This place is amazing!!! What a gem, especially in East Hartford. Who would have known. I never would have tried it but for Yelp (thank you thank you previous posters). Ok, now let me stop swooning over this place and get to the details... Tried two items off their specials menu - the Rhode Island Fried Calamari and the Crab Ravioli with Shrimp. They were both AMAZING. The calamari was incredibly unique - not the usual fried calamari with marinara sauce. It was also huge. The Crab Ravioli was stuffed with delicious crab, but even better, the sauce it was in was AMAZING. It was cream based which is usually too heavy for me but the flavor made it perfect. It also came with some steamed broccoli which was a nice touch. This was ten times better than any Olive Garden variety of this dish. It was one of the best cream sauces I've ever had. My husband had the steak and cheese grinder which he enjoyed. I had a bite and thought it was very good. Nothing extraordinary but it is certainly not a dish you'd try if you want extraordinary anywhere. He exclaimed in particular how much he liked the melted the cheese though. The service was great too. Seemed like the waitress was running the whole place herself and was doing an excellent job keeping up with my husband's endless soda habit. They also serve complimentary bread and oil. The oil had roasted garlic - amazeballs! Looks very nondescript outside and not in the nicest area but go inside - it looks great and clean. Now GO! read more

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Went there first time for lunch 3 weeks ago and came back 4 times since!!! Homemade ravioli is out of this world, I already tried chicken and mozzarella; duck; salmon; and caramellis that look like candy :) prices are very reasonable for homemade food. All entrees come with soup or salad and the soups are amazing. The original owner just took over the place again and they are remodeling a little bit and the place is becoming nicer and nicer every time we go there. This is one of the best Italian restaurants I've been to in a long time. Will be coming back a lot! read more

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Excellent quality food! Pizza, grinders, fries are all top notch! Your regular everyday Italian dishes (lasagna, spaghetti, etc.) are amazing. But on top of all that, what impresses me the most about this place (and I've probably been here 50 times, literally), is that outside of their regular menu, they have a chef's specials menu which change up every few days and anything (and I mean ANYTHING) I've ordered off of this menu has been DELICIOUS!! You're getting the same quality entrees off the chef's specials menu that you would be getting at a well known restaurant in a big city... but at half (if not less even) the price! Atmosphere is so-so but the quality of the food is some of the best in the Greater Hartford area, maybe even the state. Unfortunately not in the best location so not much traffic so I don't think the place is really that known... I think the majority of its business is from locals in the East Hartford Burnside area getting take-out. That's too bad considering how great the food is here. read more

Usually go for pizza this time I wanted to try something different I ordered some pasta and I have to say it was pretty good. Nice fresh and tasty not much of a weight time and the employees are very polite read more

I simply love this place. The food selection is favorable and the quality and taste phenomenal. They always offer daily specials which are really fun to try. The atmosphere is quite and the service is terrific. Maybe a little out of the way, but we drive there a lot, bypassing many name brand restaurants. read more

Don't just dont. Over rated pizza joint with an expanded menu....not an Italian restaurant. Service was slow at best. We were there on a sunday about 5:00 and the place was dead. The 8 of us were the only ones in the restaurant. After being there an hour and a half we didn't see anyone come in for take out either. There was a shard of metal from the can opener in my pasta....details. read more

So far the best pizza in town since I been living in East Hartford for 13 years. Great customer service every time I go there.

Foodies pay attention, you Have to go here... Don't leave when you pull up because the place looks closed. You will find some of the best food in the area at unbelievable prices. Again, don't let the look of the outside deter you, go right in and let the friendly staff seat you anywhere you want to go and look to the "SPECIALS MENU" only, in my opinion. I'm not saying that all the food isn't wonderful, but the specials menu is off the chart fantastic. The appetizers are incredible and so are the desserts. One catch, the chef who creates these spectacular dishes is not on the premises Tuesdays or Sundays, so try to work around that. Yesterday I had a pesto shrimp appetizer with feta cheese, watermelon, cucumber and fresh dill and basil. So yummy and refreshing. My mom had the pierogi's which were the best Ive ever had (sorry New Britain!) and my mother in law had the Spanikopita which is served on a bed of Greek salad. The pierogis could have been an entree it was so ample. Dinner for me was the panko cod over a bed of spinach and mashed potatoes and a clam cream sauce. PLEASE!!! This was so good I'm going back Monday and hoping its still on the SPECIALS MENU. In case I haven't mentioned it, that is where all the magic of this place lies.....Trust me, you will be amazed at the food this place puts out, how little you'll spend for what your getting and you don't have to dress up! read more

Standard italian grub, but its a great little/friendly family owned establishment. The food is good, the service is great, and you feel good being here. read more

Horrible service. I ordered calimari, soup, fries and potato skins for delivery. They said it would be 45 minuets not a big deal. About half an hour later I get a call from them asking my address I give it to them, they tell me next time to give them a different street, guess I don't know my own address, and the guy then says do you see my car? No! I'm not outzide, no one rang my door bell, you didn't even say you were here, just confirmed the address. So I say ok IL be right out. I go outside the guy isn't at the door so I wait, I then see that he's still sitting in his car. The guy wouldn't even come to the door. I wouldn't have cared if he wasn't so rude. I gave him a 20% tip and he just huffed at me. I go insid3 and realize, they forgot half my order I call back tell them they say that they are backed up and that they can give me ceedit. I tell them no I want m order. So they say ok in a pissy tone and hang up. So now it's ten minuets before they close I just called then asking about my food. Said it's on the way it's really not that far from my house. So rude. I just wanted my food. That's all. Horrible service. Oh yea the food we did get was soggy. read more

Went for dinner after work because it's right down the street. When we first walked in it looked like a nice place to eat with plenty of room. We waited quite some time before the server noticed we were there. The service once we sat down was pretty quick, but overall par for the course. Our server was excited, but I would have expected more given we were the only ones there. The food was just ok, I wasn't wowed by the taste. The portions were huge though, I can eat quite a bit but was able to draw out three meals. One really awesome part was the owner came out and greeted us individually. She also gave us rice pudding which was VERY good. I would be willing to try another dish another time. read more

We've been coming here for years - but since we're out of the area we only come when we're passing through. Bottom line - consistently delicious Italian comfort food at super affordable prices. Tonight - Fried mozzarella, chicken Parm, cheese ravioli and a meatball for my 6 year old. Nice house wine, fresh bread and a sweet and attentive server. Also apparently under original ownership again but same staff and chef. Al Frescos is a total gem! read more

I will start off by saying that I've only eaten here once, and the food was decent but what stood apart was the great service. CT is certainly not known for being friendly, but if you are looking for some friendly service, go here. It feels like family when you are here as Daisy and the gang really take the time to get to know you and act like human beings. If you're in the East Hartford (where this place really is, not Hartford) or Manchester area, I say check this place out. read more

Absolutely wonderful experience! Don't turn away because of the outside appearance. Food was fresh and served in large portions. The server was very professional with a great sense of humor. We didn't wait very long at all (we had a party of 9 so a long wait was expected) and even still the server gave us an update of how soon our orders would be ready so we weren't just waiting and wondering. The restaurant is family run and they are all so kind. Best restaurant in Connecticut I've ever been to. read more

The girl who answered the phone was very pleasant and got our order correct without a flaw! The food was delivered in a timely manner and was absolutely delicious! The salads were fresh and the pasta dishes were flavorful and generous - we definitely recommend this place and will order again for sure! read more

I always order delivery. Most of the time they are fast. Food is amazing.....especially their sausage cabbage soup, soooo good.

Every time I come here, it's empty!!!! It makes me so horribly depressed!!! The owners are wonderful people, very nice, down to Earth, and welcoming. I think the food is great, and the portions are huge - I get the chicken alfredo usually, and I love the taste. It's a very unique, catchy flavor. If they shut down, I really have to get that recipe. My Grandma loves their chicken francaise. Chicken parm is great too. I'm sure a few of their dishes aren't quite as perfect - they have a pretty big menu. Find the dishes you like and stick with 'em! They give you warm bread with every meal, and a salad or soup, even at lunchtime!!! And the prices are absolutely amazing - so cheap if you go before 3PM! I don't see how they make any money!!! They must be losing money like crazy. It's such a big restaurant, and it's empty every time I go. Why???? What's wrong with you people in East Hartford/Manchester??? It's a real tragedy. This is the first time I've ever truly felt sorry for a business. Very sad. Stop going to friggin' overpriced, mediocre Olive Garden where they get food out of barrels lol!!! Support a struggling local business! read more

Great food, great service. Went with the wife and kids. I got the scallop ravioli, my wife got the linguini with clam sauce, son got veil parm, daughter got chicken Alfredo. All of these dishes were great. Very generous portions. We brought a lot home. read more

Ordered 2 grinders take out. First of all, they got both orders wrong but we were starving so no biggie, picked the unwanted items off and dug in. Half way through my husband picked up his second half and there was a big black bug smooshed into the bottom of the roll. Most disgusting dining experience EVER!! read more

Good casual Italian restaurant. Check the specials for some very nice dishes. Nice take-out and delivery from adjacent C&E Pizza.

Best pizza in East Hartford I've had, which isn't saying much. If you like mediocre crust and the need to purchase extra cheese as an extra topping to compensate for a standard Southern CT/NYC cheese pizza, then this is the place for you. If ordinary Northern CT pizza must be had because you can't travel to New Haven or Bridgeport, then this is as good as it gets up in these parts. The sauce is great, though. Earned this place an extra star. read more

Had dinner there this past Saturday with my husband and another couple. Food was fabulous, the service was outstanding. It was nice to be able to sit, relax and chat. Never rushed to leave, we sat, ate and chatted for well over and hour. Would highly recommend. Will definitely stay in town and eat there more often. read more

Absolutely disgusted with this place! We came here after my nana's funeral because she loved this restaurant{before the new ownership} walked in at about 11:20am on a Friday for pizzas & beers, about 12-14 of us, they wouldn't let us order pizzas off the menus they gave us, or any pitchers of beer, they wanted us to pay $13 a person off their catering menu, which included a beverage (soda) and a salad. Nobody actually wanted a salad to begin with, and Mind you we had a baby and 2 other children under 10 years old. We said no thank you we just want to order 4 or 5 large pizzas, and our own beverages. The owner could not comprehend this, he insisted on the catering menu and dropped the price to $12 a person. I tried to explain to him that nobody wants a salad and we want to order our own beverages. He would not let us do this. Mind you, a large cheese pizza here is $14. So we all left and went to Margheritas which we should have done to begin with. We walked In Margheritas and they welcomed us with their arms wide open. This is just 1 small example why these chain restaurants do so well! read more