We stopped in during restaurant week and we had a really nice experience. We went for lunch and everything was so fresh and bread was so good. We probably could've eaten our weight and it. We sat out on the patio, which was nice and warm since it was enclosed. The waiter was very nice and handled our large table of teenagers well. Definitely wanna head back for a dinner. read more

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The place was wonderfully decorated for NYE. The staff was very friendly and recommended some great dishes. I loved the NY style calamari ... and a few of our dishes are pictured. I highly recommend this gem of a restaurant if you're in and around New Haven. We went as a family but it would be a superb date spot read more

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Some of the best Italian I have had around New Haven. Great service and ambience as well. The homemade pasta adds a great level of quality to the dish and the sauces tasted like a homemade meal. read more

Caffe Bravo - Rigatoni bolognese - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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We were surprised to find there's a Wednesday special menu for couples. We chose raw oysters on half shells for antipastos, a lobster fettuccine and a branzino with crushed pistachios for main course, one more side dish of broccoli rabe, and a cheesecake with forest berries as dessert. The lobster fettuccine was perfect. The lobster was sweet and firm. The light seasoning indeed brought out its freshness. The fettuccine was al dente to the perfect second. I don't think I'm exaggerating to say it's the best lobster fettucine I've ever tasted. The branzino was also surprisingly tasty. Somehow the mildness of its taste was complemented by the sauce and the roasted crushed pistachios. And the purple potatoes were indeed pleasing to the eye as well as to my palate. And we loved the sauteed spinach and broccoli rabe. It's just so rare to have vegs that are neither overcooked nor undercooked, and with the right flavour and texture. In terms of ambience, it was just right - not crowded at all for us to enjoy a quiet lovely evening, but comfortable enough to see and hear the waiting staff talking with the guests here and there like friends. And the service was great. We didn't feel intruded, watched or bothered at anytime but whenever we needed something Francesco was there with that really cute Italian candidness. read more

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From the moment I walked into Caffe Bravo, I knew I was going to have a great meal. We dined in their patio area and absolutely loved the vibe and decorations. The Italian bread was so fresh and was truly some of the best I've had. Delicious calamari and meatballs for appetizers, followed by their incredible housemade pasta. There's a nice variety on the menu, and my fiancé enjoyed the lamb chops. I'm so glad we saved room for dessert, because the homemade lava cake and tiramisu were great! Our server was friendly and attentive as well. What a nice neighborhood spot! read more

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My office ordered food from Cafe Bravo for our Holiday Luncheon. This was our first time using this restaurant. Let me tell you about this food. The food arrived right on time in the pouring rain. Not only was is on time but it was hot and ready to eat. Although we had warming racks for the food we really didn't need them because it was already hot. We had pasta, chicken, green beans, sausage & peppers and salad. Everything was so delicious and fresh. My favorite was the penne ala vodka and the chicken Parmigiana. There were 40 people at the luncheon and everyone loved the food. They all kept asking; where did this come from? I highly recommend "CAFE BRAVO" to anyone who wants to dine in or have trays of food delivered for an event. When I went into the restaurant to make a down payment It had a cozy and charming feeling like a family restaurant. When I met the owner Gianni, he was very pleasant and made me feel very comfortable like someone would when you visited there home for the first time. I did not eat in the restaurant but that will change since I know how delicious the food is now. Again, I highly recommend "CAFE BRAVO" and are looking forward to another catering event in the future. Chef's Kiss to Gianni and "CAFE BRAVO". Cheryl New Haven read more

Situated on Orange Street in the Prospect Hill/East Rock neighborhood, and not too far from Yale Divinity School, Albertus Magnus College, and East Rock Brewing, Caffe Bravo is one of my favorite spots in New Haven to go for lunch with colleagues. This establishment serves up authentic Italian cuisine with a smile, and the ambiance is modern and pleasant. The neon lights along the outdoor dining terrace's wall that read "Mangia" (and is surrounded by lemons) as well as the garland strung above the tables featuring more lemons and industrials lights add an interesting touch that I'm sure is even lovelier at night. I visited with a colleague during restaurant week. Her shrimp and polenta appetizer that came with the prix fixe lunch was enough for one meal, so she ended up taking her branzino entree home. I did not opt for the prix fixe lunch, but for the grilled salmon entree. The fillet was done perfectly and the grilled vegetables included a medley of onions, grape tomatoes, peppers and squash sauteed to perfection. Prices are reasonable. Staff is friendly. Caffe Bravo is a nice, quiet escape from the rest of New Haven. Bravo for Caffe Bravo! read more

I think Caffe Bravo would probably have made a really good restaurant in 1994, but they've failed to adapt and today it's just not worth it. The food is uniformly mediocre. I've had their short rib and several of the pastas. The they are edible, which is better than nothing I suppose. But they're also overpriced and bland. The outside space seems nice but it ends up feeling really cramped. The inside space has a very strange feel to it. It doesn't feel like a restaurant, more like a store front for some reason. The service is usually pretty good. Overall the only reason I ever choose to go here is that they're open on Monday when almost everything else is closed. Every time I do make that choice, though, I end up regretting it. read more

Great food. Not overpriced. The specials were outstanding! Wanted to carb up before the road race. The homemade pasta really fit the bill!

I was visiting CT last week and enjoyed my lunch at Caffe Bravo so much I'm still thinking about it. I ordered the special which was pistachio crusted branzino with a light fig sauce. It was cooked perfectly and was one of the best things I've put in my mouth in a long time. I also tried my mom's Amalfi grain bowl. Grains and salmon were cooked just right and was very flavorful. The restaurant was beautifully decorated and had a nice outdoor patio. Last but not least the service was exceptional! Definitely an overall star experience! read more

Pasta genovese was just like I was in Naples Italy. I also got the pasta special that seemed a little odd but I was intrigued to order because im a sucker for culinary creations, blew me away it was so good and creative. Authentic food not your typical Italian American home made pasta you can taste the freshness. I will be back and i am excited to see new specials everytime I go read more

Caffe Bravo - Pasta genovese - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Reminded me of a small modern Italian restaurant in Milano.....lots of old world traditional dishes....what I have to absolutely Yelp about is the Polpette "Meatballs" the best I have had in any restaurant even in Italy.... They remind me of my aunts in Italy almost identical....that was a great feeling while Dining. Most items are made fresh and authentic to traditional Italian modern meal....our waitstaff was patient and on point for the cafe being so busy...very good service!! for dessert definitely try the Tiramisu and wait for the hazelnut surprise......Delish!!! read more

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A bazillion stars for Cafe Bravo in the East Rock section of New Haven, CT. Not just because it's the exact spot where I fell in love with coffee 40 years ago this November(yes, I remember that morning like it was yesterday :)), but because you can't beat the atmosphere of an authentic old fashioned Italian cafe. Where else can you relax outside on a terrace under a lemon arbor with htwinkling lights and try your coffee with a twist of lime? When you've had enough, take a stroll on the pretty city sidewalks lined with 100+ year old Oak and Elm Trees. Notice the architecture of the historic Victorian homes, and Yale University Buildings along the way. If you like, this small neighborhood, family run business offers dine in or take out with delicious homemade food to take back home with you. read more

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Food was good, service left much to be desired. Our server essentially ignored us for the better part of two hours. Mind you, we had only two entrees - the server never went over the specials or tried to encourage further purchases (as one would expect in a 'nicer' restaurant). Not sure what we did, but we had to ask the hostess to interfere in order to pay our bill after 20 minutes of waiting. Cute place though! read more

Was seated outside in a enclosed room with large windows. Small restaurant, but it had a great selection of dishes. Parking is a challenge, due to the fact that they only have street parking. They start you off with a nice crusted Italian bread and a bruschetta. Appetizer I ordered the Spanish Octopus, Shrimp, and Sea Scallops mixed with carrots and peas in a puréed Peruvian yellow pepper sauce. It was delicious it also had a little bit of a kick , but not enough to be real hot , just enough to be a little spicy , it was very good. The sauce was so good I used the Italian bread to mop it up Entree Pan-seared Mederterian sea bass topped with sautéed fennel and cherry tomatoes in a citrus wihite wine sauce served with roasted vegetables . This was also very good, but not as flavorful as the one I get from Pasta Cosi in Branford. The service was excellent and they kept it very clean , read more

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We have been coming here 20+ years. Our son lived upstairs in one of the apartments above when he was in grad school. Food is fabulous, cocktails are first rate as is a good selection of wines. My favorite meal is the Veal Limone or the Gnocchi. Kathleen and Michael are first rate servers. They always get it right and know exactly what and how we like our meal. The porch/patio is excellent-heated when necessary. Wonderful for people watching. We now live on Orange Street having moved from the suburbs. Parking is on the street so leave a little early. read more

This is New Haven Restaurant week and Caffe Bravo did not disappoint! The stuffed calamari was unique and delicious. We chose the panko veal cutlet which was also delicious. I would say there were a few too many greens atop the veal, but other than that it was delightful. The prix-fixe lunch menu made it a very pleasant affordable outing at $23 per person during Restaurant Week. I would highly recommend this restaurant. It is a little challenging to find a parking space but if you are willing to walk a block or so, it is fine. read more

One of my favorite restaurants ever! This is one of those restaurants I grew up going to and will never get tired of. It's the type of place that attracts locals and the regulars who recognize each other when they're dining in. The food is outstanding, however, I do have to say that since the new owners took over in the past year, it hasn't been AS good as it originally was. The pics attached are from before the new owners took over, but I think the original owners still help out sometimes (from what I understand based off my last visit in February). I had one bad experience in February of this year for my birthday dinner when I got lasagna con carne and it came out ice cold in the middle not once, but twice. I ended up getting fettuccine bolognese and that was amazing (and hot!) Definitely recommend going to this restaurant. read more

Caffe Bravo - Bruschetta and bread - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I had my Birthday party there and we chose to do it family style for 17 ppl on their beautifully decorated patio. It was AMAZING! With the help of the owners Stacy and Giovanne and their incredible ideas and flare, I couldn't have asked for a more delicious and memorable dinner. Kathleen our waitress and the whole staff were right on point and incredible. My thanks and appreciation to each and every one of them read more

Excellent customer service and food. Loved the holiday decor- especially the center pieces on the bar! read more

Caffe Bravo - 3 - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

The food was genuinely stellar and the vibe was really nice (especially the covered patio). The service was a bit strange/slow, but it wasn't too bad at all. Would very much recommend giving Caffe Bravo a visit! read more

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Great place, awesome food, new ownership right from Italy! Excellent homemade pasta, fish, meats and desserts! read more

I wanted to like Caffe Bravo but the incredibly delinquent service is impossible to overlook. Visited twice in the past three weeks and both times our food came out remarkably late. Tables that were seated 20 or 30 minutes after us, with a similar party size, were served before us. The wait staff is very nice, was aware of the issue both times, even verbally acknowledged the problem, but was just not capable of addressing it in real time. If the food was better perhaps we'd be willing to continue being treated this way, but unfortunately it's not worth it. read more

I was very excited to get some authentic Italian food while visiting my home state. Unfortunately my experience here wasn't the most pleasant. Firstly, we had ordered an appetizer that had been forgotten. A table that was seated after us had received their appetizers first. Secondly, the eggplant parmigiana came directly out of the oven scalding hot. It was over cooked and it burnt the entire inside of my mouth. And lastly, while the pasta was very good and the sauce was very good as well.. they overloaded my pasta with sauce. I am not sure if all of these happenings were on purpose considering I was accompanied by a black male? Hopefully not. But I would have much rather chose another authentic Italian restaurant to eat at and spend my time. New Haven has other places that will make people that are not elderly feel most welcomed. read more

** private event review ** I came here as a guest for a private party. Renting the whole restaurant seems like an option option for a 40-70 people party, especially if the weather is nice since you'll have the patio, too. (I can't speak to the price.) The bartenders and waiters did a great job with the crowd overall, pouring us more wine, taking our plates, asking if the guests needed anything. Before the meal were some awesome, stuffed breads. I didn't see them until the very end of the welcome hour, which is probably good, because I would have eaten even more of them. The main meal was buffet style, and there were a couple of protein and sides options. The salmon was very nicely cooked, which is often hard to do when cooking it for a large group. I also liked the grilled veggies and pesto pasta. Even the bread basket was scrumptious. They allowed my friends to bring in an outside cake, which was cool. Oh, and they make a mean cappuccino! read more

Beautiful quaint Neighborhood Italian Restaurant! Very Friendly and accommodating staff and Owner! The Food was Delicious and unique! We will definitely be back! read more

Bucatini de Pepe. Chianti reserve . Homemade Tiramisu. Wonderful food and ambience. Great view on Summer evening. Service was prompt and error free. read more

Came here for Restaurant week. The three course menu was $34 for dinner or $17 for lunch. I've never been to this establishment before and I was pleasantly impressed with the quality of the food. I choose the pear salad, ravioli, and the lemon marscapone. It's a very intimate environment with seating inside or in the enclosed patio which is heated. We chose to sit inside. I happened to come here on my birthday with friends and couldn't have asked for a better experience. The food. The food. The food. It was so flavorful and aromatic. My spirit was filled with every bite. I appreciated the lightness of the marscapone, the crispness of the arugula and pear salad, and the savory taste of the ravioli. I suggest you check this place out. Easy access to 91 with on street parking. I will definitely return. read more

Caffe Bravo - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

We came here to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. There were five of us at dinner, and it was one of the only Italian restaurants open on a Tuesday night in New Haven. It's good we made a reservation, because once we were in this adorable restaurant, all the tables started to fill up very quickly. There were about 10 tables inside, and they had an atrium area with another 6 to 8 tables. The food was outstanding. We shared 3 appetizers including Arancini, tuna tartare and the most amazing filet mignon carpaccio. Honestly, I think this was the best carpaccio I've ever had in my life, and if someone had told me, it was available every single day I would eat it. Absolutely phenomenal. For dinner, we shared veal scallopine, eggplant parm was not fried ahead of time, fish, and Gnocchi with short ribs. All the food was delicious and well prepared. My only negative is it took a solid 45 minutes for the dishes to come out, I'm not sure if they were shorthanded, or because there were several tables with large groups. For the dessert, we all shared lemoncello mascarpone cake, gelato, cheesecake, and sticky toffee pudding. Not a crumb was left on anyone's dish! The wine selection was lovely as was the beer selection and the service was extremely friendly. I definitely want to go back, maybe not on a Tuesday night, but definitely want to go back and explore more of these delicious and tasty dishes. Sauces were outstanding, and not overdone, and a very lovely experience! read more

Hands down...Best homemade pasta and Italian dishes in the area. Great owners. My new favorite! read more

Real good Italian restaurant. Always friendly service. Also reasonable priced. A great neighborhood joint! read more

One of the most delicious Italian meals I've had in a very long time. The grilled octopus was cooked to perfection and the meatballs were delicious. The Casio e Pepe pasta was exquisite and is not typically a staple on menus here. Run, don't walk to Cafe Bravo. The owner, Giovanni is from Napoli and has a gem of a restaurant in the Elm City. read more

Consistently good food and have made it my neighborhood "go to." I usually get the same three things and crave the homemade pappardelle. I love sitting outdoors because overall the decor is really outdated. read more

Another great meal tonight at Cafe Bravo! I had the Scrod Livornese which was outstanding while Brooke and Alexa enjoyed sharing lobster Ravioli and Pizza Margherita ! To cap it off we had the homemade tiramisu that was one of best I've ever had ...thoroughly enjoyed by all ! Thank you John ,Mark and staff read more

Though I've lived near Caffe Bravo for many years, I haven't been there for a meal. So when a group I know made a reservation for dinner there, I decided to join them. Since the restaurant is in a residential area, parking is a challenge, but it's obviously very popular with people in the neighborhood. The owner and his son Mark work the room continually, greeting many customers like old friends. Servers are hard working and attentive. I wish that I could say that the food matched the goodwill of the staff, but sadly it does not. New Haven has many excellent Italian restaurants at this upper-end price point, and just about all of them have better food. My chopped salad seemed little more than field greens from a bag, with a sprinkle of goat cheese, some shredded carrot and a single canned black olive. The spinach lasagna I ordered as an entree had seen better days. The pasta layers were gummy, and there was no discernible ricotta. None of my table mates was particularly impressed with the selection each had chosen. "Bland" seemed to be a common observation. It seems that Caffe Bravo's popularity rests more on the personalities of the owners than it does on the quality of the food. read more

Upscale and intimate Italian dining with good food! Service was a bit slow during visit though hence the 4 star. If you are in east rock and don't want to make the trek to NH downtown, give this place a try! read more

Came across Caffe Bravo thanks to Yelp. I was in the area on business and wanted a nice Italian Restaraunt for lunch with my mother (one of the best Italian cooks on the planet). We were not disappointed! Food was fantastic! Best escarole & bean soup ever (hope my mom doesn't read this, LOL). Also had broccoli rabe & sausage - delicious. My mom had the Shrimp Scampi & was very happy (she can be a bit hard to please, so that's saying a lot). It's located in a kinda residential neighborhood but definitely worth finding it! Enjoy read more

Caffe Bravo is a charming neighborhood gem in a residential part of East Rock which offers delicious, home style Italian food in an attractive, simple setting. There is an outdoor, covered patio with spaced out seating as well as a few tables inside, and friendly servers wear masks and sanitize tables in between guests. I was looking for a place for a quiet lunch with an old friend and found Caffe Bravo to be perfect for this. We had the burrata to start and a sausage and peas rigatoni and a shrimp pasta fra diavolo. Everything was delicious--the rigatoni was the standout. A heads up that regulars of an older generation come well dressed in "smart casual" attire to Caffe Bravo...It clearly has a devoted following and I can see why they love it. read more

Today, was my first experience eating at Caffe Bravo. I've had lunches brought to me, and I've sampled leftovers, but never dined in. I had decided on a light meal, of Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken. Thankfully, my two companions ordered apps, so I was able to sample. First, I tried the Broccoli Rabe & Sausage. The sausage produced a wonderful snap, when I sliced into it. Next, I politely slurped the Escarole E Fagioli. Both starters were seasoned and portioned perfectly. The waitress was also standing by with the cheese greater, ready to hit our soups. All three of us got salads. Mine was of the chopped sort, while the other two dined on the Insalata Arugola with Balsamic Chicken. Both salads were large and fresh. Again, the waitress was there to provide fresh ground black pepper. To finish off the meal, we sipped on Double Espresso and Cappuccino. Before we left, the owner came over to say hello to my colleagues (both of whom frequent the establishment). After talking for few minutes, he disappeared and returned with some fresh figs. A perfect ending to a perfect meal. Great, fast service and wonderful food. Will definitely be going back. read more

We hosted a party for friends a few evenings ago and could not have been happier. Our guests and I were seated on the patio which was ours exclusively for the evening. The seating was arranged with proper social distancing and because we could enter and exit through a door directly into the patio we did not need to go through the restaurant or be inside at all. It was a beautiful evening so the roof was retracted and bright sparkly lights overhead made the area quite beautiful. Because of the virus we were concerned that everything be done safely and the servers were incredible! Of course, the food was wonderful as it always is at Caffe Bravo. All agreed the evening was"perfect." read more