We had an early reservation as we had an event to get to. We were first customers to arrive that…read moreevening, and at least 6 of the staff were there to greet us--quite a welcoming committee. All four of us were happy with our meals! The eggplant tower and Caesar salad were starters, and for main meals one had pasta bolognese (big appetite), one chicken (there were leftovers), and TWO shared the orecchiette (AND took some home). Two glasses of wine. It was a lovely meal, and came to just over $40 per person with tip. Would go again to this charming restaurant any time we are in New Haven.

This has been our 5th time coming - it's just consistently delicious. Strangely when we pulled up…read moreit looked like it was boarded up, maybe it's to prevent a cold draft but thankfully it's still there! Parking lot was empty. We had our almost two year old that had to tag along for dinner and they were very accommodating- the server was able to adjust menu items as we needed for dietary needs and when our little guy was getting bored they brought over a piece of paper to draw on. We went during a week day and barely 5 couples in there. I was able to walk around with our little guy (which in the past and on a weekend would never happen) - my son took an interest to peek into the kitchen and all the cooking staff were nice let him take a good look at the team in action. Thanks Adriana's again for wonderful food and kind /accommodating team and servers!

While the name of the restaurant doesn't sound old school, the food is definitely a cut above old…read moreschool. The restaurant is elegant, crisp and inviting. The pasta perfectly al dente. The service and attention from the staff is the right level between attentive but not hovering. I loved the mix between well known pastas and a few not so well known regional dishes. I had a specialty from Amalfi. A Spaghetti with the most tenter octopus and succulent clams. We enjoyed an exceptional late lunch, unhurried and left to savor each bite. This is a definite recommend for me.

A bit pricey, but delicious pasta! One of my favorite things to do is go to Italian restaurants in…read moreNew Haven and this one is one of the best! Their pasta is made from scratch and tastes so fresh. The texture is perfection. I got pappardelle w/ sausage and porcini mushrooms and it was delicious! My friends also enjoyed their meals. They were also very good portion sizes. As stated earlier, it's a bit pricer than other places but worth it. And you get complimentary bread. The service was also good.

Went for Ladies Night this past Wednesday. We had such a good time. Encore is the perfect name…read morebecause I wil be coming back again and again and again. The new interior is bright modern and gorgeous. They put a lot of thought into designing this space. Nice big bar, great martinis and prix fixe menu. I'm happy for New Haven because this place is for grown-up people. And they were playing all the hits from the 80s!!! Had the broccoli race and Italian sausage. Delicious. Also sampled the salmon...cooked to perfection with a heaping of tomatoes. I'm going back for the chicken rotini and cheesecake next time. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Kudos! And keep it up!!

Goodfellas has been a go-to us for years for special occasions, and this was our first visit back…read moresince their remodel and change to Encore. We couldn't believe how different it was inside, but it's definitely a positive change! We were seated upstairs, and we were pleasantly surprised when a pianist began playing. It was a perfect volume where we could still hear each other and also enjoy the music. Our server, Talmadge, was professional and attentive, and each dish we had was delicious. The same quality we knew and loved from Goodfellas, and I was glad to see the desserts stayed the same. One of the most romantic restaurants I've visited in a long time, and we look forward to many more visits!

Can't stop thinking about this place, the food!! Best pasta I've ever had. Very authentic and warm…read morefamily running the place. Live in NJ but want to make trip to go back

A delicious spot in downtown New Haven for yummy Italian food! We stopped in for dinner and got the…read morevegetable coquettes, Gorgonzola figs, lemon pasta, shrimp pasta, and a pasta with tomato and egg plant sauce. The figs are a must! The pasta is cooked to perfection! My favorite was the lemon pasta--decadent and refreshing. We ended the night with biscotti & a ricotta gelato. The service is warm and fast.Can't wait to be back!

Tried L'Orcio for my birthday and was really impressed. We had the formaggi and everything was…read moredelicious, especially the goat cheese and fruit bread. For dinner, we ordered several pasta dishes including Gnocchi alla Boscaiola , Pappardelle Al Ragu, a special and Cavatelli Alla Norma. Everything was incredible, and the handmade pasta really stood out. The gnocchi were especially memorable, very soft, pillowy, and perfectly seasoned. You can tell the pasta is made fresh daily. The staff were kind and welcoming, and the atmosphere felt cozy and charming. Would absolutely return to try more!! Would also love to take a pasta making class if the chef is ever offering

REALLY GOOD!! The…read moreambiance, vibe , service and food were all spot on! My gnocchi in a red sauce with sausage and mushrooms was outstanding , wife had a nice salmon dish.... Other notable was the tiramisu Prices were fair as well

I came to Villa Lulu in downtown New Haven for a birthday dinner and the entire experience was…read moreabsolutely perfect. The restaurant is located in a charming historic building, and the stylish decor gives it such a warm and homey feel. It is elegant yet totally relaxed, and the staff is incredibly welcoming and attentive from the moment you walk in. We started with the fried artichokes for an appetizer and they were nothing short of amazing. They were breaded and battered perfectly, and oh so crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. For our main courses we ordered the Chicken Parmesan and the Squid Ink Linguini. The Chicken Parm was completely top notch and cooked beautifully. The Squid Ink Linguini was equally outstanding and packed with flavor, definitely a must try if you visit. Everything from the cozy atmosphere to the expertly prepared food made it a birthday dinner to remember. If you are looking for amazing Italian comfort food with a wonderful neighborhood vibe, this is the spot. I highly recommend it and will definitely be returning!

Really nice covered patio. Super nice server…read more I loved the Ferrari rosé. Not too dry, very flavorful, almost like a cocktail but great for a hot day. Beet salad was amazing. House bread is great! Not a fan of the eggplant Parmesan, though. It was neither fried nor roasted but seemed stewed like in ratatouille, which is the least tasty way to make eggplant OMHO. I really could not eat it and just ate the tomato and cheese, which was fine because the salad and bread were filling. So I liked this restaurant a lot... But skip the eggplant Parm!

When you walk in you are greeted with complimentary champagne and a welcoming handshake. You have…read moreto take in the beautiful decor of the restaurant in this mansion like setting. Straight ahead you can see the chef hard at work. We choose to sit at the bar for dinner. We were very impressed with the cocktails and wine flight. We were very impressed with the complimentary rosemary bread and bean/olive oil spread. For the first course, we opted for the crudo with the white wine, absolutely delicious, refreshing, and light. For the second course, we had the scallops, seared perfectly with a mushroom, hazelnut, and a fantastic sauce For the main course, we had the prime sirloin strip, roasted potatoes, and parsnip. The New York strip was out of this world...cooked medium rare all sliced with a side of truffle butter. After dinner, we were surprised with complimentary cantaloupe sorbet and two salted chocolates. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a special evening in New Haven. I plan on coming back for the chef's pairing, which you have to sign up for ahead of time.

BRING BACK CHEFS with ATTITUDE. I had the pleasure of dining at The Luke Brasserie today. Totally…read moreunplanned. I was searching for something that could match up to Maison Bar Vins back home. First off can we talk about the bones of the place. The Taft building which once was a hotel now sits and houses a very charming French restaurant with a chef who could care less who you are or if your camera is permanently to your hand. I sat at the bar and the chef seated me. I opted out for their three course pre fix bar menu. Chef and owner Vincent who had trained under ICONS in the culinary world met me with this good old fashion old school attitude that today's foodie influencers could never understand. Serious poised stern energy that I love so much about old world cooking boh lore. The food was great. The playlist was upbeat, the kitchen had energy. This place should be the hardest reservation to get in New Haven.

Was disappointed - it was a 10 minute wait for a slice so I ordered a scoop of ice cream 15 minutes…read morelater they forgot to put the pizza sliced order in they refunded the price of a slice, but not the ice cream I had while waiting for the pizza slice for which they never put the order in. It would've been a great gesture to offer a refund on the Ice cream as well because I really only got it because I was waiting for the pizza. That said the kid work in the counter was working her ass off but somebody backstage forgot about me and was disappointed to Manager didn't offer more to rectify the situation. - I never give a one star review, but wish I could here

Very nice gelato. We got a vanilla and the espresso flavors. I added dark chocolate chunk = dark…read morechocolate chips. I spent about $16 for a small and a large.