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Esca Restaurant & Wine Bar

3.6 (304 reviews)
ModerateWine Bars, Italian
Closed • 10:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

Esca Restaurant & Wine Bar Photos

ESCA RESTAURANT & WINE BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Classy
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Esca Restaurant & Wine Bar

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Dining loft area
Chad L.

Park: absolute nightmare trying to find a spot, went around block like 3x then found a spot 3 blocks away Decor: what you would expect from an Italian restaurant, clean but dated Staff: we ended up sitting at the bar and Jean was amazing and what got them the 3rd star. Food: menu looked great so I had high hopes but was...let down but not disappointed...average. Overall: dinner for two with one glass of wine and no dessert was just over a Franklin. In a pinch, I would go back but there are a few others on the main strip that I would look into

Gnocchi with Shrimp
Gail P.

I been hearing about this Restaurant for a little while now and I am so happy we tried it . We ordered the Crab Cakes for an appetizer the portion was large, which was surprising it had a wonderful relish on top of the crab cake, which was corn in pineapple it was outstanding. I ordered the Chilean Seabass for dinner it was on top of a wonderful cream sauce very flavorful nice size portion. My husband had the Gnocchi and shrimp special the gnocchi was homemade light as a pillow done to perfection. The atmosphere is elegant. If you want to impress your date, this is the place to go. Our server was very attentive and friendly. Great Italian food

Chicken rice soup, Hot & Dirty
Christine M.

This place is my go to when I'm in Middletown . Mainly because of their hot and dirty martini (the best of all time) . Their food is obviously delicious as well. They're an upscale place, beautiful interior, warm lighting, inviting but not too casual which I like, makes me feel affordably fancy. Their staff is always on it, they're attentive, polite, but don't try too hard (Nancy that's you!) -- incredible place and experience every time. The lunch menu is my favorite. I'll always be back.

Fried Calamari w zucchini
Joanne S.

HH Monday-Friday 4:30-6:30. Always a great visit for HH during mid week. Never disappoints as bartenders are so helpful. The calamari is so fresh and good and I always do no Italian long hots w cocktail sauce instead of aioli for only $8. Also the meatballs are so fresh and you get 3 for $7 which is a steal and then with their complimentary bread it makes a complete meal. This place is always clean and has a lot for the dinner crowd but the bar area is never too crowded.

Kristen S.

I absolutely love Esca! I have been many times - for catered parties, sit down dinner, drinks and happy hour. The happy hour is my favorite. It's timed perfect for aftwr work. There are great menu selections and drink specials. Pictures is what was left of my crostini and the arancini - my absolute favorites. I also had the cucumber martini and salted Carmel pretzel martini. The service is quick and friendly. The bar seats 12-ish. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Parking is easy on the street. Plus, you can walk to many other shops and establishments in Main Street. Will absolutely continue to come to Esca!!

Crab cake
Nicole D.

Been meaning to try this place for a while and finally did it! There is street parking that you may be lucky to get. We decided to sit at bar to dine. We ordered the bourbon smash to drink and Abby made it very good. They have a great appetizer menu and while we thought we would eat an entree, we kept ordering appetizers. We had the calamari 1st that was just ok. It was overcooked but edible. The lumpcrab cake was really good and flavorful. My favorite was the wildmushroom Flatbread and the roasted beet salad. I will get that salad everytime! Service was really good. Kara and Abby were very welcoming and attentive but also gave space which was nice. The resturant is nice for any type of occasion with a beautiful ambience. I hear they have a great happy hour on Wednesday's so I will be sure to try that out.

angus burger with fries
Miriam C.

Date of Visit: 5/23/25 First time visiting this upscale establishment with a beautiful interior and white linen tables in Middletown, CT. Stopped by for lunch, and I must say it was top notch from start to finish. The service was great, the food scrumptious and the ambiance was amazing. I was seated right away in a corner table by the window with views to Main and Washington Streets. The white linen table was perfect. The server was warm and friendly and seated me fast and quick. I ordered the Lunch House Special - soup, Black Agnus Beef Burger and choice of fries or salad. I choose fries. The soup arrived shortly accompanied by parmesan cheese crusted bread, which was delicious. The soup, Sausage Vegetable was very tasty, not too spicy or bland. It was warm enough, but I would have liked it a little hotter. But both were very tasty. Shortly afterwards, came the main lunch, my burger. Wow is all I can say. I ordered my burger medium well and it was done to my liking. The fries where crisp and hot, just the way I like it. Big portion, which I could not finish and took the rest home. Price: $16, plus tax. A little more than I usually pay for lunch, but so tasty and so worth it. Would I return? absolutely. Next time I will try their dinner menu. Would I recommend this restaurant? absolutely, hands down. I am not a drinker, so I did not try their wines, but I heard that they have quite a selection for your pleasure. At all my meals I order water with lemon. It was quite tasty here with no after taste from the water like some other places. It tasted crisp, clear and refreshing, like water should be. I live in Middletown and have passed many times by Esca, and it is always full. They do have outside seating, which is blocked off from the sidewalk and people to give you some privacy. I always see people sitting outside enjoying drinks, food, friends and laughter. They have happy hour, sit down dining and even catered parties. Parking is street parking and metered and at times, depending on what is happening in Middletown, is hard to find at times. But behind the restaurant with entrance on Washington Street, there is a public parking, metered, with additional parking If you haven't dined at Esca's, well you should. You will be glad you did! Final rating = 4.5*. I would have given them 5*, if the soup was a little hotter, like I like it. Miriam #travelingtheworldwithmiriam

Assorted Gelato & Sorbet
Kate L.

Review purely on the food. Have been in here a few times. Sat at the bar this time. Was pretty late. So happy they had food. Bartender was so sweet. I got the grilled octopus and boyfriend got steak bruschetta app. His dish was massive. Nice portion. Octopus was good. Got a scoop of gelato for dessert. Their food here is fine. Nothing spectacular to me.

Linguine & Clams
Angela A.

The restaurant itself is so cute inside. We were seated in the perfect spot, in front of large windows. The server was great! Super attentive and helpful when ordering drinks and our meal. The chef did an outstanding job with our octopus and pasta orders. The scallops were perfect and worth the price!

Lea F.

Located right on Main Street in Middletown, this is the perfect place for an elevated yet intimate night out. We made reservations for a Saturday night at 5:30pm. While it wasn't busy when we arrived, the place was full as we were leaving. Staff was attentive. The setup of the space is unique, with two levels and a rock wall at the bar. Drinks were well made. We ordered calamari, rigatoni bolognese, and spaghetti pomodoro. My friend and I both agreed that there was nothing special about our pasta dishes, but still enjoyed it. It can be pricey here, so this is definitely somewhere to go for special occasions. I did wish there was a side house salad or soup included with my meal. Their lunch specials and brunch look pretty good, so I'll come back and try that!

Pomegranate martini
Jennifer B.

Stopped by for happy hour and was not disappointed! $7 martinis. Ummm....yes please! Absolutely delish. The limoncello martini was perfectly sweet. Nice and refreshing on a hot day. Parmigiano fries and caprese salad were perfect size and price for happy hour. Fries were phenomenal! We sat outside in the beautiful weather. Located right on Main Street so you don't miss the action. Surprisingly it wasn't too loud. Great atmosphere all around. Servers were amazing! Very attentive and friendly. One kept our water glasses full and another kept our martinis coming. Waiter had expert knowledge of food and drinks. They way he explained the food was like listening to an expert on Food Network. Definitely going back!!!

Calamari Fritti

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10 months ago

2 flies in my martini followed by a hair in my friend's French fries. Absolutely disgusting and no apologies from management or comped food.

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The Library Wine Bar & Bistro - Nachos

The Library Wine Bar & Bistro

3.6(359 reviews)
11.4 mi
•$$

Great spot for lunch with coworkers--delicious food, friendly staff, and quick service! The salmon…read morewith the rasberry sauce on top was to die for !

My expectations were high for this place. The ambiance, decor and location are all on point. Cozy,…read morechic, New England vibes. My friend and I started with a glass of wine, and the service in the beginning was good. However things quickly went downhill. This library proves you can't judge a book by its cover. We ordered the calamari appetizer. When it arrived, I opened my silverware from the napkin and discovered that my fork was filthy-- a giant glob of white, crusty food, the size of a dime, was still stuck between the prongs. I waited for my waitress to check in (she didn't deliver the food) but she never came. We tried to get the attention of another waitress and were ignored. After 10 minutes, with my calamari growing cold, I eventually walked to the bar to get a replacement. The bartended exclaimed, "Gross!" -- my sentiments exactly-- when I showed him the fork. By the time I actually sat down to eat, the calamari was cold. It was also super tough and chewy. There were hardly any peppers. We didn't eat much of it. I love French food, and I ordered the duck for dinner. I ordered it medium. When it arrived, it was cooked well done- perhaps in an oven rather than seared. I say this because the skin was not crispy and the fat had not rendered, so the skin/fat remained thick, chewy and inedible. Usually the crispy skin is the best part of duck, so I was disappointed. I had to cut off the skin and thick layer of fat to make it edible. It tasted quite gamey and there was no pink center. It came sliced into thirds, so they knew it was overcooked when they served it to me. I only ate a small portion. The rest of my dish (which came out looking stunning by the way) was also a big disappointment. Although it looked beautiful at first glance, I discovered the delicata squash still had the rough, inedible skin attached. The cherry sauce was heavy-handed and drowned my brussel sprouts, sweet potato purée and carrots to the point that all I could taste was the sauce (a thick, sugary glaze). I did my best to eat around it, because my waitress didn't check on us until much later. In fact we were basically done by the time I saw her again. I had given up at that point and left most of my food behind. There was also an issue with where we were seated. We had a small table in front of a window, but completely blocking a much larger table in a narrow corner. There was a family there when we arrived, and each time they got up to use the bathroom, I had someone's body pressed against my chair to squeeze by. A woman's behind actually grazed the back of my head at one point. When the family left, I could feel them brushing my coat off the back of my chair, resulting in them stepping on it. I can't blame them- it was a tight spot and a very awkward place for a table. I was annoyed that the waitstaff (I'm assuming) took the other chairs at my table, making a 4 seat table into a 2 seater, so I had no choice in where to sit. I didn't understand why they did this, because there was a lovely fireplace nearby and I had my back to it all night. Clearly, they weren't thinking about the dining experience from the customer's point of view. Maybe I could have switched tables but finding my waitress was like trying to find Waldo all evening, so it wasn't worth the hassle. Safe to say I won't be back. If you decide to try it out, be sure to get there early as parking is a pain to find at peak dinner hours.

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Esca Restaurant & Wine Bar - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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