The Italian Pavilion is a mainstay in the Valley despite moving locations frequently - it started out as a little hole in wall in the ancient Ansonia Mall, moved to Valley Bowl when that place closed, then took over another building in the same lot when *that* place closed - and it's finally, in my eyes, starting to earn its reputation. The decor is very casual. The lighting is amber but not quite romantic, while the walls are covered with the pictures of famous popular culture figures in sports and entertainment. Seating is plentiful, for parties both large and small. Along the wall where the bar is are multiple large televisions where sporting events play. My issue here is that the TVs are on the large wall behind a divider, so you have to crane your neck if you want to watch anything from the main dining area. The ambiance is *overwhelmingly* Italian, which is a compliment; the whole restaurant just says "come in and sit down, you're among friends who will feed you until you burst". "Until you burst" is the key takeaway. Portions are very generous, so prepare to have leftovers. The prices can tend to match - partly due to portions, partly due to reputation - as they tend to be high for the Valley, but I have never seen anyone walk out of here in any condition other than "corpulent". The food is also very good, with a good sauce on most dishes, and particular raves on the soups and parmeseans. The pizza is OK - Italian with a softer crust - but not the best in the area. Service is fairly good. The hosts are outstanding, and the wait staff is fast, and courteous. For a place that's been around as long as this one, I'm surprised at the consistent quality in this department. Small mistakes are normal here, but these are the kind of things that are only noticed by people really paying attention and looking to nitpick. The good news is that once you're here, it's a great time. The bad news is getting here. The location is convenient - right off of Rt. 8, and in the beginning of the Division Street commerce hub - but the parking lot leading to the restaurant has fallen under years of neglect. The lot doesn't have potholes; they've graduated to "crater", and are working their way towards their sinkhole license. There is a very real, legitimate chance of damaging a car's undercarriage or suspension system in the lot, and it's not well lit at night, which makes things worse. The actual lot is fine; getting to that lot takes some skillful navigation. There is no pretension to the Italian Pavilion, which is why it's a place I like to eat and relax. Come in, eat, talk, laugh, and then enjoy your food coma; that's the name of the game here. read more

this food is very good and fresh. Food was a little cold but still good. Waiter was slow but nice. asked for apple juice but never got it. my grandma gave her a $20 tip i think that was a little to much but whatever. people were very loud and i was not ok with it but whatever. Probs will go back tortellini soup was just the noodles like wheres the chicken or veggies like um trying to stay healthy but whatever the chicken was a little under cooked but whatever have a nice day read more

Located right off of Route 8, it may seem like a great find... with emphasis on find. Italian Pavilion is very inconveniently located, and has an old school pizza restaurant feel to it. The food is delicious and amazing. For the pasta dinner, you get so much that you'll have to save some for the next day! Such a great place with a lot of history! read more

I've been going here forever and this place has only gotten better over the years. I remember when they were closer to the plaza entrance and next to the now torn down bowling alley. The food is great. The pizzas are really good! Honestly, best in the valley. And I've tried nearly every pizza place in the valley. They also have a bread pizza that was tomatoes, cheese, and garlic on it as an appetizer. It's so GOOD! I can't even describe how good it is! It's just yum! I also like their pasta. The sauce is really tasty! I usually get calamari on it. They recently started using smaller calamari to put on the pasta which I LOVE because having the full size on pasta was a bit much. I just like popping the smaller ones into my mouth while I'm slurping pasta. And lastly, I get the pasta fagiola a lot. Which if you ask anyone, it's NEVER the same when you go to a different place. This pasta fagiola is basically tomato soup with beans and pasta. Very simple but very yummy! And for people who are vegetarian, fear not! There's absolutely no meat in it! So give it a try! You won't be sorry! read more

Back in the days of the Ansonia mall, IP was great to grab a slice. I can recall the dimly lit wood paneling in the dining room. Now, they have a big restaurant with terrible food and chicken wings (seasoned, extremeky salty breaded wings) and they charge you for every soda refill without warning. Their pizza is awful now. Soggy crust with what I would call cheap canned sauce. We will not be going back ever again. The original family owners would be ashamed of you IP! read more

Will never order from there again. Have ordered a few pizzas from there for take out here and there was never really thrilled with them but the last pizza I ordered from them will never make me go back again. Pizza was so undercooked, was so doughy and the cheese was clearly not even melted all the way. And let's just say the pizza came back up a few hours later. read more

My go to spot for pizza and pasta in the valley. This place has been consistent for close to 40 years, I remember getting a slice in the old Ansonia mall while my mom shopped,delicious then, delicious now Thanks guys. read more

This food was bad! We were so disgusted by the food we couldn't even eat half of our meals. Now do you screw up a salad? Who knows, they figured it out though. They also made my husband's cutlets very dry and our friends meals were also unfortunate tasting. read more

I've been a fan for 25 years. The new place is very nice with plenty of parking and a full service bar. The service was ok considering they were packed with a waiting line of 15 minutes. We ordered the veal parm with pasta, it was very good. The house salad with italian dressing was fresh and tasty, and the breads were served warm. It really was an enjoyable dinner. The prices were very reasonable, a lot a bang for your buck. A true family place to dine. read more

Besides the food being greasy and not so appealing, there is one other huge problem with this place: all the New York Yankee stuff all over. Now, it's one thing for a business to maybe have a little sign of which team they prefer, but it's another when it becomes a decorating theme. Even if it were a team I liked, decorating any space based on a sports team is just beyond distasteful. And the food is not that good. The end. read more

Terrible and we haven't received any food yet after 45 minutes. No managers to be found. Waitress is overwhelmed and receiving no assistance. It's not that busy. Don't waste your time. read more

I always get the white clam pie which is good, then last night I ordered pepperoni (greasy) and a sausage and onion to go with a salad. Sausage pie undercooked, salad was brown, pepperoni was dripping. Very Very disappointing, 27 bucks later and a lousy dinner. Won't be back for some time. read more

Just went to the new location and it was dynamite. I have never been there before. Food was excellent. We had pizza. zuppa di pesce was loaded with fish. Very clean nice new bar with lots of TVs. I thought it was very clean. Service was fine. Will be back. read more

Have lived in the area the past 2.5 years and started ordering out while they were still in the valley bowl building. The pizza was pretty good then and is still. My gf and I order out from them usually a couple times a month, and the chicken, veal, and eggplant parm are very good. The garden salad is also good with a very good italian dressing. For $4.50 the salads are large and always fresh and good. Definitely recommend the prior items if ordering put or eating in. We have ate in the restaurant - it was early dinner and the restaurant was very quiet due to the time of day. We did not receive the best service in terms of speedy or filling our drinks promptly. Our second experiance was much better. Would def recommend to someone if they were looking for a decent priced place to eat that isn't a chain store, or someone looking for pizza. read more

I recently went to this restaurant with a friend on his recommendation and I'm so glad we went. I got a meatball grinder, the bread was perfectly toasted, cheese extra melted but not oozing out all over your hands, and more than enough meatballs on said grinder. My friend got a shrimp and scallops pasta dish with a vodka sauce and dang that sauce was good! Pasta wasn't overcooked, scallops cooked perfectly and the shrimps were decent sized. The bread he got with his pasta I destroyed and it was quite fresh and the garlic knots are something worth trying. Our waitress was very pleasant, attentive, but wasn't hovering which was nice. Portions are very generous and the prices aren't bad either I would definitely go back when I'm in the area again. read more

Almost a sleeper! Better than what you'd expect from the outside. Spacious place with friendly servers. Menu has lots of variety. Solid food. read more

Say it ain't so... when I was little this place was the bomb. It was also in the now defunct Ansonia Mall, but it was my fave. On a recent trip, I was saddened by the greasy pizza, poor service, and dirty floor. Maybe moving into the old DeLuca's was a bad idea. read more

Went there yesterday afternoon. We had the rudest waitress. The hot drinks came out first and then I had to wait an additional 10 minutes for my plain glass of water. Guess she forgot about it. I complained about a couple of things and she acted a if it were my fault and I should have known better. Pizza was good. But doubt if I will go there again. There were three adults and all of us thought the waitress was rude. I have seen her there before. I wonder how she keeps her job. The manager told me upon my complaint that she would speak and I told her it was not necessary that my not leaving her a tip would speak volumes. read more

This place used to be in the Ansonia Mall, and i loved getting slices there as a kid. Unfortunately it's only second rate greasy pizza now.

Your mussels and pastas are amazing, but you need to do something with your meatballs -- I expected to have a real meat in authentic Italian restaurant. read more

I remember the good today's before this business was moving every few years! Ansonia mall was the absolute best. As a kid and my dad taking me there to have their food was awesome! The food had emotion and love and care behind it. I am so sorry to have to say at this time that this restaurant and family has moved more towards greed and profit than quality!That has broken my heart! I never go to this restaurant anymore, even being a derby and valley native, I however am conflicted every time I go (usually family events that are paid for, I wouldn't waste my money!) Burger King down the street would be better! I would not recommend anything, I have tried meals and appetizers and even the pizza is the absolute worst around the valley! I have nothing personal against this place but will never ever go there because I have tried many things on different occasions!!! Quality can not be substituted for profit! Get it together Italian pavilion and go back to your roots! On a lighter side they have a staff that has been great all along and been there a long time , they are great! Just improve the quality! read more

food was ok,little overpriced and did not sit well in my tummy. I tried them 3 times and same thing happened.

Good food, good service, nice friendly Italian people. My favorite is the calzones, they are big and delicious and not pricy at all... Pizza is good too and their chicken Parmesan is to die for! read more

This is my number one spot for take out pizza and italian food and has been for some years. The food is always consistently great every time. Prices are the reasonable for the food too. read more

Italian Pavilion - large white mozz with garlic - Italian Near Me - Derby, Connecticut

They changed the time for their happy hour to much later. Not sure if they still run the same specials anymore. So basically they are just the average family italian restaurant at this point read more

Food was good, service was good, the lighting is horrible, feels like you're under a bright interrogation light. Harsh, bright lights directly overhead each table. Not the place if you're trying to look your best. Come with your Mom, not with a date. read more

My family orders here almost every weekend. I always get the chicken parm grinder. It's absolutely delicious every time. I sometimes get the eggplant pizza and it's always good. read more

I have only been there a handful of times so I haven't tasted a majority of the menu yet. I do like the make your own pasta dishes. My favorite is the linguini with oil and garlic with sausage and mushrooms. I always make sure I get the pasta well drained. The also have homemade bread and garlic knots they bring to the table. The waitstaff are friendly and will correct any mistakes immediately. They have evoo at each table. If you want that as a salad dressing they will bring a carafe of vinegar. I believe that all Italian restaurants should carry pecorino cheese for us lactose intolerant. It's such a shame having that great pasta dish and not having a sprinkling of cheese on it. I have had the porketta and it is fatty but well seasoned and quite tasty. However the lean pieces are overcooked. I suggested that they bring some of the au jus but they don't serve au jus with the porketta. Shame. I have had the seafood over linguini and you get two good sized shrimp, two scallops and a few pieces of fileted fish. All but one scallop tasted great. I just put that one aside. Only two and a half negatives, the floor could use a good cleaning, and the menu could use a revamp. There are too many choices and would take about 20 min to read it. Plus the specials menu is long also, especially the one they keep at the hostess desk. And there is a sign at the hostess desk that says Please wait to be seated. They are not slow here, but if they see you from across the room they yell out sit wherever you want. Yes we come early. I don't know if that's good or bad. read more

Something has changed with their pizza. It is salty and always cold when I get it home. I have gotten pizza from other places and it is still hot when I get home. Seems like maybe they are cutting back and when pizza is salty it means a cheap cheese. Their meals are ok and tasty as is their grinders. They have the best garlic knots. I would order dinner there but not pizza anymore. read more

Good pizza, great home-made soup and specialities at a price you can't beat.

This place has been around for yearrrrrrrrrrrs yeah that long, still has the best pizza in the valley and the hot girders are to die for I highly recommend this place A++++++ read more

BEWARE IT IS DISGUSTING AND A SCAM! I really can't believe how to people can give this restaurant a five star. 20.00 for a chicken entree that was burnt. Food tasted terrible the calamari was rubber and was under cooked. The pizza was frozen quality worst Italian food I have ever ate. I highly recommend Antonio's in Shelton for Italian never will buy from these people again. Used to be better such a shame. read more

Italian Pavilion - Disappointing burnt chicken Francese - Italian Near Me - Derby, Connecticut

I have never written a review but I felt compelled after my first time visiting. I do not know the name of this waitress, but she was blonde, funny , and made me feel welcomed. The staff seems to get along nicely and have incredible service. The sauce tastes authentically Italian and I have recommended this place too many of my friends. read more

Love their pizza! Its always good! I have been coming here since I was little with my family and it always brings back many happy memories! Food is excellent! read more

Good Pizza and excellent dinners! Love their Garlic Knots! My wife and I have gone there many times over the past 5 years. Restaurant is a bit noisy, but completely expected for a family restaurant... The service is usually pretty good, but can be overwhelmed with the crowds now and again. Just be patient...the good food will get to your table! read more

Went to Italian Pavilion last night. I ordered the Grilled Chicken with vegetables, my partner got spaghetti with red sauce. We also started off with the garlic knots as an appetizer. Garlic knots were freaking amazing. Although they were super greasy and oily, still really good. One star for that. Everything else was awful. I mean awful. My entree, the grilled chicken and vegetables was so gross. I asked our server what the "vegetables" consisted of and she didn't even know. She just said to me that "it's just like a mix of everything". I went to culinary school and I've worked in restaurants my whole life, so I know usually when an entree has vegetables, they're sautéed in a lot of oil. I asked my server if I can get an alternative rather steamed or just sautéed in minimal oil. She brings my food out, and I swear, I've never seen so much oil and grease on a plate of GRILLED CHICKEN AND VEGGIES! The chicken had been par cooked on a grill and put into a sautée pan with oil. Literally greasy grilled chicken. Never seen anything like it before. It gets worse. The vegetables were a medley of round ridged carrots, broccoli florets, and cauliflower florets. I knew it looked familiar then it hit me that THESE ARE FROZEN VEGETABLES. THAT HAD BEEN STEAMED IN A MICROWAVE.... then put into a sautee pan with oil! Well I'm just going to say that I woke up with morning with the worst bathroom runs of my life, my stomach is hating me for eating that chicken. I'm also upset about the fact that this meal was $17.95. Ridiculous pricing for such awful food. Will not be ever returning and I suggest you don't either. Seems like many others have experienced the same as me, just look at the other reviews. read more

I am surprised at the amount of good reviews this place has. I went there on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and there was no one in there. When you walk in the place, it smells so strongly of varnished wood it slaps you in the face. It is very dark and old looking in there. I got a cheese burger that honestly was gross. The patty was thin, hard and over cooked. My fiancé got the chicken parm sandwich and the breading on the chicken was very very bland....no seasoning at all. The fries were good and the sauce on the sandwich was good. Our waitress seemed like she really didn't want to be there or to be serving us even though there was only like 3 other parties eating in the whole place. I have lived in Derby for 8 years and this was my first and LAST visit to Italian Pavilion. I really don't know how all the things I mentioned above didn't bother the people who gave this place raving reviews....? I think this place should be torn down. read more

I posted on my Facebook about an incident about a blonde waitress who was very rude n very vocal in saying in the middle of the dining room that she wanted to kill someone because a table that had just left with 3 children at it left quite a mess. She stated I would NEVER let MY kids do this. I was out to lunch with my 8 yr old who then looked nervous every time this woman walked by. I went on to say in my post that we both had chicken n both dishes tasted like the chicken was on its way out. I ended up ordering a pizza to go n not complaining bc the waitress we had was fantastic. I felt sorry for her having to work at this dump. Well I got a notification on my fb n went back to look n it said I gave this place 5 stars which I guess I hadn't changed. So when I went back to just change the stars bc there was no way I gave this place 5 stars ( the waitress I had did deserve 5 stars) they blocked me n I am unable to edit my review. Therefore, on yelp I know they can't block or somehow change or edit, just want to warn everyone about a very rude, disrespectful waitress, and nearly rotten food. Don't waste your $$. read more

They just moved to a location close to the old Valley cinema, the line to get in was average, for the Friday before new years eve, the food was OK, the service was terrible, we waited approximately an hour and right before we were going to get up and leave the owner's daughter came up and offered some off our check, explaining that this was only their second day open and to please come back. I have been to this restaurant several time since they were in the old ansonia mall. they are usually very good Italian food, not gourmet, but home style. We will be back... stay tuned! read more

We look for new restaurants locally based on the number of cars parked out front. So when we noticed a dozen cars parked next to this restaurant tucked next to the main road, but only accessible by a single pot-hole-filled dirt driveway (due to construction on the new Aldi's), we thought, "Geez, people are willing to risk ruining their car's suspension to eat there?"... We just had to try it! We weren't disappointed. This is a nice place with down-home Italian food -- great pizza and home-made ravioli, fat grinders and meatball sandwiches. The prices are reasonable, with something for every budget. If you're in the mood for Italian food at a decent price, the Italian Pavilion is the place to go! read more