For several years, Al Di Meglio cooked rustic Italian food at Rubirosa on Mulberry Street. The critics largely ignored this restaurant, but the chef's pastas, fish, and meat dishes were just as good as the popular thin-crust pizzas, if not better. And now, Di Meglio has found another home for his seasonal Italian fare at Barano, a new restaurant in the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge at 26 Broadway.
The menu is partially inspired by Ischia, the small island off the coast of Naples where Di Meglio's grandmother grew up. The chef is working with a wood-fired oven, rotisserie, and grill, and his team is making three types of hand-pulled mozzarella to order. To start, the kitchen is also serving salumi, dry-aged meatballs, eggplant parm, grilled zucchini with ramps, and bone marrow with grilled bread. The menu also includes six types of house-made pastas, several pizzas, grilled whole fish, and a spit-roasted Amish chicken. The 89-seat space was designed by the people at Home Studios.
Barano opens for dinner tonight. Take a look at the space and the menu below, and if you happen to stop by, let us know what you think.
Barano
26 Broadway, Williamsburg
347-987-4500
Status: Certified Open