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    Cantina Cafe Ristorante

    4.1 (165 reviews)
    ModerateItalian
    Closed 3:30 pm - 8:30 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Cantina Cafe Ristorante Photos

    CANTINA CAFE RISTORANTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Cantina Cafe Ristorante

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    Buffet
    Kevin A.

    So, I was a plus 1 for a friends work Christmas party of ohhhhh 30. These guys weren't ready for this kinda traffic. There were two sizeable parties here on top of the regular bar traffic. Do better. Anywho, on to the ambiance, y'all are on point. This spot is cute. There are baskets all over the lining of the ceiling throughout. The food is authentic and soooooo yummy. I'm very pleased with the quality of food you put out. There's a one man band who plays everything under the roof . He went from country to east listening, to some Italian song. Can you say diverse?? YES! Well done.

    Antipasto! Enough to feed over 10 people easily!!
    Des D.

    Cantina is an Italian restaurant like no other in Connecticut! It feels like you are legit having dinner at your friend's super Italian grandparents house- and the food definitely adds to that homey authentic touch! Make sure to make a reservation- Cantina is super small but cozy. We've come here several times with groups of 4- 10 and each time was fantastic. Portions are huge so come hungry! Totally recommend finding dishes everyone in your party enjoys so you can share. My favorite dishes are their pork chop special with hot cherry peppers and potatoes and their veal parm. Pork is so difficult to cook without drying it out but at Cantina I have never had better! It is so juicy and flavorful and those potatoes?? Chef's kiss! The veal is so tender too and gigantic- never had better! Prices are SUPER fair! Especially for the amount of food given! Staff works very hard as well! Totally recommend for a truly unique, authentic Italian experience!

    Pastaaaa
    Kim U.

    Been coming here for years. It's fantastic, authentic and fresh made food. Come hungry because you will have enough for two days! Make a reservation because they are verrry busy on the weekend. Seating is close and so it can be loud. Staff is friendly, drinks are well poured and the food is great imho. Six of us went a few days ago. We ordered The pork chop special. Two humongous chops with veggies and roasted potatoes. 3 orders of their veal/ eggplant layered with sausage stuffing smothered in sauce. 2 pasta dishes. The pasta entree came in a bowl that was at least six inches deep with 3lbs of pasta. Veal parmigiana All dinners come with yummy warm bread and dipping oil and a family style salad and a bowl of penne with marinara. Of course I will be back. Love this place!

    Leftovers! 3 entrees and 3 9x12 takeaway pans!

    Huge portions - share with the extra plate for $8 and save yourself an extra large takeaway container. Salad bread and calamari especially was delicious. Great friendly service in a sweet spot. Plan for time to park.

    Mozzarella Carrozza
    Alex P. T.

    I feel like I was just transported to another time and country tonight! From the second you walk down the stairs to Cantina Cafe Ristorante, you know you are in for a magically authentic Italian meal...or should I say feast! This is up there with how Italian family Sunday dinners of the past felt for me. I honestly can not be any happier with everything that happened tonight. Cantina Cafe is a cozy, old-school restaurant offering a wide variety of Sicilian-Italian comfort food. They do this very, very well! From the red and white checkered tablecloths to the baskets hanging from the ceilings, it just embodies that romantic Italian feeling. Let's start with the meals we ordered. First off, you are greeted with a basket of their fresh baked Italian bread with their house dipping oil. Think garlic and red pepper deliciousness! Don't go too crazy with the bread though...you will be tempted because it is so awesome, but I warn you the rest of your meal will depend on this. Next up, came our house salad with a delicious balsamic vinegar. Crisp, simple and fresh. We ordered the Mozzarella Carrozza for an appetizer. Think a fresh, ooey-gooey cheesy, golden breaded brick of mozzarella! Oh, wow! That cheese pull was everything. We ate half of it and knew we were in for some serious eats here. For my meal, I ordered from the special menu that our server told us about. She was awesome by the way! The special is called The Football. It's actually so popular it's a permanent special. It's football shaped ball of veal stuffed with sweet sausage stuffing, eggplant and cheese in a golden sauce. I wish I could remember the real name of the dish, but if you say The Football, they will know what you mean. They subbed out my pasta side for some gnocchi in a marsala sauce. This was so awesome because I was torn between ordering The Football and the Gnocchi Saltimbocca. I really got hooked up with the best of both worlds. Next time the Saltimbocca is on my hit list for sure. Be ready to be amazed if you order The Football! My friend ordered the Chicken Parmigiana and it was also bangin'! Talk about leftovers for the next couple of days! No complaints here though! Our server wrapped up our leftovers for us and while we should have been done, we had a few bites left in us for their fresh, housemade cannoli. Cannolis are by are my favorite dessert in the world and this one was amazing. Ricotta filling, shell and powdered sugar. Total home run! Dine in or take out, if you love Italian, this will be so GOAT for you. Seriously, the greatest of all time! Ciao! P.S. Always save room for the cannoli.

    Shit chicken Marsala

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    2 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Good was great and the portions are generous! Great family style dinner atmosphere. Service and food was fantastic!

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    8 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    5 months ago

    The food was excellent. A portions were large. The prices were reasonable, and the staff was incredibly friendly.

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    1 year ago

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Excellent food and service. Highly recommended. We had a holiday party here and the service was top notch for 30 people

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    2 years ago

    If you want leftovers go for it, excellent penne al vodka. Definitely recommend and will return. A salad and bread comes with the meal.

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    3 years ago

    Amazing staff and the food is delicious and plentiful. Authentic Italian meals -- highly recommend!

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    Esca Restaurant & Wine Bar

    Esca Restaurant & Wine Bar

    3.6
    (305 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I had been to Esca in the past, but this was my first time in a while, so I was excited to return…read more We were seated upstairs overlooking the restaurant, which gave the space a nice atmosphere and made for an enjoyable setting. At the start of the meal, we asked for sparkling water, and the waitress specifically told the busboy not to bring still water as well. Personally, I think it can actually be nice to have both on the table, but it was not a major issue. For an appetizer, we ordered the octopus, which unfortunately was the low point of the meal. It was extremely chewy, almost difficult to chew, and probably should have been sent back. The scallops for the main course were much better and redeemed the experience considerably. They were cooked properly with a pleasant texture and served over a decent risotto base with a flavorful sauce drizzled on top of the scallops that complemented the dish nicely. For dessert, I had gelato, two scoops of chocolate and one vanilla, and both flavors were excellent. Very rich and one of the better parts of the meal. Service overall was solid. One person in my party did not like being referred to as "dear" by the waitress, though I personally did not mind it. She was nice and seemed to really know the menu well. Overall, this was probably closer to a three-star experience based on this visit because of the disappointing appetizer. However, I know the restaurant has been better in the past, so I am giving it four stars and would still consider returning.

    There's metered street parking and a few nearby lots, but nothing directly attached to the…read morerestaurant. I went early on a Friday night and it wasn't too busy, which made for a really nice experience. The interior is beautiful, with a mix of seating options bar seating, window seats, and two separate dining areas on different levels that give it a unique vibe. We were greeted right away when we walked in, and our drinks came out quickly. We ordered two appetizers: the octopus and the eggplant chips. I didn't personally try the octopus, but my dining partner said it was amazing, especially paired with the couscous. The eggplant chips were really good. For my main, I had the braised short rib. It was good and very rich and beefy, but I do think it could have used a bit more flavor. I also ordered a wine flight, which I really enjoyed. I got to try the burger as well, and it was delicious. The parmesan truffle fries were also a standout--definitely worth ordering. Overall, a great atmosphere, solid food, and a nice spot for a relaxed night out.

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    Grilled Octopus
    Grilled Octopus
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    Cantina Cafe Ristorante - italian - Updated June 2026

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