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 It was a beautiful evening so the roof was retracted and bright sparkly lights overhead made the area quite beautiful.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

This is a wonderful little Italian restaurant . The entire restaurant is one small room. The food was delicious and the staff was the best. I can't wait to comeback again . read more

We went to cafe bravo tonight for dinner. Greeted politely at the door, service was great, we sat inside because it was a little chilly for us. We had the whole place to ourselves. Food was fantastic. Could have used a little salt but better less salty than too much. Only recommendation is for staff not to hang out in the dining area while people are dining. People don't want to hear about who's doing what sidework, who got cut, silvware rolls, or how long until close. Other than that recommended 100% read more

Mondays are a wonderful time to have a casual meal. Our server Maryrose could not have been better... feeling well cared for read more

Definitely one of the best authentic Italian restaurants. I'm an Italian chef and most of the time find it hard to thoroughly enjoy eating out without feeling like, "I could make this better" or "this isn't real Italian" and this place did not make me feel either of the two ways. This is definitely my new go to Italian. read more

The food here is high quality, authentic, and consistent. Everything down to the arugula is ALWAYS fresh. We are obsessed with the Toscana pizza, the veal milanese, and the beef carpaccio. I can go on and on about the staff, as well. They are ALWAYS so friendly and helpful. The owners are also genuinely invested in making sure that all patrons are satisfied with the food AND service. With service as good as the food and food this good, Caffe Bravo can't be beat! read more

This place used to be excellent. Now it's the pits. Dismal food, demoralized service. A $13 "Mediterraneo" salad is literally a handful of greens with a few scraps of red onion. Calamari salad ($14) was inedible, a sprinkling of off-tasting rings and tentacles on a few leaves of lettuce. Living in Seattle, I haven't been here in about four years, but back then the salads were robust and it was worthwhile. Now it gives all the signals to stay away. read more

My fellow Yelper Amber C hit the nail on the head when calling this spot a great hidden gem of the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven. We came for dinner on a Saturday night a few weeks ago and had a fantastic meal here. The interior is far more elegant and romantic than the aging green awning would lead you to believe. I've passed by many an evening to see the large patio completely filled and have even caught glimpses of those cool fire tornado lamps to heat that space when it's not utterly freezing out. Unfortunately, the night we visited it was literally freezing out and there were giant snowflakes falling during our short drive over, so we couldn't take advantage of the spacious patio in a city where there's real scarcity of good outdoor seating. Our server was a complete doll...very polite, professional and friendly. I started off asking what bourbons they had behind the bar and after being told that the options were limited to Jim Bean and JD, I opted for a classic Italian brew the Moretti amber. Or if you're getting technical over here the Birra Moretti La Rossa. I followed it up with a red cabernet sauvignon and it paired quite nicely with my Fettuccine Bolognese entrée. We started with the Calamari Fritti, which was very well balanced by not having too much breading or being too greasy and the squid tasted fresh and wasn't rubbery. The marinara sauce it came with was excellent as well. Another nice touch is that they bring out a couple pieces of free bruschetta with the bread basket. A very nice touch that made me want to order the bruschetta appetizer next time. A tasty and fresh salad with a house balsamic vinaigrette came with our pasta entrees. My wife got the penne a la vodka and she really enjoyed it. The vodka cream cause was executed very well without being too heavy or rich. My Bolognese was delicious and I basically licked my plate to get every last drop in my mouth. Our friend who joined us got the lasagna and she really enjoyed that as well. All being East Rock natives, we left completely satisfied and talking about how this would become a regular date night spot. And by the crowds that I often see here during dinnertime, we're not alone in this line of thought. Maybe this gem isn't all that hidden after being an honest neighborhood Italian joint for over 20 years! read more

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

Following my review earlier this year, I received an email from a friend of Caffe Bravo owner who responded to my review of my dining experience. Very heartening response from owner addressing my concerns caused me to add another star to the rating. Anytime restaurant staff responds to a concern is a plus in my book. As I stated in the review, all the other meals were very well prepared. In fact, one of the best bolognese sauces I've had at a restaurant. So definitely give it a go - great neighborhood spot and friendly yet trendy spot. So kudos to owner and staff at Caffe for their responsive behavior. Think you are definitely on the right track! read more

Food is just okay. I had the broccoli rabe and sausage - a little watery/oily. It seems to be open weird hours and they don't seem to be open forI lunch or brunch on the weekend which really is a shame. Such a good location and not well utilized. They have outdoor dining in the warmer months - but you are pretty close to the street and a bus stop so it can be noisy/smelly. read more

Honest, delicious Italian food in a friendly atmosphere. Being from New Jersey, away on business and a bit tired of the Wooster Street lines, I took a bit of a risk on Caffe Bravo. Happily, it was a lovely experience. The help was friendly, prices fairly reasonable , the varieties of bread fresh and hot, my Lasagna was just about perfect. My girlfriend enjoyed Chicken Marsala and was particularly impressed with their tangy salads and fresh vegetables (her passions). I'd totally recommend Caffe Bravo to lovers of NE American Italian food while hanging in New Haven...they even have a patio for outdoor seating in the summer! And I eyeballed a pizza at the next table...looked great to me. Hmm, maybe another visit??? (We ate at Caffe Bravo on a rainy Monday night in January and the place was empty. I've been told that it's very crowded on weekends. My girlfriend and I are not drinkers, so I can't comment on the alcohol served. Caffe Bravo is in a quiet residential area---not near any tourist sights. Parking was easy enough on the surrounding streets.) read more

Tried to eat here last night but lack of hostess made for long line to check in. It seemed more like a place for students and their parents and felt kinda dead even though it was crowded. We walked out and likely won't return. You get once chance to make a first impression. read more

Solid, quality, somewhat pricey Italian food like your grandma might make. I enjoyed the menu layout which made for both easy and difficult choices. On one hand, I know exactly what different sauces I can get for my chicken, but on the other hand, there are so many choices that sound so delicious! I do wish the Pollo ala Bravo was slightly more acidic/lemony in the sauce. Nice meat and potatoes though. They were gracious enough to accommodate my friend's off the menu gnocchi request. The ambiance was quite calming. The staff were utterly professional and courteous. The bread basket was delicioso and their cappuccino was a great ending to my meal. In my opinion though, my grandma makes better Italian food. So I may or may not be back. read more

Walked in no reso on a Friday night - residential neighborhood so parking is a challenge but doable. Nicely lit atmosphere. Hostess sat us immediately, waitress quickly took drink order. GREAT MARTINIS! Excellent menu. Chose a dinner special - Tuna! Amazing read more

One my favorite places to eat! This hidden gem is the perfect little neighborhood place. The food is delicious, especially the lasagna and vodka sauce. The best part might be the outdoor patio. There aren't enough patios in the city, and most are too loud and in the street. Caffe bravo doesn't have an amazing view, but they do have a relaxed, calm neighborhood feel that's perfect on a warm spring night. read more

Caffe Bravo is fantastic! I was craving insalata di mare and their Yelp reviews won me over, so we headed down to Orange St and had the best meal I've had in quite a while. There isn't a private lot, but there was ample street parking. The outside patio was packed, but we were greeted by a hostess and seated immediately. The service was perfect and consistent among every employee there. Our water glasses were kept full (in a good way, not in an "every time I take a sip of water someone's pouring more into the glass" kind of way) and our server was perfectly attentive without being overbearing. The staff here is great and deserves recognition, if nothing else. We started with the burrata appetizer, our server said that's one of her favorite things on the menu and I see why! It was delicious and a perfect way to start our meal. The bruschetta that came out with the bread basket was a nice touch and went perfectly with the burrata. I opted for the insalata di mare as my meal, and my boyfriend settled on the rigatoni alla vodka with chicken. I was happy to see that my dish (an appetizer) was actually massive and definitely enough for me to eat as my dinner. The insalata di mare was perfectly prepared and the amount of seafood they give you is insane, they seriously nailed this dish. My boyfriend's dinner was equally as good, the vodka sauce was perfectly executed; flavorful, but not overly heavy like some vodka sauce can be. All in all, I don't have a single complaint about Caffe Bravo, it's the best Italian food I've had in New Haven and I can't wait to come back! Awesome service, phenomenal food, and incredibly reasonable prices..you honestly would've spent more money on inedible food at Olive Garden. read more

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Cafe Bravo is a nice intimate neighborhood Italian restaurant with very good Italian food. It should be of particular interest to the Gluten Free crowd because that have great gluten free pasta! Many items are gluten friendly as well. We started with a house made sausage and broccoli- rob. This was served with a fabulous red wine Cantina Zaccagnini. My wife had the chicken Marsala with roasted veggies and mushrooms. I had a pasta (linguini with a bogurnese sauce (traditional Italian meat gravy). The service is also terrific as the server staff back each other in a seamless manner. We had the pleasure to have Daniella serve us in the outdoors enclosed patio. We had a full moon and all was perfect for a Friday date night. Definitely a great place. Check it out read more

Caffe Bravo - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Heard mixed reviews about this place. Tried it for ourselves this past Saturday evening. Patio was packed--a good sign! The dining room was empty. Three tables filled (parties of between 3-5 people at each). All three tables (we were #4) were crammed into one corner of the dining room! The servers were, literally, all tripping over chairs trying to squeeze in between chairs/tables to fill water glasses, bring drinks, and drop off/pick up plates! There was more than enough help! The dining room is NOT big! No idea why they couldn't spread out the seatings! And to top it off--within 5 min of us being seated, another party of six arrived and--you guessed it--was placed right on top of the other four tables already there! Servers/table staff were all lovely, attentive, and helpful. No complaints there! Food was barely average. Completely bland. We had one shrimp/pasta marinara. BLAND! We also had one veal parm. BLAND! (And a lousy cut of veal). This was not one of New Haven's better Italian restaurants! read more

This used to be our favorite restaurant, but, after dining here twice since there are new owners, I am sorry to say that we won't be coming back. I'm writing this in the hope that they'll bring back the old chef or maybe recipes as the food was extremely bland and not nicely cooked. Please also restore at least some of the items from the old menu. Veggies! But above all please bring back tasty food. The wait staff is as wonderful as ever. Thanks. read more

Excellent service, creative menu, excellent food. My husband has lasagna and it was excellent. I had the special "sword fish " with capers, ovules and tomato. Desert tiramisu and Keoke coffee. A great night to celebrate the marine corps birthday! read more

Zero customer service, do not label delivery packages of food, uber delivers to wrong address, failure to fix problem, zero interest in correcting the error. read more

Having lived only yards away from Bravo, I've never actually been in the restaurant to sit and eat. I have had plenty of take out, mostly in the form of pizza. My review can't really include service. Sorry. The apizza is delicious. Probably the most consistently good pizza I've had since moving to New Haven (from NY - I've got high standards for such things!). The menu offers all sorts of gourmet sounding toppings. Our usual was either the eggplant, or peppers and pepperoni. They also have the ONLY good chicken parm wedge I've had in the state of CT. They call it the "Amalfi" and its either on the lunch or take out menu. I forget which. We had so many different menus from Bravo it was a bit confusing. They also offer up a chicken parm sicilian which sounds like a bit much, but I can't even begin to tell you how good it is. The crust isn't thick or too doughy. The chicken is tasty. Its huge. You'll have leftovers forever. Try it. I have had dinners (take out) from Bravo. Which were good, but I think I was expecting more. Not sure why. Nothing was bad, although I do remember being unimpressed with the side salad that came with the meal. It may have just been the dressing was too oily. Its been a while. read more

I recently went to Caffe Bravo for a birthday dinner. Here are the positives and not so much: 1) space = I really liked the outdoor space with heating lamps and spacious indoor seating. This is a good size restaurant. 2) service was solid and professional. 3) meat lasagna was very good. Fresh beef and cheese, the tomato sauce fine. 4) gnocchi was a big miss. Overcooked. However, when returned I was given a meat lasagna. I would have given 4 stars but the gnocchi was not good so therefore three. read more

-good food -good service -good prices -call ahead i moved to an apartment about a block away in august and i never thought much about the restaurant on the corner. i never saw anybody go in or come out. i never saw anybody sitting outside. there isn't a parking lot that i could see. honestly it looked (and still does, fwiw) a little sad from the outside. i thought going there with a date on a saturday night with no reservation would be a snap. cut to that night, and suddenly i'm a little concerned once i step inside. the place is packed and based on the clientele (on the older side, dressed nicely), it seems like a place that requires a res. luckily they had an open table for two and we were seated quickly. the service was good. not 5 minutes went by without a glance from our server. good bread and salad while you wait (the bruschetta was a nice touch too). wine list seemed good (from a non-wine drinker's POV). didn't see/ask about beer on the menu or at the bar. the food was good (my date's penne alla vodka was better than my cavatelli barese) and the portions were big enough to have some to bring home. great value. only a mile from downtown where a similar meal could conceivably cost twice as much. very good experience overall. only con would be a lack of beer (that i could see). read more

Really good restaurant week menu! The pasta is tasty. I would highly recommend dessert, chocolate truffle. It's really a large amount for a girl!! read more

Caffe Bravo - Chocolate truffle - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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The location and atmosphere of Caffe Bravo is pleasant. They have indoor/outdoor seating and it is located in the beautiful East Rock area. The service is good and the have good menu options however I was let down by the food. I got the calamari, a salad, and a panini and I have to say all three items were underseasoned and lacked flavor. I expected more. I even found a lemon seed in my salad, which is not something I expected at this type of restaurant. I would not go back unless I was with someone who really wanted to go. It was simply just ok. Not worth the price in my opinion. They also close mid-day and reopen at 5pm. read more

So glad we finally tried this wonderful little place!! Indoor and outdoor seating allow for much more space than one might think. Although we went for lunch on a record-breaking heat day, it was cool and lovely inside. My husband had a Sienna panini with chicken and bacon which he deemed delicious, and I had a sizable salad special called Ensalade Alla Bravo which was full of deliciously dressed chicken on a bed of greens with mozzarella, roasted red peppers and tomatoes. I took half home for lunch the next day. Our waitress was wonderful too, making sure to keep our water glasses full on this very warm day. We will definitely return to this little East Rock gem!! read more

Went on a Monday night early before the movies, we were one of the first tables. Ordered several apps and two salads and a bottle of wine. The food was excellent (and our server spaced our plates without us having to ask). As we ate the place started filling up, so definitely go early or make a reservation. The staff and the food plus the atmosphere made for a wonderful date night. read more

Love this small, quaint, neighborhood bistro. The food is made to order, always fresh and the staff is consistent. I love the salmon with farro salad. The service is great and the atmosphere is inviting with warm colors and a Tuscany feel. A great place to sit outdoors on the patio during the warm months and enjoy the East Rock vibe. The bar is also a nice spot to enjoy dinner. The staff is very social and friendly. The owner Mark makes everyone feel like family. read more

I can only comment on the pizza at this place -- I have to say it's mediocre at best. 3/10 would not recommend. The other dishes may be better but the pizza was pretty tasteless. read more

Shared the Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese appetizer and we all loved it! It was an exploratory food for two of us and we all thought it was delicious. Had a Caprese panini and the bread was toasted just right with a little garlic flavor to the bread. We sat in the air conditioning but there is a cute patio for outdoor dining. Would definitely visit again. read more

Let me begin by saying Cafe Bravo is without a doubt one of the best restaurants in New Haven County and probably the state. And we've been there many times (however, never enough for me). This one particular evening we wanted to "show off" our little gem and invited friends from out of town to join us. We were there early to avoid the crowds and were seated immediately. We were greeted by a lovely lady who served us that evening and there was the glitch. She was apparently a seasoned wait person, however, our beautifully planned but not well executed evening was a disaster especially when introducing this wonderful place to friends. The service was horrendous! Actually beyond that. This lovely lady and she was quite lovely just very scattered. She took forever to take our orders but we really did not mind. We had cocktails/wine and apps before giving our entrees. So far so good once we got past the long wait. Who cared? We were with friends. Finally, she took our orders and after waiting 45 minutes to deliver our cold meals, she gave one of our friends the wrong dish. Oh no! He then had to wait 20 more minutes to get his meal! Our friends were quite cordial about this and continued to rave about the food all except our one friend who sat there eating bread! His meal finally arrived and again it was wrong but who cared at this point. We finished, some of our plates were cleared from the table (tables never completely cleared; awful) and we ordered some desserts and coffee. Another 35 minutes to receive the coffee and desserts and when the desserts were delivered the gelato was melted into one big mess along with the whipped cream. Very very disgusted! Very very annoyed but by then we just wanted out. We were there at 6:00, every table around us had come, eaten and left and we were still sitting there waiting for good service. Just to be clear, there were only 5 of us; not a table of 10 or 12. We were so apologetic to our friends who drove quite awhile to get there because we raved and raved about this wonderful little restaurant and the only thing I can say to the owner: PLEASE IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL WAIT STAFF TO FILL IN, KEEP AN EYE ON HER OR HIM. It was a disaster and our lovely evening was a bust. Oh and we didn't get out of there until almost 9:30! read more

I had a first date at Cafe Bravo. The pasta was fabulous and my date had a salad that was out of this world. The decor leaves a little to be desired and looks like I walked into a hospital cafeteria. The only weird downside was, while my date was using the ladies room, the busser or food runner or whoever he was offered me to sell me something to "put my date in the mood." I'm not sure what it was all about or if he was joking but it made me very uncomfortable. But as I said, food was great and wonderful for such a neighborhood. read more

A friend of mine was in town visiting last week, and asked me to take her out for "good Italian food," as she lives in an area that isn't nearly as blessed in that department as New Haven. My boyfriend and I took her to Caffe Bravo, as we live in East Rock and wanted something cozy and comfortable. She had the delicious house gnocchi with braised short ribs, my boyfriend had the pappardelle con porcini (my favorite of our three entrees) and I had the orecchiette with dried figs, which was really interesting and different. Everything was wonderful, and the atmosphere at Caffe Bravo is so relaxed and inviting -- a great neighborhood spot. We really enjoyed ourselves and will definitely be back. read more

Tonight I dined at Caffe Bravo with my husband a three other couples. Our server was very pleasant and professional. Four of us ordered a seared tuna special and all four of us were highly disappointed. The tuna dish described on the menu should have been seared on the outside and raw on the inside. Three of our entrees were over cooked. Our entree came with a very small amount of salsa and green beans. The salmon was very bland and needed more than the tablespoon and a half of salsa to liven up the flavor. The green beans were nothing to write home about. My husband and I order tuna quite a bit and this was the worst tuna entree we have every had. read more

Even though we live in the neighborhood and go here often to enjoy the patio, I sometimes forget how good the food and service is. This is a neighborhood treasure and I promise not to forget how much we enjoy having Caffe Bravo within walking distance of our home. read more

Came here for restaurant week and didn't find the food particularly spectacular. The highlight of the meal was the dessert. Arancini were good as well. Lamb chops were OK, but under seasoned. Mashed potatoes were bland. It's quite possible that I just picked the wrong items, but the other members of our group were equally unimpressed. read more

Dinner was amazing. The outdoor dining space was really nice and the servers were very friendly. Will definitely be back-especially to try a dessert with some wine or coffee. read more

Great authentic Italian food. The remodeling and new bar are great additions to the already cozy atmosphere. (Yes, new full bar!!) From the panini's to lasagna to gelato, everything is very fresh and authentic. Also, great selection of wines at all price ranges. Must try: calamari new york style (with a red sauce and some heat), Rigatoni Butera and the ravello panini. The outdoor patio in the summer is also great! read more

I ate here omg the food was great. Small but very quaint atmosphere.Check it out. Great italian food. Must visit if in area