I was in Brookfield purchasing a car. The sales associate and I were discussing our favorite burger places and, not having eaten yet, I asked for a recommendation. He wholeheartedly recommended Bora Restaurant. I followed his advice and was not disappointed! Do not judge the book by its cover. It looks plain and unassuming on the outside and took me a few seconds to spot it. (No pic, as I was distracted by my new car!) The inside was nicely appointed. Perhaps too many fake flowers, but maybe not. They seemed to work and add color. I went at 4 pm on a Saturday, so between lunch and dinner. There were people, but no crowds or noise. All I wanted was a good burger. And I got it! I ordered the House Burger: (6 oz?) Marbled Wagyu Beef, Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Bacon, Red Onion, Toasted Brioche, and Special Burger Sauce on the side. (Truthfully, I included all that for your benefit. I only wanted the burger, bacon, and bun with ketchup on the side.) It was delicious! I did manage to snap a pic before I descended upon it like a ravenous Serengeti carnivore... with a modicum of decorum so as not to scare the other guests. The service was fast and friendly and the prices reasonable. This is the sort of place I would like to return to in order to try some of their finer dishes! read more

Bora Restaurant - House Burger, minus icky vegetables; shoestring fries, lemonade on the left, ketchup on the right. - Italian Near Me - Bethel, Connecticut

So glad this was recommended to us as a restaurant with a lot of delicious gluten-free choices. My daughter has celiac and their gf options are more than just the typical fare. The calamari is delicious, great burgers, salad choices and French fries are yum. Gluten-free or not, this place has great atmosphere, great service and great food. read more

Bora Restaurant - Crispy Calamari - Italian Near Me - Bethel, Connecticut

Based on 3 visits they need a new chef! Food is consistently over cooked. Had fried shrimp last night that were black. Burger overdone, pasta and shrimp over cooked. Service is good drinks are great, menu extensive but food quality disappointing. read more

I came here for Valentine's Day & enjoyed my first time here! The service was great & the decorations they had for Valentine's Day were the cutest!! They had a pre-fixed menu & I ordered a lemonade, the Crispy Potato Gnocchi, Stuffed Scallops with risotto, & Chocolate Lava Cake. The gnocchi was delicious, the stuffed scallops were undercooked, but the risotto was perfectly cooked & seasoned, & their chocolate lava cake was amazing!! I wish I ordered something different since I wasn't able to enjoy the scallops, but overall a good experience. I'm for sure coming back here to try something different on the menu! read more

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I've had this place saved in my IG for months and I'm so glad I finally went. I went for brunch, made reservations although it was empty when we got there. The service was great and our waiter was so attentive. I chose Classic French Toast with bacon and home potatoes. The French toast was fluffy and came with a side of syrup. The potatoes were so crispy which I love! I also had an Honeycrisp cider spritz cocktail that was delicious with apple slices and cinnamon on top. The ambiance is so peaceful and the decoration makes it even more beautiful. I came with a friend so it's a great place to chat. Definitely coming back for dinner! read more

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We rent space here for every family celebration because the food and drinks are AMAZING, service is accommodating and attentive, prices are fair. Most importantly, their seasonal decor is so gorgeous that besides putting up a few table decorations, the work is already done for you! Will come here for dinner at other times as well. This is our spot. read more

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Amazing atmosphere and service is always spot on. The menu has a great variety and is consistently great. It's tucked away in a strip mall type place but they do have a little outdoor space. read more

OMG, this place exceeded my expectations. Let's start with how pretty the Christmas decorations were. It was one of the best ones I've seen around the area. I ordered the short ribs and it was amazing very tender and so flavorful it came with mashed potatoes brussels sprouts which were all so good. I am already planning my next trip back to get the short ribs again I did wish that the servers were on the same page about checking on diners because we got asked how things were like every 10 minutes, but they were very attentive. read more

My cousin rented the space out because they have a private area. She rented it for my cousin's baby shower. There was plenty of room very nicely decorated. There is a bar there with sitting area on the other side. You can also dine in. The cream chicken was actually good. It's a decent size portion. I got half of it to go. The only negative is the service. The servers were kids and some of them did not know how to handle the food correctly. They also gave us some issues about getting new clean forks. Not really a big deal. I would try this place again to try out something different. read more

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My family visited Bora restaurant for my birthday in early February. It was a Saturday night. We had reservations for 830 and we're seated quickly.. as the restaurant started to slow down and it was nearing 10 o'clock. I noticed the weight staff was gathered over to the side of the bar area. We ordered dessert and my son and my husband mentioned it was my birthday. I think they were hoping the weight staff would put a candle in something even the dessert I ordered and make it special after paying the bill of over $300 my son said to our waiter, could you have done something to make my mom's birthday here special? It was obvious the wait staff wanted to go home so I can honestly say while the food was good, the overstuffed short rib, ravioli were disappointing. The evening was nice, but as far as making the occasion special, they definitely failed. read more

Great experience Food is outstanding. Service is excellent. Prices reflect the quality. Music is a bit loud, for us. However, we will go back. read more

Visited with a few friends on a Saturday evening. Restaurant was well decorated and was located in a plaza with good parking. The menu had a lot of good options. I started with the rice balls, which were perfectly crispy and flavorful. I had the truffle cacio e pepe for dinner, which was good but lacked that peppery flavor. We had a few cocktails and the lava cake for dessert, all of which were tasty. Service was attentive. Prices were reasonable as well. We all agreed it was a good spot! read more

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We enjoy coming here. This time we came here for a 50th birthday party. They did a phenomenal job. The food was amazing. The service was excellent and they did terrific coordinating everything. At the end of the night there were a few of us stragglers and the restaraunt was about to close but they allowed us to stay as they were still tidying up. They were really great with everyone. read more

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Went Saturday night you will need to make reservations. Very cute inside you are packed in like sardines. We both had the special filet mignon two drinks and dessert it was good. read more

ORIGIN & CONCEPT: Bora Restaurant, which opened in December 2022, offers many dishes that are popularly found in "New" American restaurants in the area -- Market Place (Newtown, Brookfield, Danbury) and Barnwood Grill (Newtown) -- such as charred cauliflower, blistered peppers, brussel sprouts, and beet appetizers. Similarly you will find the restaurant has a warm, barnwood-lined interior. So many will not be surprised to learn that Bora Restaurant was conceived by Shkelzen Kralani, owner of Newtown's Barnwood Grill, nor that he took on this new location from his former Barnwood Grill partner. Curious as to the name? Kralani, of Albanian descent, reveals Bora is the Albanian word for snow. ATMOSPHERE: The interior is beautifully decorated, with several defined seating areas: a bar area, a sun-filled window area, and a brick and wood-lined private area. LOCATION: Lot parking, coupled with easy access off and on an interstate highway (84), make a gathering of family, friends, and/or colleagues at Bora effortless. TIPS: Because of the layout of the restaurant, Bora welcomes hosting small events in the private dining area. The restaurant serves lunch and brunch as well. read more

Bora Restaurant - Entrance (Winter 2022) - Italian Near Me - Bethel, Connecticut

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Tucked at the back of the strip mall, one wouldn't expect a fine dining restaurant - yet that's where Bora is situated. The service is very attentive, the menu has some great selections, and I particularly like the special Old Fashioned on their cocktail list, in particular the honey version. Highly recommend the Tuna Tartare and Lobster Ravioli. read more

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It's an amazing service, staff, cuisine! I'm recommend for everyone. It's gorgeous and unreal

I just had a fabulous meal! It's my birthday and we ordered food for delivery from Bora. Our appetizer - crispy calamari with spicy marinara. The rings as you can see in my picture big. The spicy was mild it was just the kick we wanted. Our dinner hanger steak with charred scallions, walnuts, mashed potatoes, whole grain mustard, garlic and thyme. We got our steak medium rare since my husband and I shared. He's likes rare and I prefer medium. This steak was so tender we cut it with a plastic knife. I was not sure about walnuts with my steak. However, a combination if all the seasonings made them sooo good! Hoping the next time we have Bora we can dine in. read more

Bora Restaurant - Hanger Steak with mashed potatoes with amazing sauce. - Italian Near Me - Bethel, Connecticut

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Overall, a very pleasurable experience. The ambience is wonderful, the staff is above and beyond friendly, as well as attentive. I was a little disappointed with the food/drinks. The flatbread, although delicious flavor wise, had a much softer crust than I expected. Flatbreads usually have a more crispy exterior. The sangria, again, tasty, but it was disappointing that the only piece of fruit in it was the slice of orange they used to garnish it with. The house burger was made well, but they overdid it with the amount of tomato and onion on it to make it appear to be more bulky. The pork belly, however, was delicious. Definitely something they did very well! Overall, a great experience, but I feel like it is a bit pricey for what is provided. read more

Bora Restaurant - Sangria - Italian Near Me - Bethel, Connecticut

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We celebrated NYE at Bora for an early dinner. The staff was well prepared for the crowd and worked efficiently to make sure our needs were met. The parmesan brussel sprouts were excellent and we loved the horseradish aioli that complemented the dish. We ordered the Chilean sea bass and chicken Milanese as our entrees... both excellent and largely portioned. We loved the cozy yet elegant holiday decor. We would love to go back. read more

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The best short rib dish you will ever have. It falls apart in your mouth and is deliciously salty. The mashed potatoes are perfectly whipped every time and the brussel sprouts are a nice crispy touch. The bartenders and servers are quick and love giving recommendations. The restaurant has a cozy feel with a fireplace and three separate dining areas. read more

Bora Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Bethel, Connecticut

Omg love Bora. Stumbled upon this spot and discovered they have the most yummy food and delicious specials. I highly recommend you visit, I can't wait to go back myself. Oh and I can't forget the cocktails. Something for everyone. The service and staff were great. And the vibe inside is awesome. read more

Bora Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Bethel, Connecticut

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HIGHLIGHTS: -Top 3 ALL TIME - 1st Class Service - Affordable Gourmet Level Food - Inviting & Fun Ambience - First let me establish some qualifiers. I am in no way related to the owners. Also, I've been eating out multiple times per week my entire 25 year adult life (18-43) & enjoy excellent food... TOP 3 BURGER OF ALL TIME: I love burgers and this one could contend for my personal #1. Cooked to well done mouth watering perfection! No pink, yet very succulent. Masterfully charred without any burnt taste. Delicious grill marked brioche bun. Juicy full cuts of bacon at just the right thickness. Crisp, fresh veggies (& not soggy - i hate soggy). Perfectly cooked and very tasty shoe string fries (McD's style). Came with Bora's "Secret Sauce" which made the whole meal a knock out of the park. Bravo Bora staff. 1st CLASS SERVICE: Greeted with a smile by every staff member encountered. Pleasant and eager to please. Quick and efficient bagging of steaming hot entrees. Expedient payment processing. A+ AFFORDABLE GOURMET: considering a Big Mac meal is now $11-13, getting a gourmet quality burger for $16 is an absolute steal of a deal. Especially in this inflated economy. Easily a $20+ burger. FUN AMBIENCE: the entire establishment is tastefully decorated for the Christmas holiday season. Felt like being at a high end amusement park themed restaurant. Walls, mirrors, doors and tables all done up beautifully. Paired with jazz type music and an amiable staff, it's a total win. Very comfy. CONCLUSION: Eat here TODAY! We must support our local small business entrepreneurs and restauranteurs! Nothing worse than seeing a great food spot close down from lack of patronage. Best part is hard to decide on, but if you want a mouth watering, gourmet meal that won't break the bank, BORA is your new favorite spot! I highly recommend and will be eating here weekly (at a minimum ;) ) read more

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First time . Drinks, App"s. and dessert Everything looked amazing. We had so many great app choices we never made it to entree's. but will definitely be back. Happy hour and drink specials are good ! Put Bora on your list! read more

OMG!!! The decor here is just something. And best thing is, they didnt use all their efforts on that. Food is great here, the burger is to dream of, juicy and i understand its a blend with wagyu beef. Service is great. Nice to see a lot of local youth working here. Great way to involve and support the community read more

Great food, ambience and staff! Can't wait to be back. They had a great wine dinner once. read more

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Everything was perfect the service food was amazing I would recommend this restaurant 100 times read more

We've been to Bora a few times since moving here last year. Service has been exceptional every time. The space is cozy by design, but we love that they lean into seasonal decor. Food is solid and cocktails are on point. read more

Bora Restaurant - Spring is in the air at Bora - Italian Near Me - Bethel, Connecticut

Had a surprise birthday gathering for a friend at Bora. We had drinks & appetizers which was great! From the time you stepped into the restaurant the ambience is alluring . The simple but great tasting menu was sleekly designed to have you try almost everything on the menu. The service was great from the bartender to the hostess that waited the tables. I definitely recommend the expresso martini & the blackberry spicy margarita. All of the appetizers were delicious from the calamari to the meatballs to the fried shrimp. The star of the show was the fried truffle rice ball. All of the sauces were also nicely paired & seasoned to perfection. read more

I went to Bora about a month ago because I was in the Bethel area visiting a flea market. I'm so glad I decided to stop in! We sat outside because they were very busy that day with two events (I believe a birthday and bridal shower). Despite being it busy and us being the only ones seated outside, the service was great and we were checked in on frequently. The butternut squash ravioli was probably the best ravioli I have ever had. I didn't really love the scallops but the other 3 people I dined with did, and they are pretty picky! I will definitely be coming back to try more things. read more

Excellent service, very polite staff! Food is very delicious and the restaurant is beautifully decorated. They listen to their customers and accommodate their needs and dietary restrictions. read more

We have been to Bora several times. The attention to detail both to the presentation of the food and interior decor is what set Bora apart from several other restaurants in the area. We booked the Easter Brunch in hopes of walking into a Spring scene of flora, fresh flowers on the tables and beautifully prepared dishes ;as they have always done for Valentines, Christmas and past Spring/Summer. Unfortunately the first thing you passed at the entrance was an old winter plant. The beautiful flowers usually hanging from the ceilings were no where to be found, most tables were bare (no table cloths or flowers) and the dishes had no garnish of any kind. I realize the recent tariffs and inflation may be responsible or perhaps under new management. If you are planning to make a reservation and have not been there since Christmas or Valentines Day, be prepared for a different experience. We absolutely loved Bora and have recommended it to many friends. I truly hope this was just a one time incident and they plan to continue what they are known for read more

Always excellent food. The watermelon salad and the short rib sandwich were great. Very fresh

Can't believe we haven't tried you before!! Came with another couple and we had an amazing dinner. Fabulous cocktails. Tried the calamari and rice balls for appetizers and both were very good. I had the mahi mahi and it was absolutely delicious. Everyone enjoyed their main dish. We shared the apple crumble and the toffee pudding for dessert - very tasty way to cap off a great evening. Great atmosphere and beautifully decorated space - will definitely be back again. read more

VERY disappointed with a recent visit, especially in light of the recent positive ratings. First, loved the ambience and the vibe of the place. We were quickly seated for our reservation, and immediately served a bowl of warm bread which was REALLY good (in-house made I presume). It kind of went downhill from there. I ordered an Old Fashioned signature cocktail to start. Now let me ask you cocktail experts....what bartender serves a classic cocktail like this in a glass filled with crushed ice??? By the time I took my second sip, the drink tasted watered down. My wife and I then split a Kale Salad as an appetizer. Not only was the salad of a weird "room temperature", but the kale was tough and tasted well, old! Next, my wife ordered the NY Strip medium rare...it came medium well. The Lemon/Pepper Fries it came with were way over salted. The waiter did offer to bring a new one, but we politely rejected. I ordered the short ribs, which I will say was quite good, although I would have liked to have seen a bit more "sauce". We skipped dessert/Coffee. With other fine dining options in the area, we likely won't be back. read more

The menu has something for everyone. The mahi mahi was absolutely delicious, they even made a cocktail into a mocktail for me, Staff was very friendly. read more

Food delicious, service impeccable and friendly and ambiance was great as we sat by the fire as requested on the phone. Food was cooked to perfection and great presentation. I has short ribs that was excellent and plentiful. read more

Bora Restaurant - Short ribs with Brussel Sprouts. - Italian Near Me - Bethel, Connecticut

Nice atmosphere & decor. Nice presentation of food but meal was "ok". The short rib sandwich was forgettable. Pretty much flavorless. The fries were VERY over salted. I had to wipe each fry on my napkin to remove the excessive salt. My husband ordered the chicken Caesar salad and the lettuce was wilted and a bit unappetizing. Glad we tried it but probably won't go back. read more

Bora Restaurant - Shredded short rib sandwich and fries & chicken Caesar salad. - Italian Near Me - Bethel, Connecticut

Being able to walk from our house makes it very convenient. It also means we go frequently so having a menu with so many great options means it can be months before we have to repeat a dish. But daily specials also mean we never have to repeat. That said I have now had the short rib the past three times I've gone because it is that good. Drinks are great as well and the cocktail menu is as enticing as the food menu. Decor is constantly evolving with the season. read more

Fantastic first visit to Bora in the Stony Hill section of Bethel Ct. From the warm greeting by our waitress Nicole to the well spaced timings of the courses we ordered we felt well cared for and welcome. Cocktails were fun and inventive. Oysters on half shell fresh and beautifully presented. Then came the fresh bursts on Arugula. Heaven! All wine bottles were on a 50% Sunday nite discount so we splurged. Delicious Cali Sauvignon that was light and well balanced complimented our Shrimp and Crab over fresh linguine. Had to have dessert- crème brûlée was exceptional Vanilla Gelato for hubby and a perfect espresso to finish the meal. We are so going back read more