Party of seven booked and we asked if we can order a la carte or select off a limited menu - they confirmed a la carte works. Then it took forever to get the food and it became an ordeal. We also stopped by in person three days before to confirm details and leave a credit card to charge the entire amount to. They copied down the wrong card number and CVS code so then we had to figure that out at the end which took more time. Overall a fail because the staff failed to communicate and the service is just too slow.
Josuë
Food: ordered 2 items, gnocchi and fristo misto, gnocchi were overcooked almost mushed. Frito misto had just 1 calamari tentacle and the other 2 tiny rings were not even chewable, the batter crumbled all in the plate, poorly presented, I had to finish it as I was starving the whole day, but didn't want to order more food as I knew already the quality. Wine: montelpucciano and montalcino, made the wrong choice so my fault. Service: bar manager was so loud talking to someone else in bar and he forgot we were there ready to order, I had to step up to call the hostess to take the order, the place was empty and still servers were oblivious of our presence. The bar manager tried to school the bar tenders in front of us as they forgot to provide cutlery, lack of elegance and rude. I wouldn't come back, I hate doing a negative review but I think the manager and owners have to focus in training properly their stuff and food quality control.
ANNACARLA DENTI
Real italian
Jack Merrill
Incredible service! Great people
rachel staley
We recently had an unforgettable dinner at Risto Bar on Chestnut Street! We came with a big group—20 people including two young kids—and the staff handled everything with total ease and warmth. The service was incredible: friendly, professional, and effortlessly accommodating, thank you Adrian! It’s rare to find a place where large parties still feel like individuals, and Risto Bar nailed it.
The food... The branzino was tender and perfectly seasoned, the lamb chops were juicy and rich, and the house-made spinach pappardelle was an absolute standout—fresh, silky pasta with deep, layered flavor. You can taste the care in every bite. The space itself is beautiful—chic yet welcoming, with a vibe that’s perfect for date nights, celebrations, or just treating yourself. It has that “hidden gem” feel, even though it’s been around for a while! —whoever you are, GO. This is the kind of place that reminds you how great dining out can be!
Anita
We had a great meal at Ristobar yesterday. The agnolotti del plin and the carbonara were absolutely delicious, as were the ceasar and Gorgonzola salads. Desserts were yummy and they have a great wine list too. The service by Danny was very professional yet attentive and friendly. Highly recommend !
Doug
Gnocchi was mushy and needed salt. Lamb irregularly cooked. One chop quote rare. Very noisy. Server was very friendly but quite busy.
Siobhan
We have frequently Ristobar and the experience has always been great from the food, ambience to bar selection. We recently held a 60th birthday for a friend. We arranged for the back room. It was great to have this area to ourselves. Each person was able to choose their own meal which is uncommon with a party this size. The team from Ristobar was amazing and the food, ambience and wine were top notch. I would highly recommend Ristobar for a dinner for two or a large party.
Arne
Our waiter Adrian was engaging and very helpful with wine selection. The burrata salad and Caesar salad both excellent. The pappardelle was well composed and pasta cooked just right. The Gnocchi were tender and the sauce good and light. The branzino was perfectly done on bed of couscous. Lamb chops were thin but cooked perfectly. We had a great time.
Nickolas
Came here Wednesday evening, only doing minor research. We were sat quickly and were guided through the menu. The menu wasn't extensive, there was just enough to make sure everybody could enjoy something. We opted for the $49 3 course menu (salad/pasta/dessert) which is a fantastic deal. The Caesar is one of the best in town, the agnolotti was super rich and packed with flavor, and the crema cotta and crostiera were both a perfect end to the dinner. We, also, got the fritto misto to add to the prix fixe, which I highly recommend. Great first experience and we will be back!
Excellent food, great service, beautiful decor, creative cocktails and desserts. My go-to dish is the Branzino but the Tagliatelle and NY Steak are also prepared to perfection. Save room for Dessert!
A note to the Owner: There was a DJ later in the evening but his music didn’t match the decor and ambience. I would have liked to hear some Italian music, classics from Dean Martin, Sinatra, Bobby Darren, etc.
jewls r
Excellent service - I felt like a treasured guest here and the martinis were amazing. Highly recommend the gnocchi and hope to come back here soon. Also they had a dj on Friday night. So fun
Elizabeth
I took my sons here for dinner. We took advantage of the Restaurant Week menu. This was such a good deal! We each had 3 courses. I chose the Fritto Misto, tagliatelle bolognese, & tiramisu. Everything was amazing! The fritto misto came on a huge platter & my kids kept eating my appetizer while they had their own Caesar salads to eat. The pasta was honestly a small portion. I wonder if this would be the same size if it's not part of Restaurant Week. I didn't mind though. It was still very good It gave me enough room for dessert The tiramisu was made perfectly! It was not sweet at all and I finished it with their Americano coffee. The restaurant space was beautiful. The service was welcoming and very attentive. I noticed on the way towards the bathroom there is a space a bit private to accommodate a large group. I would definitely come back!
Maxwell
Amazing experience. Thankful to the Risto Bar team for delivering an outstanding Birthday dinner!! Salud!!!
Debby
Our food was very tasty, service was good. My glass was cleared before I was done. Other than that, everything was good.
Party of seven booked and we asked if we can order a la carte or select off a limited menu - they confirmed a la carte works. Then it took forever to get the food and it became an ordeal. We also stopped by in person three days before to confirm details and leave a credit card to charge the entire amount to. They copied down the wrong card number and CVS code so then we had to figure that out at the end which took more time. Overall a fail because the staff failed to communicate and the service is just too slow.
Food: ordered 2 items, gnocchi and fristo misto, gnocchi were overcooked almost mushed. Frito misto had just 1 calamari tentacle and the other 2 tiny rings were not even chewable, the batter crumbled all in the plate, poorly presented, I had to finish it as I was starving the whole day, but didn't want to order more food as I knew already the quality. Wine: montelpucciano and montalcino, made the wrong choice so my fault. Service: bar manager was so loud talking to someone else in bar and he forgot we were there ready to order, I had to step up to call the hostess to take the order, the place was empty and still servers were oblivious of our presence. The bar manager tried to school the bar tenders in front of us as they forgot to provide cutlery, lack of elegance and rude. I wouldn't come back, I hate doing a negative review but I think the manager and owners have to focus in training properly their stuff and food quality control.
Real italian
Incredible service! Great people
We recently had an unforgettable dinner at Risto Bar on Chestnut Street! We came with a big group—20 people including two young kids—and the staff handled everything with total ease and warmth. The service was incredible: friendly, professional, and effortlessly accommodating, thank you Adrian! It’s rare to find a place where large parties still feel like individuals, and Risto Bar nailed it.
The food... The branzino was tender and perfectly seasoned, the lamb chops were juicy and rich, and the house-made spinach pappardelle was an absolute standout—fresh, silky pasta with deep, layered flavor. You can taste the care in every bite.
The space itself is beautiful—chic yet welcoming, with a vibe that’s perfect for date nights, celebrations, or just treating yourself. It has that “hidden gem” feel, even though it’s been around for a while!
—whoever you are, GO. This is the kind of place that reminds you how great dining out can be!
We had a great meal at Ristobar yesterday. The agnolotti del plin and the carbonara were absolutely delicious, as were the ceasar and Gorgonzola salads. Desserts were yummy and they have a great wine list too. The service by Danny was very professional yet attentive and friendly. Highly recommend !
Gnocchi was mushy and needed salt. Lamb irregularly cooked. One chop quote rare. Very noisy. Server was very friendly but quite busy.
We have frequently Ristobar and the experience has always been great from the food, ambience to bar selection. We recently held a 60th birthday for a friend. We arranged for the back room. It was great to have this area to ourselves. Each person was able to choose their own meal which is uncommon with a party this size. The team from Ristobar was amazing and the food, ambience and wine were top notch. I would highly recommend Ristobar for a dinner for two or a large party.
Our waiter Adrian was engaging and very helpful with wine selection. The burrata salad and Caesar salad both excellent. The pappardelle was well composed and pasta cooked just right. The Gnocchi were tender and the sauce good and light. The branzino was perfectly done on bed of couscous. Lamb chops were thin but cooked perfectly. We had a great time.
Came here Wednesday evening, only doing minor research. We were sat quickly and were guided through the menu. The menu wasn't extensive, there was just enough to make sure everybody could enjoy something. We opted for the $49 3 course menu (salad/pasta/dessert) which is a fantastic deal. The Caesar is one of the best in town, the agnolotti was super rich and packed with flavor, and the crema cotta and crostiera were both a perfect end to the dinner. We, also, got the fritto misto to add to the prix fixe, which I highly recommend. Great first experience and we will be back!
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent food, great service, beautiful decor, creative cocktails and desserts. My go-to dish is the Branzino but the Tagliatelle and NY Steak are also prepared to perfection. Save room for Dessert!
A note to the Owner: There was a DJ later in the evening but his music didn’t match the decor and ambience. I would have liked to hear some Italian music, classics from Dean Martin, Sinatra, Bobby Darren, etc.
Excellent service - I felt like a treasured guest here and the martinis were amazing. Highly recommend the gnocchi and hope to come back here soon. Also they had a dj on Friday night. So fun
I took my sons here for dinner. We took advantage of the Restaurant Week menu. This was such a good deal! We each had 3 courses. I chose the Fritto Misto, tagliatelle bolognese, & tiramisu. Everything was amazing! The fritto misto came on a huge platter & my kids kept eating my appetizer while they had their own Caesar salads to eat. The pasta was honestly a small portion. I wonder if this would be the same size if it's not part of Restaurant Week. I didn't mind though. It was still very good It gave me enough room for dessert The tiramisu was made perfectly! It was not sweet at all and I finished it with their Americano coffee. The restaurant space was beautiful. The service was welcoming and very attentive. I noticed on the way towards the bathroom there is a space a bit private to accommodate a large group. I would definitely come back!
Amazing experience. Thankful to the Risto Bar team for delivering an outstanding Birthday dinner!! Salud!!!
Our food was very tasty, service was good. My glass was cleared before I was done. Other than that, everything was good.
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