My wife and I recently dined at 745 Osteria on a Saturday night. The space, especially the patio in the Summer, is very cool. Service was excellent the entire night. My wife and I shared arancini with a basil aioli. The three rice balls were beautifully plated and tasty. I ordered an Aperol Spritz (which was good) and Rigatoni Bolognese. The pasta had good texture and the sauce had a rich umami flavor. However, the sauce didn't pop for me relative to my favorite CT Bolognese's and there was not a lot of meat. I would definitely return to 745, but I would try a different meal next time. My wife enjoyed her Beet Salad, which I didn't photograph since she substituted Mozzarella for the Goat Cheese. The chicken she added had a nice grilled flavor. 4 Stars for the Food. 5 Stars for the Atmosphere and Service. Rounding up to 5 Stars Overall since I can't give 4.5 Stars. read more

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We had great service. It's a nice restaurant but is located on a busier road. The food was great! I recently went to Italy and it reminded me of the quality of food there. I would definitely go back! read more

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"Once upon a time there was a tavern Where we used to raise a glass or two Remember how we laughed away the hours Think of all the great things we would do?" (Mary Hopkin) Q: OK, so how do you say "tavern" in Italian? A: The word is Osteria A few months ago, we won a charity raffle for gift cards to three Old Saybrook restaurants. One of the three was for 7 Four Five Osteria, so we stopped in yesterday to consumate our deal. We placed a "to go" order of Eggplant Rollatini ($16) and we had it for dinner last night. It was excellent! There were three thin eggplant slices rolled up with mozzarella and ricotta, all slathered with a very generous amount of tasty marinara sauce. Eggplant is always a tricky thing to take on, whether we cook it at home, or even order it out. Half the time it turns out dense and rubbery, and ranges somewhere between unappetizing and inedible. But Osteria did eggplant right, it was tender and soft and downright great. We had a few bucks left on our gift card and grabbed a nice looking package of Italian cookies from their gourmet section on the way out. The folks we interacted with were friendly and helpful and the restaurant looked like a nice place to enjoy a meal. By the way, it was very kind of Osteria to provide a gift card to support the raffle and charity event we attended. read more

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The service was so so as Linda was otherwise occupied. The place is bright and cheerful and comfortable. My wife ordered the Chicken Parm ($28) which was excellent. We started out with the truffle fries($12!) (BUT SALTY) and the soup of the day (purple cream of cauliflower ($9) good. My meal was less impressive and actually bad. I ordered the Barrata Pizza ($20) and the burrata was not only cold from the fridge, but also bitter (which means it was not stored properly) If I had not said anything, I would not complain here, but I asked if the burrata was supposed to be bitter and the server responded yes. Explaining that was the way it was supposed to taste. If you don't listen to customers and or ask follow up questions I am suspect of management's commitment ESPECIALLY at these prices. The server was poorly trained as the correct answer would have been "Why do you ask?" and whomever was in the kitchen let the meal go out that way. Periodically,, throughout the night, the chef should be tasting everything before it goes out to make sure it is fresh or at the very least at the beginning of the service. Finally, the prices should reflect a level of quality that I did not get. Oh well, lots of other choices in the area. read more

745 Osteria - Truffle fries and cauliflower soup in the back round. - Italian Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

We are sooooo happy to have found 745 Osteria. Being pizza snobs we usually have to travel to get the pizza we want, however we decided to try 745 Osteria. It has a total of four stars, however I don't feel that the parking, mosquitoes etc should be taken into consideration when rating a restaurant. The environment had a contemporary feel to it with adequate seating. The service was immediate. We sat at one of the high tables near the kitchen and pizza-making area, and it was quite entertaining to watch what was going on. We went in for pizza so we opted for the Genovese and Arugula. Both were absolutely delicious. The semi-soft crust was EXACTLY how we liked it. The Genovese was covered with a layer of ricotta, basil pesto, crushed red pepper, fresh mozzarella and truffle honey. What a great combination of flavors -sweet and a bit of mild hotness. The Arugala pizza was also delicious. It came with garlic, herbs, fresh mozzarella, a layer of prosciutto, fresh pieces of parmigiana reggiano and arugula. It was another great combination of flavors. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the friendliness of the staff working there. Shaileen was our waitress and she was attentive throughout and had the perfect personality for 745. We saw other staff members with smiles on their faces and also having personable conversations with the other customers. We also received our food in a timely manner. We spoke with a few other customers and they convinced us to try the other meals there (We saw some large delicious looking meals go by). They gave high marks as well, along with how they were eyeballing how good our pizzas looked!! Mark my words....WE WILL BE BACK!!!!!! Congratulations on providing good prices, a beautiful environment, great staff and excellent food. read more

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I've been here twice so far and each time it was great. The atmosphere is great- there's both indoor and outdoor seating. The decor is clean and fresh. Service was excellent both times. The portions are plenty. If you're in the old saybrook area I would definitely recommend this restaurant! I look Forward to returning! read more

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It was my first time here for dinner and it looked fancy, but I was dress casually. The food was delicious. The shrimp was delicious. I used it as protein with the gnocchi which was also satisfying. The waitresses were very courteous. There is plenty of parking available. And outside seating. read more

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We sat at the bar and we were promptly greeted by Ashley. She explained the happy hour menu, assured me (rightfully so) she makes a killer old fashion and expedited drinks and food. She is awesome. Food was delicious. My husband and I both had the cream of mushroom soup. I had mussels - just the right amount of heat, he had a Caesar salad which he wouldn't share and took home cannolis to enjoy later. Thank you Ashley. You are a gem. Sally and Dean read more

3.8-3.9 rating. Enjoyed: Grilled Shrimp, the Buccatini amatraciana. Service was very good. The cocktails. Meh: The pizza crust was amazing, but the actual pizza was not great. We got cheese. Bad: Vodka Sauce. More like mac and cheese and red sauce. Gross read more

745 is a gem of a spot in Old Saybrook. It has a beautiful interior and very cool outdoor patio with ample seating and even a comfortable fire pit area for an after dinner drink with friends and family. The staff is super helpful, knowledgeable and made the experience of eating at 745 a joy. The pizza is very good, well made with a very nice toasty crust and great flavors. The pasta dishes are worth the trip and don't forget the Calabrian Shrimp which is the best! Save some room for dipping those delicious bread rolls in the sauce! read more

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Old Saybrook has many fine restaurants and this is clearly one of them. It's the best Italian in the area. Great atmosphere, good service and a consistent product. We have been back several times . This last trip our foursome had the orenchetti with crumbled sausage, risotto with shrimp, beet salad with chicken and the gnocchi. All very good. Presentation of the beet salad was a little strange but it tasted great. The only drawback here is that parking can be a challenge if you can make it work. read more

Loved it! Great service. Food was good, came out hot with amazing flavor. Have to say it might be better than Alforno's... will be back hopefully read more

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This was my first time at 745 Osteria, and I will definitely be recommending this to everyone I know! The food was incredible, the atmosphere was really nice, it was a little loud, but it was mostly due to a rowdy party who was definitely having a good time! However, the highlight of our visit was definitely our incredible server Linda! She was very attentive and incredibly charismatic. read more

The ONLY pizza worth eating in old saybrook, and so far on the shoreline worth considering, or in Connecticut for that matter. Sally, Pepe and Modern should all take notes. Neapolitan crust is steps above any "new Haven" or "New York" style pizza. 745's was done incredibly. Extra sauce on the side was not true Neapolitan - stick with San Marzano and pure simplicity please. Otherwise, amazing. Thank you much. read more

745Osteria recently began opening for lunch. Good thing because we noticed it being built a few months ago on our last visit, and just happened to be driving by and decided to stop in. The exterior has a very nice patio with umbrellas and comfortable seating. This is the Post Road, so instead of beautiful views you get a 4-lane Stroad and overlook a few car repair shops, but we looked past this! Interior wise, it is super clean and modern looking with big windows to let in the light. There is an open kitchen that you can look into behind big glass display cases with some of the pre-made take-out sandwiches. It was a bit hot on our visit, so we decided to eat inside. We found it all very appealing. The temperature was just right, the service quick and efficient. The food was pretty good, and reasonably priced for the shoreline, about $50 for two including $10 tip. I had a shrimp risotto ($16) that tasted great, just salty enough with a wonderful broth made with a unique pasta-like risotto instead of the typical soggy rice. My wife had a Margherita pizza (12", $16) which was fine, though not the best we've had (we reserve that for Viron Rondo Osteria in Cheshire, CT.) For dessert we had a cheesecake which was also fine. It was nice to eat, but we'd probably not order it again. We probably should have either skipped dessert or ordered the house cannolis. read more

If you're looking for delicious, fresh Italian food- look no further! From start to finish, everything was so incredible. We had the bread platter to start, which was more like a pizza platter, but we loved so much! Then I had the chicken parm. Chicken cutlets were thin and cooked to perfection in an amazing sauce. Highly recommend read more

745 Osteria - Bread platter - Italian Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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I have been waiting for 745 to be listed on Yelp so I could upload a review. We waited a couple months post opening to visit and allow the staff to work out the kinks of a new restaurant. First off, anyone familiar with the old restaurant that occupied this space will find it impossible to recognize. The building has undergone an amazing transformation. It's a very appealing space. We went during the warmer weather of mid summer and sat on the generous outside patio. It was a beautiful night and a very comfortable arrangement. We started our meals with some specialty cocktails which were well prepared and tasty. For our appetizer we went with the fried calamari which was fresh,hot and crispy and came with a tasty sauce. For dinner, we decided on grazing on a few other appetizers and salads. If you go here,definitely get the bread service, it's amazing. The salads were crispy fresh and lightly dressed. The meatballs were flavorful and soft,not overcooked and dry like some places. We had a special that night which was a roasted cauliflower steak,very well prepared. Finally we tried the Calabrian shrimp ,delicious. We saw some pizzas going out to other tables and were jealous we didn't try one. We will definitely be back read more

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Food alright, lil overpriced... pizza not good, try Brickside pizza instead in ivoryton ct. Service not so good. The staff was a little mean. Hurt my feelings a bit ngl. read more

Beautiful ambiance. Very tasteful food great , service very attentive Inviting atmosphere read more

If you don't mind an extremely loud atmosphere, this place is for you. Service is good. Food was excellent. My husband had chicken parmesan which was very good. I had salmon with roasted potatoes and zucchini. Very good! read more

The food is such high quality and absolutely delicious. It comes out of the kitchen looking like art and tastes even better. I definitely recommend the charcuterie board to start with, as it comes with delicious meats and cheeses. The dessert is also delicious with an emphasis on the Afagato! The staff is so kind and they are very friendly and seem to actually enjoy their job! The ambiance is super nice as well. It is very open, and had an outdoor seating option. read more

We stopped after an afternoon at The Kate and we were pleasantly surprised. The building is beautiful. And the food was delicious. Definitely plan to go back. read more

We were excited to go. The website, yelp, apple maps, and the sign on their door all say open until nine. We went on a Monday at 8:15. There were people at the bar and in the restaurant We went to the door and it looked like it was locked. We knocked on the window next to the bartender and she said that they were closed. We only had an hour to meet up and it was completely wasted on that trip due to poor information updating. read more

My parents and I went to 745 after a matinee at the Kate. The place is beautifully designed. They have doors that can open in the warm weather with a great outdoor space with heated lamps. Linda was lovely to chat with, we are both from NY so we had things to discuss. The apps were delicious, we had the arancini and the calamari--which was crispy and tasty. We shared 3 meals, a pasta special, chicken piccata and saltimboca. The pasta was delicious however the chicken dishes were surprisingly below average. The sauces didn't taste like they should--I have had these thousands of times and it wasn't what it normally tastes like plus it was bland. My parents thought the fingerling potatoes weren't fresh. So we walked out disappointed with those meals. However I plan to return for happy hour and we will stick with apps, pizzas and pasta and avoid the chicken dishes. They gave us a 10% discount for the play, which we appreciated. read more

They offer many options for allergies including GF. Love the ambiance! Service was excellent.

First time going here. The food was not as expected. The arancinis were huge and heavy and the calamari seemed made from frozen. The biggest disappointment was the "pizza". We specifically went to try their pizza. Under the pizza menu was one listed as the Calzone - spinach ricotta and sausage. At no point were we informed that it was actually a calzone and not a pizza with calzone toppings. Very misleading AND disappointing. Actually was not that good of a calzone either. We might give it another chance but I doubt it. read more

This place is beautiful, as is the menu. I was so excited to try it out while we vacationed at the shore. We sat outside and they had flowing flower arrangements and fire pits and beautiful orange umbrellas. I felt like I was dining in Italy. When I spent 15 mins waiting for any server I started to feel even more like I was in Italy. Finally a server came and greeted us. We ordered a pelligrino and started w bread tray and mussels. The mussels were fantastic. Cooked perfectly and that cherry pepper broth sang w flavor. Bread tray was like a bread flight of focaccias and really good. It had several sides w it one being a garlic molasses that I found very unique. I liked it, the husband did not. That's where the positives end. I began being attacked by mosquitos who were coming from the very flowers I was adoring earlier. We waited a decent amount of time being eaten alive before dinner came. We went halfsies on the bucatini amatricana and diavolo pizza. When food was ran out we still had all the app plates on the table and food runner had nowhere to serve our meals. Our server came by and we asked for plates and I reminded her we were splitting meals. She brought back two app plates(one was dirty) then I asked for s bigger plate and she brought one bowl so I asked for a flat dinner plate. Another server noticed and came by and apologized and said our server was new. That was very obvious, we had to of been her third table ever it felt like. The bucatini was over cooked boxed pasta. I didn't mind the sauce but my husband said it gave off beefaroni sweetness. The pizza was an atrocity. You couldn't even pick it up. The flavor of the crust was good but It was so thin and weighted in center. I picked it up and everything fell off and it was almost translucent and the crust was puffy and big. I know it's a newer establishment so I hope they work out the kinks but I for one will not be back. read more

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The food and drinks are absolutely delicious and the atmosphere is really inviting (the whole menu is fantastic!). Highly recommend this as one of the best restaurants in Old Saybrook! read more

I have reviewed this restaurant before, and am pleased to say I still love the place. My adventure this time was lunch with the girls. It was their first time and they were quite happy with the selections. I ordered their Beet salad. I can honestly say it was the best tasting beet salad I ever had. The presentation was creative but it looked skimpy. It was a thinly sliced beet, arranged in a circle with two dime size dabs of cheese. Two small greens floated in the middle. The waitress did warn me in advance that the serving was small. I have a small appetite so as a lunch it was fine, but given the price, I can see why some people would feel cheated. They need to add a little more arugula. What would it cost them? Service is still top notch and a very clean pleasant setting. read more

Was so looking forward to this new restaurant after watching it be built forever! Sadly it was nothing like I thought it would be. Basically nothing special and when the bill arrived very expensive! Sorry won't be back. To many way better restaurants in the area to visit. read more

Really good Pizza here , wasn't a fan of the pasta though . Excellent service from start to finish

I'm not sure what was going on, but our experience wasn't good--enough to compel me to write this. The service was terrible--our waiter came to the table loudly proclaiming "I know you all want drinks!" We had a pregnant woman and a child with us, so...no. He was both intrusive and not there at the same time. We waited and waited and waited for our food--the people next to us got there after us and were finished before we got our food. The place was so loud we couldn't hear each other. Even with a well-behaved kid literally falling asleep at the table, he ignored us and was loud with other tables. When we asked about the food a 1/2 hr into our wait he said "it's been fired up." Yeah we hoped so. The food was not good. Calamari was meh, arcini balls too big and bland, risotto was also bland and watery and scallops rubbery, and cod was inedible--overcooked and crunchy. The waiter should've acknowledged the wait and maybe brought bread or even just apologized? Nothing--we all felt he was pissed off we didn't order drinks. Either way, we won't be going back and will stick with Alforno. read more

Love the whole vibe there especially the outdoor dining. Service was good and the food was very good on our 1st visit, not consistent on the 2nd visit, but we will go back though. read more

5 stars I went here on a Friday night it was busy but no wait we got served by our waitress ienes that was very nice and did a great job we got our food very quickly and it was really good the calamari was a 10/10 and their chicken is on I'd recommend The restaurant was really clean and fairly priced I would come here again 5 stars read more

Outstanding service and delicious food. My wife and I had the arancini starter, shrimp risotto and their Sunday Sauce pasta dish with a meatball. Delicious! read more

When a restaurant is beautiful on the outside and the decor is nice the expectation is that the food will be good as well. I can't crucify this establishment because honestly none of the meal was inedible. The pizza we ordered was very good. It had a great crust and the flavor was excellent. The chicken Parmesan was okay but hear me out. I'm a very good cook at home and when my chicken Parmesan is better than a professional chef there stands the problem. A pre made chicken cutlet from a food service company is not what I expect from the beautiful establishment that 745 Osteria portrays itself to be. This is the difference from having a customer raving about a restaurant and not saying much. If I'm being honest I really want to tell everyone that I had a great meal here and that they make everything fresh and it's not a cheap chain restaurant. But alas that's what I'm feeling about the place right now. So I encourage the ownership to reevaluate why such a beautiful restaurant is not full and the wait is not always 30-45 minutes to get a table. It should be and if it was what I think it can be, I would be happy to wait for a table! Get it together before the huge investment that you have made is lost. Make a video YouTube short or TikTok with a chef making a specialty so you can draw those lost customers back in for another try. Make your restaurant a destination! I will return in a few months to see if anything changes. Maybe a real chef that would never use a premade entree. read more

Muscles Siciliano are sweet, succulent, and to die for! Pizza crust is light, crispy, and delicious. Server was very pleasant and attentive. Can't wait to go back! read more

Food is ok. Very limited menu. Service is sporadically not the greatest. It seems staff does not how to do what they are suppose to do. For instance, salad with no salad dressing. Ambiance is excellent though. read more

Excellent pizza ( thin crust, good sauce and cheese) and paninis. Haven't tried anything else. Service was perfect, wine was affordable and premises clean. Will definitely be back! read more

We tried it and the room is very loud which makes it difficult to carry on a conversation at the table. They charge for bread and the artichoke appetizer was not worth the cost. Dinner was OK read more