Barra 239 Chestnut St. Old City (215) 238–6900
Don't Miss: Short Rib Ravioli Skip: Mac and Cheese Pizza $20 - $30 per person
If the neon signage of Barra wasn’t indicative enough of its atmosphere, the bold smells and vibrant interior definitely did the job. Italian for “bar,” Barra evokes some hip, European lounge–turned–restaurant with warm–colored walls, oversized mirrors and attentive service. Quiet jazz and low dark tables, along with Barra’s innovative fare, make it a great spot for lunch or dinner.
The dinner crowd was a mixture of older couples and groups of college–age kids. Sitting on one end of the long, sleek restaurant, we started with orders of Salumi and Cheese ($16) and Sweet and Spicy Calamari ($12). If one had to describe the flavors of Barra in a word, “bold” would do the trick. The salumi was spicy and the calamari was in a tangy blueberry glaze — a sweet and salty delight. We soon found that Barra was the Distrito of Italian food in Philadelphia, with its bright flavors and new takes on some of Italian lovers’ favorite dishes.
Next came the Spinach and Artichoke Dip Pizza ($18), the Puttanesca Pizza ($16), and some Braised Short Rib Ravioli ($15). The pizza crusts were flaky and well–seasoned; the spinach and artichoke pizza was covered in artichoke, crab meat and a cheesy white sauce. We were a little worried the puttanesca pizza was going to be overwhelming with olive pesto, roasted garlic and chilis. Surprisingly, the flavors were balanced and the final result satisfying. The braised short rib ravioli was rich and textured. We wanted to lick the sauce off of our plates after this one — a must try.
The food here certainly shows that Barra is not afraid to play with flavor. Its dishes are enhanced by bold preparation and confident flavors, like the red pepper coulis on the short rib ravioli. With a new take on esteemed classics, Barra offers a good alternative to traditional Italian restaurants.
Barra is a short subway ride away and should surely satisfy the needs of a food savvy Penn student. Oh, and did we mention it’s a BYO? Well–chosen wine pairings would be great with this kind of food. It’s unclear whether the $15 dollar “corking” fee applies to boxed wine, but we’ll take our chances.
