The pizza my roommate brought back from Yale! Incredibly delicious!…read more Bufalina: It was tremendous! The sugar from the San Marzano tomatoes and the nutty aroma of the prosciutto di parma combined perfectly after baking to create a warm caramel aroma. The fresh, smooth olive oil base creates a rich, syrupy texture. The basil aroma emerged in the aftertaste, adding layers to the rich, creamy cheese. The cornicione was crispy but not dry, and the crust was very chewy. Tartufella: Relatively less impressive. The black truffle aroma wasn't strong; the main flavors were the savory, sweet, and meaty notes of the Italian sausage.

We love everything about Zeneli! The staff is so nice and accommodating. Whether it's a dinner for…read more2 or a party of 8, the service is always super. All of the pizzas are delicious. It's impossible to pick a favorite. No matter how busy it is, we are always seated promptly. The pasta dishes are great too. And the whipped ricotta is to die for! We've sat in the dining room, at the bar, and in the sun room. It's a warm restaurant with warm people. The staff really makes you feel at home. There's not a bad seat in the house. Even when it is busy you can trust you'll be cared for with a friendly face and trustworthy service.

We had an early reservation as we had an event to get to. We were first customers to arrive that…read moreevening, and at least 6 of the staff were there to greet us--quite a welcoming committee. All four of us were happy with our meals! The eggplant tower and Caesar salad were starters, and for main meals one had pasta bolognese (big appetite), one chicken (there were leftovers), and TWO shared the orecchiette (AND took some home). Two glasses of wine. It was a lovely meal, and came to just over $40 per person with tip. Would go again to this charming restaurant any time we are in New Haven.

This has been our 5th time coming - it's just consistently delicious. Strangely when we pulled up…read moreit looked like it was boarded up, maybe it's to prevent a cold draft but thankfully it's still there! Parking lot was empty. We had our almost two year old that had to tag along for dinner and they were very accommodating- the server was able to adjust menu items as we needed for dietary needs and when our little guy was getting bored they brought over a piece of paper to draw on. We went during a week day and barely 5 couples in there. I was able to walk around with our little guy (which in the past and on a weekend would never happen) - my son took an interest to peek into the kitchen and all the cooking staff were nice let him take a good look at the team in action. Thanks Adriana's again for wonderful food and kind /accommodating team and servers!

While the name of the restaurant doesn't sound old school, the food is definitely a cut above old…read moreschool. The restaurant is elegant, crisp and inviting. The pasta perfectly al dente. The service and attention from the staff is the right level between attentive but not hovering. I loved the mix between well known pastas and a few not so well known regional dishes. I had a specialty from Amalfi. A Spaghetti with the most tenter octopus and succulent clams. We enjoyed an exceptional late lunch, unhurried and left to savor each bite. This is a definite recommend for me.

A bit pricey, but delicious pasta! One of my favorite things to do is go to Italian restaurants in…read moreNew Haven and this one is one of the best! Their pasta is made from scratch and tastes so fresh. The texture is perfection. I got pappardelle w/ sausage and porcini mushrooms and it was delicious! My friends also enjoyed their meals. They were also very good portion sizes. As stated earlier, it's a bit pricer than other places but worth it. And you get complimentary bread. The service was also good.

We had an absolutely wonderful time at Goodfellas last night. We were celebrating my daughter…read morecelebrating graduating 8th Grade and Goodfellas made the celebration extra special for my daughter. The food was absolutely fantastic. It was probably some of the best panne cotta I ever had (sorry Mom) and they cooked our steaks to perfection just the way we like it. A lot of other restaurants have trouble with that. The staff was very nice, service was attentive, helpful and very nice. The atmosphere in the restaurant was very calm and relaxing, as was the music. This was an experience my daughter won't forget and thank you for making our celebration spectacular.

Goodfellas has been a go-to us for years for special occasions, and this was our first visit back…read moresince their remodel and change to Encore. We couldn't believe how different it was inside, but it's definitely a positive change! We were seated upstairs, and we were pleasantly surprised when a pianist began playing. It was a perfect volume where we could still hear each other and also enjoy the music. Our server, Talmadge, was professional and attentive, and each dish we had was delicious. The same quality we knew and loved from Goodfellas, and I was glad to see the desserts stayed the same. One of the most romantic restaurants I've visited in a long time, and we look forward to many more visits!

Can't stop thinking about this place, the food!! Best pasta I've ever had. Very authentic and warm…read morefamily running the place. Live in NJ but want to make trip to go back

A delicious spot in downtown New Haven for yummy Italian food! We stopped in for dinner and got the…read morevegetable coquettes, Gorgonzola figs, lemon pasta, shrimp pasta, and a pasta with tomato and egg plant sauce. The figs are a must! The pasta is cooked to perfection! My favorite was the lemon pasta--decadent and refreshing. We ended the night with biscotti & a ricotta gelato. The service is warm and fast.Can't wait to be back!

Tried L'Orcio for my birthday and was really impressed. We had the formaggi and everything was…read moredelicious, especially the goat cheese and fruit bread. For dinner, we ordered several pasta dishes including Gnocchi alla Boscaiola , Pappardelle Al Ragu, a special and Cavatelli Alla Norma. Everything was incredible, and the handmade pasta really stood out. The gnocchi were especially memorable, very soft, pillowy, and perfectly seasoned. You can tell the pasta is made fresh daily. The staff were kind and welcoming, and the atmosphere felt cozy and charming. Would absolutely return to try more!! Would also love to take a pasta making class if the chef is ever offering

REALLY GOOD!! The…read moreambiance, vibe , service and food were all spot on! My gnocchi in a red sauce with sausage and mushrooms was outstanding , wife had a nice salmon dish.... Other notable was the tiramisu Prices were fair as well

I came to Villa Lulu in downtown New Haven for a birthday dinner and the entire experience was…read moreabsolutely perfect. The restaurant is located in a charming historic building, and the stylish decor gives it such a warm and homey feel. It is elegant yet totally relaxed, and the staff is incredibly welcoming and attentive from the moment you walk in. We started with the fried artichokes for an appetizer and they were nothing short of amazing. They were breaded and battered perfectly, and oh so crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. For our main courses we ordered the Chicken Parmesan and the Squid Ink Linguini. The Chicken Parm was completely top notch and cooked beautifully. The Squid Ink Linguini was equally outstanding and packed with flavor, definitely a must try if you visit. Everything from the cozy atmosphere to the expertly prepared food made it a birthday dinner to remember. If you are looking for amazing Italian comfort food with a wonderful neighborhood vibe, this is the spot. I highly recommend it and will definitely be returning!

Another great dinner at Villa Lulu recently and updating the rating to 5 stars now that we've been…read morehere a few times with excellent service, food and ambiance on every visit. We were at the Shubert for a Neal Diamond inspired show that was also excellent. The place was packed and they were very short staffed so this could have been a disaster in the making. Our server, Josh, was a true professional (I know this as a long-time former professional myself) and handled the volume with an excellent demeanor and the utmost skill. The kitchen was totally dialed in and really you would not have known the business was under stress. We had the charcuterie board, the chicken saltimbocca, and 3 pasta dishes (I didn't pay attention to the specifics). Fig and espresso martinis were big hits and they had just enough variety on the beer menu to cover all the bases. Josh made excellent menu and wine recommendations and the timing of everything was spot on. This is an excellent restaurant. We've been here a number of times with all different guests and everyone raves about it. I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't enjoy Lulu. If you're looking for a great experience in downtown New Haven you won't miss by choosing Villa Lulu!

excelente Buena comida y ambiente familiar. Servicio bacano . se la comieron en este sitioread more

When you walk in you are greeted with complimentary champagne and a welcoming handshake. You have…read moreto take in the beautiful decor of the restaurant in this mansion like setting. Straight ahead you can see the chef hard at work. We choose to sit at the bar for dinner. We were very impressed with the cocktails and wine flight. We were very impressed with the complimentary rosemary bread and bean/olive oil spread. For the first course, we opted for the crudo with the white wine, absolutely delicious, refreshing, and light. For the second course, we had the scallops, seared perfectly with a mushroom, hazelnut, and a fantastic sauce For the main course, we had the prime sirloin strip, roasted potatoes, and parsnip. The New York strip was out of this world...cooked medium rare all sliced with a side of truffle butter. After dinner, we were surprised with complimentary cantaloupe sorbet and two salted chocolates. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a special evening in New Haven. I plan on coming back for the chef's pairing, which you have to sign up for ahead of time.

Very nice gelato. We got a vanilla and the espresso flavors. I added dark chocolate chunk = dark…read morechocolate chips. I spent about $16 for a small and a large.

As a flight attendant on a private jet, I was arranging catering from Gioia for five passengers at…read morethe request of the lead passenger. I went in personally and spoke with Alex, the floor manager, who was professional and assured me the order would be ready for pickup at 2:30pm the following day. He even took my credit card information to secure the order. In the morning i happened to check my email. I read an email from Alex informing me Gioia would not be able to accommodate my request. After reading the email I did discover Alex left a voicemail at 11pm. In a time-sensitive industry like private aviation, last-minute cancellations create significant unnecessary stress and inconvenience. A follow-up text message after the voicemail would have been appropriate given the urgency and the prior commitment. I appreciate the attempt to notify me. However, once a commitment is made--especially after payment information is taken--it's critical to honor it or exhaust every reasonable effort to do so. I had even offered to compensate the kitchen staff additionally to offset any inconvenience. With a background in culinary arts and restaurant management, I was taught that it's always better to under-promise and over-deliver rather than the reverse. In hospitality, reliability is everything, and word of mouth can either strengthen or damage a business's reputation.

I have eaten a lot of pizza and I've had Modern before and after COVID times. It's not good, it's…read moregreat. The perfect crust, just the right amount of cheese, flavorful sauce. Inside it reminds me of many-a-time eating a pizza slice after sports or shopping trip. Service is friendly for dine-in and efficient for takeout. For me, this is the #1 in New Haven, and it isn't close. In contention for the best pizza in Amerca.

Went on a Saturday night and the line was crazyyy long. Luckily the wait wasn't too bad, it was…read moreless than 30 minutes. Service was great and pretty quick. We got one plain pie and one margarita pie. As a New Yorker, this was not the best pizza I ever had but it was still very good. We also ordered the root beer and wished we ordered a pitcher, they sell great root beer here. Definitely a place to visit if you're visiting CT.