Boston | Brookline Italian food without reservations!
đ BarâCino: Brooklineâs Unexpected Italian GemâRoasted Fish, Fresh Pasta, and Happy Accidents Sometimes, the best meals come from plan B. Stuck with a 2-hour wait at the new hot pot spot next door, we walked into this casual Italian bar starvingâand left impressed. With solid 4.3â4.5 ratings, BarâCino delivers classic Italian flavors with a few creative twists, making it a great backup (or a destination in its own right). đ The Must-Orders (No Regrets) Whole Roasted Branzino đ The standout. A whole fish stuffed with herbs (think rosemary, thyme, maybe a hint of lemon) and roasted until the flesh is tender, flaky, and lightly crisp on the edges. Itâs simply seasonedâletting the fishâs freshness shine. Served with arugula salad (bitter-sweet, dressed in bright vinaigrette) that cuts through the richness. Perfect for summer. Tagliatelle đż A refreshing pasta surprise. Silky ribbons of pasta tossed in a vibrant basil-scallion pesto, with tender asparagus and earthy mushrooms. Itâs light, herbaceous, and so summeryâbright enough to feel fresh, but still satisfying. Pro move: Steal a spoonful of bolognese from the next plate for a savory-sweet twist. đ Solid Hits Crispy Cauliflower đ„Š Like a sweet-savory snack. Cauliflower florets fried until golden, tossed in a honey glaze thatâs sticky, slightly smoky, and just sweet enough. Itâs crispy, addictive, and weirdly reminiscent of a sugary fried pastryâdefinitely not your average veggie side. Rigatoni Bolognese (swapped for Spaghetti) đ A classic done right. Rich, slow-cooked meat sauce (ground beef, maybe a touch of pork) with tangy tomato, tossed with al dente spaghetti. Itâs not groundbreaking, but itâs comforting, hearty, and exactly what you want when youâre starving. A safe bet if youâre stuck on choices. đ The âMehâ Baked Clams đŠȘ The clams themselves are just okayâtender, but not standout. The saving grace? The bright, garlicky tomato sauce theyâre baked in. Soak it up with crusty bread, and itâs passableâbut skip it if youâre full. đ° Value & Vibe Price: ~$40 per person (plenty of food, even with 5 dishes). Atmosphere: Casual, lively, and unpretentiousâlike a neighborhood bar with better food. Great for groups, quick meals, or last-minute plans (no wait, thank goodness). BarâCino proves that âsettlingâ can be a good thing. From the perfectly roasted branzino to the fresh tagliatelle, itâs a reliable spot for Italian comfort foodâno reservation needed. đ BarâCino 1032 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446 #BrooklineEats #BostonItalian #CasualDining