Bacaro Kitchen & Wine Bar

I expected a bit more based on all of the other reviews. This is your basic local Italian restaurant. There’s really nothing special about it except possibly the Pistachio gelato. I did enjoy the Chicken Parmigiana however my dining companion did not like the Hanger Steak. Stick to the basics here and you’ll do fine.

What a wonderful neighborhood restaurant. The food is spectacular and the knowledge of wine makes the choice with your meal so perfect. I can not recommend it more. And the truffle Parmesan frites are a must!

12/13/25 Sat night 7:30 pm my girlfriend and I went there but hadn't been for a long time and it was excellent! :-) We both had the Filet steak dinner and it was one of the best I've every had. The Boen Pino Noir wine was really good too. Recommend getting reservations there as they are really busy. We had Shelby Bill's daughter so it was great to see her again! We will definitely be back again.

This was our first visit to Bacarro. The food was super satisfying. Just the right flavors tenderness portions. We had appetizers large meals, and salads, bread, and desserts and enjoyed every bite. The service was very appropriate and attentive and friendly without being intrusive at all. When you go ask to sit with Monserrat, you will love her smile. I can’t specifically recommend anything because everything was so good. I look forward to trying all of the menu.

5 star food, wine🍷, and 5 stars on mood settings. Phenomenal place, maybe "It Was" the wine 😉. I believe they just started opening up for lunch on Thurs & Fridays. We got lucky cause no one was around, but what was popping was the Bacaro Playlist. It was on point. We kept it a light lunch by having the charcuterie board, a side order of bread, the mushroom soup (magnificent), and, of course, the wine. The service & atmosphere were amazing. We really had a very relaxing time. Thank you, Barcaro, for a good experience. Did I mention how great the soup was... 🍲 Yum 😋 😍 😊

We had really great service and food! Prices are reasonable. We really liked the bolognese & salmon.

Had a solo meal here at the bar while my family were out of town, and the experience was lovely. Maria one the owners was very friendly and provided great service and chat (as did husband and son). Food was great (had lasagna and a salad). Nice to find a quality family run, non chain (I assume) restaurant.

Nice little hidden gem near the memorial/energy corridor area! The atmosphere is pretty laid back, the knowledgeable staff are friendly and courteous, and the food is delicious. My wife and I stopped in for an anniversary dinner and really enjoyed our evening there. I had the Redfish Catalina, and my wife had the Basil Scallop Risotto. Both dishes are very good! Y'all give this place a try!

Great vibe, food is fresh and service is prompt. Local spot with good food. Recommend a reservation for peak hours.

Came in for a quick simple lunch and unfortunately was treated quick and simple.. Asked for a white wine and was given a red. They switched it with no problem but that initial unawareness continued. With a name such as Paris how do you misspell my name?(Pairs) Food and wine was still good and enjoyable but the initial attentiveness and focus was missed on my first and possibly last experience here.

Great Memorial neighborhood spot for a great meal and glass of wine. Bringing your own bottle is allowed and the corkage fee was very reasonable. Will definitely be back here again!

Great place. Coffee is awesome. Great atmosphere and staff. All the food we have had has been great. Recommend.

Wonderful little kitchen -wine bar off Memorial. Formally the Devine Affair Restaurant they have kept their location and executive chef. It is wonderfully hidden in the left corner, and you can smell succulent smells of Tuscany coming from inside the second you open their doors. Although I ordered only some " compliments" capellini aglio e olio and parmesan truffle frites, I could tell their Italian styled dinner menu offered large portions of beautifully prepared food. Although only 10 or so tables inside and 10 bar chairs if wish a more casual experience, this Italian bistro offers a home styled elegant atmosphere paired with fragrant dishes prepared made to order. The customer service was right on par and although they had only a few wait staff they were responsive and had drinks available quickly. The capellini was light and perfectly seasoned with the right amount of olive oil. The thin sliced truffle fries were salty and delicious topped with parmesan cheese. Yummmmm!! The Houston Astros were playing on the screen at the bar and even though not a winning game , the atmosphere and jazzy music makes for the end of a perfect Tuesday night meal. Will definitely return after they reopen after a short vacation for their staff.

Authentic Italian cuisine from an Italian.I really enjoyed an elegant and quiet atmosphere at the bar with my fellow Yelpie. I have heard this place was good and definitely was not disappointed. Happy hour from 4 to 6pm enjoy wine for 1/2 off and if you sit at the bar may even have a nice chat with the owners who are great hosts and story tellers. My rigatoni was flavored with Italian tomato sauce and lightly flavored so not overpowering. The bread was delicious and dessert was equally good. We had the French toast bread pudding which was large enough to feel guilty about at end of meal. Would definitely recommend and will return again soon.

It's a cozy place, I had couple glass of red and veal as my dinner. I like the wine and food was good. The service was great. One thing bothered us a bit was there was a guy not sure if he is the manager or owner. There were not a lot customers there. He seems greeting rest of the customer except us. Not sure maybe rest of the customers are Patron?

Excellent food and service. The owner personally attended to us and was a great host.

Pretty wine bar with a family friendly feel. This place is very small, but with that comes the intimate atmosphere. They have a decent sized patio right off the front entrance of the restaurant. When you enter the doors of the restaurant, you are immediately inside the dining area with the L shaped bar a few steps from the door. Like I said, it is very small. I chose this place because a friend of mine raved about it and I knew they would have the Astros game on that particular day. We sat at the bar and even though it was a post season game, they did not have the audio playing. My friend and I shared the Risotto and a small basket of bread with butter. We enjoyed a couple glasses of wine each and called it a night, for there anyway. It was imperative we get somewhere with audio to hear the game. I figured the noise of the game would take away from their finer ambiance. Completely understandable. I will definitely go back to try some additional dishes. The tables have linen napkins, for that finer touch. Everyone was welcoming and from what I gathered, seemed to be "regulars". At the bar area, you only have a choice of 10-12 seats maximum, but the people made room for us upon entering. I add this detail to show the accommodating energy. That's a huge plus for me. I don't like snooty places. I would classify this establishment as slightly upscale with a comfortable vibe. In other words, jeans and shorts are fine, but your check will not reflect jeans and shorts. I hope that makes sense. The small Risotto and 4 glasses of wine was $73.86 before tip. For the service, quality and atmosphere, it was worth it. Thanks to the staff for welcoming us newcomers! We will return and check out that patio in the next few weeks of gorgeous weather we hope to have coming!

The service and attentiveness was great! The wine menu was exceptional and the food delicious. We had the scallops with risotto and the eggplant al forno, both top notch. Would totally recommend and plan on coming back. The restaurant itself was quant and inviting.

Wonderful place to eat and have a nice night out! Definitely a more upscale vibe, but still very peaceful and lovely for a chill date night. My fiancé and I had a lovely time and the food was delicious! The bread was freshly made and so warm and soft when pulling apart. We had the bacaro meatballs for an appetizer, and for our entrees: Maria's meaty lasagna (they don't hold back on the meat!!) and the gnocchi alla bacaro. The gnocchi was one of the best I've had and all plates had such wonderful flavors. Also had a glass of moscato which you can never go wrong with! The place got packed super quick on a Saturday night, but thankfully they also have outside seating on the patio. We didn't catch our waiters name but all staff were helpful and sweet, never overbearing.

Outstanding neighborhood Bistro. Dinner was excellent. Homemade black cherry sorbet to die for.

This Italian restaurant has a very cozy vibe. The food is good, I ordered the salmon and it was absolutely delicious (I forgot to take a picture ) the service is good, we were 18 people and the server and chef really did take care of us. They have a great wine selection and good appetizers.

The food was delicious. The service was appropriately attentive. We will go back to try all the dishes. our lasagna and chicken Parm were terrific.

One of my all time favorite spots!! You MUST try. All of menu is available at lunch, they just have an extra lunch menu for those times. The wine selection is impeccable and selected by their incredibly knowledgeable owner, Bill. The scallops, steak, octopus, meatballs, pasta... (you name it!) is absolutely amazing. I go here once a week without fail, if not for the amazing wine and food, then to pick Bill's brain about wine & wine regions. They have a great once a month wine tasting for only $40 with 6 different tasters and a small sample plate. (Last wed & thurs of the month) RUN don't walk!!

Visiting Houston for my Mom's BD and decided to bring her to Bacaro. Restaurant is located in the former Devine Affair and was a favorite of my Mom for many years. We were seated promptly for our dinner reservation and drink and appetizer orders were taken -- although strangely our server never really checked to make sure everyone at the table was done ordering appetizers or starters (as I was going to order myself a salad bit was never asked). Complimentary warm bread rolls were served, followed quickly by our appetizers: * Calamari Frito - Calamari was nice and hot and crisp, and not at all greasy. Served with lemon wedges and marinara doing sauce. It was very good. * Cream of Mushroom Soup - My Mom really enjoyed this, and she knows a good mushroom soup. * Roasted Poblano Soup - Our friend raved about her cup of this soup. Another hit. * Pear and Pecan Salad - With mixed greens, gorgonzola and a honey balsamic vinaigrette. Decent. Then came the looong wait for our main course... We were done with our appetizers for about 10 minutes before our server came to take our order for entrees. When she came to take our order, my Mom asked if the Salmon on the menu was Wild or Farmed. Our server said she had to go ask... then she didn't come back until 15 minutes later (and after taking another large party order) with an answer... Farmed. Then another wait... in all it took over an hour after we were done with our appetizers before our entrees arrived: * Filet Mignon - served with asparagus, whipped potato and bordelaise sauce. Beef was tender and flavorful. * Salmon with Shrimp - Nice filet of salmon with grilled shrimp. Salmon was ordered medium well, but came out more done and a bit overcooked and dry for my Mom's preference. Shrimp was perfectly grilled though. * Swordfish Special - Grilled swordfish was very good, topped with a grilled shrimp and some crab meat. A good and satisfying entree. * Chicken Parmesan - Looked good, but I didn't try any of my brother's dish. I think he liked it cos he did finish it. And we did finish with dessert... * Cheesecake - Excellent. Good flavor and firm. Not too sweet. * Bread Pudding with Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream - It was ok. A bit ordinary and too sweet for my liking. Overall I thought the food was quite good and 4+ Yelp. Nice wine list of US and import wines by the glass and bottle. Ambiance is nice and classy, but can feel a bit crowded in and noisy at times. I was very annoyed with the spotty service... had to ask our server for little things like olive oil and balsamic for the bread multiple times, or had to flag her down to get our orders in, etc. We mentioned it to the owner, Bill, who apologized and did comp us a glass of wine and 2 desserts to try to make up for it. We hope it was just a fluke bad night on the service.

Absolutely amazing family owned and ran restaurant. I'm so glad I found this little neighborhood gem. They have a strong wine list and their food is absolutely delicious. I got to try the sautéed mussels, the polenta chips, and the carbonara. All the dishes were so delicious. I would definitely get the mussels again because it's so worth it! The carbonara was flavored so perfectly! The service here is so quick and attentive. I am just so in love with every aspect of this place. Can't wait to come back again!

Great choices for italian food, tried octopus, house salad, rigatoni. Friendly service, relaxed neighborhood environment.

The mussels and filet mignon were some of the best in town! The mushroom risotto and the garlic spinach were outstanding! The portions were large, and the customer service was impeccable. Very quaint, intimate setting. Perfect date night! They have wine tastings too! Come check this place out! It is EXCEPTIONAL!

We did the restaurants week menu. Service and food very good. The salad needed a little more seasoning , chicken picatta was very good and the chocolate mousse cake delicious. Also nice glass of Sauvignon blanc

Amazing place, great service and great menu! Great traditional Italian food mixed in with some excellent comfort options and seafood. I was lucky enough to have everyone at out table order something different and was able to try them all. There were two off the menu specials both of which we ordered. Beef stroganoff and Parmesan crusted flounder. Both absolutely amazing and great portions. Lasagna was amazing and huge portion. Risotto came highly recommended and it lived up to the praise. The owners were extremely nice and engaged. Per the owners, I will have to be back to try the Carbonara next time. HIGHLY RECOMMEND checking this place out for dinner.

From the moment I arrived to when I left , a wonderful welcoming appreciative dining experience. Food is definitely 5-star. Ambiance is perfect.

Came here for my valentine's dinner and absolutely enjoyed my time. We came in the midst of the winter storm that was starting to occur. We weren't the only couple who braved the storm warnings as it was a few other couples dinning in as well. Even during the began of the winter storm, they called me to confirm that we were still good to go and accommodated us well. The restaurant is nestled at the end of a shopping center and the interior is perfect for date night. I would love to come back and sit out on the outside patio once weather permits. Our waiter was very attentive and was the best wait staff we've had in a minute. He have his recommendations on the champagne that we wanted to order and made sure that our glasses remained full throughout the night. Our meal came as a three course meal and a glass of complimentary champagne was provided. I opted for the lamb chops and they were very tasteful and the sides complimented them well. The lamb chops weren't on the small side and were very filling. This spot is perfect for date night and I will return, especially once the weather breaks so I can take in the patio ambience.

Nice ambiance, very intimate and classy. Wine selection by the glass is very limited, would've like more options. Most of their wine is sold by the bottle only. I ordered the caprese salad, meatballs and brussel sprouts. Everything was ok except the brussels as they were soggy and drenched in balsamic vinaigrette with onions? Wasn't a fan.

Food was delicious, waitstaff was very courteous and checked on us multiple times. With Texas just re-opening from the pandemic I can see how it can be tough to navigate these times, but they handled it well. We felt welcomed, they made sure we were happy - wine by the glass... full plated meals that were succulent and well prepared. The facilities were clean but I only got a peak when I went in to use the restroom. We had to stay outside. The patio is quaint, gazebo style a few tables. We were still social distancing. Definitely a great experience, I would love to come back to see this place in full swing!

Let me start off by saying, this place is a hidden gem full of delicious food and great service!! The entire process of booking, to dinner, to closing checks, it was fantastic! I had been in contact with the Owner Bill for about 2 weeks before my event. He was so delightful to work with and accommodating. I had a large group of 17 women for my supper club. Bill made sure we were taken care of! The restaurant is small but he was still able to accommodate us in the back half of the restaurant. Service was quick. Our drinks came out on time and so did our food! All of my guest have rave reviews about the entire experience. My food was so delicious. The shrimp was very fresh and the risotto was tasty. I had two glasses of champagne as well. I would definitely recommend coming here. It's family owned! Thanks Bill!!!

We recently celebrated our Mother's 85th birthday at Bacaro. The appetizers of calamari were fantastic, however the two orders of Calamari we ordered came 20-25 apart and we had a party of 8 so both orders should have been served at the same time, the bread & butter were fantastic as were the steaks that were ordered by several. Several of us had the special which was Stuffed Flounder w/ crab and a lemon Buree Blanc sauce. The fish in each order barely had a tablespoon of sauce leaving those specials somewhat dry and most definitely not worth the high price tag. Salads were entirely too big as most that ordered a salad expected a dinner salad not an entree size salad. The service was severely lacking and our family is far from demanding but when you are paying these kinds of prices at an establishment you certainly expect to not be looking at empty bread baskets, empty butter, empty wine glasses. Etc. our family is extremely polite but the restaurant on this Saturday night was maybe 1/4 filled and clearly not enough staff to handle this and this establishment is very small & intimate. The Ambiance was pleasant for such a small establishment, however the lack of service and attention to detail means we will probably not return. My Mother's entrée was also dry and she had to order additional sauce and she wanted the Italian Crème Cake as her desert and we were informed that they did not have what she wanted so my Mother being polite simply ordered another dessert. This is my personal opinion. I firmly believe that if our Waitress had not been assigned to manage tables as well as the front of the house our experience would have been much more pleasant and she would have been able to solely focus on the tables she was assigned to manage for the evening. As always she was given a generous tip because we could tell this was not her fault and we simply would not do otherwise.

I have litterally never written a review on yelp before but this place is just amazing. I moved here about a year ago and just stumbled upon Bacaro while trying stuff around town. The food is absolutely top tier, the staff is very nice and considerate, and it is incredibly inexpensive for what you get. When they brought out my food I was genuinely shocked, not only at the size of it, but also how great the quality was. Cannot recommend enough.

Tonight was my first time dining at Bacardi Kitchen & Wine Bar. I was thoroughly impressed with the cleanliness, atmosphere, food and lovely staff... which is all family. They were friendly, professional, knowledgeable & worked as a great team. My friend and I enjoyed the following dishes: The grilled octopus, the mussels & the pear and pecan salad as starters. All of them were fresh, delicious and a generous portion for 2 people. For our main dishes we had the shrimp and vegetable risotto (I added scallops) and the veal milanese, we also ordered the tiramisu for dessert, yummm! Everything was fantastic!! I look forward to coming back again soon :)

Just WOW. Absolutely adorable and the food was probably the best Italian I've ever had. Soooo good. It came out quick, tasted fresh, very flavorful without being bold. Also had a sweet wine that was similar to a mixture of air and happiness. Service was perfect and the atmosphere was high end charming. It's small but seemed perfect. Recommend this restaurant 100x over.

Great restaurant! The owner helped us select a fabulous wine which went well with the amazing food! I highly recommend a visit.

We have been here several times, and have yet to be disappointed. We have tried something new with every visit and are always so impressed by the depth of flavors in their sauces. Best hidden gem in the menu is the octopus appetizer. We tell everyone we know to come here and get the octopus. Do yourself a favor and order it. Nothing but praise for Bacaro.

Enjoyed a perfectly lovely dinner at Bacaro this week. I had the gnocchi and my date had the veal piccata. All was delightful. Our waitress was fun and helpful - just right. She recommended a wine that was distinctive and right for both meals. The gnocchi sauce was so good. Heartily recommend this place.

Love this place! A must try. Food was impressive and they were very accommodating to our group of 14 for our office holiday party. We got a nice little set up near the front of the restaurant by the window. Bill, the owner is awesome. I will be going back.

Incoming Houston Restaurant Week review that can be summed up in one word. Go. Go now. Make a reservation and go now, seriously, folks. We started with spinach salads. The parmesan dressing was delightful, not heavy or glumpy (new word for ya, there) as often happens. The bacon was PERFECTLY crisp and the portions generous. My Love had the pappardelle which was delicious and a huge portion that he managed to eat in its entirety (which is a VERY hearty endorsement folks) while I had the salmon. Now I would normally rate an Italian restaurant heavily on its risotto. I am a SNOB when it comes to risotto. This was ... adequate ... but the spinach and the salmon made me not care. I do not know what magic was in that lemon sauce but I actually liked it better than my own lemon sauce (again, you don't know us but that is also a very hearty endorsement, folks). Dessert? I wouldn't go back just for the cheesecake he ate but I would bathe in a lake of that salted caramel creme brulee. It was, hands down, the best dessert I've had in months. I also took a piece of their Italian Cream Cake. It's been less than 12 hours and that thing is already gone. I may have seen someone (it was me, it was me) do everything but lick the plate clean. Why 5 stars? - 1 for the owner/his wife who are wonderfully sweet and sincere - 1 for Ashley who is one of the best, sweetest servers we've ever had & the not one, but two people who helped her out - 1 for the more than generous wine pours on the 3 oz wine trio (the white and red are fantastic summer options for Houston and I'll be stocking them in my wine rack); Ashley also recommended a South African red which was one of the most unique wines I've tried in years - 1 for the savory food - 1 (++++++++++) for those desserts! They are open for lunch Tu/Thursday and we will certainly be back for those. We saw a lot of really good dishes pass by our table that I'd like to try. Excellent. If "Cheers" were an Italian restaurant, this would be it!

My husband and I had reservations for 7:30 pm on a Saturday. We arrived a few minutes early. We waited for our table at the bar. Three bartenders were behind the bar and right in front of us. Not one acknowledged us. After about five minutes, one of the bartenders finally acknowledged and offered us a menu when we were told our table was ready. We get to the table and only one chair was available, so the hostess had to get a chair from the back. We waited and waited while two different waitresses made their way to our section. Twenty minutes had passed since we arrived and not one waitress acknowledged us. We left feeling overlooked and unappreciated for our business. We will never return again. We went to Lulu's on Kirby and were treated so well the moment we walked in.

Bacaro is a small family run business that has excellent food and wine! The chef will often come out and visit with patrons!

Enjoyed an early dinner with friend. Veal piccata for me and she had the red fish special with shrimp. Both were yum! Need to come back at later hour and enjoy glass o wine on patio.

Great food and atmosphere. We did not have reservations on a Sat night. I would make them if you plan to go. The place is small but lovely. Thankfully they fit us in. I am not a huge fan of Italian but I enjoyed my food and wine. The server recommended some options. They were delicious. The dessert was amazing as well. We had the spaghetti, kids ravioli and lasagna. Along with the chocolate mouse cake and bread pudding. I stunt have 1 complaint. Excellent service and food. You won't regret it.

Love this neighborhood gem! Owners are the kindest and a great wine list with wonderful recommendations to try something new!

The best date night spot! The place was packed the day we visited so we sat at the bar to wait. I drank a beer and my date and I shared the baked meatballs with bread wile we talked and waited at the bar. The person at the bar possibly the owner was so sweet and had the best food and drink recommendations. We finally got a table and I ordered the mussels and he ordered the burger that he swore was the best burger he's had. The mussels we also so good. We highly enjoyed or visit the customer service is so sweet and welcoming I felt at home. The food was great and the ambiance was better. We definitely will be returning.

Fabulous food every time we dine here! Usually get the Pear and Pecan salad and Chicken Piccata. Every bite is a wow! Warm fresh baked rolls. Attentive service! Can't say enough good things for this neighborhood restaurant on the west side of town.

Asked for a glass of ice water. Amazing service. Food specials are always fantastic. Owner has curated an amazing wine list and can always recommend something to fit your taste. It's your neighborhood wine bar with great food and a family feel.

I walked in disheveled, a total mess really, hoping to bounce back with some nutrition. It was an off hour and I got lucky enough to be seated by the chef. He must have picked up on my vibe and proceeded to make me the best Pappardelle Primavera on the planet. It was infused with TLC and every bite made me feel more like myself. I had the place to myself at my 4:05 stop in and got to take it all in. My lemonade and Caprese Salad was just a tease before the main dish. Thank you for every smile, kind word and putting heart into my food! Music and atmosphere were perfect. I feel whole again. Total 10.

Complete disappointment. Not worth the hype. This is not Italian food. Everybody knows that risotto should be smooth, creamy and loose. Not something that taste like baby food. Gnocchi was so spicy it over powered the pasta. This is Italian food; that level of spice does not belong. Definitely will not be back. Ambience was good, but you need to remove the sports TVs. The service was ok.

Tried lunch last week! Nice place but food was just so so! Also very expensive fir what you get!

Omg such a great restaurant. Service was 10/10. Food was 10/10. We came here for Valentine's Day. The octopus was good as well. Don't even get me started with the lobster bisque. We got the rack of lamb for our entree. Our server Sam was amazing and made our first experience here great!!! Definitely will be back!!

Nice atmosphere, good service, hit or miss on food. We had a bottle of wine, it was decent but pretty cheap, so I can't complain. Had appetizer of meatballs. They were small, dense and definitely taste like they came out of a frozen bag. Then we had a Cesar salad. Nothing to write home about. Finally our entree- I I had blackened salmon and shrimp. It was pretty good but a lot of heavy cream. She had the scallops and risotto. Now this was pretty heavy but really good flavor! Overall I'm giving it a 3 star review and probably not coming back. I wish them well though because it is a nice place and in a good location, it's just missing the detailed flavors I usually look for when dining out on the weekend. A little disappointing.

We came here on a random Friday night and we fell in love with it. The food is amazing, the wine is excellent and the service is outstanding. We had the meatballs, bread, scallops risotto, chicken parm and the chocolate mousse. All delicious! Can't wait to come back over and over again.