Il Bagatto

192 E. 2nd St., East Village, NY

6.6

map & more

Neighborhood
East Village

Cuisine
Italian

Nearby
Mercury Lounge

212-228-3703

Official Website

By Chris Stang
June 29, 2010

I am pretty sure we have said this in other reviews, but I think it’s worth mentioning again. In no circumstance is it OK to have a set of turntables in a restaurant. Ever. I understand that there are people in this world who love nothing more than a sweet remix, but DJ Skrizz does not belong at dinner.

The reason we bring this up is because it has presented us with a conflict when it comes Il Bagatto. This is a really good East Village Italian restaurant that we used to hit up often for upbeat drunk dinners and the occasional date. It’s a dark yet lively space with a great downstairs bar and a few excellent menu items. Unfortunately, Il Bagatto has also become home to super long waits, obnoxious patrons, and a guy downstairs on the ones and twos trying to beat mix Rhianna into Men at Work. We’ve dealt with annoying crowds before, but for god’s sake don’t encourage them.

At the end of the day, we’re not recommending that you stay away from Il Bagatto entirely. Just know what you’re walking into during prime time hours. Things can be more sedate early in the week, and it’s honestly worth a visit just for the grilled calamari. Otherwise, there are plenty of other great Italian restaurants in the area, including Il Posto Accanto right next door.

Food Rundown:

Calamari Alla Griglia
Under no circumstance do you skip this. A beautiful plate of grilled calamari with some greens and a few lemon wedges. The calamari has a nice char on it and is perfect. This makes the fried stuff seem like cafeteria food.

Padellata di Cozze Coltivate
Decent mussels that come in a strong garlic and white wine broth, which we’re always a fan of. Honestly, not a dish that will blow you away, but a decent starter.

Gnocchetti Verdi Blu
We have never had gnocchi quite like this. These are bright green spinach gnocchi coated in a fantastic gorgonzola sauce. If you’re into blue cheese, order this.

Fusilli Campagnola Fusilli
A great homemade pasta in with sausage, tomato, and cream sauce. Another one of our favorites here.

Sunday Lasagna Special
A ten layer meat lasagna that is only served on Sundays. Yet another reason to skip the prime-time crowds. Also, this lasagna is a proven remedy for both hangovers and diets.