The food is ok. But it is obvious, the owner and wait staff have a pecking order, even to their regulars. What is this High School?

Stopped by this afternoon on a whim to grab the ever so lovely banana cream pie to go and enjoy at home..woof this is not the same pie. It's been some time since I've been in and had my favorite dessert.. but I would know the taste blindfolded. Not sure if they have someone new making it.. or someone who enjoys sugar but it's like I can feel my body prepping for a diabetic shock. Way too sweet. The bananas are still perfectly ripe.. and the crust is still firm and hardy (the crust has to be thick to hold this insane pie). But then we get to the pie filling which should have a creamy rich flavor.. but it was more like chomping on raw sugar. I miss the OG read more

We stopped here recently for a last minute Saturday dinner. We were seated immediately at the time of our reservation in one of the more quiet side rooms. The waitress was extremely helpful in answering questions about the menu. Our salads were brought out immediately. Both were excellent. We ended up waiting there after over 40mins for our meal only to be disappointed. I ordered the Veal Marsala. The sauce was overly sweet and the presentation was lacking completely ruining the dish. The other entree ordered was the Scallop with Mushroom & Crab risotto which was also sweet and underwhelming. read more

I haven't been back this way in many years, but thankfully, Mike and crew are still running a wonderful restaurant. Great service, friendly, and world class food with pizza worth driving a LONG way for. The banana cream pie will teach you what has never quite been there with even the best banana bread on Earth; the textures, the cream, bananas and a feel and taste like a banana bread pudding that you won't believe. Even the salad was unbelievably fresh and delicious. read more

Arrived last night around 630 and got drinks and an appetizer quickly served by a very nice young man Nicholas. It went downhill from there. Salads came and then no dinner for almost 90 minutes. Asked 2 times what was the delay because we were never updated and no server came back to the table. Answer for the delay was that the kitchen was backed up because of a rehearsal dinner party and "it'll be a few more minutes"... well 90 is more than a few minutes. Food arrived finally at 840 pm and was average at best. Should have left and not waited for the dinner. Very disappointed unfortunately won't be back for dinner again.. bar looked busy and fun though. read more

I was in North Haven, CT for business and my teammates and I decided to go out and get a bite to eat. We found this great little Italian restaurant in Wallingford and was pleasantly surprised on our choice. The restaurant is separated into two sections..a section with a bar & small table to sit and the dining room. We were sat in the dining room where quite a number of tables were filled with other diners. The waitress was attentive and the food was magnificent. If I lived in the area, I would definitely dine her again. The only reason why I've docked them a star is because it was overly cold inside the dining room and my hands were frozen like ice cubes in the middle of summer! read more

Had dinner tonight food was ok, staff was great. Varied menu with many choices. Restaurant was packed so the kitchen was a little slow which is understandable. My major complaint was I had a gift certificate for two free lunches. We never go out to lunch so asked for some credit towards our dinner. They flat out refused to offer ANYTHING of our dinner check. Again not looking for free dinner just something to defer some of the cost. Being unwilling to offer any consideration is a business that just does not care about satisfying their customers. Never going back. read more

We didn't even eat here. Honestly we walked in and the smell while we waited for a table was terrible. I don't know if it's even the establishments fault or maybe it was one unbathed patron but we were so put off by the smell we turned around and walked out. read more

as guests at a gathering, we were ordered a vegan pie from Michael's Trattoria by someone who is very familiar with our dietary preferences. Michael's Trattoria does not have a vegan pizza option on the menu, nor did they even know what "vegan" meant when our pizza was ordered. that having been said, they were able to put together a rather tasty pie including artichokes, broccoli rabe, and mushrooms on a red sauce. they are getting the 4 stars because they pulled one off without having a clue about plant-based food and because i'm hoping that they'll remember the word vegan in the future. read more

Come here on work trips. It is somewhere I look forward to going The portions are out of control and the food is tasty. I recently got the chicken and artichoke and I swear it's enough for 3 meals Definitely an Italian place worth checking out read more

We come here for sporting event banquets. The food is always good. Will definitely come back. Great service.

The complementary bread and garlic oil were fantastic. The eggplant rollatini (served with orchid petal garnish) was divine! Nice but not overbearing service... I will be back. read more

We went to Michael's based on the reviews, and we left quite disappointed. The music in the bar area was loud, however the dining room was fine. The overall atmosphere was great, and it is definitely the classiest looking place I've been to in Wallingford. That's about all of the positives. All the the entrees we got were disappointing. The chicken marsala was smothered in chicken gravy with a hint of marsala, not a marsala wine sauce. The veal saltamboca had an overpowering brown gravy on it as well, which ruined the dish. And finally, the chicken piccata was also covered in a thick sauce that had little flavor. The one thing that was good was the eggplant rollatini. Overall, we found it to be over priced and flavorless. We will definitely not be back. read more

Absolutely delicious! We were here for dinner on a Sunday evening and were blown away! The food was fresh, generously portioned, perfectly cooked, and tasted amazing. The staff was inviting, attentive, and worked really hard to keep everyone in the very busy restaurant happy. The restaurant itself is comprised of a few different eating areas. Each area (bar, formal dinning room, casual dinning room) has i's own unique vibe allowing the restaurant to cater to a family out for a casual meal, or a romantic evening out for a couple. Now to the food! While everyone enjoyed their entrees, the clear winner of the evening was the shrimp scampi. Huge perfectly cooked fresh shrimp, on top of the most incredible pasta, all in a light, yet addictive sauce! We don't know if Michael's makes their own pasta, but it does not matter as the noodles were to die for! If you are ever in the area and looking for a great Italian meal make sure to check out Michael's, you wont be disappointed! read more

I went to Michael's for a celebratory dinner a few weeks ago. I live in Wallingford center right down the street. I had always heard good things, but never managed to stop in. My girlfriend got an unexpected Christmas bonus and decided to celebrate. . . We made reservations for 7:00 on a Friday. We walked into the restaurant and were initially overwhelmed. The place is divided into two parts. One part bar, and one part dinner (white table cloths and all). The host stand is placed in the back (kinda atypical) and sort of juxtaposed between the two. We entered through the bar side, squeezing our way through a packed room filled with gregarious guests and boisterous banter before finally reaching an employee. We could tell from the crowd that Michaels was doing something right, but after standing confused at the apparent host stand for several minutes we concluded that organization and order wasn't a high priority. Eventually we talked to a waiter (busy running food) who informed someone else to inform someone else about or reservation. After moving up the chain of command, we were eventually seated on the sit down dining part of the joint. The decor was well done. Frescoed walls, nice lighting and a touch of classy ambience, but with a casual feel and a down home comfort. We were immediately brought glasses of ice water, and fresh bread with divine olive oil for dipping (the plates for said bread came sometime thereafter). We ordered a specialty cocktail (a Kentucky peach) and continued to peruse the menu. I got the bolognaise (french pasta not Italian). . . She ordered the salmon (a north american species) Both were excellent, fresh and packed with flavor. The cooking was simple, but expertly prepared with just the right mix of seasoning and high quality ingredients. I must confess the food matched that of many top notch places I've been to in Boston (I lived in newton before moving to wally world). The atmosphere was almost better than the food. When they say casual they really mean it. We never felt rushed. The staff gave us time to relax, enjoy the meal, and enjoy each others company. When the bill finally came an hour-and-a-half latter we were pleasantly surprised. Well under $100 for the evening. . . I will definitely return. They might be a little disorganized, but nonetheless Michaels is sure to become a go to spot. Its a great tratoria, not only for date night but also for visiting family or business wine and dines. Probably the best food in our little town and the atmosphere is one of comfort and hospitality. I would highly recommend. read more

My family and I absolutely loved everything we had from our appetizers to our meal. My daughter and I had a cup of soup which was delicious and my husband and son had the Shrimp cocktail and they loved it. We couldn't all decide on pizza or meals so we all decided to share everything, the pizza was so full of flavor New York style, the Cold Seafood salad was very good and loaded with seafood. We also had the Swordfish Florentine and Chicken Florentine and they both were perfect! The staff was great. I recommend this restaurant to everyone, trust me you will love it!! read more

Michael's Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

From the outside, Michael's may look like nothing more than a street-side take out joint. Do not be fooled. Upon entering, it becomes clear that this is a restaurant is anything but. This is an upscale Italian restaurant, complete with waitresses clad in black and white, an extensive wine list, and the kind of place where you're suddenly more conscious of your table manners. I came here for New Years Eve looking for a good dinner, and it delivered. For starters, my girlfriend and I had the eggplant rollitini as an appetizer, and it was the delicious. The sauce was terrific, and it was the perfect size to avoid spoiling our dinner. For the main dish I had the three meat sauce cavatelli, and it was one of the finest pasta dishes I've had in recent memory. My girlfriend had linguini with scallops, which was also very good. Probably the most tender, delicious scallops I can remember having. All in all, the food here is very good, a little more on the pricey side, but after the experience I had, it was certainly worth it. read more

I agree with the other poster who said "Michael's is hands-down the best restaurant in Wallingford". We have been there dozens of times and never been disappointed. Great food, great service and they usually have interesting specials (more interesting than I am as I tend to order the same thing). Generally you need reservations as the place is small and usually hopping. They have "Michael's" private label wine. It is very good and a great value at only $18 a bottle. Dine here and you won't be disappointed. read more

If you're looking for Italian food in a traditional setting, this is the place. Tightly packed tables in multiple dining rooms at first may be a turn-off, but it adds to the atmosphere. Everyone here is always laughing and talking like loud Italian families tend to do. The food is always amazing as well. Their specials are always interesting and delicious, and their regular menu has all of the classics you expect out of an Italian restaurant. Always great meals here, and the bar always serves good, strong drinks. You definitely get what you pay for, unlike most bars. There is also a great wine selection if you are a wine drinker and want a nice bottle of Italian wine. Some nights they even have live music in the bar area which adds to the already packed bar, but it's a great time none the less. I highly recommend everyone to at least give the place a shot. PS. Order the banana cream pie for dessert, it's the best around. read more

Michael's Trattoria has always been a place my wife and I have frequented on special occasions. The food and the staff always bring us back, and we usually use this as our restaurant of choice for our wedding anniversary every year, and most likely will be this year as well! The food is really good, I particularly enjoy all of their pasta dishes, particularly their Fettuccine Alfredo. Their Filet Mignon is also amazing, as are the sides to go with it. Another one of my personal favorites is their Fried Mozzarella appetizer. It is spectacular, and a very unique spin on the dish. Their staff is very friendly, and always treat us well. My only complaint is that on a couple of occasions we've had a table that was wobbly. There's not an overwhelming amount of space, which isn't bad, but when you have a wobbly table, it can make things seem a little cramped. Overall, my wife and I will continue to frequent here, and we'll most likely be there again in May for our next anniversary! read more

I can't count the number of times we have been here. It is well into the dozens. I think the food was MUCH better before the expansion and when Michael was doing the cooking. But the service was awful. I mean, you would get someone's dessert when you hadn't even ordered your dinner yet. But, we would all laugh and shrug it off because the food was worth it. Now, the food is hit or miss and the service is very good. My husband really likes to go here, but I think the menu could use some updating- I don't think it has been changed in years (except the prices). read more

This is a neighborhood place. Relaxed, friendly and prompt service. Regional Italian fare. Jennie, our server exstrordinair, was excellent in every way; fast, friendly, on point & very accommodating. They love their Parmesan cheese here! It's on every table in a jar w a spoon...encouraging you to heap it on everything. It's also in the olive oil, caper, parsley, garlic dipping oil & 1/2 loaf of soft warm bread which Jennie enthusiastically placed on our table. Mom had the veal Marsala. Not as traditional as we've had but pretty good & an ample portion. I had the fried calamari Sicilian style tossed w a spicy tomato sauce. Calamari was tender & only a few pieces maintained their slight crunch but the sauce wasn't spicy at all and I never saw a pepper (well, beside the crushed red variety) but it was tasty non the less. I will return to try a few more dishes and definately have their infamous banana cream pie and Rereview. The restroom is micro small and is in need of an update. The acoustics require some tweaking as it's very very loud and hard to hear the person you are dining with who's just across your bistro table. Live music thurs- sat. Street parking can be tough. read more

Sooooooooooooo extremely delicious! Glad we decided to stop in. Our server was great, he paid attention to details and was super friendly! Our meals were amazing, as well as the appetizer. We ordered the burrata special which was mouth watering good. Can't wait to visit again! read more

Michael's Trattoria - The best. - Italian Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

I wasn't sure what to expect from this restaurant because Wallingford is not known for its fine dining, and from the outside it doesn't look like much. But I was extremely impressed and will definitely return. We saw two dining rooms, not sure if there are more. There was a bar in one of the dining rooms that was busy and seemed fun and a more quiet dining room separate from that. We sat in the quieter room. The decor is old as are the chairs and needs updating. I didn't really mind too much though, because I thought it was kind of charming in an old world homey Italian restaurant kind of way. But to keep up with the excellent food, they should consider updating. The menu is traditional Italian, nothing special or unusual at all, except for the specials which were surprisingly creative. I was also surprised that I did not see any salads or soups listed among the appetizers on the regular. The dinners did include a house salad or the soup of the day. My husband had the salad which was a standard house salad, and I had the chicken vegetable soup. The soup was definitely home made, which is a big plus, and the flavor was good. The bread served with the meal is above average for the typical Italian restaurant. It was a large warm half loaf that had clearly just been set on the grill to char and warm a bit. Very nice touch. The outside was crusty and the inside was soft. Delicious. I had a seafood special entree and my husband had the veal parm. There was so much seafood in my dish, I was really impressed. Didn't skimp at all. The recipe was original and inventive and delicious. Everything obviously made in house, and prepared very well. My husband's veal was outstanding. It was a thick veal, not just a typical little cutlet, but it was fork tender and melt in your mouth. I was stunned, it was so good. My husband said it was the best veal he had ever had and I actually have to agree. The entrees were simply outstanding. We had cannolis and cappucino for dessert, which were fine. The server was very pleasant and knowledgeable. The meal was paced a little bit slow, but that is fine if you are not in a hurry. We thought the prices were a little bit high when we first looked at the menu, but we didn't mind paying at all by the end of the meal since it was so enjoyable. Also, it was busy on a Tuesday night so weekends might require a reservation. This is hands down a new favorite in the area for us. Highly recommend, and I am pretty picky about my restaurants. read more

Positively superb. Whenever I'm back home visiting my parents, a trip to Michael's is almost always called for. Pasta primavera, no mushrooms, with marinara sauce, please. This dish used to be offered solely with the alfredo, but (I like to think I had an influence over this) patrons are now given the option directly on the menu. The vegetables are plentiful, crisp and diverse. The pastas fresh and perfectly al dente. The sauce is well balanced. I can't get enough. The bread brought to the table is warm and crusty. A salad comes with all entrees. When Michael's first opened, it stared as two small dining rooms. It has since expanded to include a back dining room and a bar area. Don't bother trying to get in most nights without a reservation. If you grew up in/live in town, you're apt to run into at least 2 tables worth of people you know as well as 3 or 4 groups at the bar. The atmosphere is positively charming. The decor is almost reminiscent of piazza in Italy. Sinatra and other rat packers are often being played if not opera. Michael, the owner, used to be found between the kitchen and wandering the dining room. He's been able to turn over control of the kitchen to others, for the most part, but the quality of food hasn't diminished in the least. He can still be found walking around the restaurant most nights. Wallingford isn't a big city and certainly isn't known as a culinary destination. Michael's is an oasis in a desert of 99s, Chili's, Ruby Tuesday's and the rest. read more

Loved the historic feel and the chicken Marsala was very good. The Two Tito's Mule was delicious too.

I ordered the scallop dish listed on the menu which stated it has spinach. When the order arrived the dish came with broccoli rabe. Funny a restaurant does not know their menu or the difference between spinach and broccoli rabe. Anyway the restaurant was practically empty so you would think the waitress would come back and check on us. The waitress did not come back until my date finished his meal. I pointed out that the menu stated the dish was made with spinach, so she asked if I wanted a different meal to go? Do people frequently go to nice overpriced restaurants on a regular basis to watch someone else eat and leave with their own meal? I asked if I could just have spaghetti with marinara sauce and eat it at the table. When she gave us the check she said she took off the scallops like she was doing us a favor and charged for spaghetti. I hope the owner reads this review and gets two takeaways from it. 1) your cook should know the menu and 2) if you want to have a nice restaurant you should consider not hiring staff that would be better suited for Burger King. I would recommend the Half Moon or J. Christians, both have servers that match the restaurant they operate. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants. I don't live in the area any longer but still get down to eat there occasionally. For me, this is the best Italian around. While I like the atmosphere, sometimes it can be noisy. If this is a concern see about getting one of the side or back rooms when making a reservation. All I can say is that it will be hard to go wrong if you want to give it a try. I have always had great food that is a notch above other restaurants and always had great service. read more

I'm a big fan of their lunch menu!!! Extremely affordable and delicious also they have a wine night I think its Tuesday and its walking distance to my house. So yes to this place!!! read more

Pretty good Italian Food. There's a bar area and the seating for the restaurant is in the back. Our table was in a small room with maybe 4 or 5 other tables. Kind of tight but there weren't any problems. I was there on a Friday night and it was very busy. Service was still great. Our waitress was perfect with the timing on everything and checked on us a few times to make sure we were good. I had the Veal Parm and it was good. Also had the soup which was vegetable bean and that was good too. I would definitely recommend. Parking is metered right on the streets outside of the restaurant. read more

I had the veal chop, it was excellent ! For desert I had the lava cake with vanilla ice cream, also excellent. Finished with Lavaza coffee ! How can u beat that ! The meat ball appetizer was excellent, I would stay away from the Tuna app though. Definitely the best restaurant in WALLINGFORD, if we happen to eat in WALLINGFORD again, Michaels will be our top choice read more

Was in area and asked a friend from Wallingford where to get good Italian. This was recommended. Well for starters, the place was dirty and set the precedent. I ordered fried mozzarella for a starter and it was all bread. I have never seen fried mozzarella done this way ever before, and it was practically burnt on top of that. The marinara was bland. Next, the salad with creamy Italian. It was pure white dressing and tasted like water. It was just drenched over the salad. No presentation. The salad came with chick peas. Also very odd. Next, the main course. Penne with meatball. Sauce was ok. Meatball was overcooked. The portions were extremely small. I never go out of my way to leave a review this negative but for the sake of anyone soon looking for a bite and the management, who might actually use the criticism constructively......I had to. Waitress was o.k, slow service and it was not busy at all. Also, DONT package up the leftover app and clutter table with it before entree even comes out. Such poor etiquette. read more

Note: they were listed under the "Pizza" category but had no pizza on the menu. UPDATE: they replied to my review and said they do have pizza but only serve it in the bar area. When the hostess asked us if we wanted to sit in the bar lounge or in the dining room it was not clear whatsoever that they serve different food on each side of the restaurant. I think they should tell customers this or just offer the same menus on both sides. The food was great but not mind blowing (minus a star). For what I think of as an American-Italian type of menu, they did pretty well. It's not exactly what you'd find in Italy (or even NYC), but it's not bad for small town Wallingford. Service and atmosphere are nice too. It'd be a great place for a date. read more

Great food and great atmosphere! The menu has typical Italian dishes, plus some more original ones, which were really good! Will definitely be going back soon. read more

Nice restaurant. Hostess and wait staff very friendly. Garden salad was weak but the shrimp scampi pizza and chocolate mousse was unreal. Had my son with me so stuck to pizza but the menu looked great and I will be back for the Osso bucco. read more

Michael's Trattoria - Crazy awesome shrimp scampi pizza. - Italian Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

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Very unassuming outdoor presence. Wonderful because then you walk inside, get led around the corner through a little hallway and then WOW: I am now being seated in a most amazing place that served up an incredible variety of food, wine, healthy options. A great atmosphere and staff!!! So much more to get to than we could experience in our first accidental visit so this is now a "must" to come back to when we are in the area! read more

We had dinner there Saturday, the food was ok. My meal tasted great but was at the level next to cold which made it not enjoyable. There was a steak ordered and not cooked the way it was ordered, then the waitress proceeds to get snippy. Also upon departure the hostess made a very snide comment about having a large party to the party she was sitting. read more

My wife and I stopped by for lunch one day. We were upset we have not been here earlier. We had the fresh mozzarella , steak and pasta. I am not kidding you, it was the best food we have had . We moved to Wallingford 1 year ago and now we have found our spot!!!!!!!! This place will not disappoint . The food was amazing and the martini list is great read more

Alexis R. was amazing! She was so sweet and so attentive throughout the entire meal. I've had her almost every time I've gone and she's always been absolutely fantastic. She just about makes my day every trip, she's a sweetheart! The food here is consistently amazing as well. Very happy! read more

Michael's is hands-down the best restaurant in Wallingford. The food is excellent, from their roasted lamb to their pasta...even the pizza is excellent! They do a great Happy Hour on Friday evening's that features local musicians and is always a good time. I'd recommend the fried calamari for an appetizer for sure! read more