Gaetano's is right in the heart of Wallingford and has been around forever. My husband and I used to come here often when we lived in CT, and it's always been one of our go-to-spots. The restaurant is divided into a dining area and a bar area, where they often have live music. They offer outdoor seating on the sidewalk and I believe they still open up part of the parking lot as well. The menu is extensive, the portions are generous and everything is reasonably priced. I ordered the chicken teriyaki salad expecting a light meal, but it was much larger than anticipated and absolutely delicious. The added mandarin oranges were sweet and the almonds added a nice crunch, and the clam chowder was excellent. My husband enjoyed his tuna melt. Service has always been good, and the food comes out quickly-hot, fresh and consistently delicious. We'll definitely keep coming back whenever we're in Wallingford. read more

Gaetano's Tavern On Main - Chicken teriyaki salad - American Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

Wonder service as always. People were talkative. A lot of regulars. Great happy hour that ends at 6 m-f. Establishment is clean and workers are friendly. Food is wonderful. read more

Gaetano's Tavern On Main - This was a special. It was similar to a scampi with garlic tomatoes & asparagus - American Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

Awesome little tavern / restaurant in the heart of Wallingford! First time here and I enjoyed it! Food was very good and came out very quickly! Hidden gem! Enjoyed the bison burger, calamari,Buffalo chicken wrap , and Cajun chicken sandwich! Amazing food and drinks ! Service was fast too! read more

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Was going to the oakdale for a concert and decided to give Gaetano's a shot. Best decision! The food was very good and the wait staff was very attentive. The eggplant rolitini for the appetizer is a very good cheesey call! Had the white beans and pasta, and my wife had the French onion chicken, both were excellent and the portion size was very good as well. The feel of the place was a local hangout, a nice easy going place. read more

We stopped in on a Friday for a late lunch here, shared the fried zucchini app - tasty. I had a G&T which was good, hubs an iced tea also good. He got nachos which were just average and similar to melting cheese at home on chips with some jalapeños, olives, tomatoes, and a ton of chives, and the littlest bit of salsa. I had the fried shrimp which were huge but not good at all they came with cocktail sauce, and a side of fries which were nicely crisped. I only ate two shrimp and didn't bother bringing the rest home. The place is loud inside. The bill was on the high side for the quality. read more

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Celebrated a birthday lunch and wasn't disappointed. Food was tasty and well cooked. drinks were amazing and the service was great! Sicilian Calamari, Buffalo chicken wrap, a bison burger with eggplant fries and a Cajun chicken flatbread sandwich. Can't forget the drinks! Antique cash register which is pretty cool! read more

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My brother graduated from college so my mother chose this place to have his graduation lunch. As we arrived, the restaurant was packed due to other graduates celebrating their graduation. We waited about ten minutes to get seated and we were served right away. We ordered Sweet Habanero and Garlic Parmesan Wings, Calamari, and Chicken Quesadillas. The wings were pretty good but in my opinion they needed to be fried more. The flavors of the wings were good but missing the crunch factor. I don't eat Calamari but I tasted one and it had good flavor but missing the crispness. The Chicken Quesadillas were okay. The chicken was bland but it was okay as an appetizer. I also received twenty percent off from an appetizer when I checked in which was a plus. The customer service was excellent and are waitress was outgoing and friendly. She always checked on are table and made sure that everyone was okay. read more

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I was there for a party and I thought the food was awful and the environment was not a family friendly environment. I would not recommend this restaurant for an event. read more

Gaetano's is a landmark in Wallingford! If you need a banquet space...check If you are looking for freshly made yummy food....check! If you are looking for a family friendly menu and atmosphere in the dining room.... Check! If you are looking for some adult time with great local live music in the bar area.....check! I highly recommend CHECKING out Gaetano's tavern They have something for everyone! read more

We went Sunday afternoon for a birthday lunch . One of us ordered the Asian salad and was very pleased .. the other one ordered the special Brazilian bowl . But it did come with leafy greens not shredded lettuce and the I asked for shredded lettuce Like iceberg lettuce . They didn't have it so I got the old timer burger but with grilled chicken. It was delicious.it was a great pick to have lunch it was not crazy busy and the staff especially our waitress was excellent. Definitely a great experience And wheelchair accessible as well. Huge selection to pick from . Enjoy Chris M read more

We had such a wonderful dining experience. The food was delicious, I ordered shrimp with Alfredo sauce on Linguini ; the sauce was perfectly done. My daughter ordered nachos and requested extra cheese, and they kindly made her a bowl of amazing cheese sauce. The staff were very accommodating and catered to all our requests. The ambiance here can be chill in the bar area and classy in the dining area. You Kind of get the best of both worlds! We chose the dining area and were very pleased. Thank you Gaetanos for a wonderful evening. read more

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Everything from a plate of nachos to a platter of Deep fried seafood to a Burger!! You'll enjoy your meal and the friendly service. My favorite thing is to, while I can, enjoy the outdoor seating. Enjoying my meal while Wallingford passes by read more

Our party of six went to Gaetano's Tavern On Main for our monthly Ladies Who Brunch outing. We were seated promptly and offered seating at the bar area, main dining room or outside. We opted for the dining room which is quaint. Very family friendly ambiance. Our server Brittany came over to take our beverage orders. They have unlimited mimosas for $20 so four of us ordered. The other two ordered coffee and pink lemonade. For our meals we ordered two Tavern Omelets, the Egg Fiesta, the Tequila Chicken, Penne Ala Vodka, and wings and fries. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The portions were quite generous and we all brought part of our meals home. We will definitely put Gaetano's in the rotation of brunch spots. read more

Gaetano's Tavern On Main - Tavern Omelet - American Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

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Just had a very good experience here. I used to come here 10+years ago for the bar but returned today with my husband and 2 kids. On Sunday's they have brunch or their regular menu plus specials and a kids menu. We had something of each menu- the angry clams off the specials, tipsy burger off the brunch, and shrimp and scallop alfredo off regular and chicken tenders off kids. Each was very good- even the kids tenders were one of the better tenders we've had! We also got the bottomless mimosas which for $15 for 2 hours is well worth it! And they were tasty! Not some gross orange juice like you get at some other places. Our waitress was also great, service was quick and friendly. Only con is no changing table for kids in bathroom, but I can't say they're the only one in the area for this so didn't count it against them. Just good to know as a mother during the winter where changing in the car isn't an option. We will be back! read more

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Food was ok but then to get the bill and be charged $18 for an espresso martini in a pint glass is just ridiculous plus $13 cosmos and $8 chips in a basket. The Mexican bowl had no corn or cheese or dressing. Salmon was charged a dollar more than menu. Totally outrageous prices, so we won't be back! The server still got 20%. read more

Gaetano's Tavern on Main is one of my "go-to" spots when I'm looking to grab a bite in Uptown Wallingford. I've been many times, and it's always a good experience! The restaurant is located in Wallingford's Simpson Court, next to a couple other restaurants and businesses. There is limited parking in the lot in front of the business, but I would recommend parking in the larger public lot behind the business (there's also limited street parking, no meters). Once you're there, they have both indoor and outdoor seating. There's seating at the bar and tables in the bar area, as well as a separate dining room (which is more quiet). I recently went and ordered the Tuna Salad sandwich with red onion, tomato, and melted cheddar cheese on Focaccia bread. All sandwiches come with a side of fries, coleslaw, or potato salad. I opted for the fries. Both the sandwich and fries were very good! In the past I've ordered the fried calamari, lobster roll, and fried dough pizza, and honestly I can't say I've had a bad meal yet! The staff are always friendly and the service is quick. Stop by if you're in the Wallingford area! read more

Gaetano's Tavern On Main - American Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

It was a busy night in Wallingford, Gaetano's was the third place we tried and were seated quickly. Live music was playing, acoustic guitarist- very good (Jeff Heffernan). Made for a nice ambiance. Took some time to be waited on, though it was quite busy so totally understood. What gave it only two stars for me was the food, we ordered two appetizers and two drinks. Drinks were good, I had a Kentucky Mule, my sister enjoyed a raspberry martini. The appetizers were spinach and artichoke dip and eggplant rollatini. The dip was very soupy, soupy cheese is sketchy to me and the sauce on the eggplant didn't taste right. (Needless to say, both my sister and I were not well the next day). In addition, Gaetan's offered 20% off one appetizers if you checked into Yelp, showed the coupon to wait staff, who said they'd honor it, but didn't. It's a cute place, though I'm Leary to go back. read more

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They should come out with a minus star. We ordered buffalo chicken nachos, came out with no buffalo chicken, found metal shavings in the nachos. She took it back and didn't say anything. I feel like it was the same tray with added buffalo chicken to it. Then our chicken dishes were burnt and had no flavor! We work hard for our money and just wanted a nice dinner! Our waitress was brand new and didn't know the menu. The bus boys walked around like they didn't know what to do! read more

The center of Wallingford always has some of the best spots to eat. Tavern on main is no exception to this. The food is pretty good for the price. The portions are very large as well. Their sweet potato fries are so crunchy and crispy and flakey and have a great balance of sweet and starchy...I had the pulled pork sandwich. This thing came of a freaking baguette! The slaw on it was delicious! So sweet and creamy and the pork was gooey and tender. It came with a strange dip of sour cream and maple syrup. Was good! Inside the restaurant is fun. The dining area is open and bright and the bar area is moody and sporty and the choice to sit wherever is pleasing. Service was great and our waitress gladly answered all our questions and was super kind. Good Italian American spot for sure. read more

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Gaetanos has best wings around! you won't be disappointed. If you aren't in the mood for the wings, the tavern mac is delicious. They have an extensive menu with great service & friendly staff. read more

Overall I had a positive experience. I will say the service did run on the slower side but the food made up for it. I had the Cajun chicken sandwich and it was so good, the cheese pull in the sandwich was big too! I do wish it came with a side of ranch or something to compliment the sandwich but I wasn't able to get the waitresses attention. I was not a fan of the side of coleslaw, to me it was mostly vinegar. read more

Gaetano's Tavern On Main - Cajun Chicken - American Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

So many great choices in Wallingford for a good meal! Add this to the list. Six of us made a reservation for dinner before hitting up our concert at the Oakdale. No need to worry about being late, our food came out in record time and was so good! I feel awful that I do not remember our server's name but she was fantastic. Very engaging, very funny, and made great recommendations. She definitely added to the great vibe and experience. read more

We decided to try Geatanos for birthday dinner because we had never been and it was centrally located for all invited. It's a nice little place, seasonally decorated. We had called for a reservation for 7 and were seated promptly. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful with recommendations. Cocktails were served in Mason jars and pretty good. We started with nachos and eggplant fries, and 1 gluten free artichoke. Nachos were tasty, although chips were bland. Egg plant fries were decent. Gluten free artichokes didn't look as good as the regular order, which they brought by accident. But they weren't bad. Most of the food was pretty good. The stacker, ordered by my brother and husband, was chicken and veal cutlet. It's a lot and very good. I got the special, chicken potpie with sweet potato fries. It was tasty, but the carrots were undercooked. It was also very large and couldn't finish it. Fries were good. Buffalo chicken wraps looked delicious. The gluten free chicken and pasta was bland. Chicken was dry. Overall it's a cozy place with decent food and great service. read more

Gaetano's Tavern On Main - Chicken potpie - American Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

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We stopped in quick food was good drinks were great. Service was good. Nice old tavern feel read more

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Big outdoor seating fan here - thank goodness for good weather because we are back to eating outside. Such a great spot for drinks and hanging out. The menu doesn't really wow but there are some good staple options for casual dining. I ended up getting The Dog and it was very good. We ordered side salads because we wanted something light and they were really great! read more

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While I try to avoid leaving negative reviews, I read similar reviews to mine and had to share my honest experience. First, we were seated outside on the slanted sidewalk so that our table was lopsided. We were handed menus with plastic that looked and felt disgusting. The food was, quite honestly, disgusting and extremely overpriced. Pasta was overcooked, and the sauce lacked any flavor. I felt like I was eating dog food. The portion was extremely large. Reminded me of diner food in the sense that there are a million items on the menu but none are actually cooked well. Our server was kind and professional, which was the only positive thing that I can honestly say about this place. Avoid this place and go to New Haven for a real Italian meal. read more

We stopped here before a concert. The food was delicious. I wish they'd have gluten free buns but my bunless burger was tasty nonetheless. My bf had a pasta dish. The only complaint I'd have is that my water wasn't refilled. read more

Food was awesome. Service was great. A must try I had the soup and 1/2 sandwich the chicken salad is fantastic. Boyfriend had the chili said it was A++ read more

I hate to do this, but hopefully the owner(s) read the 1 star reviews and work on improving their customer experience. The food was not great. Out of 10 people in our party, only 1 left happy. That is not good after spending $360 with tip (my treat). So let's go with our experience. 1- My pulled pork, ordered with only pulled pork and cole slaw (the only way it should be served. Never cheese. Never onions. Not how it works) arrived full of everything. I sent back, but obviously my 2" high former sandwich was reduced to less than a 1/4" of pork over a totally burned roll. I spread peanut butter thicker on bread. Obviously they scraped off their mistakes and returned my sandwich. Unforgivable. Period. I didn't send back as everyone else was either already done or finishing up. I choked it down because at this point, we were ready to leave. 2- Live music was so loud we could not have a conversation. The band itself wasn't bad, like if you were at a bar. Way too much for dining, but I guess they needed to overcome traffic noise?? (see #3) 3- Outdoor seating was literally a slanted parking lot surrounded by Jersey barriers. Cars going past us about 3 feet away at a volume of 2-3 per minute. This is not outdoor seating, this is like eating a fast food meal in car but without the comfort of the car. 4- Then the family of bicycles....I'm serious. An entire family (age 3 with training wheels on up) wound their way thru the sidewalk and customers! They had on helmets at least, but the customers didn't. I was almost comical at this point...but wow. If someone did get hit and there were some older folks, who is at fault? It's a lawsuit waiting to happen. We had high hopes, but we will not be back and I have never, ever said that. If it was one thing it can be overlooked. Nah....not this time. Only good part was our waitress. She did her best, she really did. read more

Incredibly atrocious! Not just the food but also the banter by the wait staff. My boyfriend got a steak sandwich which upon first bite we notice something was immediately off and it tasted sour. He was pulling the sandwhich apart and inspecting the meat with a fork and knife and we noticed the meat was tinted green and very rough. Our waiter walked by and saw my boyfriend inspecting the food and said "oh that looks good!"when really it was quite awful. My boyfriends not the type to complain but this meat was not good and must have been sitting out. A good server would have asked if everything was ok instead I myself had a crock of French onion soup which looked like it was zapped in a microwave and came out of a Campbell soup can. There was a small black and curly hair ontop of my bowl. I saw the kitchen staff come out to have a drink and tickle our waiter (weird) and he had black curly hair/ beard so I put 2 and 2 together that it was most likely his hair since it wasn't even pulled back. The food, while bad, was accentuated by the fact that the wait staff in the bar was screaming expletives like the F word "cum on my face" the entire time. The entire staff seems immature, very unprofessional and act like they have a drinking problem (they definitely had to be drinking). Our best advice for Gaetanos would be to go on "Bar Rescue" and have John Taffer yell at the wait staff, manage the kitchen better and change the overall environment. Do yourself a favor go across the street to Archie Moore's and have a good meal. read more

Held a 50th anniversary party for my wife's aunt & uncle in the private room using the on-site buffet menu for 30 attendees. Everything, EVERYTHING, was PERFECT! The food was phenomenal, the setting comfortable, the service (special shout-out to Jill) absolutely top notch. We could not be happier with the way Debbie handled all our requests! A truly memorable celebration - thank you, thank you, thank you! We will certainly be back. Patrick Oates Derby CT read more

I had a fairly pleasant experience here with my family. We all ordered salads and raved about how fresh it tasted. The salad was crispy and the chicken I had on my caesar was so well seasoned. It was also a beautiful day out so it was lovely to sit outside. The only thing I could say about that is that I wish our space was a bit bigger - the seating arrangement outside seems a little tight with the heater right next to us. The management here is wonderful; I've been here twice and both times the owner stopped by to ask us how we were doing. I loved the extra intimate feel of that - it definitely makes this place seem very homey. read more

Gaetano's Tavern On Main - American Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

Kitchen closes at 9 so last three times we tried we missed! Nut when we're early out drom work, we have enjoyed our meals.

Ended up here after "the place across the street" was unable to seat us on a busy Saturday night. As it was our first time, we weren't sure what to expect, but it turned out to be your typical neighborhood joint with more than a few regulars, apparently. We would've preferred an actual table or booth instead of the high top bar extension we got, but beggars can't be choosers. Our server seemed a bit harried (forgot my drink but brought it immediately once reminded), and was generally attentive. The wings, especially the garlic parm, were the star of the show. We also sampled the teriyaki and jerk flavors. The nachos were just okay, and nothing but bare chips once you dug under the top layer of broiled cheese. Could have used more sour cream and salsa. A couple beers, an order of nachos and a triple set of wings set me back quite a bit more than expected, but I would probably come again. read more

First time there and a great experience. Food and service were great! I had seafood and it was terrific. read more

Gaetano's Tavern On Main - Seafood Cioppinio. I think was the name. It was fantastic. - American Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

Absolutely delish! Great food and service. Very attentive staff. Highly recommend this place.

Great food and friendly service! In good weather, the front patio is delightful. Great prices too!

My hubby and I went there last night and the food was amazing We had a wonderful time! Support your local small business! We will be back soon, Thank you Deb read more

Stopped by Gaetano's for dinner last night for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised! I ordered a Buffalo Chicken wrap and would have to say it's now one of my favorites compared to others I've had in town. We ended dinner with a chocolate lava cake which was delicious. The only reason I'm giving Gaetano's 4 stars is due to a loud employee in the bar area, at the time it was not busy inside, so the noise echoed. Other than that our waitress was nice and would definitely return. read more

Gaetano's Tavern On Main - the bar and dining area - American Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

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I miss this place. I really do. I was born and raised in CT so where I lived in Meriden, gaetano's was close to where I lived. So when I joined the Wallingford park and rec community theater which seems like forever ago, I miss that too, we came here for the cast party. I got the Thai salmon. Best salmon I ever had. I'm still trying to figure out how to recreate it. The sauce was awesome it had just the right amount of spice but it didn't overpower and the salmon was never dry it was always cooked perfectly. I also like the cashews on top. The staff was always friendly. read more