Food was overall good, I wasn't wowed, but it was good. Loved the olives, parmesean, and the bread. Our server for our party in the private room either had additional tables or was just not the most attentive overall, service was disappointing. She forgot about my martini and when I got it it was small, for the price I'd expect a pretty full glass. Love Geno but this may be a one and done visit for me. read more

All in all, this was a solid meal and a place that is worth checking out. From entry, you are treated like you're entering a high priced establishment. They do a coat check and the bar area and sitting nearby is super trendy appearing with couches and well lit social gathering spots right near the front of the restaurant. They also have quieter areas on the side and back where we sat that is more peaceful if you want. The food was very good. A few things were slightly off which is why I dropped this to a 4 rather than a 5. The ricotta and honey app was solid but the bread was a bit too charred and the bang for buck on the order was a bit low for what you get. Conversely, the special zucchini flower with zucchini spaghetti was out of this world good. It was sad that you only get 1 flower in the order as it is not really able to be shared, but it is worth the taste if they have it on the menu the night you go. The main dishes were very good. The pasta tasted fresh as if homemade though both the penne and lasagne sheets were a tad thick for our tastes. However the taste was on point and I have to say that was one of the better lasagne's I've tasted in some time. The flatbread pizza was probably the biggest hit for the table. Good balance of sweet, tart and protein with the peppery arugula giving a nice touch of freshness to the dish. It is big too, plenty enough as a meal for 1 or to share between 2 if getting apps and other things. The nice thing is no issues of greasiness or feeling bloated when we finished and left. The food was filing and very tasty and this is worth a trip back. I do think the wine is a bit on the pricey end compared to many places I've seen around lately. The desert menu looked like it would be a hit for us, but we had no room after our meals. Even the kids enjoyed the food quite a bit though we did have some ala vodka left over at the end. read more

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Back again at cafe aura in Manchester , Love the ambiance very nice modern chic , which I love . We came for a work dinner tonight so we got to try the wedge salad , which was good , fresh ingredients . The meatballs were fantastic . For my entree I got the chicken was was really good . Overall 4.5 /5 good food , good atmosphere and good service ! Will definitely be back read more

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In short, the appearance is elegant, but the food and service don't match, despite us giving it several tries over the past five years. The atmosphere and interior are beautiful, but our appetizers seemed reheated, the bread arrived burnt to a crisp (and had to be replaced), and we awkwardly had to ask to move from a tiny table by the kitchen to one of the many larger empty tables in an otherwise empty restaurant. Our appetizer empty plates remained at the table for the duration of the meal and the bartender graciously stepped in to take our main course meal. We sadly will not return but decided to give it one last try since we were given a gift card. read more

Again another tremendous meal, great seevice and food. Not a bad seat in the dining room so don't complain if you are sat at a table for 2 if you are a party of 2z also everyone there cares about great service sio don't wine if you have to wait 2 more minutes for your food. Especially since everything is cooked to order read more

Walked in and we were greeted warmly. Sat at a lovely table. The ambiance was very lovely. Tables all set properly and very neat and clean. They brought out cheese and olives for the table which were very tasty. We had a very expensive bottle of wine. The year we wanted was not available so they suggested another one. I personally didn't care for it at first but the wine connoisseur assured me as I ate my meal it would be better because it was meant to be drank with a meal not alone. He was absolutely correct in saying that because it did improve. Our food came, I ordered the linguine with fresh and I mean so fresh Clam sauce and my guest had chicken parm with linguine. Both dishes were delicious. A lot of food for the money because we both had left overs. Definitely a place worth trying. You won't be disappointed by anything there. read more

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We (5 of us) went there for Sunday brunch- the food was delicious, service very attentive and ambiance upscale. (Cafe Aura is located where Cavey's restaurant used to be in Manchester) Although I am no longer living in the Manchester area, this is a place I definitely look forward to returning! All of the food is scrumptious and not overbearing. Their signature pancakes are topped with ricotta/butter and surrounded by fresh fruit. read more

I went to celebrate a birthday & never went back. Beautiful restaurant, service great, food just regular but too expensive.

I'm back. I have not been here in many months. I have a rare night off of bowling so I'm taking advantage of the Happy Hour AND $39 Price Fixe menu. You can't go wrong here. This is owned by Geno Auriemma (head coach of the UCONN Women's Basketball team and also The Manchester Golf Course (The Hollow restaurant). To start it all off, I'm having a bottle of Saratoga Sparkling "carefully curated" carbonated spring water. Saratoga water is known for its distinctive taste and history as a premium spring water bottled in the Northeast for over 150 years. Its unique flavor profile, described as clean and slightly sweet with a balanced mouthfeel, is attributed to natural filtration through mineral-rich rock. This process imparts trace minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The water is available in both still and sparkling varieties, both bottled in the iconic cobalt blue bottle. I love this stuff! They also start you off either a sampling of olives and cheese cubes. For my first drink, I'm having a Manhattan. The Manhattan is a classic cocktail made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters, traditionally garnished with a maraschino cherry. This one is made with Jim Beam. This tastes great! It's nicely garnished, well balanced and chilled. It is served in a good-sized martini glass. For $8, you can't go wrong! For my first item, I'm having the Clams Alvino ("white") made with garlic, white wine, tomato and a toast point. They meant toast point(s). There are two. These are crunchy. Not overly buttered either. These are good! They are great to dip in the sauce! Out comes the complementary bread. This is good. No butter, but I can't have [much of] it anyway (bartender knows). The clams are nicely garnished with parsley. The bowl is hot. It's only 3 clams but I can only eat so many! For my next food item, I'm having the Meatballs. These are Nonna's recipe. OMG! These are good! They're hot and there's lot of sauce! For my next item, I'm starting on the Price Fixe menu. This is the Aura Salad made with romaine lettuce, green leaf, cucumber, pickled onion, tomato, Parmesan cheese and vinaigrette dressing. The plate is cold. This is good! Fort next drink, I'm having a Cosmopolitan. A Cosmopolitan, or Cosmo, is a classic cocktail made with vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice. It's known for its vibrant pink color and citrusy flavor. They use Smirnoff for their liquor. This is well shaken, nicely garnished and well balanced. For my next item, I'm trying the Lemon Pepper Chicken soup and rice. Wow! This is good! It's nice and hot too! For my next drink, I'm having the Blood Orange Martini made with vodka, blood orange juice, and an orange liqueur like Cointreau or triple sec. This tastes great! It's nicely garnished in a chilled glass. For my entree, I'm having the Chicken Marsala with green beans and Yukon Gold Potatoes (in place of mashed potatoes). Chicken Marsala is a classic Italian-American dish featuring pan-fried chicken cutlets and mushrooms in a rich Marsala wine sauce. Yukon Gold potatoes are a popular cultivar known for their smooth, thin, yellow skin and vibrant yellow flesh. OMG! This dish is piping hot! These are all good! For dessert, I'm having the lemon sorbet. This is yummy! What a great meal here! read more

Cafe Aura - Italian Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

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Decent fancy food in a nice setting and kind staff Came here on a whim. Was looking for a dinner and been meaning to try this place. Inside is very modern and clean. It's fancy but modern fancy. I was greeted by the hostess who seated me right away. I got delivered some olives and chunk parmesean to nibble on while I looked over the menu. The options wereostly Italian fare with some steaks and seafood dishes mixed in. I asked my server who was doing double duty as the bartender what they recommended, and they said the tartare. I got that and some meatballs and waited. Everyone was friendly and I got a lot of attention from servers and front of house staff. The water was always topped off and there was multiple check ins though the meal. The service was very on point. Food came out quickly. I took pics and dug in. Overall not bad. The meatballs were the star. Simmering in sauce, not too dense, meaty and firm but not rubbery. The portion was reasonable and the flavor was very good. I usually prefer my meatballs more tender, but the flavors were on point The tartare was good but fell flat. The tuna had a good drizzle of olive oil and some sesame seeds, but no acid. Coupled with the avocado base, it was lots of rich and fat flavors with no brightness to cut through the oily. That coupled with undrained and unseasoned potato chips really muted the fish and lead to not as great bites. I corrected for this by asking for some basalmic vinegar and salt. The strong, fruity acid used sparingly allowed for me to focus past the oil and truly savor the fish and avocado and accentuate the sweetness of both. A light sprinkle of salt allowed the olive oil to accent the fish rather than overwhelm it and boosted the umami of both. Most of my meal was like this. I had to ask the name of my server. The manager came by and I gave him comments but got no sense that this was translated to the kitchen. Menus were never cleared from the table, despite the fact that I had multiple people checking in. Because this place is a bit fancier than a burger joint or a casual bar/restaurant, I do go in with higher expectations. This meal was good and service was great, but the minor slips all around detracted from the overall experience. It's a great place if you want impeccable service and a fancy decor. Food is good but pricy. I suspect my experience is outside of the norm, but I can only comment on what I got. Good food but some flaws read more

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Our experience at Cafe Aura was very good all around. My companion Elaine and I started with a sampler of 3 different red wines. All very good. Both of us decided to have their $39 early week special which consisted of a starter, entree and dessert. All the food we ordered was very good. The service from Alexzandria was good, she was informative but not pushy. The ambiance is the best part in that it was classy with nice lighting and tasteful photos in frames on the walls. Overall a nice evening in a place owned by a living legend in the state of Connecticut. read more

Ordered take out (short ribs). Ended up with veal parm. Didn't have the energy to drive back to the restaurant to get correct order. Now I know why I never order it; it was dreadful. Called and spoke to hostess who was very unhelpful. What a disappointment. read more

(Last visited 9/23/2021.) A friend of ours highly recommended this place to us so we had to check it out! It's owned by Geno Auriemma who is the basketball coach of the Women's U-Conn basketball teams. How cool is that?! So of course it adds a coolness factor to this place. Let's see how it went! Atmosphere/Appearance: Set outside of "downtown" Manchester on East Center Street is this gem. There is some private parking right behind the building, but of course there's some street parking scattered around. Once inside the restaurant you're just... relaxed. The vibe is SO CHILL, low-key, slow-pace and subtle. It makes you just wanna breathe easy and breathe deep. I loved the atmosphere. The restaurant felt very open as well and we hung out by the bar to take advantage of happy hour. Service: Kimberly took great care of us. We had no complaints. Food: We came for happy hour so we stuck tightly to that menu. I had an order of their happy hour shrimp tacos and they were pretty decent! They come with sauteed shrimp, tomatoes, cilantro, leafy greens, onions and a zesty sauce to pour on top. I also had an order of their happy hour kettle chips which were thinly sliced potato chips covered in a deliciously cheesy light sauce. These were EXCELLENT. I loved how the chips worked so well and had a nice crunch to them. Value: My 2 happy hour tacos were $8.00. Not a bad value, but that's about the price of shrimp tacos at a Mexican spot that's not on happy hour. Lol. My kettle chips were $6.00. Those were pricy, but I'm sure it's the cheese sauce that upped the price of this appetizer. In conclusion, this place was cool, but I don't see myself returning. I don't have a real reason to not return, it just doesn't draw me back. You know? It felt a little "too mature" for me. Lol. Does that make sense? No worries, this place is good, just come prepared to spend and you'll honestly get what you've paid for. Solid food. read more

Christmas Eve Dinner for 6. And a 75th birthday. Way too bright inside. Felt more like a cafeteria. Not intimate at all. One meal with undercooked shrimp. Had to send back while birthday girl watched everyone eat for 15 mins while her meal was remade. Another plate with ice cold rice. Portions small. Waitress very sweet but repeatedly mentioned issues with understaffing and how crazy and overbooked and unmanageable it was for them. Overall all 6 of us very unimpressed. Especially for the prices. Don't expect to go back. read more

We attended with both Italian and non-Italian family members and were very disappointed and underwhelmed. The highlight of the visit was the meatball end of story. My uncle had the chicken Parmesan, which was sure to be a hit however, was a total miss. Almost flavorless and drowning in sauce. I had a salmon dish that was eh, salads were simple and another family member had a pork chop that was raw in the middle. No apologies from the kitchen or manager. Thankfully the server Katie was beyond apologetic and super attentive. The ambience was wonderful, nicely decorated for the holidays. For the price tag and name we expected to wow our family. read more

As longtime patrons of Cavey's, we were heartbroken when they announced their closing in May 2019. But when Geno Auriemma (head coach of UCONN women's basketball and part-time restaurateur) bought the restaurant, I remember thinking, "If anybody can pull off a second act for this venerable instutution, it's Geno." With a redesigned menu and redecorated interior, Cafe Aura opened phoenix-like later that December. My wife and I eagerly tried out the new restaurant, and I have to confess that we felt that they weren't quite hitting the mark in their first few years of operation. It certainly didn't help that they opened right into the onslaught of COVID, although they did resume a limited take-out operation as soon as they could. But a few more years later, Cafe Aura appears to have hit their stride and be on top of the game, and have earned their status as a fitting heir to their legendary predecessor. Although we've dined at Cafe Aura 3 to 4 times per year, this review will specifically cover our Mother's Day 2024 meal. Appetizers included calamari and Caesar salad. The calamari was crunchy and sweet with a clean, clear flavor, and accompanied by a nicely spicy marinara dipping sauce. The Caesar was highlighted by crisp romaine coated with a classic creamy dressing, crunchy garlic-infused croutons, and topped with generous shaved Parmesan. Entrees were lasagna bolognese (a generous slice, the sauce a flawless balance of creamy and meaty), grilled sea bass (firm yet flaky fish grilled to perfection and seasoned nicely), and a 12 oz. NY strip (aged beef done textbook medium rare with sides of fingerling potatoes and grilled baby carrots). Desserts encompassed tiramisu, creme brulee, and canollis. All in all a great meal, executed and served with excellence. I should mention that during the main course, executive chef Erminio Conte stopped by the table. When I replied, "Wonderful" to him asking me what I thought of the lasagna, he responded, "Of course it is," and then added, "You know, it's the simple dishes that are the most difficult to get just right." If I can find any fault, it may be that Cafe Aura ain't cheap. But the old adage that you get what you pay for is amply illustrated here. As was Cavey's before it, Cafe Aura is our go-to for special occasions. read more

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We sat at the bar to eat and the service was attentive and friendly. Great wine selection by the glass. Rigatoni with pasta sauce was cooked perfectly & tasted amazing. We will be back' read more

This is my go-to restaurant for business dinners in Manchester!! Kudos to the owners Darlene and Markus for always accommodating my larger parties here!! I always try to switch up the dishes here! Some of the surprisingly good dishes here include the fennel arugula salad and the grilled octopus!! Ordered all of the desserts here and everyone agreed that the creme brûlée was the best! Service is always fantastic here as well! read more

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As a big Uconn fan for 30 years and Italian food lover dining at Cafe Aura had been a goal of mine and finally got there. Cafe Aura did not disappoint. My mom and I went for Mother's Day and not only impressed by the food but the ambiance and service. It was very clean and modern inside. Our server was attentive and very professional. We had the mussels to start, they were fresh and the sauce it was in was incredible. The grilled, garlic bread on top was the perfect way to use to dip into the sauce. Our entrees were the cacio e pepe and the black sea bass. Both excellent with great flavor. The cheesecake was fresh and very light. Overall, great experience and can't wait to be back. read more

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Anniversary dinner. Tuna carpaccio was excellent. Caesar salad nicely prepared. Bacon wrapped cod was just ok, however the veal Marsala was the best I have ever had. Service by Stephanie was nothing short of 1st class. We will always come back to Cafe Aura. read more

So we got the food to go I will see the menu at first was a little limited but not really I don't like big menus either so we got the linguine with clams and a caesar salad they also packed up lots of nice bread as well the pasta in its sauce was fantastic the clams were perfectly cooked and juicy and tender the dressing for the Caesar salad was outstanding as well the building itself was a beautiful building it looked like it'd be a great place to eat in but we needed a mellow Sunday evening dinner note to those who are visiting from out of town you cannot get a bottle of wine in Connecticut after 6:00 on a Sunday the restaurant sold this one which was great but keep that in mind. read more

Went there the other night-I was raised in Connecticut as a child -I go back to visit family and friends. TBH it was average -The ambiance and service was very good but, the food was ok-The main course dish was linguine and clams, my brother had chicken parmigiana-The pasta in both dishes was overcooked-The marinara sauce was bland no taste-I got 6 clams with none in the pasta-We had ricotta with toast as a side that was good-Ordered seafood jumbo soup which was ok minimal seafood in it-The bill came to 118 I left a good tip but, again the food was ok. read more

I'm sorry just by the pasta dishes pictures they look like over cooked not appetizing at all. Small portions Too they should at least clean around the dish to make it look more personable. I don't mind paying for something that looks and taste good they need a better chef in the kitchen especially pasta dishes, which is the easiest dishes to make. I do a lot better at home myself. It's too bad the owner should try his own products before dishing out to the public hope things change for the better so the next time I can write a better review read more

A beautiful dinner was had here. The best part of this restaurant would have to be the dessert. We had a delicious chocolate cake that was absolutely perfect. The service was fast and attentive. I have already made a plan to bring all my friends back here for the dessert! read more

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Sunday night I had the worse dinner I have ever been served in a restaurant. Not tasty, not attractive , not recognizable ,overcooked, and all together a bad meal. My dinner was served in a bowl and it looked like dog food. It was a rib dinner which consisted of shreds of meat on a soft overcooked white something and covered with a thick gravy, My companions meal consisted of a thin dry piece of salmon with a salad of lettuce. I of course should have said something to the wait staff , who were very competent and helpful. Always in that kind of situation you do not like to upset everyone at dinner. I would suggest the basketball legend Auriemma have dinner at this restaurant and see what they are serving under his name. Very few customers as it was a rainy night. The place is very attractive in a New York way. Clean steely white nice open windows. Every customer and every meal matters. Thank you.mm read more

Cafe Aura is a fine dining spot located in Manchester. We made a reservation that we came early for. There was no issue seating us early. The decor in here is really nice and elegant. I was very intrigued by the lobster gnocchi. I came to the restaurant knowing we wanted to order this. It seems like many locals come here on the regular as the waiters and managers were very friendly with everyone. The burger was also amazing. It came on a pretzel bun and a Smokey flavor in the sauce which was super tasty. The best part had to be the dessert. We were craving something chocolatey so we got the chocolate mousse dome. It was mouthwatering good. Will definitely be making another trip here! read more

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Upscale Italian spot owned by Geno Auriemma with a simple menu comprised of classic Italian and American staples The place is very modern and has both a large bar area as well as a sizable area with regular table seating I came for dinner and sat at the bar. It looked like they had a solid cocktail selection, but I didn't get anything to drink because the menu is fairly pricey I ordered a pesto pasta dish that came with shrimp, which was solid. Complimentary bread and olive oil CT Magazine's "Experts Picks" Italian read more

Cafe Aura - Italian Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

If price is no object to you, then you can have a ball at Cafe Aura! The wife and I went here for Valentine's Day, and we had a wonderful time. The restaurant is pretty classy, elegant decoration, and prices that match. The appetizer was a lovely burrata and prosciutto- so fresh, so good. I got the tomahawk pork chop - the thought of eating 16 ounces of pork made me happy - and boy, was it delicious. The wife got the lamb chops which she thoroughly enjoyed. Being Valentine's, we had to save room for dessert (as if we needed an excuse). I got the tiramisu (creamy and cocoa-y) and the wife ordered a very interesting dish (the name escapes me) - a chocolate cake that had a fancy chocolate shell. We're happy we tried it, but definitely not a place we'd go to regularly. read more

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Gosh so we came here on a whim... It's my dads birthday and he wanted Italian and we did not have a place in mind. 1) the atmosphere is modern and welcoming and classy... 2) tried the prime rib, lobster gnocchi, espresso linguini, etc etc ... We came in hangry and left all smiles!!! Owner came by and checked on our table towards the end of the night..... And don't even get me started on dessert ... I'll be back!!! 10/10 Also (pro tip) there is a Monday/Tues dinner special!!! Three courses for $39 or something ... :) read more

It's been so long. I want to say decades (though in reality only a handful of months) and I haven't forgotten this place. The nightmares won't let me. I first came Cafe Aura with my partner during a deep winter, hoping to find some semblance of warm comfort in the food there. Little did we know that the night would only grow colder. The food was, to put it lightly, something that Ronald McDonald himself would deem unworthy. I can't even remember the details- the food was so bland and tasteless that not even a smudge of it has been left on my mind. And the worst part? Still one of the most expensive places we've ever been. My wallet, if not my entire financial future, has still not recovered. When I die, coming here will have been my one and only regret. Gotta admit tho, it is owned by a basketball coach, so if you like sports that part is lit read more

Cafe Aura - Italian Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

Food was good. Decor was bright and modern but definitely not romantic. Service was terrible. Server did not refil water and was no where to be seen when we needed something (extra napkins for cleaning hands after eating a lobster claw). No wipe up either. We had to wait for the check, then waited again for the cc to be run. Cafe Aura definitely did not meet our expectations. 3.8 at best. read more

Great meal with a group at Cafe Aura. Service and Food choices were Excellent!! Will definitely be going back to this restaurant!!

My friend and I were driving around Manchester looking for a spot to get dinner when we passed by this beautiful building and decided to try it! This place is very classy, we almost felt a underdressed! The hostess was very pleasant, offered to take our coats! Of note: The menu leans to the pricier side and the wine list is out of control expensive. If you're looking for a great date night dinner, this is the place! The decor is clean and sophisticated and the waitstaff echoes that. We were brought warm, crusty bread to start with olive oil (no seasoning like it's typical). After our server told us the specials (with price points, which is appreciated), I inquired about the burger.... the answer I got was, "it's good... it's there" -- definitely the strangest yet honest answer I've gotten to a question like that. This also could have been an attempt to upsell (which our server tried very very hard to upsell us on everything). With that in mind, I had the veal saltimbocca and my friend had the cavatelli pesto. Our dishes came out fast-- like REALLY fast. The veal was excellent in an intriguing orangey sauce, with a carrot mashed potato and sautéed spinach. Presentation was beautiful as well (surprisingly not on white dinnerware as would be expected at a place like this). We were both full from dinner but I would love to come back here just for dessert some time, after hearing how they are all made in house. Overall, some strange missteps but dinner was good! read more

Cafe Aura - Veal saltimbocca - Italian Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

We've catered from Café Aura multiple times over the past few years for our men's college basketball team, and the experience has been excellent every time. The food is consistently high-quality--fresh, flavorful, and always well-received by the team. The attention to detail and level of service are top-notch, making the entire process smooth and dependable. A special thank you to Todd, who ensures everything is handled with care and professionalism. Café Aura has become a reliable choice for us, and we truly appreciate their consistency and commitment to excellence. read more

We went to Cafe Aura for a birthday dinner. We stopped in early for happy hour which was fantastic! Great options and good drinks. We moved to the dining room and our server was excellent. The manager came over and talked us through some wines. Overall really great food and great service! I don't think there's anything special to this place; but it's a very nice restaurant that I would recommend to others. read more

Cafe Aura - Octopus and tuna tartare - Italian Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

Well, the new decor is beautiful. Its understated and classy. It's a very open space so sound does travel, keep that in mind. Came with a largish group, there were 7 of us dining. We ordered: For apps. Grilled Octopus which was thought to be very good. Meatballs Ernino. Short rib meatballs They were pretty good. Burrata E Prosciutto. Smallish portion but good Entrees: Tomahawk Steak. Looked a bit hacked up with a large chunk of meat missing. Strange. I was told it was cooked well and the person who ordered it enjoyed it. New York Strip. Was THE best at the table. Nice thick piece if meat and cooked to order. Sides were good. Short ribs. My order. There was a decent portion as compared to the other entrees and they were cooked well. Gravy was tasty the polenta was cooked well but was flavorless. A little bit of garlic would give it something of a kick rather than just being a stand to out the gravy and ribs on. Pasta Carbonara. Was told it was tasty. Unbelievably small portions of pasta dishes. The lil girl who ordered it ate hers then ate her husband's that he got on the side with his chicken parmigiana. Pastas cheap and for 20. Load those bowls man.... Chicken parmigiana. Big portion of chicken and it was tasty. Came with a small side of pasta which is okay as a side but not okay when the side and the meal are equal. Filet, nothing to write home about, the Strip was cooked better and it was thicker. Chefs daily choice. Shrimp Risotto. It looked very offputting to a few of us. I was told it tasted good. Didnt try it. Tiramisu is like a cake like tiramisu take off. It was very wet and not much if a coffee flavor. The server was very nice and came back often to check on us. The dishes seemed to lack a finesse that I would expect from the ambiance and the price. There is little to no thought about plating and presentation, color, garnishment....your first impression of a dish is with your eyes. read more

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Such a great experience! First, the restaurant is soooo nice inside, the ambiance is amazing! The meal was also 5 stars! I had the short rib pasta and it was 1000 times better the day after! I can't wait to go back and try some new dishes the chef whips up! read more

I know all new restaurants have their hiccups and learn from their mistakes and improve. So I hope this helps with that process. Unfortunately my experience wasnt a grave issue in a number of fronts that led me down the path of a 2. It was largely just the food , which is usually the main thing for most folks! Let's start with the fact that parking was easy and the ambience was nice. The server and wait staff were kind. On the flip side the food was woefully underwhelming and the portion sizes were way too small. For what I bought and how pricey this place is, they need to feed you more than this. I had a ginger pear cocktail (at $12 a drink, they shud garnish better and fill them up! Others had Manhattan with no garnish and expresso martini), split the octopus app, had gnocchi for my entree ( others had the linguini with clams, gnocci and carbonara) all small sizes, all ehhhhh. No fresh cracked black pepper offered or fresh cheese on top, I think I like the treatment at olive garden better than this! .Bread was warm and served with a hummus, I liked that. I also had a chocolate moose dessert that I split. So all in all , I didnt order a ton... but enough of a sampler - drink, app, entree, and dessert that I got a flavor ( see what I did there) of the food at this place. Just underwhelming. Not sure I'd ever want to waste 60$ to go back and see if it improves. Not to mention , when I went home , I had to have a mini late night dinner to actually curb my hunger! read more

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We drove to Manchester CT last night from RI and met some friends to have dinner at Cafe Aura, which we had heard so many great things about! We were not disappointed and it was worth the drive! Starting with the friendly, warm greeting upon entering to the wonderful service, not to mention great food and drinks it was a winner. Marie, our server was outstanding, making suggestions on apps and giving explanations on specials, not to mention her personal attention and pleasant demeanor! A plate of cheese, olives and delicious crusty Italian bring greeted us with our cocktails. Then we had meatballs, arancini and calamari for appetizers, all of which were excellent! We had Opus One, a red blend suggested by the manager, with dinner and it was excellent. My main course was a pounded out pork chop with greens, tomatoes etc as a Milanese and it was perfect. My friend and one other had the Cacio Pepe and our other friend had the lasagna. Everyone loved their meals. Throughout the meal, our server Marie paid great attention to us, even though the restaurant was very busy, and she kept her sense of humor and pleasant disposition throughout! Ending the evening with expresses and cappuccinos put an exclamation point on a wonderful evening! read more

I have been waiting forever to go to Cafe Aura and we finally decided to go for our wedding anniversary dinner. I explained when I made the reservation that it was our anniversary and that the last time we had gone out (elsewhere) for a special occasion, we were seated by the bathrooms and it really ruined our experience, so a "nice" table would be appreciated. We literally got the worst table in the house. A tiny little two top directly across from the kitchen. Brightly lit, noisy, people walking past the table constantly. Felt like we were in a fishbowl. So much for romantic dinner. The server was also not aware it was our anniversary (why even ask if it's a special occasion when taking the reservation then?), I had to tell her. We were so let down. The food was good.....portions on the small side for the price. Our server was excellent, though. Unfortunately, this experience will deter us from going back. read more