Philadelphia: Barbuzzo Mediterranean Kitchen (June 2017)




My spouse and I dined at Barbuzzo Mediterranean Kitchen and Bar on a Saturday afternoon in late June 2017. The restaurant is open for lunch Mondays through Saturdays (no lunch on Sundays) and dinner daily. You can reserve a table online using the Open Table reservation system. Barbuzzo’s owners operate other ventures in the city, including restaurants Bud and Marilyn’s, Lolita, Little Nonna's, and Jamonera, as well as Grocery (prepared foods), Verde and Open House (home/gift stores), and Marcie Blaine (chocolatier).

Barbuzzo (“buzzo” means “belly” in Italian) opened in 2010 in the Midtown Village neighborhood. We stayed nearby at the Holiday Inn Express Midtown, which was less than a 5-minute walk from the restaurant. (Now having dined there, we would willingly travel from anywhere in the city to eat there again!) Even though there are many restaurant options in the same area, every table at Barbuzzo was filled when we dined. We were happy to see the number of families with well-behaved young children eating lunch there – surely the custom pizzas are a big draw, although Barbuzzo is not a pizzeria. The restaurant has received James Beard nominations and been mentioned in Philadelphia Magazine, the New York Times, and Frommer’s.

The restaurant interior is long, narrow, and dimly lit. Half of the lengthy space is occupied by two different bars: a drinks bar, and a marble-topped counter where you can dine and observe the chefs work. A wood-burning pizza oven sets in the rear corner of the service side of the restaurant. (We requested to dine at the chef’s counter, and it was interesting and entertaining to watch the synchronicity of the staff.) If you prefer more traditional seating, you can dine at regular tables arranged in a variety of shapes and sizes, some that use old wooden pews for seats. Al fresco sidewalk dining is also offered. Decor features reclaimed wood, an eye-catching light-blue barn door, and chandeliers made from parts of wine barrels.

Barbuzzo features a Mediterranean menu that includes a variety of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and entrees. Sandwiches are available only at lunchtime, substituted by composed plates at dinnertime. Perhaps the most unique starter is only available at lunchtime: a selection of the chef’s daily antipasti. Because we were seated at the counter adjacent to the display, it was impossible to resist this treat. We probably would not have ordered it had we sat at a table where we did not have had a preview, yet it was a memorable part of our meal. Your server prepares a plate for you that contains up to eight different salads and starters. (That day, our plate contained salads including Moroccan carrots, couscous and peas, white beans, buffalo mozzarella, asparagus and feta, corn and radicchio, served with pesto, olives, and grilled bread). It was so delicious that we wished we had each order a plate instead of sharing! The cheese and charcuterie boards also looked great! As our main courses, we ordered two pasta dishes: tufoli (with pork ragu and greens), and campanelle neri (black pasta with crab and broccoli rabe). For dessert, we felt compelled to sample the salted caramel budino that we had previously read about, although the poached port fig bread pudding was tempting! Barbuzzo offers a full liquor license, with beer, wine, and cocktails. (We tried a tasty drink called the Sanguinello that contained vodka, Chambord, and blood orange puree.)

We loved our lunch at Barbuzzo – great service, delicious food, and rustic yet chic atmosphere!


















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