Just minutes away from the Michelin-recommended restaurant Ardo, partners in business and life Jacqueline Nicosia and Chef Roberto Marotta unveil their third venture together. While maintaining their signature Sicilian flair and commitment to quality, as seen at both Ardo and their second location, Dova, Bar Ardo offers a worldly influence with dishes, drinks, decor ย and all around atmosphere inspired by their travels across the globe.
โItโs all the little things that have inspired us over the last fifteen years, from the dishes and drinks weโve had, restaurants weโve gone to, people weโve met in different countries, and how the culture intertwines with the dishes,โ says Nicosia.
The space offers an Old World meets art deco design with three eye-grabbing works by Sergio Fiorentino serving as the heart of the dining room, surrounded by a white-brick wall, a sparkling bar top, and hanging golden light fixtures. ย
โOne of the things we love when weโre in other countries is how people dine out to enjoy that aspect of life,” says Marotta. “Thereโs an effortless pleasure that people have in dining out, so we wanted to bring that here to the East End.”
From Spanish paprika to North African seeds, diners will discover a diverse array of cultural influences across the menu.
During a trip to New Orleans, exploring the large Sicilian communities in New Orleans inspired the Muffaletta โ a sandwich with mortadella, fennel salami, provolone and giardiniera. In contrast, the vegan-friendly centriole, takes influence from the Middle East and Italy, made with cucumbers and pureed white beans. Other dishes come from Marottoโs own heritage, like the cavolfiore which his own grandmother regularly made for him as a child.
At Bar Ardo, patrons can indulge in shareplates and a curated selection of late-night offerings. Even the full meal items are priced moderately โ a deliberate choice by the couple to maintain accessibility for the Ardo community. They aim to ensure that diners can return time after time without feeling the pinch on their wallets.
โWeโre reaching a very interesting moment in the economy,โ says Marotta. โWe find that people limit the time they go out. Dining out has become very expensive because of rising cost of food, so we tried to offer a plate that is approachable with good value based on the price point to encourage people to go back to dining out.โ
In addition to Bar Ardoโs Italian-heavy wine list and original spins on the classics โ like an espresso martini with Sicilian olive oil and Maldon salt or a penicillin with mezcal and pear nectar โ the bar has also made waves for their wide selection of zero-percent drinks.
โItโs not about drinking or not drinking. Itโs about having a choice,โ says Nicosia.
From the refreshing Pilot Life, crafted with zero-percent gin, cucumber, snap peas, lime, mint and sparkling bubbles, to zero-percent versions of classic cocktails like penicillin, margarita and cosmopolitan, Bar Ardo offers a variety of options from its temperance section. These thirst-quenchers ensure a pleasurable drinking experience without the worry of a morning headache.
Just as Bar Ardo is a “diary” of Nicosia and Marotta’s travels, the couple are hopeful that the restaurant will become part of so many other stories, following in the footsteps of its sister restaurants which have been the setting for many first dates, anniversaries and celebrations.
โWe have all these people that have a different connection to Ardo in a different way, so itโs been really special hearing all of these stories,โ says Nicosia. โItโs a very special feeling to know that this space means so much to so many people.โ
Bar Ardo is located at 189 King St. E.