Good Italian food in a quieter, more intimate setting than many places nearby. The dishes we had were well prepared and the wait staff were professional and attentive without being overbearing. What stood out most was the atmosphere. It is a nice place if you want to actually sit and talk without a lot of noise or crowds. Great for a date or a relaxed evening where conversation is part of the point. It's priced higher than some other options around, so probably more of a special occasion spot than somewhere I would go regularly. That said, when I want a good meal with good service in a calmer setting, I would come back. read more

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Five of us had a wonderful dinner at Trattoria da Lepri last night. It was our first time there, and we immediately felt welcomed into the cozy, understated, elegant space. It's much bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. At 5:30, we were the first ones seated on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and it was good we had a reservation because the tables filled up quickly. Before we even noticed that the room was a bit chilly, someone brought over a space heater to make sure we were comfortable. My mother uses a rollator, and we were pleased that there was plenty of space to park it in a corner near our table. Staff were super helpful in getting her situated. Our server, Nicole, was friendly and attentive, as were all the other staff. We asked if they could do a non-alcoholic cocktail and she said sure, do you prefer something sweet or something gingery? We said gingery, definitely not sweet. With just those instructions the bartender sent over virgin Moscow Mules with ginger beer and fresh lime in copper cups -- delicious! We started with house salads which were fresh and nicely dressed with vinaigrette. Then we had the braised beef & truffle pappardelle, roasted cod, vegetable & mushroom risotto, and the homemade ravioli du jour, which was stuffed with mushrooms, swiss cheese and leeks. The person who ordered the ravioli is a vegetarian, so the chef came out to tell him the sauce had a beef stock base and suggest other options. He went with a truffle sauce. As she was delivering our salads and main courses, Nicole asked if anyone would like freshly ground pepper or grated cheese -- a nice touch that a lot of restaurants don't do these days. We were all delighted our food. For dessert, we shared the ricotta donuts and the cannoli. The donuts came out piping hot, coated in cinnamon & sugar, with a yummy caramel sauce on the side. The cannoli with orange zest, chocolate and pistachios was also marvelous. All in all, it was a perfect evening. Superb food and service, great atmosphere, and attention to our group's special needs. I'd like to make this a family tradition every year. read more

Walking into this intimate Italian gem in the quaint town of Ellington, I immediately exhaled. Warmly lit, graded by the staff with smiles, was inviting with its amusing 70s yacht rock music softly in the background felt welcoming on a cold Friday evening in February. The entire staff is friendly and upbeat and accommodating never made us feel rushed (it was actually a three hour dinner). The menu offerings are thoughtful, if not rather paired it down. Allowing the chef to give real attention to detail which was very evident in the dishes. Began with the special New England clam chowder. Full of tender clams, if not a tad bit on the salty side, but this was definitely made with love as we would agree with all of the following dishes we enjoyed. The calamari over arugula and plum tomatoes with lemon aïoli was bright and crispy and tender and simple. The beef meatballs were decent, not as tender as preferred but the whipped ricotta and sweet tomato sauce were a nice touch. Stand out was the fried brussels sprouts. Although this dish has been overwrought for some time on dining menus, this was full of flavor with tender surprising bits of carrot, Lardon, cranberries, and pecans. I really enjoyed the soft pillowy, sweet potato ravioli with its Gorgonzola cream, sauce,not salty, velvety wonderful texture. The true "must" on the menu is the 72 hour braised balsamic short rib served over hearty mashed potatoes. It was very flavorful and extremely tender. Lastly our fellow diners, as well as our server Nicole, highly recommended the ricotta donuts with caramel dipping sauce. The donuts were warm and rolled in cinnamon sugar incredibly tender interior because of the ricotta. The caramel dipping sauce is rich not overly sweet. I added a little salt. Should you find yourself in the area this is the perfect spot to hide away for a lovely dining experience. read more

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The food, drinks and service was excellent. My wife and I are differently will be returning. The atmosphere is great it's not noisy like so many other "high end restaurants". You can actually carry on a conversation with the person you sitting with. read more

Love this woman-owned Italian restaurant. Food, drinks, and service are always absolutely outstanding! I recently had an eggplant dish there that was out of this world. Worth every penny! I want to call it fine-dining, but there is no pretentiousness. They don't even buff the spots from the wine glasses. read more

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Stacy our waitress was amazingly kind, we walked in without a reservation with two kids and she happily sat us and let us know the best food items on the menu. We started with the calamari, burrata and truffle fries then had the short rib parpadelle which was amazing, the shrimp risotto and the kids bolognese as our main meals. The desserts were also perfect especially the fosters waffle ice cream. We will definitely be back! Thank you for the amazing experience! read more

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A wonderful experience and comfortable environment patient and alert. Staff couldn't have been happier.

Meat balls were dry Chopped salad was salty and lackluster. Dipping sauce for bread was unremarkable Super pricey for the quality. read more

Four of us ventured out in the snow storm to enjoy an early dinner. Our server, Lynn, made us feel welcome as soon as we were seated. The interior is simple and comfortable and tables are well spaced. The menu is on the small side but hits all the notes of beef, seafood, chicken, and veggie. Our table started with the complimentary homemade bread and the calamari appetizer. The calamari was not the best, but the arugula and aoili dressing were on point. Two of us had the ahi tuna cooked rare. We agreed it was as tasty as any tuna we've ever had. Another had the braised short ribs which smelled heavenly and was a generous portion. Finally, the baked chicken was smothered in a rich gravy. Everyone agreed to return because the food was great and Lynn's service was top notch. I can recommend this spot as a casual location with an upscale menu. read more

Take out Roman pizza was just terrific. Ordered early and was ready on time. Just delicious

The food was amazing, homemade pasta wins all the time. Our server Lynn was professional and extremely knowledgeable. Brought our friend who lives in Massachusetts and is thirty minutes away. She loved it so much she said she is going to be a regular customer. We shared the Charcuterie board and Chop salad. I had the homemade rigatoni with bolognese sauce. Cooked to perfection!!! My wife had the risotto, I had some. It did not disappoint. Our friend had the seafood pasta. She loved it!!! read more

The exterior is unassuming, to say the least, but the interior is warm and welcoming. We had the strongly recommended reservations and were promptly seated. Some lovely wines were forthcoming; I could not resist the "Prayers of Sinners and Saints" from Washington state, while my wife's Sella Antica Super Tuscan was superb. Warm bread and garlic oil arrived to whet our appetites. We celebrated her birthday with Pesce Del Giorno En Papillote (Sea Bass with saffron potatoes, herbs, lemon, capers, tomatoes, and olives) while I tucked into Braised Beef & Truffle Pappardelle with mushrooms, demi glace, and a touch of cream. Son wolfed the Spaghetti allo Scoglio with clams, mussels, white wine, garlic, and fresh parsley. We finished the feast with flourless chocolate cake, an apple tart, and raspberry truffle ice cream. The Trattoria features produce and products from local farms, and it shows. Very tasty throughout, and a wonderful way to celebrate any special occasion (or just the fact that it's Wednesday!) read more

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Always a delicious dinner at Trattoria Da Lepri. Service is always great. I go here when it's a special occasion.

Farm to table menu, really tasty food. We had Brussels, a fall salad, and salmon -- which included a sweet potato type puree. Service was very solid and the ambience quaint and enjoyable. Best company! read more

Amazingggg! Everything we ate was incredible, so fresh and delicious. Our server Nicole was fantastic, funny, sweet and personal. The restaurant is cozy and intimate. read more

This is a great Italian spot in Ellington. If I was in a deserted island with their rigatoni bolognese, I'd be in heaven. We've tried a lot of their apps & entrees and have consistently been impressed. Also the ricotta doughnuts with salted caramel ice cream.... amazing. read more

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Always great food and service. Smaller menu, which is good. This means they pay closer attention to the dishes that they serve. Menu and specials change often. read more

I finally had the opportunity to dine here after working in the area for years, I think their hours and my schedule never aligned and although I've always have been told how special this little restaurant is, it wasn't until recently that I was able to experience it for myself. Arriving here just a short time after they opened their doors for the evening the restaurant had not yet began to fill up so being seated for our 5:30 PM reservation wasn't a problem. This dimly lit restaurant offers a very calming atmosphere and the white table clothes neatly placed across each table bring some refinement, that is very pleasing but seems so out of place in this rural little town. Our server met us table-side and was very friendly and professional, she welcomed us and offered the daily specials then offered the beverage service. I chose my signature barely dirt martini with stuffed olives, it arrived after a few minutes alone with a loaf of delicious crusty warm bread and a small dish of extra virgin olive oil which is exactly how I prefer it, no dried herbs masking the flavors of the oil or bread. My martini was well crafted and delicious although the glass was on the smaller side and wasn't filled to the brim - I understand portion control and and the small plate mentality but it's no less disappointing at these prices. We started out with the meatball appetizer in my opinion there is no better way to measure the quality of an Italian meal other than to experience the texture and complexity of the meatball. This place does the meatball as good as any I've eaten so I was extremely happy knowing my fettuccine and meatball entree was being prepared in the kitchen. I opted for the potato soup over a salad, it arrived warm garnished with fresh bacon and shredded parmesan cheese - I found it to be just okay and nothing special, it lacked any real flavor beyond what the bacon and cheese provided, the portion was much larger than I expected and I found myself getting bored with it after finishing only half. Finally my entrée arrived, homemade fettuccine pasta gently folded in a rich thick marinara sauce with three of those delicious meatballs - the paste was molto al dente and the sauce was perfectly executed, I thought the portion of the entrée was substantial which was surprising so I will retract my small plate statement it seems not only is the food amazing the portions are actually very nice and align well with the prices. Dining here was a very nice experience and although I chose a very simple dish it was done in a very creative manner and was an exceptional example of this dish. I look forward to returning to experience some of their other offerings... read more

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There's a reason we keep going back, it's wonderful! The staff is welcoming and good at their jobs. The owner is a delight, always coming out to make the rounds and make us feel welcome. But the food! It's delicious, not inexpensive but definitely worth the price. I had a delicious halibut entree that was a special that evening. We're "bar people" and always find someone interesting to chat with during dinner. If a more private experience is desired call and make a reservation for a table in their dining room. read more

Highly recommend!! Apps, whipped ricotta is amazing, any of other apps so good! My favorite dish is Braised Beef & Truffle Pappardelle!! Literally to die for! Service is amazing and so is owner! Love love love! read more

My husband and I vats here recently and every single thing we had was spectacular. From the whipped ricotta, to the homemade pasta and really well-made cocktails; everything was just excellent. Service was also very quick while also giving us the appropriate time in between food and drinks. Definitely recommend! read more

Our 2nd visit last night and just as fabulous as the first time. Deborah, once again, so welcoming. Her staff is wonderful, shout out to Stacey, our server who made excellent recommendations for cocktails and entrees. .I had the swordfish special which was delicious, my boyfriend had the scallops, of course I had a taste, so good! I highly recommend the restaurant, from atmosphere to service to food, five stars!!! read more

Always a fav for us Tolland County folks, the food remains really tasty and reliable. But there is the rub; virtually nothing on the menu ever changes nor are there a bunch of specials. The braised short rib, the beef and truffle scented papperdelle and roasted chicken with cranberry bread pudding still get it done on a winter night. The apps especially the enormous portion of fried calamari garlicky tomatoes and arugula could be a table app; the roasted beet salad converts even anti-beeters; and the meatballs in Sunday sauce bring back memories of Nonna. Cocktails and champagne splits are fairly priced There were some issues during our visit; we were told initially what was 86'd but we were ready to order before we were advised for the first time the meat slicer was on the Fitz so antipasto was a no go; we asked for bread four times and our server kind of wandered a bit so the meal was a solid two hours. All and all, still very good but now three years from Covid it's time to shake it up a bit to see what else you got in addition to what will always do the trick read more

Great food. Great staff. Portions are huge. New favorite Italian spot. Desserts are amazing too!

Very yummy food, nice atmosphere. Service could be a bit more informative, such as sharing that the place has no accommodations for infants despite saying it was fine to bring them. But overall, a nice place for special occasions. More date-night get a babysitter kind of place though. read more

My wife and I just moved to Ellington and we were looking for a nice restaurant to have a date night. We found Trattoria da Lepri on Yelp. It was suggested that we make reservations for a Friday night good thing we did. From the time we walked in and greeted by Donna the hostess to the time we left we had an incredible experience. Our waitress Stacy was amazing and took very good care of us. We started with Lemon Drop martinis which were perfect. Stacy brought us over small fresh hot loaf of crusty bread with a delicious dipping oil. We could have eaten 3 of them but needed to make sure we saved room for dessert. We did get an appetizer of Deb's delicious meatballs. Probably one of the best we have ever had. Then ordered dinner. My wife had the Braised Beef & Truffle Pappardelle and I had the Balsamic Braised Short Rib. Both meals were incredible. Good size portions. We both ended up taking home to go containers and we're excited to know we would have it for lunch the next day. We ended the meal with an Espresso Martini and Warm Ricotta Donuts w/ Caramel dipping sauce. OMG what a way to end a wonderful meal. We've had the opportunity to dine at some pretty amazing places in CT and I'm happy to say we have now added another to the list. The best part about finding Trattoria da Lepri is that it's only 5 minutes from our new home. We will definitely be making this our new favorite place to dine. Thank you to Deb and her incredible staff for making our first of many visits to her amazing restaurant a memorable experience. read more

Service was spotty and good was underwhelming, it's a shame because I know from experience they could do better.

This is one of the best restaurants in Ellington. The food is so perfectly prepared and the staff is absolutely wonderful. The food is exquisite. You can't go wrong with this place. read more

This is our go to special occasion dinner. Not only is the food spectacular but so is the service. Every single time we get the fried calamari appetizer. Absolutely mouth watering. We also never fail to order the 72 hour braised balsamic beef as one of our entrees. The beef falls apart on your fork and dissolved in your mouth! You could not make this dish better if you tried. If you're not already stuffed from your amazing meal, the creme brûlée is amazing! I recommend saving room for it. Service is on top of cleaning your table from even the smallest of crumbs, getting you clean silverware, and filling your water glasses. They even offer more bread (which is delicious) without us asking. Big plus for us is also that the ingredients are local and they have their source written on their wall display chalk board. Truly a great dinner experience! read more

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After coming here for many years - it appears that hubris has gotten the best of this place. My fish was overcooked, I let the server know, and said I would eat it regardless. The owner proceeded to come out after and tell me I was welcomed to teach the trained chefs how to cook. Not cool. Very unprofessional... and for the overpriced meal we will not be going back. read more

Another amazing dinner at Trattoria da Lepri. Literally everything we eat there is incredible... We have NEVER had something we weren't impressed with. From the fresh bread and seasoned oil to our favs (seasonal gnocchi app, fresh pasta, bolognese, braised short ribs, and ricotta donuts to name a few), we continue to rave about this spot. Service is always wonderful. Atmosphere is great. Ellington's best kept secret! read more

My wife and I are renting Aborn Castle in Ellington for our anniversary weekend. We don't normally come to the area, so we looked up nearby restaurants and heard good things about Trattoria da Lepri. We made reservations for our first night in town. We were very impressed with the decor and the service. The theme seems to be Northern Italian cuisine, as opposed to Southern. We went to Italy for our honeymoon, and many of the dishes here were reminiscent of dishes that we had in places like Venice or Florence. For antipasti, I ordered the Trattoria Calamari and my wife had the Gnocchi. The calamari was the BEST that I've ever had with a delicious limoncello aioli. My wife loved her gnocchi that had a delicious butternut squash flavor and really fresh tasting sausage. For our secondi, I ordered the Fig & Port Wine Pork Tenderloin and my wife had the Caramelized Scallops. We were very impressed with our decisions. The dessert menu looked delicious, but we were far too full by then. We loved our experience and would definitely come back again if we're in the area. read more

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Went here for dinner last night. Made reservation for the bar. There is not one negative thing to say about this restaurant. It's clean and cozy. They are following all the COVID protocols. The service and food are outstanding. We had the calamari appetizer. It's presented in a way we've never had but it's fresh and tasty. I had pasta fra diavolo. My husband had the short ribs. Both entrees were made to perfection. Fresh ingredients fresh pasta. Never felt rushed at all. Will definitely be back read more

Always order a chef's special or wonderful Italian dinner that they are so good at making. The owner/chef is wonderful and she always seems to find the time to come out of the kitchen and say hello and how is your food and service. They get 5 stars because everyone is so good at being friendly and happy. read more

We came here to celebrate our anniversary and wanted to go to a nicer place than normal. This place hit the spot! Although it looks small, it's much larger inside than expected. The menu is fantastic, the food is amazing and the staff is pleasant and friendly. We haven't had anything fancy to celebrate lately, but we certainly will be back! read more

The calamari appetizer which is tossed with arugula and a lemon aioli is delicious. Their short ribs are so tender too.

Absolutely LOVE this hidden gem nestled in Ellington! Such a lovely place with excellent cuisine! The owners are so sweet. The place is cozy and delightful. I love introducing friends and family to our little slice of Italia right in our backyard. read more

We've been twice and haven't been disappointment by the food or service. The prices could use to be knocked down a few dollars considering the area. Trattoria de Lepri has a great menu every night, but always has intriguing specials. Both times we've opted for the special appetizer. Last night, it was a garden fresh panzanella salad -- very fresh tomato, cucumber, mozzerella and croutons, with an herb vinaigrette. Our first visit was mozzarella wrapped in panzanella and fried. Both delicious. Last night I opted for sautéed shrimp and ricotta gnocchi in a sausage and tomato broth. It was excellent. The gnocchis and shrimp were cooked perfectly and the gnocchis were not too heavy. The sausage tomato broth was excellent and not what I expected. It was similar to a very light tomato soup with large chunks of sausage which added a touch of heat. It was so good, I asked for extra bread to help sop up the leftover broth. B had the braised beef and mushroom pappardelle, which came in a thick mushroom cream sauce and was also excellent. Once again, the noodles were perfectly cooked and the pieces of beef were fork tender, basically broke apart on touch. The first go around, I had the seafood risotto and B had the ravioli of the day, which was pumpkin. Again, the seafood (shrimp and scallops) and the risotto itself was cooked to perfection. The ravioli was the only dish we've ever been disappointed by and it wasn't for taste, once again very good, but quantity -- four raviolis wasn't filling, nor worth the ~$25 price tag. We've never had room for dessert, but the menu -- and dishes on other tables -- looks delicious. Maybe someday. All in all, the chef knows what she's doing back there (and hand delivers items when she can get away, great touch). Everything has been fabulous and we will certainly be back. read more

Trattoria da Lepri - Braised beef and mushroom pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Ellington, Connecticut

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This place never disappoints. The meatballs and tuna tartar were delicious. Dinner was equally amazing. Lots of flavors in my crab encrusted salmon dish. Hubby had Wellington and he loved it too. Deb is super friendly and makes everyone feel welcome. The wait staff are knowledgeable and very attentive. read more

Trattoria da Lepri - Crab encrusted salmon - Italian Near Me - Ellington, Connecticut

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Went with another couple for the first time for all of us on New Year's Eve The hostess was amazing very friendly and seated us right at our reservation time The restaurant itself is very nice I loved the chalk board menu on the wall! The waitress came over and was very polite and professional Up to when we order a Charcuterie board appetizer When we ordered our drinks (my friend and I ordered an elderflower martini which was amazing) we wanted to place an appetizer We ordered the charcuterie board with the response from the waitress that we had a 2 hour limit with a reservation right after us This kinda threw us off being patrons for the first time It wasn't the statement it was the delivery Not sure why she picked that particular time to tell us that and the time was very direct My suggestion would have been when the hostess sat us to throw in there that it was New Year's Eve (obviously) and they were very busy with reservations and had a 2 hour limit I feel like that would have been more professional This is the reasoning for the four star rating otherwise the food drinks and ambiance was perfect to ring in the new year! I had the braised short ribs which melted in my mouth One of the best short ribs I've ever had! My husband had the filet and cleaned his plate! We ended the night with a cannoli that was chocolate covered and had pistachios was to die for! We will be back for sure! read more