Bari Ristorante e Enoteca

Italian restaurant · Overton Square

Bari Ristorante e Enoteca

Italian restaurant · Overton Square

1

524 Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104, USA

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Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca by null

Highlights

Modern Italian cuisine with extensive wine & cheese lists.  

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524 Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104, USA Get directions

barimemphis.com

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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524 Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104, USA Get directions

+1 901 722 2244
barimemphis.com

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 31, 2025

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Chef Jason Severs focuses on Puglia—olive oil–brightened seafood, handmade pastas, and an all‑Italian cheese list. Midtown’s enoteca is frequently praised by local critics and recognized for its wine program by Memphis Magazine readers.

https://barimemphis.com/
Italian Restaurants in Memphis (2025)
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Kirby Thornton

Google
A very enjoyable experience on a wet day. Their menu isn't very big, but they have a HUGE selection of cheeses as well as a number of cured meats to make your own charcuterie board. Make sure to take advantage of the specials, the salad of the day was unique and very tasty. Also, it was great that the portions weren't huge. I highly recommend the bruschetta and carbonara.

Ann smith

Google
Bari is the kind of place that suits any occasion. It has a laid-back atmosphere yet exudes elegance. Every moment spent there was pure bliss. We decided to try the shishito peppers and red bell pepper soup, which were the specials for the night, and they were absolutely delightful. The mussels we ordered were incredibly generous in portion size and, needless to say, absolutely divine. As for our main courses, we couldn't resist trying the short rib penne and the crab orzo pasta, and boy, were we blown away! The dessert selection was a challenge because everything on the menu sounded heavenly. Eventually, we settled for two desserts, and they did not disappoint. Oh, and let's not forget about the frozen G&T! It was the perfect cocktail to enjoy on a summer evening. Bari is simply mind-blowing!

channin shauntrel

Google
This is always a very welcoming experience. I love the crew at the bar. They provide excellent recommendations on menu items and about upcoming special events. I always come especially for the frutti di mare fritti and a good cocktail. But everything I have had so far is great. Definitely one of my favs.

Marilyn White

Google
Bari restaurant is fantastic!! Joy was our waitress- so friendly and helpful and fun! Hunter’s Honey cocktail- amazing, followed by Zucchini Fritters and Latuga salad- exquisite. The homemade bread with dipping is delicious also. My husband had seared Tuna that he loved. My pasta with crab was good, but I will opt for something else next time. Our desserts, vanilla cake with raspberry and pistachio was just amazing. My husband liked his chocolate pudding- I didn’t taste it. Such an amazing experience. The best Italian we have had in Memphis. Go try it out!!!

Drew Baker

Google
Arugula salad - WAY overdressed Tomato pie - soggy & flavorless Penne w/ short rib ragu - tasty but let down by overcooked pasta Chocolate custard - DELICIOUS My 2nd time here & left disappointed. The service seems to have taken a big step backwards. Waited several minutes to even be greeted by the host....several more minutes for a server to show up. Service was efficient but not very attentive. I just expect A LOT more at this price point.

A M

Google
10/02- My friends from out of town were super impressed! Hunter and Page provide wonderful suggestions and make the experience. Thank you for always delivering 🙏 09/14- Absolutely wonderful! The cheeses, meats, wines, calamari, and bruschetta can’t be beat. You won’t find another restaurant like this in Memphis! And phenomenal staff! Old review: I brought some out of town friends here who were visiting for a conference. I had never been here, which would normally be a bad idea. I have found a new favorite restaurant in Memphis. I think we all loved the mussels and the cheeses, but I also loved the fava beans and the scallops were amazing! Everyone left happy. I will be back!

Debisree Ray

Google
One of the fine restaurants in the Memphis area. We had a prior reservation on Friday night, and we were there on time. It was casual and informal. The interior was sleek and modern looking with an implicit old charm. The service was a bit slow. There were other big groups in other tables. We started with some semolina crusted fried seafood bowl as appetizer. There was calamari, anchovies, and something else too ( but no shrimp) - everything was well seasoned, and all coated with semolina dust and deep fried with some lemony after taste. It was superb. We had some Italian club soda and a non alcoholic drink named honey! This was fabulous and was paired great that fried goody. I would highly recommend. Moving on, in the main course my friend got orzo and I got some Atlantic prawns in a garlicky- wine reduction broth. That was super aromatic and tasty. They have excellent wine collection too- make sure to ask for recommendation for the best pairing. Next was dessert, and this was the highlight of the entire dinner time. I got an affogato and my friend ordered some chocolate ganache topped chocolate hazelnut cake. That was terrific with some best dark chocolate in it. The affogato was great too. House made vanilla gelato was decent and the espresso coffee was fine too. Overall our experience was absolutely great and I highly recommend the place.

Camille Fulton (Camille Unlimited)

Google
It was freaking outstanding. *plays Earth Wind And Fire "Outstanding" in the background* I have never had a salad with no dressing...I ate the entire thing. The Carbonara...CHEF'S KISS! They know what they are doing there. I love the history and the knowledge they understand about Italian food because it shows in their menu! Gotta give my foodie friend his props on putting me on this one! And yes, everything you've seen or heard about Hunter is true. That's a true MIXOLOGIST.
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Margaret J.

Yelp
Date Night!! Yall the food, drinks & ambience was fantastic! Nice, quaint Italian restaurant the feels and taste like Italy!! We ordered: Bruschetta: grilled Bari bread, red bell peppers, arugula, buffalo mozzarella, white anchovies Spaghetti alla carbonara: pancetta, caramelized onion, fresh egg, parmigiano-reggiano Penne with house made beef short rib ragu with chili flakes and parmigiano-reggiano Patate arrosto: roasted new potatoes, garlic, rosemary Drinks: dirty martini old fashion Negroni espresso martini A great gem in midtown Memphis!! Our server was great explaining the menu!
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Rachael R.

Yelp
The service was great. Ben was very attentive and helpful. The olive miste was beautiful. I've never had a red olive. The martini though small but cute with basil oil. It was delicious. The pasta entrees were just okay. The sponge cake with raspberry and pistachio filling was very good. They have a very extensive wine and cheese menu. Overall I recommend.
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Natasha M.

Yelp
Very classy establishment with an abundance of fine wines, cheeses, and Italian dishes to choose from. I started with a hard cheese and meat recommended by the bartender and a delicious espresso martini. While sitting at the bar, a regular patron offered for me to try her orzo, which was positively scrumptious. It was full of flavor and decadent as could be. I decided to order the spaghetti alla carbonara that was very filling and had an adequate amount of carbonara balanced with cheese. Overall, a chic experience worth visiting.
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Martin D.

Yelp
Wonderful selection of Italian wines with excellent Italian food in an intimate atmosphere where locals hang out. Highly recommended! Five star
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Camille F.

Yelp
It was freaking outstanding. *plays Earth Wind And Fire "Outstanding" in the background* I have never had a salad with no dressing...I ate the entire thing. The Carbonara...CHEF'S KISS! They know what they are doing there. I love the history and the knowledge they understand about Italian food because it shows in their menu! Gotta give my foodie friend his props on putting me on this one! And yes, everything you've seen or heard about Hunter is true. That's a true MIXOLOGIST.
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Kimberly M.

Yelp
We were at Bari to celebrate my birthday. Some food is okay. Some is tasty. The restaurant has a pretentious rule about ordering everything at once. They will not accept substitutions or let you change the dish in any way. Oddly, if this is to keep things efficient, the process to get drinks took a very long time. Which delayed our ordering process too. Our waiter, never introduced himself, seemed out of sorts most of the night, and barely acknowledged we were there for a celebration. We asked for a recommendation on wine. The waiter said he didn't know anything about wine and offered to have someone talk to us, but no one ever came. We ordered a bottle anyway, and he never said why he didn't follow through. With the no altering of dishes, some people had trouble finding something to eat. My daughter for instance hates onions, and they turn her stomach. But they are in the carbonara there. She loves carbonara, so she tried to pick through the dish and it was not a great experience. Pasta dishes were good, but all were overly salty. Portions are medium to small. Cheeses were good but were served with no accompaniments. We had to ask for bread which is served cold. Not room temp, but cold. Zucchini fritters and the salads we ordered were fresh. The portions are not consistent. $11 for a very small butter lettuce salad with grapefruit and hazelnuts vs. same price for a huge arugula salad. Tiramisu was one of the favorite dishes of the night. Gelato was also well liked. Cannoli is not traditional, so it doesn't have the exact bite you are looking for and the ricotta filling is grainy. $445 with tip. 1 bottle wine, 2 cocktails, 3 cheeses, 2 salads, 1 hot app, 4 pasta dishes, 2 meat or fish dishes, 3 deserts.

Chris E.

Yelp
Five of us went there for the carbonara which had been very good in previous visits. So disappointed this time. The romaine salad was pretty much just lettuce with oil....no cheese or other extras. The carbonara was spaghetti in oil and peppers....quite the kick but no creme, meat or cheese. WHen we asked for parmasean the waitress said they didn't have any as it was too expensive. Service was slow. While some of us have had good experiences in the past this one was extremely disappointing. No reason to return to this place.
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Skip S.

Yelp
You can't just hang out and enjoy a leisurely dinner. They make you order everything at once and then bring it out in stages. It's not very relaxing and the food was just OK for the money.
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Victoria N.

Yelp
It has been too long since we have had a Memphis restaurant meal that was truly a dining experience.Sat on their patio where it was quiet and peaceful. Monty 75 cocktail was new to me and perfectly balanced. The food was delicious and obviously thoughtfully prepared. Service was friendly, knowledgeable and well-paced. Thank you for continuing to care and not ride on your laurels. While other restaurants close in Memphis excellence never goes out of style. Bravo Bari!
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Alan P.

Yelp
Hip Italian restaurant in Midtown. This was the spot my wife picked for Valentine's Day. They had a special set menu for the occasion, but still had a variety of options. It was a four course meal. We started with the raw oysters which were really good. Second course was pasta, which was outstanding. I can't remember what type of fish they had for the third course, but it was great. Last course was desert. The vanilla cake was excellent. The service was outstanding. Our server gets an A+, she was awesome at selecting wines to pair with the different courses. It's located in the heart of Midtown and I enjoyed the atmosphere. The recommended attire is 'dressy', which is partially true. It's more hip so you don't have to go blazer and loafers. I highly recommend for a date night and special occasion dinner. If it's something more casual they have a great bar area as well.
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Rebecca B.

Yelp
The bar is fabulous. The food is fabulous. It's our go-to date night in Memphis restaurant. Make a reservation, they'll be booked.
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Casandra P.

Yelp
Went to celebrate a birthday. From the moment we entered the restaurant the Service was impeccable, wine list is fabulous and the food was delicious

Jay K.

Yelp
Our service was great! Ambiance definitely felt nicer in the pictures than in person. Everything is a la carte which adds up quick. Extensive wine list. The bread was cold, not room temperature, at the beginning which was odd but other than that ... you can tell they care a lot about how the food is made which was nice!

Willin P.

Yelp
Awesome food staff is very nice I would totally recommend going here very little wait time and it is awesome 5 stars
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Sophia B.

Yelp
Love the food here, everything is fresh and delicious. I keep coming back for the carbonara. It calls to me like a siren song. Hunter is great behind the bar. We really enjoyed the scallops as well as the cheese menu.
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Ty M.

Yelp
I guess I'm odd gal out again, because this is a very popular restaurant I simply did not care for. The prices on the cheese is just plain nuts. My friend got two little slivers for $8. We all ordered pasta dishes, none were great. One friend ordered the Orecchiette Alla Pugliese, which had an over powering fish taste from the anchovies, I had the Rigatoni- cooked perfectly Al dente, but so salty from the goat cheese that I could not finish my small plate. Others at the table ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara, the Orzo pasta and theFrutti Di Mare Fritti. None of the other dishes were stand outs at all. The atmosphere is quite plain, yet still has the ability to seem slightly pretentious. The dead plants in the bathroom were a major turn off. The service was great, courtesy of Joy, but there is literally nothing else in the space that impressed us.
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Cathy K.

Yelp
Wow, lovely hidden neighborhood gem with a non pretentious downtown vibe. We didn't have reservations and they were apparently booked for the entire evening but their bar was open and ended up being a great choice. Received good service and tailored recommendations from the bar tender who also appeared to be a neighborhood fixture among the local crowd. Great low key date night spot. Their pastas are only $12 each, yummy and tasty. Skip the rigatoni with broccoli, very plain and tasted like something you'd make at home. I'd get the spaghetti carbonara again and maybe the bucatini bolognese next time. Their pastas are so good, the guy next to us ordered 2 for himself... definitively doing the same next time! ;)
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Olivia F.

Yelp
We had so much fun. A gastronomic delight!! We had a little of everything and just go. You might have to let loose of some cash but it was worth it!!! So happy for the new location. I waited too long and now I'm not 100% sure but pretty sure Bobby was our server. He was wonderful!
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Tanja K.

Yelp
Very nice Italian restaurant specializing in the food of Puglia. Service is outstanding, menu is interesting, food is outstanding. The dining room is a bit noisy but otherwise a very nice small restaurant. Attached parking helps in a crowded restaurant district. We had the Carbonera and the orichette. Both beautifully prepared and served. Portions are reasonable, not the gargantuan plates that seem to be everywhere these days. Left feeling satisfied, not stuffed.
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Patrick M.

Yelp
For a restaurant at this price point, there are some high expectations and unfortunately Bari misses them. 1) They ask if you're celebrating a special occasion when you make the reservation (an anniversary in our case). But nobody made mention of this at all throughout the meal or greeting which was mildly disappointing. 2) The atmosphere does not match the menu and price point. Coming into the restaurant feels like your coming through the back door with barely room to squeeze by bar. Paper tablecloths??? (I halfway expected some crayons) Cheap looking lights (obviously from Amazon) as the centerpiece of the table. The dining room was loud enough that my wife and I could barely hear each other talk. And while most guests dressed appropriately, it was strange to have a table next to us wearing a baseball cap in the dining room. Our waiter was young and inexperienced. After getting our drinks, we didn't see him for another 8-10 minutes, and he certainly did not enhance the dining experience. He was your basic order taker. The atmosphere was by far the biggest disappointment. 3) The food was pretty good. My wife I ordered a multi course meal. And made sure to try many of the menu items. Unfortunately all my dishes were heavily over salted. The after dinner cappuccinos were excellent though. Bari is a place that pretends to be fancy. They have two hour slots for reservations and charge you for missing. They have an entire Italian wine list, most of which are only by the bottle. A separate cheese menu. They've obviously dedicated a lot of time to their food/beverage offerings and want to be a high end restaurant. But the dining experience does not match this. We have been wanting to try this place for several months because it's highly rated and recommended by several sites. But I can't say it was worth it. For $100 a person, there are some basic expectations beyond food for a restaurant.
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Grety B.

Yelp
It was hard to write this review for me. I really wanted to like the place. My husband and I wanted to visit this place for a while now, but on all past occasions the place had a private event or they had stop seating at 8:30. We finally made reservations, which I had to give a credit card to hold the reservation. But no charge since we made it. Now, I did read past reviews about the small platings. So we made sure to ordered appetizers. The mussels were yummy, the fried calamari too. Ordered the sardines. Big mistake. It gave me awful bad indigestion. My hubby had the carbonara. He loved the flavors. The main reason why I gave only 2 stars is because many items in the wine menu did not provide the wine by the glass. You had to purchase the whole bottle. Maybe It works for a large party but it did not for us. They did offered some glass options but were not a lot. Also, the portions were really small. Don't come here with a big appetite. My poor husband was still hungry. He ended up eating a burger an hour later from a beer pub.
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Chris R.

Yelp
Portions were small. Italian restaurant that doesn't provide nice bread only toast points doesn't make the grade. The bar, however, was really really good. They make their own mixers and drinks are fabulous. Not as good as the old location.

Sam B.

Yelp
Fantastic fantastic fantastic. My girlfriend and I went to Bari for our anniversary and had a phenomenal time. Our server was kind and knowledgeable about all the dishes and gave us great recommendations. The Bronzino, the orzo, and the arugula salad are always on my mind. Definitely a spot to hit.

Greg S.

Yelp
Always, always, always hits the mark. The service is fantastic, cocktails are unique and creative, and the menu always delivers amazing freshness and taste.

Justin K.

Yelp
We visited on a night when they had staffing problems but the service was great. For about $115 per person, was the food that stellar? I'd say it was just OK. Nothing special and no wow moments - so with that , I guess I'd say it was overpriced.
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Elijah B.

Yelp
Amazing food. Great service. Knowledgable waitstaff. We loved having our anniversary there!

Memphis D.

Yelp
A little disappointing. We loved the "Old Bari" in their previous location. Great cozy atmosphere. The new building is much larger, which I assume they needed. Bar is large and "colder" now. Patio was not really an option due to the heat. The main courses were good, drinks were good and not a lot has changed on the menu. Had all of our old favorites. It was the little things...the wrinkled, crumpled paper menus, having to ask for bread multiple times, slow service. Also they lost the meat/cheese appetizer options they had before. Was always fun to try new things. Would give it another try in cooler weather when the patio is open.

Vince H.

Yelp
Outstanding dinner and experience. Great food served slowly so as enhance the experience with your group. We had a party of 6 so a variety of items. We all loved the food and the service was excellent!
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Steph D.

Yelp
Walked in and was seated without a reservation at 7pm NYE. So disappointing. Gave 2 stars because the waiter was great as was the wine he recommended. I nearly broke a tooth on the bread, the risotto crabmeat pasta dish had strong garlic and fishy taste. We didn't finish any of the dishes. I'm adding a picture of the entire cheese appetizer tasting before we touched it and you can decide what you think about it- I won't even comment on that one.
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Sabrina T.

Yelp
Finally tried Bari!! Cute place with not so great parking but hey it's the square. The menu is a bit confusing on 1st glance. Everything is a la cart. Portions are small but enough. Lattuga salad was great. The meatballs were amazing but had to order pasta to go with it. I ordered a pasta with sausage. It was salty goodness! The noodles were small tubular macaroni style which kinda blew my mind. My wife had the whole grilled branzino. We were having a pretty great meal until dessert happened. I ordered the gelato cookie and my wife the cream puffs. I took one bite of the cookie and about broke a tooth. Clearly frozen. The cream puffs seemed frozen but the cream was running out. It seems they make good desserts and then freeze them...why? All in all a cool place with great food (a bit pricey though). Our bill was $180 for 2. I would definitely go back minus the dessert.
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Jill E.

Yelp
We had a lovely anniversary dinner at Bari, I'm not sure why we hadn't been before. We opted to sit at the bar which had a great ambiance. We enjoyed the oysters and frutti di mare fritti appetizers as well as the carbonara and rigatoni pastas. The cocktails were fantastic and unique! Thanks for a wonderful night, Bari!
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German C.

Yelp
At night, its romantic ambiance will set the mood for a good night after the meal. For $150, you can taste the most amazing cheeses from around the world. I would say the cheese platter is highly underpriced, and you can split the price among a few good friends. Your mouth will water at the exotic tastes from the parmigiano-reggiano delle vacche rosse to the pecorino al tartufo...you will find a cheese, or a few, to add to your weekly shopping list. Ofcourse, the meet platter goes along great with the cheese, and the wine was spectacular. It is a gem within Memphis. Visit with your loved one, or for quality time with your family or friends. While I ony rate restaurants based on their food (service, ambiance, presentation and price are all irrelevant if the food doesn´t taste amazing), I do have to admit that our waiter was incredibly attentive, kind, and the lighting, table clothes.......and everything...just made the night special and unforgettable.
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Stephanie P.

Yelp
We went to this fancy restaurant in Overton Square to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. It was the perfect place to celebrate a big occasion. We dressed up and greatly enjoyed the service and the ambiance of this Italian restaurant. The only reason I deducted one star is because there was not really an item that I would go back for. The pasta we had was okay, and the scallops were well cooked. They were finished with some kind of brandy so they had a slightly off putting alcohol taste. My husband liked his steak as well but he said it was nothing special. Overall, I would say the night was very special to us and the place was nice but there was not anything we would rave about. We will definitely try some place new next year.
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Allison H.

Yelp
The perfect date spot, meeting the in-laws spot, drinks with friends after work spot. Seriously have never had a bad experience here, ever! Quality ingredients blended together in perfect pairings. Attentive and friendly staff. Romantic ambience. You cannot go wrong with any of the wine choices, either. Bari, you got it going on, boo.
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Elizabeth G.

Yelp
I have been going here since I was little, and I am always impressed. I sat at the bar with Vincent as our server and he was great--very nice and pertinent to all the customers. I got 3 cheeses, luttuga (salad), calamari, and the olive appetizer. Always a great dinner:)
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Stephanie M.

Yelp
Food was delicious!! Service was a little awkward as we walked in. Staff were very stand-off ish at the beginning and just kind of looked at us as we walked in. Staffed warmed up and things turned out well towards the end of the meal.
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Joelle P.

Yelp
I had forgotten about this wonderful little gem! My girlfriend and I had girls night here last week...it was amazing! We sat at the bar, had a few drinks and one very delicious cheese plate. The bartender was a doll and I really liked the crowd. Very chill but chic in an understated way. The location is great and it is easy to find parking!
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Loren S.

Yelp
Mediocre at best. Cheese plate was exactly that, cheese dumped on a plate with no accompaniments and then each person gets 1 piece of bread (was never offered any more). For a $30 "cheese plate" I was underwhelmed. Good selection of cheese though! My entree was the filet special. It was very tender and could almost be cut with a fork so I'm sure it was a top cut of meat but it was a 5oz steak for $40. I eat steak quite often and that's more than a high tier steakhouse. It was good but it wasn't THAT good. Overall I find the place overrated. The BEST part of my dinner was the zucchini and goat cheese fritters and my glass of wine. So tip for optimal satisfaction: seat yourself at the bar, order said fritters and a glass of wine for apps and then move along for dinner elsewhere.
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Greg H.

Yelp
Apulia (Italian: Puglia) is the southeastern region of Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east and the Ionian Sea to the southeast. It forms the high heel on the "boot" of Italy. Bari Ristorante is a perfect representation of Puglia. Every plate, every morsel is a trip to a region of Italy that is overlooked and under appreciated. Puglia's cucina povera (peasant cooking) is legendary. Olive oil, grapes, tomatoes, eggplants, artichokes, peppers, salami, mushrooms, olives and fresh seafood are the regional staples. Yes, I love Puglia. As a young American, I was fortunate to grow up there. While it has some of Italy's best food and wine, it's rare to hear a foreign voice in Apulia. Puglia is sun-bleached landscapes, olive groves, picturesque seascapes and memorable coastal towns. It's a lush, largely flat farming region, with a long coast that alternates between limestone precipices and long sandy beaches. And props to Bari's intimate bar. In a city riddled with substandard "bartenders", Brad Pitts (yes, that's right) is an exceptional mixologist that demonstrates the art, craft and mastery of making cocktails. Memphis is fortunate to have this stellar example of Italian cuisine. Bella! FYI...if you're looking for red/meat sauces, unlimited breadsticks and fried mozzarella, this is not your venue. Hustle your way down to your favorite chain.
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Dean D.

Yelp
We have dined at Bari Restaurant twice now; the first time was around five years ago and we were not that impressed. After seeing all the four and five-star reviews from my fellow Yelpers my wife and I decided to give Bari Restaurant a second go. The service was very good and our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and had some very good recommendations. I didn't take a look at the wine menu but from reading some of the previous reviews my understanding is that they generally serve mostly Italian wines. My wife prefers a good Chardonnay and I prefer a good Sauvignon Blanc. I was very surprised that the restaurant carried only one Chardonnay so my wife ordered that Chardonnay and I ordered a Sauvignon Blanc recommended by our waiter. If a restaurant carries only one Chardonnay you would think that they would choose a halfway decent Chardonnay. Unfortunately, the Chardonnay my wife received was the worst we have ever had and tasted like it was watered down. I'm sure their Italian wines are quite good, so enough about the wine, let's move on to our meal choices. We started off with the Calamari Con Pomodoro: sautéed calamari with tomatoes, garlic and black olives. This plate was beautifully presented, nice flavors, slightly on the fishy side but overall a very good choice for calamari fans. Next we ordered a cheese plate which we left up to our waiter to put together for us. They have an extensive cheese menu and the selections made by our waiter were right on point. My only critique is that they served the cheese without any crackers or bread. They do occasionally come around and put one thin slice of bread on your plate but I would have preferred a basket of bread or crackers served with what turned out to be a very expensive cheese plate. For our main entrées, I ordered the Rigatoni Con Funghi, Broccoli E Formaggio Di Capra: Rigatoni with portabella, broccoli, garlic, and goat cheese. My wife ordered a Halibut special which was actually very good and nicely presented. Overall, my rigatoni was very good; presentation was beautifully done but portion size was disappointing. We finished our meal ordering one dessert, two cappuccinos and shared the Torte Di Gelato Di Banana: Home made torte filled with banana mascarpone zabaglione gelato, served with chocolate drizzle (suggested with sforno puglia moscato). Overall, the food seems to be pretty good but not great. Portions are on the small size and the food tends to be overpriced. (Our meal was over $200) With so many other great restaurants in that area more appropriately priced I probably will not be going back to Bari restaurant anytime soon.
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Dylan T.

Yelp
Another great restaurant on this little block! The service was great and all of the menus are overwhelming, but equally great. I really wish I had the chance to try more of their cheeses, but alas, you have to get to the real menu. I think 3 of us ended up getting the bistecca, which was delicious. The bronzino was delicate and cooked perfectly, but I was in the mood for red meat. This is a great spot for a special occasion. The decor is modern, but cozy and the bar area is decently sized for the overall space.
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Tom R.

Yelp
Yum. Yum. Yum. I had the special - Ribeye with roasted garlic and shiitake mushrooms. Wow. Ok, let's back up. Great cheese and meats. Yum. So good. Then an excellent salad followed by the Ribeye. Tender and incredible. Had a very nice 2010 Brunello with it. Dessert was more Brunello and Bin 61 Blue Cheese. Please go here!
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Stephany M.

Yelp
This is indeed a little gem. We had chosen it because of the sardines on the menu, and the restaurants location. The waitress was very knowledgeable, and able to offer me a wine that was new to me, but like one of my favorites. The cheese she chose, based on my likes, was incredible. The sardines, however, spent some somewhere other than in the water or on the grill, whether it was in the freezer, or under the hot light, and unfortunately, suffered from this exposure. I, too, like some of the other diners, would have like to have my arriabiatta with a different pasta, but I survived. And the pasta dish did have plenty of anchovies, which helped. I think I would use this restaurant for a special occasion but not for regular dining.
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Lisa G.

Yelp
Really disappointed. Prawns had a slimy green sauce on them. The intent is some type of pesto. Super slimy like okra. Weird. Carbonara average at best. Mussels tasted like they had sat in dirty seafood. Not traditional Italian any longer. They have lost their focus. Borderline gross
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Rema T.

Yelp
The air of pretension slaps you in the face as you enter the small bar area. It carries through until you overpay for your disjointed, under-flavored meal. Apparently, this place is real serious, & the server made sure there were no jokes allowed. The orzo was soft, room temperature in parts of the bowl, & somehow burning to the degree of 100 flames in others. The lump crab meat was sparse & flavorless against the red pepper overwhelming the entire dish. I wanted to say, "Hey, I ordered more fish because I actually love the taste of well prepared fish." I know... jokes... My bestie got the steak, & I got the Halibut. I guess this place is into really big plates & tiny food servings. Both of our proteins sat in the middle of giant white plates, alone, & sad looking. The flavor matched for each entree. The server loosened up a little toward the end, I think. No jokes.
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Trip S.

Yelp
Excellent food and service! We prefer to sit in the bar an start with a meat and cheese paired with a recommended wine! This place is one of our favorites in Memphis!
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Frances T.

Yelp
I've had "snacks" at the bar and a full dinner. Both dining experiences were excellent! Wait staff is very knowledgeable about the extensive wine and cheese lists. If you're unsure, let them know what you like or don't like and you'll get something delicious. The food is fresh and savory without being too heavy. The restaurant is small, so snag a reservation before you go!
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Chad R.

Yelp
Spent my birthday dinner here with my lady last week. To sum it up in a few words, as there are 50 plus other reviews that you could read. Scrumptious southeastern Italian grilled seafood drizzled in olive oil. Light servings, not as heavy as other common tomato sauce based Italian restaurants. Definitely a different experience and flavor. Will plan to return with a group of friends to try out their cheese tasting.
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Tanya T.

Yelp
I love the food here at Bari- the imported cheeses (I could live on cheese) are so good, and the crusty bread with olive oil makes me swoon. I've had the orzo pasta, which comes with crab meat, tomatoes and garlic. Delicious, and a good sized portion. All of their wines are Italian, and are served by the glass or bottle. Bari has pretty regular wine and cheese tastings so keep your eyes out for the special events. A great place to go, but be warned, you'll spend a pretty penny or two here.