Baraonda Cafe Italiano

Baraonda is a chic hot spot for Italian cuisine located next to the Fox Theater. The food is excellent, and the service is even better. Our waiter Clint did a wonderful job. He has a very dynamic and engaging personality and is a fantastic waiter. I frequently dine out in the Atlanta area and consider myself to be a foodie. I've been going to Baraonda for years and will continue to do so for the delicious food and stellar service.

Randomly tried this spot on a date night, we now go back every few weeks. Love it!

Baraonda is a great place to catch a meal before or after a show at the Fox. It can get very busy around those times, so make sure to allot...

Tried this Italian restaurant as it was close to Fox theater and we had an 8 PM show. Service was good and food was delivered hot. This is not a fast food place, but it was not too slow either. One of us had the pasta and it was not done enough even for him; usually it is overdone to him in other restaurants. I had the fried seafood sampler of fish, shrimp, calamari, and scallops. It was pretty tasty. The appetizers of minestrone soup and brushetta were good as well as an order of marinated olives. We also had a beet salad with goat cheese and pecans (menu said walnuts) that was great! Wines were excellent. Great selection at pretty normal restaurant prices. Total cost before gratuity of $90 for two complete meals and wine.

I go to Baraonda more than probably any other restaurant. It is far and away the best food for the money in Atlanta, the atmosphere is great, and late seating is a huge plus. I do, however, always find the service to be subpar at night (although it's great at lunch). My girlfriend and I have come to accept it and actually laugh about it. Granted, we do go in around 9:30 for dinner, a time when the staff is probably concentrating more on starting to close the place down than on customer service; but we have literally never had a server stop by voluntarily after taking our entree order until it's time for the check (not that it really matters- the food is always perfect). All in all, Baraonda is 5 star food and 2 star service at a 3 star price, and I'll take that any day.

I've been dining at Baraonda for years - even had my rehearsal dinner there in 2002. They cooked dishes for my rehearsal dinner that I requested - off the menu. Love them :) I just want to point out to anyone reading these reviews and considering whether or not to go there...there are reviewers who keep saying the pizza is soggy and floppy. Real Italian pizza IS "soggy and floppy", if you will. And I'm so glad there's someone in Atlanta finally making it the right way! It melts in your mouth, and you truly experience the flavor of a proper tomato sauce, and good quality cheeses and other toppings. And yes, folding a piece in half vertically is the way to eat it :) If you want Americanized pizza, don't go to Baraonda. If you want the real thing - get to it!!!

We ate here before a show at the Fox. As advised over the phone we arrived two hours before the show to allow for the wait and dinner. We we...

Well, we went there with an after work group of ladies (about 10 of us) before going to the Fox. We all ordered appetizers and entrees and drinks and things at different times and quantities and sharing and special requests, etc. Our table was chaos, but the waitress was great, we sure kept her hoppin! The food was excellent, a real Italian treat! Then we all mixed up how we wanted to pay, and left in phases, but the waitress kept up with us still! We will be there again soon!

Baraonda is well loved, and it's easy to see why. The pastas are always great, with fresh mozzarella. Pizzas are good too. Gets crowded, but...

What more could you ask for? I have had the pizza and pasta here and loved both. The wine selection is extensive and tasty. My boyfriend and I continuously go back and the friends we have brought with us loved it also. Valet parking is available as well. The location is also in a very trendy spot on Peachtree St. which makes it convenient if you are coming from the Fox or other venues or clubs in Midtown. The atmosphere captures the essence of a true Italian restaurant and provides a very cozy and laidback ambience. Also, the service was very friendly and consistent. I highly recommend giving this place a shot and you will surely love it.

This is a cool low key chilled spot. We sat out on the patio and had dinner while watching the NBA Playoffs on TV. I really enjoyed the Halibut speical they offered on Saturday night. The service was great and I Iook forward to my next visit.

I recently went to a comedy show at the fox with a small group of people on Sunday and ate here. I was eager to taste some of their food after I checked their menu online. When we arrived there was a few people waiting in the lobby so I worried if they would be able to accommodate our party. Luckily one of the managers called our name and told us that he had a table waiting in the private dining room. I was glad that he put us in the private dining room because I wanted to sit somewhere calmer because there were so many people drinking and waiting on the other side... and I felt like VIP. The room set the mood with dim lighting, nice music, and candles all around. I had a few questions about some of the words that were on the menu and about some of the plates which my waiter quickly answered by detailing their creations. I wish I could have tried them all! Our appetizers came out lightning fast and I felt that as soon as I made a decision for another drink one of the waiters was... Read more

Once again I had a great dinner at Baraonda. I discovered its authentic Italian recipes two years ago. My friend Gina, a real Italian, told me about the outstanding pizzas and I went and try pizza Margherita. It was love at first bite. l encourage anyone passionate about Italian food to give this place a try. The entire staff seems to want you to have a great time enjoying their food. They take pride in the menu and will advise if you're unsure, suggest wines if you ask. My last visit was last week right before a show at the fox theatre. Two managers were always discreetly checking tables and moving around like in a dance. The all stuff was dancing. It was beautiful to watch them. The food is out of this world. The menu is simple. The soups was delicious. (Zucchini, potato and cream...O.M.God!). Beside the soup, that changes everyday, I recommend the penne salsicia and salad gorgonzola. What I really love about Baraonda is the combination of excellent food and perfect environment. Th... Read more

I'm not sure what these other reviews below are talking about. I went here with a group of people, and everyone's pizza was floppy and soggy on the bottom. The only way to eat it was to fold it over like a pizza roll I guess. Our service was terrible, and the server was actually very rude and in fact untruthful as well. He even raised his voice at me at one point when bringing 2 extra plates that I had asked for (because we were all sharing)...when he came to the table with the plates, he raised his voice and asked "is this necessary." I also asked him if the ceasar salad was big enough to share. His response was "it's a starter size"...ok, what does that mean. He clarified by saying it was small, and he wouldn't recommend splitting it. The ceasar salad came (note: after all of our pizza came) in a heaping bowl big enough for at least 3 people to share. I have been a server for many years, and while you are supposed to "up-sell" (obviously, the more you sell, the higher your tip is), y... Read more

YOU MUST GO HERE if you are downtown Atlanta!! It is the best Italian Food I have ever eaten! There was a small wait when I went but we got in in about 5 minutes or so. It was great!!! The best food and good drinks. VERY inexpensive: 2 appetizers, 3 entrees, 4 drinks and a desert for $89!!!!!! WELL WORTH any amount of time that you spend waiting.

My date and I dropped in on Baraonda on a last minute decision, and I'm so glad we did. We were instantly pleasantly surprised by the cozy atmosphere. The interior was very dim, but extremely rich and inviting. My only "complaint" is that the music was too loud and really didn't quite fit with the atmosphere. It's a great place for a date, except that the music is way too loud to talk over. I loved the way the restaurant was set up, with the bistro style seating and the brick pizza oven in the back. The food was absolutely delicious; all of the dishes are made of simple ingredients but seem to be on the more authentic side (I'm not a huge fan of more "modern" Italian food). They have a HUGE selection of pizzas, but fewer pasta and meat/seafood dishes. We were greedy for dinner this night, and each ordered a pasta dish as an entree and shared a pizza. My date ordered the spaghetti with vegetables, which was very good; the veggies had rich and robust flavor. My penne checca was... Read more

Before an outing to the Fox, a group of friends and I went to Baraonda. Every one of us left satisfied. The food is great, as is the atmosphere. Highly recommended.

We met up with some of our friends here early on a Saturday evening, around 6 pm. The restaurant wasn't crowded, and we got a table right away. We ordered a bottle of the house Cabernet, which was $20, and very nice. We each ordered salads - the house salad was tasty, but had obviously been dressed quite some time ago, as the greens were limp by the time it got to the table. My friend's ceaser salad had an unusual dressing, more like mayonaisse than traditional ceaser, as it had no tang to it. Our table ordered 3 pizzas, one pasta dish, and one lassagna. The pizzas were tasty, although rather soggy towards the center. The pastas and lasagna were very good, and portions were about right. Overall it was a good meal, but not fantastic, and the prices are certainly reasonable given its location. Service was always attentive and friendly.

If you are looking for New York style Pizza, this is not the place. It tasted alright, I just cannot refer to it as pizza.

My hubby and I dined here Friday night. We arrived after the dinner rush around 9pm and were promptly seated. We dined on riesling wine, calamari, caesar salad, pizza and pasta. We were amazed at how fresh and tasty everything was as well as the unbeatable prices. We enjoyed the three scoops of Italian gelato for dessert, the lemon and vanilla combination was delicious. We took our time, enjoyed our meal and the outdoor seating. After dinner, we strolled around Peachtree St. and saw the sights. We will definitely return here again and again.

I've been there twice now because I believe in second chances. That's it for me. Service terrible both times. I was there for dinner the first time and the second for lunch. There is such great food in Atlanta..skip this place for your own good.

My husband and I are always looking for good italian and we have finally found it. Great service and wonderful romantic lighting

I have never in my dining experiences ever found a restaurant that valued their customer less than Baraonda. This was our first and last visit. We were a party of 3, this is important. You cannot make reservations for less then 6. The gentlemen recommended that we come approximately at 5:50 - 6pm to beat the crowd. We were there at 6pm, our name in at 6:10pm and were told we would be seated in 20 mins. No mention that because we were an odd party (3) it may take longer to be seated. If we had known that, we could have made a decision to go elsewhere. Of course, theater people are pouring in. My husband checked 3 times to see how we were on the list, because it was loud and thought we might not hear our name. We were constantly told soon, our name would be called. One hour later we are still waiting, while we watched parties of 2 and 4, that came in after us, being seated. Apparently if you have an odd number in your group, it doesn't matter where you are on the list, it must be a tab... Read more

We stopped in before seeing the Nutcracker at the Fox. We were seating promptly, and I was amazed at how large this restaurant really is. We sat on the patio which was heated. The calamari was lightly fried and very tasty. We each ordered pizza and were not dissappointed. Our server was very personable and attentive. This is a great place to catch a bite before a show at the Fox or just for great pizza.

Went with a large group in town for a conference and was disappointed after hearing about how great this place is supposed to be. They crammed us around a couple of tables and acted offended when we asked for more space. Food wasn't great...asparagus soup was bland and risotto was too salty. There are better Italian places in town that I'd go to before returning here...

Food...GREAT! service...GREAT! Ambiance...GREAT! I loved this place and they know how to make you feel comfortable and relaxed...Food selection was outstanding...

Loved this locale... great ambience for a date, double date, or group event. Wonderful food and good wine. Definite must!

We always stop in at Baronda before a performance at The Fox Theater. The sevice quick, and the woodfired pizza's are terrific. Split an antipasto, which is yum, with a glass of vino from the nice selection. One of the best pizza' in the ATL. We go even if we've not going to the theater. Cozy, NY vibe.

It was a little annoying to be kept waiting in the lobby till our party was all there, especially because the restaurant was not busy. Think about it -- we could have been sitting at a table, having a drink and an appetizer while we waited. No problem, though; we saved a few bucks. Now for the food. One word -- delicious. We split the calamari appetizer and I wished that I had ordered it as my main course. Each of us ordered a different main course, then shared a bit with the others. My risotto of the day was perfectly cooked, and risotto is not easy to make. One friend ordered pizza, which was okay (I prefer thick crust). The other friend ordered lasagne, which was out of this world. I will definitely go back. and soon!!!!

Had a wonderful dinner here last year - came back with high expectations. First, we were seated in the "newly completed dining area" - this is basically a rectagular room with no windows and minimal decor. A large party was in the back of this room and they were quite loud (the acoustics of the bare room didn't help), so we asked the hostess to reseat us in the "old' seating area. The hostess seated us at a nice 4 top table near the windows. Our waitress came over to our table and informed us that we were at a table that was normally for a party of 4, and asked us to move out of her section! She was not in the slightest bit polite - clearly she was miffed by the prospect of missing out on the extra tips that two more diners would have brought, her demeanor was surly and unprofessional. We looked around the dining room - the rest of the tables were wedged VERY close together - our impression was that the owners had simply decided to maximize profits at the expense of repeat business - ... Read more

Terrific pizza - with great (and quick) service. I don't know how I didn't dine here more often until recently, but am happy I re-discovered it. Note that you can bring your own wine for a $15 corking fee.

This is by far my favorite italian restaurant for the price. The food is wonderful, fresh, and full of good flavor. the pricing is very very reasonable and service was fast and friendly. outdoor patio is very nice! its a must visit place-walk or take a cab, parking is frustrating

after reading the other reviews, i wanted to judge it for myself... I LOVED IT! everyone was so friendly and really on top of their game. it was super busy that night and i had to wait about 30 min. i made my way to the crowded bar and had a drink while i waited for my table. the nice hostess took me to a table on the patio. if you can, sit out there; the patio is fab. our server, i think her name is catalina was really nice and knowledgeable. the food was great. i recommend the rustica pizza. i had a really good experience and will be back.

This was the first pizza place I went to in GA. I go when ever I can. Great service, Great quality.

Believe all the negative things you read here about how rude the staff is. They are bad enough to really put a damper on your evening, even if the food is good. You'll find that your dinner conversation is all about how awful it was when you arrived. And, believe me it's not just that they are telling you something you don't want to hear, it's how you are treated. The tone in their voices is nasty and the look on their faces is contemptuous. Getting seated is such a horrible experience that your money and time are best spent elsewhere. Even if they are close to the Fox, I'd walk on past and find a more welcoming restaurant. Ive given them three tries, and they failed every time.

This restaurant is not reccommended for those diners planning to go to Fox Theatre on the same evening. While the food is good, attitudes of management, especially Greeters/Seaters, spoils the experience. No reservations accepted and no table offered unless entire party is present is inconvenient. On two occasions, a table of 4 was required, a table was available for the party but one person was parking the car and not present in the restaurant. Instead of seating the rest of our party, the table was given to diners arriving later. The available tables were given away and our party was unable to eat before the show. The door staff and management was rude and demonstrated a contempt for the customers. There are better choices available for dining in the area that welcome customers with hospitality. Try one of those instead.

Good food. However, rude management really can't put this restaurant on the top list. My friends and I went there last weekend. Five of us arrived first, the rest two arrived 15 mins later. At either time, they didn't seat us, although the restaurant wasn't full at all. After waiting from 6:15 pm to 7:00pm and seeing so many people came in later than us were seated, we asked for an explanation. The host first said that our party wasn't complete, then changed to they didn't have tables next to each other to put together, which is a lame excuse. Eventually the manager came out. He simply said he never saw a party of 7 in the past 30 mins., implying that we were lying about our waiting. This place is soooo spoiled by the good location. Such attitute simply doesn't deserve a decent clientile.

I have to say that I didn't really appreciate the authenticity and subtle elegance of Baraonda until after my trip to Italy this past Fall. Baraonda's wood-fired pizzas are as authentic as the ones served on the many side streets of Rome, and the pasta, which is consistently served al dente, is incredibly light and fresh. If you're looking for heavy, family-style Italian dining, you won't find it here. Instead you'll find a delightfully fresh, tasteful, and affordable Italian dining experience. As for the atmosphere, it's quite charming and has matured gracefully with the addition of a new dining room. AND what a great location! Being located a half-block from the Fox makes Baraonda an excellent choice for a pre or post-show meal.

I went here the other night, completely forgetting that the Fox had a show going on. We were told that the wait was 30-40 minutes. I guess it was a good thing we didn't have to be anywhere because that 30-40 minutes turned into an hour and a half. It was our fault I guess for waiting that long, but considering there is not another rest. in that vicinity, we decided to stay. Once seated, the food took another 30-45 minutes (and that was once we ordered). Honestly, the service overall was great--the food was mediocre---but the wait was not worth it and we won't be back.

My girlfriend and I ate here before a show at the Fox. I called to make reservations but was told they didn't reseve tables for parties less than four. We arrived at 6:15 and the host told us 45 minute max wait. We we're not seated until 7:15. This was a little irritating and the crowd waiting made it very hot in the lobby. Once seated we were promptly waited on. The was kind enough to ask if we were going to a show. The food was great and very reasonably priced. The pizzas are a good size for two, especially with an appetizer. We ordered the calamari and antipasto appetizer and we're unable to finish the pizza. Food was great and we made it to the show on time. I will go again, just not when the fox has a show or early to beat the theater crowd.

Each time I've visited the host has been rude about seating incomplete parties that are ready to order. I was entertaining clients and our party changed from 4 to 3 during the time I was waiting. I'd arrived 30 min. early to ensure my name was on any wait list that might appear & when we indicated we were ready to be seated they tried to seat us @ a table for 2 where they'd pulled up another chair. When I complained they said it'd be another 25 min. b/c I had others in front of me on the wait list - even though my name had been 1st. The wait staff is friendly and the food is good, but after trying to get a table it is not worth it. Reservations are out of the question. I gave them several chances and exp. the same fate each time.

I found Baraonda on City Search and best tip that it was probably great was the recommendation to "go to the Olive Garden...." My husband lived in Italy, next to the local restaurant for 8 years, and we NEVER go to the Olive Garden - his home cooking is so much more authentic! I moved here 4 months ago and Baraonda is, by far, my favorite restaurant. I highly recommend the pizza or the daily specials - which are seasonally based - like they would be in Italy. My husband (not here with me due to our careers) visited this weekend and gave his seal of approval. He doesn't recommend Italian restaurants lightly. The staff is very close - like family. For a quieter atmosphere, visit when the Fox Theater is dark, or on Sundays.

We recently ate here for the first time in a year, and were very disappointed--If you can overlook the obvious construction (not sure why they didnt close), the so-loud music that sign language should be the 2nd language used here (although the choice of music was great) and the unhappiness in the faces of the staff (except for what looked to be a meeting of frat-boy waiters watching a football game)--then you may wanna go---The food was good and our server was overall good (even though he couldnt hear us)-I hope they get everything worked out--I hate that this restaurant has gone downhill--

bad food, rude service. why should i go back! do yourself a favor, eat anywhere else but there.

My friends and I were in town to see the Phantom at the Fox and we chose to eat at the Baraonda upon high recommendation and it was a "Very Disappointing" experience. The customer service from the hostess and waitress was incrediblly rude and obnoxious. The food was good but not good enough to endure such horrible service. Because there was 6 of us the waitress was guaranteed a 19% gratuity tip and she didn't desire a 1% tip. The music was so loud we couldn't even here each talk without yelling.

This is very good location for some food and a few drinks after seeing a show at the Fox. The food is more Italian than it is American-Ital...

I decided to try this place out after reading several great reviews, but it turns out the negative ones are accurate. The staff are just RUDE. I've never been to a restaurant where I felt the place was trying to LOSE customers. They made no effort to accomodate our group and suggested we split up and sit in separate sections of the dining room. (And we DID call ahead). Apparently a reservation means nothing to them. On top of that, they acted like WE were unreasonable in wanting to dine together! I can honestly say that I've never been treated worse at a dining establishment. These people need some serious training in customer service. Our party ended up leaving and walking to another restaurant where we were treated MUCH better. Do yourself a favor and pass this dump by. The food is overrated anyway.

Great date place. Great food. Great service. One of the last cool little hideaways in Midtown that isn't completely cheesed-out. Keep it real guys!

The pizza at Baraonda tastes like the first one I ever had. It was prepared by an Italian family who barely spoke English, and it was here in Atlanta that I had it, around 1962. The next time I had pizza that good was in Italy, in Siena, 3 years ago. I've had lots of pizza in between, but the qualiy of the cheese and the simplicity make the pizza from Baraonda a stand out.

this is one of the best italian restaurants I've been to. The prices are very reasonable and the food is wonderful...also has an authentic feel to it. Service is great, location is great, parking though is the only drawback. Maybe I didn't find the right parking space....I don't know. Overall, it's a great place. The pizza is wonderful too!