Can't believe I have never reviewed my all time favorite restaurant. Dalton's is located in a small plaza in North Branford in a convenient location. I believe they also own Ludal's in North Haven. It's tastefully directed and the servers are always attentive and accommodating. The food is ahmmazzing. I have never had anything bad here from soups and simple salads to sides, apps, entrees and desserts. I have tried it all and you can't go wrong with whatever you pick whether it's a regular menu item or a special. Must try! read more

Dalton's - Short rib and risotto - New American Near Me - North Branford, Connecticut

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My friends told me to come here. Wow. Just wow. The service was impeccable. The dishes I saw coming out looked absolutely amazing. I ordered this octopus special that was out of this world. I can't wait to come back again. Portions look huge!!! read more

Dalton's - New American Near Me - North Branford, Connecticut

I have been at Dalton's several times now and I have not ONCE left disappointed. I even made it my birthday dinner spot. Have had great things off their menu: stuffed scallops, chicken parm, seafood risotto and spicy chicken rigatoni. However, their specials always get me! Enjoyed some braised short ribs, brown Sunday sauce with meat and halibut. Our servers have always been attentive and sweet. I love the space, not too big or too small. Never felt crowded. read more

Service- Mike is number 1 Food- great selection- Sunday sauce is the best. Ambiance/ always fine at the bar. read more

What an excellent experience. The restaurant is a bit on the small side with bar seating and a dining area. I recommend you try to get reservations to ensure you get in. We started dinner with some amazing Italian bread served with some garlic chimichurri sauce, it was delicious. For or entrees I had the ribeye special served with spinach and asparagus which was cooked at a perfectly medium rare temperature. My girlfriend had the special veal and pork ragú over ravioli. She loved it. Or meals were so good, we highly recommend. To end the evening we had the stuffed chocolate churros. Personally, I could have gone with just simple churros (no chocolate) but it was good. The service was excellent, she did a great job of answering or questions and providing suggestions. We will definitely be back. read more

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We have very high expectations when we went to Dalton's. We were just quite disappointed with the food and the service.

Always a great time at Daltons Sitting at the bar for lunch or dinner Staff does a great job Very much a local spot It gets busy and they handle the crowd well read more

The food and service and ambiance are all excellent. However, the prices are very high

We got a gift certificate, but we don't dine out. I was very happy to discover they offer food to go. And it can be ready in 30 minutes although I gave them 90. We ordered a crab cake, seafood risotto, and the shrimp and scallop pasta. It was all excellent. Pricey at first but the crab cake was two servings, the risotto was at least four, and the pasta dish a generous two. So we got many meals out of this. Also, the crab cake was the best I've had in New England (sorry but still not as good as the Baltimore crab cakes of my childhood). The seafood risotto was spectacular. We we'll be getting that again and possibly next time we have houseguests. It's really exceptional. Thank you!! read more

Spectacular meal. Great vibe, friendly service. The portions were huge. We will definitely be back! read more

Great food and service. We all enjoyed our meals. Being in a booth was especially comfortable

The best. Great menu. Wonderful pleasant staff and terrific food. Never had a bad meal. That's why we always go back.

Ordered the special last night, Braised short rib with shrimp over risotto and green beans. It was spectacular. The presentation was beautiful and the flavor was fantastic. read more

Dalton's - Braised short rib with shrimp and string beans over risotto - New American Near Me - North Branford, Connecticut

The food is amazing!! Have never had a bad meal at Daltons. The staff is wonderful especially Val and Mike they go out of their way to make you feel welcomed. It really is a great place to have a great meal and a great drink! read more

The food is so so! They don't speak English well! In my opinion how can you take an order! If you wanna stay in business, you need to upscale your restaurant you can't put people on the floor. They can't speak English and not understand a thing just very unprofessional. read more

Good food and service . Best French onion soup I have had. Can be loud and crowded during happy hour

We've been back several times, with and without guests. The food has always been fresh and delicious. Hostess and wait staff friendly, courteous and attentive. Just moved to the area and have met many local people who are repeat customers. So happy to have a great restaurant minutes from where we live. read more

Had the $41 NY Strip and it was honestly as good as most $100 filet mignons I've had. Our server, Tara was amazing. We're coming back for sure and will order the same thing. Super for steak. read more

I am giving Dalton's 3 stars, a somewhat wobbly 3 stars...Because, my friends, I eat out for the food and the food needs to be GOOD GOOD. The place itself is nice. Comfortable, warm atmosphere. Nice bar, good sized space. Service was Meh. Look, I am restaurant owner/worker and I am ALWAYS rooting for my fellow service workers. That being said...we were sat by the hostess, who also gave us our menus. Our table was set and waiting for us with water glasses already filled. And then we had no contact from waitstaff, for a while. Eventually our waiter came over and told us the specials and I ordered us a sampling of appetizers. First issue with Dalton's is there are not very many choices if you don't eat beef, pork or poultry (which I do not). I had to read the entire menu and plan my meal and ask for some special accommodations to try some things because this menu is VERY meat centric. I don't think there were any vegetarian entrees (forget vegan!). For our appetizers I ordered Buffalo Cauliflower, Chilled Seafood Salad, Panecotta, Eggplant Rollatini and Fried Calamari. Let's start with the Buffalo Cauliflower. I. Love. Buffalo Cauliflower. This was, honestly, terrible. They should not have served it: Burnt, Greasy, almost no Buffalo flavor. Eggplant Rollatini: Pretty good. Decent flavors. Problem was it was room temperature at best when it arrived at our table. Borderline cold. Chilled Seafood Salad: ODDLY ginormous "Calamari" rings. As in I was afraid to eat them. I tried scallop, clams, mussels. All of which were completely devoid of any kind of seasoning. They were all fresh and cooked properly. But lacked even salt. They were, however, sitting on a bed of very tasty, well dressed/seasoned Arugula salad. Fried Calamari. Dalton's serves their calamari with Sriracha Mayo AND Marinara OR Napolitan style. We ordered it with the Marinara and no Sriracha Mayo. We got it WITH Sriracha Mayo and no Marinara. So took a few minutes to fix that and get the Marinara. Again, GINORMOUS Calamari rings and, no tentacles. I've never seen that before. Where you get fried calamari and all it is is rings, no tentacles. That made me very suspicious. I did eat a few pieces. They tasted good, like actual calamari. Cooked perfectly, nice and tender, well seasoned. HOWEVER. The Marinara. OMG. Terrible. Inedible. We all tried it. My mother (first generation Napolitan) said no one should eat it. Now here is The Actual Thing. If you are an "Italian Restaurant"?? And, most especially, you are claiming to be an Italian Restaurant in the Neapolitan style?? Your Marinara had better SLAP. Dalton's Marinara is, bluntly, terrible. The only actually good appetizer was the Pannecotta: nice and hot and full of beans and escarole and tasty. Very nice. Good for dipping the very good bread we got at the table into as well. We pressed on!! And ordered our entrees. We then waited about an hour to actually get our entrees. Everyone got a salad as part of our entree course. I don't think anyone finished it. I personally didn't like it because it was heavy on the spinach and I dislike raw spinach. Dressing was okay. Overall: Meh. Entrees were WAY BETTER than anything we had for appetizers. Which is how Dalton's redeemed itself to the "3" rating you see here. I ordered the Shrimp Florentine, which is served with spinach and mashed potatoes. However! They also had Gnocchi with a truffle Vodka Sauce and Sausage on the menu. I asked if I could get the Shrimp Florentine, no mashed potatoes and a side of the Gnocchi instead, no sausage. 2 SNAPS to Dalton's that our waiter said that was no problem and they could do that for me. Taking 1 snap away because when my entree arrived (an hour later) I did, in fact, have a side of gnocchi instead of mashed potatoes, but that gnocchi was completely naked. But, I was easily able to get a side of the Truffle Vodka Sauce. Entrees were hot and well seasoned and delicious. The Shrimp Florentine were LOVELY. I would definitely eat them again. Gnocchi were light and fluffy and the truffle vodka sauce was very tasty. I can heartily recommend these two things. The spinach that came with my Shrimp Florentine, on the other hand, lacked any kind of seasoning, including salt. I gave it to my father. I then ordered the Chocolate Mousse for dessert. Very mediocre. Weak chocolate flavor, not great texture.. Would not eat it again. I would not choose to come back, but at least I know there are a few things I can order and enjoy at Dalton's if we do wind up back here. Not sure I would try anymore of their appetizers though... read more

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Awesome Italian food. Everything we had was great. Really like the glassed in kitchen, and restaurant was clean and nice.

I had lunch at Daltons again today food outstanding ,Marco our server/ bar fabulous and the lichen guys so funny. Amazing afternoon.

TLDR: Food was great - a hidden gem - but wish we had the same service as everyone else. Would go again! Went here for my moms birthday recently. The restaurant is small and off the beaten path a bit, but the food is great! We made early Sunday reservations, but it was quiet enough that we wouldn't have had a problem. It definitely got busier as the evening went on. I would highly recommend the pane cotto appetizer the calamari was just ok. We had the pork and hot peppers, bolognese pasta, and the sword fish. Everyone enjoyed their food and most of us had plenty of leftovers for another meal or two! The reason for 4 stars comes with the service. As I said, we were there early (330 reservations on a Sunday ) so it was quiet with just one waiter and two tables. As the evening went on, more wait staff arrived. That's when we noticed the other wait staff bringing out bread to the new tables and reading off the specials. We eventually asked for bead - they have a great spread!! - but it was too late for the specials as we had already ordered. This wouldn't keep me from going back but I'd definitely be sure to take more notice of the specials and such. read more

love this place! food is excellent and bartenders are fantastic! I have been here many times. always consistent and the specials are 5 star and flavorful. entrees come with a salad with a tasty dressing and also homemade bread with a garlic dipping sauce OMG so good! read more

Food is good, but the place has a weird vibe... You pull in and it is located in a strip mall - not a big deal as sometimes those end up being the best places. You walk in and the place is small but tastefully decorated with table linens that give it a classy feel... the prices also add to that feel. I asked for a wine list and was told they were on order, not what I was expecting for a place whose apps average about $15 each, but okay not a problem. My husband asked about the beer selection and was promptly told there is no draft beer, only bottles. Fast forward and we ordered the chilled seafood salad as our app - DELISH!!! Very refreshing and light. I'd go back just for that. For dinner we each ordered one of the specials, he the sea bass, me the filet mignon with shrimp. The hubby thoroughly enjoyed his meal, my filet was overcooked, I had asked for medium but received it well done - there was no pink to be found and therefore not very tasty. Also, my mashed potatoes were lukewarm at best. Overall great flavor in the side sauces, but for the beautiful presentation I expected more with my first bit. Service was fine, not good, not bad, but again, just not what I was expecting given the prices and decor. Her personality just wasn't suited for the "fine dining" experience they seem to be aiming for. I wish I could give this 3-1/2 stars as it's better than 3, just not quite 4, but I had to go with 3 for this one. read more

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My tips for Dalton's: Get the sea bass special if available. OMG Get anything served with risotto. Either seafood or mushroom. Both are incredible but the mushroom risotto will make your head explode. The lobster bisque is very good but if they have a special with lobster sauce, get that. Beef short ribs are very good too if available. This place is somewhat a local establishment but they are warm and welcoming to all. Overall, delicious food, great staff and a friendly bar env. Did I say the food was delicious? It is. A warning though: avoid the bread because if you start, you won't be able to stop. You'll be bringing home a doggy bag. UPDATE 6/1/2019 Tonight's dinner: Rack of lamb. Delicious with a delicate sauce. I didn't ask but I'm guessing it was based on port wine. Barely sweet and a perfect compliment to the lamb. Medium rare, how else? Broccoli Rabe. Also tasty with that characteristic flavor but not bitter. Enhanced with just enough roasted garlic cloves. OMG. Roasted potatoes. Cooked well and not overdone. Pretty good for 9:45PM. The potatoes were coated with a very subtle spice, I think paprika. Just enough, didn't overpower the spuds. Included on the plate but not mentioned in the description was a small side medley of vegables - carrots and squash slices topped with a single broccoli floret. Just enough vegables to counteract the cholesterol in the lamb. LOL. Every meal I've had here has been delicious. My only disappointment was no risotto on the menu tonight. read more

Dalton's - New American Near Me - North Branford, Connecticut

Great food and wonderful service. Very happening place! We really enjoyed this...good for night out but also for a family dinner as well!

We had a fantastic lunch at Dalton's. The salad special was delicious and I had Sea Bass entre, my sister had Shrimp Florentine. I ordered the Fusilli special to take home. 5 stars in North Branford! The ambiance is so nice, the staff is excellent. Best experience. Oh yes, the Ricotta Cheesecake is over the moon delicious. Light and guilt free! A must visit! read more

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Just beyond hidden kitchen on route 80 in North Branford, Connecticut, this delightful restaurant is one where, unless you were looking for it, you will miss it. We came here to have a mid afternoon lunch/early dinner, and had heard good things about the place. The wine and cocktail list is extensive, everything from wine to Mojito to beer and specialty coffees, we shared a mango Mojito, which was delicious and had a lot of great flavor. We could see the kitchen through the glass window from where we were sitting and could see all the action happening, which was a lot of fun and entertaining at the same time. we shared two appetizers, the first being the crabcake in a light sauce and top of capers. This delicious concoction had fresh lump crab meat, and was fried very lightly, to the point where we could taste the crab meat and not the oil. Absolutely delicious and I wish there were more on the plate for us to enjoy because this could have been a full meal rather than an appetizer. Our second appetizer was a blackened seafood combination, which had one jumbo shrimp, one bay scallop and one large piece of calamari. This was sitting in what I could best describe as a pasta, fagiolo broth and cannellini beans, very delicious, but I wish that they had given a little bit more seafood instead of one piece of each. Very freshly tasting and very filling. We received two salads with a homemade balsamic glaze dressing, and then we had our main course which was pasta Bolognese made with papperdelle and it was so large we were able to split it in half, and we still had enough to take home for a full serving of dinner. Flavors were very good and not overwhelming, the pasta was al dente, and the sauce was flavorful. Excellent use of spice and very fresh. My only concern is the prices. Each of the appetizers were $20 apiece, but for $20 for crabcake I would've liked to have seen a second crabcake on the plate, and the seafood combination to have more than one shrimp, one scallop, and one piece of calamari. The pasta was perfectly priced based upon my description above. We skipped dessert as we were quite full, but the list looked very extensive and included classics such as crème brûlée, peanut butter, pie and chocolate lava cake. Next time we go here. We will definitely indulge in at least one dessert. Bravo! read more

We finally decided to try this restaurant, which is near our home and also our friends' home. We were glad we made reservations, as the restaurant was full that Friday night. We were seated at a table for four. Dalton's has booths, banquettes, and tables in the middle and at the ends of the restaurant. It is a comfortable restaurant that, even when full, the noise level was reasonable, allowing us to converse with our friends. We split an appetizer of stuffed scallops wrapped on bacon, which was melt-in-your mouth tender, flavorful and wrapped in nice, crispy bacon. We then ordered entrees. All dinners include a side salad of farm fresh greens and veggies dressed in a vinaigrette dressing. We enjoyed our entrees, all of which were well-prepared and delicious. I especially enjoyed my special of short ribs served with a creamy risotto and garnished with Brussels sprouts. Dalton's features a wine list with plenty of good choices of wines by the glass. My Montepulciano paired perfectly with my short ribs. Despite the restaurant being crowded, service was still friendly, helpful, professional, and didn't miss a beat. We will be back! read more

We just randomly went looking for a nice restaurant and stumbled upon this place. The ambiance is relaxing and not too fancy. The service was great but some of the workers were short with us. Food is next level. read more

Love Dalton's! I've dined here three times and the food is expertly prepared! My favorite is their Brussel Sprout salad that's a seasonal special. I've also had their Shrimp cocktail, Chicken Marsala and one of their ribeye specials. Great service and cozy ambience! read more

Food is always consistently amazing.. and if you want converse, laugh, and meet other couples? Sit at the bar! It won't disappoint!

Daltons has always been a neighborhood go to for apps and martinis. The espresso martinis are a favorite of ours. The meal we had the other day was delicious, crispy calamari, the Gnocchi dish and not pictured, Steak special. Although we have had some experiences where the meals could have been a executed a little better, these dishes came out perfect. read more

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My family and I have been coming here for so many years and we really enjoy it. The service is always so good and the staff is very friendly. The food is always good and consistent! read more

The food is really good and tasty. The waitstaff I find to be curt and rushed.l especially when it's busy. Staff training need and possibly additional staff. read more

Hidden treasure in North Branford. You'll see when you walk in. Nice atmosphere, great service, great food. Go there hungry. Good portions, nicely prepared. read more

Great food! Make sure you call for a reservation. The restaurant is small and fill up quickly.

My real rating is 4.5 stars but sadly we can't do that. This place is wonderful. Do not let the fact it's in a strip mall type place fool you. Everything about it is great. It's a small place with very tasteful decor. They also have one of those open kitchens, so you can see right in to where they prepare the food. I heard it could get busy so I made a reservation for Friday night. We were seated right away (and there were a few empty tables nearby so we might have been fine without the reservation). The hostess and our waiter were both nice, so no complaints there. First up, you get bread and garlic knots with a VERY garlicky dipping sauce. The knots were great and the bread was warm and tasty. I loved the sauce but my husband thought it was too much garlic. For our appetizer we got the stuffed calamari special. The stuffing could have been warmer, it was barely room temp. But the suace it was in was piping hot, so that helped. It was a wonderful appetizer and a very generous portion even for two people. When they brought the side salad we knew we'd be in trouble because we were already getting full. No idea what the dressing was but it was delicious (although we could have done with a little less of it). For our mains, my husband had the Linguine Dalton - pasta with lots of seafood. It was a wonderful light and delicate flavor. I got the Salmon Dalton - it was divine! Sadly we were too full to have dessert but we loved this place so much we will definitely be back! read more

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So the food here is absolutely excellent. It has a nice atmosphere while you're in there but since I've been in there more recently, they packed a whole bunch of tables into the corner of the restaurant and you feel like you're right next to each other. You can't even get up out of your chair without bumping into the next table even when you have reservations I can understand if you're just walking in you'd get seated in that little area or when you have a reservation it kind of feels like they don't give a shit I'm a little disappointed by that. If they didn't do that with the tables, it would be four stars. Unfortunately, now it's three. read more

Like it very much. Food is delicious and service is great. Wait staff is so nice. Restaurant is updated and clean. I give it 5 stars