My fiancé and I met friends at this restaurant because it was my buddy's childhood pizza place and I guess he was feeling nostalgic. I'm only going to talk about the food that I ate. My fiancé and I ordered calamari for an appetizer which was actually pretty darn good, tender, and not greasy. Another couple ordered the eggplant fries they were crispy and seasoned nicely with Parmesan and parsley. The apps were great, but everything after that quickly went downhill flavor wise. I don't know how to describe this but I've never tasted food so salty that had such little flavor. It's not worth going into detail about what I got. The staff were sweet, a bit discombobulated, but it gave dome nice comic relief to the disappointment of my meal. When the check came, I couldn't believe it. The pricing at this restaurant is outrageous. What I spent here could have gone to a much higher quality meal at 3/4 of the price. If you're gonna go there, stick with the appetizers and drink drinks. read more

Very nice, family owned restaurant with delicious dishes! Was here for a bridal shower and enjoyed the spacious room dedicated for private events! Their pasta was also very tasty! read more

Rocky was the best. Very attentive. She gave us such great service. Cute place inside and neighborhood like. Pizza was delicious.

It's taken me too long to try Lena's having lived in this town for many years. We came for dinner on Friday night and were seated right away. We ordered chicken parm and eggplant parm both opting for chicKen noodle soup as a side. I love soup in the Winter abd love they include a cup with meals no extra charge. The soup was simple, but excellent! Not salty at all and loads of chicken with your standard celery and carrots. Good start! The bread and pesto was nice also, bread was warm, crispy outside and fresh and soft on the inside. Pesto uniquely seasoned. Butter was also provided. The main dishes came with a side of ziti that was steamy hot, fresh and in their nice marinara sauce. The eggplant was amazing! Large pieces, fried crisply like I love it , layered and covered in mozzarella surrounded by marinara. The chicken was similar but not as crispy or as much breading. The chicken parm was tender, generous portion but a little bland. The eggplant was excellent and our favorite. Their marinara is different. Almost an oil stock with plum tomatoes versus a typical pasta sauce. Loved it but requested extra on the side because not much was on our dishes coming from the kitchen. Overall we really enjoyed our meal. The service was excellent and price very fair ($21), especially since soup was included. The hostess was a sweet young lady but provided a couple awkward moments; we were still eating and she asked if we wanted "to go" containers (odd timing), and THEN later while we were packing our leftovers she hovered over us taking the plates as soon as we emptied them into the styrofoam containers. It was just so awkward having her watch every move we made were both uncomfortable but laughing inside. Just awkward. We will definitely be back for more appys and eggplant! read more

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Lena's changed ownership July 2025 . We were there late July and just went back today. We were were wary as to possible changes in quality etc. Nothing has changed and the food is still incredible. It's will continue to be our go to for Italian food and the same staff!! I would like to add that Julia is a fantastic person and very attentive. Staff makes the difference!! read more

We drove by traveling from NH on business, stopping in for lunch. The atmosphere is nice, but the waitress was unpleasant. No greeting, check in, or smile. Felt like we were an inconvenience. The food was ok. Too average for the above average prices. read more

This is not sone hyped up chain out of California. This isnthe real deal. An aitalian Family owned restaurant where you bring your Family to make memories. Good food, good service and even better prices. A clean restaurant with great sauce. Oh, of you like garlic they start you onnit with the bread and evoo mixture. Mmmm good. Getbyhe garlic parm wings next for an app then dice into any of their great authentic American Italian dishes. If yiur innthe mood for pizza yiu cant go wrong either whether you get the original or their deep dish. Below are some pics of my humble dinner. read more

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The food is great but the staff is not very nice. There are plenty other great restaurants around so we will not be going back.

Lena's doesn't do a bad job in terms of food, it's just nothing special. I ordered a deep dish pizza, and it didn't look like it was having a very good day. It just looked like pasta sauce, sausage, and a pizza crust. Which isn't bad, but it could have been done way better. The crust was even a bit burnt around the edges. My coworker asked for oil to go with his salad, and it really looked as if the oil had been through hell and back. The setting tries to be elegant, and even a bit romantic, but it fails in doing so. It's not a place where I'd take my girlfriend to try to woo her. Not a terrible experience, but I wouldn't come back here, even for Lunch. read more

Lena's Restaurant & Banquet - Deep dish pizza special - Pizza Near Me - South Windsor, Connecticut

I had a delightful late lunch/early dinner just now with my husband here. Their dipping oil was phenomenal, and we agreed that we liked our fried mozzarella dipped in that instead of the marinara sauce. I had the lemon chicken francaise and it was perfectly lemony and cooked to perfection. Needless to say, we'll be back again the next time we drop off recyclables at the recycling center. read more

Ambiance was calm, slightly dimmed natural lights, relaxed atmosphere. The food was delicious: kids penne & meatball, chicken pesto. Generous portions. Delicious salad dressing, fresh lettuce. Hot bread. We were seated quickly. Waitress was a bit slow even though it wasn't too busy. However everything was so good this is worth a 5 star review. Tiramisu was out of this world!!! read more

This one is gonna hurt. (This was not my idea, I was only a guest) but, If you're in the area and need something above McDonald's, this is your place. I worked nearby for 8 years (I could spit, and hit it) We got lunch here many times. Only because, They had grinders that did the job but that was about it. The price was ok, but that is REALLY all they are good for. We actually tried to order pizzas from here for the office and it was such a disaster..........but that was not the point. There competition is another pizza place (that I actually ate at more just because of the lunch specials).and a McDonald's.m...again, glad I didnt pay..... So a few weeks back I had a family member throw a party here in there "banquet room" (I told myself ("I can smell the review") I honestly hoped I was wrong...guess what? This $#!+ hole did not disappoint! The room itself was very decent. Well lit, perfect for our size, plenty of room for all (typical 90's trim marriot confrence room look to boot) We had (adults) (4 kids) I was shocked they chose this place as I thought it was a lunch spot. Horrible idea.... We showed up (promptly at 2:45pm) only to a wait staff that basically looked like we woke them up and a half set up room....... ....(thats not a lie) thankfully (a bunch of us are not assholes, and we actually respect peoples time) were there so we could square away the seating. *this is a big one with me. Especially if I am spending money, pretend to care (did I mention I was not paying?) We had some appetizers (terrible) (thank god I snacked before I left) Main buffet....here are only the highlights! Salad (it was green) Bread (old stiff cut up library books, with butter) Potatoes (is that what those were?) Over cooked red bliss with some sort of over salted/Mrs. Dash bullshit on top. (Terrible) Roast beast (thats what it was): The absolute most, dry rare cooked london broil........ with beef broth, flour and (dried herbs and butter) I have ever had Chicken parm (this was the highlight) Could have been great, but you used garbage canned sauce. (And if it wasn't, you could have fooled me) Pasta was like mashed potatoes. Bottom line, come for lunch because you're hungry and you dont want McDonalds and thats it. Place lives off the name. The reality, The name has not meant shit in over a decade. read more

As always our favorite place when we are in this area. Awesome food ! Friendly service and very quick. They make every thing homemade. From soup to even focaccia bread. So good I even ask to buy some bread to take home. If you are a fan of pizza is a definitely must try. We always get the Lena's special pizza is so good! read more

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I've eaten at Lena's many times and have always been pleased over the years. Their pizzas are good and Italian entrees for the most part are good as well and the service has never been a problem. On my most recent visit I decided on Spaghetti Bolognese which resembled a standard Italian meat sauce more than a typical Bolognese, missing were the finely chopped carrots, celery and some pancetta. I also didn't pick up the use of wine or the milk, cream, ricotta or mascapone so oftened used to finish the authentic Bologna version of that sauce. I must say I was somewhat disappointed in that dish but not so disappointed that I would not return as I believe Lena's more often than not delivers the goods when it comes to good solid Italian food. read more

Lena's Restaurant & Banquet - Spaghetti Bolognese. - Pizza Near Me - South Windsor, Connecticut

Have been here three times for three different types of events. A group business lunch, a dinner for four, and a group dinner for a friend's graduation party. We had a very nice time each time. Last night was the graduation party in the big private room in the back. The food was terrific- nice salad, ziti, chicken parm, roast potatoes, and roast pork. The servers were terrific. We had a few drinks in the bar before dinner and watched the Kentucky Derby on the wall mounted TV (did you catch the name of the winning horse? "I'll Have Another). The bartenders were amiable and did a great job. After the party, I took a look inside the dining room and it was still pretty crowded. This is a solid choice for Italian that won't break the bank read more

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Not terrible but not good either. I have tried giving Lena's a chance several times and they always disappoint. The sauce is funny tasting. The deep dish is actually disgusting. I found out they pre-make them and freeze them. Not much is fresh in this place. And it tastes that way. They are super friendly to regular customers. Not so much to non regulars. You can order the food you want and ask for it like you want but you'll get what they give you. And if you ask for extra pizza toppings you will pay for it but you certainly won't get it. That has occurred several times. If you make a complaint they take personal. If I were you try Savvi's a bit further down the road. read more

Excellent restaurant. Food is always on point! Staff is professional and very friendly. Great bartender, always makes a great drink. My husband has worked his way around the menu faster than I have. I keep going back to the Chicken Parm! Yum! I love their side sales that comes with the entree. It isn't same old boring iceburg, there is a nice mix in it. I always feel like Lena's always puts extra effort into their food, and it shows! read more

My family ordered party trays from here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. The food was ready right at pickup time and was hot and smelled delicious. For the price the chicken piccata and pasta dishes were great. The salad was reasonable as well with a lot of veggies like olives and cucumbers. We also got an order of garlic bread which I found a little bland. But overall I'd recommend this place! Especially for a catering event or large party, they do great with pickup. read more

we had about 30 people at lena's banquet room.. the room was very nicely decorated and the buffet they set up for us was outstanding..!! the salad was ultra fresh, bread was delish, green bean almondine was excellent!! the main dishes were fantastic! baked sole, sausage and peppers, and chicken parmesan all received rave reviews from our party.!! lastly but not least, our servers were kind, friendly, and on point with all of our needs.!! a great place for great fun and food!! read more

Great Happy Hour. $3 Cranky's where most places only happy Bud & Bud Light, which is a joke. They have other good beer on tap too. Nice selection of happy small plates. The $5 Spicy Crispy Wings were unique and the spicy sauce on the side had just the right amount of heat. The bleu cheese had nice chunks of Roquefort. The barkeep was very friendly and did the follow-up. The place has a nice ambiance. The two down notes are; one of the waitresses switched off the Olympics to look at the weather and didn't ask me, the only bar customer, if that was okay. The bathroom has slimy mold growing in the corners. It needs a muriatic acid cleanse. read more

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I'm gonna make this short and quick. Outside looks like a general restaurant, inside does too, but the food is REALLY good. Not the best food I've ever had, but clearly a place I'd visit frequently. 5 stars to you Lena's, great job. read more

We are not regular customers of Lena's , however my family and I decided to give it a try. While placing my $91 dollar order I had asked for 2 linguini with red sauce meals. However, after our 20 minute commute home from picking up the take out I realized both meals came with white sauce. While I understand mistakes happen (hello, we are human) when I called to report the mistake & explained that we didn't live close enough to just return that night- I found them to careless. The man I spoke to just kept saying mistakes happen, etc. I now had 2 guests who unfortunately did not want to eat their meal because it wasn't what they ordered. The man said I'll get you the next time you come in. Knowing we aren't regular customers, he knew he wouldn't ever get that chance. I was not impressed with their customer service and unfortunately now understand why everyone says avoid this place. read more

I am really disappointed with this place. I read reviews and was ready to give this place the benefit of doubt, they definitely lived up to those reviews... The food had a different taste I got eggplant parm, It was totally gross. Mushy eggplant hard Cheese on to just plain bad.. And we were charged quite a big bill for our group. My wife was nauseous later that night. I normally wouldn't write anything bad about a business but this place needs to step their game up! Our waitress was the best thing going. Food took long to come out. And please have the rude customers that stare at biracial couples because they disapproved sit in a designated area. sorry. read more

Ordered catering from Lena's and it was very good. Came really hot and the food was super tasty. Will be ordering catering from them again in the future and definitely recommend. read more

ONE STAR is being quite generous . Honestly the worst pizza I've had in a long time. Dominos would have been half the price and much better quality. Crust was soggy and rubbery at the same time. We couldn't pick up the slice to eat it because the crust was just so soggy. So I figured.... grab a fork. The fork wouldn't cut through because the crust was also rubbery. Weird. Waste of 26 bucks and the gas to drive and pick it up. Save your money don't order from here read more

I really wanted to give this place a 1 1/2 star but that option is not given... my job has ordered lunch from this 'restaurant' about 5-6 times over the last year.. we work in Windsor and if you know Windsor you know you really don't have a lot of good choices in the Wilson section of town. We order food and have someone pick it up and then the fun starts. On one occasion I had the saltiest fries on earth.. I swear.. On the last occasion, since we started lent, I got fish and chips. I could tell this fish was obviously not fresh when I looked at it. It tastes older than the fish sticks that you find at the grocery store... what a shame. chewy fish with a soggy breaded coating and more saltiest fries ever... So today I decided, because it's friday, to get the pesto. The menu shows that this 'meal' is supposed to contain pine nuts.. I LOVE pine nuts I buy them every week b/c I cook and bake with them constantly, i grind them, roast them, you name I will do it... My pesto looks super oily, it tastes super oily, there is a very large amount of garlic (I also love garlic) but this lunch was definitely overload. There was basil as well as what tasted like parsley, to be honest it tasted of parsley more than basil. Also there was cheese.. BUT.. no pinenuts.. no taste of pinenuts just a crap load of cheese.. and not all of the cheese was grated properly. There was a chunk that was bigger than a nickel... and sundried tomatoes.. which had a funny texture... But who am I to look a free lunch in the face.. oh, that's right.. I like food to taste great.. The only saving grace from today's lunch that still sits in front of me with the thick smell of garlic invading my nostrils was the fact that my linguine.. was al dente.. oh did i mention it's not liguine that was given to me but actually fettucine.. I make my own pasta.. I know my noodles.. I would expect a place that calls itself a 'RESTAURANTE' to know the difference as well. I will gladly just bring my own lunch on Friday's from now on. read more

Eh. 2 1/2 stars. We went here because we had purchased a Groupon and my bf thought he remembered it being decent. While the place was very busy (looks like they do GREAT take out business), the food was just "okay". I had baked scallops and the bf had some sort of chicken dish. The breading on the scallops was soggy (I will give them that they served up a healthy portion of scallops though!). The veggies were soggy, unseasoned grossness. The sauce on my pasta was tasty but UBER garlicky. Overall, neither of us were impressed and neither of us wanted to take our leftovers home. The service was disorganized. They had a bunch of young girls clearing tables and at one point one brought a bag of packed leftovers to us. I just figured they had packed ours up even though we had said no. But 10 minutes later (as we STILL waited for our bill), another girl came back and said 'I think that's for another table' and took it. Okay... We didn't check Yelp reviews before purchasing the Groupon, but had we, we probably wouldn't have bought it at all. Maybe their takeout pizza is better but with our favorite pizza joint right down the road from our house, I doubt we'll go back to found out. read more

Why do I keep going back? They messed up my order. I would think an italian place would know the difference between raviollis and pasta. I am done. The sausage was horrible, the food just seems to be going downward and downward with no hope of recovery. I hope a Mexican place moves in instead. read more

I held a milestone birthday party here on Saturday 8/1/15. I fortunately had months to prepare which made the event very successful. For dinner my guests had buffet choices of eggplant parmesan and chicken francaise with salad, green bean almondine and penne pasta marinara. Everything was delicious and my guests enjoyed dinner very much. The owner/manager Sal was very accommodating throughout the process which allowed me to be very creative with my planning. My party was assigned one waitress who although appeared to be stretched with that many guests, still did a fantastic job! The one thing I can say that was extremely disappointing was the A.C. that night. I had about 50 guests, DJ and lighting. Unfortunately, the air system here was not well equipped to handle that amount of people and extras. My guests were able to venture towards the bar area where it was cooler, but it was definitely a big let down for the night. I recommend ensuring the A.C. is working properly or a change has been made to the unit before booking this place in the summer months. Especially if you have a lot of guests. read more

Lena's Restaurant & Banquet - 8/1/2015 Lena's - Pizza Near Me - South Windsor, Connecticut

It's a nice and typical local family pizza type restaurant. The meal portions are HUGE! I wish they offered a half portion size as my meal didn't reheat all that well. The wait staff was very nice, everyone seemed pleased with the meal. read more

Good food Friendly people and good price I normally used for lunch The only problem was the espresso Really expensive :-) read more

My family has been going to this restaurant since I was born, my father even before that. This place has staying power, and with reason: it's delicious, and still run by Mama Lena herself. I can honestly say in my nearly 30 years of coming to this restaurant, I have never, not once, had a bad meal. The first thing is the bread & herbed oil you get to munch on while waiting for your food. The oil and herbs- don't know what they put in there, but darn, is it delicious. I could eat the whole loaf of bread just trying to get all the oil up. The bread isn't ideal for trying to get the oil- thin, poorly sliced Italian loaf, but bread is bread. The second thing is the salad. Do not jip yourself here- get the creamy garlic dill salad dressing. I could eat this stuff without the salad, it is so good- and a recent addition, within the last five or so years, but there is a reason it's stayed. It is homemade, and oh so good. Now, for those of you that eat like birds, prepare yourselves- these are gigantic, soldier-sized portions. Easily, I would say in the pasta dishes, that a full pound is being used. As for pointers on appetizers, I would suggest the Zuppa de Mussels. I usually get this as an entree with a side of their pasta, because their marinara sauce is my most favorite thing in the world. I actually go and get a pint of it whenever I make pasta (I live right down the street), and it's large enough for a meal without leftovers (because why would you want to re-heat mussels). I'm also a big fan of the Eggplant Fries and the Fried Calamari. As for the pasta, my go-to is Penne Alfredo with a side of the marinara sauce, which I dip the alfredo-laden penne into. However, I've also had the Gnocchi Pesto (and asked for Shrimp on it, which they obliged) which was also tasty. Their Calzones are huge and always cooked to perfection, the cheese in perfect harmony with one another. If you can't make up your mind, the sausage bread is equally delicious, and something that everyone talks about. For chicken dishes, you can't go wrong with Chicken Gorgonzola, Chicken Sorrentino, or Chicken Guiseppe. The Seafood Promodoro is so flavorful and the broth so delicious you take bread and sop it up. The Mussels Marinara is basically the Zuppa de Mussels in entree form. Lastly, don't do yourself a disservice- get Mama Lena's homemade Tiramisu. Need I say more? read more

This place is wonderful. I've never had a bad meal & I've had a number of them. I'm especially fond of their mussels. The sauce is incredible; it's flavored with capers. If you don't want a full meal get an appetizer portion of suppa da mussels & a side salad. The mussels come with an order of garlic bread so that's a no extra cost bonus. Soups are always flavorful and chock full. Today I had their pasta puttanesca with sausage & my wife had their scallops. Both were extremely delicious & had plentiful portions. Mama Lena is a wonderful woman & it shows in how all the meals are prepared. You'd probably have to go to Arthur Ave in the Bronx or Hanover St in Boston to find the same quality of meal. Go & enjoy! read more

Lena's Restaurant & Banquet - Pasta Puttanesca with Sausage - Pizza Near Me - South Windsor, Connecticut

I went to Lena's last night with my husband and really enjoyed dinner. We had a Groupon ($20/40), so our dinner was $31 total and included a calamari appetizer, a small BBQ chicken pizza, four beers, and one tiramisu (5-star tiramisu!). Service was a little slow. I did not mind, but my husband did comment on it. The calamari tasted fresh and was excellent. The breading had a hint of spice that was really nice, and the portion was more than enough for two. I liked the marinara sauce that came with it, but I would not usually pair it with calamari. Eating calamari plain was a first for me, and it was good enough to do so. I'm a red sauce pizza fan, so BBQ chicken pizza will never be better than okay for me. We both found the sauce to be too sweet. I really enjoyed the crust of the pizza. It turns out I like Sam Adams Winter Brew! Wow, who knew? Not me - I thought it was too dark for me and so never ordered it :D The highlight of the evening was the Mama Lena's Tiramisu. I almost never make it to dessert, but we decided to box our remaining pizza and go for it. The waitress said the owners made it. It was extraordinary. I have never had tiramisu so good, no lie. Of course, I've only had it like 10 times in my life (grew up under a rock). However, my husband, who is a mega food fan, agreed. The lady fingers weren't soggy but had great flavor. I don't know what else is in it, but it was all magic. If we had only gone for tiramisu, we'd have given this place 5 stars. Other than that, the place is easy to drive by. It looks like a pool hall on the outside. There was a banquet going on upstairs that had the parking lot packed. The inside looks pretty dated - I'm guessing it's the same from when it was purchased in 1982 or so. It has the Formica wainscoting in that peach color with flecks that was popular back in the days of Miami Vice. I would go for the food instead of the atmosphere :) read more

Lena's is a full service restaurant serving Italian & American food, using only the best ingredients. Their famous handmade Sicilian style pizza and classic Italian cuisine are incomparable. They have a comfortable atmosphere and professional service. Generous portions and affordable prices have won them a loyal following. They have Banqueting Facilities. They provide your private party a special menu for any type of event, to suit your tastes, and budget. read more

Lena's Restaurant & Banquet - Pizza Near Me - South Windsor, Connecticut

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My husband and I went on a Thurs night, there were about 3 cars parked. We walked in and greeted and seated right away by Lena's who's very friendly by the way. We were served warm bread with hebed dipping oil. I ordered the Mediterranean scod in lemon basil sauce, It has all the ingredients I like, and I just want something light. My husband ordered meat lasagna. Our dinner came with soup or salad. I had the chicken noodle soup, and it was really good. it was meaty, not salty and tasted homemade. My scrod dinner was ok, it was too garlicky that it overpowered the lemon. I wasn't impressed by their meat lasagna either. Their marinara sauce was sweet. One thing's for sure, you won't leave this place hungry. Must try their homemade tiramisu..that was the highlight of my dinner. Clcik here for pictures and full review http://www.ronsfifty-fifty.com/lenas-restaurant-south-windsor-ct/ read more

My friend and I walked into the bar around closing time (9pm) we were starving and had a coupon. The bartender said that the kitchen staff was about to leave to go home for the night, and we thought twice about ordering not wanting to be rude. The bartender insisted that it was fine to order. When the food came out about 20-ish minutes later, I was super impressed by the quality of the food we order chicken marsala and some kind of veggie pizza. Even the left over pizza was the best I ever had, I told people at work today how great it was. I'm just so impressed the staff did such a great job at the end of the night, it's a great look for Lena's. Working in a restaurant, I know that it is a pain when customers come in right before close and order food after everything has just been cleaned up. I really appreciate the awesome service. read more

We had a family dinner here after a memorial service. The food was delicious, the service excellent and the restaurant was very clean. Thank you, Lena! Your hospitality was very much appreciated! read more

Walked into Lena's last night around 9:45 after working a nearby event they were waiting for a few customers to leave and the kitchen was obviously shut down for the night. We spoke to a very nice gentleman who took pity on six tired hungry women and agreed to serve us though they limited our orders to grinders. No problem! We appreciated them staying for us. Our server was very pleasant , the grinders were large tasty and satisfying and they did not try to rush us out. I will return again albeit a bit earlier. read more

This restaurant has fabulous home made Italian food. So delicious and highly recommended. I am from NY and was visiting my daughter in CT, we wanted Italian food and googled some places, this was one of many that came up and we are so glad we chose it. The staff is friendly and attentive and will cater to all your dietary needs. We met Mama Lena, a wonderful soul! She recommended her Tiramisu and I was so full but I tried it...so glad I did! The food portions are really big and delicious. This will be our new favorite place to visit when we are in town! read more