Picasso Restaurant & Bar

The food and cocktails were excellent! We started with the mussels and both had specials. However the service was very slow. We understand that fresh food takes time but we had empty drinks multiple times during the night. I would definitely return however it would be great to have the bus boys or other staff helping out with drinks and clearing etc.

Always excellent food, wonderful service. The place is loud when it’s crowded but the food is outstanding (even since the «new» owner — 2014). I always get the steak and it’s melt in your mouth perfect. My vegetarian friends love the place, too. People drive from afar to eat at Picasso — it’s worth the drive. In the summer, you can then go around the corner to Carter & Steven’s Farm for homemade ice-​cream.

What a great find this place was! The service was wonderful and the food was fantastic! The table bread and oil was very tasty. I enjoyed the beer selections as they were mostly local and rare finds. The gorgonzola bread was bursting with flavor. I had the taste of India with tandoori chicken and it was so good. It was more of an Indian fusion dish than straight up Indian, but that was a welcomed change for me. My only regret was that I was too full to have dessert.

Well I’m sure it’s lovely but it would help for non-​facebook acolytes if you posted the fact that you’re closed on your website. Thursday 2^nd July and dressed in my semi-​best duds, I appear at your door. Closed for a somewhat inopportune holiday… who would have guessed? Situation was exacerbated by a visit to the horrendous Common on the Tavern in Rutland. Admittedly the latter was not your fault, but still can’t help to apportion the blame to ill-​advertized hours of operation…

Shared a phenomenal chefs salad special, amazing chili lime dressing, I had the scampi app and my husband the halibut special. Everything was rave worthy! My eight year old ate one and half margherita pizzas! Tasty chocolate pot de crème, thought i was too full for dessert, then practically wrestled it out of the hands of my husband and daughter. The specialty cocktails are fantastic and imaginative. The service was friendly and attentive! This has become our recital tradition and we will be back more often! Foodie friendly for sure.

This place is amazing! Farm to table offerings and pretty much everything is gluten free or can be made this way (with the exception of the pasta). The servers and chef are very knowledgeable of allergies and can make suggestions for you and are willing to take the time to help you plan your meal. Great wine list and drinks menu. The menu changes regularly so it is definitely worth going and checking them out regularly.

Beautiful all around. Everything. A special place. Romantic.

Love this place. Incredible salads, awesome apps. The specials are spot on
All in Barre Ma.

Wow. So my girlfriend wanted raw milk for a recipe. Nowhere nearby has such a thing, so we drove an hour or so out to a farm stand for it. At that point we realized we were hungry… And in the middle of nowhere. A Unilocal!check showed this place. My girlfriend knows the area much better than I do, and was skeptical of great food in Barre, MA, but we were hungry.
Walking in, the place was pretty clearly a converted house, and didn’t immediately inspire confidence. A quick look at the cocktail menu looked promising though. We each ordered a cocktail, but as one of the few downsides of the night, they were out of an ingredient on my partially poured drink, and I had to switch to another drink with the same base. Both drinks were tasty and properly made however, so it wasn’t a huge issue.
The food menu looked great, though a little all over the place. Mostly Mediterranean, but some Indian, Thai, and even German dishes scattered in. I wound up with the risotto, and my GF had Thai duck. Both were extremely tasty, with all fresh ingredients prepared well. With dinner the GF had a really reasonably priced wine that was very good, and I had one of the four craft beers on tap. I’d love to see more taps, but the ones they had were all pouring good products.
The staff was friendly and helpful. The owner/​manager was friendly and talked to us a few times. He’s clearly involved in his business, and motivated to keep his customers happy. All in all, while a few minor misses kept me from giving this place five stars, I’d definitely go back. It was tasty, well run, and generally an amazing gem in an area with mostly fast food.

A completely amazingly delicious surprise in Barre! The BF and I were out for a drive to hit some local farms. We realized we were hungry and found Picasso Restaurant on Unilocal.I knew the area and was skeptical. I’m really, really glad I trusted the reviews and not my skepticism.
We sat at the bar where Lacey served up modern, tasty cocktails and great value wines. I have a gluten allergy, which was super easy to accommodate in a restaurant that makes everything to order.
We shared the Roman Salad to start; more than enough for two. Fresh produce, bright green olives, firm gigabyte beans, and all with the perfect amount of Greek dressing. I had the Thai Red Curry Duck as my entrée. The duck skin was fantastically crispy. The red curry had just the slightest hint of heat. My only complaint was that the Thai eggplant had tough skins and there was maybe a little too much fruit with both pineapple *and* fresh mango. The BF has the Risotto con Pollo. Bright green spinach, big beautiful mushrooms, balanced flavors.
Ari, the owner stopped by a couple times to check on our experience and share some local knowledge. We were privy to some of his direction to his team, making them aware of first time diners so everyone could work together to turn them into repeat customers. Great to witness a business owner who really «gets it» and understands that the dining experience is everything.
It’s an hour drive from home, but I’m completely confident we’ll return. Why only four star? The menu confuses me about what this restaurant is. It was billed as Mediterranean and Greek, and yet there were multiple Thai dishes and a German pork with spaetzle. And more than one server cut and served bread into baskets for tables without using gloves or a napkin to hold the bread. I don’t eat bread, so I wasn’t worried about myself, but it made me wonder about other cleanliness issues.

We had a fabulous dinner early on New Years Eve here. The food and service were top notch. We choose from the limited special pris fixe menu, there was no regular menu. Each of the main courses was superb, as we’re the first courses and desserts. A very small serving of champagne was provided for a toast. Wine was extra. My only complaint and the reason I did not give five stars is that the price was out of scale for the area at $ 65/​pp. At the very least, it should have included a bottle of wine, glasses of wine, and/​or the tip.

Stopped by on a whim while in the area after seeing that they served gluten-​free food that would be safe for my boyfriend with celiac. Wait staff was wonderful, food was good (by good I mean I think they put a spell on me and made me love it), without really even needing any substitutions for the gluten issue. We were only upset we had no room for dessert! Guess we will just have to go back. Like next week.

This is the best restaurant I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. Over, and over, and over again. I am fortunate to live within a few hundred yards of Picasso, so it is the obvious place for my wife and I to go for dinner and drinks. But every now and then we’ll try going to a city restaurant, or to a place with a big reputation like Sonoma, and we always come back with the same thought, «Why did we leave Barre?»
I have a friend who lives in the next town over, who says the best three meals of his *entire life* have all been at Picasso. The creativity, skill, and attention to detail are something you just don’t find at restaurants any more.
I’m going to describe the Thursday-​Sunday experience in this review. Wednesday is a whole ‘nother matter, and I refer you to other reviews for that experience. We almost never come on a Wednesday, unless we are with a big crowd.
We usually eat at the bar, which is very comfortable, and lends a level of energy to the dining experience that we really enjoy. There are a few good wines, and craft beer on tap, but we are cocktail people. Picasso had the great fortune, early on, of having the greatest bartender I’ve ever met. He established a discipline of using flavored simple syrups, and home-​made infusions, and really high end liquors, which the place retains despite him leaving years ago. (The current bartender was his disciple — she gets it.) The cocktails at Picasso are as creative and well designed as the food. Read the descriptions of the cocktails on the menu, and I guarantee that the one that sounds good to you will make you happy. The special infusion cocktail, whatever it is that day, is always a safe bet.
When we are out with friends, we get a table and order in the traditional way: place all the orders at once, and let the kitchen and wait staff figure out the pacing. They do a good job of that. But don’t expect speed. This place is not about speed.
However, when we are at the bar, we usually try to drag out the experience as long as we possibly can. So only after the first cocktail do we even think about appetizers. The appetizers here are too large. You should split, or set some aside for tomorrow, or be prepared to struggle to eat your entrée (or just skip the entrée altogether). A typical appetizer is a meal in itself: there might be a little salad, and some risotto, and a reasonable dinner portion of whatever the centerpiece is.
Truth is, we hardly ever order off the menu. The specials are amazing, and you can come here every week and never eat the same thing twice.
Like the appetizers, the salads and entrees are all works of art. Both in the visual sense (presentation here is always fantastic), and in the culinary sense. The way they marry entrees with sides, and spices, and sauces… It’s hard to describe. The food transports you. For example, last night I had this (copying from the facebook page):
Pan roasted duck breast w/​a local peach jerk sauce. Served with fried sweet plantains, black beans, cumin-​rice and braised cabbage w/​summer vegetables.
Now read that again. Think about that. Would you have put those things together? With those spices? And you don’t know the half of it, because it doesn’t even get into what the plantains were fried in, or what the cabbage was braised in.
I’ve never been to Cuba, but this meal took me at least as far as Miami. The duck was cooked perfectly. Nobody makes a better duck than Picasso. But the meal was so much more than that. Sweet plantains balanced against an ever-​so-​slight vinegar in the cabbage. The jerk sauce was out of this world, and it was over on the side of the plate, so you could play with it. Jerked-​duck this bite, jerked-​rice the next. How about jerked-​plantain? Ingenious.
I am, by nature, a fast eater. Picasso slows me down. There is just too much going on to rush through.
Like the appetizers and the salads, the entrees are too large. There is no shame in taking some home. You are in for the best lunch of your life tomorrow.
The desserts at Picasso have their followers and their detractors. Personally, I am always too full at the end of the meal to even consider a dessert, and what I would really like is a cognac or a really good scotch. (Picasso usually has neither of these at the caliber I really want; except sometimes when they have Ardbeg 12.) But my wife really likes to order dessert, and I always step up and help her out, and we’re always happy with the quality.
If you haven’t been to Picasso, you MUST come. If you have, and it wasn’t the best meal of your life, come back and try again. I absolutely love this place, and you will, too.

Picasso’s Wednesday night dinner special is among the best dining values in Central Massachusetts.
Now, I could end this review there, but that might leave you wanting more. So just as Picasso satiates one’s desire for excellent food and wonderful service at great prices, here’s a little taste of what you can expect on Wednesday night.
A table outside on the patio… A palate-​pleasing selection of locally sourced cheeses, meats, veggies and fruits… A thoughtfully considered beer and wine list… Friendly, unhurried service… All at a price that won’t deplete your wallet.
My dining partner and I opted for the three-​course Wednesday night special: $ 20 gets you an appetizer (soup or salad), choice of three or four entrees, and choice of three or four desserts. And as much bread as you want – but don’t fill up on the bread!
My dining partner started with a crisp salad of locally produced veggies; I enjoyed the tomato soup Florentine – also from local tomatoes. We both agree the soup was the better choice: Deeply flavorful and sprinkled with (but not overwhelmed by) fresh, grated parmesan cheese.
For entrees, my partner chose the NY sirloin steak tips and I, the Thai Coconut Chicken. The tender steak was served on top of a bed of creamy mashed potatoes and fresh, locally-​sourced spinach. A glass of earthy Malbec was the perfect complement. My chicken dish was succulent, a flavor adventure of basil, cilantro, and bok choy, served on a bed of subtly spicy rice. The Ithaca Apricot Wheat beer eased the spice. Both dishes were gourmet quality.
For dessert, we argued over which was better: The decadently creamy chocolate pots de crème or the Tiramisu. I thought the latter took the Blue Ribbon, but after tasting the former changed my mind. If you love chocolate, order the pots de crème.
We don’t normally go out Wednesday night, but our visit to Picasso was an island in time… And an affordable getaway it was: Our total bill was $ 55. Thanks Picasso; we’ll be back.

Great food. We went tapas-​style and ordered three apps and asked then to stagger them. Stuffed eggppant, miso peach salad and kabobs were awesome. Our waitress was very friendly and we’ll definitely come back again soon!

–Great restaurant that features produce/​meat from local farms.
–Small restaurant, but have seen it filled for large parties.
–Variety of beers, wines, and specialty drinks (try their cucumber mint mojito!)
–They accommodate dietary restrictions. I have a friend who is Vegan and they gladly made her entrée ‘vegan’ friendly for her.
–service is a little slow, but it’s a restaurant where you want to sit down and have a good drink and conversation.
— Wednesday night they have a 3-​course special for $ 20 and they showcase Jazz night on some Thursdays.
–Overall, food is top notch! Well-​seasoned and prepared dishes. We try something new every time we’ve stopped in and never a complaint. Bring an appetite!

Always had a great experience and delicious meals.
Cook creates great fusion cuisine which is kinda middle east with spices and appetizers (humus, flat bread etc) but also some classics like pork chops (go double!) and yummi deserts.
Its a Pearl in this part of State…

OK OK… so this place is in the middle of nowhere. You get over this real fast when you pack several of your friends into a vehicle and head over together.
Picasso a quaint joint in the middle of «town»…a small brick building, the inside of which was simply decorated, providing a intimate dining area and a cozy bar.
First order of business for our party of six were the cocktails… our choices were Maker’s Mark for the boys and watermelon martinis for the ladies. From what I heard the martinis were great, but the fact that they even had Maker’s Mark was a positive start.
Only one in our party favored an appetizer, which was the eggplant rollatini, and given the fact that the plate was clean upon collection, I shall assume that it was well received.
Salads were then served with a variety of dressings. Personally, I enjoyed the gorgonzola dressing, and I found the chick peas a nice touch.
Along with the salads we ordered the wine, with the selection being the Francois Lurton Pinot Noir. This was a delicious wine with nice legs.
The entrée included the Pork Chop (x2), Blackened Scallops (x2), Sacchettini Bolognese and I chose the NY Sirloin w/​Gorgonzola. Among the topics of conversation was the quality of the food. Those who chose the pork found the cut to be substantial and moist with the sides delicious. The scallops were cooked perfectly and seasoned just right, and I found the grilled zucchini to add significantly to the presentation. Based upon my brief sampling of the sacchettini, the one in our party able to decide on this dish was well rewarded.
As for my sirloin selection, this dish was fantastic from the start. The presentation was so good, I wish I had a photograph to offer, but I was not as smart as one of the other diners who photographed their pork chop selection, so expect that review later. The juxtaposition of the perfectly cooked spinach sharing real estate on a plate with fluffy garlic mashed and a hearty cut of beef with a deeply rich port sauce was very appetizing. The meat was cooked perfectly and very tender!
Desserts across the table included the mini cannolis, lemon raspberry cheesecake, Chocolate pots de Creame and I chose the Lemongrass Crème Brulee, which was surprisingly awesome.
We were a bit surprised that a place offering Maker’s Mark did not have B&B or Grand Marnier, but considering the Mediterranean influence of Picasso, the Grand Gala offering makes sense. The cappuccino was great.
Finally, a few words about our server, Danielle. From the moment was were seated, Danielle was friendly, engaging and thoughtful. Her recitation of the specials was well paced, as was her presentation of the courses. Normally, establishments appear to be rushing the diners out, so as to turn over the table. Danielle allowed us to enjoy the meal and company without feeling rushed. It was quite nice. Was it her job, her personality or motivation for some future reward? I do not care. From my experience, Danielle provided the kind of service and interaction I expect, and I look forward to seeing service on that level again. Thank you, Danielle.
Picasso…do NOT be fooled by its first impression.

Surprising find in this area :-)
The food is fantastic and the staff very friendly. Did I mention the food is fantastic? I had a Steak with a balsamic reduction sauce with sauteed spinach & mashed potatoes (great!) My wife ordered the eggplant, mushroom & basil ravioli and loved it as well (but the portion was too small). Also had desert and a better than average wine selection. Too expensive to make this your regular hangout, but great for special occasions. Make sure to make a reservation, dining room is a little small and there’s always a line!

Don’t let the small town fool you, this place has big, bold, exciting flavors that’ll surely awaken your taste buds. I’ve slowly been going through each of the entrees listed on the menu but the specials often trip me up so it’s been a slow road. The blackend sea scallops has become my favorite. If you’re looking for something new, refreshing and super good, give this place a try. I’ve yet to find anything that I don’t like on the menu. The staff is great and the service is usually pretty good.
2^nd review. I’m doing my first edit of a review. I’m so upset because Unilocal won’t post this so I thought maybe if I give a bit more detail, it’ll make it. I’ve reduced my 5 star initial rating to a 4 star. If I could give 4 and half stars, I would. I’ve been to Picasso probably 6 or 7 times now. I’ve still yet to find anything that I didn’t enjoy. The NY Strip is always good. The port reduction is probably the best I’ve ever had. The steak rests atop spinach and garlic mashed potatoes.
The Bombay Chicken is probably better than you’d get in some Indian restaurants. It’s coated with curry and served with basmati rice, yogurt sauce and chutney.
I don’t think the blackened scallops will ever come off of the menu (thankfully). The risotto cake is the perfect accompaniment.
The specials are so inventive that I dare you to pass them up. There’s such items as Pad Thai salad, Lamb stew, Mahi-​Mahi with peach salsa, I could go on and on.
And if that’s not enough, Wed is 2 for $ 20 night which is a starter, an entrée and a dessert. It can’t be beat! Thursday is Jazz night. Live jazz and a wonderful dinner. Nice.
Most of the staff is awesome and 9 times out of 10, the chef comes out to talk with each table. The one thing — just one thing that I’d like to see at Picasso… better desserts. I’m pretty certain that the same 4 desserts on the menu have been there since Picasso opened and they’re boring as hell. If the chef is focused on savory, get a pastry or dessert chef in to help or buy local items to sell for dessert!
Even with the disappointing desserts, the entrees totally make up for it. Picasso is on my short list of favorite places to go. If going on a specialty night or the weekend, you might want to make a reservation.