I have yet to actually eat here, but this place catches my attention because it is always packed, every night. To the hilt. And has a name I have little clue how to pronounce,but it has a catchy feel to it. The menu I've looked at online is pricey, so for people to be willing to spend that kind of money here so regularly, it must have something very good going for it.
(5)
Pat B.
Tonight was our first time back at Ciao Baci after Chef Jeff Owens has taken over. One word- wow! My wife had the Grilled Escolar (Wahoo) special on a cauliflower mash and topped with crawfish and an amazingly well balanced, flavor packed sauce add that it was perfectly cooked and you have an entree that would be hard to beat in any town. I had the Cornmeal crusted delta catfish over black-eyed peas with a Tabasco lime vinaigrette. Okay, you are saying "fried catfish". But trust me, this was the most amazing catfish I have ever had, crisp, oil-less cornmeal crust gave just the crunch to perfectly cooked fresh catfish. The Tabasco Lime Vinaigrette was not the heat laden palate killer I feared. It was an amazing lime vinaigrette that shared a spot light with the flavor of Tabasco and gave just the barest hints of heat as an after-note. Through in some avocado and a bright note of gently sweet and sour pickled onion and again you have a home-run entree! We hadn't planned on dessert, but everything was so good we figured we had to check it out. My wife hates bread pudding. No, she despises it. But our waiter Corey (who by the way provided the nicest, diligent yet unobtrusive service we have experienced in a long time) offered up such an amazing description of it she said what the hell lets give it a try. She now LOVES bread pudding. Well, Ciao Baci's bread pudding anyway. Cleaned her plate and shot me looks every time I snaked my spoon over for a taste! Cory said, hands down, his favorite was the Chocolate peanut butter, pretzel pie. He was dead on! Great creamy peanut butter filling in a pretzel crust, topped with rich dark chocolate and the whole plate drizzled with one of the best caramel sauces I have ever had. Yeah, I cleaned my plate too. Wine list is good, artisan cocktail list impressive and beer selection offers something for everyone. Price wise, Ciao Baci is very reasonable. If anything its under priced for the quality of food and service. Between the fantastic food Chef Owens is putting out and the great service embodied by Cory our server and the ever effervescent Neil behind the bar, Ciao Baci is a winner. Looking forward to eating my way through the menu.
(5)
Alex T.
I have to say I am astounded by the reviews here. Ciao Baci is just straight awful. The prices are atrocious, the food is somehow worse than the drinks, and the clientele is...not my kind of crowd, to put it nicely. I'll be brief: The drinks are ludicrously expensive. $6-7 for a rail liquor mixed drink is obscene in Little Rock. Good thing they basically have no competition, or this place would've been tossed in the failed business scrap heap (where it belongs) long ago. Paying $3.50 for a Bud Light isn't exactly thrilling, either. The food...dear God. Let me spell this one out for you, Ciao Baci chef: don't mix balsamic and pesto. Yeah, they taste great individually and sound fancy when you describe them in painful detail on the menu, but they taste like hell in combo. My grandma would slap you and have a few choice Italian words for you for serving this nonsense. At least you can open up your lovely meal with a $14 plate of s'mores cooked over your very own can of sterno. Or you could, you know, walk across the street to Kroger and get 3 times the amount of the same ingredients for $3. Crap restaurant, crap bar. Go somewhere - anywhere - else. It's a shame that their neat space is wasted on such a terrible establishment. If you want Italian food, go to Capeo in NLR. That's what quality Italian tastes like. If it's the bar you're after, the Fountain and the Afterthought are great choices right down the street. If you want wine, get your own from the knowledgeable and very helpful staff at Colonial Liquors on Markham and Shackleford. If you want to enjoy that wine at a nice establishment, Capeo is again a fine choice. 1620 is also solid. Crush Wine Bar up in NLR is another great option if all you want to eat is small plate fare.
I miss you Ciao Baci. If I am ever in LR again, I shall come get a cheese board.
(4)
Karen G.
Not a fan at all. A group of us went there on Thursday. The service was terrible. Once she got us our wine, the server disappeared. A few of us wanted cocktails and even when she did come over to take our drink order she forgot someone's drink 2 times. It took about an hour for the four apps we ordered and about 2 hours in total till our entrees came out. Everyones food was cold and dry. We did have 11 people but we were an easy group. And the restaurant was not busy at all. The only positive was that they did make a custom dish for two of us that's couldn't find anything on the menu. The place was also very cute. I'm from A big city so maybe my expectations were too high?
(2)
John L.
great food, and busy place when i went (on a thur night) -- but waitress took care of us good food, but not really a "quiet" place - fairly small - but if your going with a group of ppl and want to enjoy yourselves, def a place one should consider!
(5)
Tyler S.
This is one of the best places in Little Rock. I always tell my friends from out of town that it's "not what you expect to find in Little Rock." The atmosphere is awesome and the food is delicious. Although it's pricey, they offer some really unique things on the menu. Their drink selection is huge and their deserts are amazing. Last time I was there, I was with a group and we ordered smores. They bring fire burners to your table and you can make your own smores. The only down side is that it's very small and really loud. But the pros hugely outweigh the cons.
(5)
Shelby H.
Not quite at 4 stars but I will round up for the effort. I used to think fried pies were the only interesting food my work trips to Little Rock would find, but this neighborhood has some strong offerings. I opted for Ciao Baci because the tapas menu had much more creativity than I saw on the nearby gastropub's. Still, the execution was not outstanding. The tiny prime rib sandwiches came on delicious biscuits, but the promise of pickled fennel was almost undetectable. The cheese fritters barely held together, and the tartness, which was slightly eased by the sweet pepper reduction dipping sauce, made them hard to finish. The grilled shrimp toasts with chorizo, however, were the bomb, although short on quantity (2). Tip: if you want the Baci Pimm's cup cocktail with ginger liqueur, be very clear with the bartender or you'll just get a regular Pimm's cup -- which ain't bad.
(4)
Bryan M.
Great after dinner place for a few drinks! Great service and great drinks!
(5)
Haley W.
I've had bipolar experiences at Ciao Baci. Sometimes it's awesome. Sometimes I call it "Ciao Bitchy" instead. We'll start with the bad news: 1. The drink menu is an unmitigated MESS. For some asinine reason, whoever made it decided to organize it based on holidays...going all the way back to Valentine's day pick of 2003. WTF. It takes about 20 minutes to peruse the whole thing because they only put about 2 drinks on each page. PLEASE organize by liquors, like 99.9% of bars in the world. 2. One evening I waited half an hour for my vodka tonic. 3. Seriously. Half. An. Hour. 4. Too noisy. 5. Sloppy drunks ABOUND. The Good News: 1. Albeit expensive, many of the cocktails are yum and packed with a punch good enough to knock me on my ass. 2. If sitting in the right area, a group of friends can have a lovely evening....but that is only if not seated next to "The Armada" AKA "that" table full of 15 shitfaced bitches all bent on the world's demise. 3. The servers are attentive...and that's quite an accomplishment considering the throngs that come here on the weekends. 4. It has patio! With tiki torches! Despite my rantings, this place is inevitable. Nothing beats that Naughty Lemonade.
(3)
Lisa N.
I love this place. It's teeny - literally a restaurant converted from a house the same size as others in the Hillcrest area. It's pretty pricey, so don't bring someone you don't like all that much there. Dinner for two will approximately run $80 dollars. They have a nice cocktail/wine selection and have a pretty good happy hour on Wednesday nights. You might find a younger crowd there on those nights. I personally know regulars who swear by the place and I can see why. Their quality dishes make me question how food can have so much flavor. After I finished my pasta, I literally wanted to bring home the leftover sauce, so I could top it on some spaghetti the next day. If anything, I'd wish their portions were a little bigger. I walked away fully satisfied, but I could tell my date had more room to munch. The service was also wonderful. We brought some wine and our waiter was nice enough to not charge us a corkage fee. He even offered to chill our white wine for us! I was worried about people hyping up the place and would really hate to do that to others, but to be honest, I can't think of anything else but pink clouds and smiles. I'll just say it's pretty (fantastically damn) good... Ah...and if you're too drunk to drive home, go walk around Kroger across the way and maybe snack on some ice cream.
(5)
Lauren W.
I've been to Ciao Bacci twice and enjoyed both experiences. If I lived in Little Rock I would come here after work for a drink and a couple of tapas. The first time I came here it was just for a night-cap with my co-worker. I thought the space, a converted bungalow home, was great. I felt at home. Our drinks were delicious but the music seemed out of place, techno in a warm home didn't feel right. We asked the server about the music selection and he said it changed depending on who was working. The second time I came here was for dinner with two others. This time the music was perfect for the ambiance, coffee house style! After being extremely indecisive we each finally decided on a drink from their HUGE, impressive and exotic drink menu. Then after some more discussing we decided to try some of the tapas. It was a nice long dinner. Every hour we would get a tapa or two. It's a great way to spend the night. Everything that we had was delicious, grilled shrimp on toast points, calamari, berry salads and the best fish tacos I have ever had! Then came dessert... WOW! They had such a large selection and they were almost all homemade. The server informed us which selections were not. We all decided to get something different. One of us got the chocolate creme brulee, which was more like a chocolate mouse with caramelized sugar on top. Another had the cinnamon sugar baked apples over ice cream, DELICIOUS! And I had the peanut butter pie. I couldn't stop eating it, even though I was stuffed!! It was a great night! I'll definitely keep Ciao Bacci in mind for my next trip to Little Rock!
(4)
Carrie B.
Ciao Bacci adds a lot of class to L.R.. It's in a great neighborhood in Hillcrest.(my favorite part of town) Yes, it is a pricey place, but if you go before the night rush and just have a couple cocktails then it's not so bad. That place is so cool to hang out at and have a drink that the food isn't as important. It's just a really sophisticated place like nowhere else in Little Rock. They also have really great service mainly because it's is a classier joint. I highly recommend it if you want a more sophisticated place to hang in L.R..
(4)
Henry M.
Our waiter's name was Hastings. He said, "My name's Hastings if you need anything." And he cannily walked away before we could say anything goofy. We ordered appetizers but received a surprise amuse-bouche: the Brie fritter, which is a chunk of Brie fried in a tempura batter with a hint of mushroom. It was a glorious, crispy, gooey, decadent little app. Then we feasted on olives stuffed with goat cheese and fried; edamame soaked in chili paste and Thai curry flavor; and best of all, bruschetta with goat cheese, grilled artichoke, and some kind of smoky tomato salsa. Could've eaten a sandwich of that. We had one of each salad. The Caesar is very fresh, although not as salty as I like mine, but it also comes with delicious Spanish anchovies, which taste and look much better than the usual thin black salt strips. The house salad was also very fresh, but undermined by the choice of greens. Something about the greens didn't mesh with the dressing. I found myself enjoying the pickled onions most of all. I had the catfish special, which was served with cheese grits, garlicky greens, and a crawfish cream sauce. Absolutely the best dish in Little Rock. The flavors melted together. Crawfish and catfish! Creamy grits and tender, savory greens! A weird fusion of nostalgia and flawless technique. And huge pieces of catfish to boot. We had very good wine and also drank the least expensive brandy, which was sweet but very smooth. For dessert we had the house-made ice cream with cornmeal cookies AND the Rocky Road moused. The ice cream, honey-lavender, was the best: very creamy, subtle flavors, perfect sweetness. The cookies went well with it. The mousse did not make me think Rocky Road, but it was a dense, chocolatey treat, like a chocolate cream pie trying to turn into fudge. So yeah - Ciao Baci is delicious, pricey, definitely a gem. We used to live in San Fransisco, and this place definitely did some things that would be impressive even there. The appetizers, for one thing. Well, all of it - but especially the finger-lickin good edamame. And for some people complaining that you can get everything yourself much cheaper? Aren't you missing the point of going out? And could you really get home-made ice cream or stuffed fried olives this good at home? I don't think so. If you want to treat a special someone, bring them here.
(5)
CJ S.
So I'm not from LR not the south but I must say I have been to far more upscale place here in LR and the prices at Ciao are pretty insane esp for the location and demographics. I'm coming from Los Angeles were its more a custom to paying a absurd amount just for location or crowd. Having said that The drinks and "tapas" are usually amazing... not sure why the stuff tastes like a denny's breakfast diner after a all nighter (too much flour and not enough love in the preparation). I guess if your wearing your TJ Maxx POLO everything and sperry's thats considered preppy or dressed up... even if your wearing brooks bros or old gringos its not fancy just because your paying $4 for a budwiser bottle and $7-8 for a rail bottom shelf un mixed and untrained drink. Basically this place is just for a crowd that likes to feel like they are doing it up in Hillcrest... walk 1 min across the kroger parking lot to the fountain or the canon grill and get better service and food and drinks for half of the price! Maybe it was a bad night... the 2 times I went. But thats enough for me to go else where and not return.
(1)
Matthew H.
Man tonight was awesome!! You know how it is you want good food with some complexity and just not the same ole same ole !!!! Well it was late in LR (shits closed) and we had an idea to hit up cia..... Hoongray as HELL!!! Ask for something hardy and not FRU FRU!!! Waiter replies its 10:36 and we just stopped serving entrees ( damn!) so he reccomend athe burger and Maria has warm spinach salad!!! With Parmesan fries....all I can say is "thank you" for an awesome evening and great food the ticker was pretty dope as well!!!
(5)
Rhonda W.
My husband and I have been to Ciao Baci's numerous times over the past couple of years and I must say, each time is a wonderful new experience! The drink menu is excellent and you have a lot of choices. We go each Valentine's Day for the great food and the romantic atmosphere. We are so happy to have Baci's nearby!
(4)
Meghan M.
Went here for drinks after dinner. Wonderful ambiance and our cocktails were delicious. Cute little restaurant in a residential area.
(5)
Velma D.
I've never eaten here, but really want to. It's one of those quaint places we go to for after-dinner drinks... With that said, it's my all-time favorite go-to place for drinks! Amazing cocktail and wine menu... Servers who know what they're serving, and the most amazing porch atmosphere. I always feel like I'm hanging out at a friend's for late night cocktails. Just the right amount of "busy but not crowded." Will keep coming back... They never disappoint. And I'll definitely eat here in the near future. :)
(4)
James M.
Great charcuterie, great waiter, great ambience. In fact all the staff were great. The martini's were fantastic. Little pricy but a great location and great place to have a drink or for a date night.
(4)
Caroline R.
Returned to Ciao Baci last night for the first time in a few years. This place is going to be my new go-to. My friend arrived first and had grabbed a table outside and already ordered a drink. Even so, a waiter quickly noticed a new patron had arrived and came over to take my drink order. I ordered a glass of Brut Rose, which he was more than happy to bring. However, he offered to let me sample two new Rose selections that had not made it to the menu yet. Boy am I glad he did. I settled on one of his suggestions (Blackbird Rose) after trying it! We then decided to order a few things to share. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and again, we ordered one of his suggestions - the shrimp toast - and it was delicious. Also delicious was the soft cooked egg dish. It is served over creamy polenta with mushrooms. TASTY!!! As our food was arriving, another friend appeared. She has some dietary restrictions, but he was able to guide her through the menu and make some small changes to a few dishes to accommodate her. She ordered a chocolate coconut water lime martini. It was not great. I am still giving 5 stars because: 1. she knew she was going out on a limb ordering something so strange and 2. the waiter brought her a replacement drink for free. There was nothing wrong with the preparation of the drink and it was accurately represented on the menu, so he certainly did not have to replace it for free but it was very nice that he did. When we were ready to leave, our bill arrived quickly and accurately - which is no easy feat when you have multiple people coming and going over a couple hours time. I will be sure to return again soon. I did not make it in time but they have great happy hour specials. They also serve handhelds and plates to share until midnight!
(5)
Noah H.
Here's what you come here for: A stellar wine list, an exceptional (if small) beer selection, and some of the snazziest hangout spaces in town! First, the wine is simply awesome, and everyone who works here knows it (and can tell you all about it!) Second, the food is amazing. Over the top, amazing - I heartily recommend the Crawfish Fritters (yum!) and the Edamame (which are literally swimming in that chili lime butter!) Third, the ambiance is wonderful! It's a relaxed, casual place, but it has a very classy atmosphere. It's a great place for a date, or a hangout with a close group of friends. There's a set of plush chairs and a deep couch next to a fireplace filled with candles, that's my personal favorite space - although the dining areas in front and back are better if you're looking for tables. I also recommend chatting with the bartender, he knows the area and the menu and is a great guy to accompany a few awesome drinks!
(4)
Vanessa D.
So glad we found this gem! We're in Little Rock on business and are so pleased that we found this great spot. We always seek out local spots to patronize, and are so glad that Yelp directed us here. Everyone was kind and gracious, and the food was incredibly refreshing! Please check out this unique restaurant - you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Apurva N.
We walked into this restaurant expecting Italian food. I am sure several other Yelpers were just as confounded. Oh well. We were a group of 4 and were promptly seated upon arrival. Our server was a friendly and cheerful fellow whose name escapes me now. We passed on drinks and ordered our salads and entrees. 3 of us got the Kale, Quinoa & Goat Cheese Salad. While the kale was fresh, I thought the dressing left a bit to be desired. All the ingredients in the salad, however were fresh and tasty. Our 4th colleague got a cup of soup (not sure which kind) which he gobbled up with gusto. For our entrees, I ordered the Piri Piri Shrimp. The others got the Sweet Potato Scallops, the Pork Chop and the Crawfish Crepes. I will start with my dish - I thought the Shrimp and the potato salad was a very off combination. That being said, the shrimp were well cooked and seasoned and the potato salad had a little kick. Not sure if I will order that again, though. I tried the crawfish crepes - they were also OK. Reasonably tasty, but nothing to rave about. The sweet potato scallops were also decent, from what I heard. The pork chop was practically inhaled by the same soup gobbling colleague, who said it was delicious. So overall, this is an OK place. I think it is a little bit on the expensive side for Little Rock. I may return to try it again. I would have ordered dessert if they had a better selection! Worth checking out, just don't go in expecting Italian food!
(3)
Ugur T.
Exquisite food by chef Jeffrey, and awesome drinks by Neil behind the bar... The wait staff is very well informed, and friendly. I definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Cindy B.
Try the mussels -- they are the best -- you will want more of the great bread to be able to get ALL the flavorful broth
(5)
Matt Q.
I hadn't been to "The Baci" for a while. It is good to see that they haven't let it slide in the last year. The menu is new, which is appreciated. We had the miniature steak biscuits with blue cheese, which were fantastic; however, I would have liked to have tasted the pickled fennel, a bit more (probably overpowered by the cheese, but still good) . The fries had a hint of truffle oil and were delicious, but there were some soggy ones in the batch. Over all, a great, consistent place to eat!
(4)
Terry B.
First Date? Caio Baci's patio is one of the best places to talk, eat and have a great time. Everything I've had has been good (Even the duck breast, which is a tough order) I would rate it 4 stars but when it comes to whole overall deal and how it changes a typical first date into a first statement than I have to give it the 5th star.... Use this date place wisely, or you could be stuck with a stalker - don't say I didnt warn you lol
(5)
Hunter K.
Inventive food and very responsive staff. Visited from Nashville and was impressed. Patio atmosphere is fun. Go if you are town.
(5)
Bobby M.
What would you expect with a name like, "Ciao Baci"...? I know what I expected... A 'Hello with Kisses" from an Italian, and by that I mean I expected Italian cuisine. I was slightly confused when my friend first explained it all to me. Then confused even more that it was Yelp'd as Tapas. I'm digressing into irrelevancies in this moment so let me move on from my self induced whirlwind of confusion. Ciao Baci, your cuisine is delicious, and I guess I can say slightly Italian. I may not have been there for the old version of YOU, but I'm more than alright with where you are, and where you might be headed. I like the idea of a seasonal menu, because it keeps it mixed up and fresh. I like the ambiance that they are pursuing in such a small and quaint home. I like the friendly service provided by the wait staff and everyone else involved. I like the food, because it was well prepared by the cooks scrambling about the kitchen. I like the food, Did I mention that I liked the food? All in all I had a decent experience. I like to check my preconceived notions at the door, and I am quite glad that I did. Otherwise, I would not have enjoyed the everything that was my meal. What did we have...? Well, here it goes... Goat Cheese Stuffed Olives that were lightly and quickly fried, Mmmmm! Mussels in a Curry suace, Mmm Mmmmm! Then our main dishes which were a The Chef's Duck Confit, and Pork Char Siu, Mmm Mmm Mmmmm! In the words of my firend, "All the individual pieces of the main dish weren't much by themselves, but when combined the dish really comes together." I couldn't describe it better myself, and I'm glad for the experience. Once more "Ciao Baci", your cuisine is delicious. I wouldn't mind another night basking in the gentle ambiance of your establishment. I wouldn't mind at all.
(4)
Elaine H.
Fantastic drink menu and very romantic atmosphere. This is my #1 choice in Little Rock for drinks and appetizers. If you like White Russians and other sweet creamy drinks, the espresso martini can't be beat!
(5)
MJ S.
I love this place! The first time we went there, we thought we were (deliberately) crashing a house party. It FEELS like a big house party that just happens to include excellent (friendly) bartenders and delicious bruschetta.
(5)
Skeeter S.
Update - Massive change to this place since Yolanda left and Jeff took over. For one, this is no longer a tapas restaurant. Oh sure, there are some tapas (five choices) on the menu, but not anything worthwhile. The menu is completely different. Amazing options from the past have been dumbed down and replaced by typical Arkansas crowd-pleaders such as southern fried chicken. You can put aioli and black truffle on it, but it won't change that fact that you're over-paying for basic soul food at what used to be a special restaurant. A previously wonderful refuge for foodies is gone forever now thanks to cheap pandering to unrefined tastes. The drinks are still worth the trip, but get your dinner elsewhere.
(2)
Nicolas D.
Woah woah woah! Hold your horses! This place is.... AWESOME! We had a party of 7 people go there last night (a Friday night) and we were seated and fed and sated.... The food was delicious, the drinks were great, the wine selection is awesome. The only thing is that it got real loud! That's why I couldn't give it 5 stars, but on a Friday night at 11:30 p.m., what should I expect?! A romantic evening with friends? No, this place was hopping! There were beautiful people everywhere, enjoying their drinks, their friends, their company, laughing, smiling, looking around... So the atmosphere was fun! But getting back to the food... I'm a New Yorker, dining my way across America while on tour and discovering these amazing gems in each city, and this is one of them! I can't wait to come back. Do not miss out! I'm sure it's romantic at dinner time, but once the college crowds comes along, watch out! It's a party. Enjoy the view, the food, and the atmosphere. It's worth it.
(4)
Gil G.
Strongest drinks in town. You can taste the juniper in your gin & tonic. The atmosphere is upscale and relaxed. I dig it.
(5)
Josh S.
I've tried it 3 times figuring 3rd times the charm...not so much! Good atmosphere/drinks! Decent service. Pooooooor management! Will not be back!
(1)
Beez H.
the service was very good. we ate outdoors. I definitely recommend the "a lot of " sangria lol. the beef tenderloin is def in a top spot. possibly my favorite in little rock
(5)
Jensyn H.
This is by far my favorite place in Little Rock. Wonderful food, exceptional service (Stephanie is a doll-- so classy, knowledgeable, and personable), and an impressive low-light atmosphere that provides comfort with style. On the walls, you'll find a display of local talented artists, or you could enjoy the fresh air with drinks on the deck. The wine collection is pretty impressive. There are not many places in Arkansas where you can find this much creativity and sophistication in one establishment. Call me weak, but I always have to order the calamari. I only come into town once a year, but this place will definitely be on my list of places to visit when I come. I love it!
(5)
Jennifer H.
It's where one goes to see and be seen... if one doesn't mind paying a premium for mediocrity. Intensely average anywhere outside AR, you'll pay $5 more per cocktail to have the waiter ignore you during times he can't expend the energy to be actively rude.
(2)
Foodie S.
Have been a customer for years! Great food, great service!! Great place to people watch and it's a late night bar. A bit pricey but that's what you pay for quality. If you want a 5 dollar drink and fried food with no ambiance, go somewhere else. Ciao Baci is high class, funky fun, high end but with a casual flare. Love it!!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner, Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Donald D.
I have yet to actually eat here, but this place catches my attention because it is always packed, every night. To the hilt. And has a name I have little clue how to pronounce,but it has a catchy feel to it. The menu I've looked at online is pricey, so for people to be willing to spend that kind of money here so regularly, it must have something very good going for it.
(5)Pat B.
Tonight was our first time back at Ciao Baci after Chef Jeff Owens has taken over. One word- wow! My wife had the Grilled Escolar (Wahoo) special on a cauliflower mash and topped with crawfish and an amazingly well balanced, flavor packed sauce add that it was perfectly cooked and you have an entree that would be hard to beat in any town. I had the Cornmeal crusted delta catfish over black-eyed peas with a Tabasco lime vinaigrette. Okay, you are saying "fried catfish". But trust me, this was the most amazing catfish I have ever had, crisp, oil-less cornmeal crust gave just the crunch to perfectly cooked fresh catfish. The Tabasco Lime Vinaigrette was not the heat laden palate killer I feared. It was an amazing lime vinaigrette that shared a spot light with the flavor of Tabasco and gave just the barest hints of heat as an after-note. Through in some avocado and a bright note of gently sweet and sour pickled onion and again you have a home-run entree! We hadn't planned on dessert, but everything was so good we figured we had to check it out. My wife hates bread pudding. No, she despises it. But our waiter Corey (who by the way provided the nicest, diligent yet unobtrusive service we have experienced in a long time) offered up such an amazing description of it she said what the hell lets give it a try. She now LOVES bread pudding. Well, Ciao Baci's bread pudding anyway. Cleaned her plate and shot me looks every time I snaked my spoon over for a taste! Cory said, hands down, his favorite was the Chocolate peanut butter, pretzel pie. He was dead on! Great creamy peanut butter filling in a pretzel crust, topped with rich dark chocolate and the whole plate drizzled with one of the best caramel sauces I have ever had. Yeah, I cleaned my plate too. Wine list is good, artisan cocktail list impressive and beer selection offers something for everyone. Price wise, Ciao Baci is very reasonable. If anything its under priced for the quality of food and service. Between the fantastic food Chef Owens is putting out and the great service embodied by Cory our server and the ever effervescent Neil behind the bar, Ciao Baci is a winner. Looking forward to eating my way through the menu.
(5)Alex T.
I have to say I am astounded by the reviews here. Ciao Baci is just straight awful. The prices are atrocious, the food is somehow worse than the drinks, and the clientele is...not my kind of crowd, to put it nicely. I'll be brief: The drinks are ludicrously expensive. $6-7 for a rail liquor mixed drink is obscene in Little Rock. Good thing they basically have no competition, or this place would've been tossed in the failed business scrap heap (where it belongs) long ago. Paying $3.50 for a Bud Light isn't exactly thrilling, either. The food...dear God. Let me spell this one out for you, Ciao Baci chef: don't mix balsamic and pesto. Yeah, they taste great individually and sound fancy when you describe them in painful detail on the menu, but they taste like hell in combo. My grandma would slap you and have a few choice Italian words for you for serving this nonsense. At least you can open up your lovely meal with a $14 plate of s'mores cooked over your very own can of sterno. Or you could, you know, walk across the street to Kroger and get 3 times the amount of the same ingredients for $3. Crap restaurant, crap bar. Go somewhere - anywhere - else. It's a shame that their neat space is wasted on such a terrible establishment. If you want Italian food, go to Capeo in NLR. That's what quality Italian tastes like. If it's the bar you're after, the Fountain and the Afterthought are great choices right down the street. If you want wine, get your own from the knowledgeable and very helpful staff at Colonial Liquors on Markham and Shackleford. If you want to enjoy that wine at a nice establishment, Capeo is again a fine choice. 1620 is also solid. Crush Wine Bar up in NLR is another great option if all you want to eat is small plate fare.
(1)Jeré L.
I miss you Ciao Baci. If I am ever in LR again, I shall come get a cheese board.
(4)Karen G.
Not a fan at all. A group of us went there on Thursday. The service was terrible. Once she got us our wine, the server disappeared. A few of us wanted cocktails and even when she did come over to take our drink order she forgot someone's drink 2 times. It took about an hour for the four apps we ordered and about 2 hours in total till our entrees came out. Everyones food was cold and dry. We did have 11 people but we were an easy group. And the restaurant was not busy at all. The only positive was that they did make a custom dish for two of us that's couldn't find anything on the menu. The place was also very cute. I'm from A big city so maybe my expectations were too high?
(2)John L.
great food, and busy place when i went (on a thur night) -- but waitress took care of us good food, but not really a "quiet" place - fairly small - but if your going with a group of ppl and want to enjoy yourselves, def a place one should consider!
(5)Tyler S.
This is one of the best places in Little Rock. I always tell my friends from out of town that it's "not what you expect to find in Little Rock." The atmosphere is awesome and the food is delicious. Although it's pricey, they offer some really unique things on the menu. Their drink selection is huge and their deserts are amazing. Last time I was there, I was with a group and we ordered smores. They bring fire burners to your table and you can make your own smores. The only down side is that it's very small and really loud. But the pros hugely outweigh the cons.
(5)Shelby H.
Not quite at 4 stars but I will round up for the effort. I used to think fried pies were the only interesting food my work trips to Little Rock would find, but this neighborhood has some strong offerings. I opted for Ciao Baci because the tapas menu had much more creativity than I saw on the nearby gastropub's. Still, the execution was not outstanding. The tiny prime rib sandwiches came on delicious biscuits, but the promise of pickled fennel was almost undetectable. The cheese fritters barely held together, and the tartness, which was slightly eased by the sweet pepper reduction dipping sauce, made them hard to finish. The grilled shrimp toasts with chorizo, however, were the bomb, although short on quantity (2). Tip: if you want the Baci Pimm's cup cocktail with ginger liqueur, be very clear with the bartender or you'll just get a regular Pimm's cup -- which ain't bad.
(4)Bryan M.
Great after dinner place for a few drinks! Great service and great drinks!
(5)Haley W.
I've had bipolar experiences at Ciao Baci. Sometimes it's awesome. Sometimes I call it "Ciao Bitchy" instead. We'll start with the bad news: 1. The drink menu is an unmitigated MESS. For some asinine reason, whoever made it decided to organize it based on holidays...going all the way back to Valentine's day pick of 2003. WTF. It takes about 20 minutes to peruse the whole thing because they only put about 2 drinks on each page. PLEASE organize by liquors, like 99.9% of bars in the world. 2. One evening I waited half an hour for my vodka tonic. 3. Seriously. Half. An. Hour. 4. Too noisy. 5. Sloppy drunks ABOUND. The Good News: 1. Albeit expensive, many of the cocktails are yum and packed with a punch good enough to knock me on my ass. 2. If sitting in the right area, a group of friends can have a lovely evening....but that is only if not seated next to "The Armada" AKA "that" table full of 15 shitfaced bitches all bent on the world's demise. 3. The servers are attentive...and that's quite an accomplishment considering the throngs that come here on the weekends. 4. It has patio! With tiki torches! Despite my rantings, this place is inevitable. Nothing beats that Naughty Lemonade.
(3)Lisa N.
I love this place. It's teeny - literally a restaurant converted from a house the same size as others in the Hillcrest area. It's pretty pricey, so don't bring someone you don't like all that much there. Dinner for two will approximately run $80 dollars. They have a nice cocktail/wine selection and have a pretty good happy hour on Wednesday nights. You might find a younger crowd there on those nights. I personally know regulars who swear by the place and I can see why. Their quality dishes make me question how food can have so much flavor. After I finished my pasta, I literally wanted to bring home the leftover sauce, so I could top it on some spaghetti the next day. If anything, I'd wish their portions were a little bigger. I walked away fully satisfied, but I could tell my date had more room to munch. The service was also wonderful. We brought some wine and our waiter was nice enough to not charge us a corkage fee. He even offered to chill our white wine for us! I was worried about people hyping up the place and would really hate to do that to others, but to be honest, I can't think of anything else but pink clouds and smiles. I'll just say it's pretty (fantastically damn) good... Ah...and if you're too drunk to drive home, go walk around Kroger across the way and maybe snack on some ice cream.
(5)Lauren W.
I've been to Ciao Bacci twice and enjoyed both experiences. If I lived in Little Rock I would come here after work for a drink and a couple of tapas. The first time I came here it was just for a night-cap with my co-worker. I thought the space, a converted bungalow home, was great. I felt at home. Our drinks were delicious but the music seemed out of place, techno in a warm home didn't feel right. We asked the server about the music selection and he said it changed depending on who was working. The second time I came here was for dinner with two others. This time the music was perfect for the ambiance, coffee house style! After being extremely indecisive we each finally decided on a drink from their HUGE, impressive and exotic drink menu. Then after some more discussing we decided to try some of the tapas. It was a nice long dinner. Every hour we would get a tapa or two. It's a great way to spend the night. Everything that we had was delicious, grilled shrimp on toast points, calamari, berry salads and the best fish tacos I have ever had! Then came dessert... WOW! They had such a large selection and they were almost all homemade. The server informed us which selections were not. We all decided to get something different. One of us got the chocolate creme brulee, which was more like a chocolate mouse with caramelized sugar on top. Another had the cinnamon sugar baked apples over ice cream, DELICIOUS! And I had the peanut butter pie. I couldn't stop eating it, even though I was stuffed!! It was a great night! I'll definitely keep Ciao Bacci in mind for my next trip to Little Rock!
(4)Carrie B.
Ciao Bacci adds a lot of class to L.R.. It's in a great neighborhood in Hillcrest.(my favorite part of town) Yes, it is a pricey place, but if you go before the night rush and just have a couple cocktails then it's not so bad. That place is so cool to hang out at and have a drink that the food isn't as important. It's just a really sophisticated place like nowhere else in Little Rock. They also have really great service mainly because it's is a classier joint. I highly recommend it if you want a more sophisticated place to hang in L.R..
(4)Henry M.
Our waiter's name was Hastings. He said, "My name's Hastings if you need anything." And he cannily walked away before we could say anything goofy. We ordered appetizers but received a surprise amuse-bouche: the Brie fritter, which is a chunk of Brie fried in a tempura batter with a hint of mushroom. It was a glorious, crispy, gooey, decadent little app. Then we feasted on olives stuffed with goat cheese and fried; edamame soaked in chili paste and Thai curry flavor; and best of all, bruschetta with goat cheese, grilled artichoke, and some kind of smoky tomato salsa. Could've eaten a sandwich of that. We had one of each salad. The Caesar is very fresh, although not as salty as I like mine, but it also comes with delicious Spanish anchovies, which taste and look much better than the usual thin black salt strips. The house salad was also very fresh, but undermined by the choice of greens. Something about the greens didn't mesh with the dressing. I found myself enjoying the pickled onions most of all. I had the catfish special, which was served with cheese grits, garlicky greens, and a crawfish cream sauce. Absolutely the best dish in Little Rock. The flavors melted together. Crawfish and catfish! Creamy grits and tender, savory greens! A weird fusion of nostalgia and flawless technique. And huge pieces of catfish to boot. We had very good wine and also drank the least expensive brandy, which was sweet but very smooth. For dessert we had the house-made ice cream with cornmeal cookies AND the Rocky Road moused. The ice cream, honey-lavender, was the best: very creamy, subtle flavors, perfect sweetness. The cookies went well with it. The mousse did not make me think Rocky Road, but it was a dense, chocolatey treat, like a chocolate cream pie trying to turn into fudge. So yeah - Ciao Baci is delicious, pricey, definitely a gem. We used to live in San Fransisco, and this place definitely did some things that would be impressive even there. The appetizers, for one thing. Well, all of it - but especially the finger-lickin good edamame. And for some people complaining that you can get everything yourself much cheaper? Aren't you missing the point of going out? And could you really get home-made ice cream or stuffed fried olives this good at home? I don't think so. If you want to treat a special someone, bring them here.
(5)CJ S.
So I'm not from LR not the south but I must say I have been to far more upscale place here in LR and the prices at Ciao are pretty insane esp for the location and demographics. I'm coming from Los Angeles were its more a custom to paying a absurd amount just for location or crowd. Having said that The drinks and "tapas" are usually amazing... not sure why the stuff tastes like a denny's breakfast diner after a all nighter (too much flour and not enough love in the preparation). I guess if your wearing your TJ Maxx POLO everything and sperry's thats considered preppy or dressed up... even if your wearing brooks bros or old gringos its not fancy just because your paying $4 for a budwiser bottle and $7-8 for a rail bottom shelf un mixed and untrained drink. Basically this place is just for a crowd that likes to feel like they are doing it up in Hillcrest... walk 1 min across the kroger parking lot to the fountain or the canon grill and get better service and food and drinks for half of the price! Maybe it was a bad night... the 2 times I went. But thats enough for me to go else where and not return.
(1)Matthew H.
Man tonight was awesome!! You know how it is you want good food with some complexity and just not the same ole same ole !!!! Well it was late in LR (shits closed) and we had an idea to hit up cia..... Hoongray as HELL!!! Ask for something hardy and not FRU FRU!!! Waiter replies its 10:36 and we just stopped serving entrees ( damn!) so he reccomend athe burger and Maria has warm spinach salad!!! With Parmesan fries....all I can say is "thank you" for an awesome evening and great food the ticker was pretty dope as well!!!
(5)Rhonda W.
My husband and I have been to Ciao Baci's numerous times over the past couple of years and I must say, each time is a wonderful new experience! The drink menu is excellent and you have a lot of choices. We go each Valentine's Day for the great food and the romantic atmosphere. We are so happy to have Baci's nearby!
(4)Meghan M.
Went here for drinks after dinner. Wonderful ambiance and our cocktails were delicious. Cute little restaurant in a residential area.
(5)Velma D.
I've never eaten here, but really want to. It's one of those quaint places we go to for after-dinner drinks... With that said, it's my all-time favorite go-to place for drinks! Amazing cocktail and wine menu... Servers who know what they're serving, and the most amazing porch atmosphere. I always feel like I'm hanging out at a friend's for late night cocktails. Just the right amount of "busy but not crowded." Will keep coming back... They never disappoint. And I'll definitely eat here in the near future. :)
(4)James M.
Great charcuterie, great waiter, great ambience. In fact all the staff were great. The martini's were fantastic. Little pricy but a great location and great place to have a drink or for a date night.
(4)Caroline R.
Returned to Ciao Baci last night for the first time in a few years. This place is going to be my new go-to. My friend arrived first and had grabbed a table outside and already ordered a drink. Even so, a waiter quickly noticed a new patron had arrived and came over to take my drink order. I ordered a glass of Brut Rose, which he was more than happy to bring. However, he offered to let me sample two new Rose selections that had not made it to the menu yet. Boy am I glad he did. I settled on one of his suggestions (Blackbird Rose) after trying it! We then decided to order a few things to share. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and again, we ordered one of his suggestions - the shrimp toast - and it was delicious. Also delicious was the soft cooked egg dish. It is served over creamy polenta with mushrooms. TASTY!!! As our food was arriving, another friend appeared. She has some dietary restrictions, but he was able to guide her through the menu and make some small changes to a few dishes to accommodate her. She ordered a chocolate coconut water lime martini. It was not great. I am still giving 5 stars because: 1. she knew she was going out on a limb ordering something so strange and 2. the waiter brought her a replacement drink for free. There was nothing wrong with the preparation of the drink and it was accurately represented on the menu, so he certainly did not have to replace it for free but it was very nice that he did. When we were ready to leave, our bill arrived quickly and accurately - which is no easy feat when you have multiple people coming and going over a couple hours time. I will be sure to return again soon. I did not make it in time but they have great happy hour specials. They also serve handhelds and plates to share until midnight!
(5)Noah H.
Here's what you come here for: A stellar wine list, an exceptional (if small) beer selection, and some of the snazziest hangout spaces in town! First, the wine is simply awesome, and everyone who works here knows it (and can tell you all about it!) Second, the food is amazing. Over the top, amazing - I heartily recommend the Crawfish Fritters (yum!) and the Edamame (which are literally swimming in that chili lime butter!) Third, the ambiance is wonderful! It's a relaxed, casual place, but it has a very classy atmosphere. It's a great place for a date, or a hangout with a close group of friends. There's a set of plush chairs and a deep couch next to a fireplace filled with candles, that's my personal favorite space - although the dining areas in front and back are better if you're looking for tables. I also recommend chatting with the bartender, he knows the area and the menu and is a great guy to accompany a few awesome drinks!
(4)Vanessa D.
So glad we found this gem! We're in Little Rock on business and are so pleased that we found this great spot. We always seek out local spots to patronize, and are so glad that Yelp directed us here. Everyone was kind and gracious, and the food was incredibly refreshing! Please check out this unique restaurant - you won't be disappointed!
(5)Apurva N.
We walked into this restaurant expecting Italian food. I am sure several other Yelpers were just as confounded. Oh well. We were a group of 4 and were promptly seated upon arrival. Our server was a friendly and cheerful fellow whose name escapes me now. We passed on drinks and ordered our salads and entrees. 3 of us got the Kale, Quinoa & Goat Cheese Salad. While the kale was fresh, I thought the dressing left a bit to be desired. All the ingredients in the salad, however were fresh and tasty. Our 4th colleague got a cup of soup (not sure which kind) which he gobbled up with gusto. For our entrees, I ordered the Piri Piri Shrimp. The others got the Sweet Potato Scallops, the Pork Chop and the Crawfish Crepes. I will start with my dish - I thought the Shrimp and the potato salad was a very off combination. That being said, the shrimp were well cooked and seasoned and the potato salad had a little kick. Not sure if I will order that again, though. I tried the crawfish crepes - they were also OK. Reasonably tasty, but nothing to rave about. The sweet potato scallops were also decent, from what I heard. The pork chop was practically inhaled by the same soup gobbling colleague, who said it was delicious. So overall, this is an OK place. I think it is a little bit on the expensive side for Little Rock. I may return to try it again. I would have ordered dessert if they had a better selection! Worth checking out, just don't go in expecting Italian food!
(3)Ugur T.
Exquisite food by chef Jeffrey, and awesome drinks by Neil behind the bar... The wait staff is very well informed, and friendly. I definitely recommend this place!
(5)Cindy B.
Try the mussels -- they are the best -- you will want more of the great bread to be able to get ALL the flavorful broth
(5)Matt Q.
I hadn't been to "The Baci" for a while. It is good to see that they haven't let it slide in the last year. The menu is new, which is appreciated. We had the miniature steak biscuits with blue cheese, which were fantastic; however, I would have liked to have tasted the pickled fennel, a bit more (probably overpowered by the cheese, but still good) . The fries had a hint of truffle oil and were delicious, but there were some soggy ones in the batch. Over all, a great, consistent place to eat!
(4)Terry B.
First Date? Caio Baci's patio is one of the best places to talk, eat and have a great time. Everything I've had has been good (Even the duck breast, which is a tough order) I would rate it 4 stars but when it comes to whole overall deal and how it changes a typical first date into a first statement than I have to give it the 5th star.... Use this date place wisely, or you could be stuck with a stalker - don't say I didnt warn you lol
(5)Hunter K.
Inventive food and very responsive staff. Visited from Nashville and was impressed. Patio atmosphere is fun. Go if you are town.
(5)Bobby M.
What would you expect with a name like, "Ciao Baci"...? I know what I expected... A 'Hello with Kisses" from an Italian, and by that I mean I expected Italian cuisine. I was slightly confused when my friend first explained it all to me. Then confused even more that it was Yelp'd as Tapas. I'm digressing into irrelevancies in this moment so let me move on from my self induced whirlwind of confusion. Ciao Baci, your cuisine is delicious, and I guess I can say slightly Italian. I may not have been there for the old version of YOU, but I'm more than alright with where you are, and where you might be headed. I like the idea of a seasonal menu, because it keeps it mixed up and fresh. I like the ambiance that they are pursuing in such a small and quaint home. I like the friendly service provided by the wait staff and everyone else involved. I like the food, because it was well prepared by the cooks scrambling about the kitchen. I like the food, Did I mention that I liked the food? All in all I had a decent experience. I like to check my preconceived notions at the door, and I am quite glad that I did. Otherwise, I would not have enjoyed the everything that was my meal. What did we have...? Well, here it goes... Goat Cheese Stuffed Olives that were lightly and quickly fried, Mmmmm! Mussels in a Curry suace, Mmm Mmmmm! Then our main dishes which were a The Chef's Duck Confit, and Pork Char Siu, Mmm Mmm Mmmmm! In the words of my firend, "All the individual pieces of the main dish weren't much by themselves, but when combined the dish really comes together." I couldn't describe it better myself, and I'm glad for the experience. Once more "Ciao Baci", your cuisine is delicious. I wouldn't mind another night basking in the gentle ambiance of your establishment. I wouldn't mind at all.
(4)Elaine H.
Fantastic drink menu and very romantic atmosphere. This is my #1 choice in Little Rock for drinks and appetizers. If you like White Russians and other sweet creamy drinks, the espresso martini can't be beat!
(5)MJ S.
I love this place! The first time we went there, we thought we were (deliberately) crashing a house party. It FEELS like a big house party that just happens to include excellent (friendly) bartenders and delicious bruschetta.
(5)Skeeter S.
Update - Massive change to this place since Yolanda left and Jeff took over. For one, this is no longer a tapas restaurant. Oh sure, there are some tapas (five choices) on the menu, but not anything worthwhile. The menu is completely different. Amazing options from the past have been dumbed down and replaced by typical Arkansas crowd-pleaders such as southern fried chicken. You can put aioli and black truffle on it, but it won't change that fact that you're over-paying for basic soul food at what used to be a special restaurant. A previously wonderful refuge for foodies is gone forever now thanks to cheap pandering to unrefined tastes. The drinks are still worth the trip, but get your dinner elsewhere.
(2)Nicolas D.
Woah woah woah! Hold your horses! This place is.... AWESOME! We had a party of 7 people go there last night (a Friday night) and we were seated and fed and sated.... The food was delicious, the drinks were great, the wine selection is awesome. The only thing is that it got real loud! That's why I couldn't give it 5 stars, but on a Friday night at 11:30 p.m., what should I expect?! A romantic evening with friends? No, this place was hopping! There were beautiful people everywhere, enjoying their drinks, their friends, their company, laughing, smiling, looking around... So the atmosphere was fun! But getting back to the food... I'm a New Yorker, dining my way across America while on tour and discovering these amazing gems in each city, and this is one of them! I can't wait to come back. Do not miss out! I'm sure it's romantic at dinner time, but once the college crowds comes along, watch out! It's a party. Enjoy the view, the food, and the atmosphere. It's worth it.
(4)Gil G.
Strongest drinks in town. You can taste the juniper in your gin & tonic. The atmosphere is upscale and relaxed. I dig it.
(5)Josh S.
I've tried it 3 times figuring 3rd times the charm...not so much! Good atmosphere/drinks! Decent service. Pooooooor management! Will not be back!
(1)Beez H.
the service was very good. we ate outdoors. I definitely recommend the "a lot of " sangria lol. the beef tenderloin is def in a top spot. possibly my favorite in little rock
(5)Jensyn H.
This is by far my favorite place in Little Rock. Wonderful food, exceptional service (Stephanie is a doll-- so classy, knowledgeable, and personable), and an impressive low-light atmosphere that provides comfort with style. On the walls, you'll find a display of local talented artists, or you could enjoy the fresh air with drinks on the deck. The wine collection is pretty impressive. There are not many places in Arkansas where you can find this much creativity and sophistication in one establishment. Call me weak, but I always have to order the calamari. I only come into town once a year, but this place will definitely be on my list of places to visit when I come. I love it!
(5)Jennifer H.
It's where one goes to see and be seen... if one doesn't mind paying a premium for mediocrity. Intensely average anywhere outside AR, you'll pay $5 more per cocktail to have the waiter ignore you during times he can't expend the energy to be actively rude.
(2)Foodie S.
Have been a customer for years! Great food, great service!! Great place to people watch and it's a late night bar. A bit pricey but that's what you pay for quality. If you want a 5 dollar drink and fried food with no ambiance, go somewhere else. Ciao Baci is high class, funky fun, high end but with a casual flare. Love it!!!
(5)