I'm back! The restaurant is located on 389 Main St. in East Hartford, CT. It's been a few months…read moresince I was last here (December) which is a crime. Carmine's is a fresh from scratch kitchen that is ALWAYS open. Their appetizers, pastas, entrees and desserts combine old-world traditional Italian flavor with a modern flair for presentation, and the freshest ingredients around. Menu staples like rigatoni bolognese, fettuccine carbonara and chicken Milanese are coupled with unique recipes like chicken ala vodka and toasted almond cake. They've staffed the kitchen with a dream team of chefs and you can tell instantly! They also do parties, catering and online ordering/delivery. The restaurant is well known for its live music. There is never a cover and parking is always free. This place and produces absolutely amazing food and drinks. I have noticed quite a few menu changes. The Happy Hour menu has expanded. It's also no longer all day Monday. The main menu no longer has prices on featured drinks (although that's the tre d these days). Note that the Bar Bites menu is available open to close! The Main Menu looks the same although there is a new Wine List (that's a first here). The music is very pleasant and the right volume level. It's always a big cool in here too. For my first drink, I'm having a Pratt N Whiskey. This is made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, sweet vermouth, red wine and sour mix. It's definitely an unusual drink. It's not garnished, but it tastes great. The wine sticks out for sure. It's clearly a shaken drink not often found with a whiskey component except for maybe Whiskey Sours. For my first item, I'm having the House Salad made with spring mix, basil, tomatoes, julienned (thinly sliced) carrots, cucumbers and house red wine vinaigrette dressing. This is a big portion! I love this dressing! This tastes great! For my next item, I'm trying the Carmine's Secret Tenderloins. These are off of Carmine's "Secret Menu." They are pan seared, caramelized chicken tenderloins, made with wine, olive oil, cracked black pepper (dried black peppercorns broken into coarse, uneven pieces), kosher salt (a coarse, flaky salt named for its use in the Jewish koshering process of drawing blood from meat), shredded Parmesan and a very special "secret sauce." I'm curious as to what this sauce tastes like. Wow! Nice presentation! These are good! I love that sauce! There's a good crowd in here (20 people). Only one worker (bartender and server). She's damn good at what she does! For my next drink, I'm having a Connecticut Cosmo. This is made with Litchfield Vodka, Wild Moon Cranberry, Triple Sec and lime juice. This vodka is the Gold Medal Winner 2018 & 2019 at the New York International Spirits Competition. Silver Medal Winner at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition!Our Gluten-Free Batchers' Vodka is distilled from luscious corn grown during the beautiful summer months in Somers, CT. We distill 4 ¾ times and use a gravity-fed charcoal filter that takes 12 hours to filter 100 gallons. The longer the vodka sits on the charcoal, the more impurities are removed, which creates an incredibly smooth taste. Bottled at 80 proof. It is impeccably clean, slightly sweet, velvety smooth mouthfeel and sweet buttery overtones. It's smooth with a warm finish with subtle notes of sweet ripe corn at the end. I actually sat down next to the owner of the Distillery at a wine pairing dinner at Flemings in West Hartford about 7-8 years ago. This looks nice! Wow! This has great flavor! For my next item, I'm having the Rigatoni Matinara. Rigatoni is a large, tube-shaped pasta with ridges on the outside and straight-cut ends. Marinara sauce is a tomato sauce usually made with tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and onions. I don't eat pasta all that often. This will serve as my appetizer before I hit the main course. This is a BIG portion! It is very good! For my entree I'm having the Pan Seared Salmon which is "hand cut" salmon with zesty orange glaze served over mashed potatoes with seasonal vegetables (broccoli). Add LOTS of crushed red pepper. Nod that's "LOTS." This is spicy! My kinda spicy! The plate is nice and hot! I like the presentation. This tastes great! What a great meal here!

I can't believe we were charged for bread - twice! We got a small half of a loaf (not even as big…read moreas a half grinder roll) and asked for more. Never have I ever paid for bread in a restaurant and we were asked if we wanted bread - no mention of we had to pay extra for it. Side salads are an extra charge too. If you get a chicken meal expect it to have a very charred taste to it. We found the food to be middle of the road and not very big portions considering we usually take food home from other places. There was a birthday party going on in the restaurant, not in a separate room. Not that it bothered us, but it was extremely loud in there and it seemed to bother the table next to us. Don't expect a quiet dinner in this place. Getting the attention of the waitress was impossible. I had to stand at the bar and wait to pay our bill. The party had the entrance blocked because they were filming and we had to exit through a side entrance, which didn't bother us, but not the best from a safety point of view. Do we recommend the place - no. Will we go back - no.

First time going to Trattoria Toscana an Italian restaurant tucked away in Manchester …read more I must say I had a fabulous time , our waitress was amazing she got us everything we needed and checked on us constantly and was very sweet ! The ambiance was nice and cozy , good music playing in the background , not to loud and easy to have a conversation . To start off we got the Italian meatballs which were amazing highly recommend. We also ordered the mozzarella sticks which I loved the cheese pull was perfection and nice crunch on the outside , highly recommend as well . For my entre I got the NY strip . Served with mashed potatoes and green beans and topped with mushrooms and gorgonzola ! The sides were good but I really enjoyed my steak ! It was cooked medium rare , and the gorgonzola cheese on top was perfection ! I highly enjoyed it ! For dessert I got the tiramisu which was fantastic ( small portion) but very good ! Highly recommend ! Overall 5/5 ! Good atmosphere , good service and great food ! Perfect for family gatherings , eating with friends or even a date night ! Can't wait to be back !

If you read my last review, this one is deja vous two-and-a-half years later. Trattoria Toscana is…read moreItalian on steroids. We arrived at 5:30. No reservation, but were able to be seated. Busy place for a Wednesday evening. Our server, Autumn, was efficient, pleasant, and attentive. My friend and I split rollatinis, which were very good. She also had the veal parm (her go-to meal at TT). I went for Grandma Lena's Sunday Sauce. Don't tell my doctor, but we also had four Aperol Spritzes. My first time; very refreshing. Rolls arrived w a saucer of EVOO mixed w spices. Her VP covered the plate...a very generous portion. Side of penne. My dish reminded me of my sister's best friend, Honey's Sunday sauce. A smorgasbord of different meats and other ingredients slow-cooked all afternoon. There was sausage, braised short ribs, a meatball, etc over spaghetti in a marinara sauce w a dollop of ricotta on top. Both of us took leftovers home. A couple of other things to mention. On Wednesday evening, TT features live music. On this day, it was a singer / guitar player. While she was very good, it can get loud, especially if you're seated in close proximity. Also, entrees took a bit longer to arrive. Maybe because of the crowd? Anyway, food was awesome, drinks potent. A relaxing way to spend an evening. 5 stars

We can't say enough about how amazing this restaurant is. They fit our party of 6, even though they…read morewere setup for a private event and we didn't have a reservation. Every member of the staff was super friendly, helpful, and especially patient with our 4 kids. From drawing pictures for our youngest to color, to keeping our other kiddos laughing, the staff were all fantastic. The best part though, the food was amazing, and servings were huge, so we all have lunch tomorrow! Salute, and the Salute staff, are truly top notch. If we're ever back in the area, we'll remember to make a reservation first!

Went to Salute on a Friday night without a reservation and were pleasantly surprised to get a table…read morefor five within five minutes. That said, it was clearly busy, so I would definitely recommend making a reservation on peak nights--we got lucky. The service was excellent from start to finish. Our waiters were very friendly, attentive, and welcoming. Portions are generous. The cheesy bread appetizer is a must-order--warm and perfect for sharing I ordered the cod and salmon, and both were absolutely delicious, cooked well and full of flavor. The wine selection is also strong, with plenty of good options to pair with the meal. Overall, a great Italian spot with great food, service, and atmosphere. I would happily go back.

Great classic Italian restaurant…read more The ambiance is gorgeous and intimate Our service was quick and attentive The food is classic Italian food done right. The drinks are excellent, I love their espresso martinis.

I'm back to a great Italian restaurant. It is located on 124 Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury, CT in a…read morecommercial complex. The Happy Hour here is good! There's a good selection of food and quality cocktails. It's only 3PM-5PM so get here early. My sister also likes their GF pizza (with pepperoni). The pizza kitchen is an open one. The music is definite oldies in here. Disco Inferno! For my first drink, I'm having an Our Negroni made with Beefeater Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth and San Pelligrino Arancitta. Pelligrino Arancitta is an unusual ingredient. Sanpellegrino Aranciata is the original sparkling orange drink from Italy. I've never seen this in a Negroni other than at here. It is served quickly, garnished nicely with an orange wheel and a rosemary leaf (also odd). What a nice touch! They are quick to drop off a complementary ice water. For my first food item, I'm having the Chopped Antipasto Salad made with to subs lettuce, provolone cheese, Genoa salami, string beans (that's new), tomatoes, chick peas (that's different) and Parmesan cheese. They use cloth napkins and metal utensils. That's always a good sign. This is a good sized portion! I remember it as being much smaller before (I could be wrong). All the ingredients are quite fresh. It tastes great! For my next food item, I'm having the Our Meatballs made with parmigiano and garlic bread crumbs (per the Happy Hour menu). These are really the MY AUNT JOSIE'S MEATBALLS (just one less) made with stracciatella, mozzarella, toasted breadcrumbs and EVOO (per the Dinner Menu). These came out quick! They are piping hot! Oh yeah! These are delicious! Sauce is great too! For my next drink, I'm having The Spicy Mango. This is made with Tanteo Jalapeño tequila and Patron Mango Citrone. I'm hoping for a fresh jalapeño garnish. Let's see if they have it. Nope! But, the bartender offered a Tajin rim. Good idea! There a good crowd in here and it's nut even 4PM yet. The bar is full including the two high tops. This tastes great! It's nicely garnished with a lime wheel and has a huge Tajin rim. It's has a little kick to it too! For my next food item, I'm having the Grilled Artichoke. This is made with crushed hazelnuts, lemon and Parmesan cheese. This is definitely a unique item you can't get anywhere else. These is good! I love the salad! Love those hazelnuts! What a unique dish! For my next food item, I'm having the Roasted Prosciutto Wrapped Dates. These are made with Gorgonzola cheese, toasted pumpkin seed and raw Brussels sprouts salad. These are great! Crunchy on the outside. I move that salad! Wow! They're playing Born to Be Alive by Patrick Hernandez. I've never heard that in a restaurant. He's a one hit wonder! For my next drink, I'm having the Venetian Martini. This is made with Absolut Citron, Aperol, Prosecco and lime juice. It's is nicely garnished and tastes great! It is strong too. You can taste the alcohol let me yell you! For my next item, I'm having the Happy Hour Cheeseburger (cooked medium) made with lettuce, tomato, provolone and a brioche bun. I'm not leaving here without it! This burger is huge! I love dill pickles and ketchup! This is delicious! For my last drink, Mercedes is making me a Mercedes Manhattan. Look at this masterpiece! A Manhattan is a classic, spirit-forward cocktail made with whiskey (traditionally rye or bourbon), sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters, stirred with ice and served in a chilled glass, typically garnished with a maraschino cherry or lemon twist. It's known for its balanced, complex flavor, with rye providing spice and bourbon offering sweetness, and variations exist using different spirits or vermouths. This is absolutely perfect! It's perfect garnished with an orange peel, two maraschino cherries and a sprig of rosemary. It is perfectly balanced. There simply is no better than this. It has a hint of chocolate in it. I like the square ice cube to slow the dilution process. They just played Waterloo by ABBA. I haven't heard that in decades! I just noticed that the lights dim as the night goes on. For dessert, I'm having the Vanilla Creme Brulee with a chocolate chip cookie. Hold the phone here! This was served in UNDER ONE MINUTE! I'm told they just torch it. I'm impressed! I think that's a record! I love the confectionery sugar sprinkle! Damn! This is good! No vanilla bean on the bottom (not everyone does that). Wait! I see it. It's on the edges! This is delicious! It's a good portion for sure! The last item is a GF pepperoni pizza for my sister. This is a rare treat she gets once (or twice a year). This place is the best!

Ambiance was lovely. Nice lighting. I was with a group of 14. Drinks were lovely. The fig…read moreprosciutto arugula flatbread was so yummy. The tagliatelle with mushrooms was my favorite!

Second time to Treva Saturday night. Always busy. All the restaurants are like this in West…read moreHartford but they pack you in so tight you can barely move. To the point where trying to get in to the table my purse knocked over a water glass and it smashed. I'm not large either. Anyway. First time here I felt my dish was much better. I had the Branzino and it was great. This time I had the fruitta de mare and the sauce was extremely bland. Dish felt dried out. Not enough variety of seafood either. Mostly mussels and calamari. Was presented in a weird dish too. I did not care for it at all. They gave me gnocchi for gluten free pasta. It was fine just sauce was bland as mentioned. My boyfriend loved his Orrechiete and it was very good. I will say from the mozzarella bar we had the burrata and the tomatoes were flavored beautifully and the bread also looked quite nice. Bf said it was great. Giving Treva a 4 for last time it was great and everything other than my entree this time was good.

Good Italian food in a quieter, more intimate setting than many places nearby. The dishes we had…read morewere 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.

Five of us had a wonderful dinner at Trattoria da Lepri last night. It was our first time there,…read moreand 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.

Serving delicious pizza, pasta and chicken dishes. Generous portions, and a great spot to pick up a…read moremeal for lunchtime take out if you're local to East Hartford. Reasonably priced, with an old school feel in the dining room.

They burnt my pizza and I had to wait for the Tj make it. They did make sure to charge full price…read morefor the inconvenience

We had a chicken classic parmigiana (it came with a side salad), meatball and Nutella pie for…read moredessert. All were absolutely delicious. The service was great too.

Props to them for having a 45 minute queue at 8pm on a Friday. My sister and I just wanted dessert…read moreso we got a quick table outside. We ordered the chocolate soufflé. It was not what we expected and we made the mistake of not looking at pictures beforehand. The soufflé was not very fluffy and it was obviously made in an 8 inch round pan because we got a slice. It felt more like a flourless chocolate cake. The pistachio ice cream was also chalky and not very creamy. It tasted more of almonds and cherry than pistachio. We tried the complimentary focaccia. It was a disgrace to focaccia. It has the tightest crumb yet very spongey/soft. The only flavor came from the olive oil you dipped it in. We would absolutely not come back for a meal.

Absolutely unbelievable! The quality of ingredients is exceptional. I've tried many dishes there…read more Usually there are items on a menu that are better than others. I've been amazed, however, that at Villa Mulino every dish I've tried is consistently first rate. The atmosphere is refined and European. Ervus (owner/manager) is a gem and treats everyone like family. His staff is experienced and you can tell they love working with him. I've dined in the US, Europe, Far East and Middle East and have never enjoyed a restaurant more. Seriously! We are lucky to have Villa Mulino in our area.

This restaurant is tucked away, but once you step inside it feels polished and thoughtfully…read moredesigned. The warm, almost beachy architecture still fits the New England setting. I started with a cocktail topped with a mini charcuterie board, which was a fun touch. We ordered the tuna tartare to start. The portion was generous and the tuna tasted very fresh, especially with the mashed avocado on top. For my entree, I had the frutti di mare. The flavors were great, but I wish the sauce were a bit thicker since it settled at the bottom and left the noodles a little bare. Service was excellent and we never felt rushed. My fiancé ordered the espresso martini with cold foam to finish. I am not usually a fan of espresso martinis, but this one was impressive. The cold foam and chocolate-covered espresso beans stood out. Looking forward to coming back in the summer to try the patio.

Nice little Italian place, great for date nights! Entrees are a smidge pricey (granted I'm used to…read moreOklahoma prices not CT ones) but are REALLY tasty, good size portions, they'll box up any leftovers for you, and perks like a decent sized $4 caesar salad and complementary bread with a really good dipping sauce (olive oil/garlic/some sort of red pepper). My husband and I went on Valentine's Day and they brought me a rose which was a nice touch :) nice service as well. I got the chicken parm and my husband got chicken napolitana. We will definitely be back!

We were fortunate to get seated indoors in this small restaurant tonight. Several people were…read moreseated in the cool weather out on the veranda. We were seated promptly, got our menus promptly, and ordered soon after. Our meals came promptly also and were delicious. In the past the protein portion of the meal was very small, but this time it was pretty large. The service was exceptional. One waiter walked by and offered to bag our leftovers and another offered to get our check because, I guess, our assigned waitress was busy. We would not hesitate to return to Portobello's again.