We finally tried Ria's Italian restaurant. Been reading about it for a while it has great ratings. So happy we tried it . Amy who served us was very welcoming and the service was fantastic. Lots of local people and the atmosphere was very happy and extremely clean restaurant . We ordered the meatballs as an appetizer they were very good . I had the Ribeye it came out, medium rare just as I asked . What's was really nice is you get a garden salad with your dinner and I asked for the citrus homemade dressing that was tasty. They did serve homemade bread that was very good . My guest had the Ria's chicken nice size portion and the sauce on the chicken was excellent the chicken was very moist done perfectly . At the end of my meal I ordered an Espresso Martin and I have to say Amy knows how to make a great martini. We will definitely be going back soon. read more

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Rias is a great family restaurant. Maria and her family are great cooks and always have a great menu. Amy and Jen are two of the friendliest bartenders and great servers. Don't forget to say Hi to Julio he backs the girls up and makes sure your night and the service goes off flawlessly. Some of the friendliest people are patrons here and you will be back. read more

In my effort to find the very best of the New Haven Apizza restaurants, I was directed to Ria's Apizza. And the five star reviews are spot on. The Apizza here is remarkable. Awesome crust. Perfect cheese to sauce ratio. Fantastic toppings. I ordered a large Ria's Special, a large Mozzarella & Garlic and a large Mozzarella, Onion and Mushroom. That which I didn't eat on-site, I took home for the Apizza cravings to follow. Staff is great and the owner was available for a brief hello. I felt like I was with family. I had my two elderly parents along. They require a very soft dough and have allergy issues that require customization by the Pizzaiolo. Ria's satisfied both requirements without issue and my folks enjoyed an exceptional worry-free lunch. Will enthusiastically return to Ria's. read more

Ria's Restaurant and Apizza - Italian Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

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This Italian restaurant has the best food the best service and the best interior design. I recommend this place the staff are kind and helping. read more

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4, and kinda might be 5...read on... An Awake, Aware and Conscious group I'm part of have regular lunches at Ria's. It's nowhere I would have ever found on my own unless I was craving Italian food on a random day driving by this random area not too far from the highway. Well I am so lucky a group member suggested it and we had such a lovely time, we agreed to make it a regular event. (Compare this to Little Pub in Fairfield where we once met and wouldn't necessarily return for group things). Ria's is beyond welcoming. Donna is a standout server. And, you get three menus - lunch, dinner and specials. You can eat light, such as salad with a protein, or you can eat hearty Italian. Everything and anything is delicious and homemade. In a group, Donna has no issue giving out individual checks, which is much appreciated, whereas some servers get too frazzled to do that like at the Little Barn event. Not only are we never rushed but we are warmly welcomed to stay and enjoy our time together discussing the hidden in plain sight of the tomfoolery of the world most believe is reality. With a glass of wine (or two or three) at Ria's, great Italian food with delicious red sauce, and a comfy atmosphere, we enjoy our time there laughing and laughing and laughing about the holographic existence we very well may be trapped in and whether the earth is round or flat or both, depending on your perspective. What more can you ask for - great food, good energy and awesome service in all realities, hence the possibility of 5 stars. read more

I've been eating this Pizza since it was Gagliardis I'm so happy Maria took over everything! Recently, divorced myself, i couldn't be more proud of her, and Food makes everyone happy! Especially hers! read more

Went there on 10/19/25 at 12:45 and sat at the bar. I waited until 1:05 and left. Not 1 person came out to say hello. When I walked in, there was someone making food and saw me. Yet, still nothing. I finally left read more

Excellent food in generous portions. The staff service was extremely please t and the setting was appropriate for a family dining experience. read more

I tried takeout from Ria's over the weekend. Food was good. Pick up time was good. Will try dining in next time. Fettuccini Alfredo, ria's meatballs and garlic bread. All good. read more

Amazing food, drinks and service. I would have to recommend the penne alla vodka topped with a delicious chicken cutlet, absolutely delicious. Love the calm and welcoming atmosphere. It's a MUST if you live in the Wolcott/Waterbury area! read more

Wow what a find! We were in the area and took to Yelp to look for restaurants in the area. Ria's stood out as the menu looked delicious, was reasonably priced and the interior looked very nice. We got there around 5:30-6:00 and asked for a booth. The hostess said she had no booths at the moment and asked if we had reservations. I thought at that moment she would say they were booked for the night. But after she went and looked, she said that a booth was just finishing so she would give us that table. Yeess. We only waited maybe 5 minutes and were seated at a comfy booth. We were given the menu, a menu with specials and a drink menu. I got an apple martini, my husband a coffee. We did not opt for appetizers but I was dying to try their bruschetta. Next time. I ordered the 16 oz strip steak, which came with wedge potatoes and green beans. I asked if I could have a side of penne with Marinara instead of the potatoes and they were happy to accommodate. It was $34 which is reasonable in today's market. Hubby ordered Veal Parmesan with penne. The entrees come with salad or soup. The salad is made with the green leafy Mesclun type lettuce which I like but my husband does not so it's a good thing he got the soup. The soup was Chicken Pastina which was over the top delicious. The broth was super flavorful, I wish I could make it as flavorful. Amy, out waitress brought over some freshly baked bread which was also deeeelicious! Our entrees came and looked delicious. My steak was a whopping 16 oz. Too much for me to eat it all, but my husband helped in that department. The pasta and Marinara was the best I have ever had!!! Now, I NEVER ordered pasta and sauce when I go out as it just doesn't excite me. But I felt like having it and now I know why. It is a chunky tomato-based sauce that definitely is cooked with wine. Super, super delicious. The kind of sauce you don't want to leave on the plate. You just want to sop it up with some of their delicious bread. Really good. The green beans were made fresh. Now I know a lot of people say, ya so what? I can't tell you the restaurants I've been to that serve frozen veg or canned...yuk. My husbands Veal was super tender. He was a little leery getting veal as sometime it is less than tender. This was tender. Super crust/coating and that super delicious sauce. He was very pleased. We couldn't fit dessert but next time I will check out the menu even if I take home. We are quite a distance from Ria's otherwise I would go back tonight that's how good it was. The atmosphere is elegant but comfortable. Cozy booths which we love. I think they had a small room for functions which is also nice. They serve pizza which looks delicious. They offer meals for take out as well which was pretty busy. Val and Maria excel in the kitchen and it shows! This is a restaurant you'll want to try whether you are passing through Waterbury on Route 84 or in the area visiting or lucky to live in the area! read more

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Had my birthday lunch here with my mom. Ordered fresh clams in a white sauce with linguine and my mom asked for the eggplant Parm lunch sandwich with the panini bread in the side. My linguine had a taste of burnt garlic permeating throughout the sauce and my mom's lunch came out without chips and no panini bread on the side. Our waitress quickly brought out the panini bread and I didn't tell her until the end of the meal about the burnt taste since I wasn't interested in spending more time for lunch. read more

This was a last minute stop for me. I've heard great things and just happened to be in the area and was like, why not. it's a quaint spot. I stopped in during a low traffic time. The service was prompt, the place was super clean, the drink was made right "old fashioned" and the salad I had was actually bigger than I expected. I'm not disappointed. From what I can see, they have an upper middle class bar selection. Decent selection of bourbons, scotches, and wines. I shall be back with friends and family. read more

Ria's Restaurant and Apizza - Italian Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

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Rias is the best Italian restaurant in Waterbury! Go in and visit the bartender Amy is very welcoming and knows everyone by name and very accommodating with all your alcohol needs. read more

Took family and myself (5 people). Did appetizer, plus soda for kids and bottle of house wine. Dinner was one pizza, one special salad, one pasta and sauce plus two special pasta meals. No desert, price with tip $200. Enjoyed it, little tight sitting, decent parking and good service - recommend. read more

I came here with my parents a few weeks ago and we had a great meal! We were all impressed with our dishes. I got the chicken parm because since it's my favorite food, that's the best way for me to assess the quality of an Italian American restaurant. And it was wonderful! The sauce was on the sweeter side, and maybe could have been a bit more savory, but it was still a nice complement to the rest of the components. There was also enough food for two meals, which we always love to see. I thought the bread was delicious too. My one complaint was that the service could have been faster here. My parents showed up at 7 and I came a bit after, and by 7:30 they were just bringing out our bread. That is something that should, in my opinion, be brought out just a few minutes after getting drink orders. I would like to come back here and see if the speed of the service improves, since the restaurant did open recently and it may get better with time. I would still definitely recommend coming here if you live in the area! I plan on coming back for sure, and would love to try their pizza since I was a huge Gagliardi's fan back in the day. read more

Ria's Restaurant and Apizza - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

"Grazie Maria" Thank you Maria for deciding to open your own restaurant. My review is based on two visits to Ria's and both were great experiences. My first visit I had one of the most incredible soups I've ever tasted. It was a Seafood Fagioli. Clams, mussels, salmon, monkfish, and cannelini beans in a light flavorful cream broth. I also had an appetizer for lunch. The Sausage, Potatoes, and Italian Long Hot Peppers. The italian sausage was delicious, the potatoes were nicely browned, and the skin of the peppers was slightly blistered covering the tender hot spicy peppers. The dish was garnished with a lemon wedge that I squeezed on everything which brightened all the flavors of the dish. New Years Eve, I suggested to my wife that we have dinner at Ria's and it was another delicious meal. My wife began with the Fried Mozzerella. It was fried to a crispy golden brown and served with a very delicious marinara. She also ordered the Baked Stuffed Shrimp because she liked that they prepared it with a Ritz cracker, butter, and sherry wine stuffing. But she was a little disappointed because she felt they went a little heavy on the sherry wine. She said she'll have a pasta dish next time. I began with a Baccala, Escarole and Bean soup. Another very good soup. I also had the Zuppa Di Pesce for dinner. Shrimp, clams, mussels, and calamari served with a fra diavolo sauce over linguine. My dish was outstanding. Ria's is fortunate to have Chef Val creating these delicious dishes. It was a nice surprise the first time I walked in Ria's to be greeted by the bar manager, Ryan. My wife and I met Ryan at another restaurant last year. I feel that every restaurant should have at least one Ryan. Lol He's so upbeat and friendly that you want to sit at his bar to enjoy your dinner, a few cocktails, and great conversations with him. I also had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Maria Gagliardi. She's friendly, personable, and I heard from other customers that her pizza is very good. I'll have to try it next time. Ria's Restaurant doesn't look anything like the previous restaurants that were in this space. The space was completely remodeled both inside and out and it looks beautiful. The copper bar top is stunning and the sliding barn doors that separate the dining rooms are very nice. I'd like to wish the entire staff at Ria's the Best of Luck. I believe that Ria's will be here for many years to come. read more

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We have ordered take out for lunch from our office a few times and been very pleased. I was able to attend a dinner this past weekend that left our entire party thrilled with the food and service. Everything was fresh and portioned well and delicious. Will most definitely be returning. Must trys: 1. Garlic frittos 2. Meatballs 3. Stuffed zucchini ( special) 4. Long hots ( beware of heat!) 5. Penna alla vodka. All amazing and large enough for two meals. read more

I set up a retirement luncheon at Ria's from friend/family recommendations for 24-people to honor two outstanding long term staff. Do not let the basic plaza restaurant look/feel fool you. Maria and her team did a fantastic job in accommodating our large group. They set up the private room in the back with u-shaped seating which allowed for a great private and intimate atmosphere. We were offered multiple options but chose a family style meal arrangement. We ordered three specialty pizzas for appetizers. Broccoli rabe and sausage, spinach and mushrooms, bacon and onion. Pizzas were prepared very tasty with fresh quality toppings and nice crust. They cut the pizzas in smaller squares to serve as appetizers. Salad served in large family style bowls with house vinaigrette was very good/fresh. Some guests purchased dressing in nice bottles to take home. Cavetelli pasta was perfect and cooked just right - not over done. As an Italian, meatballs and sauce were homemade and outstanding - super to drench the fresh baked bread in. Everyone raved over the family style plates of Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Francaise. I heard them pounding the breast filets when I came in which for me was a great sign. They allowed us to bring a large sheet cake for our guests which worked out well for dessert; and provided take out containers for the multiple meal leftovers that everyone was thrilled to gather for later. Our server was an all star - inviting and hospitable and she provided for a real quality experience. We had space for pictures and gifts. The entire occasion was a wonderful experience and Ria's was a terrific spot to host. Thank you! read more

Love this place. Food is amazing. Ambience is great. The workers work hard and are very kind courteous and attentive . Danielle is amazing! read more

My food was delicious! It was my first time there. I wrote in their memory book The food was rich and flavorful read more

Ria's Restaurant and Apizza - Italian Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

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Overpriced and the food was adequate but definitely not delicious. This restaurant was not handicapped friendly especially the bathroom. My mom is in a wheelchair and the sink was to tall to the wash her hands read more

Just visited Ria's Restaurant. It was such a lovely and relaxing place. The wait staff is excellent. The chef went out of his way to make me a shrimp parmesan. I was actually surprised because I had asked Alexis the waitress if they served shrimp parmesan and of course they didn't but she suggested a shrimp linguine. I decided to just order gnocchi. She came back to the table and told me that the chef would make me the shrimp parmesan. That was one amazing chef to go out of his way for a customer. I highly recommend Ria's. read more

The service was amazing, our waiter was super friendly. I even left a message on a book they have where you can leave your reviews, which is pretty unique. The food was tasty and the drinks were great. read more

We're from the SW and wanted a good pizza somewhere on the east coast. We pored over all the reviews and couldn't make a decision but ended up at Ria's in Waterbury. When we pulled up to the place at about 2 PM, there were no cars in the lot, and we looked at each other and wondered if it was a mistake. We got inside and sure enough there were a couple of tables of people. And about 15 minutes after we were seated another 3 or 4 tables filled up. Our server, I think her name was Cindy M as that's what was on the receipt, was absolutely fab. We, of course, know what we like and being from the SW, didn't really know what we'd get with east coast pizza. Whyever were we worried?? We talked it thru with Cindy who explained everything to a tee! We don't like cracker thin crusts, and most pizzas we've run into on our trip were 'thin'. She was suggesting their 'thin' but we weren't sure. She assured us that their 'thin' was what we wanted and explained that their 'thick' means just a thicker ring around the outside. Thin is what we ordered. It was a fairly plain pizza: sausage, onions, anchovies on half, and extra cheese. It was absolutely perfect. Perfect! It was hot and the cheese was soooo nicely melted. The onions had a bit of crisp to them and the sauce was just right Without a doubt, the best pizza we'd ever had. There was some minor talk about moving to Waterbury.... Cindy was super. I just cannot say enough about her. Friendly, attentive, proficient. She explained everything. We thought we might want to share a blueberry pie slice afterwards, but she went back and checked it and suggested the cannoli. We opted for a take home piece and enjoyed it later with coffee. The place in an older building, typical in my memory of east cost places. It was clean and neat. Old fashioned furniture gave it a bit of an old Italian flavor. We aren't kidding when we say it was the best pizza every. And Cindy M was the best server ever. I'd go back in a minute. If only I lived closer. read more

A great ambiance that in addition to it everyday menu also has its blackboard menu of specials. Parking can be a bit challenging at times. Otherwise, whether it is just bar food, pizza, dinner or a party gathering highly recommend. Looking forward to their opening of the patio. read more

Absolutely one of the worst dinning experiences of my life, and this from someone who has spent 40 years on the road and eaten a lot of meals in a restaurant. My first experience there I waited 20 minutes despite have a reservation. While I understand that reservations are not an exact time I think 20 minutes was excessive, especially since I was ignored by the staff the whole time. No updates, no we will be with you in a minute. Nothing. The meal was at best mediocre but since I heard such great things about this place I thought I would give it a second chance. BIG MISTAKE!!! While we were seated immediately this time around that was the only thing to go right. Service was awful. Took us 10 minutes before someone acknowledged that we were there and forever to get something to drink. My grand daughters ordered lemonade which the server kept saying was coming After about 20 minutes she came by and told us they were out of lemonade. They ordered spaghetti (after about a 45 minute wait just to get someone to take our order) and when it come the sauce looked like soup. One even commented that she didn't order a soup and when I told her it wasn't soup she was shocked. My daughter order a Buffalo chicken dish which was supposed to come with blue cheese dressing on the side. Despite several requests the dressing came about the same time we were paying (reluctantly) the bill. The server came by at one point, took our drink order and then came back about 10 minutes later and asked us if anyone wanted drinks. She looked shocked when I told her she already took our order and we were waiting for our drinks. My meal was awful. I ordered veal parmesan and gnocchi. The veal had no sauce!!!! I guess they used it all to make the soup for grand daughters spaghetti. The gnocchi tasted like straw. I gave the server a tip she didnt deserve, ate meal that was horrible, endured terrible service and then paid over $200 for it all. Never again. If you are thinking about going DON'T. They should be ashamed of themselves. read more

Ordered two wedge salads w blackened chicken and the other w grilled chicken...$36.50 Two cherry tomato's in each salad. The bacon almost non existent. Gorgonzola scantily strewn throughout the wedge of Iceberg lettuce. Blue Cheese dressing tasty, but Only enough for a 1/3 if the salad I could've bought 25 hamburgers from Mc'Donalds fir the price and been more satisfied ‍ read more

Absolutely the best homemade food you could go out and enjoy!! Service is great also. You have to try their Alfredo!!!!

Great spot for a quick pie. They delivered on time and the pizza was still hot. Will be ordering again from here soon.

These people are long time pizza makers and it shows in the quality and craftsmanship in their pies this is our third trip there in the last couple weeks for the a large meat lovers pizza. read more

The pizza's pretty good! My boyfriend and I go there from time to time to get a pizza to go. They're close and rather inexpensive. But today we called in a pizza and we're told it would be 15 mins. 15 mins later, we leave to go pick up the pizza. I go inside to pick it up and am told it would be about 5 more mins. Okay, no problem. But an additional 15 mins of waiting the pizza finally comes out of the oven...just for the chef to dump the entire pie on the floor. All we were offered was another pizza at half off. We were told it would be another 15 mins, which we knew from experience at that point it would really be half an hour. So we left pizza-less and refunded and our initial plans of taking the pizza to a brewery were ruined. read more

Nice, clean space and friendly service...but the food was so disappointing and extremely overpriced. First of all, the charcuterie board was $20 for only 2 pieces of each type of meat and cheese, and one of the meats was seriously bologna. You can go to Vyne in Middlebury and pay $24 for a charcuterie board that's filling enough to be a meal! Was also told that it would be the garlic gnoccho fritto that came on the board, and it was plain (although this was probably the best thing we had all night). My dinner came with a choice of soup or salad, so I chose the chicken pastina soup...which came out with ditalini. It didn't really bother me but I just thought it was strange. Now onto the meal... worst pasta we've ever had in our lives, and I'm not usually picky about pasta. It was so mushy, and almost tasted like it had been frozen. $2 extra for some types of pasta too. The sauce was also so basic, really not tasty at all and too sweet. My mom couldn't even finish her manicotti. My dad was alright with his chicken Marsala dish. We also ordered garlic bread with cheese, and let me tell you, there was no garlic on that bread. It also tasted like it had been frozen and it was way too crispy. We were really let down because we had heard great things about this place, and maybe we're just food snobs, but the quality of the food was definitely lacking here. read more

This place just Dominated any Italian place in New Haven County!! Been a fan of Roma's, La Tavola, Diorio's, DiAmelio's and Dozens more throughout CT most of my life. But this place just showed up 6 weeks and I cannot hide the fact that the food and service is just Better in every single way!! Ive been 3 times and going on my 4th this week. My opinion is GO!! read more

Ria's supplied us with some lasagna and chicken piccata for a big family party. WOW! Best of each that I have tasted in CT! Everyone commented and enjoyed the food. Staff was extremely polite - will surely put this restaurant on our regular rotation! read more

Tried this place last night for the first time & it was excellent! Service was great but the food was even better. Extensive menu to choose from & even more specials. Swordfish special was tasty and perfectly cooked. Really enjoyable meal and so close to home too! read more

I wish I took a pic of the so called fried calamari the tried to pull off on my guest and I. It was like eating pork rinds from a bag at 7-11. The waitress blamed it on the distributor! Caesar salad was pink tinged with a Mayo base , the red sauce on my pasta had chunks of whole uncooked tasteless tomato. So disappointed as our first time there , I raved about the meal. Never again! read more

Our first time to visit Ria's tonight and obviously everyone else in the area discovered this gem before we did because it was PACKED and I'm so glad we made a reservation! We have a new local favorite restaurant! This place will give Mona Lisa's and Raggozino's a run for their money. Staff is incredibly polite, the interior decor is beautiful! The bathroom is CLEAN and smells great! (very important and one of the first things I look for!) We got the fried mozzarella appetizer which was fried to a crispy perfection and served with a delicious marinara, not too sweet but tomato-y, garlic-y and chunky. Jon went with Ria's Combo calzone (sausage, mushroom, meatball, pepperoni) (the combo also has ham but Jon chose to skip the ham). I got the Baked Pasta which is sort of a baked ziti but the mozzarella is set on the side and you can mix it in as you like! I love the sauce here, it is perfect. We will be back! Thanks so much Maria, you are doing your family proud! read more

Ria's Restaurant and Apizza - Italian Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

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From the minute you walk in, RIA's doesn't disappoint! The hostess greeted us right away and made us feel welcome (I love how she opens the door for guests-very welcoming). The restaurant is decorated beautifully and the bar is one of the best in the area. If you like bourbons, scotches and great wine....this bar is a must. The service was on point (we had Amy- so friendly and accommodating). The food is delicious. From the everyday items on the menu to their Chalkboard specials, all very well prepared. I love this place! My new favorite spot! read more

I have been to this amazing restaurant multiple times since it has opened, almost on a weekly basis! The food is amazing!! From entrees to pizza and specialty cocktails, never disappointed! Even the stuffed breads i ordered for superbowl where a big hit!! Definitely a new staple restaurant in town and can't wait to go back!! Definitely recommended!!! read more