Make dining room or patio reservations by calling Bari or going on Resy. The bar is first-come, first-served. Bari is open for dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Another thing!

Bari is hiring for all positions, front and back of house. They offer competitive pay and insurance, their staff tends to stay for years at a time. It’s a family-run place and I recommend applying if you have serving or cooking experience. 

Though Bari is a thoroughly Italian restaurant, it's not the sort of place to go expecting pizza and spaghetti. The menu's hyper-regional focus on food from Puglia means that their dishes are lighter and more diverse in flavor than your typical Italian or Italian-American food.

Think fresh, comforting pasta, seafood with delicate and unexpected flavors, exotic cheeses, experimental cocktails (plus all the classics), and an excellent Italian wine list. 

Bari Ristorante In midtown

At Bari you can build your own meal. Want a light two-course dinner or just some cheese and snacks to go with your cocktail? Or are you looking for a full dinner, complete with Antipasti, a cheese course, and entrees? You can construct your meal easily from Bari's menu, which is listed by Antipasti e Primi, Insalta e Zuppa, Pasta, Fish, Meat, and Vegetable Sides.

Then, of course, there is an entire menu for cheese. The plates are fairly small, so you can can eat just a little bit or you can do what I did and eat a little bit...of everything. 

Dinner At Bari

Here's how a dinner at Bari can go:

If you wish, you can start with cheese from Bari's impressive list of more than 40 Italian cheeses and some salami. I wish I had written down what I ordered, but I do know that one was hard, tangy, and Asiago-esque, and the other was semi-soft, tart and a little stinky.

The salami slices were sculpted into an impressive rose. I also had a Lattuga salad, which was a bed of buttery greens topped with nuts, creamy goat cheese and grapefruit slices. The dressing was sweet and a little smoky. I may or may not be daydreaming about it right now.

For dinner, I got the Orzo Pomodoro. The sauce was tomato-based, but not overwhelmingly so. It had a peppery bite to it, but it contrasted beautifully with the chunks of sweet lump crab meat.

Another pasta dish that's truly irresistible is the stunning carbonara. It's hard to branch out and try other dishes because you know how rich and satisfying it is! I crave it regularly.

The restaurant is upscale but not fussy or formal, making it the perfect spot for a date or special occasion dinner. For those of you who don't eat meat, there are plenty of vegetarian options on the menu. You can eat at the bar, the dining room, or the side or front patios. I highly recommend making reservations, especially on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Best Cocktails In Memphis At Bari

If someone asks me for a cocktail recommendation, and I know they're looking more for a craft cocktail than a margarita or walk-me-down, I send them to Bari. I know that their experience with the bartenders will be grand and the cocktails unmatched.

The bar staff, including Hunter Coleman, are constantly innovating and adapting the menu to meet all tastes. Whatever trend you're into, they've got you covered and probably have something new to try as well.

In the warmer months try a frozen drink, too! 

Go There:

Bari Ristorante e Enoteca
524 S. Cooper Street
Memphis, Tennessee 38104
(901) 722-2244