I recently visited the newly opened Gioia on New Haven's Wooster Street and was very happy with my experience there! It brings a nice touch of modernity to the historic area, while also celebrating authentic Italian cuisine. I knew we were in for a great meal when they brought over these tasty little garlic rolls to start. All of the pasta is homemade, and as someone who's not typically a big gnocchi fan, their cacio e Pepe gnocchi is absolutely the best I've ever had! I'll be dreaming of that dish for a long time. The bolognese was good too and had a little touch of nutmeg or clove in the sauce, and the eggplant parm bites for an appetizer were definitely another highlight. Fantastic cocktails and mocktails, and our server, Alex, had a great personality and had us laughing throughout the night. Dessert was great too - the fig leaf panna cotta was a unique and tasty option! Their hazelnut gelato was so fresh, and I can't wait to come back and check out the rooftop, Gelateria, and marketplace here as well! read more

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I wish I had a pic of the lasagne.. everything there is amazing. Also, the gelato is just amazing, go for it! I do recommend this place! read more

Gioia Cafe & Bar - Mussel - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I had an 8 pm reservation last evening, the 20th. We were greeted warmly by the host & seated immediately. Place was packed. Our waitress ( Kylie? ) was attentive and a very pleasant young lady. She explained the dinner & drink specials thoroughly. We decided on sharing the mussels - excellent, great tomato based broth, meatballs - very tasty, and the rigatoni with corn, blistered tomatoes and I don't know what else but it was delicious. Everything is made on premises including the focaccia bread for soaking up all that wonderful tomato mussel broth. The room is very nice, comfortable. Not intimate, a little loud but a very nice room. If I had to say a negative (for lack of a better word) I'd institute a dress code for such a nice place. I hate seeing people dressed poorly or with baseball hats - ugggh! We will definitely come again to try other menu items. read more

Ambiance is very nice, love the atmosphere, music, all that. Service is very dependent on who you get. First week they opened, I went and he was great. When I went back with my family, I had a waitress and was absolutely awful. She wouldn't make eye contact, sounded very condescending, and ruined the night for us. Food is pretty good, the bread is great, but some of the dishes need a little bit more salt. read more

Found a new gem on Wooster St - Gioia which is owned by Tim Cabral of Ordinary. The food and vibe is really awesome. The cocktails are truly crafted. Recommend the black Manhattan. Michaela happened to be behind the bar and was awesome. The rooftop is scheduled to open in April. If you are looking for great food, great atmosphere and great service check it out. #gioianhv #ctrestaurants #woosterst #greatfood #mixology read more

Best New Haven meal I have had in a long time. The carrots were amazing, hanger steak, sausage, pan a cotta. Service impeccable...atmosphere so bright and welcoming. I mean order anything: and the side market is legit. They have gifts as well as toothpaste, eggs, and toilet paper. Cannot say enough good things about Gioia, will definitely go back and bring everyone I know. read more

Gioia Cafe & Bar - Hanger steak, broccolini, virgin cocktail named after Lucille. - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Always have had a wonderful time at Gioia! The service is wonderful, the space is beautifully done, & the best part is the food. Mark & his team whip up some of the best food I've had in CT. The pastas, breads, & gelatos are house made. My favorite are the meatballs, any pasta dish, & pizza. The desserts are KILLER, but the sticky toffee pudding, pistachio gelato, & cheesecake are my favorite. The cocktail & wine menu are fabulous. The Rossini spritz is my personally favorite. I recently went for my birthday & the little extra touches by the servers were everything. From the cocktails to the little birthday card signed by the kitchen staff, it was such an memorable experience. Our server, Steven, was the best & very attentive. The If you have not gone yet, what are you waiting for? read more

I had my daughter's baby shower at Gioia on the rooftop. Such an amazing party. I worked with the GM Howie. He was a pleasure to work with. Very accommodating and responsive to all of my calls and requests. The food is amazing! Very "tasty" with a twist on classic dishes. We had a brunch. The service and staff were also very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere on the rooftop is also fantastic with the feeling of being in a vineyard. I highly recommend! read more

Incredible food and (if possible) even better service. My fiancé had noted on the reservation that it was our final dinner date (as an engaged couple) exactly one week out from the wedding and asked for a couple things, they went above and beyond. Everybody was so kind and congratulatory, as if we were family. We'd never been but will certainly be returning. read more

A local took me here and I'm so happy I got to check it out. We got there a little after opening on a Saturday and the place got packed fast. It's no wonder why. Howie who greeted us was so welcoming and the bar staff were so personable and inviting. Indulged in a glass of Pinot Grigio and a Roman style pizza with sausage and broccoli. It's a place I want to return to for a full dinner and it'll also be a must visit in the summer when they open their rooftop. Highly recommend a stop in if you can snag a seat! read more

Gioia Cafe & Bar - Roman Pizza with sausage and broccoli - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I had a great experience at Gioia in Wooster Square last night! Since it just opened a few months ago, I hadn't been there before, and it definitely exceeded expectations. The interior is so chic and decorated really nicely, with gorgeous shades of pink and purple everywhere, including on the menus. I wanted to try all their cocktails, but I had the pera vita which had delicious hints of pear and cinnamon. My friend and I shared the burrata as an appetizer, which was really good. We were mainly excited for the pasta specials we had both ordered - the lasagna and truffle pasta were both amazing. I can't wait to try more off their menu. I also hope to come back here during the warmer months to try out their rooftop. We were also pleased with the service. We were checked on a reasonable amount. I'm looking forward to coming back here! read more

Gioia Cafe & Bar - Truffle pasta and lasagna - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Our group was met by rudeness and ageism by the host and waiter. Despite being almost empty, they balked at allowing us to sit at a table for happy hour even after they were told a couple of us have disabilities. Then made a fuss about using an extra chair. The waiter called us "sweetheart" "darling" and "honey" - would he address younger women using those terms or just "old ladies"? In my 40-plus years dining out as both a customer and food critic, Gioia New Haven was the worst experience I've had. Gioia New Haven could've had a loyal group of lifelong New Haveners returning again and again. We will take our money and many friends elsewhere. There are so many hospitable restaurants to choose from in New Haven. We'll support them instead. P.S. the food was ok. read more

Great vibe, so cute in there. The food was super delish and the gelato is amazing! Would deff go again!

It is still early days for Gioia, but I think this will quickly be seen as one of the best restaurants in New Haven. We visited on a busy Saturday. Service was extremely attentive and friendly. It's clear the team here is extremely professional, and it was a really pleasant time as a result. The restaurant seemed full to capacity, but the tables are well spaced and it was not too loud. We got squash agnolotti and a potato Wooster square, both of which were excellent. The highlight, though, were the crispy potatoes we got as an appetizer (big carb day now that I write it out...). Incredibly crisp without being greasy and a really nice bright salsa verde. After dinner we rounded the corner for gelato. The pistachio gelato is probably my new favorite iced confection in Connecticut. Really dense pistachio flavor and an incredibly smooth and creamy texture. There were a few kinks I'm confident they'll work out. It took about 40 minutes to get our food, but I suspect it's in part because they were slammed and in part because everything was cooked fresh to order, which takes time. The Wooster square we got was delicious, but probably could've taken some additional time to get more color and crisp on the bottom crust. Neither issue was a serious concern and overall we loved our dinner here. read more

Cool spot and I really want to love it BUT it's super super small potions. Dinner, I got the tuna and it was about the size of a sushi roll and $28. Wife got the mushroom pasta and was like a small app. Drinks are good, service it great, rooftop is really nice but if you're hungry, the portions are super super small. read more

Had dinner with friends last night. Service was good and our waitress was friendly. Didn't have name brands of vodka like kettle or grey goose which we thought was strange. Their vodka they recommended was Lower quality which was terrible. Food very pricey and not very good. Meatballs just ok. Calamari appetizer terrible. Roasted chicken not good at all. Awful seasoning. As soon as we paid our bill the manager came to our table and asked us to leave and said that he needed our table. He said we could go up to the rooftop if we wanted to stay. I don't like being pushed out or rushed when in a restaurant for dinner . Especially with the prices we paid for everything. Totally uncalled for and we will not be back there again. read more

Upstairs rooftop is unique. Makes you feel as though you are somewhere else other than CT. The presentation of food was beautiful and delicious. The owner is welcoming and created a great vibe. Downstairs is beautiful and accompanied a small market. read more

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I wanted to LOVE this place, reviews are predominantly positive. Ambiance is great, attractive space. Friendly and attentive service. The food was good, but just a little off for me. Like, weird. Maybe my palate is just not sophisticated enough, but with Italian dishes I prefer a more traditional flavor I guess. My partner wasn't a fan of the warm olives. The Tagliatelle Bolognese was good, pasta seemed SO fresh , but again... it was a bit weird. Like there's an ingredient in there that just didnt belong, maybe nutmeg? Without that "off" taste, I would've absolutely loved it. I felt the same about the half Rotisserie chicken, I feel like it would've been PERFECT, if it hadn't tasted just a bit too lemony. I had vanilla gelato for dessert, yum. The rooftop area that will open in spring (I assume) sounds amazing. I think this is a good addition to the area, and I'll probably give it another chance...I agree with another reviewer here that they should feature some "classics" on the menu. And have them taste like true classics. read more

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A cool place with a cool atmosphere. The booths made it feel like a diner with a trendy bar. The service was good and the food was good as well. The focaccia bread was excellent. My husband and one of our friends each ordered the salmon. They both said it was delicious but felt that the portion was small. My husband regretted not getting an appetizer or salad. He left hungry. I had the 1/2 rotisserie chicken, which was very tasty and a nice size portion. I didn't care for the salsa Verde and was glad I got it on the side. The crispy potatoes were delicious. Our other friend got the chicken cacciatore pappardelle. She enjoyed it, but it was not what she expected because it was a white sauce not a red sauce which is not typical of this dish. Next time I go, I would sit on the rooftop because they have a separate kitchen with a separate menu. I wanted to order the chicken parmesan, but they don't serve it in the main restaurant. read more

Excellent Italian restaurant on Wooster St. Very new and modern. Was very lively on Saturday night. There's an upstairs patio with slightly abbreviated menu. We ate in the dining room for the full menu. Sat at the bar since a table was unavailable and Kayley was super friendly and attentive. Shared with my wife salad, tagliatelle ragu, pizza (thick crust style) and finished with blueberry crumb and chocolate gelato. Everything was delicious. This place offers a welcome alternative to the more old school Italian restaurants. Highly recommend. read more

Food was simply superb! Our waiter was an A+ professional who takes pride in his work and set up & served each course meticulously. A group of 3 with much experience with Italian food, as well as fine dining. Best anchovy toast and roasted fingering potatoes ever, including European countries. Rotisserie chicken was tender & flavorful. Burrata salad with a generous portion of greens with homemade dressing was impeccable - simple yet so tasty. Pappardelle was tasty generous meat sauce. Gnocchi was a bit too mushy for me, but another guest had much praise for it. Ended the meal with refreshing sorbet. Would definitely return! read more

Gioia Cafe & Bar - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Very pleasant experience. We were originally just plan to try the gelato ice cream. I was surprised by the citrusy and aroma passion fruit flavor. We end up booking a reservation for the same night because we were attracted by the ambiance of the restaurant. We ordered 4 dishes, which includes two dishes from pasta, two from wood fired. The pancetta add to the freshly made rigatoni the right amount of protein and fat to balance the carbs. The Gnocchi is very very soft with well aged cheeses. The steak was medium rare with anchovy hollandaise sauce. I am surprised by the anchovy hollandaise sauce which only brings up the umami but not the fishy flavor. The last and three best is the whole branzino. All my families super love this dish. We grow up eating sea food. The branzino is freshly made, gently grilled and perfectly seasoned. This is the best grilled fish we ever eat. I think overall, it changes my perspective of Italian food. The service is very nice and quick. It takes about 15-16mins for each order and they have parking next to the restaurant which makes way easier for a Friday night. And photogenic environment ! read more

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Wanted to love this place after hearing good things from friends. The Rossini Spritz and Caffé Martini were good. While the meatballs had good flavor they were tiny. The gnocchi was just okay, there are much better places for this dish in New Haven. The half chicken also lacked flavor and seasoning. Our waitress was attentive but overall this spot was lacking. read more

Gioia Cafe & Bar - Rossini spritz, meatballs, caffé martini - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Fantastic food, service and atmosphere! So clean and new looking . Server was very knowledgeable, staff was very welcoming. Check out the kitchen, cool setup. read more

Visited with friends and had a fabulous experience, food, service and cool ambiance! Would definitely return, in fact, can't wait to return!

Awesome new addition to Wooster Street in New Haven's Little Italy. Decor is trendy and comfortable, service is attentive and friendly, and food was delicious. They have a market, a gelato window, a parking lot and a rooftop deck that opened recently. Go soon and definitely make a reservation. read more

This is the second time I've been here. Tonight my boyfriend and I stopped in for a nice date night. The overall aesthetic and feel of this restaurant is beautiful. I find the food to be well thought out, but just sort of odd. I am by no means a picky eater but found myself finding something a little "off" with each dish. While I respect the creativity of the chefs, I don't think I'd return for dinner. I'd much prefer grabbing some drinks on the beautiful rooftop and enjoying some oysters. Appetizers: We ordered the crispy potatoes and warm olives to start. The crispy potatoes were nicely cooked and seasoned with the aioli. The chimichurri contained mint which is not my particular preference, but was good enough. The warm olives were seasoned with something that resembled anise..which made it inedible in my opinion. Entrees: I got the smaller portion of the tagliatelle bolognese...way too much nutmeg in this dish for my taste. The portion size was perfect though contained much more of the meat than the pasta, throwing off the balance a little. My boyfriend got the sausage pizza which they kindly made without cheese due to his allergy. He enjoyed this! Overall, I would say the aesthetic really carries this restaurants appeal. I never comment or take off stars for service because I believe that falsely biases the overall rating of a restaurant! That said, we experienced basic and attentive service and were treated kindly as compared to other reviews I've read. Good: for drinks and vibes Bad: picky eaters who are looking for a hearty meal. read more

For my birthday I decided to take a trip to New Haven with a few of my friends to check out a new Italian restaurant, Gioia that had just opened a few months ago. The rooftop bar, drinks, and food looked enticing so we decided to give it a go. The atmosphere and layout of the restaurant looked great and as soon as you walk in you feel like you are in for a treat. I had made a reservation, but like usual, I was the first to arrive so I was seated and waited for the rest of my party to arrive. My waitress came introduced yourself pour me water and I said the menu was new to me so I needed a couple of minutes before I ordered anything and that I was also waiting for the rest of my party to arrive. She had not come back until my friends has shown up, which surprisingly was about half an hour later while I was away from the table, the waitress actually jokes to one of my friends that she was ignoring me because no one else has shown up? That was very rude, and uncalled for. Although she may have been overworked her attitude for the rest of the service seemed sarcastic and uninterested. I ended up ordering a smoked old fashioned which came in a sealed glass. It looked and tasted great. I ended up getting a half rotisserie chicken with a salsa verde and pork belly which was delicious. The food and drinks were top notch but the rude server left a bad taste in my mouth. I'll give it another shot and hopefully I'll have a better experience next time. read more

Wow wow wow!! This place is such an amazing spot!! I've been wanting to go ever since I saw it on instagram. The design of the space is beautiful, from the bar to the seating, everything looks perfectly curated and lovely. Our waitress was so friendly and wonderful all evening, and everyone in the restaurant is super attentive and helpful! They have an open kitchen- where you can sit at bar seats over looking all the action! (Would love to sit there next visit for sure!) we started with two cocktails- the Pera Vita (fall inspired for sure featuring local Bishops cider!) and the Tonico del Mare (a lovely take on a gin and tonic with fresh sage on top!) For a snack we started with warmed olives that were to die for. Then had the Gioia salad- fresh greens with a delicious and light salad dressing. We also ordered the arancini- which was fish based and honestly the star of the entire meal! Do not sleep on the arancini! For mains- we shared half portions of the bolognese and the cacio e Pepe gnocchi! Both so fresh and we finished it all!! Come to this place ASAP and try it out, just make sure to secure a reservation- it's always packed. read more

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Gioia is in a very nice location and has really great decorations (cool plates!) and pretty hip decorations. That being said, the food wasn't particularly good, or large enough portions. I had the ricotta-filled ravioli. The ricotta was sort of dry which was very disappointing and I ordered the small size which was around 17$, and it was an extremely small portion. My husband's food was also underwhelming. Our service was fast and friendly, but for the cost of the food vs the food you get, not really worth the time. read more

Beautiful tasty delicious food. We were sorry we weren't able to eat inside the beautiful dining room but needed to take care of an infant at home. So good! Loved especially the wide round pasta. Delicious read more

Gioia has been my after dinner drink spot every weekend since opening. Tonight, there were two open bar seats and we got stopped as we were sitting and asked if we checked in with the hostess. Confused, as bar seats are usually first come first serve, I asked the hostess if we could sit. She then replied that there's a wait (no one was waiting for the bar, only tables), that I'd have to put my name in and they'd text me, and added that it would likely be over 30 minutes. In result, Gioia lost 2 loyal costumers that really loved ending their night here and likely won't be back. read more

Nice gelato ice cream. Very slow service though. Good choices. No place to sit so you have to either walk around or sit in your car and eat. OK prices. read more

What a lovely meal! Service was great, atmosphere wonderful...we split the burratta, which was just so delicious;then went on to chicken Parm and a delicious chicken pasta. Fun cocktails, and a lovely wine list...the house Pinot Grigio was great! read more

This restaurant is everything. The location. Obviously. The space and attention to detail- amazing. The food spectacular. The wine list is perfection as are the artfully crafted cocktails. The shop is curated with beyond exceptional products hand picked by the fabulous Merideth, and OMG the gelato- personal favs are the blood orange ( my husband ) and I'll swear the pistachio is literally the best thing I have ever eaten in my life, regardless of food groups. Best of all is the service. From the top : Owners Tim and Avi who are very present , the bar staff and everyone else. Just exceptional. If you haven't gone just go. They do not disappoint. read more

Beautiful space, food and staff. Truly awesome addition to New Haven and Wooster Square! Cocktails are very well executed too

Lovely dining room, cool vibe but the good news ends there. Our server was absolutely terrible. The drinks are served in miniature glasses. The food, all of it, needs salt. My plate of rigatoni had exactly 5 pieces of rigatoni on it. That's not a meal and not worth the price. I wrote a letter to the manager and never responded. So if they don't care, you shouldn't either. Never going back. read more

I have been going here for all my special occasions because they are great. The service is the best I've seen anywhere, the food is amazing, the ambiance is great too. Although it should be noted that you can't stay longer than 1.5 hours at the table as reservations are in demand here, with good reason. read more

Ambiance ...check plus! Service...check plus, plus Food....absolutely amazing! Enjoyed a delicious meal recently. We are from NJ....so sorry Gioia is in CT!. A definite must try ! read more

This place was amazing! The food was very fresh and the drinks were strong yet sweet. read more

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