Bar Italia in Thunder Bay
168 Court St S, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 2X6, Canada
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$16 for a cesar salad on a small plate with zero bacon, barely any dressing. Stale bread and crap balsamic. All their apps are frozen mediocrity from Sysco. Can't speak for their mains, but this place is as meh as most restaurants in this town. Cocktails are also low-effort meh. The ambiance was nice tho. Service was pretty good, other than the waitress asking how things were and not sticking around for even a moment to hear the answer.
Authentic Italian restaurant with an excellent selection of menu items for every appetite. Healthy portion sizes are excellent value for the money. The restaurant has the best seating for the space that's available. It's pretty tight in a few spots, and you often get "rubbed" when people pass by. This restaurant is very popular and because of it, and the number of customers, It becomes a bit louder. Our servers were pleasant, but were more consumed with another table, that had customers that seemed to be known by all the servers, so we were pushed aside a bit. However, when the food came out, everything was served perfectly. Overall, a great restaurant with an authentic Italian feel and a great selection of food and drinks!
Been here so many times and have loved it. But tonight was not! What the heck happened here? Felt like a fast food place! Total time there under 40 minutes - rushed. Food was bad. Entree had uncooked hard pasta, marinara tasted like it was out of a can and was bitter. So disappointed. Service was good but ran out of water and no offer of any other beverages. Will likely not be back and will spread the word.
Excellent service and very clean. 🇮🇹 The food however was disappointingly inconsistent. Their pesto gnocchi and spinach cheese balls were excellent, but the pizza crust was crunchy (in a tiring way), lasagna special was a bit lacking in sauce and the linguine alfredo sauce and marinara for chicken parm were bland. Not very busy during late afternoon.
A unique cousin experience; the first entrance was the mozzarella sticks were phenomenal, and then we ordered pasta and shared. We don't have comments, and it was fabulous. Also, we ordered a chocolate cake to finish our night. Everything was outstanding, and the service was terrific
Unfortunately our food here wasn't great. Nothing really tasted fresh, the tomato sauce tasted like it came out of a can, and the food was generally bland. Our dining experience was exceptionally long; our food took an unusually long time to come out, and about half way through our visit, the music was turned up really loud,and despite other customers complaining about it, it was never turned down. Our server was great, and the food even looked great, but unfortunately the taste and quality of ingredients didn't hold up.
Went to Bar Italia this evening with my ladies to enjoy the patio. First of all, the patio was so beautiful. It was my first time there but everyone else had been before. What a hidden gem. It was completely packed so we were happy we got reservations done about a week ago. I didn't take pictures of the patio to respect other people's privacy but it was beautiful. We loved all our delicious and well presented meals. The portions were large and the meals tasted so fresh. Our waitress was absolutely phenomenally amazing! we loved her and her energy! The cocktails were so good as well! ❤️🥂 We have already planned our next trip there! 😊
The food was great! Portions are appropriate and service was also nice! I forgot the name, but we got the sliced beef appetizer and it was soooo good! It was very quiet when we went, so it felt nice that we weren't squeezed in with other people cause the tables seem pretty close with each other. But, it wasn't rlly a concern tbh. Overall, we had a good lunch!
This place calls for a reservation we didnt have one and the staff made room for us to sit. Food was plentiful and very tasty.
Great atmosphere but the food was not good. The pasta sauce tasted like it came straight from a jar. There was a party of 8 of us and we all agreed the meal was poor quality and totally over priced. Wish it would ve been better!
Cute vibe but not good food. Pizza is equivalent to a frozen pizza
Great place but the food is really subpar. Pizza crust has no chew, the bread was dry and cold, tiramasu was grainy. Service and ambience fantastic but the menu needs a refresh and clean slate.
Small group and had bruschetta, veal, panzerotti, gnocchi, and spaghetti. The food and service were very good, and the atmosphere fantastic.
For the prices charged, the food severely lacks flavor. We ordered Naz s Pizza ($23) and the Pasta Special ($24). Despite seeing a wood fire oven, the pizza wasnt wood-fired; its only used for events. Which was fine, but the quality of ingredients was poor, and the crust felt cheap. I cannot recommend the pizza. The Pasta arrived cold and only had three pieces of chicken; it lacked flavor and tasted like buttered pasta. Service was incredibly slow. Considering the prices, I expected much more. The patio was the only positive aspect of our experience.
Great food, friendly staff and a cozy patio makes for a great evening!
Great food. Great service.
Wow a hidden gem, from the workers to the atmosphere of the patronage, you knew when you walk in, this is the place for a great meal and outstanding conversation. Thanks to the Bartender for a hardy conversation, appreciated you!
Bar italia staff go above and beyond for all patrons, my spouse and I got the bruschetta, linguine Alfredo, and pesto chicken penne. The sauce for the pasta had the most rich taste we have never tasted before. The cocktails were all handmade and so fresh. 10/10 experience will be back.
I enjoy making Bar Italia my local dinning spot when in Thunderbay for Business.. Marco Approved St-Albert AB
Beauty place ,great service , great people
I ll keep it simple. Damn that was good, I ll be back.
This is a personal favourite.... Ive never had a bad meal.
Absolutely spectacular pizza and lasagna!!!!
I was visiting Thunder Bay and thought would try something nice since the restaurant looks really great. When I called to inquire about the menu, a lady answered and was very rude. Her exact words were I dont have the time right now. You can go see the menu online. I already tried checking the menu online but could not find the whole menu and hence I tried calling. Well, whoever it was, thank you for your time.
Bar Italia in Thunder Bay is truly a hidden gem. The authenticity and deliciousness of their food make it a standout dining experience. The atmosphere is amazing, creating a welcoming and enjoyable ambiance. While the prices may be slightly higher than other restaurants, the experience is undoubtedly worth it. Special thanks to Jenn, the waitress, whose amazing and helpful service added an extra layer of excellence to our visit. A definite recommendation for those seeking authentic and delightful dining.
Great food atmosphere and service
This place is a must if your in Thunder Bay
Classic little Italian restaurant.
Everything was excellent !!!
Good food
Fantastic little hole in the wall that Ive driven by numerous times and finally decided to try it out. Had a pizza, which was phenomenal. Looking forward to trying a pasta dish next time.
Ordered dinner for 4 people this eve. Food was decent. Unfortunately we received the wrong salad but not a huge deal. Was quite disappointed with the pasta and meatballs. Sauce was a plain tomato sauce, pretty mediocre. Only two meatballs compared to the large portion of pasta. Was disappointed as two of us were sharing this dish. Meatballs were good otherwise. Panzos were good as well.
Great ambiance. Meal was awesome. Waiter (dont remember his name) was friendly, very attentive and took care of everything.
A lot of great food and fun was had by all!
Just the best, everything is great.
Pretty nice place!
Pizza was burnt, should have sent it back
If you want the best authentic Italian food in Thunder Bay, look no further. Staff make you feel like family and are always attentive. Id happily recommend everyone reading this come give Bar Italia a try!
Great food and good service.
Exceptional on every level. First time here. Had the spaghetti and meatballs which were exceptional, with house made meatballs. Spinach and cheese balls appetizers are a gourmet delight. Atmosphere and service were both a 9 out of 10. Sounds like five generations of owners. Awesome .
Wow. Absolutely fantastic. Didnt have a reservation, but they squeezed us in. Max(think that was his name, our waiter) was amazing. Food was incredible. Thank you. Bar Italia .
I organized a family style dinner for 14 family members last week. Gina and Dani (sp ?) were fabulous. They made us feel welcome, accommodated our requests gracefully and warmly. The family style meal items were a hit with all 14 of us. It was delicious, fun and very lively. A great memory......Valerie
Food was delicious....service was great and I enjoyed her recommendations....
I personally recommend Bar Italia if you re interested in AMAZING Italian food. It is family owned, has great service and staff. You can definitely tell the owners and workers really care and have a passion about the food they make and the attention to detail they have that creates a welcoming atmosphere! MUST GO SEE!
Food and service is always perfect. I usually get the pizza and ceasar salad.
shrimp and calamari was overcooked but the rapini and white bean was yummy. bread was dry. I may try it again so many recommendations.
Atmosphere and service was top notch, pasta was box pasta and over cooked, only two meatballs on the spaghetti.i dont think the mozza sticks were house made, Garlic bread app was not good, but my husband had the chicken parmesan and it was amazing.
Bar Italia is always a great choice for authentic Italian cuisine when in Thunder Bay.
Manager / owner? Was extremely rude. Service / food was excellent. Servers were great. Because of the extremely rude manager will not be going back. Food : 5/5
Ordered a take out dinner for 3, everything tasted incredible , the dinner was family style, portion size was more like dinner for 5 people, Bruchetta for appetizer ,Garlicbread, Pasta, 6 huge meatballs, 8 chicken drumsticks, and a huge Ceaser salad. Had Left overs for two days, very satisfied with order. Owner was extremely helpful and polite when taking and planning the order,
Love it. Been going there for years on annual trips to tbay. Cant wait to come back next time Im in the city !
My wife and I got a table recently and had a wonderful meal and great service. The tiramisu dessert was amazing!
Worth the visit.
Always great food and great service!
very friendly staff and food was excellent
Never disappointed with Bar Italia. The food is amazing, great service and the outdoor patio is the best in town
Excellent food friendly service good bang for your buck. Will definitely be back
Love the food, service, and atmosphere (especially the patio). Feels like you are in Italy! Italy All menu items delicious and reasonably priced!
The best pasta
Excellent service. Pasta was excellent. Place was busy. Had a great time.
A Thunder Bay Original!! . food quality good, prices very good. An Italian friend said its all munchacakes here ( non Italians) but I saw many spaghetti benders ( Italians) eating and enjoying all the same . Outdoor patio is very nice, parking kind of cramped.
Had a great meal last night. I hadnt been there for a while, I thought the sauce tasted better than I remembered, could be just me but it seemed like a better tomato was used. Still miss the meat sauce from back in the day though. ;) They always pour a healthy sized glass of wine too. No asking how many ounces you would like, they just fill the glass! Great evening on the patio. Thank you.
Food was absolutely fantastic. Great service, but drinks were way overpriced.
Great food and service the patio in the back is a beautiful place to have dinner
While visiting TBay this summer I felt like Italian. Found Bar Italia on Google. Unassuming from the front, I was invited to go around back to the patio to eat. The ambiance, service & food combined to make for an enjoyable experience.
I was at work after a long workout and forgot to meal prep, things were getting drowsy.. One would say I was even feeling a bit Hangry. A single thought speared threw my mind. The thought of a nice big bowl of pasta and meatballs made me smile!! So I jumped into vehicle on the lot and sped to the closes source of what I thought would give me speghetti. I started at 1 pm absolutely dying of hunger!! To my surprise the first source of what I thought would be an easy choice only served uncooked pasta and cold sauce!! The second guaranteed spot was somewhere Ive had pasta before. A little over priced but a sure thing!! I parked crooked, it being 2 pm at this point I was disoriented, so hungry that Id mistaken cabbage rolls for meatballs!! HOWEVER to my surprise (almost bringing me to my knees) they didnt serve Speghetti till 4 pm!! DISPICABLE!!!! So I sit there, in this parking lot where I shouldve been kicked out of for my terrible parking job, I try to start remember where Ive tasted great peices of work in my life.... almost dying of deCARBanation.... I tasted a taste in my mind.... A familiar taste that instantly brought me to a state of bliss, my eyes, closed I opened them for optics, pessimistic to what I might see. But there I was!! At a big wooden table with dimmed light and the sound of Italy around me.... I REMEMBER!! I yelled aloud, BAR ITALIA!!!!!!!! I quickly turned the keys to the ignition, backed up and sped out as fast as legally possible!! Needless to say I cut some people off on my way out of the parking lot, sped to the place where that beautiful Speghetti was waiting!! As I enter the parking lot I notice cars parked crooked and out of place, these people were were hangry too!! As I drag my self out of the vehicle the smell of absolute perfection revives me instantly! I started jogging to the door!.... Aaaand Im in!! I dodge about 6 customers leaving from lunch, run up to the counter and place my order!! 15 mins and under 20 bucks later, well to keep the story short. HEAVEN ON EARTH!!!! The second I got back to work I open the bag, pull out the container and cracked it.... The aroma surrounded me and filled my office with delight, even my coworkers could smell the awesomness brewing on my desk. The first bite was every Speghetti experience in my life put together in one exquisite, beautiful sauce!!!! They even gave me little pieces of bread to dip in the sauce like I did as a child! BEST EXPERIENCE EVER!! BEST SPEGHETTI EVER!! I LOVE THESE GUYS!!!! This is a real story, dont let it happen to you.... Bar Italias amazing!!!! Highly Recommend eveytime!! :)
Excellent food and service
After a 10 month hunt, Ive found a veal sandwich in Thunder Bay. Great little spot, with wonderful ambiance and awesome Italian Food. Ill be back!
I wouldnt order a Panzo again. It consisted mostly of dough, and for $18 each, was not impressed!
Amazing service and.pizza
Great food
The place looooks ... Fantastic N amazing Calamari.
Phenomenal patio! A little oasis tucked away in Thunder Bay! Wonderful food, wonderful service! An all around great authentic experience! Thank you Bar Italia!
When I typed this restaurant in to submit the review it auto corrected to bad Italian . I m happy to report this auto correct does not apply here. Food is great, prices are reasonable and the atmosphere on the patio reminded me of Italy.
Fantastic food, service and ambiance. Ate on the patio with generous portions and amazing taste!
Had a after wedding rehearsal party, food was fantastic the climate was good, service was excellent
The atmosphere and patio was so nice. The appetizers were really good. I ordered carbonara and sadly I had scrambled eggs in my pasta so I was a bit disappointed. Usually the pasta is a creamy egg yolk base and no whites so I was confused. It still tastes great tho and I ate it all. Will definitely come again and try the pizza.
It tastes good, really good. It is said to be the best local restaurant. Just look at the many food delivery trucks parked outside the door.
Best home made Italian food, authentic, genuine and real.
Great food.. huge portions.. lightning was dark, had to use my cellphone flashlight to read the menu..
Great food and service!
Didnt have baked lasagna. It took a long time for take out. Staff inattentive to take out customers
Nice cozy place. Great service and food..
Great food and great service!
What a great place. Excellent food, nice variety on the menu, really good service. I would highly reccomend Bar Italia.
No stars at all. I give this place a big Italian zero. Panzorottis are horrific and the lasagna was dry and bland. Bread wasnt fabulous either. Save your time and money and go to Tony Romas instead!!
Excellent food, service and atmosphere
Great food, best thin crust pizza
Great pizza and atmosphere.
Delicious food, excellent service
Excellent outdoor patio with a great atmosphere. Food and service was top notch. Would definitely go back.
Loved the spacious patio. Excellent good and great service!
Awesome
Dining outside was awesome. Food was 10 out of 10. Very happy to celebrate our anniversary there.
We went for the first time last month and were amazed with the service. All the servers helped and always asked if we needed anything. Food was also amazing. Would visit again!
Beautiful atmosphere on the outdoor patio. As always, excellent food and great service.
Really great experience, the food and music was awesome, friendly staff and atmosphere. With proper covid protocol in place
Had a 4:45 reservation. 6pm rolled around and still no food. Went through a 1/2 litre of wine! Hostess/owner was very rude. Looked back and snickered and made comments when asked when our food was coming out. Table behind us arrived maybe 15 minutes later than us and got served before us. After we complained wait staff was almost non existent and not friendly. Have been supporting this restaurant for years. Not sure anymore. Wheres Gina this wouldnt have happened if she was there. Also during covid not one wait staff inside and out were wearing masks. Very disappointing to say the least
Making an effort for covid with outdoor seating and heaters. Could use a little more attention to detail on the food. E.g. Pasta was undercooked
Food and service was great!
Wicked Good!
Always a great experience from the owner and friendly staff to their menu. My personal favorite is the veal parmesan. I have tried many of their dishes and have never been disappointed. Great food and Great people!!
Incredible food, incredible staff, incredible atmosphere. Couldnt ask for anything better or more...
Best Italian food in Thunder Bay.
Need to stock up on beer and food was not great
The food has always been fantastic
I enjoyed the pizza ans mozza sticks. The atmoshoher was a bit quirky. This is a nice place to try something new.
it was a great meal
Food was amazing!!
A must, be hungry big portions,great tasting,a must go
My little sisters surprise 50th the hole bar was hers.
Amazing food
Such delicious food! The service is excellent! Make sure to visit, but you might want to call ahead to make sure that they can fit you in, the food is that delicious. The price point for the quantity and quality of food is excellent!
Classic
Very small, crowded and noisy. It took a long time to get our order it was wrong
Very nice people
Grabbed Brushchetta and a Meatball sub around lunchtime. Was quite filling, took what was left to go and Gina my favorite server is very professional.
Great home cooked Italian food
Awesome food and friendly staff.
Excellent food and supreme customer service.
The place was packed an worth the wait the server was happy pleasant food was excellent never had a poor experience very consistent
Consistently good Italian food, the shining star on the menu is the pizzas.
Good good.good atmosphere.portion are big. Sadly no homemade pasta noodles.
Been eating there for decades and its always fantastic
Great food!
The food, the service, the atmosphere, all very good. Well located in downtown Thunder Bay. Would definitely go back.
I love this place
Bar Italia is one my favorite places to go. The food is spectacular.
The best
Great pazzerotti!
Excellent pizza. Great atmosphere
Gina is way hotter than kate
Great food for a good price
Great staff and wonderful food
Hidden gem of our city! My husband and I came here for dinner during the holidays. The decor was enchanting and the food was great. We enjoyed our visit and hope to be back. Staff was wonderful, bit busy due to the time of year. But they did a great job keeping up with the amount of people in the restaurant. Smiles all around.
Delicious home cooked food
Best Italian food in the city
Best Italian food in town.
Probably one of my worst Italian meals Ive ever eaten, I ordered seafood panzarotti. It was terrible, one star for the easy location and parking
Pricey now and you may need reservations
Great food
Amazing authentic Italian food at a reasonable price. Seating is a little tight but well worth it. We will definitely make this a regular place when we visit Thunder Bay again.
Good, homemade food. Generous servings, always have leftovers. Never had the gnocchi tho cause theyre always out...even when arriving at 430
Excellent Italian food!
The atmosphere was great. You feel welcomed by the owner Laura and her sister Holly. The food was excellent, plentyfull, and all homemade. You become aware that they really care for your wellbeing. Yum.
On busy nights expect a bit of a wait for food, but absolutely worth it! Our meal was amazing, and the servers were very friendly.
The best stuff peppers in town
It is a great neighbourhood restaurant. Love the Ravioli!
Food was so awful I lost my girlfriend
Very friendly, local vibe.
This place has authentic Italian food. The panzarotti and the lasagna are must tries. The homemade bread is delicious. Staff are friendly and keen. Prices are fair. It is just a little crowded sometimes.
Come for the amazing food.
Favourite place to eat in TBay
Great place for group gatherings
I got a ceaser salad as a starter (amazing) and a panzeroti with pepperoni, red peppers, and jalapenos (best panzeroti Ive ever had). Thanks for the meal.
excellent food, great drinks gar price
Awesome food and great service.
Very good food! I came back the next day for more. The food is home made and you can tell by the first bite.
Probably the best pizza in the city belive it or not.
