Barbuzzo in Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia restaurateurs Chef Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran understand the perfect recipe for a successful restaurant in this city. Having opened multiple restaurants and stores around Philadelphia, the pair is unstoppable when it comes to achieving their goals as business owners. Their restaurant, Barbuzzo, opened in 2011 and has received national critical acclaim as one of the best new restaurants of that year. With all of the good vibes surrounding the restaurant, I decided to check it out with some of my friends on a Friday night.
Humming with energy, Barbuzzo was an electric experience from beginning to end. The crowd at Barbuzzo was young and fresh-faced; I really enjoyed the whole atmosphere that surrounded everyone there. The kitchen is open most nights until midnight, which offers a nice range of time for all types of diners. As a Mediterranean restaurant, I would have expected a romantically decorated dining room, but instead was greeted with very modern décor. Everything was simple in wood and metal, nothing was over-done or too in-your-face. Heck, I wish my dining room had that furniture now. But look and crowd aside, I knew that the food was the most important part of any restaurant experience.
I must say, the food lived up to the high expectations I had set for Barbuzzo when I went in. My friends and I ordered an assortment of food from the dinner menu, but if I could describe the food in one word, it would be sumptuous. Everything was so incredibly delicious and well prepared; it was hard to concentrate on just your meal. After sharing a cured meat board, I ordered a Cassarecce pasta dish. What I loved about the menu was that although the menu items seemed foreign, the ingredients were listed and had such intriguing pairings that I was enticed to try so many different items off the menu. As both a restaurant and bar, Barbuzzo offers a wide selection of wines and beverages. My friends and I spent hours just sitting, drinking, and indulging in such a wonderful experience. I will definitely return to Barbuzzo and make sure to keep an eye out for what Chef Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran have in store for Philadelphia.
