Parking: Lot on side and back, along with street parking Decor: Completely remodeled inside and it presents well Staff: Waitress, Kelly, was on point but not in your face too often...simply perfect. Management was walking around talking to tables and it was a nice touch. Food: Fresh homemade Gnocchi in a pesto sauce and fresh salmon...no complaints and cooked to perfection Price: Very reasonable for the dishes and service. Overall: Hands down my new favorite place in Manchester! If you are here, I would highly suggest making reservations and checking it out for yourself. read more

Such a hidden gem in Manchester! I drive past this place frequently and who would have known the amazing food they have here. The service I received was great. The waitress was very attentive and helpful with suggesting different options on the menu. I ordered the Burrata E Prosciutto and the Lobster Gnocchi! Both were very good. Their work presentation was nice. When I went they had a wine event going on downstairs. I thought that was pretty cool. Overall it's a nice place with great food. Their menu changes so check them out sometime for variety. read more

Cafe Aura - Lobster Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

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My family of 5 went to Cafe Aura for Sunday brunch, and had a terrific experience! Service was friendly and efficient, and the food was delicious. We ordered Classic Breakfast Scramble, Eggs Benedict Maryland, Gnocchi,and Linguine Carbonara. The round table was perfect for conversation and parking was easy. Highly recommend! read more

Cafe Aura - Breakfast Scramble - Italian Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

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We drove to Manchester CT last night from RI and met some friends to have dinner at Cafe Aura, which we had heard so many great things about! We were not disappointed and it was worth the drive! Starting with the friendly, warm greeting upon entering to the wonderful service, not to mention great food and drinks it was a winner. Marie, our server was outstanding, making suggestions on apps and giving explanations on specials, not to mention her personal attention and pleasant demeanor! A plate of cheese, olives and delicious crusty Italian bring greeted us with our cocktails. Then we had meatballs, arancini and calamari for appetizers, all of which were excellent! We had Opus One, a red blend suggested by the manager, with dinner and it was excellent. My main course was a pounded out pork chop with greens, tomatoes etc as a Milanese and it was perfect. My friend and one other had the Cacio Pepe and our other friend had the lasagna. Everyone loved their meals. Throughout the meal, our server Marie paid great attention to us, even though the restaurant was very busy, and she kept her sense of humor and pleasant disposition throughout! Ending the evening with expresses and cappuccinos put an exclamation point on a wonderful evening! read more

Treated some of my Florida family to a great night out at Café Aura last night. We had a great time and a wonderful meal. Last time I was here it was Cavey's and it sure didn't look the same. It is a beautiful room with lots of space to enjoy dining. We had a perfect server and she led us through a delicious meal. We started off with a Calamari Fritto to share. It was perfectly done and we had both of the dippings, marinara and lemon aioli. I really am not a fan of the marinara with calamari so was very happy with the aioli. What I didn't order and should have was the special of Fried Squash Blossoms...missed that in all the menu reading. Have to go back! The Chicken Parmesan was gigantic and looked super but the side of pasta was the hit for me [even though it was my sister's entrée]. Other sister ordered the Veal Saltimbocca with mashed potatoes and was declared wonderful [but not shared!]. Brother-in-law and I both ordered the Lobster Fettuccine with Vodka Sauce and it rocked! So flavorful with perfectly cooked pasta and loads of lobster. Glad I ordered this. The two wines were excellent [I couldn't partake as I am still hampered in that because of meds for fractured shoulder]. Will be back for the Tuscan Blend [and the squash blossoms] soon. A Cappuccino and Chocolate Dome made up my dessert and the dome was made in-house and should be illegal in the calorie department. Wonderful. The two Crème Brûlée were described as one of the best yet. So, all in all, you can see that we truly enjoyed ourselves as did most others in the filled dining rooms. read more

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Came here for the first time for new years. I'm a picky eater, but their fillet mignon was the best steak I've ever had. The service is amazing and their crème brûlée was also some of the best I've ever had. Will gladly be returning! (There's a filter on the picture) read more

Cafe Aura - Créeme brûlée - Italian Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

This is our go to spot in Manchester. It isn't uncommon to interact with Chef Conte and the daily specials keep things fresh. Service is fantastic and the drinks are great. read more

The food, service and decor are all top notch. This is the place for special occasions, business dinners and just plain nights out with family and friends. read more

A recent visit to Cafe Aura was a terrible disappointment. From the moment we sat at the bar, the obvious inexperienced bartender failed to give us a proper greeting-a smile. It just went downhill from there. Ordering $15 martinis and the glass is half full. Her partner wasn't much better. We had to ask multiple times for bread. We ordered 2 apps and one entree. The meatballs were good but very small. The arancini were overcooked. The entree never arrived. While the bartenders defended themselves to one another, neither came to us with an apology only "are you sure you ordered?" Again, basic customer service was poor. Unfortunately this seems to be the way of most restaurants, however, given its very highly visible owner, one would expect more. We've dined here many times over the years and even had events. We've never experienced this level of declining service. The bar staff clearly has opportunities for improvement and training. read more

Our first visit to Cafe Aura. We were extremely pleased. Our server Martha was outstanding and offered suggestions which were spot on! We started out with a cocktail. My husband ordered a dirty martini and Martha suggested the fig cosmo for me. Absolutely amazing, both fragrant and delicious with fig vodka, hints of elderberry and lime.... Delicious! The server delivered crusty bread with a wonderful olive oil. We ordered the minestrone soup and arancini as an appetizer, both delicious! I ordered fora main course the lobster gnocchi . While I was a little Underwhelmed by the size of the entree and the TINY amount of lobster for $32. ( as a native Newporter). I have to say it was delicious, but would not order again because of the price value. Again, it was still very tasty. My husband ordered the veal Ossobuco With saffron risotto which was outstanding. The veal was flavorful and cooked perfectly! For dessert we had a fabulous terra miso. We will absolutely be back! Nice ambiance and service outstanding!!!!! read more

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Ordered a ribeye after the waitress didn't even tell us they were served, the meat cut was excellent but came with a POUND OF SALT. The rabe side was even saltier. My wife had linguini with clams and the clams were so bad, they tasted like low tide. She actually spat them out and didn't finish her meal. This was a very disappointing evening, the waitress didn't even tell us the specials and when I ordered the NY Strip I even said "unless you have a Delmonico," and she said "no, we don't." Then we heard the specials at the next table and they had it, and I changed my order. Again, the meal came sub-par. Never again. read more

Absolutely no flavor in any of their foods apps came out cold. Prices were shocking. Not many options for non alcohol. Breads were stale.

Pretty disappointed in the experience, my mother's birthday no less. We ordered filet mignon both medium but as only one was cooked correctly. The server was non existent when the problem arose so I waved over a manager of some kind. I showed him the two filets and told them they were ordered the same way and asked him if they looked the same. Instead of answering my question and apologizing he asked if I would like a new steak. That was cold, man. My mom had ordered fries with her filet. And they were out of ketchup. I told him we would like ketchup too and maybe he should send someone to the store to buy some. They did. Now how hard is that? Out of ketchup, run to Cumberland Farms right around the corner. This is a $45 steak with fries here. You can get way more bang for your buck at the Outback ordering the same filet mignon and they cook it correctly. The presentation on the plate was weak. There were no spoons set at table or delivered with the Gorgonzola sauce for the filet. Nothing was comped on the bill not even a free drink while I sat at an empty place setting waiting on a new steak. I gave my mom mine - yes they screwed up the birthday girl's entire meal. It took so long to get another steak out everyone else was finished. We tipped very well because we are classy folks and it is around the holiday after all. Our server was nice but barely existed once the restaurant got busy. She explained the appetizers we ordered incorrectly. The crab has avocado blended throughout and the crab does not sit atop avocado as it was described to us. Geno was there and came to our table to apologize. I don't want his restaurant to fail he seems like a nice guy. Making the rounds to shake hands and pose for photos is nice and shows effort for what he can do for the place. But he's got to know his restaurant is not very good. There is a certain expectation of experience and quality that comes with the price tag on your menu. Cafe Aura is not ready for prime time. It's not on the level of Max Downtown or Artisan in West Hartford. read more

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Came for brunch this morning for the first time. Oh my, food was exceptional once again! This restaurant is beautiful and every time we've been has been a fantastic experience. Prices for brunch options are very reasonable. Add on a cocktail and dessert for $12 and you'll have a full rounded meal. We made reservations for 11:45 but there were plenty of open tables for walk-in's. I love this place so close to home is a bonus. read more

Cafe Aura - Breakfast flatbread is huge! Took half home. - Italian Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

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This was a fantastic restaurant. I came here for an early dinner with a friend. The inside looks new and beautiful. There is even a front area with windows everywhere for parties and celebrations. I ordered a couple small plates and everything was excellent. Our server was attentive as well. I will 100% be back here again. read more

After hearing so many good things about this spot, decided to stop by for dinner on a Sunday night. Started off with an aperol spritz and espresso martini, both were really tasty. For the appetizers we got the arancini, polenta cakes and the fennel salad. The salad was good but wish we had skipped the other two apps, they were ok at best. For entrees we got the tuna, carbonara and halibut. The fish was fresh and delicious as was the carbonara. Ended the meal with the key lime pie- definitely recommend getting this. Overall had a great experience, will definitely be back to try other things on the menu. read more

Both my spouse and I made a reservation for tonight's dinner. We usually go out on the last weekend before my trip back home fir the year. We also celebrated my early birthday. Christine served us. We had calamari, lentil soup, veal Marsala , Branzino Mediterranean, and tiramisu to share. We spaced the appetizer and soup from the main courses so we don't get rushed. I'm glad we did. When we had our appetizer and soup, we saw another table served in their drinks and dinners within 10minutes. Surprisingly, our dinner was served within 10 minutes too even though my fish is cooked to order according to the menu notes. We thought we had time to talk while waiting for the main course but they were out when I refreshed myself. We have no complaints for our food. Fish was fresh but I could tell that it was reheated as the tail was burnt. Red wine and iced tea were great. The dessert was a hit. We will come back but I suggest that the main course should be spaced before serving between drinks and appetizers. read more

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My husband and I went out for our 40th anniversary at 4:45 on a Saturday. It was defiantly not busy. First, there was no silver ware on the table, second, our app came out before our drinks, third, my Hamburg was raw in the middle and the server did not come to check on us till my husband and I switched plates. It was very loud also in dining room. I had made these reservations a week ago. Why couldn't the management put us in a corner table??? they knew it was a special occasion. Also our water glasses were never refilled. Honesty, for what we paid and the service we received, I wish we went to Burger King. I would NOT recommend Aura. Also, Management if the person is going around to ask patrons how there meals are that person should go to EVERYONE not just a selected few. VERY discouraging. This was a special occasion and it was the WORST! read more

My wife, myself and friends who celebrated with 50th Wedding love the ambiance, food and service. I give it a 5 STAR RATING!

Have had good experiences here before but tonight was treated disrespectfully by the manager (glasses).. just looking for a quick meal and drink at the bar.. sat down .. only 4 people at the bar at the time ... bartender paying more attention to a couple than me..5-6 minutes before bartender interacted with me.. after I said, I was looking for a meal and a drink. I got a menu and a glass of water... Then a manager asked me if I was here by myself... I didn't know who he was... I said yes and he asked me if I could move because he had four people that were looking to sit at the bar... what he doesn't know is that myself and my company have spent thousands of dollars at this bar... And we never will again I left and went next-door to Pizza Mia.. and had a tremendous time with the owner and the incredible weight staff and bartenders there... I'd recommend going over to pizza Mia for better service quality. read more

This place was nice and cozy. Our server was very nice and attentive. I ordered the chicken parm and I must say I've never seen it served the way they serve it there! The chicken was as large as my plate and just one breast!! Still delicious. Overall we had a great time. read more

Went to Cafe Aura for my birthday dinner and was blown away by the food and the staff. Most amazing experience and cannot wait to go back! read more

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This restaurant is mediocre at best. Lovely atmosphere, we sat at the bar, ordered drinks which were decent. Decided on 2 appetizers, the octopus and the calamari. Both were just ok. The calamari was bland and the octopus was a little overcooked. After we were just about finished with the apps, the bartender informed us of the dinner specials which included an appetizer special that clearly we didn't know was available. For dinner we tried the Rigatoni Buttera which my husband enjoyed. The Linguini de Mare (special) which again was just ok and I had the New York Strip that was so tasteless and dry I couldn't believe it. It's unfortunate because it really is a very pretty restaurant but the food and service were just ok. read more

The new Cafe Aura space is quite nice! Overall I was disappointed in the menu since I am specifically looking for vegan options or maybe vegetarian options that can be prepared vegan. I didn't see any helpful vegetarian or vegan indicators on the menu. I had planned to inquire if the chef has any vegan preparations, especially if given advance notice, but didn't get the chance to ask. I enjoyed a farro salad - didn't ask if it was prepared vegetarian or not. The flavors were good! The overall vibe in the bar area was great, especially for a Tuesday evening! read more

Cafe Aura - Farro salad - Italian Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

Just had a really nice brunch at Cafe Aura today. They are new to the brunch scene so it wasn't busy, quite relaxing really. At first the prices seem a bit high but for the quality of the food it's absolutely a steal. You also get a brunch cocktail and dessert added to any entree for only $9. I had the filet eggs Benedict and my boyfriend had the breakfast burger (with no egg though). We were both blown away, so good. Key lime pie and cheese cake for dessert. I'm so stuffed I won't eat until tomorrow! Absolutely will be back to try the rest. read more

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First time there. I was with my Mom and Dad and my wife. We had a reservation but arrived early and they sat us right away. While the happy hour at the bar was noisy, the restaurant area was shielded pretty good. Nice atmosphere. My wife wis gluten free, and our server was a great help to her for finding the best combination to order. Food was very, very good. Steaks cooked right. Veggies really good too. Had the PEI mussels for appetizer, very good as well. Deserts also very good. Try the Key Lime pie if you are dining there on this hot summer nights! Chef Conte visited our table, and bought Mom and Dad their dessert when he learned they have been married 63 years. We'll be back! read more

Beautiful restaurant. Drinks were on point. Great service- loved our waitress marie. Food was excellent- got the tuna tartare for app but didn't take a pic because we ate it too fast- it was amazing. Highly recommend. read more

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We went there for the first time for a Mother's Day Saturday night dinner . The pasta made with pappardelle pasta and mushrooms, with a light lovely cream sauce which we shared was delicious. The veal saltimbocca was yummy with the creamiest potatoes. The deserts were first rate. We enjoyed it immensely! We will be back! read more

Had dinner with friends here last Friday night. The salmon with the dill butter was perfect. The vegetable ragout that accompanied it missed the mark as some of the vegetables were al dente. My dessert was a rich chocolate mousse (pot du crème?), and it was excellent. The decor and ambiance were sleek and modern. It was expensive-but it likely is the best restaurant east of the river. I'd be happy to go back and hope to be able to give an unqualified 5. read more

We came here for the Sunday Brunch several times. It's always great. We've had the ricotta pancakes which and melt in your mouth. Breakfast burger is another winner. We added mimosa and dessert to our brunch but weren't fans of the dessert offerings. The restaurant is very elegant and there's lots of space for large groups. read more

What a great restaurant to try!! I highly recommend trying multiple appetizers and sharing an entree. They have so many great plates. Me and my boyfriend have have dined here four times and the food is always good. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because their soup of the day and mixed drinks are seriously slacking. On two different occasions the soup of the day was really bad. read more

We were celebrating a birthday at Cafe Aura on a bustling evening in December. Everything was festive, the restaurant looked lovely with its Christmas decorations. We were greeting immediately when we walked in and seated within minutes. Our waiter, Dereck arrived at our table acknowledging a birthday and ready to take coctail/drink orders. As busy as they were, they arrived quickly and were great. We were handed our menus and told the specials and given a few minutes before he was back asking if we knew what we wanted. It seemed rather rushed and we asked for a few more minutes. We then ordered an appetizer and our meals at the same time. The appetizer was wonderful, a dish of octopus over large white beans in a wonderful broth. Our meals came out quickly thereafter. We were all still feeling rather rushed. A burger that was ordered MR came out M at the least but it was still juicy and good. A simple pasta dish, Pepe Cece which was excellent, veal parm over pasta which we had pior and it was excellent, this night it was dry unfortunately and I had short ribs over polenta which was excellent. I ate at the most half as did the person with the veal as they were large dishes. We asked for the rest to go. We all shared an after dinner cocktail which all came and were very good, but nothing for the birthday. We have been here to celebrate birthdays before and they do a nice presentation of desert with a candle but the waiter seemed to have forgotton. We ordered a canolli and then the check came immediately. We were handed a a bag for each couple with our leftovers and the evening came to an end. The next day planning on leftovers for dinner, I took the bag out of the refrigerator only to find that he never put the rest of my short ribs in it, we only had the dry veal. Very disappointed! The first half of the evening the service seemed pretty good but it definately faltered as the evening went on. We will certainly go back because we have always gotten wonderful food and usually good service. read more

Nice place from a "look" standpoint. Everything was much better as Cavies. This was my second time here and both visits are nothing to write home about. I would go to Carbones in Hartford for the much better version of a similar menu. The Pellegrino was the star of the show on this one. read more

Cafe Aura - The only 2 shrimp in my pasta special. They did come out after seeing my sadness and served a plate of shrimp on the side. - Italian Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

Meh. Service was extremely slow. Food was good, average, really, certainly not great. You should expect great food and great service for the hype and the price point. Keep looking, you can do better. read more

Had never heard of Cafe Aura prior to booking it to celebrate my daughter's graduation on Sunday May 5. I booked it because the pictures online looked good and it was in the geographic area we were looking for. My hopes for a great dining experience went up when I learned that the restaurant was owned by none other than UCONN women's basketball coach Gino Auriemma, a man known for perfectionism. And with my daughter graduating from UCONN, it seemed that fate had brought us to the right place. But Fate doesn't always promise a positive experience. Parking was a little bit of an issue, but it's downtown so that is understood. Building was nice, interior decor seemed elegant but very understated. As I looked around the restaurant looking for any semblance of ambiance, I couldn't find any. I had no idea what look or feel the designers were going for, but I was just left with this empty feeling, like the whole restaurant was a movie set. Weird, but I'm sure there are others that feel this way. Sure, the atmosphere was better than ihop, but for the prices they charged at Aura, I would have expected the food to be better than ihop. The waitress was efficient, which is the best compliment I can give her. I personally do not like eating at a "fine dining" restaurant that employs grandmothers as waitresses. She started out friendly enough, but once she met some resistance (by way of my 80 year old mother complaining about the sour olive oil they put on the table) the smile faded into a sternness. I could tell the poor waitress was contemplating how she wound up, at her age, explaining to people she just met that the olive oil that was put on the table was actually Italian olive oil. I felt like I was in a re-run of that old tv show Alice. The bread was decent, but my mom was right. The olive oil was substandard and due to the clear bottles and open-ended spout was probably oxidized and thus sour. No salt or pepper either on the table, which also was strange. Drinks and food were brought out in a timely fashion. Geno's red wine blend was actually very good, albeit $12 a 6oz portion. But what the heck, it's my daughter's graduation and Geno is destitute, so why not help out a fellow Husky. When my son saw the portion of pasta he got, I laughed out loud. The pasta portions were about the size of a fist. Pasta was good, and I presume fresh made there at the restaurant, but it's the one thing that is so cheap to make that you can splurge a little. If you have ever been to Becco in NYC, you understand the portions of pasta I'm talking about. My daughter got the gnocci tartufo, which is supposed to have truffle. But of course, no truffle to be found. Most restaurants fool people by using the word truffle, but it's not even real truffle oil or truffle itself. For the price of the pasta dish (potato), I would have expected at least a few specks or maybe even some shavings of truffle. I got a ribeye steak, as much as I keep promising myself NEVER to get a steak in an Italian restaurant. I ordered it med-rare, as it should be, and it came in around medium. I didn't feel like re-ordering, so I lived with it. The steak came with some small colored potatoes and some nasty, anemic broccoli rabe, but the steak is the star right? One of the worst cuts of meat I have ever had. When the waitress told me it was $70, I thought I would get a steak akin to Capitol Grill, Flemings, Black Angus, Lugar (wishful thinking but maybe?). Of course, they don't offer dry aged at Cafe Aura, but I still thought I would get a great steak. Wrong. tough, fatty, ligaments everywhere, totally nasty. I'm not sure what USDA grade that meat was, but it was maybe just a step up from "Institutional". If a prisoner ordered steak as his last meal, and got this steak, he would be happy to walk under his own power to the chair. Should be clear by now that I will never go back to Cafe Aura. It's a tough lesson, when you want to be a fine dining restaurant, you can't cut any corners. You either are, or you aren't. I would much rather you be an awesome, low-priced, local haunt like the Painted Pony, then try to play with the big dogs. Geno is a champion, but not when it comes to restaurants. I did give the waitress a $100 cash tip (which was about 27%) because I NEVER cheap out on servers. They do work hard and everyday can't be spectacular. Plus, she had to deal with the unfortunate Oilgate controversy. If you have money to spend, and just want to try a place out, go to Cafe Aura once. Maybe your experience will be different than mine. read more

Awesome dinner at Cafe Aura as usual! From start to finish, we thoroughly enjoyed every bite (and sip)! read more

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Had high expectations but was disappointed. Will not recommend if no improvement is made, to summarize, "MICHELIN restaurant" price but "Olive Garden" food. Service is good, vibe is ok, food is average and even blow. More about food: average flavor, poor presenting and NOT high-quality ingredients (looks/tastes just like homemade from a grandma who doesn't like you). I would not complain if the food is from a $ restaurant but we had a $140 plus dinner for two. read more

We had a great experience her. The apps were wonderful as were the mains. I had the gnocchi which I added scallops to. Yum! I also found the prices to be reasonable given the quality of food and the atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

Started out with a couple appetizers , Mussels and Burrata and Prosciutto got to say very well presented and flavorful 5 stars for the apps and drinks . Moved on to dinner , had the Orechettite pasta with broccoli rabe and sausage special , it was dry and lacked flavor , after trying to figure this dish out I came to realize they forgot to put the panchetta in which would of added the flavor it needed .They offered a free desert to compensate but the Tiramasu wasn't made well either heavy on the mascapone cheese no egg yolks and no coffee flavor. My guests had the Ribeye steak which was average and the liguinie and clams which was pretty good since it had a half dozen fresh little necks giving it flavor . Im thinking this place might be good for the bar and appetizers also would of like to see an improvement in the regular wine list . perhaps some more reasonable priced Napa Valley wines . read more

My first visit to Cafe Aura has left me with mixed feelings. I went in a Friday night and sat at the bar for a few drinks and appetizers. The inside is beautiful and very inviting. They've done a great job there. All of the bartenders were friendly and attentive which was also nice. As others have said, it's the food where they fall a little flat especially for the prices they are charging. My friend and I ordered a few plates. The first was the tuna tartare which was excellent. My only complaint was that there were not enough taro root chips on the plate. Not a huge deal but a few more would have been nice and seem like an easy enough fix. We also ordered the burrata which came with two small pieces, tomatoes, and prosciutto. It was pretty good, but honestly, I've had better burrata from a food truck for half the price and double the portion. Lastly I ordered a side of fries. Tasty enough but they were not hot or crispy at all. These are small complaints, but like I said for the amount we spent and the type of place they are trying to be I expect a little more. Hopefully they will still continue to work out some of these issues to really set themselves apart. read more