"I was concerned for a minute that my taste buds simply stopped working." I'm dead. 😂

Nothing better than a genuinely honest review, and this place deserves it. Your content is simple, direct and engaging. Keep up the great work.

Looks like the place needs a Kitchen Nightmare makeover, or renamed "Bar Pity"

Brutally honest and critical reviews, where merited, seem to be a dying art nowadays. Instead, sponsored visits seem to be the norm, biasing opinions and misleading viewers. Thank you for making an unbiased review and stating your honest opinion!

its a money laundering front

"I was concerned for a minute that my taste buds simply stopped working" is actually such a savage roast

The wine glass looks like something purchased at a dollar store

I moved to NYC in 2005 and lived on Sullivan Street. I was always intrigued by Bar Pitti and Da Silvano, two restaurants that always had a “scene” and made Page Six in the post pretty often. (I swear to this day, Da Silvano had waiters that would weirdly stop mid-stride and pose as if they knew they were being photographed!) Never had a desire to dine at either place. Your review confirmed what I always suspected. Bar Pitti seems like they know they don’t have to be a good restaurant, just catnip for a certain type of New Yorker. (I’m not even sure tourists would go there.) Some NY’ers live and dine by the “scene,” some strive to be regulars and recognized anywhere, even if the food is unremarkable. One unfortunate after-effect of Bar Pitts’s blandness is that it cultivates a certain tribe of diners who go out to high-quality, adventurous, culture-honoring restaurants and they immediately reject all seasoning, spice, fire, flavor and fun from those restaurants’ dishes. Can you imagine loving Bar Pitti and venturing over to a place like, say, Rezdora?? I respect Bar Pitti’s sheer endurance in the New York restaurant universe; it’s not easy. I would like to think mediocrity is not the main ingredient in a winning formula. Also, I’m a sucker for a terrific tiramisu but I need a spot to be clean, not “B” clean. Great and honest review, James! You are ♠️♠️♠️♠️ Aces, sir!

B for Bare hands on a Parmigiano!

That was one sad meal, James. You were a trooper to get through it. ❤

100 bucks for piss poor food? PT Barnum’s observation still lives on!

my jaw dropped when i saw him grate the cheese with bare hands

That place looks like a real turn-off. Thanks for the honest review.

The “B” health food score is enough to scare me away

The waiter in blue jeans and sweatshirt grating cheese with no gloves and probably dirty hands was enough for me.

Nice! I love honest reviews. The look on your face when eating your Entree…haha.. priceless. Maybe rename the place.. Bar Pittiful! 😂

LOL! Got a lot of laughs from this one, when that chicken dish came, I thought it was a actually a flatbread from the look of it. That was a pretty generous pour of wine by the glass, I will give that some credit.

That pasta looked like pumpkin soup! Thanks for the honest review.

Hi James. Glad that you provide honest reviews. Maybe they will improve their dishes, or maybe not lol. Thanks for the review

I genuinely thought that chicken was a piece of flatbread at first. Not an appetizing look

An interesting and worthwhile addition to your canon. Can't believe all those celebrities like the place. But I trust your judgement better.

An absolute waste of $100,......a glass of red wine and a goopy pasta mess,......eaten from an uncomfortable chair.

i dont know why u dont have more views i am glad the algo recommended me to u.

Big fan of your reviews, James! Would recommend THEP Thai, Upper East Side - best Thai drunken noodles I've ever had and I've been to Thailand. Hidden gem!

Love your reviews and your honesty thank you you are great.

Oh my - $11.50 for an Amstel Light?? (at the same price as a non-alcoholic beer!) That's crazy. And the pasta really didn't look very appetizing - it actually looked kind of like kraft mac n cheese lol. (PS - very nice haircut!!)

Nothing better than sitting down to eat some food and opening KZfaq to see you’ve posted a new video. The time and effort you put into these does not go unnoticed! You’re honesty and clear opinions are worth everything and you’re simple editing with a mix of great videography make for a delightful experience every time I watch a video of yours. Keep doing what you’re doing and keep putting smiles on peoples faces!

Man this was the worst "over price" I have ever seen on this channel! +100 dollar bill including 16,5 for a glass from a 13 bottle...uff! That being sad, I mean "said" - I really enjoy that you visit these sort of places 10/10

Nice job! I’m glad you enjoyed the dessert after the so-so meal.

Love watching you at small and large venues! Your always honest and that helps all of us who dine out most of the time your reviews help us make the most of our time!!

Loved that you gave an honest review! Wish you had a better experience. Thanks!!

that pasta looked like i could get it at my local pizza spot

The decor, plates, and cutlery look like some place right off I95. And food resembles what you’d get from a community college cafeteria.

NYC is not the cleanest city.. I'm afraid to ask what does B sanitary score mean. :)

Appreciate the honesty in your review. Putting the chalkboard menu on your table for a different set of patrons seemed like the final straw!

The fear of salt has ruined many restaurants

Love the honesty. The minute you showed some nice camera shots of the exterior, interior, and that terribly gross looking pasta dish, I came to my own conclusion. This guy is there for one reason, to milk this place for every dime he can before people stop showing up. In a city like NYC, which has more world class Italian Restaurants than anywhere on earth (at every price level) this place is an embarrassment. Thanks for taking one for the team James. Cheers from Chicago.

$20 for a GLASS of wine, Christ 😂

Thanks for your utmost honesty. No BS. You have to do it like this. I see some KZfaqrs and they just end up liking everything. Automatically. It’s fake positivity. Not real. Pathetic.

I feel like the b rating is in things like that man's bald hand on the sweaty parm for grating and the general cleanliness of the actual restaurant. I'd hate to see the kitchen. You're doing God's work because this is a hard no and your review was very fair and thorough.

Great vlog, i love tiramisu, thank you for sharing

Another example that any time there's gratuitous hype, run in the other direction! The "B" rating you were more than generous and lenient on, and the fact is you simply can't serve such inferior food these days w prices marked up the wazoo and choices galore in NYC of all places. Another great one James, you're bound to have better luck on your next outing, so staying tuned!

Good review. Good to see you don't just praise everything

You're a savage James! I Love it! So real and very fair. Amazing! Wishing you perfect health and 100 years!

I think Victoria Beckham is know for eating really bland food so that tracks

As a New Yorker I have never entered a B rated establishment to eat. Even small scale local restaurants in my Queens neighborhood are all A rated. Mediocre and overpriced along with no credit cards, poir sanitation...uh no. Maybe celebrities looking to lose weight go there.

“Could always be worse” is the kind, honest on brand feedback of a refreshing foodie.

Liked the specificity and direct nature of your critique. Very constructive.

Absolutely insane that you had to pay over a $100 for this. You could have gotten 3x 29 dollar hotogs instead

Just found your channel! I love your reviewing style. Subscribed!!!

Hi James..To put it plainly...lol the word is yuck! I'll pass. Thanks for taking one for the team ❤

Hi James, Thanks for the heads up about bar pitti. There was no incentive to go to this restaurant. I take your word about the lack of quality and a B Health rating. Please keep on producing your quality content. Best Wishes, Peter

At least with such a rushed experience, you didn’t have to dwell on any underwhelming food for too long.

Almost has the attractiveness of a dive bar in restaurant form. Maybe that’s why it is popular. I can’t think of any other reason.

Would appreciate playlists organised by cuisine. It would help to compare. By the way I love your narrative & easy-to-understand way of reviewing restaurants❤❤❤.

The decor was abysmal. The food forgettable. Cash only another demerit. ‘’There’s no accounting for taste”. A quote from Satan in the movie Constantine. With so many strikes it’s a wonder that this restaurant is still standing. Then again, that’s New York! I have to admit, you were kind. If Ruth Reichel or Bob Lape reviewed this place their comments would have been completely toxic.

Hello, well I can relate. I took my girlfriend to an Italian restaurant here in Eugen, Oregon. This city is were Nike was founded and Track Town USA and the University of Oregon are here. I mention this because your a runner, anyway the restaurant had mediocre pasta and it was cold? I told myself, I could make this so much better, we both cook too. The service was good and the ambience was stunning. Old wood and brick. Sometimes, you just never know. Thank you for the video.

Thanks for your honest review, James. I don't think I'll be giving that place a try anytime soon.

Wow, so sorry to see. If you’re ever looking for an underrated Italian restaurant that’s been around forever, try my favorite in Chelsea called Da Umberto. Great food and great service. Thanks for another great video.

4:13 even the wineglass didn't look clean.

I'd much rather go to a great restaurant with great food and an A rating by the health department than a celebrity hotspot. Just because you're a celebrity, it doesn't mean you're a foodie that appreciates great food and all that goes into making your dining experience enjoyable. Also, I have a phobia of rats and roaches, so for a restaurant to get a B rating in NYC... Can't believe no one else in the comments referred to it as Bar Pitti-ful.

Like the hair cut!

This place should be renamed Bar Pity. Couldnt resist and too easy.

That wine glass is stuck in the 1800’s. Oh, and the food looked terrible too.

You should give Hawksmoor, Cafe Ubani a shot, both very solid and great food.

$105 for a awful lunch in a restaurant that has zero charm or atmosphere. No thank you.

I felt similarly underwhelmed when I visited the iconic Cafe Du Monde. The food and coffee were so bland and it was deflating. There are so many local hole in the wall places with little recognition and amazing food that it’s a shame when an unremarkable or even terrible restaurant gets hyped up.

I grew up in that neighborhood and I never heard of it😂

Sadly Manhattan is riddled with these types of super average Italian joints. It’s amazing how word of mouth can keep a restaurant in business for decades in a city where turnover is so high. My theory is many of the truly exceptional Italian restaurants have moved out of Manhattan and into places like NJ, CT and Long Island. Lucky to live in Astoria Queens where we have some great options.

The pasta looks like it was made by a 13 yr old girl trying to follow grandmas recipe 😅😊

Not to be gross but that pasta dish looked like someone threw up Velveeta all over your plate!! LOLOL.

Those are "30 minute chairs". The are uncomfortable as hell because they don't wont you sticking around. He felt rushed and the chair makes you wanna leave due to discomfort. Dirty trick.

In the mid 90's the place was amazingly wonderful and the food was absolutely delicious and I had the pleasure of seating next to Harvey Keitel and his party on one of my many visits to the restaurant. This review seems very sincere to me. The price of the wine does not surprise me. The pasta dish looked awful and I would have sent it back. The chicken dish looked terrific, it just needed a little salt and fresh pepper and the obligatory lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil. The Tiramisu looked yummy! Thanks for your review!

Cash only equals Money laundering…

i went there years ago before it got overhyped. The owner was there, but the staff, while efficient, was so matter of fact and not that friendly.

Have you tried ci siamo? I recently heard about it and it sounds good.

Thank you for the honest review. I always avoid establishments with a no credit card policy. Who would bring a lot of cash when dining out? The B rating, the lackluster pasta and grilled chicken are all red flags for me not to visit the restaurant. The owner should take your review in a good way for him to improve on his operations.

The pasta course looked absolutely horrific! The "cash only" policy is sketch. Glad the dessert was a winner

As always, a great review! However, I feel I'll never step a foot in here!

what's the watch on in this episode James? Not the normal SKX. Love the videos.

Paying over $20 for ANY pasta dish is outrageous. Italian food should be simple, inexpensive and unpretentious. Most Italian restaurants in NYC fail at all of that by charging insane amounts for pasta and pizza, or having no taste much. Also, people, let’s stop pretending that olive oil to dip bread is good. We all want butter, let’s be honest.

I agree, why would a celebrity, who can afford to eat literally anywhere, go here? The atmosphere was kind of blah and the food didn't look good. $30 for that lousy chicken?! And putting the check on the table right when you get the dessert? I'm sorry, that's just not good service.

If all a NYC restaurant has to offer is "ooh, so many celebrities", that's usually a red flag. Thank you for braving giving more evidence of that truth, James! BTW, any plans to visit and VLOG about Keith McNally's long established boite that kinda set the model for these sorts of restaurants -- BALTHAZAR? Would love to get your views on that one!

Like most restaurants, through trial & error, some dishes are better than others. But it costs money if and when you find something special. Considering the competition, no reason to come back. Celebrities have the same taste buds as anyone else.

That looks like a healthy pour on the wine!👍🏼🤠🥂

Drowning pasta like that is a sin

Just because someone is rich and famous doesn't mean they have good taste.

Cash only - lol. What a money-laundering cesspool. I couldn’t believe what I heard-OR saw in this. Great cautionary public service video! ✌️Yep, as others’ve said, your honesty is why I keep watching! 👏👏

My good friend told me this yrs ago about beverly hills, place where they'll make whatever u want 4get the name

Times have indeed changed. Best thing about this vlog was your cute sweater.

Bit like The Ivy here in the UK. Once serving decent food, now more a place to see and be seen with the food something of an afterthought.

At 11:58, the Health Department's rating system is BS. It started off with good intentions but it's now another corrupt city agency. A "B" rating is good. You get 2 points off for a straw wrapper on the floor in the hallway, not near the dining room. The health department takes points off for everything. If your exhaust fan in the accounting office spins in the opposite direction, that's 3 points off. One month you'll get an "A" rating and then 3 months later you'll get an "F." It's $800 a point you have to pay to the city. I'm sick and tired of customers thinking they know everything about how restaurants operate. Also, the wine was NOT overpriced! Are you kidding me? Restaurants must make 4 X costs to keep their doors open. For most restaurants, 4 glasses of wine equals a bottle so for you to look up the price of the bottle online and say it was overpriced was ridiculous. Are you paying their rent? Are you paying the salaries? Are you paying for their insurance? Maybe they should let you drink for free. Still, the pasta and chicken dishes at Bar Pitti looked awful, like something you'd find in a diner. I would never go.

B grade restaurant charging 17~ USD for a glass of wine... Good grief... 20% gratuity is straight up arrogance. Gluggy pasta looked bad.

love that u ALWAYS tell the truth...#SUBBED

That business of "cash only" is just a gimmick - To show how high quality and special they are- but only the really JUSTIFIABLY hyped up places can afford such a gimmick... Places like Peter Lugar and Kat's Deli...People who go to such places know ahead of time it's cash only and prepare accordingly and it really does add to the high branding of those places this place really shouldn't play such games and pretend to be so high quality they can afford "cash only" since the actual food is so mediocre .

Hmmm. I prefer my fresh parmesan without the random servers fingerprints all over it. That's just how I roll.

I was expecting Brad Pitt to somehow be involved with Bar Pitti but looks like he hasn't even visited this restaurant, lol.

I thought it was a tortilla😂😂😂😂

Thanks James. You are a prince!

This place did not look enticing (at all) even just the seats, and tables so narrow, and near to each other. ‘Cash only’ payment is also so behind the times, especially in this ‘contactless’ new era. I have to say the food did not look good, in my opinion, and the super speed makes me wonder how long the dishes were sat pre-made/pre-prepped, for them to bring them at such quick pace. Sorry to say but all in all, ‘Bar Pitti’ seemed more ‘Bar Pitiful’👎🏼 Great review, and very fair. At least the tiramisu saved the day, just!😊