Bar 'Cino Watertown — Restaurant in Watertown

On the site of the late-lamented Stellina. Overall, there's more good news than bad news. It's a pleasant, modern restaurant that does a generally good job with the food, offering a decent number of options. I saw lots of happy young adults and families; always a good sign.

Unfortunately, the decor is bright and sunny, but sadly generic. At the rear entrance, they've destroyed the grape vines that were the signature of Stellina's patio, and replaced them with plastic plants. Yes, you read right, PLASTIC PLANTS. Really? Which leaves an outdoor space which is clean, neat, and utterly lacking in personality. Boring.

Inside is more of the same. To their credit they've kept the brick walls and opened up the industrial ceiling, giving the room a spacious quality. A bold bar is the centerpiece, and it's surrounded by evenly spaced tables sporting a wood motif. However, the artwork on the walls doesn't look like art. It looks like decorative posters designed specifically to fill gaps in the walls, despite lacking a relationship to their surroundings.

The service was okay, but still rough on the edges. I'd give it time. The menu is Mediterranean, with modern touches, and competitively priced. Decent wine and beer list.

Fried calamari and shrimp on the Frito Misto were nicely done, but could have used a few extra pieces and a side dipping sauce. Crispy lemon slices were a nice touch.

Baked Clams were in a tasty tomato sauce. Nothing earthshaking, but I give big points for nailing the clams; too many places overcook them to the point of rubber. Tip to the kitchen: patrons are encouraged to share plates, but you serve this dish with only one piece of crostini. Come on, give at least two, okay?

The shrimp risotto was okay, but no better. First of all, not everyone likes a "soupy" rice dish; I know it's traditional, but hey, this is Watertown not Venice. Secondly, use either bigger or tastier shrimp. Tiny ones get lost in the muddle.

I'm not we agree on the premise of "EVOO poached tuna on white beans." I was expecting fresh tuna lightly cooked in olive oil. Instead it tasted like canned fish. Yeah, we know it's an Italian classic, but that doesn't mean it tastes good.

We actually enjoyed the pizza/flatbread. We tried the Margherita and appreciated the lightness and simplicity of the toppings, though I would have preferred a less salty blend of cheeses . What, no mozzarella on a Margherita? It is rather fun to snip away at the edges with scissors. Fans of Boston, New Haven or New York pizzas might balk, but I saw a lot of generation X and Y's loving it.

One key menu criticism: other than the clams, NO LOCAL SEAFOOD. Seafood is one of the glories of New England cuisine, but the only fish you offer are farm-raised Salmon and farm-raised Branzino? The essence of the best Mediterranean cooking is the use of local ingredients....

Vadim is the ultimate professional and manages by example. I have been coming to Bar Cino Watertown for some time now. To be fair, I would say at least 1 year. I am a Watertown resident.

I now come here and look forward to see Vadim. He knows how to manage and he knows how to speak to customers. The food is good, but getting to know Vadim, the person behind the scenes who makes things happen has really been one of the reasons why I will continue to come here.

From the moment I walked through the doors of Bar Cino here in Watertown I knew I was in for something special. The ambiance is warm yet refined—elegant lighting, tasteful décor, and an atmosphere that manages to be both sophisticated and inviting.

I heard about Bar Cino from a friend of mine who said the meatballs and polenta are the absolute best. My friend was right, they are the best and as a creature of habit, I usually have the meatballs every time I come visit.

The staff is exceptional. Logan, you are an amazing and talented person at the bar.

The food is phenomenal, I start with a glass of Nebiolo, I wish I could try the Barollo by the glass but that is only by the bottle and I completely understand why. Then come the meatballs with polenta. The bread great and complimentary. I put the Partanna olive oil in a side dish.sprinkle some pepper and parmesan cheese. dip the bread and forgets about it. Your pallet will thank you.

I’ll sometimes have the tuscan salad and finish it off with a tiramisu for desert.

Thank you Vadim !

Leadership starts at the top and you are really good at what you do. I have watched you, how you move about the restaurant speaking with the front of the house staff and I have even caught a glimpse or two of you speaking to back of the house kitchen staff.

What truly sets this restaurant apart is the artistry in every bite and the clear dedication to quality and creativity. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in the joy of exquisite cuisine, Bar Cino Watertown delivers a five-star experience in every sense of the word.

I can’t wait to...

So impressed with this Italian restaurant/bar. First off, I went within a few weeks of opening and both food and service were on point. As soon as we entered, the sweet hostesses welcomed my 4 year old and pulled out a box of little toys and asked her to pick one. Adorable! The staff was very knowledgeable about the menu/drinks, so clearly this restaurant group has top notch management given it's recent open. The centerpiece of the space is the large bar... and it's stunning. The vibe is modern, casual, family friendly, and yet still upscale. The huge menu consists of "Italian tapas", pizza, salads, piadini (Italian pizza dough burrito), bruschetta, pasta and mains. It's the kind of menu where you want to come back and try every single dish. The cauliflower starter plate was outstanding. Crispy, crunchy, hot and sweet - as good as it is, I did wish it came with a lemon wedge as it really could use some acidity. The meatballs here are fantastic. The chicken milanese piadini is comically massive and delicious (altho a bit too rich for me as the chicken is fried, there is some pungent peccarino type cheese and lots of evoo, but it was delicious. We had one scoop of Gelato (a huge scoop and only $4!) and it was excellent. The prices are almost too good to be true. Everything is incredibly reasonable. For the quality and portions you are getting, it's hard to believe the prices will stay at this level. But, I guess enjoy it while you can! I cannot wait to go back here. Bar Cino tries to be a little of everything for everyone -...