Brutally honest and critical reviews, where merited, seem to be a dying art nowadays. Instead, sponsored visits seem to be the norm, biasing opinions and misleading viewers. Thank you for making an unbiased review and stating your honest opinion!
@@jenniferrollison4377 what right? not sure what country you're from but in america, you are free to express your opinions online. so he has every right to criticize any restaurant he wishes.
I moved to NYC in 2005 and lived on Sullivan Street. I was always intrigued by Bar Pitti and Da Silvano, two restaurants that always had a “scene” and made Page Six in the post pretty often. (I swear to this day, Da Silvano had waiters that would weirdly stop mid-stride and pose as if they knew they were being photographed!) Never had a desire to dine at either place. Your review confirmed what I always suspected. Bar Pitti seems like they know they don’t have to be a good restaurant, just catnip for a certain type of New Yorker. (I’m not even sure tourists would go there.) Some NY’ers live and dine by the “scene,” some strive to be regulars and recognized anywhere, even if the food is unremarkable. One unfortunate after-effect of Bar Pitts’s blandness is that it cultivates a certain tribe of diners who go out to high-quality, adventurous, culture-honoring restaurants and they immediately reject all seasoning, spice, fire, flavor and fun from those restaurants’ dishes. Can you imagine loving Bar Pitti and venturing over to a place like, say, Rezdora?? I respect Bar Pitti’s sheer endurance in the New York restaurant universe; it’s not easy. I would like to think mediocrity is not the main ingredient in a winning formula. Also, I’m a sucker for a terrific tiramisu but I need a spot to be clean, not “B” clean. Great and honest review, James! You are ♠️♠️♠️♠️ Aces, sir!
Mine did too!😂😂😂 I thought “Tell me you don’t want me here without asking me to leave!”😂😂😂Wow! Not to mention, those hands look like they do more than just grate cheese in that establishment.🤢
I'm assuming you expected a grinder? This really made me think, I rarely eat out and even more rarely eat Italian. I googled images of waiters grating cheese and almost all of them were doing it in this same manner.
LOL! Got a lot of laughs from this one, when that chicken dish came, I thought it was a actually a flatbread from the look of it. That was a pretty generous pour of wine by the glass, I will give that some credit.
Oh my - $11.50 for an Amstel Light?? (at the same price as a non-alcoholic beer!) That's crazy. And the pasta really didn't look very appetizing - it actually looked kind of like kraft mac n cheese lol. (PS - very nice haircut!!)
Man this was the worst "over price" I have ever seen on this channel! +100 dollar bill including 16,5 for a glass from a 13 bottle...uff! That being sad, I mean "said" - I really enjoy that you visit these sort of places 10/10
Thank you! Even though I aim to go to restaurants that I figure that I'll enjoy, there's sometimes the spot that doesn't quite live up to the mark. It happens.
Big fan of your reviews, James! Would recommend THEP Thai, Upper East Side - best Thai drunken noodles I've ever had and I've been to Thailand. Hidden gem!
Years ago I worked in a very popular New York cash only restaurant where mid service the cash register money would end up in the basement freezer to be picked up by her son around 11 o'clock.
As a New Yorker I have never entered a B rated establishment to eat. Even small scale local restaurants in my Queens neighborhood are all A rated. Mediocre and overpriced along with no credit cards, poir sanitation...uh no. Maybe celebrities looking to lose weight go there.
I feel like the b rating is in things like that man's bald hand on the sweaty parm for grating and the general cleanliness of the actual restaurant. I'd hate to see the kitchen. You're doing God's work because this is a hard no and your review was very fair and thorough.
The decor was abysmal. The food forgettable. Cash only another demerit. ‘’There’s no accounting for taste”. A quote from Satan in the movie Constantine. With so many strikes it’s a wonder that this restaurant is still standing. Then again, that’s New York! I have to admit, you were kind. If Ruth Reichel or Bob Lape reviewed this place their comments would have been completely toxic.
Another example that any time there's gratuitous hype, run in the other direction! The "B" rating you were more than generous and lenient on, and the fact is you simply can't serve such inferior food these days w prices marked up the wazoo and choices galore in NYC of all places. Another great one James, you're bound to have better luck on your next outing, so staying tuned!
Hi James, Thanks for the heads up about bar pitti. There was no incentive to go to this restaurant. I take your word about the lack of quality and a B Health rating. Please keep on producing your quality content. Best Wishes, Peter
Thanks for your utmost honesty. No BS. You have to do it like this. I see some RU-vidrs and they just end up liking everything. Automatically. It’s fake positivity. Not real. Pathetic.
James I think this is the place inside edition years ago filmed in the middle of the night through the glass and saw dozens of 🐀 ' s running wild throught , Ontario, in drinking glasses, coming from the ceiling , everywhere 😮😮😊
Hello, well I can relate. I took my girlfriend to an Italian restaurant here in Eugen, Oregon. This city is were Nike was founded and Track Town USA and the University of Oregon are here. I mention this because your a runner, anyway the restaurant had mediocre pasta and it was cold? I told myself, I could make this so much better, we both cook too. The service was good and the ambience was stunning. Old wood and brick. Sometimes, you just never know. Thank you for the video.
I agree, why would a celebrity, who can afford to eat literally anywhere, go here? The atmosphere was kind of blah and the food didn't look good. $30 for that lousy chicken?! And putting the check on the table right when you get the dessert? I'm sorry, that's just not good service.
Thank you! Yeah, it wasn't the worst offense and it didn't bother me too much, but really any other restaurant would wait until I left to do something like that.
Complete rip off. The draw is the unassuming atmosphere that a lot of Celebs migrate to for privacy of sorts. The bill is 70’s Diner style. Everything on the cheap, except the bill at the end - GRATEFULLY!
That business of "cash only" is just a gimmick - To show how high quality and special they are- but only the really JUSTIFIABLY hyped up places can afford such a gimmick... Places like Peter Lugar and Kat's Deli...People who go to such places know ahead of time it's cash only and prepare accordingly and it really does add to the high branding of those places this place really shouldn't play such games and pretend to be so high quality they can afford "cash only" since the actual food is so mediocre .
It's a pity, 'Bar Pitti', is such a pity. Dude, next time find out what 'celebrities' actually go back again and again. Hope they don't take a contract out on you for being truthful. PITY! 'Bar Pitti'!
James: I just have to laugh What a total, low rent, overpriced dump! The idea that celebrities frequent this pig sty, who cares???? Great Video! I just put this garbage dump on my NO- goto list!😅
Celebs are just ordinaiy people with boatloads of cash. Clearly this resto was underwheling for you. Looks rather spartan. I was disapointed at Thomas Tam's buffet in Quebec City reently, not very fresh on the veg. No wonder a location closed. Not going back. Pity!
This place did not look enticing (at all) even just the seats, and tables so narrow, and near to each other. ‘Cash only’ payment is also so behind the times, especially in this ‘contactless’ new era. I have to say the food did not look good, in my opinion, and the super speed makes me wonder how long the dishes were sat pre-made/pre-prepped, for them to bring them at such quick pace. Sorry to say but all in all, ‘Bar Pitti’ seemed more ‘Bar Pitiful’👎🏼 Great review, and very fair. At least the tiramisu saved the day, just!😊
Well I remember da Silvano from years past; I've had great meals there and horrible ones. No need for commentary, that pappardelle dish obviously was not going to be good, too much too gooey sauce, etc., and I've had grilled chicken often in Italy. It needs a lot of lemon, it will never be juicy, and the addition of salad greens is an unfortunate trend I've seen where a beautifully costoletta Milanese is served on a bed of greens. Thank you for tearing your bread before eating it. You pronounced many of the Italian names well but why do you say "Pity?" It should be pit-tee, even the most indulgent Italians I have known objected instantly if I did not respect double consonants.
Appreciate your honesty, just looking at the dishes it doesn't look appetizing. Maybe lunch is weak for them, the chef isn't there so you get what you get. The glass of wine was generous, in this day and age, here in San Francisco you would never get more than a third of a glass for the same price. The pasta dish looked like it was drowning in sauce, the pancetta/bacon sparse, not good. Have no idea what made you order the other dish, there seems to be no way that would be written in an appealing way,lol, the chicken was pounded to death and looked dry on video and $30 bucks, what were you thinking,lol. Well I can see why you were disappointed. They probably are a cash only business for obvious reasons that are not about the customer, but at least they had an available ATM. Sorry it was a sad experience, and yes it was overpriced. Thanks James👍
Thanks for watching! Yeah, the chicken dish was a spontaneous order. I knew that I wanted to get a daily special and I was aiming for a non pasta course. The chicken was one of the most "affordable," at least compared to the other options on the chalkboard. That was unfortunately a bad decision.
Those are "30 minute chairs". The are uncomfortable as hell because they don't wont you sticking around. He felt rushed and the chair makes you wanna leave due to discomfort. Dirty trick.
I'd much rather go to a great restaurant with great food and an A rating by the health department than a celebrity hotspot. Just because you're a celebrity, it doesn't mean you're a foodie that appreciates great food and all that goes into making your dining experience enjoyable. Also, I have a phobia of rats and roaches, so for a restaurant to get a B rating in NYC... Can't believe no one else in the comments referred to it as Bar Pitti-ful.
That pasta looked an absolute mess. Kinda blows my mind that a place charging this much would send a plate out like that, and I’m someone who likes my pasta dishes with plenty of sauce….. that looked like a soup with pasta noodles.
cash only? celebrities make sure they are carrying enough cash ATM ok. The tables and wine glass are cheap a guy walking around w a hodie and a customer in a ball cap. This is like a TGIF
Like most restaurants, through trial & error, some dishes are better than others. But it costs money if and when you find something special. Considering the competition, no reason to come back. Celebrities have the same taste buds as anyone else.
Love the honesty. The minute you showed some nice camera shots of the exterior, interior, and that terribly gross looking pasta dish, I came to my own conclusion. This guy is there for one reason, to milk this place for every dime he can before people stop showing up. In a city like NYC, which has more world class Italian Restaurants than anywhere on earth (at every price level) this place is an embarrassment. Thanks for taking one for the team James. Cheers from Chicago.
Thank you so much and well said! Yeah, that's the thing with NYC, there are so many better Italian restaurants out there and people have options. Cheers!
A shame. Restaurants now are getting SO expensive plus they are trying to find ways to trim back more. It’s insane. Just not worth it any more. It isn’t. Why so many now are not eating out. As often. Or at all! That chicken was SO razor thin! Cutting costs. No wonder they want people to pay cash only, so they can just run with the money without having to deal with people feeling like they just got ripped off! Then wanting some sort of refund through their credit card company! I hate that feeling when I go to a restaurant. The feeling I just really got ripped off!
