We love it here!! Just about 6 miles from our home... easy to get to and ample parking... when you walk in - the pizza aroma greets you and beckons you to sit and relax!! We had a couple of the smaller pizzas and they were delicious and so fresh!! Hot out of the oven beats delivery every time!! We had a red roasted pepper and pepperoni and a white with fresh tomatoes, artichokes, basil and chicken!! Out of this world delicious!! Cannot wait to go back!! read more

The pasta dishes here are very tasty. The wraps are pretty average/plain. A lot of the desserts advertised look pre packaged but the truffle we ordered was good. Service could be better- we ordered at the cash register after sitting at a table for a little while without being helped. The waiters we have had seem mostly somewhat inexperienced. We go here a few times a year because it is a convenient spot in the center of town. Parking in front is very limited but there is a much larger open lot in the back. I would also say it is somewhat on the expensive side for a cafe, though some of this may have to do with the pasta being very fresh. It can be a bit loud/echoey, probably not a great location for large parties. read more

See all

Not only is the atmosphere vibrant and lively, but so is the food! Simple, clean and fresh. Those are the first three words that come to mind when eating at Half Moon Cafe. I love getting the fresh sea scallops on top of the garden salad. Perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. Best place to bring someone special on a date, or a casual meal with your favorite book. read more

Great food, service, and dining experience! Love stopping into Half Moon whether it's for a quick lunch or dinner with friends. This quaint local spot is a hidden gem tucked away on Main Street in downtown Wallingford. The waitstaff is friendly, polite, and eager to serve! Instead of your typically free bread or garlic knot filler, Half Moon provides fresh-made handheld pizza squares before each meal- an unforgettable twist before diving into your meal! Everything on the menu hits! From soup, salads, wraps and sandwiches to their delicious gourmet pizza you can't go wrong stopping here for your next meal! read more

See all

Food was excellent, atmosphere was beautiful. Just go for the doors and you'll be amazed. The food was delicious. I recommend to all to try. read more

Half Moon Coffee and Grille Cafe - Chicken breast so plump and juicy with grilled zucchini was excellent - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

The pizza is okay but I won't go out of my way to eat here or get take out. I've also tried their wraps and have gotten food poising every single time I have. Customer service is okay, cute place inside, lots of space to sit, they sell coffee but doesn't taste good the way they make it, and overall just not a place I would pick. read more

If you happen to find yourself in Wallingford, Half Moon Cafe is a great spot for a solid meal! Their pizza is EXCELLENT, and they also have very good paninis. I generally get the "Classica" panini which is just ham and mozzarella, but it's delicious. This last time I went, I ordered the Pasta Pomodoro, which was simple but good. I've always found the staff to be friendly, and the service to be quick, even on a busy night. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. On Thursday nights during the spring/summer, a DJ sets up outside and so you can sit and enjoy the music. It's also BYOB. Overall I'd say one of Wallingford's better restaurants, and certainly one of the most popular. read more

Half Moon Coffee and Grille Cafe - Pasta Pomodoro - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

Half Moon has been one of my favorite spots for years... except it's been years since I've visited! My coworkers and I used to come weekly back when I worked in the area, and just the other day we decided to have a little reunion. Half Moon is BYOB so we brought a bottle of wine and the staff graciously brought over some glasses of wine. When I used to visit, I always ordered the Panini Classica which is a ham & mozz panini. It's nothing fancy but it's so good! And the bread it comes on... amazing! Of course I had to order it today. Also, get the fries. They're very crispy and really something special! Our waiter also recommended this incredible dessert that was a beautiful cross between cannoli and tiramisu. Of course, I don't remember what it was called but come here and get it to change your life! read more

See all

Ordered the Roast Beef Panini - waitress asked for meat temperature & I asked for Rare to Medium Rare - 1st sandwich came out and meat was Well Done! I mean DEAD & dry! Asked waitress if there was any beef that wasn't this well done. She offered to have it remade and 2nd came out just as bad except for one small circle of pink. I don't really eat bread so I just ate a little of the meat & cheese. Set aside the tomato with core and the bread. Honestly beef had no flavor and was dry but I was hungry. And I know it was a Saturday night, but service was extremely slow. read more

See all

Update: I added a star because I tried this place again. My family insisted we come here and I yielded to the majority. Although I'm still not "over the moon" about this place, this time was a bit less chaotic than my last visit. The service was better. I still feel the set up is awkward, the "half" service is counterproductive. We all got salads and they were pretty good. Half Moon now has two stars surrounding it! Lesson learned: give a lame place another chance. Original review: I've been to the Half Moon on several occasions and it's usually been "ok". I've never been over the moon about this joint but left satisfied. This last time though was downright unpleasant.. We went on a Saturday night at about 6:00... like the most popular time to go to dinner, so I'll take responsibility for that choice. But, that said, the place was a madhouse. The tables are so close together, my back ACTUALLY TOUCHED the woman behind me at the next table. The four tops were so small, our party could barely fit at our table and we were crammed in front of a condiment station. Good luck getting anything from there! Please reconfigure your tables so patrons aren't on top of one another. It's awkward to order... they have counter service but servers also so we were confused. A ditzy server came to take our order after we got up and down several times. I ordered Earl Grey tea and she said they didn't have any. I said, well, it's on the menu and I see some behind the counter. Her response? "Oh...". Then, my table mates ordered pizza and salad. People were squeezing by constantly trying to weave their way thru the maze of clustered tables. When the pizzas finally arrived, the waitress put the hot pan on the edge of the table with 1/2 of it hanging off. Not only was that weird and uncomfortable but it was also hazardous. So I go, "do you have a pizza rack so we can put them in the middle? This looks dangerous." She said that the racks they had sometimes toppled over (what?) but I said we'd take our chances because it couldn't be more precarious that the pans sticking out into the crowded aisle! I had no appetite because I was perturbed, claustrophobic and disappointed. I munched on a small, bland muffin and sipped tea while the rest of the group ate. They seemed to like the pizza. When the people next to us got up to leave, the lady behind me bumped my head when she put on her coat. I couldn't wait to get out of there! Maybe in the spring when folks can sit outside, it may be more comfortable, but that night it was miserable and deafening loud. I wouldn't go back in the evening, if at all. Maybe after the winter thaw, I'll see how I feel. Can I give half a star to Half Moon half a star? read more

See all

Happened to be out in Wallingford and wanted to get a quick bite to eat for lunch. Stopped in this joint and sure glad we did. The service and food was great. Person size pies but more than enough for 2 people. The service was very attentive and quick. Would highly recommend this spot for any meal. read more

See all

This place is AWESOME! Stefano & his team of lovely servers hosted my mother & stepfather's wedding party & the event could not have been better! The organization Half Moon offered the day of was great! Food was prepped, cooked, & set out on our beautiful buffet style offering tables exactly as planned. It was DELICIOUS & beautiful as well. The well planned set up was easy to access & provided a wonderfully casual flow for all the guests as we moved through each food station & mingled. Wine, coffee, tea, & cocktails were plentiful as well. We had a comedian come in for our entertainment as well & it was great! We fit 75 people in the front space for his live performance!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HALF MOON & Stefano (owner/chef) for your & your family's events too! read more

See all

We really recommend this place. All the young staff are attentive and friendly. We usually order the same thing, but everyone loves whatever they order. We usually get the Tuscany panini and the blackened tuna caesar salad. The portions are large - you will never leave hungry. AND a basket of little pizza squares is provided instead of bread to complement the meal. We have also had their pizza and according to my New York friend, it rivals the best pizza in NYC! read more

Food is always fresh and delicious, with a number of additional options for their daily specials. Pick-up is fast and easy, and the service great. read more

I love this place! They are so good to me! I only have gotten take out, but I call in advance and it's almost always ready when I get there. Super friendly on the phone too. read more

I don't really like giving this place 3 stars because it's definitely a cute nook in Wallingford and I know we don't have many but there are few things for this rating. 1) It was a busy night, my entire party wasn't with me but we got our orders in and paid for our meals ahead of everyone else - now time to search for a table. Right off the bat, we were bombarded by a waitress because we were looking for a table to accommodate 3 people. She didn't originally listen when I said to her "We're a party of 3", she had to make sure that she finished her sentence in a certain tone: "I have a group of 4 looking at these larger tables in the back so if you want to sit back here, you would need to sit at the 2 person tables." Seriously now, you could've saved an entire 20 seconds of breath if you just listened when I told you that my party was 3, not just 2. I repeated; she replied, "Oh." 2) To be honest, I never enjoy the food here. The only thing that I do love is their pizza. It's fantastic. It's savory. And the cheese smells so good! This time, though, I ordered the Caesar salad. It would've been great if they didn't douse each lettuce leaf with the dressing. On top of that, they gave me even more dressing on the side. What am I going to do with this when I'm already swimming?! 3) I really hate that they have such a generic menu. It literally took so long to choose what I wanted to eat because nothing was appetizing. What they do have is a big specials menus. Why can't you just add some of your specials to your permanent menu? Overall, like I said before, I hate to give this place 3 stars. It has potential to be better. The cashiers and staff behind the counter are darling. The location is absolutely fantastic. It just seems like they definitely need an upgrade on their food! Until then, 3/5 for me. read more

family owned place, great food! authentic italian food! try it out for yourself don't trust the reviews

I use to enjoy coming to Half Moon since their food is decent and their portion sizes are generous. Over the course of the last year, the restaurant has been taking a nose-dive when it comes to service in-house. This tends to be the case during dinner time as many other Yelpers have noted when the chairs and tables are rearranged to cram together uncomfortably. The last time I was here I was with a party of four and one of the servers showed us to a table that was free (some are often reserved). Another server then came up and aggressively told us "you know you have to order up at the cash register right?" She then continued to point and yell "over there, don't sit until you order." When one of our party members then stated "oh sorry, we didn't know," the server gave us a dirty look and walked away. This has not just been a one off incident either. I have come back periodically through the year at different times of day and have gotten this type of attitude from different servers. The kitchen food continues to be good, especially the pizza, but I think I'll order to-go from here on out. read more

I met a friend here for a late lunch/early dinner on a friday afternoon. Being that it was about 3:30, there were plenty of parking spaces in front. We sat down quickly and the server greeted us and brought a menu. She was very friendly and a bit quirky. She didnt seem knowledgeable of the menu, but had to read it to know what we were ordering. She forgot to get us drinks, but soon remembered and she was back! She was older and very sweet. My friend got a ceasar salad with grilled chicken, she says she gets every time. She couldn't finish and brought some home. I got the cajun chicken wrap. It was a special, with apples, gorgonzola, and kale. It came with pasta salad. The wrap was delicious although I dont know what was cajun about it. I expect a bit of spice but only tasted the gorgonzola. It was good and I left none behind. The pasta salad was good, simple with carrots. By the time we left our server had finished her shift. She said goodbye to us as she walked out. The dinner shift was younger, teenage servers. They were all attentive, cleaning up, bringing us boxes, and the check. Its a nice cozy place and the food was pretty good. I'll be back! read more

I come here often because it's in the center of town and is just very close to my place. They have great outdoor seating that views the whole center of town and they are located in such a great area, next to the candy shop and the library. I get their chicken Cesar salad and their fries are soooo yummy and crispy! I love getting the salad too, the dressing is super creamy! They're a fun place to dine at. A but too cold to sit outside right now, but definitely a good spot to dine at in Wallingford. read more

Always the very best pizza no matter what kind...red or white pies!! The toppings are always fresh and delicious!! We usually get the white pie with fresh tomato, Artichoke hearts and fresh grilled chicken! Its always delicious and always fresh !! The girls behind the counter are the best!! We have been going to the Half Moon for years and it only gets better!!! read more

Half Moon Coffee and Grille Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

a spur of the moment decision to grab a bottle of wine and head over. So glad we did. We have never had a bad experience here. We know how the tables work, the ordering up-front and kind of listening to the hustle and bustle of the staff. Thats what the ambiance is al about. Most times I go I ask for them to make a simple grilled salmon over vegetables or a salad - never has this been an issue - and its always so so good! My wife likes the gnocchi and I admit taking a forkful or two! We had a most pleasant evening, chatted with some of the staff as they hustled by! read more

I was served almost raw chicken. They recooked the wrap and it looked undercooked again. I would most certainly not recommend.

Terrible terrible service!! Great food. Wont return due to pandemic or service. In particular middle aged man working Thursday at 1pm. We all have things going on in our lives...if I as a therapist must be calm cool collected and provide excellent care 24/7 I except that from a waiter/service worker. Sad never will return read more

Can't lie, the place made a solid pie. Wasn't the best thing ever but you know I cant really complain. There was also a really nice old lady who worked there. I would love to see her again, lovely woman. read more

5 million stars! You can throw a dart and hit a delicious menu item. Pizza is the best around and that's saying something with loads of pizza joints in Wallingford and Ew Haven right down the road. You should definitely eat here today. read more

Vero ed autentico ristorante italiano. Da consigliare I primi piatti. Lo chef Stefano conosce bene il suo mestiere

I go here a lot for coffee and a muffin, for lunch, and for dinner. It's kind of the go-to place in Wallingford. I agree with many of the other reviewers; the service is nothing to brag about and, until you're a frequent patron, you can feel very unloved! If you don't know about the odd practice of ordering at the counter and then sitting down to have your food delivered to you, it can be mystifying - you can sit at a table for a long time and no one will come over to instruct you as to how to get served. It's a quirky place, to be sure. However, I disagree with anyone who puts down the food. Everything is amazing. The pizza, which you can buy by the slice, is fabulous; thin crust, crisp, flavorful. The salads are wonderful (the House salad is huge and if you order it with gorgonzola it's practically a meal in itself). Appetizers are large enough to be meals, meals are delicious. They menu has a huge variety; you can get wraps and salads all the way up to pasta dishes and seafood. In fact, the only thing I have ever had there that I don't care for is the pasta salad they serve with sandwiches but you can substitute the best french fries in Wallingford for a buck or so more. Desserts are made by a local Italian bakery and there is always gelato. In the morning, Half Moon is a coffee bar with the full array of coffees, lattes, chai, etc. They have been smart in not applying for a liquor license; it's BYOB which helps to keep the expense of a meal down. I've never been rushed; once I've gotten a table (not always easy without a reservation), you can sit all night. They provide wine glasses and there is no corkage fee. It's a rare night that every table isn't occupied between 6 and 8pm. There is outdoor seating on the sidewalk (just a few tables so you can't count on getting one). Yeah, I wish the wait staff would get the chip off their collective shoulder but after a while, it just becomes part of the charm. And to the person who commented on the tip jar at the counter, you can always tip on your way out; the service doesn't improve or get worse because you threw some money in the jar! read more

The food is excellent and reasonably priced. However the staff can be so rude that it is just annoying to dine in. If you go on a busy night grabbing a table can be difficult and as other reviewers said it can be squishy. I personally would not entertain a group larger than 6 here. If ordering pick up check your order before you leave! On more than one occasion our to go orders were incorrect and it's a frustrating surprise when you've already driven home... Oops. read more

Half Moon Coffee and Grille Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

I've only been here once but I will definitely be returning. I ordered the Chicken Caesar Wrap and it was deliciously fresh. It was served with a side of pasta salad, which was perfect with the wrap. The only negative comment I have is that they tend to take long making the food, but if you're patient then it's worth it in the end. read more

Half Moon Coffee and Grille Cafe - Chicken Caesar wrap :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

I miss walking to the Half Moon for a soy chai or a redeye. Decent tea and coffee. They also serve lunch and dinner. Excellent salad's and the pizza is quite good. My favorite is the pie with onions and gorgonzola. Can be tough to score a table on the weekend. Also you have to stand in line and order at the register. Sometimes the waitstaff is confused and will take an insane amount of time to find and deliver your food. read more

Half Moon Coffee and Grille Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

See all

I hope you like hair in your food. I eat here maybe once a month and love the food. However, I have found hair in food twice recently in the same month. I pulled a long black hair out of my panini and a week later found hair on my pasta salad. This is unacceptable. It's 2018, make a website for your restaurant. You offer great specials that are no where to be found on your printed menu and you have to search online to find a user uploaded picture of your specials menu from over a year ago. Wear hairnets and join the 21st century and make a website. read more

The food is generally good/delish. So what's the problem? No wait staff or restaurant, in general, is perfect, but Half Moon is very nice.

This was an easy one to rate. We ate here last week, sat outside and enjoyed a very pleasant meal. All 3 of us enjoyed our paninis. Generous size, fresh ingredients. Service was very good. BYOB is not a big deal. Will definitely come back. read more

Been here plenty of times and we even used them for catering at a family party. This review is about the restaurant. First I like the atmosphere mostly. On busy days it can get quite cramped, especially with kids and the back is a bit close to the bathrooms. The patio is small but nice in warmer weather. The staff is usually friendly and attentive for the most part. You order at the counter, sit and the runners come and bring the food to you. They don't wait on you like traditional waiters. Different but efficient. The only trouble is sometimes you have to flag people down when you need something. The food is good and they have large portions. It's a mix of nationalities so hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. Perhaps mix of Mediterranean. I think their pizza is underrated. I find it quite tasty and a really good level of thickness which many struggle to get right. They also have a very large Snapple selection if that is your thing and are byob which is always awesome. Wine shop around the corner so you can't lose. No cork fee. read more

I haven't been to this establishment in a while. During my last visit I swore I wouldn't be back because there are so many other great places to go. This time I stopped for two pizza slices as it was on my way home. The plain cheese pizza slice was surprisingly good. The crust was good with good chew and a pleasing texture. The chicken pizza slice would have been good except the chicken pieces were hard and not edible. It was a white pie so it looked good but something went wrong. It's interesting to read the other reviews regarding the sub-par service and know they were spot on. A nice young lady came out of the kitchen door while I was at the counter and I said hello. She said hello and then proceeded to chat with another wait person while I waited at the counter for the right person to take my order. The woman that took my order had been chatting with yet another server about 7 feet from me. It's a little uncomfortable for a customer to not know where to go and who will serve you. You know what I mean. I was standing at the cash register for God's sake. All this was fine but felt what I call "amateur". They need more professional restaurant personnel in the front-of-house. This trip almost got a 2 star rating. The two is for the poppyseed danish I tried to eat the next day. Now I love me some poppyseeds so it looked good and I decided to give it a try. It was wrapped in plastic (freshness alert). That thing should have been thrown out or used to feed livestock well before I wasted money on it. Even if it we're fresh the texture was off and it had a manufactured taste. The real rating should be 2.5. read more

Great little cafe for afternoon lunch with limited outdoor seating. The food is great - they have a huge selection and quick service. I love the spinach wrap and enjoyed some gelato today as well. Definitely one of my go to lunch spots in Wallingford! The only reason I went for a 3 star review is the service (specifically the attitude of the staff members). They are not helpful and are often very rude. If you can get past that, the food is worth the stop. read more

This place is awesome! Food was good for a cafe and prices were insanely reasonable. 7 bucks for a 12" cheese pizza! That is the best you will find around. Wraps and fries were on the average side for pricing. Parking is a nightmare infront, but you can park in back of the plaza and cut through the alleyway. Restroom was clean. Very clean. Staff was extremely nice; however, one of them reached on the wall behind me to grab something and saw I was yelping and said excuse me in a very shocked and "what are you doing" type manner. Maybe I am just paranoid, but I felt like it was a taboo to be taking photos while in this place.... Seating is a bit tough here. There are about 10-20 tables inside and 2 outside, but their food is very easy for takeout. Need more proof of the food? As always, check out my pics. read more

See all

Stopped in for dessert - this is on a quant 'main street' boulevard, great place to walk off dinner! Had the Mimosa cake, a huge slice, definitely enough for two+ ! The sponge cake cubes on top were a little dried out, but the rest made up for it, nice fruit layer, like 'Jello salad' in between two sponge cake layers. There were about a half dozen other pastries, nothing that got my attention, and they have gelato, but none of those (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, etc.) stirred my imagination, either. Maybe I was just too full from the huge dinner I had down the hill at Knuckleheads. ;) Sumatra coffee was luscious! read more

Half Moon Coffee and Grille Cafe - Had to sit in the back ;) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

I'm torn. 5 stars for the food and the tea.. 1 star for the absolutely terrible service. First things first- we came for the pesto pizza and it did not disappoint. However, I was so disappointed with the terrible service. The girls were soooo busy gossiping about the customers sitting outside. Which as a customer made me feel uncomfortable. Thought about approaching the man who seemed to be in charge.. However he was too busy scolding another employee who couldn't seem to get her clock in to work.. Probably will avoid this place in the future even though the food was good.. Major bummer. read more