In October, the former Park Slope restaurant
Luce became Bar Toto. Says co-owner Peter Sclafani, who used
his father’s nickname to christen the new venture, "We wanted
to make the place more accessible to the community."
To that end, Sclafani and partner Kristin Hallett kept Luce’s
casual bar-restaurant atmosphere and lowered the prices. Nothing
on the menu is over $10, which means, Sclafani says, "instead
of diners dropping in every couple of months for a meal, they
turn up twice a week." That change has been especially pleasing
to the partners.
The casual grilled pizza, pasta, panini and salads or heartier
entrees such as lusty braised short ribs or fish of the day,
are complemented by beer and mixed drinks for $4 and 14 Italian
wines by the glass for $5-$8.
"Oh, yeah," shouted Sclafani during our phone conversation,
trying hard to be heard over his infant daughter’s gurgling in
the background, "We’re kid friendly." While there’s
no children’s menu, Sclafini says, "At our prices, it’s
all a kid’s menu."
Bar Toto (411 11th St. at Sixth Avenue) accepts American Express,
MasterCard and Visa. Entrees: $3-$10. The restaurant is open
for dinner seven days a week. For information, call (718) 768-4698.
