06/03/09

Still shocked!

by hathor

We've been living in Brooklyn for seven years now and have never had such a horrible experience anywhere in the city so far. Their drunk bartender Meagan gave us the worst attitude the whole time we were there, give us looks and threw nasty comments like how much she hated all things foreign (us not being from the States originally) or how little she cared whether we enjoyed our wine or not. Although there were a lot of people there besides us, Meagan kept saying she had to close the bar and how late it was -- it was not even midnight.... A new customer walked in, she did serve him a drink but kept saying she was doing him a favor. We felt extremely uncomfortable and unwelcome there. And on top of that we saw a big well-fed r0ach searching the counter for leftover food. Stay away!!!

• Pros: A lot of Italian wines by the glass
• Cons: A hick-style dirty $#*@-hole!

11/09/08

Excellent Italian in South Slope/Gowanus

by FussyBrit

I live in the area and have eaten at Bar Tano many times since it opened in January of 2008. Everything from the small plates to the pizzas and pastas is delicious. The food is fresh and simply prepared but very tasty. The staff are friendly and welcoming adding to the nice relaxed atmosphere. The only negative is that the tables are a little close together, that being said it is a great place for a glass of wine and some nibbles. They also do an amazing bunch. In warm months, the outdoor seating is a real plus. Definitely worth a visit!

• Pros: Charming space and great food
• Cons: Small tables

03/30/08

Disappointing

by firsty

When we discovered Bar Tano we were enthusiastic and we tried it but it didn't turn out to be a good experience. The food was presented nicely, but was mediocre. For instance the pizza lacked flavor and was served lukewarm. The devil is in the details, however. The coke was syrup deficient, the cappuccino was watery and espresso challenged, when asked if they had sweet and low the answer was a brisk no sir,

( when we got the cappuccino I realized it wasn't necessary) and the check was served before we were through. This all indicated their grabby attitude. The real problem, however, was that the food made me slightly sick. Caveat Emptor.

Brooklyn's industrial Gowanus neighborhood gets glamorous with a wine-and-beer bar serving toothsome Italian nibbles.

by Joshua M Bernstein

In Short
Flanked by the Gowanus Canal and a smattering of auto-body shops, this local haunt (a sibling of Park Slope's Bar Toto) is as unlikely as it is elegant. Tile flooring, a zinc bar, tin ceilings and bare light bulbs evoke an earlier, more romantic era. Thirty Italian wines are available by the glass, while taps dispense microbrews both local (Sixpoint) and national (Arrogant Bastard). Gregarious bartenders also craft specialty cocktails like the Gowanus--a sweet blend of grapefruit vodka, grapefruit juice and basil leaves that's far tastier than its toxic namesake.

Hits: Linger in this oasis for a few hours, sipping beers and nibbling on paninis, and you'll be convinced you're in 1920s Italy.

Misses: Don't expect the dingy surrounding locale to translate into lower prices--you'll pay just as much for beer and bites as you would on Park Slope's tonier 5th Avenue.