What to Order at Bonito: A First-Timer's Guide to the Menu
Bonito’s menu covers a lot of ground — raw bar, pasta, grilled fish, even a few dishes for the non-seafood eaters in your group. Here’s how to navigate it on your first visit.
Start at the Raw Bar
This is where Bonito’s sourcing does the talking. Order this first, for the table to share.
- Live oysters and clams, served straight from the tank
- Tuna tartare
- Crudo, prepared with whatever’s freshest that day
Good for: easing into the meal while you decide on mains.
The Pasta That Built Bonito's Reputation
If you only order one thing, make it pasta.
- Bottoni Cacio e Pepe — the dish most first-timers ask about by name
- Gnocchetti al Ragù — slow-cooked, hearty, not trying to be fancy
- Tagliolini al Tonno — black squid ink tagliolini with raw yellowfin tuna and smoked ricotta cream
Good for: the main event, if you’re not doing the tasting menu.
From the Grill
- Whole grilled fish, simply prepared to let the produce speak
- Fritto misto, for the table
- Chicken Yakitori — the one non-seafood option worth ordering on purpose, not as a fallback
Good for: a group where not everyone eats seafood.
If You Can't Decide: A Taste of Bonito
A four-course tasting menu curated by the chef, built around whatever’s best that day. Minimum two people, priced per person for sharing.
Good for: first visits, when you’d rather let the kitchen choose than second-guess the menu yourself.
FAQ
Is Bonito good for people who don’t eat seafood? Yes. The menu now includes meat and vegetarian options, including Chicken Yakitori and pasta dishes without seafood.
What’s the best dish to try first? The Bottoni Cacio e Pepe and the raw bar oysters are the two most-ordered starting points for first-time guests.
Can I order the tasting menu for one person? No — A Taste of Bonito requires a minimum of two people, since it’s built for sharing.
Does Bonito do takeaway seafood? Yes, Bonito runs an in-house deli with fresh-cut fillets and shellfish available to take home.
