App&#x27;s Ristorante

Biagetti's is the best Italian restaurant in the area. From impeccable service to amazing food, no…read moreone does it better. On Saturday nights, the place is filled with regular customers and it feels like dining with family. For private events, it's the best bang for your buck. The owner decorates beautifully and the array of options is amazing. Biagetti's is definitely a ten out of ten.

The birthday traditions begin for 2025. If today's meal is any indication, this birthday year is…read moregoing to be super delicious. The food at Biagetti's tastes like you are back in your Italian grandmother's kitchen. Everything is made from scratch, super fresh, and truly a dining delight. Linda, the owner and our server made us feel welcome, and made every effort to anticipate our wishes. They completely met and exceeded our highest expectations. The ambience is lovely, even with large crowds in the dining room. It is a relaxing and elegant way to celebrate a birthday. There is off the street parking and a great happy hour as well. Definitely worth the trip from anywhere!

Homemade Italian ricotta Annisette cookies with a lemon frosting. Absolutely perfect way to end the perfect meal.

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Inside tables

Lorenzo's Ristorante Italiano

3.6(117 reviews)

1.4 mi

Rating: (6.5/10)…read more Stopped by Lorenzo's in West Haven for the first time in quite a while and decided to grab a quick slice. I went with the Tomato and Basil White Slice, a Foxon Park Extra Pale Ginger Ale (of course!), and a bag of Deep River Plain Sea Salt Chips. The pizza had good flavor, but it was a bit too cheesy for my taste. It took a while to chew through, and I found myself wishing for a little more balance between the cheese and the rest of the slice. Flavor-wise, it wasn't bad--just didn't fully hit the mark for me. On the bright side, that Foxon Park Ginger Ale brought back all the nostalgia. Growing up in New Haven, Foxon Park was a big part of my childhood, so that definitely added a nice touch to the meal. Overall, I'd give the experience a 6.5/10. The staff was pleasant, the place was clean, and it's a solid local stop if you're craving pizza. Would I go back? Absolutely. But next time, I'll try a different slice--or maybe go for a fresh pie instead.

Pizza has bee reliable but prices are high updating my review to 3 from 1. Still think you should…read moreavoid the Alfredo

Dining room

"Lorenzo's Special" (white pizza with tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, onions & pepperoni)

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Exterior

Zeneli Pizzeria

4.7(687 reviews)

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.

Inside

Fungii puzza

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Tre carne ($19.50)

Pasta Eataliana

4.4(126 reviews)

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.

A view of the long, narrow space.

Linguini vongole

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Bread and olive oil with balsamic vinegar

Adriana's Italian Restaurant & Catering

4.1(316 reviews)

3.7 mi

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!

Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese

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Villa Lulu

4.2(152 reviews)

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!

Bar area

Rigatoni alla Vodka

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Pappardelle Bolognese

IL Gabbiano

3.5(179 reviews)

3.1 mi

I was pleased with the dinner experience at il Gabbiano. It's definitely an upscale…read moreAmerican-Italian vibe versus strictly authentic Italian cuisine, but all the dishes were enjoyable. The service was friendly and drinks were also very good. Definitely priced to match the environment and vibes, but no complaints. 4 solid stars - was it the best Italian food I've had in Connecticut? Probably not, but it's very good and a great place to try on a night out. Highly recommend to try at least once.

My friends and I visited IL Gabbiano during restaurant week, and unfortunately, the experience was…read moredisappointing. While the waterfront views were beautiful, that was the highlight of the evening. Our server gave the impression of being rushed and inattentive. At times she disappeared for long stretches, and we had to request water multiple times. As for the food, although the portions were generous, the flavor was lacking. I ordered the chicken Milanese, which was dry and overcooked, with no sauce and very little seasoning. One of my friends also didn't enjoy her meal -- the gnocchi -- mentioning that the texture was unusual and the sauce lacked flavor. Based on this experience, I wouldn't be eager to return.

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Spaghetti with clam sauce. Both the clams and delicious chunks of garlic were cooked to perfection!

Consiglio's Restaurant

4.1(237 reviews)

I chose Consiglio's for my birthday dinner, and I really couldn't have made a better choice! Four…read moreof us visited for 12:30pm on a Friday, so it made for a quieter day on Wooster Street. Our waitress was friendly, and I can't get over how delicious the food was. So many great homemade pastas, and everything was clearly made from quality ingredients. The braciola was so tender, and I really enjoyed their vodka sauce. Great drinks and desserts as well! Our family left impressed and full. A classy place without being pretentious. We will absolutely be back and will keep it in mind for more special occasions!

Knocking off yet another star here at Consiglio's. This time again was such horrendous service. Our…read morewaiter, though nice, was MIA most of our experience. We were seated at 5:30 for reference and were not given our food until 7PM. Service was just so incredibly slow and unforgiving. Luckily this time the waitress didn't serve hot plates over my toddler's head but wow they are lucky their food is good otherwise I really would never be back ever. Perhaps they should limit their seating if they can't keep up with service.

Braciole, Nanas meatballs and the best pasta of my life.

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Delicious appetizers

Encore by Goodfellas

3.8(506 reviews)

3.9 mi

•$$$

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!

Decided to try Encore again post restaurant week. Pretty decent experience. I appreciated all of…read morethe extras that came along with the pre fixe menu. Definitely a great value. The server and the host were both amazing. They have a beautiful upstairs section, but I've only dined downstairs. The pre-fixe menu has a lot of options. There is ample metered parking across the street and street parking as well. I highly recommend.