Don't miss this restaurant. Initially, we were hesitant to eat an Italian restaurant in New Orleans, but after the meal, we were really glad we did. We just happened to walk past it, and the menu's creative dishes and reasonable prices ($20/entree) caused us to make reservations.
Bacco has a great atmosphere. We saw everyone from businessmen in ties to families with young children there. And the food is unbelievable.
The chef is a woman who graduated from Johnson & Wales in Providence, RI, and the New England influence shows. For example, the salad had wild blueberries, and the menu had clams and mussels instead of the region's more common oysters. I had the special that night - grilled redfish over rosemary herbed tomatoes, orzo, and topped with a sweet lemon chutney. It was the freshest tasting fish, and the flavors were so vibrant. The wine list was also quite good, with a wide selection of Italian whites and reds, as well as numerous other wines. We got a Shiraz for $30, and we were very pleased. For dessert, I had the sweet tea sorbet, and my wife had the wild strawberry gelato. It's a meal that will stand out in our memory for many years to come.