Bacaro is an Italian restaurant in Southampton, located just on the edge of the beautiful Southampton Marina, with views over the moored yachts and out towards Southampton Water. As you might guess from the name, this restaurant and wine bar is styled on a Venetian ‘bacaro’ - the bars typically found in the city of canals that serve wine and simple Italian dishes.
Inside, Bacaro is warm and homely, with exposed brick walls meeting rustic wooden furniture, and an open kitchen that adds some energy and atmosphere to the bustling restaurant. There’s also an outside terrace area with great views that operates on a first come first served basis, and makes a great spot for aperitivo or a light lunch in the sunshine.
The menu at Bacaro is focused on sharing plates and small bites, taking a typically Venetian tack with cicchetti and small pizzette. The former includes the likes of marinated olives, bruschetta, chilli squid with harissa mayonnaise and pulled beef croquettes, whilst pizza toppings range from a classic Margherita with rocket to wild mushroom, grape and red onion chutney.
There are larger options too, ranging from burgers and big bowls of pasta to hearty mains like chicken Braciole with truffled chestnut mushrooms and saffron-marinated sea bass with roasted endive and Bloody Mary butter. Bacaro also hosts a popular Sunday roast, which includes a mixture of popular cicchetti dishes as well as classic roasts.
In addition to the food, Bacaro also offers an extensive wine list, featuring a wide selection of Italian wines that perfectly complement the menu. The restaurant's knowledgeable staff is always on hand to help guests select the perfect wine pairing for their meal.