Bacchus is a restaurant specializing in pasta and pizza. Located in downtown Troy, it’s a mere 15-minute walk from campus.
The general feel of the restaurant is very comfortable. The cozy brick interior and contemporary accents throughout Bacchus provide an environment that makes for a great place to enjoy an evening with friends.
Throughout the meal, the service was adequate. The servers were prompt with the delivery of ordered items and clearing of dishes and cutlery, making sure customers had plenty of space at the table. When it began to get busy, the service staff seemed to be a bit overwhelmed and were missing some of the smaller details, such as making sure water glasses were kept filled.
The meal started with a respectable appetizer of garlic bread. The bread was served with mozzarella, fresh roasted red peppers, and Italian herbs, which had an appealing balance of flavors.
The main course consisted of the Hercules pasta dish, pizza margarita, and chicken marsala pizza (a special of the evening). The Hercules dish consisted of prosciutto, ham, and Italian sausage in a lemon-wine sauce. The sauce was savory and complemented the different aspects of the dish, although it did seem to have a bit too much black pepper. The pasta that was served with the sauce, however, was overcooked and far from anything that could be considered al dente.
There were similarities between the two flatbread pizzas that were served. Both the chicken marsala pizza and pizza margarita were served with excess flour on them, which dried out the tongue and prevented the true flavor of the pizza from coming through. Both dishes would have been far more appetizing had they been prepared with less flour. Like the Hercules pasta, both pizzas were served with a little extra black pepper.
The chicken marsala pizza was a tasteful combination of chicken and mushrooms. The pizza margarita was composed of an appetizing combination of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. However, given the quality of the ingredients being served, I would have expected more appetizing and interesting flavors to accent the dishes.
Bacchus offers a variety of other dishes, both specialty and basic. The pasta ranges from spaghetti and meatballs to Shrimp Caprarius. Pizza choices include Trimgeminious, a three-cheese pizza made with feta, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano cheeses, and Clams Casino, a clam pizza with bacon, onions, and peppers. Bacchus also offers the option to create your own pizzas and pasta dishes. The pasta choice offers your selection of pasta, a sauce, and two toppings. Pizza starts with a basic cheese pizza, with your choice of different toppings. Each allows for more toppings at an additional cost.
Overall, the restaurant offers adequate pricing for the quality of the dishes. The garlic bread was very reasonably priced at $4.95 for four very large pieces of bread. The Hercules pasta dish, at $12.95, offered a full-size dinner. The specialty chicken marsala pizza at $11.95 and the pizza margarita at $9.95 were both about eight inches in size, and would have been a decent size for the price if the full flavor was there to back it up. The make-your-own pasta dish option starts at $10.95, and an eight-inch pizza starts at $6.95, with prices varying by topping choice.
Although Bacchus tries to offer a high-quality pizza and pasta selection to the Troy area, they aren’t able to provide an amazing experience, and, ultimately, a better deal might be found at your favorite pizzeria.
