Bardo
Norfolk, VA 23517-2115
Phone: (757) 622-7362
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Colonial Avenue
- Best of Citysearch:
- Late-Night Dining 2005, Trendy Scene 2005, Upscale Casual Dining 2005
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 11am-2am, Sat-Sun 5pm-2am
Editorial Review for Bardo – by Charleen Pine
The Scene:
Bardo draws an eclectic, artsy clientele that could just as easily arrive post-theater or pre-club. Large, uninterrupted swaths of vivid color, sharp angles and the use of natural materials like wood and stone create a hard, Zen-minimalist feel that's softened by subtle lighting and myriad tiny votive candles. Patrons have plenty of room to mingle in front of the well-stocked bar (tucked neatly into a corner of the room) which leads almost without transition into an open kitchen and small-scale dining area.
The Food
Broken into four levels representing starters, entrees, sides and desserts, the menu of artistically prepared small-plate dishes ranges from an adventurous ceviche three-way platter to the humble dollar chicken dinner. Served with paper thin, tempura-fried onion rings and from-scratch wasabi mashed potatoes, the Thai-rubbed N.Y. strip steak is perfectly seared; crispy-fried black tiger shrimp wrapped in wonton skins is dramatic and flavorful. Adding a whimsical touch, yummy chocolate chopsticks appropriately accent divine dim sum doughnuts.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoReservations are accepted for groups of eight or more. Others should arrive early as Bardo only has 10 tables.
What to DrinkAn extensive wine list and a choice of nine sakes offer dynamic pairings for the Asian-influenced edibles.
User Reviews for Bardo
01/25/2007 Posted by taylorsl
Very creative and interesting menu of small plates and tapas--all extremely good. Service was excellent. Low-lit, cosmopolitan atmosphere.......trendy people....not stuffy though. Very busy and bustling in the Ghent district of Norfolk. Parking is easy behind the restaurant and is free. I would have given this a higher rating if it weren't so smokey in there (smoke-free would be ideal).
Pros: Creative and flavorful food, good service, cosmopolitan atmosphere, free parking
Cons: Very smoke-filled restaurant
12/18/2005 Posted by chinnockr
I took my girlfriend to bardo after a play had let out at the Generic Theater. The service there is warm and friendly, and the food is even better. We both had eggdrop soup and brie stuffed pork tenderloin. All I can say was: amazing! The wine list was awesome, so many good selections. I would highly recommend this place.
Pros: Great Service, Great Wine List, well priced
Cons: paper table cloths, no reservations, crowded bar
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