New York restaurants.

Babbo

The Open View

For three star Italian, try Babbo in New York. Find this expensive restaurant in the W. Village area. The menu is the best way to get your fill of fresh noodles. It's been awarded the Fodors Choice and 10 Best NY Italian awards. Know before you go: this place features a perfect venue for special occasions. Upon entering the restaurant, you'll find a romantic atmosphere. This place features a full bar and fine wines. This place is open late.

Expert Reviews of Babbo

Citysearch | The crown jewel in Mario Batali's empire serves over-the-top Italian in a charming, tucked-away West Village spot.

Babbo sits in a charming two-level Waverly Place townhouse. The room is invitingly decorated with warm yellow walls, glowing sconces, heavy mirrors and tan banquettes--all making for a spare, modern elegance....
citysearch.com - expert review - 11/24/2004
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New York Magazine

get ready to crave goat cheese tortellini dusted in dried orange and wild fennel pollen and other bizarre mario batali concoctions...
nymag.com - expert review
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Dine.com

another hit from batali!
dine.com - expert review
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New York Magazine

"very expensive great northern italian food,excellent wine list,good service but trying to get in at a reasonable hour is impossible.they only take reservations one month ahead but when i called for a return...
nymag.com - expert review
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Fodor's

this is the real deal. no mistaken fusions or self-indulgent experiments, just great food rooted in the italian tradition. roman diners would recognize it...
fodors.com - expert review
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Gayot

rarely has italian food been glorified and reinterpreted as successfully as it is at babbo. mario batali, the former chef-owner of pu, and joseph bastianich, of becco and frico and son of lidia bastianich of...
gayot.com - expert review
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RestaurantRow.com

wonderful food, service was fair, prices- high...
restaurantrow.com - expert review
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New York Times

some restaurants revel in exquisite subtleties. babbo, blessedly, goes staight for the gut, adding one big taste sensation atop another, gilding already delicious dishes with extra bits of texture and final...
nytimes.com - expert review
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10Best

the most over-rated restaurant in nycalmost any other beats this hyped up mess of a restaurant...
10best.com - expert review
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Yahoo! Travel

Mario is sheer genius. By far one of the best interpretations of Italian food w/ unique ingredients. Truly an outstanding dining experience. The wine service, courtesy of David Lynch, is underrated
travel.yahoo.com - expert review
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AOL CityGuide

molto mario's flagship italian...
cityguide.aol.com - expert review
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TripAdvisor

i had to make reservations i month exactly in advance to get.....
tripadvisor.com - expert review
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wGuides.com

celebrity chef mario batali and restaurateur joe bastianich have come together to create the ultimate italian dining experience in new york city. a giant stairway dominates the main dining room, set off by...
wguides.com - expert review
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User Reviews of Babbo

Yelp.com Review - by Neha M.

3 of 5 stars. Meh. We went to Babbo last night with huge hopes and expectations based on the hype and reviews. We opted to order ala carte and started with two pastas, split for two. We first got the Ravioli…
yelp.com - user review - 05/24/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Hercy H.

4 of 5 stars. the guy i was dating chose this restaurant last minute and went in at 7:00pm to ask for a table. by the time i got there at 7:40pm we got in! the maitre'd was very nice. we got seated upstairs.…
yelp.com - user review - 05/22/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Ile F.

5 of 5 stars. BF is a big fan of Mario Batali so we went to Babbo for his post-birthday dinner. It was very hard to make reservation and I actually listened to their music for almost 30 mins before finally some…
yelp.com - user review - 05/19/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Paige W.

5 of 5 stars. Oh, Mario. Mr. Batali.
yelp.com - user review - 05/18/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Kate R.

5 of 5 stars. While it can take repeat dialing a month to the day in advance of your hopeful date, we walked in last night and were happily seated after 45 minutes at the bar. Totally worth it and I love that…
yelp.com - user review - 05/04/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Fei C.

5 of 5 stars. I've been here a couple of times, and it's been consistently excellent. My first visit was in August of 07, and our table of 5 had what I think was the best table in the house. It was at the top of…
yelp.com - user review - 05/02/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Brent N.

5 of 5 stars. Upon eating the Black Spaghetti, I felt like Batali and I formed a special connection.
yelp.com - user review - 05/02/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by ben k.

5 of 5 stars. So Damm good ! The freshest meal consumed in years.......Everything was Fantastic!
yelp.com - user review - 05/02/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Sara Y.

5 of 5 stars. The lovely lady Paige W. from Chicago was visiting New York, and to celebrate her triumphant return, we planned a Sunday evening dinner for ourselves at Babbo. (Of course, that involved the requisite…
yelp.com - user review - 04/28/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Amanda B.

4 of 5 stars. We came here & didn't expect much. After having dinner at Per Se, hard to judge anyone else food for that matter. The service here for sure was outstanding. The food I thought it was bit salty for our…
yelp.com - user review - 04/28/2008
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Does it match the hype?

I walked away from Babbo with mixed feelings. It could have been from being...
urbanspoon.com - user review - 04/27/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Sean J.

5 of 5 stars. How to get ignored in a Chilean bar. This past Fall, while having a pre dinner drink in the Bella vista section of Santiago Chile she decides to order us a couple of pisco sours. The bartender heads…
yelp.com - user review - 04/24/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Ryan A.

5 of 5 stars. What a long day. We were tired, but who cares, we were about to eat at Babbo. Last time we were in NY, we had a great meal at Batali's other restaurant, Lupa, and thought that was a great meal, so we…
yelp.com - user review - 04/18/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by N D.

5 of 5 stars. Obviously, I don't think any more reviews are needed for anyone to get how good this place is. But, it's because it is so good that makes you want to celebrate it. The decor was more formal than I…
yelp.com - user review - 04/17/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Andy O.

5 of 5 stars. very good.... I had heard of it based on anecdotal evidence and wanted to check out for myself.....
yelp.com - user review - 04/09/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by John S.

5 of 5 stars. "Food can look beautiful, taste exquisite, smell wonderful, make people feel good, bring them together, inspire romantic feelings...
yelp.com - user review - 04/06/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by mandy f.

4 of 5 stars. Considering the fact that I called for reservations at 7 AM PST, precisely 30 calendar days prior to the actual day I was dining and couldn't even get the call to connect...I'm talking not even a busy…
yelp.com - user review - 04/05/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Nick A.

5 of 5 stars. wow, it was so good. SO GOOD. eat here. withdraw from your IRA if you must. it was really enjoyable, and i know a lot of people would say italian food shouldn't be this expensive, but it was really…
yelp.com - user review - 04/03/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Edward D.

5 of 5 stars. You don't get any better Italian food than this! Don't tell my mother, but Mario's Orecchiette Pasta with Sweet Sausage was the best I ever had! Don't miss the Grilled Pork Chop with Cherry Peppers.…
yelp.com - user review - 03/31/2008
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PASTA WAS AMAZING BUT...

HAD THE TASTING PASTA MENU, 5 PASTA WERE DELICOIUS, BUT THE THREE DESERTS COURSES WERE TERRIBLE!!!!! IUNREAL! FOR THE MONEY, EVERYTHING SHOULD BE AMAZING. BABBO....WORK ON THE DESERTS AND ...HIRE BARTENDERS...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/30/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Daniel B.

5 of 5 stars. I am not a fan of Mario's TV shows, but WOW! This place rocks. I had some fabulous pasta, great meat dish, good wine recommendations. This is another must eat at place for me when I am in NYC. We…
yelp.com - user review - 03/30/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Alias M.

5 of 5 stars. Ate here a loooong ass time ago and thankfully I remember more than just how difficult getting a reservation was. It was the first time I ate squid ink pasta. On the menu back then was a squid-ink…
yelp.com - user review - 03/28/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Esther K.

5 of 5 stars. I was fortunate enough to be invited by my friend shirley to dinner here. And by fortunate, i mean i didn't have to hassle with any of the "one month in advance, call only to get a busy signal over…
yelp.com - user review - 03/26/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Susie M.

5 of 5 stars. My brother and I enjoyed an outstanding meal at Babbo. I had been anxiously wanting to try Babbo for a very long time. I had been to his new Los Angeles restaurant Osteria Mozza and had a good…
yelp.com - user review - 03/25/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by hae-jin k.

3 of 5 stars. yes yes, i concur with the other yelpers! having had the good fortune of recently dining here at the behest of a dear gentleman friend. the goose liver ravioli in thick balsamic sauce was nice (others…
yelp.com - user review - 03/25/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by cindy w.

5 of 5 stars. Creative and ingenious marriage of familiar classic Italian ingredients thats presented in a way never seen before. The menu gives simple descriptions of each dish but with a surprising complex…
yelp.com - user review - 03/23/2008
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5 star manager!!!!

one of the greatest in town , great pasta and 5 star cheesecake orechiette of the Gods, a little crouded but it;s all worth!!! 10 for Mario
citysearch.com - user review - 03/22/2008
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One of the Best Dining Experiences Ever

I was there a week ago and it was everything I had hoped it was and more. It's always a pleasure to have a restuarant, especially one that has been so hyped and has a celebrity chef, live up to expectations....
citysearch.com - user review - 03/22/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by jen l.

3 of 5 stars. usually veer clear of Italian food, but i made an exception for Babbo since my roomates sister had an extra seat available in her reservation. maybe the key to enjoying a new restaurant is to approach…
yelp.com - user review - 03/22/2008
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Outstanding Italian Wines

This venue is to be cherished and the food is truely amazing. It's always a pleasure to dine at an italian restaurant where the entrees are not the standard mass marketed italian american dishes like penne a...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/20/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Lisa N.

4 of 5 stars. Not bad considering I'm not a huge Italian fan. I ordered the wild striped bass with sausage vinaigrette (over the top, mario batali style), blood orange salad, and gelatti/sorbetti for dessert. He…
yelp.com - user review - 03/19/2008
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Espresso ice cream

The espresso ice cream on the almond tarte was my best memory of Babbo. Four of us went for dinner last night. The service was attentive and one of the runners had charm. The food was very good over all, but...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/17/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Nick Y.

4 of 5 stars. 4.25 Stars Eating here has given me a new appreciation for Mario Batali, by far one of my least favorite Food Personality.
yelp.com - user review - 03/15/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Mike P.

5 of 5 stars. To put it simply: we had an absolutely wonderful evening. We just got back from Babbo in celebration of our wedding anniversary. I will admit off the bat that our waiter was not impressive.…
yelp.com - user review - 03/11/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by R R.

2 of 5 stars. I was 100% unimpressed with my visit here. The food was no better than any other "regular" Italian place I've been to but probably 5 times more expensive. Out of the ENTIRE restaurant, my server…
yelp.com - user review - 03/10/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Jason L.

2 of 5 stars. There is only one thing I'll remember Babbo for and it is for the horrendous service. I don't know if I had a bad waiter or if there was something more to it, but from the minute my brother, my…
yelp.com - user review - 03/09/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Lauren R.

5 of 5 stars. my memory is of a food coma....the best bolognese I think I've ever had....huge portions....fabulous wine....there are a lot of different unusual body parts of animals on the menu...Mint Love Letters…
yelp.com - user review - 03/07/2008
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Best Tasting Menus in NYC.

My wife and I went for our anniversary again this year after we first dined here 2 years ago for our anniversary. In a word it's fantastic, food, service, ambience, everything. We tried the Pasta Tasting menu...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/06/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Jessica Y.

3 of 5 stars. I remember not being very impressed and not understanding all the hoopla, but to be fair, I've only dined here once and maybe they had an off night or we ordered the wrong things because I'm a big fan…
yelp.com - user review - 03/06/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by carlos b.

5 of 5 stars. I love BABBO... Walked in to the restaurant to the bounce of Hendrix's 'Are You Experienced?' and left to the drop of 'Paul's Boutique' being pumped throughout the fine establishment.
yelp.com - user review - 03/05/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Shirl K.

4 of 5 stars. This restaurant I can say is hands down the BEST in service I've ever received dining in NY and that's saying a lot. 9pm reservations on a Wednesday night weren't too bad. The area by the bar was much…
yelp.com - user review - 03/03/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Katie K.

5 of 5 stars. We missed this during the last visit and made sure to have secured a reservation exactly a month in advance. Loved how flexible they were when our party from 4 turned to 5. The regular 8 course…
yelp.com - user review - 03/02/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Alexis M.

4 of 5 stars. Worth the wait and reservation a month in advance? Housed in a Village townhouse, the mood is warm and welcoming. Did I imagine a fireplace or was there really one? The high ceilings and skylights…
yelp.com - user review - 03/02/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by jeff c.

3 of 5 stars. Overhyped and Overpriced but big portions. Great pasta, good service. I had the lamb brain, lamb tongue, and lamb chops. The waiter said 'Sorry sir, but we don't have lamb ice cream.' I found that…
yelp.com - user review - 03/02/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Catherine L.

5 of 5 stars. Excellent
yelp.com - user review - 03/01/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Jennifer S.

4 of 5 stars. NYC #11 (Craving a cute, yet a small, and a suitable dessert place? Must read my next review!) a huge Mario Batali fan would love this place ... Definitely make a ressie @ Babbo when and only you…
yelp.com - user review - 02/28/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Kelly C.

5 of 5 stars. Batali does what he does best in this legendary Italian restaurant. We got the amazing pasta tasting menu--most people seem to get either the pasta tasting menu or the regular tasting menu. The wine…
yelp.com - user review - 02/24/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Mark S.

5 of 5 stars. We tried to decide which higher end eatery to visit for our short trip to NYC. Babbo was our 2nd choice, but it had an open reservation and we jumped at it. Our reservation was for late in the evening,…
yelp.com - user review - 02/19/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Chun L.

5 of 5 stars. The Flagship of Mario Batali's shining empire, Babbo offers to its diners an experience that will be spoken of with legendary emphasis. Babbo's decor is designed around a converted brick stone house…
yelp.com - user review - 02/16/2008
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DOWNHILL FAST

I've eaten at Babbo maybe six or seven times over the past several years. Its been at best pretty good, but tonight it was just downright terrible. While the food is what it is, tasty and ridiculously...
citysearch.com - user review - 02/15/2008
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Best Service Ever

Me and my wife ate here on the first night of our honeymoon. It was romantic without being overly stuffy (like Le Bernardin on our final night). Ask for a table upstairs, or else you will be eating with a...
citysearch.com - user review - 02/14/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Andrew W.

4 of 5 stars. Saturday night. Couple days before I accepted a job. I wanted to go celebrate. I told Girlfriend, let's just go. No reservation. Fook it. Got there about 9:45 or 10. The host was a little…
yelp.com - user review - 02/05/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Debbie W.

5 of 5 stars. Outstanding! I dont even know what I ate, because my friends selected a bunch of things for all of us to share and it was all fantastic. The atmospere was very comfortable and the service…
yelp.com - user review - 01/31/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Wil M.

5 of 5 stars. This place was [insert profanity of choice here] amazing. My girlfriend is a huge Mario Batali fan and she made the effort to book this place way in advance. The atmosphere isn't unique by any means,…
yelp.com - user review - 01/29/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by S. P.

5 of 5 stars. Was here last year and I loved it...my whole party loved it. The atmosphere was warm and cozy...the alternative rock music made it less serious - nice touch. The service was really nice and…
yelp.com - user review - 01/25/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Colin P.

5 of 5 stars. The only problem with Babbo is that you can't ask anyone to come with you. I mean, you have to plan a month ahead just to fit your own meal into your budget. And no one in their right mind wants to…
yelp.com - user review - 01/13/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Joleen Z.

4 of 5 stars. Babbo is always an adventure--and the few times I have been there the food and the company are the only things I can concentrate on--everything else seems to disappear. Can you say perfect date spot?…
yelp.com - user review - 01/07/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Geith M.

5 of 5 stars. Well-appointed decor framed a near-perfect experience. Both starters set the tone right. Cockles in a tangy sauce hit the spot, while lamb proscuitto and sopressata had just the right punch to awaken…
yelp.com - user review - 01/03/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Vanessa W.

4 of 5 stars. This place is ridiculously hard to get a reservation. The line is constantly busy and you usually find yourself re-dialing a ton of times. The staff also asks you to confirm your reservation yourself.…
yelp.com - user review - 01/02/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Matt R.

5 of 5 stars. Yes, the place is as good as the other reviews suggest. Traditional Italian redone with modern haute-cuisine touches. So I'll point out the highlights of our meal: I was most impressed by the grilled…
yelp.com - user review - 01/01/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Clint B.

5 of 5 stars. Yes, I too have heard the sad blubbering... "it's too expensive - I can't afford this AND Grandma's hip replacement!" C'mon folks. Bottom line, this place is worth *every* cent. Of course most of us…
yelp.com - user review - 12/31/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Sara T.

5 of 5 stars. With this many reviews, I'm sure mine won't make too much of a difference. But I loved - LOVED - the evening I spent at Babbo and so it's worth the time to write about it. I made reservations for…
yelp.com - user review - 12/28/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Lisa S.

5 of 5 stars. Really romantic atmosphere. At first, I was reluctant to try the pasta tasting menu ($69 pp) but I was glad I was talked into it. Inventive flavors and meticulously prepared dishes made it worth…
yelp.com - user review - 12/28/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Amina B.

3 of 5 stars. In all fairness, if this was a neighborhood Italian restaurant with better prices, I would likely give this 4 stars but for the hype and the $, I say it's more a 3 1/2. Babbo was the first of the…
yelp.com - user review - 12/28/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Jesse S.

5 of 5 stars. Right out of the gate, Babbo wants you to think that you're going for dinner at a place run by rockstars. Trying to make a reservation is about like trying to call into a live radio show; after 20…
yelp.com - user review - 12/27/2007
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lost sexiness

the foods lost its dazzle. muddled flat flavours which would be forgiveable at half the price . a menu thats starting to feel a little tired....
menupages.com - user review - 12/14/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Meg C.

5 of 5 stars. I had high hopes and I was pleased beyond my original expectations. I arrived early and had a great glass of wine at the bar and some deliciously spicy garlic sticks.
yelp.com - user review - 12/13/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Minh N.

5 of 5 stars. Simply the best dining experience I have ever had. Yeah the bill was stupid, I think over $400 for two, but the sad thing is that I would do it again in a heartbeat. And i'm poor. If you enjoy meat, I…
yelp.com - user review - 12/11/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Chi N.

4 of 5 stars. Honestly don't know what the hype is all about. Had to call exactly 30 days out to get a reservation and even on that day I had to call 40 minutes straight before actually leaving the busy signal to…
yelp.com - user review - 12/11/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Pam T.

5 of 5 stars. The grilled octopus appetizer is fantastic. Tender, flavorful, delicious - it will blow you away. Apparently (if I remember what the waiter said) it is twice-booked, first braised in cork (?) then…
yelp.com - user review - 12/04/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Keith L.

2 of 5 stars. I went there around 1 month ago. very disappointed. I think this place is overhyped. on the random side, mario batali was dining in the restaurant when I was there.
yelp.com - user review - 12/03/2007
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Excellent!!

My friends and I really enjoyed the experience of this place. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an extraordinary experience. I had the Black Spaghetti with Rock Shrimp I really enjoyed it. I...
menupages.com - user review - 11/28/2007