My real rating is 4.5 stars but sadly we can't do that. This place is wonderful. Do not let the fact it's in a strip mall type place fool you. Everything about it is great. It's a small place with very tasteful decor. They also have one of those open kitchens, so you can see right in to where they prepare the food. I heard it could get busy so I made a reservation for Friday night. We were seated right away (and there were a few empty tables nearby so we might have been fine without the reservation). The hostess and our waiter were both nice, so no complaints there. First up, you get bread and garlic knots with a VERY garlicky dipping sauce. The knots were great and the bread was warm and tasty. I loved the sauce but my husband thought it was too much garlic. For our appetizer we got the stuffed calamari special. The stuffing could have been warmer, it was barely room temp. But the suace it was in was piping hot, so that helped. It was a wonderful appetizer and a very generous portion even for two people. When they brought the side salad we knew we'd be in trouble because we were already getting full. No idea what the dressing was but it was delicious (although we could have done with a little less of it). For our mains, my husband had the Linguine Dalton - pasta with lots of seafood. It was a wonderful light and delicate flavor. I got the Salmon Dalton - it was divine! Sadly we were too full to have dessert but we loved this place so much we will definitely be back! read more

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My husband and I went here for dinner for my birthday this past Saturday night. We have never been before, and I relied on the strong Yelp reviews online. Everything was really good! Excellent size portions and we both took home leftovers. They serve Italian bread and chimichurri oil spread, which was so tasty. Then we got a salad, which was also very good. My husband got chicken Marsala for his dinner, and I got chicken salentina. I took home about half of my meal. We will definitely be back! I have already recommended the restaurant to my parents and best friend. read more

I had the pleasure of joining my family from out of state for dinner at Dalton's for the first time and everyone left happy and full! Upon entering Dalton's, we were greeted by a friendly host who seated us in a booth. Our waitress was equally as friendly and very attentive during our meal. We were given bread to start with and it was great (we asked for more and weren't embarrassed about it). I ordered the mixed greens salad with seared scallops. The salad looked great and the homemade dressing was to die for, however, my scallops were grilled (which wasn't the end of the world, but it made them a little overcooked and gritty where they sat on the grill). Regardless, the salad was still good. For dessert, my family and I decided to share a Tres Leches cake. We should have all ordered our own in hind sight, because it was gone in what seemed like seconds. Definitely the best I've had in YEARS! Overall, Dalton's is a great restaurant with fantastic service and a menu to match! read more

Dalton's - Mixed Greens Salad with Scallops. - New American Near Me - North Branford, Connecticut

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Always delicious. You can count on Dalton's and Ludal in Hamden for some good food and drinks. there are so many options and it's always good. read more

Went there for takeout the other day. The kitchen was spotless. However, the guy loaded my salad into the takeout tin with his bare hands! Now I can't go back there. The owner needs to establish controls. read more

This restaurant is also owned by Ludals in North Haven, CT. It was an average outting with my grandmother but I don't think we are going to rush back. We were seated immediately in a booth which was nice and it was to ourselves with no loud noises around us which was definitely a plus after work. We both ordered wine. Being an Italian restaurant I'm very surprised that they did not have moscato but they did have White Zinfendel for my grandmother which she enjoyed. I got a glass of Pinot Grigio. It was a decent pour, but it was happy hour and drinks were not included so it's full price of $9.00... The meals were okay. My grandmother got salmon, with spinach, diced tomatoes and clams. The salmon had a lot of dark meat which was aggrevating because only partial of it was actual nice meat, and frankly it looked kind of gross. She was able to eat some of the spinach and tomatoes. I got the chicken Parmesan. Loaded with mozzarella and had a side of pasta. The pasta was cooked perfected al dente, but the chicken to me was a bit overdone. No hard feelings as I will eat it left over, but it was hard to cut. I will give this restaurant a 3 star because it was nice and quiet and relaxing for dinner. One more note is parking. It's a bit challenging because most spots are handicapped and it's also in a mall with a pizza place, Subway, and gun shop. So the far row is no handicapped but the row closest to the building is. Side parking is available. read more

Met friends here for dinner and drinks while in town. Nice place food was amazing and our server Wayne was outstanding. If I'm ever up that way again it's a definite stop on the agenda. read more

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Been here a couple times as it's my families choice for Christmas Eve dinner. Both times we've found the place average in quality but the service worthy of return visits. They don't know how to cook steak is my main grip. I like my steak medium rare and at places I trust I order it "Pittsburg". This is rare in the middle but charred on the outside. It came back medium. If you like your steak Served with a ton of average fries. My wife got the Chicken Nicolina - they substituted some of the stated ingredients (shitake) with some others and it was less inspiring. My sister shared an octopus and Brussel sprout appetizer that was very good ..... and I hate Brussel sprouts. The drinks were good, except for a Manhattan not made to my Mom's expectations (which is common and no longer warrants a rating deduction) and as I mentioned the service was very good. read more

I recently heard a rumor (well, I'm truly hoping it is just a rumor at that) that Dalton's will be closing next month! Please say it isn't so! read more

Nestled in a small strip of businesses, Dalton's serves powerfully delicious Italian inspired entrees of mouth pleasing delights. The friendly and efficient wait staff are happy to serve and make it a personally treat to be there. The interior design is good but not inspiring. But the plates that pass by the table are! Give it a try while you're in Guilford Connecticut. You make return again as I did. Very delicious Fresh culinary delights ! read more

Not impressed. Great waitress. Horrible table. The halibut special was cooked well. Lobster over-cooked - very difficult to remove from shell. Had to leave some in the shell. Rib-eye special was at least half inedible fat. The edible part was perfectly cooked and delicious. The fries that came with the steak were not at all crispy and were plastered with a glob of partly melted cheese, like nobody was checking to see what was about to be served. Nothing like we would expect from a restaurant with $38 entrees. We think we are being generous with 2 stars. read more

Went there last night had reservations for 7:30 didn't seat down till after 815 pm .. People just sat there and talked and wouldn't get up .. felt bad for Hostess and waitress .. they kept apologising.... But.. I have to admit the food was awesome .This place is a keeper.. read more

I've been a big fan since the day they opened in 2002. The food is always great!!! But the service has been steadily headed down hill for some time. 2 of the current servers are friendly, attentive and on top of things. If you get them everything will be great! But if you're unfortunate enough to get one of the others, my sincere apologies. Work is clearly an inconvenience for these people. Several weeks ago I got a $24 pasta dish to go. With COVID still raging, I don't have a lot of disposable income to eat out, so I had planned for and looked forward to this meal all week. Was going to light the fire, crack a nice bottle of vino and watch The Sopranos. A perfect night. Unfortunately, whoever packed my container of $24 pasta didn't click the lid shut so unbeknownst to me, it was leaking in the bag on the ride home. As I was unlocking my front door, the bottom of the bag let go and my $24 pasta dish ended up upside down on the ground (and my shoes, my pants, my coat), my dogs lunged for the food, got into a fight, the house alarm started going off because I didn't get to the panel. I had to scoop the pasta up with my hands, run to the panel to shut off the alarm with my sauce covered fingers, leaving a trail of food, sauce and tears on the floor. To that server, I'm sorry my patronage always seems to be such a bother to you. I am always polite and patient and tip generously despite it. You were clearly having a bad day. I left a 30% tip based on the reasonable expectation that even on your worst day as a server, you were capable of securing a lid. It's a reasonable expectation. I hope you're happy in knowing that you completely ruined my day as well. Misery does love company after all. On behalf of myself and all of the other customers whose meals you've ruined, I hope you apply some of that tip money towards pursuing some intensive anger management therapy and perhaps consider a career change. DMV, IRS, somewhere you can successfully channel your disdain for humans. read more

I love Daltons. I have eaten there for over a decade and I never tire of their offerings. Servers are by-in-large long term team members. The food always comes out hot and the portions are generous in size without being "gross". This is a great value neighborhood restaurant. My Italian friends love the cuisine especially.... my grandmother would approve. read more

I have been to Dalton's many times over the years and this is the first time that I was truly disappointed. This time I ordered the Stuffed Chicken which I have had before and it was quite good. This time however, it was EXTREMELY dry and overcooked on the outside as well. Pretty much inedible. I mentioned this to our waiter and he said that he was sorry to hear that, but did nothing to resolve or even bring it up to the chef. Sadly after many years of patronage to this establishment, I probably won't be back. read more

We had a double date night planned with friends and spent days choosing somewhere to go. The only input we got from the other couple was good steak. We finally landed on Dalton's thanks to Yelp. Our experience was amazing! The drinks were great, appetizers were great, bread was incredible and food was amazing. From filet mignon to cod to chicken parm, everything was over the top and incredible. The prices were realistic, the atmosphere was fun and relaxed, and the service was great. Definitely had to hop on here and give this place the recognition it deserves. Will definitely return!! read more

Dalton's is Ludal's sister restaurant. We tried to get in on a weekend and it was too packed. It's a relatively small spot. Finally made it in on a weekday. First and what Ludals and Dalton's is most famous for are the garlic knots. These lovely bad boys come with a parsley garlic dip. Garlic heaven!!! We started with the scallop appetizer which I believe was in a brandy sauce. Delicious!! Scallops were succulent and fresh. I had the stuffed chicken nicolina with stuffed with broccoli and manchengo cheese and was supposed to be in a shitake mushroom sauce but I didn't have any mushrooms. It was still tasty though. Will be back but just not on the weekend. read more

Our absolute favorite restaurant! The grilled swordfish, seafood risotto, and chicken parm are my favorite. There are also always great specials to choose from. read more

Cozy little place with great food and fantastic drinks. Mike, our bartender was not only a skilled mixologist, but also a great entertainer. It was a wonderful time at the bar with Mike at the helm. read more

This place is the second best Italian restaurant that I have visited in CT area. We had Seafood Risotto and Sea Bass and they were really good. We loved seeing the inside of the open kitchen. The distance to this restaurant was a little far from where I live but it was definitely worth visiting. This place would be good for couples and family and their anniversaries. read more

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Dinner last Saturday was probably one of the top 10 dinners ever. Chilean Sea Bass, Lamb, Scallop appetizer...it was excellent. Used to restaurants tailing off after years in business, but my wife and I kept looking at each other after every bite. Dalton's just got better since the first time we went 12 years ago. We had no desire for dessert, but they had creme brule and it was the perfect end to a perfect meal. My only recommendation would be to get some taps in the bar and pour 5 or 6 local craft beers. Kinda nit picking, but would make it 6 stars. read more

We have enjoyed Daltons for many years living right down the street. During COVID we have been so pleased to order takeout and get the same level of delicious food and great service - having the food placed right into the car is a great convenience. Pasta bolognese is my favorite dish and the meatball salad is always enjoyed by my family. read more

Food is solid. their sauce is good. Light, vibrant, basil, garlic, not greasy. The bread served was good. The appetizers were good. The arugula salad was good. It was loud and it is expensive for a strip mall place. This is the most oversimplified review I've ever written. read more

This has been the go-to spot for my family for a good steak and yummy Italian food since I was in high school (which seems like yesterday, but sadly was many many years ago.) We have always have consistently good food, but last night everything was just a little lackluster. They do have an extensive cocktail list with some martinis that pack a punch, and they are heavy handed on their wine pours which is always a good thing. The bread basket and garlic knots come with some sort of scallion and garlic dipping sauce that I would be quite happy to eat with a spoon. Straight up banging. While the steaks were flavorful and cooked to order, I found the texture to be slightly on the chewy side. I went with the Salmon Dalton, which was incredibly salty. (And this is coming from someone who loves salt on her salt.) Everybody that had the Chicken Dalton raved about it, and the mashed potatoes that came with it were also exceptional (the portion was also huge, so thats a plus.) My mother had the sea bass special with lobster risotto and said it was pretty bland (Perhaps they had used all the salt up on my salmon?) We had also started with the calamari, which is our usual starter at this place. Once again the flavor was good but the texture was akin to leather. What really loses this place a star is that the waitress was rude and unprofessional. Every time she came over to our table of 7 she screamed "excuse me!" to get us all to stop talking. I understand she had to tell us the specials but really there is a nice way of doing it. I know it's being rather nit-picky, but she literally yelled at us every time she came to the table. In short, I will continue coming back to this place because I think it's got some really solid food. They just need to run a little bit of a tighter ship. read more

Amazing amazing amazing, etc so I have to keep writing. Here is what you do come early, meet the staff when it's quiet, get them to read the features twice ( because you won't believe them) and enjoy!! read more

This is our go-to place for Italian. We have been going for years, the service, variety in the menu choices, quality and dishes are the best in the area. We have tried other Italian restaurants that have been highly rated by Connecticut Magazine, and this place out surpasses them all. Place does get very busy early in the evening but quiets down after 9pm. Definitely recommend the grilled wrapped mozzarella for an app, and the Osso'Buco when available. read more

I have been dining on the CT shoreline for the last 25 years and this was the most overpriced meal I've ever had. Went to Daltons for takeout ordered two meals, two apps and a kids pasta ($100 dollars). They literally charged us $14 for a tiny kids pasta. Side salads consisted of a handful of spring greens and one tiny piece of shredded carrot. I know times for the restaurant industry are tough but this is straight up price gauging. I wouldn't mind if the food was spectacular but it was completely average. You could get twice the amount of food for half the price at Cafe Fiore's. read more

Nice restaurant tucked into a strip mall. Got there early and place filled up rather quickly. Nice bar area but not a seat to be found. We both had soup to start. I had the pasta fagiole and my wife had the escarole and beans. Both came in large bowls and with the nice garlic bread they served could have been a meal by themselves. Both were delicious. We decided to share appetizers instead of entrees and we're not disappointed by both the quality and size of them. We had the blackened seafood combo, the sweet potato and walnut ravioli, the hot combination and the calamari steak. So much food we had to take one appetizer home. Waitress was Tara And very attentive to our needs. A great find. We'll be back read more

I'll write a detailed review soon, but for now... We love this place. Consistently great food, great service and atmosphere, and reasonable prices. The bar is fun and the bartenders friendly. Also good for a romantic night out. Forget about the review by the self important JF. Once you're inside, do you really know if you're in a strip mall or in Red Square? And that "awful little pizza place" next door Bella Lisa has some of the best pizza in the area. Highly recommended. read more

I absolutely love this restaurant. My boyfriend and I live down the street and find ourselves there almost every weekend. You cant go wrong with any of the dishes. The calamari appetizer is delicious as is every other thing on the menu. The other thing i like about this place is that the kitchen is behind a glass wall that is clearly visible by patrons- They make the most delicious martinis and the staff is warm and friendly... Its great sometimes to just sit at the bar and have a couple drinks while you wait for your takeout. The only downside of this restaurant is that it is absolutely freeeezing- so if you are planning on visiting - bring a sweater! Its a tad pricy, but you won't regret it. read more

Awesome awesome awesome what more to say from the bartender who knows everybody's name to a waiter that need not write anything down I had the most wonderful experience The food was cooked to perfection and the wine was amazing I will return to this hidden gem read more

Dalton's - New American Near Me - North Branford, Connecticut

Very consistent dinners. Great bartenders. Hometown neighborhood atmosphere. Service always excellent.

Wow had a fantastic dinner . Took my wife out for a surprise dinner . We had salmon And lobster risotto special with salad and a delicious balsamic vinaigrette. We had garlic knots and an olive oil and garlic dipping Oil amazing . The saffron lobster bisque was incredible and very flavorful. To top it off the atmosphere was warm and inviting . Our Waitress was super nice and attentive . What a nice start to our date night . Thanks again for a wonderful time we will definitely be back soon . Sincerely Dave . read more

Where do I begin? Well let's start with if you don't like being close to people this is not the place for you. It's a small restaurant in a little strip of businesses. The bar was packed the entire time we were there. The restaurant was near full. We passed on appetizers and ordered dinner. Bread was brought out warm. And it was very good bread which is hard to find in Connecticut. I ordered shrimp and scallops in a lobster brandy cream sauce over pappardelle pasta. The sauce was a 5 out of 5. It was delicious. I had to search for the seafood. There were 4 shrimp and I thought 2 scallops but I found another full and a half scallop. The seafood was very good just not enough there. The price was 34.00. As delicious as the sauce was I would not order again. My husband had a special. Ribeye in a Gorgonzola sauce with spinach and red mashed potatoes. That meal was $44.00. The steak was removed from the bone. And for the price my husband said there was too much waste and he would have preferred it on the bone. The mashed potatoes were delicious. There were some medium chunks of potatoes that were not mashed. Not lumps chunks. I ordered crème brûlée for dessert ($10.00). It was good though 1/4 of the top was charred and inedible. The tan for two glasses of Pinot Grigio (a good pour and it should be for $10.00 a glass for Placido) and 3 glasses of iced tea ( they charge for refills) the dinners and dessert with tip was $150.00. Now will we go back? Yes we will give it another go. There were other menu items we'd love to try. The service was good. The place though cramped is cute: One other thing. When you Google them and go to the website they have an outdated menu. So the prices are higher. I really do not like when a restaurant does not update their website with a current menu, it's misleading. If Yelp allowed I would actually rate Daltons a 3.5 out of 5. The food is good and some things were delicious but a bit pricy for what you get. Also parking is an issue. I went inside to get a table while my husband parked in the last available space. I'd say get there before 5:00 on a Friday or after 7:00. We arrived at 5:40 and left around 7:45. The parking lot had many spaces available when we were leaving. read more

Love this place. Great bar, happy hour and consistently good food. Bartenders make wonderful drinks!

Arrived with family for a birthday dinner. The outside of the restaurant looked plain and old but once we stepped inside everything looked beautifully elegant and new. We were served bread and knots to start. The cilantro dipping sauce was divine. Our server, Tara was pleasant and accommodating as was the rest of the service that night. The food was heavenly. The portion size was generous. Every family member had a tasty dish. I ordered the seared cod special (Sis-in-law was nice enough to let me order the last one available!). It was topped with an arugula salad that sat over a bed of lobster risotto. The cod melted in my mouth perfectly. The arugula added a tangy zesty flavor to accompany the cod. And the buttery lobster risotto just made the dish extra special and indulgent. My husband and father-in-law had the filet which was cooked perfectly to their liking. I highly recommend that everyone eat at Dalton's. It has been the best restaurant I've experience during my Connecticut visit. read more

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We were really looking forward to our first dinner at Dalton's, as guests of our friend and in celebration of my husband's birthday and our anniversary. We arrived at 6:25 for our 6:30 reservation, but were told that another group would be seated before us because they had arrived before us. We went to the bar, ordered drinks and then waited about 20 minutes for another booth to open up. We were seated and then flagged down our waiter after about 10-15 minutes to put in an order for a seafood appetizer. It arrived in a timely fashion and was very tasty, albeit quite salty. Again we waited, and flagged down our waiter again in order to put in another drink order and our entree order. When the entrees arrived our friend's was not the Grilled Swordfish entree that was ordered and consequently had to be returned to the kitchen. My husband and I enjoyed and finished our steak and salmon entrees which were nicely presented and very tasty while our friend waited for her entree to be cooked. The beer that was ordered finally arrived after he had completely finished his meal. The carrot cake dessert was delicious. We understand that mistakes occur, but never have we been in a situation such as this where no compensation whatsoever was offered! Our friend paid the full bill, and we were shocked to hear that not even the dessert was taken off the ticket to help make up for the under-par service or the mistake made by our waiter. The one bright spot was the little bus-girl who was working so hard to keep things moving and always with a bright smile. We will not return to Dalton's, but we hope that improvements will be made in their service. read more

I was very unhappy with the entire experience from start to finish. The only good part of the dining experience is that our waitress was very nice. First I ordered panne cotto as an appetizer and arancini. The panne cotto was all beans and only 4 pieces of escarole. The arancini was sub par, they were not crunchy on the outside like they should be and the meat on the inside was not tasty. Then we receive salads that arrive with three pieces of shaved carrot, the greens were fresh but not a single tomato or cucumber. I ordered steak which was delicious. However my side was asparagus which was a strange color green and undercooked. My husband ordered filet mignon which he enjoyed and the sweet potato fries that came with the filet mignon were delicious. Now of course upon going into the restrooms the small hallway was jammed with high chairs and dining chairs and you could barely get in and out the door. Also, the restaurant can use an upgrade. read more

We visited Dalton's this week on a Thursday around 5pm. Initial impression; small space, but nice sized bar area and clean. So that's good. I always sit at the bar on an initial visit to a new restaurant. This spot says a lot about a place. Greetings were mediocre not sure if the tenders were wanting to be there but not horrible. It was particularly quiet in the restaurant and for such a decent sized bar, it could have used some music or something. I could picture some nice jazz in a place like this; instead, with the restaurant portion quite full and the bar area pretty busy, it felt like I was dining in a senior center. Not that that's a bad thing, its just on a summer evening, in a nice looking place, the overall atmosphere was bland at best. The food looked good but I would NOT stay and try based solely on the fact that I felt sleepy and don't think I would have made it to dinner without a loud snore!! Their sister restaurant Ludal in North Haven, Ct much livelier. read more

This is my go to restaurant. I have eaten here dozens of times and I have never been disappointed by the food, the service, the drinks and the ambience of the place. Last night was no exception to my previous experiences. We were a table of six. Drink order was perfect and I can tell you that the size of the drink is amazing. You will be hard pressed to find drinks this size as price anywhere else in the area. I had the escarole and bean soup which was hot and tasty. The bread they bring comes with an incredible chimichurri sauce that is worth the trip alone. I had the stuffed calamari which was a special appetizer for my dinner and it was delicious. My dining companions had steaks, a veal dish, mahi mahi and the tomato mozzarella appetizer. We all were very happy with our choices. Three desserts later we finished our dinner and lingered to enjoy our company. We were not rushed out and since it was a Wednesday night we could do this without a problem. Go to Daltons and enjoy this amazing restaurant in a non descript strip mall. You won't be disappointed. read more