn good. much better than i expected for something so focused on booze. my burger was really tasty, and the flank steak and eggs, french toast, and pancakes all were really good too! a few downsides though. they wouldnt seat us until our entire party was there even though they have a strict 2 hour table limit. so because 2 / 8 people got there half an hour late we all missed out on half an hour. they also have a strict 3:45 last call so not only did we not sit until after 2:30 for our 2 pm reservation, but promptly at 3:45 they brought us our bill and would not bring any more drinks. our 2 hours was actually 1 hr 15 minutes. and it is pricey compared to most boozy brunches in the city at $45 pp + tax and tip. not sure if it is worth it just for the dim lights and dj since they dont let the party continue.

    (3)

  • Sana A.

    Decided to do an all you can drink brunch with a big group of friends and was recommended this place. When I called to make the reservation 1 week prior to the date, the person taking the reservation assured me that the "quietest" area would be at the restaurant next door Bar Baresco, which had the same kitchen/menu. I stressed that we wanted a pretty quiet area since we wanted to chat a bit. Day arrived, and they put is in the back party room (not Bar Baresco). I complained and then they put us in Bar Baresco, and it was not quiet in the least. Darkly lit, with a strobe flashing in my eyes, and it was the table right next to a dj. Despite my trying to change tables again (and apologizing for being difficult, but it was something they had assured me on the phone) they very rudely said that's all they had was that, that or the bar. They told me that I could take my party of TEN people and eat at the BAR. Pretentious people, rude service, and bad food. Never coming back here again. You really shouldnt either.

    (1)

  • Wesley S.

    This place is definitely an experience. I am not sure I knew what I was getting myself into so let me make it very clear to those considering going to brunch at this place, you are going to feel like you are at an extremely loud club (although when I was here it was not all that rowdy). They have a DJ spinning some jamming house music and will make sure you have a constant flow of mimosa. The food was very good, although in all honesty I have had better. I actually did enjoy the music and I did like the atmosphere, although I was seriously not expecting what I got for the semi-difficult to get reservation. This might be a great place after a weekend of clubbing. It is not a perfect place for a date or a business brunch. Well maybe a date, depending on how much you want to chat! Thanks for reading and enjoy.

    (3)

  • David R.

    First AYCD brunch in quite awhile. Came here for Santa Con because it was the only place I could find last minute that was large enough to take a reservation for a party of 8 last minute. The food was really tasty, and the hanger steak was delicious. The price for brunch and bottomless drinks came out to 40 a person which is definitely on the steeper side of any brunch I have done, but it was worth it. We had a great time. All the breakfast was tasty, and just what I expected. The drinks were stiff as all hell, and I didn't get past 4. In fact, the guy cut us off exactly at the 2 hour mark, and for the first time in a long time, I was actually happy for the forced ending. Shortly after we left, things got foggy, and I went home to sleep it off.. In my Santa outfit. Be careful these drinks pack a punch!

    (4)

  • Danielle R.

    Went here for brunch with some girlfriends. It was your typical boozy brunch. Girls in lingerie costumes -- made for some good laughs. Music is SUPER loud, do not expect to be able to talk and catch up at the table. And you drink champagne out of plastic cups, so don't expect to be fancy either. Just expect to have fun and be entertained.

    (3)

  • Emily S.

    Oh Il Bastardo, why must you be right on my block. Due to the very convenient location I have been to Il Bastardo 3 times. Each time I am more disappointed than the last. I just need to break the habit and cut them out of my dining repertoire for good. In a city where good Italian food is not hard to come by, it's amazing that a place like this stays in business. Every dish we had was disappointing and bland. And it's not hard stuff. We ordered some basic pasta / fish dishes and it was all pretty terrible. The setting is okay. It has this dark red, sort of Parisian brothel fell, which is a little strange but fine. The service, on the other hand is pretty bad. Our server was distant and rude. They have about 5 busers per server, which is a problem because none of them can do things like: take your order, refill bar drinks, bring over an extra utensil etc. The night we were there they only had one server in the whole place and there were about 10 tables. I fault management for not hiring more wait staff. The price is not cheap, either. Which always makes it a lot worse. Don't recommend this restaurant or it's sister restaurant next door. With all the great options in the area, just walk a few more blocks and you will be much happier.

    (2)

  • Arielle S.

    Have really enjoyed coming here for brunch. They offer unlimited mimosas that are delicious and they really do keep them flowing. I also appreciate that you can come here on a weekend and not wait in a long line to be seated. The only thing I didn't really like were their hashbrowns. they have a tomato base and taste like someone poured tomato sauce on hashbrowns. not my favorite combo but doesn't stop me from coming in.

    (4)

  • Suzy K.

    Small portions but good food. Love the unlimited drinks for two hours! A bit pricey ($45) though so make sure to drink your money's worth!

    (4)

  • Emily G.

    Reviewing brunch only: Can I give a negative star? I am not sure who would come to Il Bastardo for the food or atmosphere. Take your typical 10th ave raging club, add some bland eggs on a plate and you got this gem of a spot. To pay $20 for a few measly eggs and fried potatoes on a plate is a tragedy (oh but wait there's unlimited coffee and juice! disclaimer: it's the fake sugary stuff) The staff seems generally disinterested in anything you have to say- don't bother asking if they have a side of bread to go with your eggs because the answer is no! If you can even hear your waiters response over the music. I cannot comment on the dinner at Il Bastardo but if you are looking at this for a brunch option and are someone who enjoys a good plate of food- stay home and make an omelette, I'm sure anyone could do better than this.

    (1)

  • Jeremy K.

    This is a pre-brunch review. This place is like when Seinfeld made a car rental reservation and they didn't have a car. They make you wait in line even if half your party's reservation is already inside. I thought restaurants wanted to make money?

    (1)

  • Brittany D.

    Attended a birthday brunch here this past Saturday. Environment: if you end up getting placed in the the back room (which seemed to be the case for large groups) it'll take a bit to get used to at first. It's very dark and the music is extremely loud. To the point where it was a bit hard to hold a conversation. After you've downed a few mimosas it becomes a fun party atmosphere however, so you'll forget about having to shout to be heard. Food: disappointing, I ordered the pancakes and they arrived rather cold. I have low expectations for most boozy brunch spots though so I didn't make a big deal about it or send it back. But what they lack in food they make up in alcohol... Which brings me to DRINKS: I don't know what they put in their mimosas besides champagne and oj but I've never gotten so drunk so fast off of them before than I did at Il Bastardo. Definitely a reason to go back and which makes it a good place to have brunch with a group of friends who delight in daytime drinking. All in all I think this place is decent, but given the food quality, I would only go back for big brunch gatherings.

    (3)

  • Gracie G.

    I come here ALL the time for HH with my coworkers. Finally got to reviewing it. - They recently rennovated and combined both restaurants into 1 big one. Love the space this way, it's great for large groups, and happy hours, events etc. The interior is more chic and stylish interior now. Great place for a girl's night out. - Great HH, great wines, great mixed drinks. Their new HH is 2 for 1 so not the best place if you don't want to drink! - Food is just OK though, nothing great. Standard bar food. Some items aren't worth their price, I'd stick to the appetizers. - They have an awesome lunch special, $12 for an app and entree I think? I've heard they also have something like $25 for AYCD wine till 4. - Haven't been for brunch but I hear it's a fun bottomless brunch spot, have to try that soon. - Service is pretty great. If you come there often enough, they'll remember you. - Am a fan, and would return (obvi).

    (4)

  • Jen B.

    Horrifying. They didn't have our reservation but sat us anyways. Food took a long time. And here's the best part. The waiter stole all the cash of the bill so the people who put cards basically paid the$700 bill. Waiter told the manager he only has $145 in cash from us which was as lie. Place is cool. Bring cash. You will be screwed if you don't.

    (1)

  • Julie G.

    Food was horrible and the wait staff rude. I have never had the inclination to leave a place without paying but after waiting over 2 hours for our food I was extremely inclined to do so. Its only March and not warm enough to open all doors and windows. I asked the waiter if we could move our table - no, I asked the waiter if they could close the window - no. I cant believe this restaurant becomes a respectable place to dine for dinner because it was a total dump during the day. NEVER NEVER NEVER will I go back and I hope it closes.

    (1)

  • D M.

    Went for dinner last night. Liked the new combined bigger space but the bar was too small and the music was just bad. Was looking forward to some great pasta but sadly it was so boring and had zero favor. I ordered pesto sauce and it was completely tasteless. My friend also ordered pasta and hated it as well. Just very sub-par. Which is sad for pasta. Not planning any trips back...well May pie for bottomless mimosas which can kill any tastes buds

    (1)

  • Emily H.

    Pretty good. I met a friend for an early dinner and we had a nice dinner. A little bit of a bummer: the website says the prix fixe continues until 7pm, but at 6pm I was told it was already over. Not great, though not a huge issue. I would say food and drinks are a bit overpriced and not quite worth what they are charged. But - I loved the decor, the service was great, and it definitely met my basic needs.

    (3)

  • David L.

    Abysmal. Truly a tragedy, as this looks like a really cool place in a great location. Service: Where to begin, this was an absolute shit-show. We had no idea who our waiters were, they stopped refilling our waters very early on. They never came by to ask if we wanted refills on our unlimited drinks -- we literally had to flag down the waiter every single time. Once I asked for my next drink when I still had 10% of my drink left and got a dirty look (certainly it would be done by the time they brought it). They gave me a well done steak when I asked for medium-rare. Turns out they had a medium-rare steak on the tray the whole time and didn't give it to me at first even when I reiterated that I was the one who got the steak medium rare. The bloody marys tasted like SOAP. Wasn't just mine, 2 other people who got from the same batch said the same. We told the waiter, who came back and told it was because they were using citrus vodka (who uses citrus vodka in a bloody mary?? gross). They finally remade our bloody mary's, but it was an unlikely story. Food: Crab benedict was decent. But the steak and eggs had the smallest "steak" I'd ever seen. Maybe it was 2" wide by 4" inches long and clearly thin since it was a Skirt steak (not disclosed on the menu). I felt absolutely swindled, since it was $39 for the dish and unlimited (bad) cocktails. The worst part? They tacked on an automatic 20% gratuity to our bill. Maybe that was for the best because the service was bad, I would have been tempted to zero out the tip entirely. TO BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.

    (1)

  • KJ W.

    I've been here a couple of times for drinks and the horrible service. Came in again last night because we were too lazy to think of a better spot nearby. Something possessed us to order food. It was terrible. Don't be lazy, go somewhere else.

    (1)

  • Rebecca S.

    When my best friend and I decided we were way overdue for a girl date, we needed a restaurant located somewhere in the middle for both of us. I was coming from North Jersey, she was coming from Staten Island, the weather was supposed to be miserably snowy, and we didn't want to spend a lot of time walking from transit to table....enter: Bastardo Lounge. Conveniently located just 1.5 blocks from the 33rd St. PATH's 23rd St. station and just off of the 1 train stop is this fantastic boozy brunch bar that has been reviewed over and over again with overwhelmingly spot-on accuracy. I arrived just a shade after noon and the restaurant was not ready for diners yet. A little weird because opentable.com had offered either a noon or 2:00pm seating. As others started to file in, all for a surprise party being hosted in the back area, we all started shifting weight a little hoping for a table to get away from the super cold front door. My BFF ended up being about a half hour late because of weather delays, but by that time I was already seated and on cocktail numero uno. Drinks: Bloody Mary's from here, if you're one of the first reservations need to sit in the glass with ice for a bit, the mix is pre-made and it was still room temperature when it was poured. When you're brunching at an AYCD place for $18- there are definitely worse possible problems to stumble upon, it's a brunch cocktail factory. Not my favorite Bloody Mary, but passable for certain. I will say however that the mimosas, pre-mixed again as they were, were heavily poured and by heavily poured I mean yes there was a great champagne to OJ ratio, but the waitstaff never left you having to ask for a refill. The Look: The decor and ambiance set up a warm and contemporary inviting space with wood tables, wood slat and up lit bar wall, exposed brick, a large vased tree in the middle of the lengthy bar, and community sink bathrooms with peacock murals is proof that a giant mishmash of great vibe provoking decorative thought went into putting this space together. Food: Now that I am rereading the reviews, I almost wish I had ordered a panini, but my eggs benedict with imported prosciutto was actually really good. Two eggs, prosciutto, and a light hollandaise over english muffins plated with a breakfast potato concoction of sorts was just filling enough without being too heavy. Both my friend and I ordered the same thing, maybe we should have each ordered something different just for the "share factor", but I can see this being the kind of spot we would visit again so I'm not worried about missing out. Price including an unlimited cocktail option is comparable to most other brunch options in the city. If you're going to skip cocktails, but really why would you? the price is actually very reasonable and can see why this spot continues to get great reviews.

    (4)

  • Will B.

    Horrible service, mediocre food. Only worth for brunch for the value. Host unbearable, waiters were rude. Take this from someone who lives in the neighborhood. Don't go.

    (1)

  • Stella B.

    FYI: Brunch review It's got great decor and they were great about refilling our glasses for their unlimited booze. But it's sort of like a club on a Sunday morning/early afternoon. When you have to yell your name to the hostess multiple times, then maybe the place should turn the music down just a tad. I got a headache from yelling at the person just across from me and didn't even bother trying to talk or listen to the people just down the table. If you're ok with club level music, then you'll probably really like this place. Besides that, it was pretty great. Our food came out luke warm which was rather disappointing, but it was still delicious (eggs benedict with crab cake for me). They had a couple of girls walking around at one point dressed in bejeweled bikinis and feather headpieces, they were fun and wanted to make sure everyone was having a good time. They were also handing out sparklers which made me a little weary with all the alcohol around and drunk people handling these sparklers. I'd recommend it just to check it out, but don't come here if you're hungover (but isn't that what brunch is all about?), the music will make your hangover that much worse.

    (3)

  • Esteban W.

    HANDS DOWN: The BEST meal I ate while I was in New York City. You MUST Eat here. Ill admit, a splurge with my budget and a $24 dish + a $10 wine and appetizer extra... Overall though, all freaking WORTH IT. WINNING: Jumbo sea scallops. Amazing preparation and presentation. Four on a plate, but so succulent that I could have scarfed them down in one bite. Super flavorful and plate-licking delicious. However, the true winner of the night, the amazing dish that made me want to scream out "When Harry Met Sally" style like Meg Ryan was: The Grilled Portuguese Octopus. Sixteen dollars and I wish I would have just ordered three for my meal. It was an EPIC-flavor-firework that nearly left me paralyzed. OVERALL: I LITERALLY want to spend the money to buy another plane ride over to New York simply to eat here again. Best dinner in New York.

    (5)

  • Edward G.

    They ran out of BACON and chicken! How can a restaurant run out of the most basic of basic food staples in New York, of all places! Poor poor planning!

    (1)

  • Dev F.

    Sangria - Amazing ... some of the best I've found in the city Appetizer - pizza bread w/ veggies and gorgonzola - very good Dinner - Tagliarini w/ pesto & sundried tomatoes - a pesto I was really happy with!!! it was perfect My dinner companion had some veggie pasta dish I can't really remember...but I did try a bite, and that was good too. The food and drinks were really spectacular - so why three stars? 1. We sat for around 10 minutes without menus - I'm fairly understanding when it's busy, but this was a situation where there were more waiters in white jackets whispering girly secrets to each other than there were people eating. I saw at least 12 white jackets...and three tables were seated. 2. I think they named the restaurant after our waiter. I asked him to describe a pasta and he asked me if I knew what spaghetti was. I replied yes, but I wanted him to clarify (thick, thin, etc.). He asked again if I knew what spaghetti was. He kept interrupting me and asking me the same question. So incredibly condescending - it was lucky that the food was good otherwise I would have fumed during the whole meal. I even wrote a nasty note on the back of the credit card receipt where I'd TIPPED him an overly generous 15%. My friend insisted that I remove it, insisting if we returned, he would spit in our sangria. The culinary/drink experience was so good, I caved. I would definitely return there - if the service is terrible once more, a nasty note is not all they'll be getting.

    (3)

  • JJ D.

    The AYCD brunch is fun to do occasionally, keep in mind that the alcohol they are using is not of the highest quality and if over done, you will feel it later on in the day. The food is alright, be prepared to drink out of plastic champagne goblets. The real draw is the loud music, dark ambiance, and party lights that if paired with the right group of people can lead to a good time.

    (4)

  • Eve A.

    My fav brunch spot! Im in love with many things over here. If you feel like you didnt party enough on friday or wanna get ready for saturday night shenanigans then its ur kind of a place. Party starts from 12 pm with "unlimited cocktails" Gotta love the crowd-flippant, glamourous,bohemian and starving artists. Everyone is loud, frivoluos, has an "sugar baby" attitude and basically wasted by 1 pm. Decor is warm and inviting, lights,wood tables,a la Italiano. Food is good-love their brunch items, portions are a lil small but who cares. Smoked salmon w eggs florentine, french toast w blueberries-all fresh and yummy Cocktails-its unlimited and strong so make sure that u dont have any important plans for that day cuz you wont be able to walk a straight line after ur brunch ;)

    (4)

  • Jacqueline G.

    Young crowd with waterdowned drinks and small plates and over salted food. Terrible service. No substitutions or allergy accommodations. Rude staff. Why have security when they don't do anything. Save ur time, money and weekends and go to Felix or intermezzo or Mari vanna or do it up at bagatelle.

    (1)

  • julia s.

    Bottom Line: customer service is better at any diner Had a resv for brunch on a sun for 8 people at 2pm. I showed up at 1:50 and waited for the party at the table ordering a class of wine while I waited. My party ran late showed up at 2:10. During that time the wait staff took one of the tables away to another party. When my party arrived, I left my scarf, coat, water, and wine at the table and went to welcome my party in. When we arrived at the table I found the hostess sat another party at our table. My belonging were gone and it looked like someone drank my water and I was left looking like a fool in front of not only my party but the one that was sat in our spot as well. No one could locate where the hostess put my things and there was no other table waiting for us to be sat. Worst part : the staff did not care and were not even embarrassed about making such a huge mistake. Granted one small blond hostess did make a real effort to apologize, she was the only one. Everyone else acted annoyed that they gave away our table like it's no big deal. Even Worse: waitress still tried to charge me for the wine that was left on the table that the other party was probably drinking. I left feeling like this is the epitome of the worse customer service I ever had in NYC!

    (1)

  • Dee S.

    Friday night dinner in Chelsea on one of the first beautiful days of the year, so sitting outside was key. The decor it very cool and it's a big happening place. The food was okay. I've had better Italian. However, the wait service was really lacking. We never saw our waitress after she took our order. I had to ask the hostess for cracked pepper since we weren't asked if we wanted that or parmigiana. Refills of water was hard to come by, as was extra bread. The red sangria was sickening sweet and when I asked for more wine I was given sprite which made it a koolaid-type punch that wasn't worth the calories. The kicker was that when the bill came we rounded it up and gave 18% for an even $100. The waitress picked up the check, counted the money in front of us! looked at each of us as if we left out at $20 and then put the change back on the table and told us to keep it. It was really rude and made us feel uncomfortable.

    (2)

  • D A.

    I was sold on the all you can drink deal for $15 (2 hour limit), especially when the cost of one mimosa is already $11! They are also not stingy and were good about refilling the glass. I was here for Saturday brunch. The food was typical of any brunch place and the portions were reasonable. The restaurant is huge but every table was full of large parties. Definitely make reservations before you come here.

    (4)

  • Beth S.

    Food- Great Atmosphere- Good vibe, but way too hot inside Service- Poopy... Disappointed they automatically added 22% tip to our bill for a party of 3.... I am a generous tipper, but planned to send a message with a 10% tip because the service was that inattentive. Was frustrating to find that decision was already made for me....

    (3)

  • Myra R.

    This review is solely based on the bottomless mimosas. I had a bad brunch experience that morning at HK and the evening before was a bust for dancing when my girl, Rose, swooped in to save the day. We rolled up to Il Bastardo and bellied up to the bar and ordered a round of bottomless mimosas. The bartender brought them over right away. As we were sitting there the music got my butt bouncin' in my seat. We couldn't contain it anymore and we were dancing in the restaurant with everyone else and their momma. Who needs food when you have mimosas and booty bumpin' music. Next thing I know a gentleman a whole foot shorter than me had me doing Dancing With The Stars moves. HOLLA! Towards the end of brunch service the sparklers came out like we were in Vegas. Hahaha! Il Bastardo's bottomless mimosa brunch was a total highlight of my trip and had me flying for the rest of the day.

    (5)

  • Dara M.

    The prices here are average, $15-20 pastas and entrees, and $6-10 appetizers and salads. I got two salads: the caesar and the one with the pears and gorgonzola and both were very good and fresh and crispy. Instead of two entrees we split a pizza, which was large enough for two. Their selections of wines is quite nice, and I was debating between two of them and the waiter let me taste both of them so I could make a proper decision. (thanks!) Overall a good dining experience, with nice ambiance and calming music.

    (4)

  • Mai L.

    It's easy to mistaken that this place and it's neighboring restaurant is the same place. Initially we intended to go to Bar Baresco but somehow we ended up here instead. The food is decent, I liked the pasta (Orecchiette-ear-shaped with sausage, plum tomato and broccoli rabe) more than I did the trout which was served with marinated artichoke, almond, sage and dry white wine. The pasta was cooked to perfection and seasoned perfectly to the taste. The trout was kind of fishy for my taste and the mash potatoes were a bit bland. We ended the meal with the chocolate cake which was supposed to come with some warm almonds that were MIA. (perhaps they were hidden inside the cake somewhere) The cake was very rich but dry at the same time. The raspberry sauce was scarce but the hazelnut ice cream was the one thing that saved the day. It was a good complement to the dry chocolate cake.

    (3)

  • Miguel V.

    Nothing too exciting about the food. There are bottomless mimosas so the girls are happy. My egg whites were, well egg whites. Potatoes have a weird sauce so I didn't eat them. I also ordered a Caesar salad With sauce on the side. It was not so I just ate the chicken. The rest of the table enjoyed it. The atmosphere was fun. It's a Saturday afternoon so everyone is enjoying their memories from the night before. We had a good time, but I would want to eat someplace else next time. :-/

    (3)

  • Alisha W.

    Il Bastardo is the perfect spot for a great boozy brunch. I have to say, the panini's might be the best on the menu since the fries are 100% better than the breakfast potatoes. Definitely the best deal for a solid (they don't rush you) two-hour AYCD brunch. The outdoor seating isn't bad either. It's never let me down!

    (4)

  • Karan J.

    Grilled Portuguese Octopus w/roasted potatoes, extra-virgin olive oil and red wine vinaigrette...yum. Well priced wine and great service. Consistent quality of food. Great date location.

    (4)

  • Elina N.

    Il Bastardo Lounge is a very cute lofty place... I made a reservation for a girl's brunch of 9 girls for good food, good drink, and good company....The folks over at Il Bastardo Lounge were very, VERY good about me upping the reservation from 6 to 8 to 9 in less than 3 days :) The food was tasty, the drinks were strong, delicious and plentiful, and the staff was very attentive and friendly... I will definitely be coming back, and probably with my gaggle of gals for more brunch fun, and I definitely want to try the dinner :) My only little complaint which stole the 5th star away is that on Yelp their "Special Deal" was a $15 "all Inclusive unlimited drink" in addition to the meal, but on their menu it is $18. Still, our main guy took very good care of us, and even gave us a few on the house! Sweet place, definitely becoming a favorite of mine!

    (4)

  • Marcie A.

    another one of my fave brunch spots. I love coming here because the food never disappoints, they play awesome music and the service is excellent. For $10 or $15 extra you can add on all you can drink mimosas or screwdrivers. Be careful though...its really easy to leave here wobbly as hell! Another plus, the restaurant is very spacious which means you never have to wait to sit...at least for brunch. You can sit in the front, or if you have a large group they will take you to the huge room in the back which is very lounge like. This place used to be the old club/lounge Vizcaya and the back room and the bathrooms are the only part of the original club that they kept.

    (4)

  • Maria W.

    For my 300th review I wanted to Yelp about my favorite Italian spot. Gracious servers, authentic quality food, large varied menu. On the spendy side but you get what you pay for. This past weekend was balmy and bright, perfect for their outdoor seating. My salad of pears, arugula, gorgonzola and walnuts was fresh and delcious. It complimented the glass of Gavi di Gavi I had chosen and the waiter was quick to return to ask if we needed more wine. Yay! More wine! Next we went on to hot appetizers. The Melanzane alla Parmigiana, a traditional baked eggplant with tomato, basil and mozzarella, was a good size and enough to share between the three of us. Roasted to intermingle the flavors, it was well paired with the fresh crusty bread. We just had to order the fried calamari, perfectly cooked with a very light breading. I had a difficult time deciding between the lamb shank braised in chianti with porcini polenta and the La Tagliata, the sliced rosemary crusted sirloin steak steep in a Barolo wine reduction. Having just come from a week long conference with my vegan and vegetarian friends, I went for the beef. It arrived rare-medium, exactly how I had ordered it. Melted in my mouth. I'd made sure to only eat half my dinner to keep room for dessert. Dessert is a must have here. Again I had a tough time choosing. I went for the standard Tiramisu which is anything but standard here. Best I have ever had anywhere. Fortunately one of my friends chose the other dessert I was slavering over, the chocolate mousse. I've never been a big fan of mousse, thinking it a bit on the bland side, but their mousse has bits of bittersweet chocolate interspersed in a rich heavy cream base, so decadent. This is a a perfect date spot or for a gathering of a group of friends.

    (5)

  • jeanelle m.

    My friends and I first went to Il Bastardo for a last minute decision for a dinner party of about ten people on a Saturday night. The space is comfortable; lots of elbow room for everyone to go around and accommodates parties without trouble. It wasn't too crowded or loud. Service is a bit slow, but they distract you with amazing bread and this white bean dip which is so so good. Everyone in our group seemed to enjoy the food. I think the tortellini was the least loved dish. I got the lasagna. Amazing. I had to go back. The tiramisu is also super yummers. The second time we had dinner at Il Bastardo was for my same friend's going-away-dinner. Everyone loved what they got and we all shared. Many of the boys got the special pork loin dish which they loved, another friend loves the ravioli goat cheese and frequents Il Bastardo for that specific dish, and I can't stay away from the lasagna. I really wanted to try something else, and I did, from other peoples' plates. I had to satisfy my craving of lasagna first before moving on. My friend, who ordered the pork loin special, kept trying to steal lasagna! Oh, we also somehow got a bottle of wine for free! Don't know what that's about, but Il Bastardo definitely gets bonus points for that. I will definitely be back. I can't get that lasagna out of my head.

    (4)

  • C B.

    Rather than write out a long review, I'll provide you with the highlights reel: 1. The hostess was less than friendly, particularly after hearing we didn't have a reservation. Yes, it was a Friday but, really, the restaurant was 40% empty and it was after peak dining hours. 2. We sat and sat and sat and sat before we were ever greeted at the table 3. Server was clearly annoyed that only sodas and water were ordered. Sorry, sometimes we can't afford a $12 glass of wine and others have to work in a few hours. 4. We saw our server a grand total of 3 times. Once to take our drink orders, once to take the food order, and once to bring us the check 5. Expensive for small portions. ~$20 for pasta is a little ridiculous. 6. My friends were underwhelmed by their food but it was, at least, edible. Mine, however, (tortellini with cream sauce, peas, and prosciutto) was downright awful. The peas were bland still mostly frozen, the prosciutto was nowhere to be found and the meat filling was ...off. The beef was so heavily seasoned that it stopped tasting off beef almost completely. And rather it taste of anything pleasant, it tasted of an awkward combinations of flavors that seemed to have been used to cover less-than-ideal beef. 7. They won't split checks, even if you ask before ordering - not according to what you order or even dividing equally among the group. Fine. Not a deal breaker, but annoying (so many POS systems allow the splitting of checks, by the way and she obviously wasn't that busy if she appeared in the dining room just long to visit each table three times.) 8. I'm not sure I saw a single employee smile - not to each other and not with the guests.

    (2)

  • Shibs K.

    I had the rolled chicken that was stuff with all kinds of spinach goodness. (The waiter mentioned that the dish is the most frequently ordered on the menu.) The portion was great, the meat was succulent, and the potatoes rounded out the dish. The atmosphere was romantic-trendy, and the service was right on.

    (4)

  • Ting Ting G.

    My coworkers I went one night to celebrate her birthday, we got the Grilled Pizza bread It was topped with grilled mushrooms, peppers and onions with gorgonzola cheese on an ultra thin crunchy crust. The vegetables were soft, and mimicked the cheeses playful texture. The cheese was pungant and salty. But in a good way, one of my favorites of the night. Baked Eggplant Layers of eggplant with fresh tomato sauce and a heaping pile of stringy mozzarella and parmigiano cheese on top. Yum.. This could easily be a replacement for a meal. The eggplant was soft and melted in your mouth, the sauce...like biting into a fresh tomato. Mixed Grill Seafood Imagine 2 tiny pieces of fish (one red snapper, one salmon) the size of a baby's palm, 3 little shrimp, and 1 scallop sliced in half. Ripe off? I would say so! Over cooked? Yep. Tasty? Not really. Verdict: Go for appetizers and drinks, this place is fantastic for large groups and people who are generally claustrophobic. Also the bathrooms are open and unisex, so beware! Check out pictures and more on my food blog! (the website is on my profile!)

    (3)

  • Emily R.

    A polished and trendy Chelsea establishment where the food comes second to the see-and-be-seen atmosphere. The venue is deceptively huge, and all tables in the back dining room were packed at a 2:30 brunch seating. They're true to their word on the all-you-can-drink Bloody Mary/Mimosa special - they don't cut you off and the mimosas themselves are served in enormous wine goblets (no dainty champagne flutes here.) The goat cheese ravioli alla vodka is fine, not amazing, and the eggs benedict and crabcake are simply "fine" as well - but as I mentioned, the food isn't the point here. There is such fantastic people-watching in the restaurant itself, it provides enough distraction and entertainment for a 3-hour brunch to seem quick. Thumbs up.

    (3)

  • Irene K.

    Food was decent, service was horrible -- it actually inspired me to write my very first Yelp review. I had made a reservation for 9:30pm on a Friday night for my fiancee and I. When we arrived I spotted a table outside that I was really hoping to sit at, but it took so long for the hostess to come over, that some people that were just walking by grabbed it (admittedly, this is not the restaurant's fault, but it wasn't a great start). The hostess showed us to another table, but did not give us menus. We waited about 10 minutes before a server came over to serve us bread. We asked the server if we could see some menus. 5 minutes goes by and a waiter comes over and very rudely asks us what we want. We explain to him that we have not yet seen menus... He goes to the hostess stand, tells the hostess and the hostess comes over and literally (I'm not exaggerating) throws the menus at us. We almost got up to leave right then. We ended up ordering cocktails, as they had a decent cocktail list and we wanted to enjoy a drink before we ordered (pretty standard). As the cocktails were arriving, the server again asked us if we were ready to order food. We told him that we wanted to have the drinks and then order. This was probably a huge mistake because it then took him a very long time to come back... They did manage to stop by and remove our wine glasses, despite the fact that we were planning to order a bottle of wine with dinner... After how poorly we had been treated though, we were just looking to eat and move on to the next place. The food was pretty good (I had the scallops and my fiancee had the Spaghetti del Pescatore), but not good enough to put up with the horrible service. The entire time it felt like we were doing them a favor by eating there. To top it off the night, we had to wait about 20 minutes for the check to come after they dropped off the desert menu. Needless to say, we were very anxious to leave at that point... -- TL;DR: There are much better places to eat in NY, especially in this area. Decent food, but horrible service. We live about 2 blocks away and will not be returning.

    (3)

  • Andi C.

    A friend and I wandered in last night to grab a drink. We were drawn to the decor which made it seem like a nice, quietish, relaxing place to be. I ordered a cucumber mojito, which on a 90 degree night was everything I wanted it to be - cold, crisp, refreshing and just slightly sweet! My friend asked the bartender to surprise him and he ended up with the house gimlet - a pink, frothy looking drink that packed a huge punch. The only down side is that last call was at 11, which forced us to another location early in our evening.

    (4)

  • Larissa H.

    I was delighted to drink all the screwdrivers I could at brunch today. Eating at the bar is the way to go if you are a lush like me. The bartender, Mal, was amazing and kept me refilled without even having to ask! So good, I forgot to goto the pet store on my way home. Thank god I keep cat food stockpiled in my apartment!

    (5)

  • Tom K.

    There are better options for mid priced Italian in that neighborhood. Service was good, but the atmosphere is a bit mealy. Food was OK.

    (2)

  • Ella m.

    Il Bastardo brunch is like going to a club right before last call-- Blaring techno music and drunk people everywhere fumbling all over each other and trying to dance on banquettes despite being so drunk they can barely move. The back of the "restaurant" is supposed to be like a club. It's dark, blaring loud techno music, and full of sloppy, drunk people. It's impossible to have a conversation and everyone just gets blackout drunk and sloppy. The food is very sub-par and service is horrible, but most people don't notice because they are beyond blackout drunk. Definitely NOT worth the price. You can have an awesome AYCD brunch elsewhere without the ridiculous price (really $50 for a shitty omelette and Andre champagne? No thanks) and annoying club-like atmosphere. I felt like a prisoner of Jersey Shore the entire duration of this "brunch." Never again! (Unless you like people grinding on the bar next to your table at Noon and hearing Flo Rida on repeat, then maybe this place is for you).

    (1)

  • Alex G.

    Fun party brunch, we ended up drinking ourselves silly.... The manager brings around shots which is always a plus. Yay!

    (4)

  • Scott F.

    Loud pulsating music and a scene right out of Jersey Shore. Next time I will skip this dbag convention

    (1)

  • Nelly B.

    Ambience and Build out are Fantastic, along with Great music at a Perfect volume. We found the food to be mediocre and portions were on tye small side. What lacked the most was SERVICE. The place just changed concepts and is now Bocca di Bacco, which means something about something.. Point is.. they were way off point. They brought the wrong dishes, then took a while with the food.. the Manager ended up clearing our plates and to compensate, he offered us a complimentary dessert which we waited 20 minutes for. NOTE - This is NOT Il Bastardo, which was killer Italian. No chance of going back.

    (2)

  • Apoorv A.

    they got sparklers for my friend's bday..

    (4)

  • Lauren C.

    My fiancé and I had dinner here last night. No wait for a table at 9 pm; we did not have reservations. We actually wanted to go to Barbaresco, which used to be right next door. The pizza there was fantastic. However, that place is no longer in existence. No matter- the owner is the same and the fab pizza is the same, so we were happy. The issue is that the place is double the size that it used to be, because they obviously tore the wall down and made a large dining area. Unfortunately, this made for poor acoustics and a less-than-romantic ambiance. My understanding is that this was not the intention, what with the low lighting and cute candle-lit tables. In addition, they had a pandora playlist of (teenager) pop playing throughout dinner. It was a strange choice and hearing "wrecking ball" by Miley Cyrus was a distraction more than anything, not to mention that we also heard the commercials that play on pandora, including one for some online college. That's not exactly appropriate for a dinner for two on a Saturday night. The service was less than desirable, as well. It was just...slow. Nothing egregious or anything, but the restaurant wasn't even full. Just subpar. I did give the restaurant three stars or a reason, though. The food is 4 stars, at least. Really, really well done and satisfying all around. The wine recommendation was great, too. If you try one thing, get the Al Tarutufo Nero pizza. It is some of the best pizza we've ever had. Even my Caesar salad was prepared well and presented beautifully. And you can't go wrong with the crostinis. All in all, it was delicious. But service and ambiance leave some improvements to be desired. Lowering the ceilings is probably out of the question, but a playlist improvement could go a long way.

    (3)

  • Amanda F.

    Good happy hour deals. but BEWARE. My Phone was stolen right from under my nose from the bar here! Its an open space and people walk in and out. Watch your surroundings.

    (2)

  • Mark J.

    Ehhh. Sometimes good food, usually good atmosphere, rarely good service. So I have been here a couple of times. And it is hot and cold. What works is their Caesar salads and pizzas. The Caesar salad is one of my favorite in the city. Really crisp and flavorful and magnificent. So I took a date here Friday night since it was good atmosphere and was really disappointed with the service. There was no attention at all. She acted like we were lucky to be at her table, and did not check in except to order the food and deliver the check. No refills, no check in on the food (which wasn't good). Oh there was the time 10 minutes after we FINISHED the salads when she asked us again what our order was...We were like...I guess we should get comfortable since the food won't be coming for a while! I had a chicken roll, which was a big mistake. I was trying to be cool and adventurous, ok? But no. It was bland and cold-ish with a weird herb featured. I was so sad I didn't finish my plate, and I ALWAYS finish my plate... Anyway, the place is a cool atmo, and occasionally tasty foods. If you go, don't get the nasty chicken roll, and hope you dont get the mean waitress.

    (2)

  • Roxann P.

    Always had an awesome time at Sunday Brunch with friends here! Music is great, the servers keep your unlimited mimosas full! Food is delicious! Always recommend as an alternative to Cafeteria which is down the street and ALWAYS crowded!

    (4)

  • Ted K.

    I am going to give this place 5 stars to counteract the 3 star rating I see this place has as its average. It really deserves about 4.2 stars. The waiter was so nice, efficient, and attentive. He didn't know much about wine though. He told me Pinot Nero was a full-bodied wine. I had the Barbera, $11, and a great glass of wine for that price (and a generous pour). The food was really good, prosciutto and mozzarella crostini, polpette (meatballs) and a fresh, crisp salad as appetizers, all phenomenal, and two good pasta dishes. The price is really right, the atmosphere is nice, tables comfortably spaced apart. The service team was very attentive and polite. I was there for three hours plus catching up with an old friend and never felt rushed at all. Just a really positive experience. I will definitely go back. And incidentally, I am a former waiter of Italian restaurants in NYC and have worked in some of the finest. Il Bastardo holds its own as a good-time, reasonably priced trattoria.

    (5)

  • Angel C.

    Friday night is pretty empty around 8 but service is decent and seats outside are best. Kiwi fig martini @ $13 is not great - tastes murky and overly sweet. The berry caiproroska is a safe bet - brighter and punchy. Soave white wine to follow was too oaky for my taste @ $10... in general, probably worth trying a few things given the reasonable pricing and fast seating options in the heart of Chelsea

    (3)

  • Roxie R.

    Great atmosphere, delicious food and excellent service. A little loud but one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a while.

    (4)

  • Jasmin G.

    AWESOME. I had my bday brunch here on saturday and it was great. we got a table in the back where the music and the lights are. It literally looks like you're in a club at 11 pm - but instead its 130pm and you're having brunch. my kinda party. For $38 we got a prix fixe brunch with all you can drink mimosas, bloody marys or champagne. and they aren't skimpy on the drinks, my glass was like a huge bowl! I think if you have a party less than 10-15 ppl - it's only $20 for brunch + drinks, but I don't remember. everyone seemed to like their brunch options - i got the yogurt+granola parfait and it was fine - nothing amazing, but for what you're paying and the ambience, totally worth it. one of the owners/partners kept coming around passing out free shots..like several times..so that was pretty fun - i'm not really a shots sorta girl - but hey, i like the fact that they kept things fun. music is really house-ey in the beginning, but they start playing some top 40 later in the afternoon. scene is basically mid 20s, lots of bros - made me feel like i was back in college at a frat party...don't know if that's good or bad - but i had fun

    (4)

  • Christopher D.

    Thieves! In both senses of the word. I went to Il Bastardo for the first and last time with a large group of 30+ people. Having that in mind, I already went in to my experience with lowered expectations of service but what transpired to my dissatisfaction went well beyond their capability to properly accommodate a large group. We were seated 15 minutes late for our noon brunch reservation. Our large group weaved through the restaurant to the back and then to the adjoining side before being told to turn around as our table was back where we came in. Upon being seated, I was told that there was no coat check for me to put my backpack (I was staying with friends for the weekend) so I stored it under the table. We were offered an amenable prix fixed menu of items but were told that they would not be able to do many substitutions due to our group size. While I understood this, I couldn't help but notice that the entire restaurant seemed to be very large, multi-table groups. I will certainly give the staff credit for keeping the mimosas and beverages flowing, something that many "unlimited" brunch locations have trouble fulfilling but this seemed to be a planned distraction as by the time our food came most of us were too full of bubbles to even eat. In total, our brunch lasted over 3.5 hours as friends became drunker and the music became louder. Our bill was $1,175 and included a $180 service charge. Once broken down, each person had to give nearly $55 - which included people who only got items like a fruit bowl + mimosas ($20 unlimited). After paying, we moved on to Pride festivities and I accidentally left the aforementioned backpack under the table. Within about 3 avenues (10 minutes) I called the restaurant to confirm that they found it and was told they had it in their possession and I could come and get it any time before closing (11pm). Upon my return 1.5 hours later, I grabbed my backpack from the hostess and went through it to find over $200 of personal items stolen including keys to my house. I in no way expect them to be responsible for lost or stolen items, especially because they didn't have a coat check but at the same time find it reprehensible that the standard their staff is held to is so low as to permit them to go through and steal from customers. I brought this to a manager's attention who would not even engage in conversation with me about my stolen items and I left a bit gobsmacked by the experience.

    (2)

  • Kristin N.

    Good food, good drinks. A little expensive, but worth it.

    (5)

  • Jin C.

    I don't think I've had such bad food in such a long time. My veal saltimbocca would have been good if it had come out of a TV dinner box. The veal had a mealy and unappetizing texture and the side of spinach was just an oily, bland pile of greens. The meat and cheese plate is definitely made for sharing, so be wary of that. I wouldn't recommend coming here unless you have an out-of-towner whom you don't especially care to impress.

    (1)

  • Jeff W.

    (1) Do you like eating garbage? (2) Do you enjoy crappy drinks? (3) Is New Jersey where your heart is? THEN COME ON DOWN TO IL BASTARDO!!!!! On a sunny, unsuspecting Saturday, I decided to venture to Il Bastardo with several colleagues. Here I was thinking I'd have a fun, casual drunch. Sadly, that could not have been farther from reality. I entered to music blasting at a solid 100,000 decibels on what I presumed were pieces of fabric sewn onto large metal boxes (or what Il Bastardo calls "speakers"). First sign, that I probably should have turned around. But nonetheless, I continued my venture into what was most definitely a scene from Snooki's wildest wet dream - guidos and bros alike fist pumping to cheesy remixes of "All of Me" and "Happy". After being seated in some dark random corner of what looked to be a dungeon, our waitress came over and informed us that the drinks were no longer "unlimited". Are you kidding me? There is no way I'm dealing with bootleg JWow over there in the corner and Mike "The Fake Situation" without some serious booze. Luckily, she was rather generous with the "champagne" - aka $2 wine spritzer squeezed out of month old rotten grapes they decided to throw out at the nearby grocery. There was also some sort of attempt at a "bloody mary" served to me. I mistook it for ketchup with vodka so I avoided it for the most part. I guess this was a restaurant so I should probably touch on the food as well. It was whatever. Nothing special, portions were okay, food was whatever. I don't remember what I ate if that means anything. After about an hour of nearby tables going - "YOO BROOOO THIS DJ IS SO SICKK" & "OMG JENNY IM SO DRUNK. LETS MAKEOUT!!!", I decided to take my drunk self to another bar. The highlight of the brunch? Leaving the door and never having to see the inhabitants of New Jersey's butt crack up close ever again.

    (1)

  • Annie G.

    Great place for a work lunch or even dinner. The food is delicious especially the pasta with marinara sauce and basil. They give you a delish chickpea dip with the bread...staff needs to be more attentive and service is not always consistent...

    (4)

  • Micheal S.

    Brunch was amazing as usual, good food good music good dancers:), it's my 3rd time there. I will defiantly go back

    (5)

  • Maciej K.

    What happened to this place????? This is my first review on Yelp because I couldn't understand how you go from an amazing brunch place to pretty much the worst $50 spent. I had to warn old timers that this new place (under a different name) is a complete 180 from the original. I looked forward coming to this place and this was about my 7th or 8th time. This time the food was terrible!!! The Eggs Benedict with Crab Cakes were like getting frozen ones and putting them in a microwave. The crab cakes were definitely defrosted and the English muffins were from a dollar store... flat and no taste. Here's the best part... I ordered champagne with my brunch and so did two of my friends. They just dropped off the bottles on the table with no ice buckets and no glasses. 5 minutes later we asked for flutes and they told us we should use the plastic cups on the table. We refused so they brought us wine glasses. And on top of it all the waiter was not attentive and rude. Will not go to this place ever again!

    (1)

  • Jill O.

    Made a brunch reso for 12 people a few weeks ago. I thought this was a nice restuartant and was looking forward to a good meal and good service. Not so much! Waitress was severley inattentive, not to mention she forgot to put in one of our entrees. After tracking her down across the restaurant after we were served, we waited 15 minutes for them to whip it up while everyone else ate, and it came out with about 50% of the sides missing as I'm sure they didnt have time to pull it together. The waitress was not apologetic, then avoided us some more. The bloody mary's were awful, but of course no one came by for 15 minutes after we recieved them. After finding someone, we sent them back and waited another ten minutes for replacement diet cokes. The food was tasty but nothing ruins this for me like crappy service...go elsewhere. It's NY!

    (2)

  • Raquel A.

    LOVE this place. I went here for brunch with a girlfriend on a Sunday and we barely found our way out. :) Boozey breakfast for sure. And the wait staff is very generous with the refills, so even with a two hour limit, you can definitely leave here seriously inebriated! The food was delicious, but then again, what food isn't when you're in that state? lol The best part was the fact that they also have music playing in one of the larger rooms - mind you, this place is MASSIVE - and there were people dancing, girls on bars, it was like a nightclub during the day!! Unlimited mimosas, great service, food, and music - what more can I ask for? I will definitely go back here, it was a blast! You make a lot of friends too as long as you're social since the crowd is a bit younger and lively. Lots of fun!!

    (5)

  • Uliana P.

    So we ordered food for lunch from their pri fixe menu and in the end we were charged a dinner price. The sizes were tiny and when I called to fixed the situation, i was on hold for 10 minutes after that I was told the manager would call me back.. Never happened and called again. Again on hold and never called back. So i went there.. The manager was ignorant and did not even understand what I was talking about, I gave up and honestly not going to order from there ever again. ( We ordered from them a lot though, and spent a lot of money... well no more!!!!)

    (1)

  • Michael V.

    The two stars are ONLY for the quality of the entre. The service is dreadful. My wine was bad, but it was 20 minutes before the waiter ever came back, so I drank it. I asked for bread three times, and finally got it by getting the attention of the hostess as she was seating people. Everyone of us sitting near each other were talking about how bad the service was. Price is more of a "$$$" than "$$", and not worth it, even by New York standards. I would never go there again. To make matters worse, I only tipped 10% due to the horribly bad service. The waiter took it upon himself to change the tip amount, adding an extra $10 for himself; unbelievable! Of course I'm disputing it.

    (2)

  • Hayden K.

    I went here last night and had their "fresh" oysters special ($1 each). Well now I know why they were only $1. Unlike other great places in the city that have $1 oyster specials, it seems like Il Bastardo's special was merely to get rid of questionable oysters. I spend several hours last night vomiting (starting within an hour after I left the restaurant). I tried to call and warn them but after being put on hold for 10 minutes they are now putting me direct to voicemail. I work around the corner and am a regular there but I will never again give them another dollar. Please steer clear of their oysters and of their entire establishment because of their lack of customer service.

    (1)

  • Kristin N.

    My girlfriend brought me here this past Sunday. It has been literally 2 full years since I went out to brunch, I am usually behind the bar serving up mimosas to NYC's hungover! As I approached the restaurant, I could hear the blaring music and I could just tell I was in for quite an experience. I walked in, the place was PACKED! A DJ sat above the main bar/dining area, patrons were dancing in the aisles, shots were being passed around on trays, hosts, servers, and bartenders were eating it up, all smiles and seemed to be having the time of their lives (kudos to them, because after all, they are in the service industry and that can be nearly impossible to do!). But as much of a party atmosphere as it was, EVERYONE was on top of their game, working quickly, efficiently, and with a smile. It seemed to be an insanely well oiled machine. Unlimited brunch drinks are STRONG. We sat at the bar. I ordered the fruit salad with yogurt (adventurous, I know). It was great, not that you can really mess that up, but it was clearly put together with craft and care and most importantly fresh fruit that wasn't all crappy honeydew melon ;) Our bartender, Lydia, was amazing. Gorgeous and attentive. And on that note, how HOT is the staff?! This is my new Sunday spot. Prices are beyond reasonable, food is good and comes out in a very timely fashion, and the staff gives everyone exactly what they paid for.

    (5)

  • Casey G.

    Solid happy hour in a part of the city lacking many options. Drinks would be overpriced at standard prices, but definitely a good deal at HH.

    (4)

  • Peter K.

    Sold by the $15 3 course lunch in a convenient spot between friends offices we met here. It was dead on a Thursday afternoon. Like 3 tables including us were there in this huge space. Reason to be scared? Not for the pretty good food. My friends enjoyed theirs. I too enjoyed my mussels, spaghetti with olive oil and sun dried tomatoes, and apple pie. It took a month to get the damn food. How can cooking for 7 people in the entire restaurant take so long to prepare. Good size portions for lunch, but come on now. It takes 7 minutes to cook mussels, and 10 for spaghetti. By the time I got my credit card back (thank God there was only one) lunch was an hour and 40 minutes. Really good food Good sized portions Friendly server Slow cook.

    (3)

  • Kristen R.

    I should have trusted my instincts on this one. Came for an AYCD brunch, which is just not my cup of tea but friends from out of town wanted to end the wknd with a bang. The clientele is absurd. If the food was worth the wait, I would have overlooked the ridiculous atmosphere, but literally everything about this place was terrible. Just don't.

    (1)

  • Amanda M.

    Came here about 2 weeks ago with a date :) We came really early because we were both very hungry... We came at about 4:30 (lol very early dinner).... When we walked in the hostess told us the kitchen was closed and to have a seat at the bar... When we sat at the bar the hostess came right back and told us we could pick a table and order, we would just have to wait until 5:00.... We were ok with that... Since she told us to pick a table, I chose a table right in front of the large windows, so that I could enjoy the scenery while we stuffed our faces! The hostess told us we could not sit there because the table was not set up yet... I was becoming slightly annoyed at that point... When we sat at a table right next to the door (definitely not my first choice...) we ordered our drinks and food... I ordered the ravioli with vodka sauce, the waitress came right back after putting in our order and told me that they had ran out of ravioli.... OH COME ON!! So she stood their awkwardly while I tried to quickly decide on something else... I just pointed to the rigatoni with grilled eggplant to break the strange vibe in the air.... The decor and ambiance were so chic and quite cozy, the music was awful and depressing, they had the volume way too high also... The food comes, and it was delicious... The sauce on the pasta was wonderful and thick, the eggplant was cooked nicely and seasoned very well... In the middle of our meal the hostess seemed to have seen a group of girls that she knew, so she got up and opened the door to the restaurant and put the stopper down.... She was having a conversation with the girls, while the freezing January air blew in our faces while we were eating... Finally my date had enough and said " excuse me can you please shut the door??"... She apologized and gave a nasty smirk while she shut the door.... So although the food was great, I was very unappeased with the service here... I will not be returning to this restaurant.

    (2)

  • Alexandra S.

    Unfortunately, this was the place we chose for our small (20 family members) wedding reception. I booked the place 1,5 month ahead, signed a contract and tried to discuss the arrangements. For a couple of weeks I could not get hold of the manager: he could never pick up the phone and never called back even though I was promised that. Finally, we agreed that we would have the back bigger room all to ourselves, agreed on the pre-fixed menu (which mysteriously said "dessert of the day") and this was it. On the day of the wedding we arrive there to see that the table is set in the front (hallway) part of the restaurant, so closer to dinner time it was packed with people around us and very loud music playing. The food was very decent: salmon steak, beef something and pasta. But for dessert we got a scoop of BANANA ice-cream, not even decorated with a mint leaf or something. This was the cheapest thing ever and very disappointing. We couldn't play our music as the restaurant has no wi-fi. The waiters were clumsy and took forever to get orders. We ended up paying $1400 for 20 guests and 5 bottles of Prosecco which turned out to be way too much for such service and food quality. The manager never even apologies for lying to me. I should have taken all the arrangements in writing. I think he knew he would cheat us and that is why he never responded to my e-mails. Never coming back there for our wedding anniversaries even for memories' sake.

    (2)

  • Harrison E.

    This place must be under new management or a new cook in the kitchen--the food, service, and general atmosphere has changed for the better. Came here for an amazing all-you-can-drink brunch and then back for dinner--both were well inspired and fantastically delicious.

    (4)

  • Liza M.

    Went to brunch with 13 of my girlfriends- the music is great, I never saw the bottom of my glass, and the food was good. Its a really fun spot for a loud boozy brunch complete with dancing on tables and GREAT people watching.

    (5)

  • Sintiea S.

    This is the spot we ended up at for our trendy dinner night. This spot had a very relaxing atmosphere and a more mature crowd. Lots of couples and girls who looked like they were on a ladies night out. Our food was pretty tasty. The servers brought rounds of tiny cups filled with broccoli soup for everyone. It was a nice gesture. My friend and I both got fish dishes that did not disappoint. I recommend this place if you are looking to go to a quiet dinner with no fuss food.

    (4)

  • Lex L.

    This place should be embarrassed for itself. I've been coming to Il Bastardo for years now and am saddened to say that the quality of everything has plummeted to depressingly low levels. We started the order with the mushroom appetizer. Once upon a time this item came with several large mushrooms overstuffed with bubbly cheese and great seasoning. This time, we got five tiny shriveled mushroom caps stuffed with breadcrumbs and no cheese. Two of us ordered the skirt steak. The meat had clearly been frozen and was incredibly tough and chewy (the complete opposite of what a skirt steak should be). The chimichurri sauce was indescribably bad and the mashed potatoes had absolutely no flavor. The third member of our party ordered the lamb shank. That was actually very well cooked and the sauce had a very nice flavor to it. The polenta it came with, however, was repugnant. The service was so-so. I say this because our waiter couldn't have been more absent if he had taken off to go drinking while we ate our meal. We finished a bottle of wine and were never asked if we wanted another. Some wine was spilled on the table and never wiped up (he actually placed the bill on top of it). The busboy, however, was incredibly attentive and pleasant. Had he been our actual server, I would have nothing negative to say in this front. The decor in this place is pretty cool, but I can't understand how the bathroom is in the state that it's in for as long as it has been. Has no one from management ever set foot in there? It always looks like a tornado went through it--sink spigots are missing, paint is peeling and the paper towel situation is just sad. In sum, I will never be going back to Il Bastardo and I think anyone looking for a good dining experience should avoid it as well.

    (2)

  • Justin W.

    A bit on the priceier side compared to other AYCD Brunches in the city but definitely worth it for the experience. They keep the music blasting and the booze flowing, even after you've finished your meal(I had to cut myself off), not to mention the free shots that come around from the manager. The food is pretty good and fills in the spaces. The drinks are come in large portions and my screwdriver was pretty strong. It's a pretty large space so it's good if you have a big group. Overall good time.

    (4)

  • Adele P.

    Decent brunch spot, but a bit pretentious with all that loud music. Hello, it's brunch, turn it down! We were supposed to be a group of 8 but wound up being 5. The place was surprisingly empty at noon on a Sunday. We sat down, realized we couldn't hear ourselves speak, and asked to be moved up front near the entrance. Brunch items were good but pricey. I had eggs benedict with proscuitto, as did another member of our party. One person ordered a side of bacon, and for 5.00, they could have coughed up a few more slices. One friend's heart-shaped vegetarian panini looked great, and he seemed to enjoy it. Service was decent, the drinks kept coming (although I was never asked if I wanted a refill on my coffee). Not a bad spot, but I was with people I wanted to hear, and found it difficult over all the loud music.

    (3)

  • Kimberly L.

    Came here with a friend - we ordered the pre fixe menu $18 pretty good deal. I started with the pasta fagioli. It was not like my grandmothers (which is the best) so I was a bit disappointed. It was a little thin and could use a bit more tomato base but I'm just spoiled. For main course, I had the eggplant and ricotta rigatoni. It was good. The portions weren't huge but two pastas dishes was really quite filling for me. We both ordered wines and it came with a raspberry gelatin. The selection of main courses and pasta dishes were great. There was something for everyone: chicken, lamb, veal etc. The outdoor seating was nice but seats near the edge were very close to the subway grates which was a little noisy. It was actually quite deep into the sidewalk so people would walk by and stare at our dishes and this one woman actually walked inside and I think was asking for leftovers which was creepy. Nonetheless, I would come back on a nice sunny day and try some different dishes.

    (3)

  • Pia M.

    Great spot for brunch (decent food menu, unlimited mimosas served in big wine glasses) but Il Bastardo holds a special spot in my heart for their Homemade Tagliatelle with Meat Sauce, which I probably ate once a month in 2011 (sick, I know).

    (4)

  • Kosta K.

    Yummy! All I can say. Been going for years and the food is excellent. Staff is very nice and food was super tasty. The wines are also well priced. Great for large parties!

    (5)

  • Carlos S.

    Food is decent took them 20 min to bring a plate of rigatoni LOL, like most place in the city service sucked!

    (2)

  • Sarah C.

    We used to come all the time. It's great food, but the prices went up and the service was horrible. I went in with 2 friends for brunch at 1:00 PM on a Saturday and they were great to start, but once larger parties arrived, we were very neglected. They dropped the bill without asking and we noticed that 20% gratuity was automatically added (which is illegal). They didn't refill our unlimited drinks before the check was dropped, and then attempted to pick up our bill many times before we dropped our credit cards. Totally unacceptable.

    (2)

  • Walter S.

    If I owned this place I would wonder why there are so many bad reviews but the line to get in is a full block long. All around this one are very very good restaurants. They are empty.

    (1)

  • Judy V.

    Several years ago, after an event in Chelsea one night, a friend and I wanted to go to Cafeteria, but it was packed, so we wandered up 7th Avenue, and decided to check out Il Bastardo. One of the best serendipitous discoveries we've made, and one of my go-to places if I ever have friends in from out of town, or friends who can't figure out where they want to eat. If I could earn frequent flier miles with each visit, it probably would have paid for my airfare to Vietnam. Over all these years, I can honestly say that I have never had a bad meal here. The restaurant is spacious enough that you don't feel like you are on top of your fellow diners, the music is always fun, and the service is always good. I've mostly done dinner here, but earlier this year, sat at the bar with a friend and had lunch. My absolute must-have appetizer every time I go is the grigliata mista - grilled scallops, shrimp and calamari served on a bed of arugula and tomato topped with lemon dressing. After having this dish, I find it difficult to enjoy fried calamari. The vinaigrette is light enough to let all the flavor of the grilled seafood shine through. Main courses I've enjoyed on a consistent basis: - Lamb shank braised with chianti, served with porcini polenta. The lamb is so tender that you only need a fork to pull it off the bone without looking like a total neanderthal. - Pan-seared Jumbo sea scallops with balsamic reduction, endive and radicchio salad - Skirt steak marinated in parsley salsa, mashed potatoes and spinach Friends of mine have ordered the Fat Bastardo Burger and said it was very good. If after all this, you have room for dessert, they have a chocolate mousse which is just sweet enough, light, smooth and creamy. The cocktail menu is pretty good, and the wine list is pretty extensive, but I think your best bet is the house red - a Sangiovese from their namesake winery (and sold in wine stores in NYC for probably around $8-9 a bottle).

    (5)

  • Ashley T.

    I've been to the brunch here and the unlimited mimosa specials were heavenly (crazy good)! The food was amazing and the prices were comparable to the area. I'd definitely recommend this spot for a light, spirited and delicious brunch :) Its a fabulous place to have a group gathering or a small meet-up with a few pals. Definitely an establishment to check out and remember! Good times and enjoy :)

    (4)

  • Divya R.

    I went here on a Wednesday evening with coworkers (11 of us in total). The service was extremely slow (we waited for almost half an hour between ordering our drinks and receiving them, then another 5-10 minutes before we could order our food), but the food was pretty good, and so were the drinks. The drinks were a little pricey (around $15 per cocktail), but we made our reservation through savored.com and received a discount on the entire bill.

    (3)

  • pracheta t.

    We celebrated my best friend's birthday brunch here and I'm not even sure where to start. Yes we barely slept from the night before but it felt like a time warp because we get to the back where our table was and it was dark, strobe/disco light going and it was onnnn! Unlimited drinks, extremely attentive servers, typical (but not bad)dance music and a totally affordable bill makes me reccommend this place. The food though..not very good. I'm assuming they bank on people drinking a lot so they don't exactly taste the food but I was famished and couldn't wait for the food. Needless to say, I was very disappointed. The four stars goes out to the atmosphere and overall FUN. Oh - free tequila shots.

    (4)

  • Nikki O.

    Where to begin. Heard so many good things about this place so decided to plan a girls brunch and go. The brunch has a two hour limit per table and on that day the first two seatings were booked. We went at 430 and walked into a mob scene. This brunch is so disorganized!!! The people from the seating before weren't leaving then you have the people walking in for the 430 waiting for tables to be cleared off. I appreciate they don't "kick" people out after their brunch is over but at the same time what about the people coming in? I saw the craziness and didn't get too annoyed that we weren't seated right away but after 15-20 minutes I started getting irritated. I told the hostess AGAIN that my party was here and what's going on and she said she would be back. Another 15 minutes passed at this point it's 5 and there's a two hour limit remember, and still no table. I went up to the hostess for the third time and told her we having been waiting for 30 minutes and she turned to be and said oh I thought I seated you already. We finally got in or seats at 5 hung out drank, ate,danced a little. Around 6 people were coming in for dinner? Weird. Brunch ended 630 that was the time the dj left but we hung around until 7 finishing our drinks since we felt we got jipped of some time. I think I might go back, but at the same time it was a little too hectic for my taste. I Iove brunches but I can't deal with how disorganized this one was.

    (3)

  • Mark R.

    PRO: The food was actually decent, and the atmosphere is casual modern. CON: If you like having brunch in the middle of a dance club, this is your place. Seriously, they're cranking techno at 110 db at 11am while you're recovering from a hangover. They actually gradually ramp up the volume slowly from opening on. By noon, you literally can't hear your waiter describe the specials and she can't hear you give your order. But the bridge & tunnel crowd love it, so get ready to spend your meal with them.

    (2)

  • Valeria F.

    Not cheap, $15-25 dishes as I remember. Big, spacious restaurant so great for big groups (we had 20 people and they sat us down right away!) The wait wasn't long, and the food was decently good. I ordered the lasagna ($17), and the top layer of crusty parmesan was delicious. The meet and pasta were, imo, mediocre. And what bothered me a bit was that the lasagna was in a bowl, very liquid and kind of like a soup. It still tasted like lasagna and pretty good at that, I just wasn't used to it being presented that way. Overall, nice time and pretty nice place, I'm sure it's even more fun later in the evening since it's so large so there're probably lots of people to socialize with!

    (3)

  • Krista J.

    If you are looking for a good weekend brunch spot, look no further. Il Bastardo has a fabulous selection of breakfast dishes (French Toast, Eggs Benedict, Omelets, Pancakes, Steak and Eggs) and lunch dishes (Penne with Baby Shrimp, Hamburger, Caesar Salad). There is plenty of space for an intimate meal with a friend or two or you could throw a party for thirty in the back room. The staff are friendly, though the service could step it up a notch or two. Overall, though, I had a really great meal and loved the endless Champagne, Bloody Marys and Mimosas (for an added $15) The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, as well, and though I can't speak directly to those meals, I am sure they are great, too.

    (4)

  • Alessia A.

    Ok so here's the thing - yesterday was my birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!) and I wanted a boozy party brunch for my festivities - so I asked around and Il Bastardo came recommended to me. I had done the boozy brunches in meatpacking and wasn't looking for that scene - too expensive and too pretentious for my crew and for what I was looking for - so enter Il Bastardo. After reading all the reviews to say I was nervous is a HUGE understatement. I actually sent out a disclaimer text to all my friends warning that the service will be terrible and that I apologize in advance but let's all just drink and having a great time. What it ended up being was completely and utterly amazing and left everyone smiling and wanting to go back - saying it was a blast - asking me how I found this place and one of my friends decided to plan her friends bachelorette party there. So here's where the bad reviews come into play - yes, the food is mediocre at best but otherwise, I have nothing but praise. THIS IS NOT A QUIET AND TYPICAL BRUNCH SPOT - we were a party of 22 and experienced great service. I think we also started off on the right foot with the staff and owner. By the end he kept bringing us shots - the staff was giving us champagne bottles to keep at the table and we were all dancing on furniture. AGAIN - THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL BRUNCH SPOT. there are THOUSANDS of places in the city for a fun but more subdued quiet brunch with great food and delicious drinks - if that's what you're looking for then don't come here and then get all pissy because it's a party spot during the day. They didn't mess up a single order (in a party of 22 - and that's no easy feat). It's loud - the music is top 40 - the drinks are eh but it's partically free so let's be honest people - beggers can't be choosers. I would also like to point out that it was my 34th birthday - the ages of the people in my crew ranged from 29 to 50 so clearly not a young 20's looking to party crew - we all love good food, good wine, good service, etc. but we all came into this just looking for a good time on a sunday afternoon and that's exactly what we got. So...in conclusion - if you are looking to go to brunch and have a conversation with your friends - DO NOT COME HERE - but if you're looking to dance and have a great time on a non-typical Sunday...this is the spot - great value! Oh and yes, they are strict about the 2 hour rule...HOWEVER, you can pay to stay for an hour longer and they will tell you it $15 per person but the owner loved our crew so I negotiated him down to $12 per person ;-)

    (4)

  • Lauren G.

    We came here for brunch and it was really fun, loud music, party atmosphere. Decent food and lots of champagne to go around. I had the frittata which was good, but a bit small. We are going next week for my friends 30th birthday so I'm going to try something else.

    (4)

  • Amy D.

    The restaurant has great ambiance. Prices are reasonable for NYC. The staff was attentive. The food, I had traditional pasta was FANTASTIC!! I will go again.

    (4)

  • Angela L.

    Came here on 2 diff sundays. First time only for drinks and 2nd time for the aycd brunch. Love that its loud blaring techno brunch with a lively atmosphere. Perfect pick me up for the end of the weekend blues. Sunday is losing its rip as a lazy sunday or more sunday fun day! I ordered the egg floretine, which were ekk. Friend had the chicken caesar salad which was amazing. The bartender is extremely generous with the endless mimosa in the huge champagne glasses.

    (3)

  • Jeff M.

    The absolutely worse service I've ever seen. The place was half empty. We didn't see our server for over 20 minutes. I complained about it and got worse service. You are sadly mistaken if you think that's how it works in NYC, let alone in the middle of Chelsea where I have lived for many years. I'm not going to deny that the food is pretty good. They need some management and servers that understand the service aspect on running a restaurant. Let me elaborate a little more about my experience. I am more than understanding when it comes to "mistakes happen", however if I have to be the one to initiate to notice that (me as a guest) isn't happy then it's a bad on the management. Once a comment was mentioned, we never saw the server again. And hardly, saw the manager. And the worst part of it all to be honest, not a single apology from the server or management (make something up and I would have been fine with it). Honestly, way better service and food available too close to deal with this kind of establishment. They may think they have some reputation as being here "awhile", however they are shooting themselves in the foot if they think this way of thinking is going to continue to bring people. Very under-satisfied and do not recommend. So many better and friendly places so close by.

    (1)

  • The Bees Knees O.

    In a nutshell: $18 for 2 hours of mimosas, bloody marys, screw drivers, etc. (HUGE and they keep em coming) Yummy food Great Staff Good music FUN party I went here on a Saturday afternoon for my birthday brunch it was great! The staff was friendly and fun and more than generous with free shots (patron & cosmos -oh and a birthday shot of sambuca served to me on fire). The music was great to dance to, mix of current hits, 90's hip hop and reggae. First I was told that if I had more than 10 people I had to email the manager so I did. Aljoscha responded to me immediately and was great with answering any questions I had promptly. I changed the amount of people at the last minute which was no problem. When we got there we were seated in the back which is slightly partitioned by a few steps. It was the first time I was there and I was pleased with the ambiance and decor. It's casual yet aesthetically on point - modern but comfortable, chill vibe. Big place, plenty of space. Was quiet in the front but the back of the place (where we were) eventually turned into a really fun party with people dancing on chairs and the maitre d, Sharif spraying champagne on us! SOOO MUCH FUNN!! There were only 2 other tables of people in the back so it was perfect. Felt like we had the place to ourselves. Sharif and his staff were so friendly, accommodating, and EXTREMELY generous Win-Winwith free shots!!! They were dancing with us and taking pictures with us too. Just a really great time overall. I would DEFINITELY come back for another party brunch. This place seems to really cater to whatever the mood of your party is. Like I said, the front of the restaurant was calm and people were just sitting and eating... as we got crazier in the back the staff just adjusted and made the music louder in the back and kept the shots and drink refills coming! Turned into an all out party and I felt like I was at a nightclub -definitely didn't feel like it was a Saturday afternoon. Also, they post a sign saying that they really enforce the 2 hour $18 bottomless mimosas, blood marys, screw drivers, etc. But again we had no problems and they kept our drinks coming. Oh and the food.... I had the french toast with mixed berries. YUM!

    (4)

  • Preethy K.

    Another place to add to the boozy brunch list - The brunch food was pretty good (ordered the penne vodka) as were the unlimited drinks, but the decor was a bit confusing. The back room especially, which is where the majority of groups get seated for the optimum boozy brunch experience, had loud music blaring and the lighting was so dim that we had to use our phones to look at the menu. It looked like a club, yet there was no dancing. Unlike other boozy brunch places like lavo and bagatelle that actually do turn into a club later in the afternoon, this place remained an eating and drinking venue, which was disappointing considering it had everything it needed to become a full-blown day party. This would have at least made for a fit ending to the vibe and momentum it was building for itself. If you are looking for club decor as part of your dining experience, this is the place for you. Otherwise, go somewhere else for your boozy brunch experience.

    (3)

  • Karin G.

    I'm updating my review under Bastardo, but this is for dining at the bar of their small sister, Bar Barcesco, next door. Same menu, basically, same staff, so just to keep it simple, I'll update here. So this place is now my favorite cheese plate in the city. Its not because they have a huge cheese menu to select from, they don't. You order the cheese, and you get what they have. But it's because they are so accommodating: I ask for cheese, no meat ( that's, btw, the dish, its actually cheese and charcuterie) and I get all cheese. I say go heavy on the parmesan and they load me up with huge heavenly morsels of hard sharp cheese goodness. And, it's because the cheese and bread service kicks ass! Olives, fruit, honey, nuts lots of great fresh bread served with EVOO and balsamic~pretty!~and it's huge. More than enough for two and plenty for one big fanatical cheese eater(me!) The service is great~ate at the bar this time and enjoyed it completely. My favorite waitstaff, among all the really good servers, is Alan, who is just nice and fun as can be. Obsessed with doing his usual great job, still makes time to say hello and share the latest news. Great guy! Really love this place for being not only being a lovely spot with good food at good value, but also for being consistent and reliable.

    (5)

  • Jamay L.

    Great place to go for a "boozy brunch" celebration! The lounge ambiance and music make you forget it's 1pm (and not 11pm). The drinks are generous and strong and continuous... Most importantly, the service is excellent. We brought in a home-made cake for the birthday boy, but unfortunately our birthday message got smudged during transport. When the staff saw that in the kitchen, they kindly re-lettered our writing for us with chocolate syrup. They cut the cake evenly into generous slices for us, and returned the baking pan clean and dry at the end of the meal. It was refreshing to have such great service and no plating fee! Would definitely go back!

    (4)

  • Diana C.

    i was here two years in a row for NYE parties (not by choice). NEVER AGAIN. mainly because there are no TV's and no countdowns until 5 seconds before midnight. if your loved one wasn't standing next to you in the 5 second time frame, then too bad. luckily i was able to find mine both times, but imagine! ridiculously long lines to the bathroom. no dance floor. and the drinks were too strong at the open bar (say whaattt???). i know it doesn't sound like a bad thing, but they tasted like shit and that is definitely a bad thing.

    (2)

  • Christopher M.

    The location is great, right on 7th avenue and 22nd. The ambiance the bar, the bathroom, everything is very cool. They have a nice outdoor section. I had some of their signature cocktails made with Fig, they were very good. The salads were amazing. Simply amazing. I did not order an entree after eating the salad I just ate another salad. I would give this a much higher review however our waitress was very short with us. It was the end of the night and maybe she did not want another table, but we were there. She paid little attention to us. acted annoyed by everything we asked for, it was disappointing. Everyone can have an off day. The food is great, chances are you will get a good server and you will enjoy it.

    (3)

  • David H.

    We came on New Years Eve (six of us) because no one wanted to blow $150 at some all-you-can drink bar/lounge/nightclub... been there, done that, had fun, too old now. I don't think anyone expected an amazing meal, we just wanted somewhere to ring in the New Year and decently priced alcohol to get us to midnight. Il Bastardo went above and beyond. The $65 four course meal was absolutely delicious. There were two options for each course, so between my gf and I we tried everything on the NYE menu (see pictures). Some highlights of the meal/evening: - The lobster bisque was AMAZING, perfect flavor and not too creamy so as to dilute the lobster taste. - Incredible lamb chops, came right off the bone, very tender and perfectly cooked. - Strawberry and prosecco tiramisu (kinda like a starwberry shortcake) was soooo good, my mouth is watering now as I think about it. - Good crowd, not rambunctious but enough noise level to keep it exciting as we wound down to midnight. Superb staff that provided us balloons, plastic top hats and tiaras, and other NYE toys. All in all a terrific NYE experience that I would highly recommend. We didn't book this place until the week before NYE, so apparently not many people know about it--which would make it a very well kept secret indeed!

    (4)

  • Peter D.

    This place was so noisy with blasting music that we could not hear our own conversation. It was a nice restaurant at one time.....we won't be back.

    (1)

  • See Jay T.

    Came here for mothers day last year, great place to have a nice dining session with family and or friends. Nice place, the decor is modern with a funky twist. And thought the unisex bathrooms were cool. Their selection of wines by the glass is impressive and the atmosphere is cozy and chic. They started Sunday night jazz nights, which is a very enjoyable way to end the weekend. The food is great for a light dinner and I can't wait for the spring time to take advantage of their outdoor seating/people watching 7th Avenue.

    (4)

  • Kacy P.

    Holy cow! I dined with 3 of my girlfriends the week after Christmas. I ordered the Butternut Squash Gnocchi (a special that night). My friends ordered scallops, crabcakes, and the gnocchi as well. The gnocchi was a bit drier than I prefered, but still had an excellent flavor. My buddy's scallops, on the other hand, were divine. The scallops melted on the tongue and were gently finished with just the right amount of white wine butter. I was very impressed (and slightly jealous). The decor was hip and dark with a bank of windows looking out onto the street. The lavatory was unique, a mixed gender, open concept at the basement level. The exposed brick and hardwood floors lent the space a cozy feel. My only complaint is that the chair I was originally given was wobbly. I'm not a large person by any means and it seems in a restaurant with an upscale presence the furnishings should be a bit more substantial. Overall, lovely place, yummy food.

    (4)

  • Suzanne B.

    After a pain in the ass process of making a reservation for around 10 (god forbid it was one more or less) for my birthday brunch, I was extremely disappointed to arrive and be scooted over to Bar Baresco next door. While they promised the same all-you-can-drink deal and menu, part of the reason I chose this il Bastardo was for the supposed day-club atmosphere with pulsing music and strobe lights...BB was not that at all. The service was horrible as I think one busboy was running the entire show and at one point just plopped down champagne at the table for making our own mimosas. Bloody Mary's are always my drunk brunch preference, but the Bloody's here were atrocious (and quite possibly laced as my boyfriend and I were the only two drinking a few of them and the only two to severely black out the rest of the afternoon)! The food itself was ok, no one seemed disappointed. I had the Eggs Benedict with prosciutto and it was tasty. I would only return to either spot for dinner and give a regular dining experience a try.

    (2)

  • Travis D.

    This place was fantastic! My boyfriend and I went late one night for dinner and everything was delicious! Our server was a delight and we would love to go back the next time we're in New York!

    (5)

  • Rachael K.

    Good drinks, which is fun for brunch, but there are much better places with better deals for the all you can drink. The waitresses were pretty rude, kind of a snooty feel in there. Also, the food was far from impressive. I wouldn't come back.

    (2)

  • Ana B.

    I love their brunch. Their french toast kicks total butt!! A must try!

    (4)

  • Karen K.

    My coworker recommended this place for brunch, so I suggested that a few of us go here on a saturday. This place has a young crowd, fun vibe, and the unlimited mimosas are a great deal! Def. make reservations. The french toast was delicious... and my cousin had the pancakes which were a delicious also. If you're looking for a place for a big group, this is it! Majority of the tables had groups of 10+ Enjoy ... will definitely visit this place again.

    (4)

  • Aki N.

    Pretty good brunch on a Sunday afternoon. I had a frittata with caramelized onions and zucchini which came with home fries ($9). Both were fairly light, if a little bland, but good. Would be a solid three-stars, except for the two-hour AYCD for $15 brunch special, which I did not take advantage of, but puts it in four-star territory. Great brunch menu choices, nice staff, and I really like the space. I would love to come back to try it for a bigger brunch or dinner.

    (4)

  • Jyoti H.

    I came here for a chambru with about 10 other people. They immediately brought out carafes of mimosas and such, but I stuck to champagne on the rocks (okay. no rocks. just champagne). I ordered the eggs benedict and it was pretty good - considering that usually AYCD places are usually mediocre. I was also pleased with service. Given that we were a huge group - they were patient with us even when we were 3 drinks, er, carafes, deep. I would totally come back again for a group chambru!

    (4)

  • Rana W.

    wasn't anything special. Ive had better. It was a cool atmosphere but other than that.. I wasn't impressed.

    (1)

  • Chris B.

    You can find just the nicest places strolling thru New York with your friend Yelp in your hand. Il Bastardo is what you look for in a New York Italian restaurant. It opens to the sidewalk, bustles with attentive service folks, and serves the tastiest morsels. It has a smart look. So much so that I overheard two women at the bar contemplating how they could steal some items from the decor. Everything you look for in a NY restaurant...including customers who love it enough to go to jail for it.

    (3)

  • Stacie P.

    I was a little anxious about planning my birthday dinner at Il Bastardo, given the spotty reviews on service. I shouldn't have worried. Il Bastardo was the only neighborhood restaurant to not insist on an exorbitant prix-fixe menu for my party of 14 people. Besides that, they were incredibly accommodating, and the food AND the service was solid. Nice atmosphere, with great specialty cocktails and hazelnut gelato! We all had a great time!

    (4)

  • Sarah G.

    I came here for an all you can drink birthday brunch. This place is huge. It really opens up in the back and it was easily able to accommodate our large group (20+). The service was fantastic, and they totally got we were there to booze. The food was nothing to write home about. I had the chicken panini and it was ok. However, they kept the drinks filled so I was satisfied. I should note, the music was WAY too loud and just bizarre. I like house music but it was weird house music with sometimes painful beats. If they had turned it down or switched the music, I would have liked this place a lot more.

    (3)

  • Leo K.

    I hate getting older; The music gets to loud for you, you get sleepy earlier, and of course your just plain tired all the time, and you just flat out hate clubs and the people who go to them! Well it seems like this place solved my conundrum. I was hesitant when I walked in, like a deer in headlights, not for me I thought, but 1 cocktail in "i could get used to this" ran through my head. Tell me how this sounds fellow old folks: You can have a great time, eat good food, get buzzed/tipsy and hang out all before the clock strikes 5pm and you turn back into an old tired man/women again. Came here for Sunday brunch, and it really made me feel like the good old days where I was able to handle going to a Vegas daytime pool party. For their 40 bucks prefix brunch menu you get a Full bottle of champagne to yourself + OJ if you want to make mimosas and an entree. Feel like a baller don't ya old man. I got myself the Eggs Benedict over crab cakes. I was surprised at how delicious they were, especially because I thought this place was a gimmick at first. Perfectly poached eggs, great tasting crab cakes, and flavorful and well cooked potatoes on the side. The champagne was good but even better Mimosa style of course. The music here was great, nice mix of Rap and EDM, and they had a bunch of dancers walking around to get us geezer types a bit more mobile. Will be adding this place to my monthly rotation to keep me feeling young.

    (4)

  • Smooth D.

    AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! This was one of the biggest ripoffs I've ever experienced. I came here for a birthday (I pass by this place every weekend and cringe every time, I should have come up with an excuse not to go to this birthday party but I didn't want to be a bad friend). For the reviews that say this is like a nightclub, that is true, but it's like one of those trashy, weird night clubs that you end up at at the end of the night when nothing else is open. Il Bastardo is sooo loud I had to use pieces of napkin to put in my ear it was literally painful to sit in here. Everything about this place is trashy. Shot girls walking around like its Las Vegas, and the shot my friend had was so disgusting he said it tasted like paint thinner and literally made his eyes tear. You HAVE to buy the $39 brunch, which includes a liter of mimosa, Bloody Mary, or a BOTTLE of champagne. Very trashy. If you don't drink then you're SOL because they still charge $39. The food took forever to come, and when it did, the portions were sooooo small and was cold and disgusting! Two of my friends were waiting for 20 MINUTES before their food arrived and everyone else was already finished eating. I was hoping the food would be good at least, since I don't drink. The worst part about this is the 20% automatic gratuity!!! The service was terrible, slow and rude for no reason. This is not acceptable for $50 per head. Nothing about this place is acceptable. Il Bastardo will take your money and laugh all the way to the bank. DO NOT GO HERE!!!

    (1)

  • David G.

    We had a birthday for sixteen on a Sunday Night and it was a great success! Very reasonable just ordering a la carte and most of the food was excellent. I had the Chicken Valdostana-- very tasty. I had a bite of two fresh pastas--tasty and well done. My Foodie husband even liked it and he is incredibly picky. Highly recommended. We had calamari appetizer and the Fried Artichoke Appetizer..both excellent.The only thing that was sup par was the pizzas which we would skip next time. Other than that an excellent experience! Drinks were $12 which is great for Manhattan. Entrees $16.

    (4)

  • Rejena C.

    This is by far THE coolest place I've been to brunch. The atmosphere is classy and the crowd is young 20s. You walk in, go to the mandatory coat check (the only negative thing about this bar, but I understand it helps keep the atmosphere its aiming for), and then are seated with your table with a DJ playing club music. You're already feeling like dancing the moment you sit down. For the $39 prix fixe brunch menu, you get a choice of your own pitcher or personal bottle of champagne (with a side of orange juice), your choice of an entree, and dessert. Great price! You and your friends start drinking and eating, and shot girls wearing lingire come out sporadically to offer party shots - and they're strong! Then towards the end of your time at your table, the exotic dancers come out and really get the party started. Best way to spend a Saturday afternoon for sure. I can't wait to see what this place is like on a weekend!

    (5)

  • Sarah B.

    Went here for a birthday brunch today and had an absolute blast - only downer is the food is pretty terrible! BooZe - you can either get a bottle of champagne, or a giant mason jar of mimosa or Bloody Mary. Not bad! Food - completely terrible. Don't come here hungry and to be safe order pancakes. It also takes forever to come out so don't hold ur breathe. Atmosphere - an absolute blast! DJ plays music throughout brunch and dancers come and dance in these carnivale outfits! Overall - if you're looking for some loud fun music and to have a good time check it out. Just don't expect good food- Grimaldi's pizza is around the corner though and is delicious!

    (3)

  • Yovan T.

    I went there for brunch and it totally WASN'T worth it. The food is so small we had to get more food right after we were done. In regards to the "pitcher" of drinks. HAHAHA i have to laugh cause its more of a big cup than a pitcher. If my rating was solely based on brunch I would give it half a star! But it is a club during the day time that is worth 5 stars. It is LIVE as a club. Do yourself a favor eat before getting there and just go for the party. Because thats the most live of a party you can get at that time...

    (3)

  • Alyssa H.

    This is a review for brunch (Il Bastardo): First and foremost, this place incredible for groups of all sizes. Seriously! We had 50 one time and they were very accommodating! Very good food for a Boozy Brunch! They do two seatings: one at noon and the next at...3? Brunch lasts two hours and includes one big mason jar of mixed drink (maybe 3 regular sized drinks?). I didn't really understand how much it would be to get another mason jar, but we were set. Most people got the eggs Benedict - either prosciutto or crab cake, some got steak and eggs, and one for pasta. My reco is the Bennie with prosciut or steak and eggs! Lastly, if you get the chance to meet Victoria, consider yourself lucky! She is a gem!!

    (4)

  • Simon B.

    This is not the best brunch spot. The food was mediocre at best. I had the steak and eggs. I asked for no spinach, obviously received spinach(no big deal). The steak was cheap and the eggs tasted bland. I legit had to put ketchup on my steak. It was that bad. I ordered the mimosa aka the orange juice with a splash of $7.99 champagne from 7/11 across the street. Regardless the drinks we ordered at the bar had been pretty legit. The music was pretty good the atmosphere was really good a lot of female brunch parties. So dudes, lol stop on by. I was told that the place is packed in the fall/winter season.

    (3)

  • Christine A.

    Brunch is not AYCD. You get either a large mason jar (bloody mary, mimosa, or screw driver) or a bottle of cheap champagne with your meal purchase which is $39. Each additional mason jar or bottle is $20. They also have other bottle service options if you want to be classy like that. For us the regular offerings were suitable. Be forewarned: They have chicken and waffles on the brunch menu. This is not chicken and waffles that you dream about. It's like 3 puny fried chicken tenders on top of a belgian waffle. The waffle is good, the chicken is meh. You're better off ordering the steak and eggs. You get a small side of scrambled eggs, some spinach, and a frittatta. It's a heartier option. The french toast, pancakes, and pasta dishes all looked decent too. As other people said, don't come for the food. Come to have a party brunch! The back room gets rowdy and they darken the lights after the meals. Shot girls and samba dancers make their way around also. The DJ? (or playlist - I don't remember seeing a DJ) is on point. Such a great mix of music! Everyone gets on their feet and dances the DAY away. Yes, it was still bright out when we exited the establishment - bring sunglasses they help you blend in. Bathroom is downstairs, so don't wear heels unless you are good at walking the stairs. They get slippery so be careful. There are several single person rooms and a huge vanity in the middle of the room with 6 sinks. There is a bathroom attendant as well, so make sure you tip him. He makes sure the bathrooms are clean for your using.

    (4)

  • Apurva N.

    Holy epilepsy, Batman! My wife and here were part of a group of about 20 people last weekend and everything was a bit too high energy for me (signs of aging!). We knew it was a boozy birthday brunch so I went fully prepared to imbibe. I expected a somewhat quiet-ish brunch spot with unlimited mimosas or something. When we walked in, I thought we had entered a club! We were seated, and given a menu and were told that there was a 2 hour limit.. the fact that my wife and I were late just meant that it sucked for us. We got there at 12:40 and had to be done with the table by 2. Confusion confounded! My wife and I ordered a Screwdriver and a Bloody Mary respectively. Within moments, these were served to us in giant mason jars. All this while I was torturing my vocal chords by yelling over the super loud club music trying to talk to people around me. I eventually just gave up and decided to focus on the gigantic serving of alcohol before me. I ordered the Eggs Benedict with prosciutto and it was just fine.. not bad but not great.. no complaints about it, though. The yelling over the pumping music was punctuated by the appearance of scantily clad dancers, who entertained us all with their dance moves. Eventually, a combination of some pending errands and the eardrum shattering music dragged us out of this place and into the normalcy of the outside world, which seemed almost serene in comparison. I can see how this can be a great place for a boozy brunch for a group of 22-25 year-olds. Any older and it might be a shock to your senses!! If you think this is your scene, you should check it out! Unfortunately, I doubt I will return - just not my scene!

    (2)

  • Yessica E.

    Loved this place !! Can't wait to go back for Sunday brunch and all the dancing. Didn't have any food but the mason jars of mimosas were good enough

    (5)

  • Stephanie C.

    This place either is or is not for you. I'm giving it a 4 star for a once in a life, "I did the NYC club brunch thing" experience. My girlfriend made a reservation for 6 of us for the famed Sunday brunch at 2-4pm (you can only come at 12, or 2 on weekends and they give you a 2 hour window). Unlike me, I came knowing the food was not going to be good. Given my low expectations, the food was actually decent- but you have to know what to order. I would veer away from any egg dish, especially anything expensive (like the steak and eggs) or anything quais culinary (like chicken and waffles) because it's going to come out sub-par. Portions are tiny, and the food is most likely frozen (like the chicken tenders on the waffles). So it's best to stick with basics like pancakes or what I got, the chicken panini (which was actually pretty good, on good foccicia y bread with a properly salted and dressed salad). Needless to say, it's AYCD for $40 and people come here for the booze. Like my friend said, "it's booze with a side of brunch". Truth! If you order one of the typical drinks- i.e Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Screwdriver, you can a HUGE mason jar which honestly I could only drink 1/4 of (but that is just me). If you opt for the rose, prosecco or white wine, you get a WHOLE Moet bottle AND you do NOT get a glass- you drink straight from the bottle. People are sure to get wasted! Also, in case you did not already know, this is a DAYCLUB which caters to all groups - I think the bigger groups are in the dark back room (which has more of a moody scene) - us 6 girls sat in the front where it was a bit bright but we still felt "jammy." It's hard not to because the music is SO LOUD. It is on point though - great playlist from Eurotrance, to 99s-2000s hip hop- every song was awesome. The music was super loud though. I did have a bit of a headache when I left. Unlike what some have said here, the service was pretty good. I felt our waiter checked up on us often and was very accommodating as one of the girls in our group came very very late. The decor is sort of big wooden, rustic Italian style, and, the best part was the dancers who wore Brazilian Carnival fare and did a lot of booty shaking. They even called for audience participation. There was a group of folks behind us celebrating a birthday in which you can get a tiramisu cake with a dynamite sparkler candle (fun!) The place caters to all groups - gay, straight, male, female. If you know you enjoy party brunch, come. I think it's reasonably priced compared to Bagatelle and the like

    (4)

  • Evan S.

    This is for il bastardo I will admit that this rating is a bit unfair because I did not actually attend the brunch festivities. I came late, sober, and hungry, which actually might be the best way to remain objective. Space is cool, crowd is weird. Didnt get to see the food so I cant comment on that. To me, if you're going to do brunch, it should be a gentle, relaxing experience. This certainly wasn't the case. I felt like I stepped into afterhours and I should've either just come from crobar (dating myself but fuck you), or be heading to Jones beach shortly after. May return for brunch, definitely would like to return for a meal at the restaurant.

    (2)

  • Anthony Z.

    Where do I begin? The Brunch experience at this place prompted this, my first review ever. I was soooo looking forward to writing it as I was sitting in the deafening joke of an establishment that is Il Bastardo (I guess the name should tip you off). Just don't do it. The music is too loud, the food sucks, but hey, you'll get drunk. This place is skeevy! Just look at the menu and judge for yourself. Brunch Special! Moet Rose for only $95! Wow! What a deal?! A bottle of Fireball (retailing at $25) for $250! At brunch! Who is ordering these? Jameson is only $50 more at $300! What a bargain? They also have the social media icons on the menu that people put beside articles and stuff on the INTERNET for people to share. I can just see the owners smiling at the thought of the free advertising they will get by reminding 20 something clueless, drunk bachelorette parties to use social media. Like they need to be reminded! Also, you can't click on a paper menu! I also saw this mentioned below, but it's also very skeevy to offer someone something that is seemingly free only to then require that they pay for it. There is a shot girl who roams around and flirts with everyone. "You want a shot of this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ooze booze?" Then gives the shot. Then requires payment! Sketchy! (I fell for this.) The food is laughable. I got steak and eggs but was not ALLOWED to get any eggs but scrambled. They came out cold, the steak was tiny (actually pretty tasty). Went with a big group so of course 20% tip added... End price $52. I'm embarrassed I paid this. I feel like a sucker. Ugh. There is so much more. If you want material for a good Yelp! review head on over to Il Bastardo. If you want a good brunch experience with good food, good drinks, and an enjoyable ambiance without any hearing loss. STAY AWAY!

    (1)

  • Krizia C.

    This place is truly beautiful on the inside. Modern and spacious which is great for New York. I frequent here many times due to its convenient location. I haven't had time to write a review until now. The service is by far the slowest I have ever seen at a restaurant. Everytime I come either for lunch/dinner, weekday or weekend I am constantly waiting 20 min just to put an order in. I usually order the fettuccine bolognese and the spinach tortellini which is pretty good. It's def not mind blowing to have bad service especially with so many options in the area. I've given this place a couple of shots to redeem itself, but after this time I am sad to say I won't be returning...

    (3)

  • Ryan C.

    DO NOT EAT HERE. If I could give this 0 stars I would. This is a terrible restaurant. I came here for a birthday boozy brunch last weekend and the drinks, food, and service were unbelievably bad. Drinks - Bloody Marys composed of v8 juice and no flavor. Screwdrivers with plastic bottle vodka - the best! Food - I ordered the chicken and waffles and got microwaveable Tyson's chicken strips and soggy Eggo waffles. My friend ordered the fat bastard burger - it came cold with buns burnt completely black. And when he asked to get new buns, the waiter replied "I'm not the chef here." Finally the waiter brought back two equally burnt buns. Service - waiters had terrible attitude. They would make eye contact with us when we were gesturing them over and then turn and walk away like they didn't see anything. But of course they "aren't the chef here." Tldr; Do not eat here unless you like spending $60 on disgusting drinks and food.

    (1)

  • Brenda C.

    Great wine list, awesome food & amazing staff. Love the interior decor - great for all seasons with the big doors that open to the sidewalk cafe they set up in the nice weather. Big space in the back that's great for parties & they handle large tables as easily as small. Highly recommended for drinks & dinner. I hear they do a big champagne & DJ brunch on weekends- haven't tried that yet, stay tuned!

    (5)

  • Vivek D.

    I wasn't here for the brunch, instead I came here for dinner last night. Got a reservation for 5 pretty easily, surprisingly, around 8:30. I was with my college roommate, his fiance, and her parents. Note that the parents are true Italians own an Italian restaurant in Albany, so they know what is good food. I'm a vegetarian, so I tried just the vegetarian items. We got a ton of items, but we can start with the bread. I was a fan of the bread. It was nice and soft. I think they had an onion focaccia-styled bread too, which was pretty good. We then ordered the following cocktails: Basil Lemonade Caipiroska Il Morso The cocktails were interesting, never seen those variations before. I think one of the cocktails had jalapeno tequila - interesting combo. We ordered a bunch of starter items - salads & appetizers. I guess the pizza oven wasn't working last night, which was a bummer. We ordered the following salads to share: PERA E RUGHETTA INSALATA POMODOR FORESTALE I think the salads tasted pretty good. Not too oily and decent portions. For $8, not bad. We then ordered the following antipastis: CALAMARI FRITTI CARCIOFI ALLA GIUDEA I ate the Carciofi. I was a fan of the artichokes. Tasted very good. The calamaris were pretty good too, from what I heard. Our main meals were the following: Trofie Bastarda Costata Manzo Orecchiette Capellini Alle Vongole I liked the Trofie Bastarda... pasta wasn't too soft or firm. The sauce wasn't very heavy either. The rest of the food - from my party's opinion - also tasted pretty good. We really liked dessert and ordered the following: Panna Cotta Cheese Cake Black Forest You can never go wrong with cheese cake, but the Black Forest was nice. Overall, this place is 4 stars to me. Dinner options didn't exceed $10-14, which is decently priced in NY. The cocktails at $12 is a bit pricey, but that's to be expected, I guess. I didn't realize though that mineral water was $7 a bottle - that should be free. I wish I could have also tried the pizza, but we'll have to save it for another time.

    (4)

  • Nivia D.

    This place is so disorganized, the food was not worth $39 my mimosa had a dead fly in it that I stopped drinking. I will not come back to this place.

    (2)

  • Samantha M.

    DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU ARE A COUPLE OR PAIR! This place mainly caters to groups... We came in with a reservation for 2 and were seated in the back by the bathroom/kitchen -- will not be returning. My food was warm. Asked for salt for ketchup. The music was bumping but it was overly loud... Everyone was shouting to hear their friends. I def will not return.

    (2)

  • Chris S.

    Picture this: you're in the club, music's pumping, lights are strobing, you're shouting to the person next to you over a freshly opened bottle of champagne. It's so dark you can hardly see the steps when you stumble to the bathroom. You come back in, sit down, and finish your eggs benedict. This is brunch at Il Bastardo. An experience so hyperbolic and, I'll just say it, unpleasant, that you almost have to love it. It is (literally) an amplified version of the absurd phenomenon whereby groups of often pretentious and affluent young New Yorkers meet on Sundays to get drunk at otherwise respectable establishments. In fact, it may even be an ironic commentary on this modern interpretation of brunch, but I'm not so sure. The food here is average and comes in small portions and the bloody marys don't have much flavor, but your $39 is really going toward the experience. So if this sounds like your thing, bring your new effin' haircut, beach muscles, and a willingness to party from noon to 4pm.

    (3)

  • Dario B.

    Being italian (and a returning customer) I can't stress but repeating at Il bastardo they make the best pasta in whole Manhattan, I could tell the chef is italian :) The place is also not expensive at all! Just $10 for every dish of pasta. However I'm returning today after a day of massively walking around so I needed a good place where I could just sit and enjoy a good meal with a nice atmosphere. Staff is always very nice and welcoming. I also got a free glass of wine from my first check-in. They offer red wine only, Pinot is a good choice if you like something light.

    (5)

  • Jessica D.

    This place is so vile and such a rip off. $50 dollars gets you mediocre food and a drink. Alcoholics will love the idea of a liter of mimosa or bottle of champagne in this prefix. The music is so loud like uncomfortably and it is so trashy in there. You leave the place feeling like you need a shower and just violated that you spent money there. If you have a friend who wants to have a party there just tell them you would rather take them out to a nice dinner for $50. The waitress was informed of the experience and just gave a "I don't care" smile.

    (1)

  • Javier A.

    Casually came upon this place when my friends and I were looking for a place to eat after being around in the city. Our first impression as we walked by was that the place seemed interesting. The outdoor patio was sat to near capacity and the menu on display let us know that their pricing was economic. We decided to eat here. We sat in the outdoor patio and were promptly served water and plate settings provided. Our server was Richard and he took amazing care of us. I asked him what his favorite meal is and he recommended the Strozzapretti Papa Francesco which was a good pasta dish with lamb and mushrooms-the mushrooms really complimented the flavor immensely. I asked for a wine pairing as well and he provided a wine that went very well with the lamb. He also provided wine pairings for my friends' meals. Overall he took great care of us. We did have 1 issue during the visit and it was that my friend requested no angel hair pasta, substitute penne and the meal still came out with angel hair pasta. However he loved it with the angel hair. Bread is complimentary but by request (at least that is how we got some). The overall experience at this place was great and I can't wait to try their Sunday brunch.

    (4)

  • Tracy M.

    3.5 stars. It says Bocca di Bacco on the outside but I didn't know this location bought Il Bastardo. Ive been to other locations so decided to give this one a try. The ambiance is nice, romantic and good for a date. Their is some pumping music in the background but its not disturbing, just lively on a weekday. We started with the calamari which was good but nothing special. For my entree I enjoyed the squid ink pasta. It says the pasta is handmade and it definitely tastes it. The $30 pre-fixe menu seems like a great deal and it comes with an app, entree, and dessert. Will have to try that another time. I have come here on the weekend in the past for their bottomless bloody marys and mimosas. Great for a special occasion like a bachelorette party. Come dressed to the nines because people are ready to club at noon.

    (4)

  • Shachar M.

    This place is our go to Italian place in the neighborhood! The food is really good and fresh nice portions and relatively not pricy. It's well located and always have open tables ( we never needed a reservation) the atmosphere is great, good music and nice decor. I'm sure you wondering how come I gave it only three stars well the answer is service. In all the times I've been there the service was extremely slow ( as I'm writing your review I've been waiting for 15 minutes to our waiter to come and get our dessert order). The food however is really good we had the caprese for starters ( fresh tomatoes and high quality mozzarella) and for main courses we ordered the fettuccine Bolognese and the Gorgonzola cheese pasta both are extremely good. If you have time and patient come here! Great food ambiance and you will enjoy.

    (3)

  • Candice L.

    This place gets high marks on the atmosphere. We came here for a boozy brunch last weekend and it was amazing to see the number of people partying in full force at 2pm in the afternoon. The brunch is very reasonable, for 39 bux you can get a bottle of champagne and brunch dish from a fixed menu. The food fell short though. I can honestly say in all my time in New York that this was probably the worst food experience at a restaurant. It was edible, but I would equate it to hotel room service food (at a cheap hotel) I didn't expect it to be great, but it just wasn't good. They also said they ran out of pizza... who runs out of pizza?

    (2)

  • Laura J.

    This is based on Sunday brunch ... I had yelped a instagramed this place so I knew exactly what I was getting in to on Sunday. Here's my opinion: The food is good but tiny. I had the almond crusted French toast which flavor wise was amazing. The portion however was just insulting. The French toast slices were about the same size as bruschetta. Service was horrendous. You basically see your waitress twice, once to take your drink order and then food order. She/he then disappears not to be seen again until it's time to drop off the check. I would have gladly ordered more food if she would have been around and we also wanted to order a birthday cake but she was a total ghost. As for the party itself I guess it's good. When we first got there the music was good however it switched to hip hop and that was the end of my fun. Most people seemed to be enjoying it and dancing like crazy. My own friends hopped on tables and danced. The bar is full of drunks (of course) however the bartender handled it great and calmly. He made sure to smile and be courteous to everyone in a timely order. His drink wasn't bad either. Personally I wouldn't recommend the place and I would definitely not pay to eat here again.

    (3)

  • Eric G.

    Really enjoyed this place for dinner. First, I loved the atmosphere. Nice and dim setting... great for a date. Second, the food was really good... I got a really delicious chicken dish. I would absolutely come back.

    (5)

  • Jenn R.

    Came here for a friend's birthday dinner on a Saturday night. They seated us in the back room. It was cozy and quiet as business seems slow that night. Staff was polite. They brought the bread basket after we ordered. The food was OK.

    (3)

  • Cornelia G.

    Boozy Brunch is definitely more BOOZY than brunch. Expect less than mediocre food and for them to take FOREVER to bring it out. I ended up going for a birthday brunch and I'm so UPSET I didn't read the reviews before! My friends' chicken and waffles looked like Lunch-ables and my steak and eggs left much to be desired--- I barely ate any of it. Very BASIC meal & drinks--- worse way to spend $40+.

    (1)

  • Jon B.

    Went there for lunch during the week. Sat on the (empty) patio. Here's how I sum this place up: Small/overpriced portions, flat beer, and a rude waiter. The pasta itself wasn't bad, but the experience as a whole was not enjoyable. I would not go back.

    (2)

  • Diane D.

    Disappointing, food was meh. Atmosphere is appropriate for loud people who want to get drunk quickly, or perhaps tourists. The Forestale Salad was tolerably good, but not great, and the Fat Bastard Burger was nothing special. It came with fries which were heavy, greasy, not crisp.

    (2)

  • Matt S.

    Went for a friends birthday brunch this past weekend. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect and I didn't even know what I should wear! It's definitely an experience, maybe one everyone should have if they enjoy club music and darkness at 2pm. It's intense. Very intense. To start, the wait staff from the hostess to our waitress to the manager are all extremely helpful and friendly. It's definitely not an easy job working here with such loud music, people getting wasted left and right, and nonstop dancing going on everywhere, but they make it work. The food wasn't anything spectacular, but we didn't come for the food during the brunch. We came for the deal. $39 gets you one Mimosa or Bloody Mary, plus an entree off their brunch menu for two hours. The menu is all over the place from a large Chicken Caesar Salad to a burger to a shrimp pasta dish. It's all very basic though. The original Mimosa you receive with the deal comes in a large glass and isn't the strongest. With the music, drinking, time limit, and mostly bachelorette/birthday parties occurring here during brunch, you'll probably have a good time, however, I won't be entering this establishment for any other reasons. By the way, the DJ was killin it that afternoon. Killin. It.

    (3)

  • Ali M.

    IN SHORT: A large, neighborhood-friendly Italian restaurant serving old world classics at surprisingly high standards for what initially seems to be a cookie-cutter restaurant. THE STORY: With a substantially sized interior, otherwise uninteresting dark decor, and loud music blaring from speakers scattered throughout the space, a first look at Bocca di Bacco suggests it's more similar to a Buca di Beppo or Maggiano's Little Italy than a L'Artusi or Del Posto. Yet a few options on the menu ultimately redeem the lack of atmosphere, making Bocca di Bacco worth a visit when looking for a fairly priced date or an easy night with a group of friends, who will always be seated quickly with plenty of tables available for weekend dinners. The most pleasant surprises on the menu are the Taglierini Neri con Grancho - a housemade squid ink pasta with jumbo lump crab, baby arugula, and fresh tomato that is light with a great dimension of salty, ocean-y flavor - and the Cavatelli di Grano Arso - an authentic burnt wheat cavatelli with sausage and chanterelle mushrooms, which captures toasty, elegantly bitter notes that are balanced throughout the dish. The rest of the menu maintains that rustic trend, and with very reasonable prices, a decent wine list with plenty of options, and outdoor seating in the warmer months, Bocca di Bacco's effort in turning out good Italian food at a large scale should be appreciated.

    (3)

  • Renee B.

    Nice with a large group , 20+ people. Day club. Drinks are good. Music is good . Food is horrible. Don't come really hungry or else you'll be disappointed!

    (3)

  • Edwin S.

    I didn't enjoy this place. Mostly because the bartender was rude, unnecessarily curt and overcharged me for two well cocktails by a lot! They weren't even top shelf drinks. Also, the coat check people lost one of friends belongings and gave her a really hard time when she asked for something to be done. A good place would have offered something better than a comped drink for their mistake. After much ado, and insistence on something better than a comped drink, we got them to reimburse her for missing coat. Sad but true. Not a fan, pass!

    (2)

  • Syvan T.

    Ok, so let me just say we were invited to a brunch on Saturday for 2pm and had no idea what we were walking into, other than the menu. As we approached the restaurant we noticed people being carded at the front with ropes and a carpet, very much like a club. As we walked in we were very surprised by the atmosphere. People were walking around in clubby outfits, the front of the restaurant looked like a bar and music was blasting. We were forced to check our coats for $3/coat. We had two drinks while waiting for our party, another $25. When our party was finally together we were lead into a really dark room with flashing lights, even louder music and a long table made up of small tables pushed together. There were people standing around our table dancing to the extremely loud music, which was annoying. It took the wait staff a very long time to get our drink orders. Of course mine didn't come and my boyfriend had to ask two waiters to finally get it to me. Another hour passes and our orders were taken, us having to shout in order for the waiter to hear us over the music. After about 30 minutes the appetizer we ordered came. We got zucchini shoestrings. I couldn't tell if they were actually good because at that point we were starving. About 30 minutes later the food came out. My chicken panini wasn't bad but my boyfriends eggs Benedict with crab was over cooked (which he predicted based on environment). He screamed ( because he had to over the music not because he screams at waitstaff) over to the waiter and told him that his eggs were overcooked. The waiter quickly took it and brought him a new one (no clue where they got it, probably someone else's). Boyfriend said they were ok. Overall experience wasn't great but like I said we had no idea what we were walking into. After we finished we had to go get our coats and noticed many, many people had their coats on at the bar, which is bs. Forcing people to check their coats is tacky, the food not being great for $40/person not including tax and tip, for brunch, was also pretty disappointing and then forgetting my drink even when two waiters were notified was why I gave this place two stars. The party scene is something you have to be aware of which could be something another person would enjoy at 2pm on a Saturday but not exactly my thing.

    (2)

  • Amelia M.

    Cool social atmosphere. Food was ok, nothing special. My beet salad had a lot of large beets on it...whoa...bread was fresh but kind of burnt...loved the red wine, but thought it was weird that every one we initially ordered was out of stock. I heard the brunch is a blast. A good place for groups with varied diet and price options in Chelsea.

    (3)

  • Chanel S.

    So I recommended this place for brunch for a friends birthday. I never actually ate here, but I did come in once and had some drinks and it seemed like a nice place. If you are looking for good food DON'T come here. The brunch food was horrible, nobody was really satisfied at my table. The only good food was the calamari and caprese we ordered, which was at an additional cost. It says it's family style, but I guess we have different interpretation of what that is. It seemed to be about the same size as an app at any other place. If you are just looking to party, then this is the place to come. We did have a good time, just wish the food was halfway decent.

    (3)

  • Olayemi A.

    A large group of my friends and I came here a 3 weekends ago to meet with other friends for a friend's Saturday bday brunch. As soon as we walked in we were all surprised by the intense party mode. It felt like we were walking into a nightclub...in the middle of the afternoon lol. The music was great, the crowd fun, and the dancers were great at getting you involved to party more i.e. a limbo line lol.We also enjoyed having a whole champagne bottle each, as part of our brunch deal. The food however was bland bland BLAND. Very disappointing considering how long we waited to get our food. Myself and a friend got steak and spinach eggs w home fries. And other friends got the eggs benedict, some eggplant pasta dish, and a burger. None of us were impressed. The cooks need to master the art of SEASONING food. Even a little salt and pepper would have gone a long way. I ended up having to douse my steak and home fries in ketchup since the ketchup was the only flavorful item on the plate. Well..the spinach was really good, extra garlic-y which is how I like them. And even more annoying was that the portion was kind of small. I was still really hungry after I finished my plate. Oh and also don't expect to come here to have a conversation. Way too loud for that as the music is blasting, it's all about the partying here. Which I think causes the food to take a backseat. Overall my friends and I agreed we would definitely come back here to just drink and turn up...we had lots of fun! But we will wholeheartedly pass on the food and just eat somewhere else beforehand.

    (3)

  • John G.

    I had a pretty good meal here last night before seeing Bette Midler, everything was very good but unfortunately a bad server can spoil what should have been a wonderful experience; honestly it isn't enough to make us not return but if/when we do, I hope to find this poor server was just a one-off bad experience. Otherwise, food was all good, prices are amazingly reasonable, if not downright low. This was my third time here in a matter of years and my first review.

    (3)

  • Deelicious R.

    Do not come here, I wouldn't send my worst enemy to this place. It's obnoxious, loud, waiters could care less. My food came out 15 min later than the rest of my party, no opology. The entire time we were eating, club music was playing so loudy I could not hear anyone around me. Food is garbage and the booze you get with the brunch package is cheap cheap cheap, it gave me a headache afterwards. And what I really hated was the bottles of champagne we ordered were opened before they got to the table and they were screw caps not even cork. Such a crock! A fight broke out after we finished eating and paid (perfect timing, ha) and we had to be forced to leave. Find a different daytime dance/brunch place....I've been to Pranna and let me tell you it is such a better experience. Don't waste your money here, totally not worth it. This place needs to be shut down.

    (1)

  • Martin U.

    Went here Saturday afternoon for a friends birthday brunch with a large group of 20+. There was a line to get in but didn't wait more than 15mins. Didn't think we would need to wait since there was a reservation. Once we got in we waited a little more to get a table. Got the table but realized it wouldnt fit our group. Moved to another area which had just enough space to accomdate but it was tight. Got our drink orders promptly but the food took a while which is understandable due to the large group? I got the burger and it was ok. I got the bottle of champagne which lasted me throughout the 2 hours. Music was pretty good although I could not figure out where the actual DJ was. There were times were the music would pause and then fade in which sort of made me think it was a recording being played but don't know for sure. Overall, we all had a good time.

    (4)

  • Kelly G.

    Well, I just finished my dinner... at home! after waiting a while to order, It took one hour to get my glass of wine, which initially came red when I ordered white. We waited another full hour to get our dinner. It came to the table and I asked them to bag it to go. Worst service I have ever experienced in my life. Seems like they were grossly understaffed but unclear as to how the people arriving a half hour after us left an hour before I had to. I had only until 10pm to enjoy my friend's birthday and left having only a few sips of wine (gotta let it stretch if you are not sure when the other glass is coming!). I would not recommend this place at all. The only good thing that came out of not eating dinner with my friends is that I was able to season the very bland chicken dish at home. Very bad - all around- apologies were nice- but I hope they were decent enough to offer my friend a complimentary dessert (or maybe her entire meal free) for ruining her birthday dinner. This restaurant did, however, get their name right: The BASTARD!

    (1)

  • Gili Victoria C.

    We want yesterday after work just for drinkers. The place's design is amazing. Looks very luxuries and intimate. We ordered two beers and glass of wine which was nice and affordable (total 28.5). We got sites on the bar - was good but later we would asked to move so they could bring 2 more to its became a little crowded but stil we enjoy and the bar tender was nice. The restrooms are down stars so take it in mind if you are planing to drink a lot (:

    (4)

  • Thy L.

    Dinner review Obviously not the best Italian place in NYC but still an E for effort. Sliced bread served with chive butter which is more of a spread. Olive oil and balsamic is also offered. Beware the grilled octopus appetizer, it was in between soggy and squishy = inedible. Pear salad was nicely dressed but pear was sliced too thin. Calamari was ok, could have been crispier. Fried zucchini was interesting being sliced thin instead of sticks. Porcini crostini was packed full but that made bread soggy. Cavatelli was overpowered by merguez sausage flavor. Beef short rib was tender with good chianti flavor but accompanying veggies and potatoes were cold. Vanilla panna cotta was delish. Good open space for parties and get togethers with private space. Would try for brunch.

    (4)

  • Eric J.

    "Who am I? Where am I? What is this? What's going on? What's the meaning of life?" These questions were running through my head as I entered Il Bastardo, after waiting in line outside for a late birthday brunch reservation. Deafening hip-hop music and EDM was blaring on the speakers, and people were dancing at the bar. It was 2:30 in the afternoon. Also, why were we waiting in line when we had a reservation? Didn't seem right. Anyways, as I was grumbling to myself, screams of delight and joy began to resound, as a male stripper appeared, wearing nothing but a banana hammock. He began doing push-ups on the bar and my buddy, whose birthday it was, looked at me and was like "What did I get myself into?" Apparently, there was a bachelorette brunch party going on, and the restaurant was kind enough to allow the stripper to dance around/on the bar. Yikes. It took us about 20 minutes to get seated, because of the craziness that was ensuing around the bar, and even when we got seated, the waiters didn't get our drink orders in for another 10 minutes. And they forgot to bring out the coffee. And we waited 20 minutes more to get our food orders in. Service was overall just slow and awful. I get that it's busy, but expecting huge crowds like this is part of your job. Just because this place a reputation for crappy service and there's a lot going on, doesn't mean we should lower our expectation for at least the minimum level of service required to run a restaurant. Mimosas weren't made very well, and the bloody Marys were just okay. I got the burger, which wasn't terrible, but a pretty small portion. My friends all were not impressed with their food either. The eggs weren't cooked right. For $53, you should get a lot more than just a small brunch plate. That being said, it's a birthday celebration, so we drank up and made the most of it anyway. There were two scantily-clad Carnival dancers walking around and we made my buddy dance with them. Luckily, he had already had some mimosas, so he was game and was not totally awkward about it. Actually, he was awkward about it, but at least he danced with them. That's right, just your average, low-key birthday brunch. Thing is, I actually think you can have a good time, if you just drink up, drastically lower your expectations, and mentally prepare yourself for the craziness, which is why I gave it two stars instead of one. If you want to see boozy brunch executed to its fullest party potential, look no further than Il Bastardo. Just don't expect good service, good food, or intimate conversation. Oh yeah, and maybe you shouldn't bring your parents here.

    (2)

  • Shannon K.

    I came here completely under dressed. THIS IS A CLUB BRUNCH. I didn't know that coming into it. The food was NOT up to par, but you don't come here for that. You come here for the atmosphere. I love the idea, but I came into this wanted a chill brunch not a club ambience so I didn't have as good a time as I could have. I would come back, but I would have a better understanding of the overpriced, nightlife experience. You get a bottle of champagne/liter of brunch beverage and an appetizer for $40. Shots were like $10 (wtf). Basically, if you come here, get drunk and dance. That's how you have a good time. Also, you have to bribe the bathroom attendant to let you use the bathroom when there's a line.

    (3)

  • Hyesoo H.

    If I could give this place a zero star rating, I would. Just as you turn the corner, you hear loud music echoing out of this place and you start to question whether you're at a club or a place where children goes to drink and mingle. People, if you are looking for a place to have a brunch where you're left pleased, satisfied, and most importantly, full; do not come here. They have this deal which is a drink and a meal for $39 on the weekend for brunch. But nope, they scammed us and charged $39 for the meal and $20 for a mimosa that didn't even use real orange juice. It was goddamn SUNNY D. Sadly, I can't even call the meal they gave me brunch. It was so pathetic and sad that I thought I was eating the meal of a poor North Korean child. I ordered a prosciutto eggs benedict and I know the difference between an amazing, mouth-watering slice of imported prosciutto and the bland mimic. What I got from them was a burned piece of toast, prosciutto that had no taste like this restaurant, and an egg that was POPPED. How do you serve eggs benedict with a popped, seeping egg? Can I even call it eggs benedict at that point? What really made me give this place a one-star rating is the fact that my boyfriend found an EGGSHELL in his food. How are you that unskilled that you can't even crack an egg properly. I'll understand if it's a blind man in the kitchen. I'm so angry and embarrassed that I came to this place for a friend's birthday brunch. Please do not call yourself a restaurant when your food is just as dry and drab as your music. This place is more of a club where basic people who believe it is appropriate to wear body-con dresses and stilettos, that they can't even walk in, at one in the afternoon, go to. It is as classy as a port-a-potty where you can get a cheap fix.

    (1)

  • Yesha P.

    Horrible place. Don't go! Bouncers clear the public sidewalk and are rude! Food blows. Service is worse.

    (1)

  • Drew A.

    Sunday brunch review... It's LOUD. If you're in the back room, it's DARK. If you came to speak to your crew or you enjoy seeing other people at your table, do not come here or at least skip this room. The service SUCKS. They messed up orders. They messed up the check. The manager didn't bring out any bday cake after promising to do so 3x. The food came out 90 minutes after ordering it. The rooms are filled with 20 yr olds poppin' bottles of $10 champagne and taking endless selfies. Say no more! Wait, I'll say more... Here's a basic rundown of everyones evening, drink by drank... Drink 1... Damn, this place sucks. Drink 2... OK, I'm kinda diggin' it now Drink 3... This DJ stinks Drink 4... Where's the food!?! Drink 5... This DJ rules! Drink 6... This food stinks Drink 7... I could use some more food Drink 8... The waiter just poured a screwdriver into my mimosa! Time to go... as soon as I finish it. Young? Want to get smashed with friends? Do it. Care about quality food, drink, conversation and/or your general well-being? Run. Run far.

    (2)

  • Windell C.

    "What?" "I can't hear you" repeat x 3 and that pretty much sums up the vibe of the weekend brunch here. 20 something's into the wee 30's is the overall age range here and when I say 20's that goes for the ladies. The gentlemen equal late 20's and up who are ready to poach. This is an inexperienced brunchers dream: drunken women check, super loud music check, poser's (holding bottles of Asti) and plenty of #thot's check. The good: Plenty of space Pitchers of mimosas well actually large mason jars of person mimosas for a decent price Attractive women somewhere in their 20's Samba dancers in full carnival attire The DJ when not playing EDM actually plays some decent selections, however the euphoria can be short lived and it creates a chasing the dragon effect. DJ bring that beat back and she will at her own pace. Did I mention the Samba dancers? The bad: Super young and obnoxious Super loud My take is this roll deep get the center table, bottle it out, if you nosh do that early before it turns into a #### show and if you can't beat em join em. This is not my scene; however it does serve a purpose. My purpose and your purpose might not be the same. I would give it a 2; however the samba dancers and the Mason Jar Mimosa's are saving the day here.

    (3)

  • Martha M.

    This place is like the love child of a Eurotrash club and a cheap dinner. EDM and rap BLASTING throughout brunch. Go go dancers, seriously? The drinks are gross--the cheapest booze makes for a terrible taste. The food is worse. I had eggs Benedict and the English muffins were old and untoasted. The prosciutto (misspelled on menu; always a great sign) tasted off. The Hollandaise was from a packet or mix and tasted like plastic. The waiters were classless. You let a guest walk by you--you don't walk right in from of them down a crowded hall. You don't say "I dunno" when someone asks a basic question about a menu item. So crappy. Avoid. Spend your money elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Jessica R.

    This place is AWESOME. Like, I probably had too much fun because I was for sure acting a fool. I came here on a Sunday to celebrate my birthday with about 6 people and I made a reservation well in advance. Which I'm happy I did since there was a line outside when we showed up (the place also fills up very quickly). The food was horrible pretty much buuut when I'm engaging in a boozy brunch I'm not really worried about the food. We ordered the family style calamari and I ordered the burger (safest option). My group didn't love the food but they didn't hate it either; just very blah. I'm giving this place 4 stars due to the amazing ambiance (I'm a true party girl at heart), the always on point music selection by the DJ and my personal bottle of cheap champagne. I will definitely be back with an even larger party!

    (4)

  • Lori C.

    Shhhh.... Please don't tell anyone about this place. We had two appetizers (delish), two entrees (delish), two glasses of wine and a cocktail and it came to $90. The biggest splurge was the wine! The tuna was overcooked so we complained, they returned it without question and gave us another entree "on the house" PLUS a large slice of chocolate mousse cake! Really great food (except for the overcooked tuna). Crazy prices! (Crazy good that is.) We went last night and we're coming back tonight!!!! Why? Because the menu is so amazing we need to try more!

    (4)

  • John M.

    I'm not sure what the attraction to this place is but I feel it's cheap booze, bad food and loud music. Last Sunday my fiancé and I were invited to attended the Il Bastardo brunch as part of a birthday celebration. As soon as we approached the restaurant we knew this was going to be interesting. First of all you can here the music blasting from down the street and there is a velvet rope outside to line up customers. As you enter you realize you better be prepared to not have a conversation with anyone for the rest of your time there. The first room is a dance floor/ bar area filled with trashed 20-40 year olds who are in a world of their own. I was asked by the greeter to check my jacket downstairs, I'm guessing they have a dress code but it wasn't clear as most of the men inside dressed pretty poorly and had on t shirts, hats, jerseys, leather jackets, etc. Inside you walk through a packed room deafening music, drunks dancing on tables and carnival dancers. The limited menu and dim lighting clearly shows the focus is on serving liquor. For $39 you get a brunch dish and a bottle of champagne or a gallon of mimosas. I had the chicken Caesar salad which was a bowl of romaine lettuce a few croutons and maybe half a chicken breast. All I asked for was a club soda and people were getting second rounds of mimosas before my club soda arrived. I like to drink, I like loud music and I like brunch but all of them together minus good food doesn't make for a fun time. All in all if you're looking for a place to go because you weren't able to go out Saturday night and you don't plan on going to work Monday this is for you. Cheap, loud and never ending alcohol.

    (1)

  • Sergio G.

    Not good for brunch.

    (1)

  • Louise D.

    This was the trashiest thing I have ever been part of. Came here w a group of friends from college for Saturday brunch and was disgusted. Will never return. Here is why: First: we arrive ON TIME for our 2:30 reservation and have to wait in a LINE for TWENTY MINUTES as literal bouncers walk up and down yelling at people because drunk idiots are stumbling out of the front door in 6 inch stilettos. So immediately horrible impression before ever entering. It is not a cute brunch place but instead a CLUB. Second: we are put at a table in the back of the "restaurant". Why anyone in their right mind would ever want to sit there and EAT is BEYOND ME. There were half naked ladies dancing on our table so we asked to be moved. We were moved but our situation did NOT IMPROVE. Third: a lady in some type of "sexy baby doll" costume offered us MINI shots as we were waiting for our waiter who never seemed to arrive. We took them and then had to pay her $30 cash on the spot. Fourth: a grown man from another party in the next room over was so wasted that he was literally comatose and had to be carried out of the room by bouncers. HOWEVER - while his state required emergency medical care and a call to 911, the bouncers simply propped him up on a chair next to our table. They stood around as his friends took photos of him. He then proceeded to VOMIT in his UNCONSCIOUS SATE. The vomit got on my friend. We all had had it and got up and left our table. The bouncers finally carried the guy out of the room. Not sure if they called an ambulance or what happened from there because we left. We complained and got our drinks for free. Management handled the situation so horribly that it was appalling. Keep in mind all of this happened while loud club music was playing so we couldn't hear anything but that. The food isn't even worth commenting on bc it was disgusting. I ordered a veggie panini and it was bread with one slice of zucchini. Don't come here. Just don't.

    (1)

  • Greg G.

    If you wanna catch a buzz for breakfast at what feels like a night club, Il Bastardo brunch is the place for you. After downing half of my mimosa "pitcher," once the food arrived I really didn't care how it tasted. My stake and eggs were just "eh," but I wasn't paying for the food there, I was paying for unlimited drinks and a good time with friends. Of course, it wasn't until after we arrived that we realized they were playing by the rules and no longer served bottomless drinks for brunch. They offer a "pitcher" of what ever drink you ordered which consists of a 1L mason jar with no ice (because it takes up too much space, duh). With that being said, our server sympathized with us and brought us all some tequila shots on the house, because who doesn't need an eye opener? They also continued to give us some complementary shots of what they were handing out to most parties. Might have been gasoline but my group didn't care much at that point. Overall, not the best food, drinks are simple, but the environment is unique. Il Bastardo brunch is definitely not for everyone, so make sure you know it's for you before you make reservations.

    (3)

  • Dione D.

    I had a terrible experience here. I came about two weeks ago for a friend's going away brunch. The table next to us was drunk and rowdy -- a girl was dancing on the table most of the morning/afternoon. At one point she decides to jump on our table, causing the table to fall on me, spilling drinks from 10 people onto my dress, purse, and new down coat. I've e-mailed the restaurant twice, with no response. No one answers when I call. They are liable for letting that girl get so drunk and then allowing her to cause physical and property damage to other patrons -- and as far as I can tell, no one at the restaurant or parent company cares. I have pictures of the girl on the table and will definitely keep pushing them until I hear back. I wish I would have stayed to speak with a manager but I was so upset I left!

    (1)

  • Amanda I.

    This place is great if you're planning an occasion. I've been there for two birthdays and we've always had a great time. The DJ is amazing, the food is good, and the drinks top it off. What's not to like about your own bottle of champagne?? The manager at this location is pleasant and very attentive as well as the staff. I give this place two thumbs up!

    (5)

  • Amal S.

    So I have to change my mind on this place. I really like the food a lot- the wines etc. I thought I found my gem in my neighborhood. The last two times I went with a friend we turned right back around and left. The reason I never went there when it was il bastardo was the crowd. Always drunk, loud, rowdy and often running in and out of the place with drinks in hand. Guess what- still the same. The managers are nice- I really like the bar staff- but it seems it's always the friends of the manager and the bar staff and they get so obnoxious and have an air about them that they own the place. It makes for a very very uncomfortable experience. I am not at all uptight- but when people are running in and out the front door drink in hand- falling over the outdoor seating- screaming across half empty bar area- it's bad. My unsolicited advice- if your managers can't control your crowd because they have their old friends- you will not get the crowd your place deserves. You will miss out on people like me who will drink several glasses of your best wine, have dinner, etc etc. I have spoken to many local friends who feel the same. I would hate t see the fate of this place end like the previous establishment .

    (2)

  • Kay R.

    I would not recommend this restaurant based on the low quality of food and racist treatment of its non-white customers. I came here for a friend's birthday celebration with a group of 8 and we were really shocked at how bad the food was. I ordered the "chicken and waffles" but what I actually received was one (cold) Eggo-waffle and about 8 friend chicken fingers! Absolutely terrible and I've never seen anything like it. My friends ordered the steak and eggs which turned out to be the equivalent of one egg (literally) and a very low grade/poorly seasoned resemblance of steak. The $3 bottle of J. Roget champagne that they give you was not enough to justify the $49 per person cost. To make matters worse, after leaving the restaurant and trying to decide on transportation options outside, my friends and I were asked to move from off of the sidewalk and further down the street as we were not allowed to stand on the outside of the restaurant (per the bouncers). Now, I'm no civil rights attorney, but I'm pretty sure telling someone not to stand on a certain side of a public sidewalk without due cause is completely illegal. We were causing no disturbance and were simply having a conversation on our next steps. There was no justifiable reason to have been harassed in that manner and the Jim Crow south should not exist in the middle of NYC. We also spent $600-plus on essentially diner food and would like to think that warrants better treatment. This restaurant may want to be very careful in the future with making these types of requests, lest they end up with a pretty little lawsuit....I will never come back here.

    (1)

  • Victoria W.

    This review is for Il Bastardo- brunch Not sure why the bad reviews... I had my birthday brunch here with a party of 30 and it was a blast. Reservation was at 2pm and the people who had our table in the back room before us weren't getting up so they offered us high tops in the front. Granted it was right after new years and terrible weather so it wasn't as crowded as it usually is, but the service was fast. got drinks in 10 minutes and food in 30. service wasn't exceptionally personable, but thats whats expected with large parties. I did ask our waitress for more water and she brought it right away. Food was not amazing, but not bad either, and the brunch menu had a lot of options. The DJ made some interesting choices but music was just loud enough without being overbearing and we were all ready to dance after drinking. they even brought out an extra bottle of champagne for me and the other birthday girls with sparklers. It's nice that they bring bottles or big mason jars, unlike most places where you get small glasses and have to wait for the waitress to come around and refill. Comes to $50 a person with tax and tip. For the city, that's not a bad deal at all!

    (4)

  • Nathaniel C.

    Saturday brunch awesome!! All I got to say a bottle of champagne for each person good food great music! A must !!

    (3)

  • Harry H.

    Worst Brunch I have ever been to.

    (1)

  • Jennifer V.

    Brunch reservation at 230. Didn't receive food until 5pm. Sat at 315. I'd say an hour and 45 min food wait time is unacceptable or is that just me??? Not to mention, several food orders were not correct! Please, for that long of a time, get our orders right!!!!! Oh and an 1and45min food wait time is Unacceptable !!!!!!!!!!

    (1)

  • B D.

    Recently we were meeting with a friend who we had not seen a several years, so another friend made a reservation to this place. She mentioned she has been told by another friend that this place was good, so we decided to try it. First, this is a bad idea, I usually don't like to "try" places with friends, but instead like to go to places I have actually tested myself. Anyways, we were running late to meet a couple of them at this place, so when we saw the place I started sprinting there and walked in to the place. As I stepped up the steps, a man a black suit put up his hand in front of me and stopped me on my tracks. He said "were you here before?". I thought..what? what? and stepped back down outside the door. As it turns out he and another few guys outside were bouncers and asked for our IDs. I was still shocked, so I was like "this is weird! I've never been carded for brunch". As we took our our IDs and handed them over one of the bouncers said "where do you think you are going? church? listen the music..it will be good", but you could clearly hear his sarcasm and that was just the 2nd to last drop. We walked in, said hi to our friends, and sat down. As we are "trying" to tell them what happened, over the obnoxiously loud music, we got he menus and it looked like drinking was NOT optional. The menu said it was like what? I think $60 or so per person! Okay, this and the music was just the last drop. Anyways, needless to say, we left. We had not seen our friend for years and were not about to yell over our food. NOT a relaxed place.

    (1)

  • Crystal P.

    we came here last night for dinner. I've been wanting to come here for years now. the food was so amazing. no idea how this place seems to have so many bad reviews. maybe the brunch isn't great? we came for dinner and just so amazing. we all loved it. the inside of this place is also just amazing looking too. loved the lighting.

    (5)

  • Beij W.

    Recently attended the Saturday brunch party for a large party for a birthday. I would give the atmosphere a 4 the music is great, place was packed people dancing having a great time. We were seated immediately, as for the service was very slow too us a long time to even order drinks to order food think it took about hour for the waiter to even bring us a menu.. price you can not beat $40 for all can drink brunch party with music and everything, but I would suggest more staff possibly

    (3)

  • Funglin W.

    OMG Il Bastardo, I don't even know where to begin. I'm giving this place a 4 star more because of the business model and the atmosphere than the food. So if you're here for some quality food, It's more of a... 3-star? Whoever thought of this place was a genius. Entree + unlimited mimosa/sangria/screwdriver for $43? Plus, this place is a club/dance party at noon? I entered Il Bastardo and was instantly in club mode. There was the disco bar, there were stages and dancing, the room was dark... and there were unlimited drinks. I loved it! My friends and I had a reunion party here and I think we all left extremely satisfied with the day (although when we left the restaurant, I was so confused that it was only the daytime). But onto the quality of the drinks and food: Drinks(2): Don't expect some high end drinks here. It is afterall unlimited and these guys have to make some profits. Drinks aren't that great. Food(3, 3.5): I ordered a pasta dish (with shrimp) and I actually found it quite tasty considering this place wasn't a "quality" place but more for groups of people to have fun at. So I was impressed by my dish. Warning though! Don't leave your seat for the restroom before you finish your food! I think Ill Bastardo assumes everyone at the restaurant has quite a few drinks in so they kind of do whatever. I got up to make a bathroom run and was only halfway done with my food, but by the time I came back to my seat, they had taken all of my food away! Then, same with the drinks.. Mimosas and screwdrivers look the same to them so if they see that you have an empty glass of mimosa or screwdriver, they will just refill for you...with whichever drink. So at some point, my glass was definitely 1/2 mimosa and 1/2 screwdriver and that tasted quite...let's just say, don't ever mix the two.

    (4)

  • Gibble T.

    loud, awful experience - blasting nonsense. Not even sure why people get gassed about it.

    (1)

  • Courtney P.

    Do you like over priced cafeteria food, bitchy waitstaff, and watered down mimosas? If you answered yes this is the perfect place for you!!! If not, stay AWAYYY! Hands down the worst brunch experience I've ever had.

    (1)

  • Pablo M.

    This was our first visit for valentines day 2015. We were worries about the mixed reviews but honestly the place is great. We came in for the 12 seating session and had 4 bottles of champaign on our table by 1215 after checking our coats. The food arrived very quickly by 1230. Its not fine dining guys so don't expect abive and betond above ordinary food. We had the steak and eggs along with prosciutto eggs bennedict. For girls the bennedict is fine but as a guy I felt much better with the portion size of steak and eggs. Its decent food tasty and filling. For 39$ a piece its a satisfying amount. Its a club environment so don't expect peace and calm. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a fun boozy brunch experience.

    (4)

  • Eddie G.

    Love Bocca Di Bacco (Il Bastardo for brunch on weekends) -- I was just here again for Pride and it was excellent! Their mimosas are phenomenal and the service is stellar. Our server, Casey, was on point and Sherif the manager made sure we were well taken care of. Thanks for a great time!

    (4)

  • Arman H.

    The overall atmosphere is fantastic. The music (very loud), the lights, the vibe is awesome. There's nothing like having brunch, getting a bit drunk, while dancing and jamming out to good music like you're in a club. However the food is terrible. Portions are small and the quality is like mediocre diner food. Not to mention way over priced menu for low quality food... I ordered the chicken and waffles and it was like I was eating waffles I could make at home along with chicken strips that were microwaved... $39 for that crap and a pitcher/mason jar of mimosa. 5 stars for the atmosphere. 1 or maybe 2 stars for the food... I did have a great time though thanks to the music and people I was with & also the mimosas (which btw weren't unlimited) another downside... Overall very cool place. Great place for groups, if you're looking to have a good time, in loud club like environment. But if you want to enjoy good food look elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Carlos N.

    Made a reservation for Christmas Eve dinner for myself, my mom and my sister. The place itself is really nice, nice ambiance and not too loud. The waiter seemed a bit dry, but that's all good, very attentive, I guess not everyone is in the jolly Christmas mood. Now let's get to the food. We got the pre-fixed menu for Christmas Eve, which had some really nice options, including Calamari and Capresi Salad for appetizers and a Salmon and Steak and Frites for the main course. I order the Calamari for appetizer, which was at best a 6 out of a 10. The real issue was really with the steak and frites. One of the worst steaks I've ever had in my life. Under seasoned, very hard and chewy. I'm sure the meat was of very poor quality because it's really hard to mess up a steak. "Take the steak out of the fridge 20min before cooking in order to get a perfect medium rare, or else you will over cook it on the outside. Salt, pepper, hot pan with olive oil, flip it every minute to keep the juice, add some smashed garlic and thyme for flavor and smell" yup that was Gordon Ramsey recipe. Maybe it was a fluke, maybe it was just the Christmas menu, maybe it was just me. The place seems nice and they have several locations so something must be right but tonight I was extremely disappointed. I left hungry and got a hot dog and 30 Rock. Maybe I'll try the Hell's Kitchen location.

    (1)

  • Karina A.

    Awesome time for my birthday brunch! Adam our waiter took care of all 20 of us and he made sure we had everything we needed the whole time. Food was surprisingly good and the back room with dj and go go dancers was so fun! Everyone ended up dancing and having a great time. Would definitely go back!

    (4)

  • Craig S.

    It felt like a Saturday night club on a Sunday morning. The music was so loud, they blew a speaker. The best part was the $20 bottle of champagne (that I could buy for $5 across the street).

    (2)

  • Barbara D.

    If I could give it half a star, I would. This place is how I imagine Hell to be. The only reason it would get half a star is for the bouncer that was kind and friendly. The rest of the place could burn to the ground and be doing the city a favor. I came here for a birthday party brunch (SHOCKER, bc basically it's Chuck E. Cheese for 20 year olds and people from Staten Island). Had it not been for a birthday of someone I truly care about... I would have taken one look and kept walking. Alas, I stepped foot into this urban debacle. It's basically a poor man's Bagatelle. The music is loud and endless. The drinks do flow, but I think it's basically $4 Asti, water and OJ. You have to order from a prix-fixe menu for their Unlimited Brunch. Not a steal at $39. Especially when it's basic egg dishes and sandwiches/burger. If the overly sweet/tangy mimosas or screwdrivers don't make you hurl... the food might. Then again, they FORGOT mine and then yelled at me that they sent it back (no you didn't... the staff set the tray down right in front of us... I was staring at the tray, it didn't have a burger)... so who can mess up a BURGER? They can, folks. When I finally got it... it was ice cold... with cold fries to match. How exciting. They forgot another person's food... and she sent it back when it was cold and got a new one... which was nice of them... but still sloppy service. There's like 4 unisex bathrooms upstairs for about a million people and a few downstairs, as well. By the time 4pm hits, there's so many wasted 20 year old puking in them... or going to the bathroom in packs and suspiciously wiping their noses and licking their gums (hmmm)... that it's ridiculous. You'd have to pay me to go back... and even then... I'd pack a bag of Doritos and skip the burger, which made me feel pretty ill for the remainder of the evening... again, who messes up A BURGER? Pathetic.

    (1)

  • Danica A.

    My favorite place in all of Chelsea. I initially found somewhat disconcerting the decision to remove the physical and conceptual wall between Il Bastardo and its more formal counterpart next door but the food remains excellent, bartenders cute, waitstaff attentive and (now that he's back) the presence of best-manager-in-the-world Aljoscha all make this my favorite place to go and hang out or dine. I highly recommend this venue; though i have never been to the Sunday brunch it sounds like an incredible deal but weekends for tourists and bridge/tunnel as far as I'm concerned.

    (5)

  • Frank Luigi M.

    Complete trap They lure you in with unlimited drinks ($25) and there are only 4 options of cheap liquor Food was terrible, completely below average Service was nonexistent Spent $50 and I am completely regretting it

    (1)

  • Brittney G.

    Turn up! Turn up! Turn up! That's all that comes to mind when I think of this place. I went here for Sunday brunch with a group of 10 and was surprised to find a line outside, carding at the door, and the song "shots shots" blasting from the speakers. Once seated, we enjoyed unlimited mimosas and the sounds of top 40s and hip hop jams. The $40 brunch included drinks and a meal. The meal was a joke. The selection was lacking and food was cold. This club... I mean restaurant... Is definitely not somewhere I see myself frequenting, but it was definitely an experience. Pros: 1. Conveniently located off the train 2. Great (loud, club-style) music 3. Dancing on tables and chairs lol Cons 1. Not the best food 2. Still a wait after having a reservation

    (3)

  • Brion R.

    "Party Brunch" I was torn between 2 and 3 stars for this one. I would love to give 2.5 (obviously impossible). I finally went with 2 since it is more consistent with my personal taste for people who've read my other reviews. Note that this review is specifically about Brunch. Why you would go here: 1. You have out of town guests and want to give them a true NYC boozy, party brunch. 2. You are clubbing until noon and want to continue the party Why you wouldn't go here: Every other reason. What sucks * Prices are CRAZY. If you want a boozy brunch there are so many other places to go and pay under $30. $45???? are they serious??? Note that you can pay a la carte for drinks and your main. * Mimosa's that taste like Tang * DJ playing club music. Yes, I might like a DJ at lunch, but playing something else and changing it up once in awhile. It was like bad background noise. Acceptable: Bloody Mary was good Food was ok. I had the Maryland crabcake benedict which was basically a good crabcake (not bready) with poached eggs on an English Muffin. Strangely they were are segregated which I didn't understand

    (2)

  • Ed L.

    You had me at Boozy Brunch! If you know me, you know I've got a thing for a good boozy brunch and that's what you'll find here at Il Bastardo. LIke its sister restaurant Bar Baresco, it has your traditional brunch fare with an all you can drink brunch offering, but it also has a great DJ and a good looking clientele. After drinking, what seems like a bottomless glass of mimosa, you'll probably find yourself dancing it up in the back lounge area. If you're looking for a decent meal, a great daytime drinking scene and some beautiful people (i.e. me), then head on to this location.

    (4)

  • Steven R.

    Terrible environment. A bunch a drunk girls behaving poorly. The food was okay, but the server charged us wrong twice. The bathrooms were disgusting.

    (2)

  • Rachel S.

    Mmmm, came here for a company holiday party. The tuna tartare was incredible! Literally took a plateful from the waiter and he brought us more. Also, the prosciutto is so good, melt in your mouth kind of good. I had multiple glasses of good red wine. They didn't have Malbec, but the bartender gave me something else that was pretty similar and tasty. The space is also really cool. Burgundy walls, comfy/romantic vibe. Definitely a good date spot. Was easy to get to (1 train and a block walk). Want to come back and actually eat a real meal here.

    (3)

  • Dave N.

    Great brunch place, its a scene. Go on weekends at 2 and it'll be borderline overwhelming, but in a good way.

    (4)

  • Chris V.

    This place used to have a party feel, turning in to a club at about 1 pm on a Sunday. Their refurb has changed the atmosphere so it's no longer the day club of the past, the food is so average that I would stick to eggs Benedict rather than steak. This used to be a great venue for a Sunday afternoon party but sitting here at 2 pm there are more servers than customers .

    (2)

  • larisa k.

    You know how sometimes, you read a 1-star review and think, 'whoa, this person is either completely exaggerating or was extremely unlucky because it can't be THAT bad!'? ..I used to think that and no wI am about to write my first 1-star review. THE BAD: -line outside to get in the door because you need to get carded before you enter (already a warning sign, coz like, why do you need to bring ID to brunch? Not everyone likes mimosas and bloody mary's, I wasn't even planning on getting wasty-facey Sunday afternoon -the wait to sit down is ridiculous, it takes them too long to get you situated and the entire time you are in the waiting area next to the huge and super loud (and also pretty tasteless in its music) speakers -the seating (slash bench spot waiting area they put us at) was next to the front door, right under the speaker, and also not a real table. It's like, that table that you wait at before you get seated. THE REALLY BAD: - i asked the manager if he could get the DJ to turn down the music. He said he would and didn't - I asked the bar tender if she could put in a request to get the DJ to turn down the music, hoping that if 2 requests came in within 30 minutes, they would realize that not everyone wants a poorly adjusted bass bumping "DAT POLE B SLOPPY WET" over their heads as they try to catch up with girlfriends. She said, 'sorry - loud music is kind of our thing.' I don't see anything wrong with having 'a thing' but that thing happened to be really tasteless and eardrum piercingly loud. And i'm not even 80, i swear! THE HORRIBLE: - we got to the place a little after 2 and by 3:35, we still didn't have food. I still didn't have my OJ that i put in an order for. We were still offended by the blasts of cold air from outside whenever the door opened, and by the thunder of their 'music' - really, not music and hence in quotes. SHOTSHOTSSHOTSHOTSSHOSSHOSTSHOTSHOTSHOTS is not music. -a pair of 'dancers' that came running out, clad in thongs, pasties, and feathers and began grinding on customers. That's pretty much where I drew the line, got up, and left. Thanks, Il Bastardo!

    (1)

  • Shary P.

    Came here for brunch with a group of friends (6 of us in total). No reservations, we were seated right away, our servers were extremely friendly and hospitable. The waitress greeted us by asking it she could get us started with some drinks which was awesome. We ordered our drinks and food. Everything came rather quickly and was pretty good. Food was delicious and drinks were just right. Would definitely come back again

    (5)

  • Jamie C.

    Literally the worst brunch I've ever had in New York City and I've lived here for almost 6 years. Overpriced, cheap decor, subpar food. Oh, and I'm writing this review as I'm still sitting in this restaurant. Prix fixe is $39 with booze and since no one in my group wanted to drink it's $20 per dish. The food is subpar, definitely not worth what they're charging. I ordered the eggs Benedict with Maryland crab cakes and I'm pretty sure they got the minuscule crab cakes in the frozen section of Sam's club. Never coming here again.

    (1)

  • Emily G.

    Came here on Valentine's Day with my friends and the experience was a little off. I got there at 1145 for a 12pm reservation not realizing they open at 12. They didn't open doors until 1210... No apology, mind you its 10 degrees out. Then we got seated next to a completely blown out speaker :( is this Serious? We told them it sounded so awful and they turned it off but how did they not hear it? Yikes idk about coming back for a $50 brunch with bad service

    (2)

  • Natasha K.

    I mean come on people, let's set expectations. If you want to have a drunk, loud, fun, dancing on the tables, crazy people everywhere, half nude women dancing then THIS IS THE PLACE TO COME and PARTAY! You don't come here for the good food, you come from the boozey champagne brunch and the dancing fun time. I mean the food is just not good but again thats not what you come here for!

    (3)

  • Elizabeth H.

    This place is a rare find in the city. It's huge! It's so hard to find a place that's big enough to spaciously fit a big group. The food is also amazing. The staff is also very very good, very attentive and generally seemed to enjoy their jobs. I will absolutely be going back and will highly recommend it to others.

    (5)

  • George C.

    My girlfriend wanted to have a nice brunch in Manhattan for her 30th birthday, and being that we are from out of town, she was referred by a friend to go to Il Bastardo. The place is more like a club than a restaurant. They play loud music non-stop and you can't hear people sitting two seats away from you. They are extremely expensive at 39.99 per person. The food quality was pretty bad. My girlfriends sister's boyfriend actually said, "I'm going to consider this a win if I don't get food poisoning." The mimosa's were made watered down. In my opinion, the quality of the food and beverage for the expensive price makes this place a downright rip off. Save yourself, and avoid if you have other choices. Personally, I would never go back.

    (1)

  • Rachael F.

    My experience here started out as a glass half-empty vs. glass half-full situation (not that the glasses weren't always completely full...). We had a reservation for a large group, and ended up waiting about an hour for our table. That said, it was a very fun hour spent filling and re-filling my mimosa glass at the bar - a very nice pregame for the meal that would soon ensue. So that said, I guess I choose half-full. I was actually surprised about the quality of the food. In my experience with similar bottomless brunch places, the food is usually inedible. Not saying my meal was 5-star quality by any means, but I actually enjoyed my frittata. And I ate some of my friend's fries which I really enjoyed. When I say we closed down the place, it is in no way an exaggeration. We were literally the last people in the restaurant to the point where we got kicked out, so I guess you could say we had a good time. They don't skimp on the drinks which is nice, and I'll just say that things get slightly weird when the (almost) naked dancers come out halfway through the afternoon. So all in all, good experience - pretty good deal and a fun thing for big groups and/or birthdays!

    (3)

  • Joseph D.

    This review is for brunch. Good: For people who like to party, Il Bastardo is a great place to rage on a Sunday afternoon. The minute you walk in, bartenders and servers are pouring drinks and shots. There is a DJ that is blaring music throughout brunch and everyone is having a good time. The brunch runs about $50 for an entree and unlimited drinks. In NY, that is not too bad especially when you can party and eat at the same time. Bad: Staff is not the friendliest. My table had to hound servers for drinks (even though we are all raging alcoholics). The drinks are also watered down and the food is not that great. Bottom line: Want to party your face

    (3)

  • Bridget S.

    This place. We had a reservation at 2 pm for brunch for a friend's birthday. It was a total mob scene when we walked in, with zero space for us to stand. We wait for 20 minutes as the hostess continues to tell us they're "setting up our table." Twenty more minutes goes by and still no table. When we ask to speak to a manager, we are told that he's "in the back somewhere." Helpful. The hostess tells us we can have a free round of drinks to compensate for our now 40 minute wait, yet when we go to claim them, the bartender refuses to honor it. Finally after a mild altercation and a few choice words exchanged, we are seated an hour later. The primary reason we chose Il Bastardo was for the heavy pours on the unlimited alcohol. They did not disappoint in this area; however, I hope you're accustomed to eating in a college dining hall because their glassware is plastic. Next comes the food. Two members of our party had to send their sandwiches back. My pasta dish had spots of warm and cold, indicating it was heated up in a microwave. It's safe to say that this was one of the top three worst meals I've had in my several years in NYC. In the end, the manager came to our table and deducted a few dollars off our bill. All in all, this place was not worth the headache of getting seated, the horrible food, and the mediocre atmosphere. With all the bottomless brunch spots in NYC, skip this one.

    (1)

  • Matt K.

    We went for Pride this year and enjoyed ourselves. To be honest, I don't remember much about the food because of the never ending mimosas :) I do remember that we had a blast though!

    (4)

  • Jaime R.

    I don't know what happened here, but it isn't good. I walked in and saw that they remodeled, which was exciting, because it looks great, but the rest of our experience was much worse than I expected. 10 of us were there for brunch and everyone's food was awful. The last few times I've been here, the food was probably a 3/5--decent, nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about. The fun, party brunch atmosphere that used to make up for anything the food lacked was also gone--no more fun music or great crowd. I think they must have scared everyone away with the terrible food. Such a bummer!

    (1)

  • Eli N.

    Been Going to Il Bastardo For the past seven years.. In all this time I only returned on dish back! That's not bad! Food, Drinks And the atmosphere is beyond my expectations. Highly recommend this Place..

    (5)

  • Moe F.

    GREAT TIME, 40 bucks gets you a brunch entree and a pitcher of Mimosas or Bloody Mary. Do It. Mostly caters to groups I saw us get seated much quicker than a group of 2.

    (4)

  • Minh L.

    So my buddy invites me to out and I was expecting a nice brunch with a little day drinKing. Ok I was in for a surprise. This is basically a club with a bit of sub par food and service at best. If you want to get all you can drink (bad drinks) and dance and be tone deaf for the next few days then this is it. But even then this place is ok at best. Not only was there an hour and half wait with reservations but the bathrooms also had a horrendous cue. They were coed and only had two stalls open. If you gonna have 'unlimited' drinks then you better have a better bathroom situation

    (1)

  • Mary U.

    I went here last weekend for lunch with my co-wrokers. It wasn't the best experience ever. The only thing that came on time was the water. We had to wait forever just to receive any bread and olive oil. I had to actually ask or they would not have brought it to our table. Mind you, this was very early in the afternoon and all of 2 other tables were occupied. So, the bread finally comes out....it was cold. Strike #1. They had a 3 course lunch for 12.95, sounds to good to be true right? Strike number #2 it was, once you sat down to take a look at the menu there were some hidden fees. The customer service sucked, strike #3. My friend got the unlimited wine and when he offered it to another co-worker they literally came to the table to attempt to shut it down. So, imagine eating w/ eyes watching you. My meal was good, I won't lie but when you attach it to that horrible customer service...2 stars.

    (2)

  • Evan B.

    Below average brunch food at best, in a dark loud club atmosphere, all for $40 which includes a cheap bottle of champagne. Very disappointing, won't come back.

    (1)

  • Alexis S.

    I had a margarita and the Bisteca. Delicious steak, cooked perfectly. & The margarita was really yummy. My friend ordered the salmon/shrimp dish and part of the salmon was raw. They had to take it back and re-cook some of it. Which was a bit off putting..especially for what they charge.

    (3)

  • Andre F.

    Went here for a drunk brunch for my wife's 30th. We had a large party (37) and at first they didn't setup enough tables to accommodate but quickly got that together. They were nice enough to allow some friends to setup balloons and so forth prior to my wife's arrival which was nice. As soon as we walked in drinks were flowing and continued that way. Drinks were good and the food was average. I must say they were able to handle a large party with ease which is always a plus. The dj was good and so was the entertainment. They allowed us to stay for another 45 mins after paying while still serving is drinks.

    (4)

  • Floyd W.

    Not awful but not very good. I had the Orecchiette and the Calamari Fritti to start. The ambiance is above average. There's an Olive Garden on 22nd and 6th.

    (2)

  • Holly C.

    AYCD brunch spot. It's now one of my favorites. $20 on top of the cost of the entree so it ends up being ~$30. I loved the fun atmosphere with music blasting. There's two sides so we were seated on the other side where the music was loud, but we could still talk (in loud voices) to each other. The staff is great - fast, friendly, and always kept our Mimosa glasses refilled. They give you a wine glass - not a typical champagne glass! We did have to ask for refills a few times but they always did it quickly, with no attitude or anything. They gave us the check right away at the end of our 2 hours, but they still let us sit there for another half an hour and still refilled our waters The food is decent (Essex still has the best food). 1) Eggs Benedict with imported Prosciutto 2) Eggs Benedict with Maryland Crab cake 3) Eggs Florentine They all came with homemade potatoes which were good. I think everyone enjoyed their dish (I know I liked my Florentine). I would recommend this place to anyone looking for an AYCD brunch spot.

    (4)

  • Maria O.

    Food is always great but the service is ALWAYS impeccable.

    (5)

  • Rob J.

    Sunday brunch here can be a lot of fun if you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. If you're in the mood for LOUD dance/pop/hiphop music, ridiculous amounts of alcohol, and many pretty drunk people, then this is your place. The food at brunch is just okay, but by the time the food arrives you'll be too tanked to care. Upon arriving I thought my friends were going to kill me for suggesting this as a brunch spot. It took forever to get seated (even though we had a reservation) and the music was so loud that we couldn't hear each other (we actually resorted to typing what we wanted to say on the Big Words app on our iPhones). Brunch includes a bottle of champagne, or a pitcher of screwdrivers/bloody mary per person. So while brunch got off to a rocky start we were all drunk, happy, and having a blast an hour later. The waiter came by with free shots for each table, there was dancing on tables, and there was randomly a huge group of drag queens for reasons I'm still uncertain of. All in all, we ended up having a blast, but just know what you're getting yourself into. Food and Service: 2 stars Drunken Fun: 5 stars

    (3)

  • Alysha P.

    Vamp, Rocker, Chic and sexy Whats not to love? Came here for happy hour with a few friends for drinks and fell in love with this place. Great atmosphere and the sangria was delish! Our bartender was awesome (short red hair) the whole vibe of the place was super sexy. Great for a first date! Cant wait to go back to try their dinner menu.

    (5)

  • Joyce K.

    AYCD Brunch FIRST OFF: The AYCD champagne, mimosa (good), screwdriver or bloody mary (not so good) is an ADDED $18.00!!!!! (not $15.00 like advertised). Can I stress that its an ADDED $18.00...not just AYCD w purchase of food like at Calle Ocho or Poco or Essex. For the value, the food was not good enough and the drinks were not refilled fast enough. FOOD: -Eggs Benedict w Maryland Crab cakes..$12.00. Crabcakes were a bit fishy, the potatoes were mushy. It was okay overall but not stellar. -Omelette w Virginia ham, sauteed mixed mushrooms..$9.00. Not stellar once more, but okay tasting. -Pancakes w bacon/sausage and maple syrup..$9.00. The fruits were REALLY FRESH, pancakes were good. Bacon was like...did a retard fry it? Totally overdone, black, and hard. This makes me sad... The place is HUGE, nice ambiance actually. GREAT for big parties!! I would not come here again, UNLESS I am trying to entertain many people. Many better values for AYCD brunch in the city.

    (3)

  • Sid D.

    Now it's called bocca di bacco We were a group of 6 at the Chelsea location and had a fairly bad experience. The service was tardy. We picked bottles of wine from 2005 and were served wines from 2011. We were not warned about this before the bottle was opened / poured. When we later noticed, they had the nerve to point us to fine print on the menu which said that vintages can change. But, there was no mention of prices changing with vintage. This issue happened with a second bottle of wine too. The server and manager were adamant that it wasn't their fault. The manager said that he would check, and disappeared. In addition, the quality / taste of the food was just ok; most other Italian places in Chelsea are better. One friend was vegetarian, and they sent him a sauce with sausage after being told to leave the sausage out. After a very long discussion they comped the wine, but it was too late. We will not return.

    (1)

  • Meghan A.

    I love Il Bastardo because it's been there for memorable times in my life. 1. Introduction. Went on a summer Friday night as a group of 5. Great food, dimly lit, candles, brick archways, wood tables, larger menu, perfect. I had the ravioli and it was great. 2. Day 3 post-wisdom teeth extraction. Whining, gauze, soup, sick. We went here for a Saturday night date after being so uncomfortable, and I had my first glass of wine back in the game. That glass of wine brought my pain level to non-existant, and I slowly chewed my first real food in a few days. Aw. 3. Wedding Rehearsal Dinner. We had approximately 50 guests the night before our wedding, and Il Bastardo gave us the back room. After contacting 25 restaurants, Il Bastardo stood out most since it had the space capacity, approachable Italian menu for out-of-town wedding guests, and competitive pricing. Our guests absolutely loved the food (it was appetizers and a 3-course prix fixe, although they have other prix fixe options available), the service was great, and they kept the wine flowing. I have only one noteworthy comment, however. When we tried to take my in-laws to Il Bastardo one Saturday afternoon for brunch, it was a polar opposite from the sultry, more mature dinner service. They had a very loud DJ pumping dance music, and an all you can drink brunch, which clearly lent itself to a specific type of clientele and behavior. I felt like I was in Cancun during Spring Break. And you know who am I to judge boisterous day drinking, but you really should be aware of this before taking your in-laws there.

    (4)

  • Ashely R.

    Not good for dinner. The only thing that made it ok was the fact that they undercharged us and our check was super cheap. Maybe good for brunch but def not dinner

    (3)

  • Alice M.

    **** Review for the bar only My friend and I wandered into here on our way to Penn Station, since we needed to stall before her train. She had a glass of port, great size, resonable price, and very good. I had a ginger cosmo (I think it was called that), which was made with orange juice and I thought was simply delicious! The bartender was super nice, professional, patient, and attentive. I was definitely happy with my drink, and will be back to check out this fabu brunch I am reading about. **** I went back for dinner, and it was awesome. I had a fish special, which was absolutely delic. The place is much bigger than I expected, the service was great, and the ambiance was fantastic. Great place for a date or a group of friends to go to.

    (4)

  • Kyle W.

    This is the only place where when asked whether I want black pepper and the guy turns and leaves without hitting the food or noticing my dismay. The highlight was the sauteed spinach which was a side. My lamb shank was tasteless the pasta was not good and the service left a lot to be desired. I'm not normally this dissapointed in a place but here I was.

    (1)

  • Samantha S.

    My friends and I came here because we wanted to have a nice dinner before going out on a Friday night. We were seated in the back room in a comfy booth. The restaurant had a great ambiance. Our waiter was very nice. I had a really yummy cocktail that I can't remember the name of. The cocktail menu was really nice and extensive. I had the taglierini with pesto and sun dried tomato, and it was very very tasty. The pesto was great. We had dessert too, I forget what exactly but we were happy with it. I'd definitely come back here for a nice dinner with friends or a date.

    (4)

  • H S.

    I went here before long ago (back 2 years ago before I discovered Yelp), but kind of felt that I couldn't review until I returned, so here I am. I like this restaurant because it has a rustic Italian feel to it with its wooden tables and bread and dipping oil dish you receive from a waiter handing out fresh bread from a basket... the feel is wonderful but it's the club music inside that throws it all off! I suppose if they played classical music or something it might cheese the place up a bit, and so the club stuff makes it trendy. Well anyway, I had some tasty wine, a delicious mussel appetizer, pretty good stuffed chicken, and yummy passion fruit sorbet. All good, and all under $50, amazingly.

    (4)

  • Jay K.

    I kept my promise...I came here again last night. The food and service was excellent. The calamari was a tad salty but came with two dipping sauces, yeah! The buffalo mozzarella and tomato was also very good. l was pleased with the pinot noir they had chosen.

    (4)

  • Jacqueline Z.

    Went here for brunch on a Sunday. Seated immediately, in the back of the restaurant. It was dark and the music was on pretty loudly. It was kind of similar in the back to a beautiful Italian wine tasting room with brick walls. Unfortunately, it was a little too serious for brunch, but I would guess that it would be great for dinner. They also have a big room in the back for private parties and large tables in the back room for large parties. They did turn the music down when we asked. And it was pretty chilly back there but no solution to that. After we were seated, they brought some tasty little muffins and jam while we waited for our friend. I ordered the french toast, and it was pretty good...not quite the kind that melts in your mouth but still quite tasty. The orange juice was terrible, fyi. They do have a great prix fix brunch special for people who want to drink ($15 all you can drink mimosas and bloody marys - a cost that is in addition to your food, btw). Would love to try it again for dinner and see if it is better for that. Not my top pick for brunch unless I want to get drunk!

    (3)

  • Thomas Y.

    I came here for the new year party and was pretty impressed. Place is big with at least 4 rooms, plenty of seats and tables. Prices aren't bad either, 2 shots and 2 amstels ran me 40 bucks. I just hope theres a little more variety than just asians on normal nights. However I do plan on comming back, possibly for food as well.

    (4)

  • Dolores G.

    I love a good brunch deal and for an extra $15 to your brunch entree, you get unlimited cocktails. For my entree, I got the eggs florentine which is sorta of an eggs benedict but with spinach and hollandaise sauce, and a side of homestyle potatoes. The eggs were delicious, and for $9 you can't go wrong. However I wasn't feeling the potatoes since it was a bit saucy and lacked salt or something. For my cocktails, I chose bloody mary's and it was pretty good. They were pretty strong if you asked me because 3 hours later after we stumbled out of the restaurant, I was still feeling a nice buzz. The service was good, nothing crazy. They did let us sit at the table for an extended period of time and never rushed us out. I would come back to try their dinner one day.

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Had dinner here last night for Halloween...Food was excellent....had the stuffed mushrooms, mozzarella caprese, orrichette, and veal scaloppini...I did try to get chicken scaloppini instead of veal scaloppini but was quickly told that would upset the chef (Wouldn't want to do that!!! Ok, I did a little) but, I smartly agreed to the Veal scaloppini. The cheesecake for dessert was fabulous, great prosseco, wine, port and grappa, Overall a great restaurant and fantastic service.

    (4)

  • Todd K.

    Great food and a cool atmosphere. Would definitely recommend it.

    (4)

  • Latasha A.

    Went for brunch with 5 other ladies. How can you go wrong with unlimited mimosas and bloody Mary's?? Great ambience, great for groups (ie spacious) and tasty fare. A win all around. I'd def go back.

    (4)

  • Carolyn L.

    Food is ok. Or a little better than ok. The noise level is terrible. You have to shout to be heard.

    (3)

  • Arielle S.

    Went on a Wednesday night with a party of 8 girls. I'd say the restaurant was about a third full. The wait staff was very attentive, constantly bringing bread and water. Our waiter was patient as we spent way too long chatting and not enough time looking at the menu. Between all of us, we probably ordered everything on the menu. Everyones food was delicious. I'd definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Pierre F.

    Nice neighborhood restaurant. its on of this place where you wont get the best experience ever but you cant go wrong with it either.

    (4)

  • Taylor G.

    Worst service I have experienced in a long time. We sat down. Got our drinks within the first 15 mins. Then nothing. We didn't see out waiter for at least an hour and then got our food from a bus boy with no follow up service, awful! The food was not even good. I would have had better eggs at my local diner. Overall very disappointing experience.

    (1)

  • Michele W.

    A great space and good location. And for the price ($35/person, prix fixe menu, included appetizers, wine, entrees, desserts, and coffee for a party of 17), there's no way you could complain. The carpaccio appetizer was fantastic -- and so huge I couldn't finish it -- but the roasted chicken entree was just so-so. Because we had a large party, we were given the back lounge area -- private, intimate, and with plenty of room for everyone. My impression is that the reservations were made at the last minute (like, three days before the dinner party) yet the staff was incredibly accommodating and helpful. Definitely a place to return to.

    (4)

  • Andrea B.

    Was here for brunch, and had the best eggs Benedict with prosciutto. Highly recommend this place to everyone! We'll be back soon

    (5)

  • Kuv S.

    IL BASTARDO!!! Sorry, but with a name like that, I can't help but it say with some enthusiasm, some cojones. Try it with me, "You guys wanna grab some lunch? I know a place in Chelsea, what's it called? oh, well, it's, IL BASTARDO!" Late lunch. Two very simple words when combined create a magnificent happenstance, and a late lunch it was last time I was here, 5pm - we ordered Mozzarella Caprese (awesome), Caesar Salad (eh, not so super), Mussels al Vino (good), Lasagna al Forno (didn't try, but looked good and was finished), and Panino Skirt Steak (mine- it was cooked well, well-served, and just, well, swell).

    (5)

  • Calis A.

    When I finally get my a** out of bed early enough for brunch, I can only think of this place. The food is good and reasonably priced. But more importantly, $15 unlimited champagne, mimosas, and bloody marys! Who could ask for me? I also hear they have great dinner specials for only $15. This place is a true find. It's my new brunch hangout.

    (4)

  • Junie K.

    Went for a bday dinner with a large group- about 12 people. They were able to accomodate us on short notice on a friday night, so that was good. The food was just alright- nothing spectacular, but for a group dinner it was a good experience overall. The restaurant is pretty large and the ambiance is nice.

    (3)

  • B. G.

    If I could give this restaurant negative stars, then I would! I came here last Saturday for a family member's bachelorette brunch, which had a reservation for the AYCD special. Found my group in the back room, which really does feel like you're in a bad club. There was a DJ playing music so loud that I was practically shouting to the person next to me and the lights were dimmed real low. It was crowded and there was a party of girls dancing in between tables on top of something (I couldn't tell what). I ordered a Bloody Mary, while everyone else at my table was drinking mimosas or champagne. Ended up drinking a few of those along with taking a couple of the shots they pass around. Didn't seem like too big of a deal, since I was also eating. Had the eggs florentine, which was pretty gross, but I was hungry. The side of potatoes were nothing special, but the most appetizing part of the meal. I didn't eat the spinach that came with the florentine because even under the dimmed lights and after a couple drinks, it looked like it came from Popeye's tin can. But I did eat the eggs and English muffin. We paid for the brunch before leaving AND THAT'S ALL I REMEMBER UNTIL 4 HOURS LATER. I ended up blacked-out drunk, walking alone to my bus, when I fell so hard that a nurse on her lunch break crossed the street to help me after seeing it happen. She helped me get in touch with someone from the brunch and I ended up back at their hotel to sleep it off. Shudder to think of what else could have happened to me in that state. I am a regular drinker of decent alcohol and am curious as to what kind and how much they use in their Bloody Mary's. Also, have no idea what was even in those shots we took. The other ladies in my group seemed to have had a fun day. Consider yourself warned!! Two of my family members think my drink(s) were spiked. I have never had an experience like this and it was one of the worst days of my life.

    (1)

  • Lou M.

    This place never fails to fail. I live around the corner and every time I've gone the service has been poor, or there was something wrong with the food, something! Le Zie is a block away. It does not have the swanky look of Il Bastardo, but the food, service and wine are always first rate.

    (1)

  • Dali S.

    Ambiance is casual, a bit noisy but it does enhance the NY attitude. The food is average,I was expecting a tad better. Drinks are made well. The service is good. Overall its great for a party of four , I wouldn't recommend for two.

    (3)

  • James H.

    Been to this Italian restaurant with an interesting name several times and have yet to be disappointed with the food or the service. The ambiance is more on the dark side with exposed brick. I've tried several of their pastas and antipastas and have been more than satisfied. Seems to get a lot more of the younger traffic because of the exposure on the MTV show "The City"... don't know if that's good or bad, hah.

    (4)

  • NYC T.

    This place is just ok. For some reason I thought I was going to get this real Italian home cooked meal like Max Restaurant on the LES. Not the case. The food was plain and the entree portions were actually small for the price. The middle dining area is extremely loud so it's not good for catching up with anyone because you cant hear them. They also blast random music which doesn't help. Not really worth the calories and cost.

    (3)

  • Lauren C.

    Went today for St. Patrick's Day brunch. With tip it came to $58/person for green bottomless mimosas/screwdrivers/bloody mary's, etc and an entree. Pretty expensive for brunch, but you get a club-like atmosphere in the back lounge area which has you dancing in your seats (or on your table for some). I didn't drink my money's worth because I couldn't get that drunk today, and that's what was really disappointing. I would have spent far less for my dish and the amount of mimosas I drank if had paid "a la carte" for them. I recommend going here only if you like house music and getting REALLY wasted in the early afternoon, and you enjoy really loud club-like environments. Wasn't too impressed with the staff, though. Some snooty blonde waitress looked annoyed when we asked her for service, and she never returned with the screwdriver I asked for or to our table at all. Oh, and I got the rigatoni dish, and it was AMAZING.

    (3)

  • Lisa G.

    I've never come here for brunch, but it seems to have been a horrifying experience for many Yelpers. Note to self. I have, however, come here several times for dinner with my parents. They are not the most adventurous eaters so when they come to visit this is my go-to spot. I like their arugula and goat cheese salad. It comes with walnuts and anjou pear slices, dressed with light vinaigrette. I wish there was more goat cheese but overall pretty good. The garden vegetable soup is also decent and I believe the veggies in it are seasonal. I ordered it in summer and again more recently and it seemed heartier. Pasta is probably the best thing they have on the menu. Last time we were here my dad ordered the Rigatoni with tomato, eggplant, and basil. Eggplant was cooked wonderfully. Rigatoni was OK. I'm not a huge fan of rigatoni in general though. My mom ordered the Taglierini with pesto and sundried tomatoes. This was by far the best dish of the night. As soon as it was brought to the table the intoxicating aroma of fresh basil swarmed my nostrils. And it was soooo good. Chewy sundried tomatoes had just the right amount of sweetness and added a nice contrast in texture. I would order this next time I go there. I had the potato gnocchi with tomato sauce and cheese. I was totally full from eating before going here so I had a few bites and saved the rest to go. They gave it to me in a HUGE plastic takeout container. The pasta barely filled up half the box, and when I got home and looked at it it seemed like most of the big chunks of cheese that had been blanketing the top of my pasta were missing. What happened? Did they spill part of it on the floor and salvage the rest? Did someone want my cheese and decide to take it for themselves? The gnocchi was pretty good too, but nothing was as good as the Taglierini. A couple of other things to note. Our waiter was totally void of any emotion last time we were here. All of us at the table made a few attempts at friendly banter and his visage remained completely blank. He wasn't rude, but he wasn't really friendly either. Also the bathroom here is notable--its just one big room downstairs. A little confusing at first but fine otherwise.

    (4)

  • Bartholomew C.

    My family and I had an absolutely lovely experience at Il Bastardo on Christmas day. The bartender was a delight, our server, Valeria, was wonderfully pleasant person to deal with, and the food was very, very good. All of our selections from apps to dessert were prepared perfectly. My veal was spectacular, my fathers duck was juicy and flavorful and my moms lamb fell off the bone (that sounds bad, moms and bones don't look good in the same sentence). The scallops were great as well. Topped off with free limoncello and coffee for the table. How could that be bad? My only complaint would be the music, a little loud and a little inappropriate for the space, but it's not enough to prevent me from returning.

    (4)

  • PJ G.

    Big fat juicy veal chops! YUM! fabuloso bread! Great view of the parade (7th avenue), relaxed atmosphere and a table that seats four comfortably. What I like about this place is that you can come here with friends or a date and you're treated the same way- with polite friendliness. They won't toss you out on your ear if you're wearing jeans, and dress up (moderately) works well here too.

    (5)

  • Bonnie I.

    I went to Il Bastardo on a Saturday night, with a reservation. Sat in the back. I was pleasantly surprised at the size and design of the place. I ordered the meatball appetizer. The meatballs were ok, but the sauce they were served in was TASTY. Boyfriend ordered the Caesar salad, standard. I then ordered the Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage, and let me just say, that was the best dish ever. The dish itself could have 5 stars. Boyfriend ordered the meat plate - lamb, chicken, steak, and pork. Too bad the waiter was rather awful. Awful attitude. Mumbled. Never bothered to come by. Took forever to come take our drink orders. He read off his notebook for the specials. I was genuinely disappointed by the service. And yet I continue to dream of the pasta...

    (3)

  • Nicole S.

    I adore this restaurant. This has become my "go to" restaurant this past year. it's one of those places that I feel comfortable bringing anyone to have a great meal in a beautiful place without it being pretentious. It's perfect for a date, for groups, for families, we've done birthday parties, new year's here... really spectacular. The food is consistently delicious and always exceeds my expectations. The service and staff are wonderful and helpful. The drinks are kickin' and the bar tenders are great. I've even met the owner a few times and he's delightful! I'll be going back here again and again!

    (5)

  • Jimmy L.

    I work right up the street from this place, and my boss is big fan, so we often get delivery from here. You would hard pressed to find better italian food in the city, and the prices are surprisingly reasonable. I always get the gnocchi (always delicious and perfectly tender), but everything I've had here has been quite delicious. We've taken out-of-town clients here a few times and they're always quite impressed with both the atmosphere (rustic and low-key, but always lively) and the quality of the food (hearty and filling). In the sea of chic, sterile Chelsea restaurants, this place definitely stands out. Also the name of the place is Il Bastardo. Did I mention that?

    (4)

  • Jason B.

    Delicious food. Best scallops I've ever had in my life...service is wonderful. Never a bad meal here.

    (4)

  • Christine L.

    Seems like they have a well priced lunch special but the dinner is definitely not worth it. Went last night with a big group and while some dishes were pretty good (mussels), most were just bad. I had a very simple pasta dish and it tasted like the pasta itself was reheated. The space is nice and easily accommodates a large crowd. I really wanted to like this restaurant since it was my recommendation but in a city with so many great places, this one does not get my vote.

    (2)

  • Mary Jane G.

    ...I'm trying to keep up. Sometimes, however, I eat a brunch and then go off and have a day and then collapse that evening without writing about it, and hours become days become weeks.... Anyhow, Il Bastardo. A month ago. Scott and I picked up a paper and went local. We were looking for the place next to Il Bastardo (which is supposedly reopening soon), but ended up settling for grub as soon as we could get it instead. So! It's a big space, sort of wine cellar cavernous. We got a table right away. We got coffee and bloody marys right away. We settled in to read the paper and were satisfied. Our meal was only marred by the party of four next to us loudly discussing Obama and the unlikelihood of his winning the Democratic nomination because, as one of them said, "America isn't ready for a black president." Embarrassing. Really. We're sitting in a restaurant in Chelsea, reading the New York Times, which had a cover story about Obama being ahead in pledged delegates and polls and popular opinion, and these yahoos are proclaiming to the world that America isn't ready. No, fool, maybe it's you who isn't ready. Anyhow, our food showed up and looked lovely and tasted wonderful. My egg was perfectly poached, the accompanying ratatouille was hearty and healthy enough to make me feel decent about my choice, and the grilled bread was a nice change from cold toast. Scott had a decent steak and eggs. Coffee was replenished a couple of times, and the servers left us at peace. The bloody mary was just horseradishy enough. The sticker price was a little high but not a terrible shock (although I guess I've adapted to New York prices). All in all, barring our neighboring politicos, it was a nice meal. Damning with faint praise, I suppose, but I'll need another visit to make up my mind. Il Bastardo 191 7th Avenue 212-675-5980

    (3)

  • Robo T.

    I went here for sunday brunch with some friends to take advantage of the unlimited mimosa/screwdriver/bloody thing. By the time we got there they were out of champagne so I opted for 'drivers. The brunch was good (not spectacular) and reasonably priced for the neighborhood.

    (3)

  • N H.

    Great prices for the city, excellent food, comfortable decor and love the co-ed bathroom! Make sure to try the gnocchi!! Amazing!!! Will be back for sure!

    (5)

  • K. W.

    I recently ordered from Il Bastardo, and I was pleasantly surprised by the fast delivery and great food. They even included fresh bread (which doesn't always happen with delivery), and homemade biscotti. This is the first authentic Italian restaurant I've found that will deliver in Chelsea, and I will definitely be ordering from them again! I had the Gnocchi di Ricotta alla Genovese, and it was amazing. Their gnocchi were actually some of the best I've ever had, and the pesto sauce was great as well.

    (4)

  • Amanda M.

    I came here for lunch. The staff was friendly and attentive (that said - they better have been I was the only one in the restaurant). The food was very good and reasonably priced for what you are getting. I wish I could say it was memorable, but the one thing that sticks in my mind is the weird uni-sex bathroom. But I would definitely go back again if I was in the neighborhood.

    (3)

  • Jana P.

    Let me tell you why I like this place... Where do you know you can go to brunch and get a liter of screwdriver/mimosa/blood mary or a bottle of champagne with your meal for $39? I don't know many places but I do know I left this brunch way more drunk than I had anticipated. I came here for my friend's birthday and the atmosphere confuses you. Dim lights romantic enough for a date with shot girls, a DJ, and dancers that'll make you feel like you're at a dive bar. IDK...I got lost in it I guess. SO...SO...SOOOO much fun! The service can be better but I started to believe maybe the waitress had a liter herself. The food is good...not amazing...but it does the job. I had the chicken and waffles (waffle was DELICIOUS the chicken tasted microwavable). The calamari was a little chewy but it was tasty (weird I know). After we ate we went over to the party side and it hit me again...NEW YORK DOES NOT TURN DOWN FOR ANYTHING. The best thing about brunches is that you get drunk early and have the rest of the day ahead of you. So once I left this place and realized it was only 5 and the sun was still beaming I had enough energy to party some more. This place was fun, and let's be honest..that's all you want to do when you're going out for brunch anyway.

    (4)

  • Jennifer K.

    Great value for brunch! I came here for a friend's bday celebration and this place was like a nightclub at 2PM. For $39, you can get a mason jar of mimosa and a meal - I ordered the eggs benedict and it was pretty good. Service was friendly, but slow (not sure if it's because we had a very large group??). I also loved the atmosphere - we had so much fun dancing......in the middle of the day! ;). I almost lost my voice from screaming so much because the music was pretty loud. Overall a great time! 4 stars because of the slow service...and that they never brought the coffee my friends and I ordered :/

    (4)

  • Sybil R.

    I finally got to try IL Bastardo after watching the original Il Bastardo in The City. We arrived early for their 1pm brunch. -The bouncer was super nice. It's refreshing to see that in a land of pretentious city brunch venues. - Cocktails weren't as expensive as most Chelsea locations. - The champagne bottle my bf and I chose were definitely the way to go. Everyone at the table complained that their pre-made drinks were watered down and not cold. However, I had to pay for a measly glass of OJ to mix the champagne into. It also gave me a massive headache afterwards. I wanted to upgrade to a bottle of Rose but they ran out! Already? On a Saturday? - Shot girls go around and aggressively get you to buy shots, which taste like a lukewarm version of cough medicine. At $5 a shot, run farway! - The waiter took our food and orders fairly quickly. He was non-existent once the food was placed in front of us until the check was ready. - My steak and eggs were great. Small piece of steak, definitely not the prime cut. but tasty and hit the spot. The eggs were scrambled and unseasoned, but I didn't mind, as they were still warm. They give you a hash brown as well, and that was delicious! Aside from the spinach, I cleaned my plate (I'm a glutton I know). - My bf's french toast was 3 tiny pieces and burned at the bottom. They were slick and put the burned side on the bottom, too. - So many trashy girls dressed like they were going to the park. Also trying to charge their phones. - The manager was kind of a sleazeball, hitting on a girl at my tables and others around the restaurant. - Music is loud, but fun. The best part of my day was watching people get carried out into the sunshine on 7th avenue. I guess those shots add up! LOL. My experience didn't scare me away, so I'd come back.

    (3)

  • Yassmin A.

    The prices are great for dinner of pasta, pizza and entrees! We had the octopus salad, shrimp & crab pizza and veggie pasta. Definitely planning on going back and trying more things out. Good for couples, families or groups if you're sitting outside. I think it gets really loud for boozy brunch though

    (4)

  • Giannina A.

    I celebrated my 30th birthday here with 11 of my girlfriends. I did the whole Sunday party brunch thing which I've been to a few. I think this place does it right. Not pricey, good food, and amazing music. If you are looking for a good time with friends, go here. I am definitely going back. To eat we had, fried calamari and the caprese salad for the table. The chicken panini was the main entree for most of us which was pretty good. Nothing crazy... Needs a little bit more chicken and the burger was awesome.

    (4)

  • Andrea G.

    I had lunch with my co-workers and the food was really good, the portions are goid size and the waiter was really heloful! I got a complimentary wine with my lunch! Great also outdoors.

    (4)

  • Jack H.

    WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE EVER. And I mean it. We were invited to a birthday brunch with no warning about the experience. I think they call it DJ Brunch. The music was so oppressively loud we couldn't have a normal conversation with the PERSON SITTING NEXT TO ME OR ACROSS THE TABLE. Blaring hip hop is not what I want burning my ears while I'm trying to eat and chat with friends. My mimosa was warm. And my $39 omelet? I've had better food on an airline. The whole experience was a nightmare.

    (1)

  • Michelle B.

    Make no mistake: THIS IS A DAYCLUB and it's GREAT Came here with a massive 40 person group for a birthday celebration brunch at noon. Seemed like most other parties were of 7 or more and to be safe you should definitely make a reservation. Even when you have a reservation everyone in your party has to wait in line to get in and be seated. Not your typical NYC bottomless brunch. This is much much better. The playlist was on point - truly amazing. I heard get low and freak a leek as half naked girls in costumes danced on a stage. When my friend called to make the reservation the hostess said "I hope everyone in your group like to drink because it is highly encouraged in this establishment and we wouldn't want anyone in your group to feel uncomfortable!" That's amazing - bravo. AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION: There were two main rooms. One huge one in the back - which is where I think they put all the big groups and have all the entertainment (girls in costumes dancing around and the shot girls)... The other room I walked through multiple times and it was much brighter and a different vibe. I really preferred the back room. Something I wish we had done differently: have everyone pay beforehand.... I guess this goes with organizing anything with large groups, but basically, you can't all split the bill. It was a problem. They could only take 8 cards and the rest had to be paid in cash. No one has cash so it ended up that 3 people were stuck with a $1400 bill - not fun.

    (5)

  • Lena R.

    I'll start and end by saying I never ate here. I wanted to, I really did. I was hungry and loved the menu and took my time carefully selecting a salad and pasta that would go well with my wine. And I was really looking forward to enjoying this meal! But alas it never happened! I made the mistake of ordering on seamless on a Monday night and after waiting 1 1/2 hours for my meal to come, I called and got placed on hold for a few minutes then an abrupt "it's on it's way" and then nothing. After waiting another 10 minutes I called to cancel and the guy said well it's easier if you cancel it but then reluctantly took my info. So if you do want to try this place that apparently can't handle the bustle of a Monday night, you should definitely not order in. Or just order from Pepe Giallo.

    (1)

  • Cathy Y.

    Came here for drunk brunch on Sunday. Great atmosphere and music was awesome, up to date and perfect to dance to after eating and drinking! Each person gets a pitcher (liter mason jar) or bottle of champagne with their food of choice.. And you can choose from many! I ate the prosciutto eggs Benedict and it was delicious! They also have steak and eggs along with more traditional eggs and pancakes. Portions were good- not too big and not too small.. Just enough for you to drink. Nice place to be after a long work week and right before the beginning of another one! Decor inside is rustic! Good deal for $40. Will be back!

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Best boozy brunch spot! It is like a club during the day. You walk outside dazed and confused as to why the sun is still up and hopefully a little tipsy.

    (5)

  • M L.

    Way Overpriced for no reason. sure there is a dance floor and dancers but the brunch is 40 bucks and honestly the only alcoholic drink worth getting is the champagne bottle bc everything else is watered down. the food was mediocre, a skirt steak that was dry as hell and some scrambled eggs i couldve made better at home and soggy collared greens. not worth it

    (1)

  • Lauren J.

    FYI - this was for the hell-hole, Il Bastardo, not for the current Bocca di Bacco that is at that location. WOW, has this place gone down hill into the deep depths of hell! FYI - this is a brunch review from November, 2013. I haven't had dinner here. I USED to have brunch here quite often, I have brought many friends here to imbibe on the unlimited mimosas and bloody marys. This place used to be one of my go-tos, but I tried other places for a while only to come back here to find that it had become AWFUL! First of all, my 4 friends and I had a reservation for 2 pm brunch on a Saturday. I was killing some time at a coffee shop across the street when I saw a big group outside of Il Bastardo. I was guessing that all these people were together and that they were waiting for their huge table to be ready. NOPE - Il Bastardo now has a bouncer (for BRUNCH!) and these people were all waiting in line to get in. It didn't matter if you had a reservation or not (most people did). You had to wait to be admitted. I should have taken this as a sign to leave, but it was already 2 pm and I thought it would have been hard to find another unlimited brunch place in the area in enough time to really enjoy it. Big mistake! We ended up getting "admitted" at 2:15 and had to stand by the desk trying to get someone to seat us for another 15 minutes. We were jostled around, ignored, told we would be seated soon, ignored again, etc. For 15 minutes. After waiting in line outside in the cold. For brunch. For 15 minutes. With a reservation. SIGH! So we finally got seated at 2:30 and they proceeded to put wet plastic cups (like the ones you would find in a college cafeteria) in front of us. These wet plastic cups were for our drinks. Gone are the large wine glasses of yester-year. Classy... So a few of us were poured mimosas. The guy ran out and returned 15 minutes later to pour mimosas for the rest of our group. Good job... The drinks were DISGUSTING. It was literally the worst mimosa I have ever had. While we could have stayed for 2 hours to drink, we left as soon as possible because no one wanted to gag down those nasty "mimosas". The food was also the worst. Not a single person in my party finished their meal because everything was bad. This included 2 orders of pancakes, 1 burger, 1 benedict and 1 caesar salad. Yes, even the salad was awful. My bacon was burnt and the pancakes tasted like cardboard. I didn't even finish 1 of the 2 pancakes I was given. When we left, I promptly went to Chipotle for a real meal. Now that I have written about the line, the bouncer, the wait for our reserved table and the awful food and drinks, I will tell you about the atmosphere. They recently opened up to the place next door so it is a giant hall now. It was overfilled young people who didn't seem to mind the swill they were consuming. The music was clubby and loud and they had 2 samba dancers going around and getting people to dance. Maybe focus on your customer service and giving people decent drinks and edible food before you hire frickin dancers for brunch. Just a thought... For all this we paid $50 each (including tax and tip). This was the worst brunch I have ever had in my life and I LIVE for brunch. I will never return to this god-awful establishment. There are too many other places in NYC for unlimited drinks, good food or BOTH. Don't waste your time or your money here.

    (1)

  • Lisa B.

    Met friends here for drinks and had the basil lemonade vodka.it was delicious. Stayed for a couple of hours and I thought it was good fun. My friends said the food was ok for what it was. The dj came on about 10pm so the vibe switched much to the annoyance of some people still eating their dinner. Clearly a few vibes going on at il bastardo. Italian restaurant/bar come club vibe after 10 I'd def pop in there for drinks again

    (3)

  • Kimberly T.

    Strolling through Chelsea, building up an appetite, we found Il Bastardo. Attracted to the spacious al fresco area on a warm summer evening, we were sold. Great sangria (red) and yummy food. Portions are a bit on the small side (depending on what you order) and some interesting dessert options (cheesecake was more cake, but still satisfying). I could have done without the wobbly table and the mildly spacey waitress but you can't really go wrong with a nice dinner outside with good company and good drinks. It's definitely on the pricey side for what it is, but a nice find. Also, don't be alarmed when venturing to the unisex bathroom with trough-sink. I startled a dude washing his hands who looked at me like he had never seen a girl in a bathroom before.

    (3)

  • Djsteven-s S.

    PLACE WAS JUMPING Saturday BRUNCH PARTY. When we got there couldn't even walk through the crowd. $40 Brunch not bad your in the city for Christ sakes. The amount of security in there was a little too much. I understand the rookie drinkers getting out of hand but about 7 of them. I think if they spent money on a better dj than all the security it would be a way better party.

    (2)

  • Megan S.

    I just had brunch here and my roommate and I are very sick. We were so hungry and ate our eggs but then we both agreed they were SOUR!!!! Never had a sour egg before. Gross! I use to come here so it's sad how much the quality of this place has gone down. Worst part is, when I spoke to the manager he told me he would "go in the back and ask if the eggs were fresh" as if he'd really come back and tell me if they weren't... Safe to say I will not be returning..

    (1)

  • Ashley F.

    I'm not sure which is worse the crowd of people or the management. It was 2 pm and there were drunk sloppy people knocking into our table for the entire brunch. When asked management and the bouncer to remove the people they became violent and eventually had to be tossed out of the bar. I would never recommend anyone to go here regardless of circumstances. This place is an embarrassment and the reason why people have an issue with AYCD brunches in NYC.

    (1)

  • JJ G.

    Brunch at this spot is a MUST AVOID unless you live on the corner of Vacant Lot and Middle of Nowhere. LOUD with copious amounts of SHITTY pre-batched Mimosas, Bloody's and Screwdrivers. It's inexpensive but you'll pay for it by going deaf from the insanely loud music or having to deal with what is clearly the B&T crowd from Staten island/Jersey/LI that think this is what brunch is all about...a MASSIVE hangover at 4pm. Food is secondary to "gettin' hammmard", chair-dancing like a fool that has no clue how to behave in public and by wearing sunglasses inside a dark restaurant. Jesus what a shitshow.

    (2)

  • Mike L.

    Place is very good and wine is awesome and appetizer is also v good! Then our main entree came I got the seafood pasta ... Menu says scallops,shrimp and mussel only came with mussel was a Lil bit disappointed but I was still Ok!:)

    (3)

  • Gloria F.

    My friend and I had our birthday party in the private back room. No words but Awesome! Food was fab, service was sensational, and all wrapped up in a reasonable price. Both managers, Clint and Aljoscha, were super pro-active in planning. So more about their private room. It's a big space that could easily accommodate 150 for reception style with a dedicated party. We had about 80 friends come, but most of the time there were about 50 folks at the party. As for regular dining, I've come here a couple times and since I'm moving down the street, I think it's soon to become my cheers bar/ neighborhood comfort spot. Food is Italian, portions are decent sized, and holy smokes (!) super, generous pours. They have a really nice wines by the glass list comprising all Italian wines as well. Definitely a great neighborhood joint to hang w friends and or a casual date spot.

    (5)

  • Anna C.

    Sunday Funday with the best of em! My friends asked for a bit of a lively brunch, but little did we know how lively this was. From Start to Finish our experience here was amazing. Shariff took the utmost care of us and provided adequate lubrication for what turned into a ridiculous and delerious brunch service. Food was good, but the drinks were strong, and there was more champagne and mimosas on our table than I have ever seen in my life at one table. Rock on Bastardo ... turn down for what?

    (5)

  • Zach L.

    Fun place to party at for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. The music is good, they play popular hip hop and house and the sounds in there are bold. You get all-you-can-drink and one brunch meal for $39 + tip, which isn't bad at all. The only downfall is that the all-you-can-drink special ends after 2 hours and if you're looking for a quality, delicious meal this is not where you want to come. However, if you're celebrating a birthday and have a nice big group this place can be a ton of fun!

    (3)

  • Dani B.

    I've had dinner a few times here recently and I usually don't write many reviews, but their service is nothing less than OUTSTANDING now. The staff could not have done their job more harmoniously, the atmosphere in the seating area outside was delicious, and the food we ordered was great. P.S.- try the brussel sprouts and the Creme brulee.

    (5)

  • Brandon S.

    Really the wosrt place ever. went with a good friend, left almost hating each other. the food was cold, bland, and they didn't appreciate we weren't drinking alcohol. sorry, i dont want to get drunk every tuesday night.

    (1)

  • Jeein B.

    This review is strictly for Brunch. Three things I remember from this place: Alcohol, Creepy Owner, and Dancing. My expectation was low based on Yelp Reviews but I clearly had a great time as I hardly remember walking back to the train station.... Owner comes around tables of girls, gives shots and if he likes you, the two hour limit doesn't really exist. Around 2pm, Gogo dancers come around and the vast majority of patrons start to dance like idiots with them. Some patrons, of course, leave the restaurant with massive frustration. My group was those idiots that danced and took shots after shots. If you are looking for a classy boozy brunch place, please do not come here. Food is something that can easily made at home ( My home, meaning.. it wasn't good) and servers look like they just got their candies taken away from their mouths. Why only three stars? Well it was 45 dollars for a restaurant that had strip club during the daylight atmosphere.. depressing and creepy. Food Portion was not enough for anyone to survive their boozy brunch either. I probably will never come back here although I had a great time getting hammered.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth L.

    I can't even explain how much I love this place! The food is amazing, I come here whenever I get the chance just because of the ambiance and the experience. I have always felt at home here and know I can always receive the best quality of service. I usually get the pomegranate margarita which is just the right amount of strong and can make any girls night come alive. I personally love the general manager sherif, he has always catered to my tables extremely well and I highly recommend coming here during any weeknight or weekend! I'm already planning the next time I come here which will most likely be next week!

    (5)

  • Alexis A.

    How do you screw up breakfast? You bring english muffins but no butter and when the table asks for butter your bring a plate of frozen patties. You serve under cooked bacon and overcooked eggs. The unlimited mimosas was nice.

    (2)

  • Will L.

    This place has huckleberry vodka. They were willing to swap out the rum in my mojito for the huckleberry vodka, making a tangy 'Lawnboy', or whatever you call a mojito with vodka instead of rum. They brought us bread, but didn't bring the accompanying olive oil/vinegar until after we had finished our bread. Whoops! They brought us more bread, thank goodness. We shared a salad and a file mignon in a wine sauce. The meat wasn't that great, but the salad was. Servers were awesome, as was sitting outside on a busy NYC street watching the people walk past. What wasn't awesome was the super loud and obnoxious half crazy woman at the table next to us yelling at the empty chair in front of her. Oh well. Crazy people gotta eat too.

    (3)

  • Prasad J.

    Service was ok.. Food was not as expected.. Waitress was more interested in TIP than providing quality service..

    (2)

  • William B.

    I was going to give this place two stars but then blond female bartender with piss poor humor decided to give me shit about the 100 dollar bill I needed change for being fake. Word of advice, any place that's sole claim to fame is being on an episode of the hills is a place you should avoid. I went here with a party of 7 for dinner around 7:45pm on a saturday. We were seated promptly and began to look over the menu. I just wanted to keep it basic because I wasn't in the mood to drop a bunch of money. Decided on the burger only to be told they were out of it. How the fuck do you run out of a burger this early in the evening on a saturday! When one of my party asked about it he was told they were just out of the buns. He tried ordering just the burger and getting them to bring out some bread so he could make his own sandwhich. Apparently the waiter missed the seminar because on giving the customer what they want because he said "they won't let me." Really chief? Anyways I decided to go with the pounded chicken as I was looking to keep it simple. We were brought some bread and it was cold. It felt like it had been made at the beginning of the day and had been sitting in a cold dark corner of the kitchen somewhere. When I received my dish I just started shaking my head. While the chicken was pounded it looked like a flapjack of meat. It was a skinny piece of chicken folded over on itself with a little bit of pepper and some kind of herb. It also came with a mixed green salad on the side of the plate. Conceptually I just felt like the dish did not execute well. It felt like the salad was there to make up for the fact that the chicken was boring. The chicken felt dry and generally lacking flavor. The pepper/seasoning felt like it was just sprinkled on right before the food was plated. As a result the flavors were just not there. My friend penne pasta dish was just barely edible as Jane K. Mentioned in her review. The sauce felt like it came out of a can and was just lacking in flavor. I will not be returning to this establishment. Our waiter was nice but somewhat busch league, the bar staff was pretentious as shit, the food was just barely edible, and I left feeling angry at the overall experience.

    (1)

  • Kara C.

    I only come here for the lasagna. Wonderfully consistent beautiful lasagna that is served almost chili style with a spoon, fresh and bubbling out the oven with a crust cheesy crust. Have the lasagna - if it is not on the menu ask where you can get it, ask where the cook is... just tell them you simply must locate the lasagna.

    (4)

  • Carol Y.

    Average food and I had better eggs benefits but the restaurant is very nice and the outdoor patio is perfect for people watching. I thought the service was rather slow considering the place wasn't even business (just 5 tables around 12pm). Won't be coming back.

    (2)

  • Jay H.

    Dined around 6ish on a weekday. The place was mostly empty. The host was surly, but the waiter was good. The ceasar salad was uninspiring, but the snapper was done properly, and the grilled vegetables were fantastic. Not bad, but with so many other places to try in Manhattan, probably not a repeat.

    (3)

  • Andrew W.

    A lounge that also doubles as an Italian restaurant?!?! Sign me up!!! On a Sunday night a number of months ago, I came here with my girlfriend and her family. We found the food to be quite good, with the caprese salad, a standard on most NY menu's to have far fresher ingredients than the usual. The stuffed mushrooms were a little disappointing however. The wine list has a lot of selection, without being overwhelming, with good ideas at many different price points. I'd recommend the Cannanou de Sardegna with most meals. Our waiter actually screwed up my order, bringing me an order of La Tagliata: sliced, rosemary crusted sirloin steak with Barolo wine reduction, rather than the Scaloppine Saltimbocca that I ordered. The funny thing is that somehow the steak was my second choice, so perhaps he did me a favor as it was really good and I found myself almost licking the plate. Of course, it would have helped him if the music were turned down. It's a Sunday night, 6:30 (we were afterall with parents) and it's "UNCE-UNCE-UNCE-UN-UN-UNCE!!" We asked them to turn the music down since there weren't many people in the restaurant and most were gathered close to the window as it was a nice night out, but the manager was worried that people would complain...about music being TOO SOFT? In a restaurant!?!? On a Sunday at 7!?!? Are you F-ing kidding me!??! Anyway, despite the feeling of eating in the Tunnel back in the day, the food here's quite good and I'd definitely recommend it if wandering in the neighborhood and looking for a nice place to eat without making a reservation a month in advance.

    (4)

  • Pong C.

    I have been coming here for many years and have mixed feelings about it. For dinner, the food is very good-excellent. (standard Italian menu-pastas really shine here!! main courses are so-so). They can accommodate large group such as birthday dinner. Service usually is efficient and friendly. Sitting/eating at the bar is not bad if you are alone. The price is reasonable unless you order a lot of top shelf cocktails/wine. For brunch, on the other hand, it has been mostly a blah experience. The food is mediocre or not fresh. Service halfhearted and erratic. And sometimes the crowd can be annoying (not their fault), like the loud and obnoxious "Sex and the City" wannabes (ugh!) sitting outdoor next to you when you try to have a relaxing brunch.

    (3)

  • David B.

    Loved it. I went there twice and the first time was absolutely perfect except, for the first time in my life, a steak was a little TOO rare for my liking. I won't fault them for that. So when I went back I ordered it medium rare and it was absolutely mouthwatering. The service was good and the wine list was extensive. However, it's a little pricey and I don't like dining in the dark in the middle of the day. The lighting sucks. It's disorienting to fill your gut, have several drinks and stumble outside to be blinded by the sun at 4:30 in the afternoon because you've been in a dungeon for the last two hours. Yes, I'll go back for special occasions when the wallet can take a hit.

    (4)

  • Sam P.

    Just when you thought you couldn't face another "fabulous" brunch at Elmo or Cafeteria, a quick search for brunch in Chelsea leads you to this unlikely spot on 7th Ave. I've walked by it a million times thinking I should stop in for dinner one of these days, but until perusing the reviews, i never thought of it as a brunch destination. Major points here for the space itself, which is surprisingly cavernous. Great private room in the back for events and tables galore around the sleek, well lit bar. The menu was very good, but not life changing -I had a yummy frittata with zucchini and onions with an ample side of sausage. My fellow bruncher went with the veal panini, which was large and tasty (i had a bite). Service was good, and the brunch deal is standard (you can add $10/person for unlimited mimosas or bloody marys). A solid choice for a Chelsea brunch - I'll definitely be back to try the dinner selection.

    (4)

  • Sascha M.

    I heart the AYCD brunch here. It's in my hood and only $15. It's loud and trendy and the food's not bad However, the portions are tiny unless you order a panini, so I would definitely order a panini if you're hungry. Eggs benedict is pretty miniscule.

    (4)

  • Paul M.

    Best pasta w pesto, great space, you gonna love the Cannellini bean dip awesome service Ask for Rico,

    (5)

  • Andrea L.

    I ate here once (w/ Barbara C, see her review below) on one of those blessed height-of-summer evenings when the dusk brings a gentle cooling breeze. The outdoor seating allowed provided plenty of prime people-watching on the catwalk that is 7th Ave Chelsea. I think my dining companions liked their food enough, but while my lamb shank was well-flavored and sufficiently tender, my polenta was sooooo salty it was inedible (and I'm not someone who likes her food bland). If it had been the main dish, I definitely would have sent it back to the kitchen (which I've never done before). But good service and yummy lamb shank means I wouldn't nix it completely if someone else wanted to come here again. PS - Shtylish bathrooms, but I do so hate the whole unisex communal sink thing. Sometimes a gal just needs a moment to pretty up w/o the boys around, y'know?

    (3)

  • Bri B.

    Great place , good food and music and a wonderful atmosphere. The waitress had an attitude and was not the friendliest but we were having so much fun that it did not ruin it for us. Went for brunch and would definietly go back. Great for large groups

    (4)

  • Aaron T.

    One of my favorites for 3 years running - it actually achieves the impossible task of being sexy and chic, while still very comfortable and unprentious. And that's no simple feat. I've loved everything on the menu - yet I only wish that they'd expand their wine list just a bit to include some more high-end reds - their food truly deserves it. Don't forget to check out the bathrooms downstairs - amazing! Enjoy! I'll be jealous!

    (4)

  • Mal B.

    Went for dinner a few weeks ago and I'm not sure if they bought the place next door but i walked into one restaurant and ended up sitting on II Bastardo side. I asked to switch to a quieter spot because at 9 p.m. they were blasting techno. They arent a night club but I guess some people enjoyed it. It may have had something to do with being moved but our waiter maybe came to our table twice to ask for wine and what we wanted to eat. My friend and I both ordered the NY strip and it was cooked med rare , just how I had asked, and were served on cutting boards ( pretty creative for a steak dinner ). Thank goodness the food was good because the waiter wasn't interested if we found it ok. Two steak dinners and two glasses of wine cost us about $90. It was a plus that we could sit outside , but it wasn't really an area that you want to outside. Overall it was just fine, nothing outstanding, probably would pick another place in the area next time.

    (3)

  • Lizzy L.

    My husband and I love this restaurant. We go fairly often and have never had a bad experience with the food and have tried most of their dishes. They have a great wine list. Everything is reasonably priced. Service is great.

    (4)

  • Erin L.

    Been here twice. Both when my dad was in town for business. Time 1 everything was amazing. My dad (and now I have followed in his footsteps) usually gets Putanesca if it's on the menu. I ordered it the first time and it was delicious. Probably the best putanesca I've ever had and I love whenever I can eat it over spaghetti or angel hair rather than penne (I'm not into what I call the "stabby pastas"). Everyone's food was great, brother got Priest Stranglers and we had a cured meats and cheese platter as an appetizer. Yum. Now, this past time was parents, boyfriend and Erin and it was still good. I got goat cheese ravioli with vodka sauce (minor misstep...should have stayed with the putanesca) and we still got the cured meats and cheese platter. This time tho we didn't get the delicious olive oil, butter and olives spread with our bread that we got last time. Pretty much a bummer because we all love olives. (Actually, I judge people who DON'T love olives). But maybe since we got the app before the bread they didn't give us the full thing. Who knows. We did however end up with 4 complimentary amaretto shots after dessert which made my mom remark, "Is he trying to pick us ALL up?" I guess I mostly recommend the...you guessed it, putanesca. And, watch out, because since it's pretty hip, they play horrible music.

    (4)

  • Marianne M.

    DISGUSTING! The name is definitely fitting. There are rats at this place, roaming around in the dining area but the waiters just try and cover it up. The waiters are just super rude and not helpful. DO NOT EAT HERE, it will save you time, money, and especially frustration.

    (1)

  • Brian R.

    Food was good. Bar was good, although we had to send a drink back. Flubbing a basic margarita rocks was not a winner. The endive-beet salad was a mess of flavors and textures that didn't work. The steak was good but the mashed potatoes underwhelming. All in all a mixed bag, so it gets a middling rating.

    (3)

  • Abbey C.

    I came here for the first time this past weekend. I am the organizer of a Meetup group that brunches, and chose this place based on the reviews and the fact that they offer AYCD for a semi-decent price. I had never been here before, nor had any of the other brunching ladies. We were all running a little late, but the hostess said I could sit at the bar while I waited for them. I was a little disappointed that I could not order a drink and have it put on my tab, but I suppose that's not too out of the ordinary. The hostess was less than polite when I first arrived saying I needed a table for 5, but didn't have a reservation. I'm aware that I should have made one, but I didn't. Oh well, moving on. Eventually she let me and my friend go to our table, even though we were still waiting for 3 more. This made me pretty happy because I assumed I'd be allowed to start drinking then (hey, I've already said I do brunch for the AYCD option!) I was a bit let down when they wouldn't take our drink order until everyone had arrived. Even after everyone got there (about 10 minutes later) it still took our waiter a good 10 minutes to come over and acknowledge us. By then we had all had plenty of time to look over the menu and knew what we wanted to order- but he only took our drink order. I wasn't going to complain- I wanted my mimosa. After finally ordering, our food came quickly. I ordered the french toast, and the other ladies ordered eggs ben. I have to say, I don't know if it was the champagne kicking in or what, but it was HANDS DOWN the best french toast I've had in a long time, if not ever. I don't know what kind of bread they use, or how they cook it. But it is absolute perfection. Perfectly crispy on the outside and wonderfully, but not overly moist on the inside. Served with very yummy berries (though I think they could stand to add a few more) too. Our waiter did a great job with keeping our mimosa's flowing! I love that they come in such a large glass! One of the girls thought the glasses were too big, but, um, she's wrong. I will definitely come back here another time, with a reservation of course. The music was at a decent level- great for 4 girls who don't know each other that well, but not too loud. Overall, the experience was good. Ever so slightly overpriced, but hardly. Not when you're going to sit, schmooze, and drink for a couple of hours. Just keep your expectations low for the staff (hey Bastardo- if you're reading this, you might want to give your Saturday hostess a quick check. She needs to loose her attitude, bad.)

    (4)

  • nayoung j.

    Not bad. Tad overpriced. Roomy inside with multiple rooms; didn't get to see the lounge. I think the staff is also aware that they are overpriced. Right after I ordered a pitcher of sangria, the waiter felt the need to shout out the price at me. I ordered the ravioli with sausage special. Again, NB. Can't think of anything to really complain or rave about. I'd recommend this place for small group outings!

    (3)

  • Daniel B.

    Good food, better service and bar-tending. Yes, at most places it's usually good food and the service sucks, but not here. Great value as well. Some damn fine strong drinks at the bar. I was also pleasantly surprised by the martinis. Whenever I stay in Chelsea, I will make a point to stop in as I've done my last 3 trips this year.

    (4)

  • Juni D.

    I've walked by this place a million times, and never had the desire to check it out until a friend of mine said let's go to dinner at Il Bastardo, and I figured why not try it... The restaurant is huge! ...from the outside you get the feeling it's a small neighborhood family restaurant, and although it is a family restaurant.. it is quite spacious, which means it's not overly crowded and you're not on top of other guests! The food was excellent! I wish I had been hungry enough to try appetizers and such, but we only ordered wine and our entrees. The wine list is quite large, and have a great selection of wines-by-the-glass. For dinner, I had the duck, which lied on a scrumptious semi-sweet sauce, and accompanied by a fried risotto cake. Both were delicious!! My friend had the sea bass, and absolutely loved it! Everything was moderately priced! Absolutely worth the money! The service was fairly good.. aside from the fact our waiter had a heavy accent and I could barely understand the specials that babbled out of his mouth! Single ladies, cute place to bring a date!!

    (4)

  • N M.

    I've never had a bad experience here either for lunch or dinner. The bar area is spacious and there are 3 different dining rooms all with their own unique atmosphere (the one in the middle looks like an Argentine steak house yet it still appeals to this vegetarian). I could drink the vodka sauce and the wine list is pretty extensive (try the Nero d'avola). Great spot for a 1st or 2nd date or a special occasion with a group. Bonus points for seeing Jason Bateman at the table next to me.

    (4)

  • Barbara C.

    They offer a great deal with their 5-7pm prix fixe dinner. You get to pick either one app and one pasta or one pasta and one secondi (meat) with a dessert at the end. There are about 6-8 choices per section, so a good variety. The food was all pretty decent. Nothing to complain about, but nothing to make me go here as opposed to any other Italian restaurant. My Chelsea Crush cocktail was fab though--wonderful muddled strawberries and such. They DO have a nice outdoor seating area, which was key because we had a dog in our party. Lots of other dog-owners too (this IS Chelsea ;) ), which was nice.

    (3)

  • L M.

    Nice place, but pretty expensive.. dinner for 2 = $90...I ordered seafood for appetizer and dinner...I would suggest ordering an Italian dish...small portions....but lovely decor and service was a 7 on a scale of 1-10...nice date place.

    (4)

  • Pinky L.

    The bastards! This place stinks. Nice looking place but extremely noisy and the food was mediocre. My pasta dish with sausage & broccoli rabe was miniscule; there was the barest amount of sausage & broccoli, and the flavor was bland, bland, bland. It was a total ripoff for $16. And my BF's salmon was overcooked. Never again!

    (1)

  • Crisy N.

    Love this place!

    (4)

  • Yorgos A.

    Don't drink the unlimited champagne or mimosas.....the worst sparkling wine u could find in the city .... so dissapointed for that place!!!

    (1)

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