With a bright orange sign and matching umbrellas on the sidewalk, Barbaro in Millbrook is hard to miss. If the jolly signage wasn’t enough, it’s also right in the heart of the small village, at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Church Street, appropriate placement for what has rapidly become the go-to gathering spot and date night destination for locals.

Opened in November 2018 by Luciano Valdivia and chef Gianni Scappin, Barbaro is the latest restaurant by the duo, whose other joint projects include Cucina in Woodstock, Market St. in Rhinebeck, and Armadillo in Kingston’s Rondout District. Like its sibling eateries (with the exception of Armadillo, which serves Mexican food), Barbaro dishes up contemporary Italian cuisine in a clean, chic environment.