Il Bucco

Last night we had a quick look at the Time Out New York guide to choose a restaurant. We thought Italian would be nice and after a quick glance decided on Il Buco on Bond Street between Lafayette and Bowery. The restaurant has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, maybe a few too many pots dangling from the ceiling, but otherwise nice and unpretentious. The service was adept and unintrusive, the sommelière a competent master of the impressive wine list, which comprised of not only excellent Italian, but just as impressive French and Spanish wines.

Restaurant Il Buco, New York

The food was simply the best I ate in any restaurant, ever. The Chef Ignacio Mattos, trained in Argentina and cooks the most accomplished classic italian meal – I repeat myself – I ever ate in a restaurant. All produce used were clearly of high quality and very fresh. For starters I had gambas: cast-iron seared Hawaiian king prawns with rosemary, garlic and chili, – perfectly delicious. Sarah had fantastic baccala (salted cod) in a claypot with potatoes and Uwe had cast-iron seared calamari with chickpeas, red onion, currants, dandelion greens and aioli.
As a primi I had a heavenly risotto with fave, goats cheese and chilli – I could hardly believe how simple yet absolutely delicate this risotto was.
My cowardly friends had decided on a two course meal, so I was left to feast on this one alone 😉

My main course was a delicate sea bass, seared, with a mint and garlic sauce, on a bed of cold potatoe and cellery salad with a white balsamico dressing… This was a dish fit for kings. I could taste every single ingredient in its own delicacy and each complemented the other perfectly – this was absolute bliss. Sarah had the risotto I had as primi and Uwe had a lasagne – of which I didn’t taste as I was too busy with my own little feast, – apparently it was delicious too.

risottosalt cod

I’m running out of superlatives, but the seasonal fruit tart surrounded by a delicate chocolate crust I had for dessert made my love for this restaurant complete. I had a beautiful Italian port to go with it. Sarah and Uwe shared a fabulous torta di aranccia with honey ice-cream.
The Nebbiolo wine we had was good, but in hindsight we shouldn’t have set the $ 70 limit for ourselves, as this outstanding meal really would have asked for an outstanding wine – and for this we would have paid double… Prices otherwise are very reasonable at Il Buco, a main course is at around $ 24.-

We will be back 🙂

www.ilbuco.net

Hours:
Lunch Tuesday-Saturday 12 PM to 3:30 PM
Dinner Monday-Thursday 6 PM to 12 AM
Friday & Saturday 6 PM to 1 AM
Sunday 5 PM to 12 AM

Location:
47 Bond Street (between Lafayette & Bowery)

Contact:
Phone: 212.533.1932
Fax: 212.533.3502
Email: ilbuco@ilbuco.com

Reservations:
Make a reservation online
Phone: 212.533.1932

Subway:
* #6 to Bleecker Street at Lafayette
* N & R to 8th Street or Prince St
* B,D,F,Q to Broadway/Lafayette

Credit cards accepted Amex, Master Card & Visa
Reservations recommended