Food, service and ambience all 5 stars! The restaurant feels like home and Lou and Trina , the owners, make sure it does feel like home. Lou is a master chef and you will never be disappointed. The best food, service, chef and owners. Our favorite. read more

Chef's kiss* family restaurant with great ambiance, service and food! It was a wonderful experience with my daughters for our yearly weekend. They even took photos of us! Will return! read more

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We were looking forward to eating here given all the positive reviews! The restaurant is small to begin with and we went on new year's eve when it appeared staff was short. Our table was cramped on an uneven edge of the fireplace. The positives: The arancini was amazing, great flavor, and a great sauce. We had the blackened scallops and risotto which was fantastic! It's clear this is a staple in town, however, we didn't leave with that impression. The cons: the salad came out pre-dressed which wasn't mentioned on the menu. It looked great presentation wise, however, not everyone likes Balsamic and it didn't say that on the menu. We would have asked them to make another on but the server/ bartender was incredibly busy. The water jug that they placed on the table was dirty. The chicken piccata was packed with flavor- however- the pasta was clearly overcooked. It was discolored and breaking apart; evidently cooked a few nights before and reheated in a pan. The pasta did not taste good. It is a large portion, and I'm sure it would've tasted better if it was fresh. We let our server know and she was apologetic. We asked our server if the desert had nuts in it. She stated the desert did not. We got a sambuca and double espresso that had biscotti. Unbeknownst, a few bites in, we discovered that there were in fact nuts in there. After the disappointment with dinner, we would have thought they'd comp at least a coffee since we barely ate any of it. We called the server over and asked for the bill- letting her know we had to get out of here as soon as possible to get the EpiPen. Overall, I'm sure their other items are great. The menu has a lot and it was hard to pick an entree. It is disappointing that this was our first experience there. We were there for 2 hours and will probably not be returning back. read more

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The food was great, and the owner Louie was awesome. This is a hidden gem off of Main Street in Branford. The bread is crusty, warm and was well developed and delicious. Salad was simple and tasty and the vodka sauce was as good as I've eve eaten. i will def come back again. read more

Rossitto's Ristorante - Penne with grilled chicken in a vodka sauce that was delicious. - New American Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Came in on a Friday night with my daughter. We had Stephanie as our server and she was so lovely! We ordered the Caesar salad and the beet salad and the lasagna. Everything was so delicious! We are on our way to Rhode Island so this was the perfect mid way point! read more

Amazing food, not too heavy but super flavorful. The service was amazing, everyone was super friendly. Lasagna was INCREDIBLE!!! read more

Rossitto's Ristorante - Cannoli - New American Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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I had the chicken parm and a Greek salad and my wife had the eggplant parm and the Greek salad. Both were very good. The bread that was brought to the table was also very good. Cute place, decent service. We're going to add it to our regular dinners out. read more

Great food and attentive wait staff make for a cosy meal out that will include take home with large portions. Don't miss the lasagna!

Yesterday a lunch at our house expanded to 12 & we decided it would be best to get lasagna, but could we do last minute. After hearing great things about Rossito's I gave them a call. The chef was so very nice & said he could do the two trays we needed. It was delicious!! Everyone absolutely loved it. The proportions were perfect, excellent sauce, perfect noodles. Happily we have some leftovers, but not much! I haven't been to the restaurant yet but will definitely be in soon. Based on this incredibly positive interaction, I am sure it will be wonderful! read more

I am not sure who could rate this place higher than about 3. The food was average at best. $32 for two small pieces of veal with spinach. My husband got the famous lasagna. Not sure what is famous about it. It was good size but average. The place is small and run down. It looks like someone took their home and converted it to a restaurant. Service is slow. Very loud as it's a small place. Would not go back ever. read more

Amazing and you need to have a meal here. The staff were engaging , food was delicious and the energy of the restaurant was so comfortable. Thank you and I cannot wait to go back. read more

Last night, we went to Rossitto's Ristorante and I'm so glad we did. We are traveling from out of town for a wedding and this was definitely a great choice for our first meal. We made a reservation prior to going and after talking to the owner, this a must do for the weekends. We arrived at 6:30 for our reservation in our table was ready for us but then we decided to sit outside and they had no issue with that whatsoever. We were seated outside at some high tables and some gorgeous lights were above us. The entire ambiance was fantastic. I got calamari for an appetizer and wasn't very impressed by it but will not bring down my rating at all due to how good my main course was. The spaghetti and meatballs were AMAZING! The meatballs were made so well and not dry like the ones I had recently. If I lived closer, this would be my go to Italian restaurant. So good! The main course comes with a complimentary salad and the dressing for it was great as well. This is definitely a must go to restaurant if you are in Branford Connecticut read more

Rossitto's Ristorante - New American Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

So I saw this on Facebook & thought it was worth a try. Holy hell in a hand basket!!!! Sesame crust tuna,seared,tossed with house smoked jalapeños, a wasabi drizzle from heaven. Marissa can create any cocktail you can conjure. read more

Rossitto's Ristorante - Seared Tuna Nachos - New American Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Always a great experience. Lasagna and Rigatoni w/Sunday sauce never disappoint The staff here always takes care of you read more

We started off with the Arancini ( rice balls) in tomato sauce, they were good but the sauce made them even better. Our second appetizer was a fig and prosciutto flat bread pizza, it was outstanding. The sweetness of the fig, the salt of the prosciutto and the vinegar flavor from the greens. The meals came with nice greens , with a vinaigrette dressing. They also had a nice basket of hot crusty bread and a green bean salad, plus olive oil My entree was the Veal Picatta over pasta. It was very good . The veal was thin and they gave you two pieces. The other people had the Fra Diavolo, grilled eggplant tower and the artichoke hearts. They all said they enjoyed their dishes. I had their vanilla gelato, but it tasted more like a turkey farm vanilla ice cream. The owner/ chef came to the table to see if we enjoyed the food. Plenty of parking and a friendly staff. Food was reasonable priced. read more

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Rossitto's is probably one of the best southern Italian restaurants in the New Haven area. The food is delicious. The service is wonderful and the restaurant has a warm friendly feel. I have mixed emotions about writing this review because I don't want it to lose that wonderful friendly atmosphere that permeates the restaurant. Maggie read more

First: The Good! Rossitto's is a small, independent, Chef-owned restaurant and we ALL should know by now that I am HERE for that. I am ALWAYS rooting for these kinds of places. The Eggplant Parm: Honestly? Excellent. Everything Eggplant Parm should be: paper thin layers of perfectly cooked Eggplant, baked with mozzarella and a Good Marinara. Well above average Marinara. Eggplant Parm is NOT EASY. So it is HIGH HIGH praise if I'm telling you The Eggplant Parm is Excellent. Fried Mozzarella App: heavily breaded triangles of deep fried Mozz with the Good Marinara. Also, REALLY good. Not your frozen, terrible, mozzarella sticks!! Chef-Made Tiramisu for dessert: Excellent. Tiramisu is SO good when it's good and so not worth eating when it's not. This is REALLY GOOD. However. We're at 3 Stars. Because: The entire place is giving your Italian Relative's Basement in the 1970s. Don't play with me. I was IN those basements in the '70s. Rossitto's even, somehow, SMELLS like those basements when you walk in. I mean...Yikes?? The decor is Basement Horrendous. Really, as if not a single person here ever looks around and thinks, "We should DO something about this!" They should. It's bad. I ordered us an assortment of appetizers from the Specials menu. Which was printed in MINISCULE font on half a sheet of printer paper that someone then cut, presumably with scissors. Please, SPLURGE, print in a font size we can READ and use an entire sheet of paper. Fried Mozzarella (reviewed above). Fried Polenta: When it was delivered to the table it was indistinguishable from the Fried Mozzarella. We had to cut into them to tell them apart. Fail. The polenta itself was nice and creamy. The extreme breading on the outside was the error. Clams Oreganata: I can't give you any points for a dish that is entirely NOT the dish named on the menu. The clams were perfectly nice. In a broth with garlic and onions and parsley. They were NOT Oreganata...??? ' Buffalo Cauliflower (it's a THING around here apparently). Buffalo Sauce and Bleu Cheese were VERY good. Cauliflower was okay. Definitely over fried/greasy. We then got the house salad that comes with your entrees. Which is fun. It's family style, already dressed (HEAVY on the Balsamic). Pretty good. As mentioned above, I got the Eggplant Parm. It is served with Penne. I upgraded to Penne alla Vodka. Because if I see Penne alla Vodka on a menu I'm gonna try it. It was terrible. Like REALLY bad. The Penne was overcooked. So right there I'm pretty much taking away ALL your points. Look. I grew up in the kitchen with my ACTUALLY Italian Grandmother and my First Generation Mother. Who were/are both intuitive cooks. And I've been to Italy. More than once. More than twice. I rarely eat Italian food "out." Because I cannot tolerate poor quality Italian food. Do not serve me overcooked pasta. I just canNOT. I'm not sure what is going on here. But this Vodka Sauce was not Vodka Sauce. Like at all. No resemblance to Vodka Sauce. Kinda like with the Clams Oreganata?? Like if it's NOT that thing why are you CALLING it that thing on your menu? Negative points for this Penne all Vodka. Luckily the Eggplant Parm was very good, because the penne was inedible. Still though I was wavering on whether to give 3 or 4 stars because I want to SUPPORT and ENCOURAGE. And then I went to the bathroom. Washed my hands. Reached for paper towels. The dispenser was empty. Reached for tissues. The box was empty. Dried my hands with toilet paper, whilst saying, out loud to myself, "3 Stars. You've GOT to make some kind of effort!" LOW on effort here. Weird dishes that bear no resemblance to what they're supposed to be. Overcooked Pasta. Smells like the '70s. But in basement. MEH. read more

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We went there the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Saturday after while enroute to/from New York and Rhode Island. It is the best Italian Restaurant that we have been to. As usual the lasagnia was outstanding. Also the Veal Parm and the beef short ribs were delicious. The only negative was the hostess was rude and disrespectful. If it weren't for the outstanding food and service I would have walked out. read more

My wife and I had gone on a date-day adventure and prior to heading out I wanted to find a nice restaurant for dinner. Rossitto's was close to where we would be and it had favorable reviews. To be honest, we are used to disappointing restaurant experiences in CT...from abysmal service, disappointing food, etc. Rossitto's was quite the pleasant surprise. The restaurant has a feel of walking into your grandmother's kitchen - you knew they wanted you to feel like family. They brought bread and pickled green beans to the table. Both were great! My only complaint was it took some time to get our salads, but they too were good. For entrees, my wife had the pasta and meatballs and myself the Ribeye. Both portions were HUGE. My wife loved her food, and my ribeye was possibly the best I have had yet. Service was friendly, attentive. Pricing was very fair considering portion sizes ad quality....I have spent a lot more for a lot less. read more

We love, love, love Rossitto's . The food is always so delicious, varied and one of the Best Italian Restaurant near me. The real proof of a restaurant, especially during COVID was when you ordered take out? They did not cut corners on the amount of food, the freshness of the bread, the salad and it is the 'same entree' size, taste, everything was there minus seeing their awesome family and staff. Thank you for remaining so committed to the public. Thank you for doing all you do to keep your menu and service top notch! Please take care of yourselves the way you take care of us read more

Fried calamari was fantastic, as was the sausage and white bean dish. Old-fashioned cocktail was delicious, and I'm grateful I got to sit outside. Only complaint is that the matriarch of the business told me over the phone that they "weren't sitting outside" that night, which her daughter said wasn't true when I arrived. read more

Absolutely the best service and food. Get the meatballs. I repeat get the meatballs! The veal was delicious. Worth the 1/2 drive.

This is an amazing restaurant on the most amazing food. The service can't be the cocktails are so good. I would recommend this to anyone but make a reservation. read more

Wow! What a delightful evening. Rossitos is a charming and intimate Italian restaurant conveniently located off the interstate. Everything was spectacular from the service through dessert. We started with cocktails, a blood orange margarita and a fig old fashioned accompanied by calamari. The drinks were handcrafted and full bodied with subtle flavors. The calamari was tender with a tasty breading. The lasagna was among the best I've ever had. The homemade sauce had chucks of tomato we had to leave with a jar to take home. We will definitely return the next time through the area. read more

While the food was very good, the wait time for our drinks then food was much too long. We were seated for over a hour before our appetizer ( just one item) arrived. If you go be prepared to wait. read more

I've been wanting to come here for awhile because a friend goes regularly and says they have great meatballs. The only way to know if meatballs are great is to eat them myself! Lol. So tonight a friend and I went and we sat outside in the back. Marissa was our server. She had a great sense of humor. We ordered a lot of food. The menu is big. Fresh bread came out fast. My friend ordered eggplant parm with penne. She loved it. We got meatballs for a side dish. They were so delicate, I knew that it was beef mixed with either pork and/or veal ... light, moist & delicious. I ordered one of their specials: hanger steak with mashed potatoes and I swapped out string beans for their brussel sprouts. Steak had a chimichurri sauce. It was all great. Entrées came with house salad. For dessert we shared a mud pie... coffee flavored ice cream, with chocolate and whipped cream. Definitely coming back. read more

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Take out was quick and friendly ... Ladies at the register were lovely. Pasta was cooked perfectly but for the price, I'd want more than one piece of chicken piccata... it's my favorite Italian American dish and it was good but nothing to write home about read more

Killer. Branford has no shortage of Italian places -- but they've either been here forever or have tried and failed to introduce some new zest into the scene. Rossito's is simple (but never simplistic) in its bold, fresh, and straightforward bid. Here is a place for families and connoisseurs both, staffed by friendly people serving food cooked by some real experts. This is the kind of place you look and hope for wherever you go. How refreshing it is to find it, new, nascent, and relaxed in its competence -- in a familiar old place like Branford. And yes. You should try the lasagne. read more

We came here after waiting for an occasion to celebrate. Wish I didn't wait so long. Everything is delicious and we have gone back three times. Small plates are a great way to try on the menu. Try it tonight! read more

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Excellent italian food! Luckily I snagged a seat right away on a Saturday evening. The interior is adorable, cozy, and homey. I started with an espresso martini, which they were nice enough to make decaf. It was strong enough and well made. The bread that came out was delicious as well. I ordered the tuna tartare small plate, which came over rice. The rice had a crunch to it, which I believe heightened the dish. The mango mixed in worked so well with the perfectly cooked tuna. The portion size was perfect so I didn't leave too full. Service was friendly, and priced pretty well! I will certainly be back! read more

Rossitto's Ristorante - Tuna tartare - New American Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

I never give great reviews. I'm from NYC as you may read of my past postings and have yet to find a place that can compete with the restaurants back home; although this is my place of residence now. This place is the best. Everything is fresh and full of differentiating flavors which is very important. Otherwise everything tastes the same. Lasagna is fantastic their MB's are better than my moms and the staff is very friendly; especially the owner who makes it his mission to please you. Adding to review. The chef owner could really cook like a bitch. Food flavored to perfection. Veal chop is the best I ever had.... read more

Excellent food and very well priced. Service is exemplary. Guests feel welcomed and valued.

The food is always amazing. Great setting in Branford. Service is always pleasant. We enjoy going here for date nights.

First time having dinner at Rossitto's Ristorante and celebrating my wife's birthday. This place is simply amazing! The service could not have been any better and everyone was very friendly. They had many people with different roles all helping each to ensure each customer was happy. The food was excellent! I had the Capesante Bianco and my wife had the Jumbo Stuffed Ravioli - they were perfect! What I noticed when I first walked in is the ambiance, I felt like I was back in Italy. I don't know why I have not been here before, but we will be coming back soon. read more

Phenomenal restaurant! The people, food, atmosphere, drinks, ambiance - everything exceptional. We always have an amazing experience and the food is the best food I have had out at a restaurant! You will be craving this all week. Go and visit you will not be disappointed. The specials are amazing right down to the apps!!!! read more

Rossitto's Ristorante - This is a special gnocchi they had and wow - words can't describe how amazing this was - New American Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

What a great find! My bf and I decided to try Rossitto's for dinner and we are so glad we did! It's a small restaurant with limited tables, however they were spaced out well and barriers were between the booths to make you feel comfortable during this pandemic. We had two different ladies that served us, both of whom were friendly and attentive. Although it's a smaller menu, they had a nice selection of specials to select from. We got the Italian egg rolls to start which were delicious! We both selected items from the specials menu and the portions were huge! The food was fresh and delicious and the salmon was one of the best I've had! The meal came with a salad as well which you don't mind in most places now a days. I look forward to going back or ordering take out to try more dishes! read more

Other than the name nothing is Italian about this restaurant. This was probably the worst meal I've ever had. It started with slow service, then progressed to a "salad" with a few pieces of lettuce and a tomato wedge, Parmesan cheese (which had the waitresses thumbprint in it), fake olive oil which was more like Wesson oil and was almost clear and liquidy, and a bowl of olives that did not look appetizing at all. Our meals were so small that we had to go to another restaurant down the street after. My green beans were burnt and there was a drop of sauce on my chicken. My husbands veal dish was also a joke and we were charged $25 for it. To top it off we got the bill and were charged $60 for 2 drinks each (just vodka and soda water with not a whole lot of vodka). $15 for a drink! I don't think I've ever paid that much for a drink in my life. Don't waste your time here. Go to a "real" Italian restaurant like Strega. We ended up spending over $200 for nothing! Extremely disappointed and feeling ripped off! read more

Rossitto's Ristorante - It's pretty sad when your veggies are bigger than your main entree. - New American Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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I have noticed this restaurant for many years and for some reason I never ate there. I had the opportunity to eat there with some neighbors before Christmas and we all had a wonderful meal. Service was excellent, drinks good and we shared 2 desserts. Everyone enjoyed their meal choice. Small but cozy restaurant but the variety of food offered was extensive. Something for everyone. One of ladies had the lasagna and agreed with everyone who had given it a great review. My salmon with cranberry Grand Marnie sauce was amazing. Definitely will return read more

Great food. Very friendly staff. Pleasant atmosphere with lovely outdoor eating area. Very enjoyable evening out.

Just wow it's like eating your grandma's food and the lasagna is all it's raved about and they space the meal out the way it should be I highly recommend you make a reservation it's a small cozy place read more