We had a great evening here with Carlos as our server. We told the host it was my parents 30th anniversary & they kindly put candles & Happy Anniversary on a plate for them! So cute and definitely made this stand out to us. Thank you Carlos & staff, that was so kind of you! We all did the price fix menu which is a great buy - appetizer, salad, entree, & dessert for $49 each! The sauces were very flavorful & each course was delicious. Carlos brought over the bruschetta on the house while we waited for appetizers. Great espresso martini & the pom parade mocktail. Definitely will be returning. Gorgeous downstairs dining room & bar set up. read more

See all

Oh my word... Just a VERY WEIRD night @ Goodfellas!! (As you can see, from a 2019 review, we've been going to Goodfellas FOREVER!) So Carlos was our waiter. Very nice. Very professional..... until the end!! Dinner was over. Dessert came. 3 out of 4 of us ordered from the PRIX FIXE MENU, so we were asked to choose dessert at time of ordering app, salad and entree. Carlos brought our 3 desserts out. Carlos never asked our 4th guest if she'd like anything. Carlos never asked ANY OF US if we'd like Coffee, Cappuccino, Espresso, etc., etc. When we brought this to his attention, he did ask if she "wanted any dessert". When we inquired about after dinner drinks, he stated... and I quote.... "The machines are off and I would have to turn them on". We got the hint and reluctantly declined. We then looked around... then noticed for a Saturday evening in June, at approximately 9:15pm, it was rather quiet at the restaurant. NO LIE!!!! Within 15 mins we hear silverware clanging and the lights in our area ACTUALLY went off and on. It was quite shocking, totally unexpected, completely unprofessional and an extremely awkward experience. read more

Goodfellas has been a go-to us for years for special occasions, and this was our first visit back since 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! read more

See all

Went for Ladies Night this past Wednesday. We had such a good time. Encore is the perfect name because 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!! read more

Decided to try Encore again post restaurant week. Pretty decent experience. I appreciated all of the extras that came along with the pre fixe menu. Definitely a great value. The server and the host were both amazing. They have a beautiful upstairs section, but I've only dined downstairs. The pre-fixe menu has a lot of options. There is ample metered parking across the street and street parking as well. I highly recommend. read more

See all

I had an awesome birthday dinner here with my family. We are Italian, and I had heard good things about this place for years, so finally decided to give it a try for a special occasion. The ambience is great, we sat downstairs at a nice spacious corner table. We all ordered the Prix-Fixe menu and were all so impressed with all of the options! I had stuffed shrimp which I really enjoyed, and I ordered the Goodfellas cupcake for dessert which was great! The only thing I was really disappointed about, was that they specifically asked me when I made my reservation if I wanted them to sing Happy Birthday, and of course I said yes! But then they didn't. Other than that we all enjoyed the experience and will definitely come back. read more

Encore by Goodfellas - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

See all

We had an absolutely wonderful time at Goodfellas last night. We were celebrating my daughter celebrating graduating 8th Grade and Goodfellas made the celebration extra special for my daughter. The food was absolutely fantastic. It was probably some of the best panne cotta I ever had (sorry Mom) and they cooked our steaks to perfection just the way we like it. A lot of other restaurants have trouble with that. The staff was very nice, service was attentive, helpful and very nice. The atmosphere in the restaurant was very calm and relaxing, as was the music. This was an experience my daughter won't forget and thank you for making our celebration spectacular. read more

Finally, we scheduled to come to try this restaurant. We've been in the New Haven area for 30 years and have always says we need to go and try it here. So tonight was the night. We had the prefix menu which was $45 per person and it was more food than we could finish. I enjoyed the pork Oso Buku and took enough home for another meal. My wife enjoyed the Becker's purse, which was kind of new to her, but she really enjoyed it. The star of the whole show was the service. They were very attentive and even replaced my napkin that fell on the floor. Carlos did a great job taking care of all of our needs. We will be back and we highly recommend this to you as well. read more

See all

Visited during Restaurant Week in New Haven. Food was good--cognac steak and pasta dishes were solid--the hostess and waitress were attentive and friendly. Everything fell apart when the bill came. First, it was split only 3 ways, but done incorrectly (totaling nearly a $90 overcharge). Secondly, we were hit with a completely undisclosed $40 upcharge for adding steak to a pasta. This upcharge amount was not disclosed by our waitress, and it's hard to justify when other protein add-ons were around $10. The manager made the situation significantly worse. He was visibly irritated, dismissive, and unprofessional--using phrases like "first of all" and "life's too short," and even saying our likelihood of not returning was "totally fine." He then proceeded to re-run the bill incorrectly multiple times, including charging another guest twice. At that point, the issue wasn't the mistake--it was the attitude, lack of professionalism, and lack of accountability. Our waitress ultimately apologized and showed more professionalism than the manager, which we appreciated. To her credit, she sat with us and sincerely apologized on her own accord for both the lack of communication around the upcharge and the billing errors. We appreciated her accountability and left feeling okay about the resolution from her--but not about how the manager handled the situation. Quite honestly, thanks to our interaction with the manager, the damage was already done. It's especially disappointing because the purpose of Restaurant Week is to bring in new (and returning) guests by offering an appealing, accessible menu that encourages people to come back. As first-time visitors, our experience with management was unfortunately the opposite of that goal. As frequent restaurant-goers, we understand that mistakes happen. However, this situation could have been handled with far more tact and professionalism by the manager (maybe John?). Because of how it was managed, we won't be returning. read more

The last time I dined at Encore was about a year about for New Haven Restaurant week and I was severely underwhelmed by the experience (see my previous review). HOWEVER, this time, Encore blew me and my friends away! I went back for Restaurant week 2024 and ordered entirely new items. Our water was so kind and accommodating and took the time to really walk us through the menu. He recommended the eggplant tower, calamari and meatball salad. It's hard to go wrong with calamari but we were all BLOWN away! Everything was delicious. I got the lasagna for my entree and the portion was huge which was a nice surprise. The lasagna itself was also flavorful and not too heavy. Everyone was very happy with their dinner and I am so glad I decided to give Encore a second chance. Last, ambience at Encore is so elegant and upscale without being too stuffy. It's the perfect place for a date night and/ or celebration. They also have live music on the second floor which is a lovely touch that elevates the whole dining experience. read more

See all

Walked in the ambience was a little bright for my liking. They should probably dim the dining room lights very cool space well designed nice focal point of a chandelier in the center of the bar, which is very large encompassing almost the entire first floor. The music could've been a little better. I would've suggested "cafe Del Mar" Food was good. I would definitely go back. read more

There were 5 of us for dinner and we ordered many items. The food turned out to be average. Our server came to take our app order and told us that the kitchen was very backed up so we should order our entrees immediately. Some of us hadn't decided so we made rash decisions. I looked around and the restaurant was half full, so an overwhelmed kitchen seemed unlikely. Maybe it was inexperience in the kitchen. We ordered a special squash blossoms app. They were deep fried in a crust that took away from their delicate flavors. They tasted like poppers without the kick. My Ceaser salad was lackluster. Lacked enough dressing and cheese. Kind of flavorless. The eggplant tower was very good and the grilled shrimp app with beans was also very good. I wanted pasta but was talked into the porterhouse veal chop. I was delicious. My friend ordered a seafood risotto. He was told it had clams and scallops and shrimp. When it arrived at the table it was a small bowl of risotto (it would have fit in a coffee mug) with a few pieces of seafood hidden in it. It tasted fine but was underwhelming at best. Overall we all thought the place was nice, especially the live music, but the food was average and we didn't need to come back here again. There are many great restaurants around and this place, unfortunately, isn't one of them. It's a shame because we all really wanted to love the place. read more

Encore by Goodfellas: I went for an anniversary dinner and got the prix fix menu. Initially, it's important to note that the atmosphere inside the restaurant is gorgeous, but there's small imperfections. Our tablecloth was stained, and my silverware even came dirty once. My appetizers were a great start, the vegetables were fresh and light, we even got an extra appetizer from the chef which was a highlight of the meal! Our main courses were quite the opposite, though. Both were drenched in sauce, which took away from the lightness of the seafood and pasta, and my meal didn't come with the vegetables that were listed on the menu. For dessert, there's nothing that really stood out between our two desserts. I'm disappointed by the tiramisu, because this is supposed to be an Italian eatery! Mostly, the service was wonderful, everyone was polite and greeted us, but our server would not leave us alone. He would stand a few feet away from the table throughout the entire experience, and while he was polite it was definitely a little awkward. Overall, you can save your money eating a pizza place down the street. read more

I will say that the atmosphere here is very pretty the service we had was pretty good, but we did have a big table so we did have a delay in food more than it should've been My dinner was really great. The appetizer that I had which was the calamari I would give it a 5 out of 10. Drinks were great read more

Encore by Goodfellas - 4 Pieces Mini Cannolis - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

See all

Encore by Goodfellas is a solid choice for good food and ambiance in downtown New Haven. The rebranding and upscale menu doesn't appear to have helped what once was a reservation required restaurant. I've been here 3 times since the renovation and it has never been busy. They now have a huge bar in the center of the lower level along with tables and the upper floor has tables surrounding an area for live entertainment. I think it was very wise that they brought back the prix fixe menu, which offers an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert for a great price. What sets their prix fixe apart from others is the variety of their offerings. 18 appetizers and 18 entrees to choose from as well as assorted desserts. They still bring the complimentary bruschetta to the table as well. I ordered the pane cotto, stuffed shrimp and carrot cake. 2 nice sized shrimp with ample stuffing served with mashed potatoes and grilled veggies. The shrimp were a bit lemony for my liking, but still very good. Pane cotto was generous and delicious. Not sure that the carrot cake is made in-house, but it was still very good. There is convenient parking in a city lot across the street from the restaurant and easy access to get back on I-91. Encore by Goodfellas is a solid choice. read more

See all

I have celiac disease and asked about cross-contamination before ordering. While gluten-free pasta was offered, the staff confirmed they use the same pot of water for regular and gluten-free pasta. Shared boiling water makes the dish unsafe for someone with celiac disease. The staff were polite and courteous, but there did not appear to be separate preparation protocols for gluten-free items. I hope Goodfellas by Encore considers implementing dedicated cooking water and clearer cross-contact procedures in the future. Based on my experience, I would not consider this a safe option for medically necessary gluten-free dining. read more

Enjoyed a lovely dinner at Encore by Goodfellas last night. Greeted and seated by very friendly maitre'd. The ambiance is spectacular on the first floor the bar area is open ans spacious with tables on the outskirts of the bar plenty of seating. The 2nd floor is beautiful and the view of the whole place is wonderful, bright, airy and a wonderful feel. The food oh my goodness. I went with the pre-fixe menu which has great choices. I had the meatball salad, house salad, Chicken Parmigiana and Goodfella cupcake for dessert. Meatballs were so.good, chicken parm was hearty amd the cupcake was outstanding!! Everything was perfect for this night out at Encore. Totally would recommend them for everything. Food, ambiance and service was phenomenal!!! read more

See all

Came for Restaurant Week, and everything was excellent!!! Only thing is that I think the same menu is available every Wednesday for $5 less? So maybe do that instead, but find a way to go regardless. The piano player upstairs was a wonderful ambiance, and the servers were attentive and friendly. I started with the figs wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with cheese. They were absolute perfection, and I paired them with a lovely gin and bergamot cocktail whose name I forget. Next was a surprisingly good salad, though it was mostly greens. And then the veal osso buco was absolutely incredible. The meat was so so tender, and the risotto was cooked perfectly. I had a glass of the red Bordeaux to go with it, which was excellent as well. Last came the mini cannoli, which were light and crunchy. They were just a bit underfilled with cream, but I was so full by this point that I wasn't really bothered. Great food, great vibe. I would definitely come back! read more

See all

The service was nonexistent, I sat down and nobody greeted me for a while so I went back to the host and got my own menu. Waitress still never came so then the host finally took my order for me. The waitress came over over finally and dropped off a placemat but still didn't say anything and then my food came and the waiter brought out some complimentary salad and bruschetta which they could have brought out way before my entree order while I waited. Terrible service I wouldn't come back. And the pasta was just okay nothing special about it read more

Encore by Goodfellas - Salad and bruschetta - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

The food, the wine, the service and the atmosphere are always great! It is one of our go-to places.

I've been here twice and it was a while in between visits and they have revonated since my first visit. It's a very nice place and it has a high end vibe. There are two levels with plenty of seating. There's bar seating as well on the first floor. There's also a space for performers upstairs with a small stage. The service here was very good. Attentive servers and staff and everyone was very pleasant. The food was amazing as well. I was with a big group and was able to see, though not taste, plenty of the dishes and it was all good. I'll definitely be back read more

See all

Food was great, the restaurant is decorated well and so was the service was fantastic. Went for restaurant week and it was amazing.

We loved everything about this place. We enjoyed the eggplant tower, wowed by the presentation and the special stuffed sausage hot peppers. Hot but delicious! The salads along with the complimentary bruschetta and bean salad were such a treat, as well as the bread served warm with whipped butter. None of this was lost on us. For entrees, we thoroughly enjoyed the Chilean sea bass and Porterhouse Veal Chop with peppers and potatoes. The best part of our night was Kat. She was the bartender and our waitress and did not miss a beat! Such a great evening, don't miss this place. read more

Wouldn't let us reserve a large party table on the weekend. Really dumb because we would have spent $&$. Now they won't get any of our business even if we have a smaller group. read more

This is a late review, but I came here at the end of May for a graduation dinner. We had a reservation for 6 and were seated immediately. I had been here previously and did not particularly enjoy the food. That first time, I had ordered a lobster ravioli and my ravioli was still raw in the middle. However, I'm happy to report the food this time around was more enjoyable. Everyone at the table agreed the lamb shank was the best dish of the night, and one of the guests who ordered the surf and turf wished she got the lamb. The risotto was incredibly salty; we all thought it was overly salty. I also got the butter salad (not pictured) that I thought was to die for--I'd come back just to eat that salad, haha everyone also agreed the salad was delicious. We sat upstairs and they had someone playing the piano. The live music was a great touch and made the environment so fancy, which was exactly what we were looking for. 2/5 the first time I came (Oct 2022) 4/5 the second time I came (May 2024) read more

See all

Went there for my Birthday called before hand to ask if I could bring a special bottle of wine with me for the occasion. I was told that would be ok. Ordered three entrees veal lamb and pork dishes. All were thrown on a plate not appealing to the eye. When the bill came a corking fee of $40 dollars was added to the bill. I thought this was excessive and asked to speak to the manager. The manager came and was very rude and refused to take of the excessive corking fee. I expected to pay a corking fee put $40 was excessive. Lousy birthday terrible treatment by Management and nothing special about this place. I wouldn't waste my $$$ here BEWARE read more

Came here when the lines for Sally's, Pepe's, and Modern were around the block. So happy we did! Very traditional Italian place. Menus: regular menu, $40 prix fix menu, and daily specials. So many great choices!!! Service: our waiter was great. Very attentive. Offered fantastic suggestions. Food: so good Our group had a variety of things 9'- one better than the next. Tuna tartar, onion soup, eggplant stack, and caviar service. Veal chop special, filet on Prix fix, and lasagna. Prix fixe includes a salad - very good. Not an iceberg thing. It had multiple greens and was fresh. Dessert: cupcake like no ther I've had before. Just get this. Or the brownie sundae. We left with many doggy bags. Yum! read more

See all

First time back since the revamp. Absolutely gorgeous inside. They had a talented man on the piano playing beautiful music and a little light singing as well. Very classy. The dinner menu had so many great options and once we decided we would definitely be returning each one of us ended up getting something off the specials menu because all those options were too delicious sounding to pass up. The portions were perfect. For apps we tried the whipped ricotta crostini, stuffed squash blossoms and stuffed artichoke. Each bite better than the next. I personally had the well balanced seafood risotto that I'm still thinking about. Our server was on point from follow up on food, beverages and acknowledging a birthday! Prices may seem expensive but you're paying for quality, portions & catered service. Will return! read more

Encore by Goodfellas - Seafood Risotto (special) - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

See all

Beautiful place and great food! I recently celebrated a party there and there's service was amazing. Everyone was so nice and professional. I'm very lucky with meatballs but these were so delicious. The atmosphere was calming and elegant and classy. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

Encore by Goodfellas has a lot going for it--beautiful ambiance, great live music, and a stylish atmosphere that makes for a fun night out. It's definitely a spot where you can kick back, enjoy the vibe, and sip on a standout drink like their Smokey Mango Margarita (highly recommend!). We ordered the gluten free spaghetti and Atlantic salmon--everything was tasty and presented well. However, we ran into some issues when it came to food allergies (gluten, tree nuts, and shellfish). Our servers, while polite and well-meaning, didn't seem knowledgeable about the menu in that regard. We had to wait a few times while they double-checked with the kitchen, which made ordering a bit stressful. The biggest concern came at the end of the meal when they brought out ice cream with nuts mixed in, despite being told about the tree nut allergy. It wasn't immediately obvious, and I almost ate it--but luckily caught it in time. That could have been a serious situation and definitely took away from an otherwise enjoyable experience. Encore has a lot of potential and is a great place to enjoy music and drinks, but they need to tighten up communication and training around food allergies. I'd consider coming back--but with extra caution next time. read more

Goodfellas is an amazing Italian restaurant in New Haven. The service here is amazing! I have dietary restrictions and the server was amazing in understanding it and relaying it to the kitchen. The food was also amazing. They have two floors of tables - there are tables for groups both small and large. The price is definitely on the higher end but I would definitely recommend this place for a nice dinner out for a date or celebration for their amazing food and service! read more

See all

I am so impressed with this place. I honestly thought it was another themed restaurant that was going to be overrated. It was not! Wow on a busy weekend (Valentines day), I honestly didn't expect to get a last minute reservation. Parking is easy (directly across street, like $1 per hour). They sat us right away. We received our cocktails within 5 mins of ordering, our appetizers within 10-15 mins and dinner came quickly but not so quick we couldn't enjoy our appetizers. Angel, our waiter was excellent! He was attentive and checked in frequently and kept us posted on status of food and he even boxed our food for us, which was a treat. Since the pandemic restaurants have been hands off on boxing your food. The ambience was quaint and felt cozy with dim lights even though it was busy. They show movies on mute like The Godfather and Goodfellas and walled with pics of the movies. The food exceptional from the starter bread and bruschetta, to the clam casino and calamari, which we followed with seafood risotto and NY strip cognac. Delicious! I will be returning! read more

See all

This place used to be a fantastic Italian restaurant. But then they renovated it, and it moved up to another stratosphere altogether. If you come in on one of the days when they have the live jazz band playing, you'll be treated to some of the best service, the best food, and the best music all at once. read more

We entered the restaurant right on time. There was just 2 of us. I had asked to be seated upstairs and told the restaurant it was our 1st anniversary since they ask if it's a special occasion. We were not told the upstairs were closed but we guessed this as we were seated downstairs. There was no mention of this request and no mention of our anniversary from anyone. When we entered we could see it was maybe 1/8 full of customers. Experience has told me service will be impeccable or really bad on a slow night. We waited 15 minutes after being seated before we were acknowledged or given menus. When this happened our waters were filled (and should be noted kept full all night in a timely manner). We had a 6 course dinner. The food for the most part was excellent. The only thing that was not was the lasagna and meatballs, my husband thought both were eh, and meatballs he didn't like. The service overall was not great. It wasn't horrible but it was not great, it was slow with dishes allowed to pile up while our waiter was taking extended time in the kitchen. Another thing we would suggest to the manager. Make sure all your staff know not to correct employees in public nor make comments about them. We witnessed this twice and frankly I don't go to dine out, to watch this. It's unprofessional and brings your establishment down in the eyes of your patrons. read more

One of my favorite restaurants as of lately. The new redesign is beautiful. They have two floors and a beautiful statement light fixture hanging between the two floors above the 360 bar on the first level. There is live music often on the second floor. The staff is always very friendly and professional. And the food is always top tier! I'm not sure that you can go wrong with anything you order here and you're guaranteed to have a lovely and splendid evening! read more

See all

Great food and service. Never disappoints! The new decor is lovely and the seating is comfortable. Would recommend to anyone wanting great Italian food. It's my first choice in the New Haven area. read more

This place has been around forever. The food is consistent with sizable portions. This restaurant is currently undergoing a major face lift, and I cannot wait to see it when it reopens. Cocktails are always on point. Flavors are fantastic. Of course, good fellows is always playing in the background. Staff is friendly and welcoming. The rooftop patio is also a great addition and place to have a summer cocktail. read more

Encore by Goodfellas - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Came here for their restaurant week dinner special. I will definitely be returning. Every meal we had was delicious. Our server was very friendly. The portions were huge everybody needed to go boxes. My favorite dinner of the night was the pork chops! I also loved the stuffed mushroom appetizer. You will not be disappointed with anything on this menu! read more

See all

Decided to try this place for restaurant week as they had many options listed! We came on a Sunday for dinner and were easily able to make reservations l. Overall enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant. The restaurant week many provided many options to choose from. For my appetizer I got the stuffed mushrooms, which were good. For dinner I got the chicken park- which was okay. It was a very large serving of chicken, however it was lacking on the amount of sauce. And then of course for dessert I got the mini cannolis, which I enjoyed very much! read more

Encore by Goodfellas - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

The ambiance is very upscale comfortable and the decor is calming with good light. The Smoky Mango Margarita ($18) was expertly prepared by the two quality bartenders. I am a very hard to please quest when prices are this high. We started with drinks and wine and I needed to have something to eat. The bartender brought me some of the most delicious Italian bread I've had at a restaurant in quite a while. The bread was served with butter and oil. It was excellent and a good barometer for the quality of the food to come. We had the oysters Rockefeller and the caviar deviled eggs as appetizers. The oysters Rockefeller were very tasty. However, the oysters should have been presented in a larger more consistent size. Some were very small. The caviar deviled egg was perfectly executed. We will be back. read more

Encore by Goodfellas - a glass of wine and a menu - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

See all