"A Gift of Italy" My birthday gift from my wife this year was a dinner of my choice. We had never been to L'Orcio and it's been on my list of restaurants for a while. It was the perfect gift of Italy in every way. We were seated in the secluded garden behind the restaurant. It's so beautiful, you don't feel like you're in New Haven anymore. Seated under a pergola with flowers hanging down, flower beds around us, a beautiful lion head fountain, and surrounded by the architecture of old brick buildings. We felt like we were dining on someone's patio in Italy. While we were looking over the menu, the waitstaff would walk by with customers appetizers and dinners. I was trying to get a glimpse of every dish that came by our table. Everything smelled so good, it was like going to my nonnie's house when I was a kid. Our night began with a beer for my wife and a Manhattan for myself. Very good manhattan by the way. Everything looked so good on the menu and it took us a while to decide, but we finally settled on some great dishes. My wife had the Burrata salad. Burrata cheese, oven roasted tomatoes, olive-caper tapanade and arugula. Delicious ! I had the Polpo Grigliato. Grilled octopus with string bean potato salad, in-house roasted peppers, and a balsamic reduction. Loved it! My wife had the Pappardelle al Ragu. Handmade pasta, meat sauce with pork, veal, and beef, tomato and pecorino romano. It tasted as wonderful as it smelled. I had the Costata di Vitello. Veal sauteed in a white wine sauce served with pappardelle tossed in a sausage mushroom sauce with a hint of tomato. Incredible ! I wanted this perfect birthday dinner to continue so we both ordered dessert. My wife had the Crespelle. Crepes stuffed with mascarpone and topped with a mixed berry sauce. I had the Charlotte. Chocolate mousse cake encrusted with rum soaked amaretto cookies and fresh whipped cream on the side. A beautiful setting, beautiful food, and my beautiful wife made for a beautiful birthday. Thank you Nicole read more

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We went here for a birthday dinner and had the gnocchi sorrentino and the mushroom pasta! Both were delicious and the vibes were so fun--it was the perfect way to celebrate my friend :) read more

l'Orcio has been consistently excellent over the many years I have dined here. You can count on fresh, well prepared Italian food, professional service and superb homemade pastas. In the summer months, the backyard garden is a delight. Some dishes I can recommend include the farro salad, the fried sardine appetizer and the roasted vegetables with ricotta spread. Mains: branzino, salmon, pappardelle and gnocchi. Good selection of moderately priced wines. Parking competitive but we always manage to find a spot! Buon appetito! read more

L'Orcio - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I recently returned to L'Orcio after not having been there in years, and it was better than I remembered. We tried the back patio for the first time and loved it. A really nice outdoor space with lots of cozy atmosphere. Everyone at the table loved their food. The pastas were fantastic, all fresh with a lot of nuanced flavor. This is the closest I've gotten to the food on a recent trip to Italy in the local area. Really good. Service was great too. Highly recommend. May just be our favorite Italian restaurant in the area. read more

Food was very good but not particularly special. The patio ambiance was perfect for a warm summer evening. And the service was excellent- attentive but not overly so read more

I cannot put into words how incredible our food was. I mean beyond delectable. Our server was just meh, but people, the food. I can't even. The gnocchi is the best you will have in your entire life. And that includes that we've been to Italy and the gnocchi capital of the world. Seriously amazing. Cocktails are divine. All pasta is handmade in house. Parking is a bit tough but not terrible. But just be prepared it's pretty fancy. read more

$10 pastas on Tuesdays is superb, especially if you compare it to their normal menu. You don't get a huge family portion or anything, but the pasta was cooked perfectly and had delicious bites of sausage coated with cheese. There's a really cute garden area as well, when it's warm enough to sit out there! read more

L'Orcio - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Cool little neighborhood Italian spot that had an authentic feeling to it. Overall, the experience was so-so; it was an experience that was pretty forgettable. Below are my marks for the place Service-4.5; server was attentive, prompt and personable. Ambiance-4; neat little neighborhood joint. My only complaint would be that it felt like I was eating in someone's home more than eating in a restaurant. Food-2.5; meals were hit or miss. The burrata was just okay, nothing to write home about. The gnocchi was actually pretty tasty and I enjoyed thoroughly. Finally the biscotti for dessert was dry and bland, I felt like I was eating saw dust. My suggestion would be to look at other reviews and see what dishes other people liked/didn't like because it seemed it was hit or miss read more

Strange experience.We tried to get reservations for four on Thursday at 5:00. We were told we could come 4:45 because they were booked. Then they called back and said the only time they had was 4:15. We were the only ones there until 4:45 when a party of 2 arrived. At 5:15 another party of two. How stupid ? big portions. Food okay but we were pissed off. read more

I wanted to like this place, I really did! but, as previous reviewers have mentioned, its extremely forgettable, and overpriced. To start with, our waiter just seemed inexperienced and uninterested- he neglected to even introduce himself and we were confused whether he was our server or just someone getting us water to start the meal off with. Had the caprese to start with- the mozzarella was ok, but seriously, I can buy better balsamic and olive oil to drizzle over my own salad at home. I had the spinach ricotta ravioli, and my husband had the oven roasted branzino... if I'm going to pay 30 bucks for an entree, I definitely expect that my food isn't just plopped on a plate with red sauce spilling everywhere. I was pretty taken aback by the randomness of our plating, and the lack of enthusiasm on the part of our waiter. Food tasted fine- average, not stellar but not bad either. Didn't bother wasting money on dessert- the ciao bella gelato they proudly advertised is something I can buy from target. Overall, I'm disappointed at the lackluster service, food, and overall experience given that this place came so highly recommended. I'm not Italian, but I could pretty much recreate this meal at home and make it look prettier. read more

L'Orcio - Spinach ricotta ravioli - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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A gift card for my 25 year old granddaughter's birthday, October 1, 2023, couldn't be "found" despite my numerous contacts with manager ( card was not delivered to my granddaughter, finally deposited at restaurant, despite the correct address, after a long while; nobody could find it.) I was assured Card would be ready for her to use on October 1...they found only one for $15, not the $100 one I ordered, the receipt of which I sent the manager who received it. My granddaughter and her guest were embarrassed by the server ...they paid with their money...reason manager gave me "the computer somehow didn't pick up the 100$ card". Finally , after poor server attitude and humiliation for my granddaughter, and no apology, the card was resent through computer. Very poor service for decent food. read more

Great homemade pasta, the caprese salad has soft and delicious mozzarella, and the tiramisu is one of the best I have had. They have a beautiful outdoor garden perfect for outdoor seating on summer nights. The only big disappointment, and the reason why I gave it 2 stars instead of 4 stars, is because of their reservation policy. They won't allow more than 6 people in a party to sit outside. They explained that they are busy and want to give other people a chance to sit outside. I don't see what the difference is between a party of 8 or two parties of 4. Very big disappointment to be turned down, especially since I have been there numerous times! It's a large outdoor space with plenty of room. read more

L'Orcio - Window seat - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Took my girlfriend here for her birthday and we were not disappointed. The food was pretty solid, the service was great, but the big draw for me was the ambiance. They have a lovely garden area in the back that is perfect for special occasions or a romantic evening. To be honest I probably would not come in the colder months as the interior seemed to be your run of the mill Italian restaurant. If you are going to order drinks I would stick to wine as the cocktails we had were somewhat unimpressive. My biggest gripe was with my entree- I ordered the seafood pasta dish. I am not exaggerating (I actually counted) when I say the dish comprised of 2 clams, 3 pieces of calamari, and 60 mussels. It was a pretty unbalanced proportion and I got sick of eating mussels... so stay away from that dish. read more

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Went here for a friend's birthday recently. I don't usually go out for Italian because I eat pasta at home as often as I can get away with anyway. But I have to say I was very happy with our experience. We had a small group (6 adults and a baby) and were seated right in front of the restaurant with a view of the street. I had 2 really tasty glasses of prosecco (for a very fair $7 each). My boyfriend ordered a meat antipasto dish which I tried a bit of and it was delicious. The prosciutto was like butter - awesome. For my meal, I ordered the calamari over spaghetti. The calamari was cooked perfectly. Not chewy, not rubbery. The sauce was also very good and not just covered in butter/cheese/cream (my preference since I'm lactose intolerant). The meal didn't feel heavy, which I appreciated. The whole table also split some sides including the green beans - also delicious and not smothered in butter! Unfortunately, the dish my boyfriend ordered (lamb or pork?) they realized they were out of right as they were getting our food ready so he had to order another chicken dish. He said it was good, but he had his heart set on the meal he'd ordered. Overall, sure it was a pricey Italian meal, but well worth it and delicious. Bill came to $360 for the 6 people (and 1 baby spaghetti!) including 3 bottles of wine, 4-5 appetizers, 6 main meals and 2 sides. Definitely a nice ambiance, good spot for a fancy date. And the parking is free for said fancy date. read more

There are so many things I have to say about this restaurant...but let me start by saying WOW. Absolutely incredible, I have gone here to sit down a couple of times and tonight decided to get delivery through an app they offer on their website (which is awesome)! Delivery was quick and very pleasant. As we all know when you order delivery sometimes the food tastes different than it does when you get it in house. Well, tonight that was NOT the case. I ordered the Pollo Farcito it was PHENOMENAL so flavorful, the chicken was perfectly cooked and yet so juicy without being squishy, the potatoes were even packed with flavor. Very filling, but doesn't give you that sluggish feeling. We also ordered the Ravioli di Rapine, sausage and broccoli rabe filled ravioli with a roasted garlic cream sauce, I am not usually a fan of sausage but I can honestly say it blew me away. From the pasta to the filling down to the sauce, my mouth is watering just thinking about it! LAST but NOT least, we had to finish it off with a dessert, the Tiramisu was divine! It's been a very long time since I have had Tiramisu done the right way, It was perfect. You can truly tell the chef and kitchen staff put care, time, and effort into what they create. read more

Soooo good Fried sardines to die for Dinner was top notch Service was great! Quality read more

Made reservations earlier in the week on OpenTable for 6:30 party of 2 for last night (a Saturday). Had a hello of a time finding parking, but we called the restaurant at 6:45 to be informed to park across the street in the funeral home parking lot. So thankful for that. When we got inside, we were promptly seated upstairs. I ordered the Limonata cocktail and it was great but not too strong, my husband ordered an Old Fashioned that could have been mixed a little better. We were informed that they ran out of mussels, mussels for the appetizer portion, but still had mussels for the entree....well that's confusing but luckily neither of us planned on getting them. We started by sharing the Antipasto platter ($14) and it was delicious! There is only one bathroom upstairs, I'm assuming unisex. Now we are informed that they ran out of the pork chop. Didn't have my heart set on that either. Our waiter could have been slightly more on the ball, he seemed to be falling all over the party of 6 next to us instead. My second drink that Paloma Italiano was so strong is was hard to get down. At this point my husband got a Captain and Coke for himself. I had the spinach and ricotta ravioli. My husband got the broccoli rabe and sausage ravioli. His were amazing, mine were just ok. Decided to pass on dessert. All in all a nice meal, but a few aspects fell short. read more

L'Orcio - Antipasto platter and Limonata cocktail - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

A genuine Italian cuisine with a nice Italian atmosphere. I was able to come here for the first time with my cousin and her boyfriend. We came because we have never been before, and saw they were having a $10 pasta night on Tuesdays. So we decided to give it a try. Upon arrival, you must park on the street. They get crowded around dinner time, so you'll be in for a walk. But it's not that bad! We had a reservation and were taken in. We saw there was a bar, but the dining room was upstairs. Which makes me question if they have two kitchens, one for lower, and one for upper. Our waitress was very nice and helpful to our needs and questions. I had a delicious glass of Riesling, along with my meal of cavetelli with an eggplant type sauce. Delicious! A salad as well, but that does not come with the meal. So that you must pay extra. Overall, the meal was delicious, and so was the wine. The service on the other hand was iffy. At first our waitress was attentive, but then we noticed it began to slow down a bit because it got busy. She was the only waitress with two runners. With about 10 tables to serve, that's not fair. I think there should be at least two servers for this room since it does crowd up a bit. The chairs, I got really sore on them as well as my company I was dining with. I didn't like how hard they were. I know this is weird sounding but, if I'm going to review, I'm going to be honest. If they have to leave the table before getting the check to stretch, then we have a problem here. I wanted to be comfortable, but sitting on the floor would of been more comfortable. I also noticed next to me, there was what seems to be a towel covering the window for a shade? I was very confused by this because with the amount of people coming in, I thought maybe blinds would be better. But again, just being honest! Overall, great restaurant. Most likely will return for pasta night to try another dish. read more

Service -awful. Saw the server twice the entire time we were there and was ignored most of the time. Food- amazing, Gnocchi is to die for and the best I've ever had. Pesto fuseli was delicious. Atmosphere- esthetic was nice but there was no music read more

Overall good experience. Sat upstairs which was very lovely. Waitress was very attentive and knowledgeable. Had a reservation for our party of 9. Loved that they sat us at a round table which made it very easy to talk to everyone. Felt like the menu was limited. Food was good but wished there were more choices. I had the Branzino with fennel squash tomato and potatoes. Really enjoyed it. read more

My fiancé and I went on a Saturday afternoon at 4:30pm and they weren't busy which is expected coz too early for dinner. Got the formaggi for appetizer and I really loved the cheeses (truffle and aged cow's milk) partnered with the homemade honey and fresh bread. As an entree I got one of their specials which is the veal saltimbocca with spinach and unfortunately I didn't like it. Way too salty! My fiancé had the pappardelle ala ragu which is one of the popular dishes and he said he had better . Anyway, a little disappointed as this place came highly recommended by a friend. Service was really good though. read more

Nice little spot. Good food, good service, great ambiance. Lovely little spot on State St.

They make their pasta homemade and on Tuesday you can get a pasta dish for $10.The pasta was delicious.They also have outside seating in the summertime in a cute garden. read more

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Good restaurant with prompt service. The ambiance is casual and the entire place is on the small side. Food a bit salty but still tasty. I would definitely go back. read more

L'Orcio's has way to pretty an entrance not to stop and take a picture of the most gorgeous Hydrangeas I've seen in the area. Cape Cod worthy Hydrangea's...an east coaster will clearly know! And so the food matched the exquisite ambiance for the entry and rooms...delicious with no criticism or advise to change or do anything differently. Oh, and the price certainly did not reflect the quality of the food....(shhhh!) anywhere else we'd pay quite a bit more. Our complete dinner with tip, 2 drinks, a shared appetizer, 2 entrees, a bottle of San Pellegrino, espresso, Cappuccino & desert order of biscotti was $101.00. A real tasty deal! Our dinner choices were specials this evening & quite delicious. Spaghetti with Lemon Shrimp in a light cream sauce with lemon zest and Bronzino with roasted potatoes & spinach were our entrees. Most generous with their portions. An elegant, honest and fresh cuisine restaurant...clean & most attentive servers! read more

Great food, great service, awesome outdoor patio. I went with three friends and everyone loved their food and drinks. The chocolate martini was so smooth and tasty. I loved the lemon chicken dish, croquettes, and eggplant parmigiana special. read more

We were taken here as out of towners by our hosts. I got the chicken stuffed with creamed spinach and it was divine. We sat outside and the ambiance was wonderful. I didn't love the croquettes but other appetizers looked really good. The tiramisu and cheesecake with chocolate crust were delicious to end our meal. We had a great time. read more

Good portions. Food is well prepared and presented. Server seemed to be just going through the motions. Fair value.

I like medium dlamb chops, very juicy. Lettuce with shrimps are fresh. Pasta is great too. But bread tastes just soso read more

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So many good Italian food options in and around New Haven.. add L'Orcio to the list. The back patio is a nice touch for outdoor seating. The food matches. We had the salmon and gnocchi and it was amazing. Whatever cream type sauce that came with it was heaven on a plate. Try this place if you venture away from Little Italy/Wooster St. read more

Delicious food here and great service! Not to mention an unbeatable glass of white wine. The ambience too, was lovely for a night out in July. I highly recommend this place for date nights or even just for a place to come and have a glass of chilled wine! read more

L'Orcio's outdoor dining handles social distancing very well; it's the only restaurant I've sat down for a meal at during this quarantine. The tables are spread out, and waiters wear masks. Although some music would've been nice! I would have had a great experience, but the lamb (which was a pretty expensive menu item) just had too much fat that hadn't been trimmed or rendered. I like lamb fatty, but this was just too much unrendered fat. Grilled octopus appetizer and lobster ravioli were both yum. read more

Granted, it was Restaurant Week. The service was inattentive and slow even though there were empty tables. The appetizers, gnocchi a la vodka and grilled octopus, were nicely done. The entrees were just ok. The veal saltimbocca and sautéed chicken and spinach, were both uninspired and almost bland. We should have gone to Adriana's or Goodfella's read more

Appertizers on their Specials were very good. We waited 1 hour and 30 minutes for our entrees. Order rabbit special and wife ordered the sea bass special; both were over cooked. Big disappointment on our wedding anniversary July 15, 2017. I gave one for apps. Waiter was very nice and he keep coming over to tell that our food would out 5 minutes. An expensive evening. read more

One of my favorite Italian spots in New Haven. The gnocchi is like little clouds of pasta that melt in your mouth and never disappoints. Don't miss out on getting a spot in their back patio, it is cute and very personal. read more

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This is one of the BEST Italian restaurants EVER! Just like an amazing Italian Grandmother prepares a meal. The lightest, fluffiest gnocchi. The best I've had next to my Nana's. The ambiance is quaint and cozy. Located on a lovely block in New Haven. Service is warm and friendly, cocktails r very nice. I would recommend reservations as it is a small place & can get very crowded. Ask for the upstairs window table. Parking is sparse, but totally worth it!!! read more

This was my first time visiting L'Orcio. I have been told a hundred times from my friends that L'Orcio is the best PASTA restaurant in New Haven. I'll only review based on my experience, which only ordered various pasta menus but no other dishes. Yes, my friends were right. The handmade gnocchi and ravioli gave us unique and fascinating experience. Couldn't guess how they make the pasta absorb the sauce so deeply. It was just so well harmonized pasta with the sauce. I loved SPAGHETTI AI FRUTTI DI MARE most. Lots of mussels, oil-based tomato sauce, and well cooked spaghetti. I would just say 'the best.' The most interesting thing was that all workers exactly knew how to handle the flood of ordering. It is only 10$ per any kind of pasta on Tuesday so there are so many customers on Tuesday. Still, I did not wait for too long the food served, which was absolutely due to their skilled service. You know what. Right after leaving this restaurant, I just made another reservation for next Tuesday. It was just wonderful. read more

L'Orcio - SPAGHETTI AI FRUTTI DI MARE. Fantastic. - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

L'orcio is a little known gem in New Haven! I was surprised to find such upscale and delicious Italian food in such an unassuming place! I ventured to the contemporary restaurant for my birthday, and definitely had a wonderful time :). We were greeted and seated within minutes of our arrival, at a quiet, candle lit table on the second floor. The ambiance was romantic in a way, however it's a great place for large parties as well (given the stellar service and quite large portion sizes). For starters, we shared the caprese - a fresh plate of tomato, mozzarella, and basil. The entrees I've tried are the: - Ravioli di Cime di Rape, which is a large plate of handmade ravioli filled with sausage and broccoli, roasted garlic cream sauce, and pecorino romano (a special cheese). It was amaZING... Kind of like the idea of butter melting, except better! You had to be there. - Spaghetti ai Frutti de Mare, which is a conglomeration of awesomeness in a large bowl of awesome sauce! But really, it's an epic dish of Spaghetti tossed in tomato, elegant seasons, mussels, cockles, and calamari, that absolutely melts in your mouth. I never knew spaghetti could taste THIS good. Dessert was the Charlotte Mousse Cake, which features amaretto cookies soaked in rum! Mine came with a lit candle, and a sweet "Happy Birthday" message from the waitress. All in all, L'orcio was a pleasure! I had a great time and will be returning again! Ciao! read more

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L'Orcio is one of the best restaurants in New Haven, and I'm sad to have discovered it during my last year in town. I've been twice now, once for a romantic dinner, and once with a group of seven of mixed family and friends, and both visits were just fantastic. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere is warm and relaxing and begs for a glass of wine. I love the rustic appearance from outside, with the hanging sign depicting an urn reminiscent of Pooh's honey jar. The interior is simple and elegant, nice enough for a leisurely date but casual enough for a family dinner or a simple meal any day of the week. The prices are moderate - if you go for lunch or stick to the pasta menu at dinner, you can get out for under $20 a head. Pastas are even offered in sizable half portions. The food is generally stellar, and the few exceptions are still pretty good. The bread, for instance - good, but inferior to the carbs to come. All three of the starters I've tried are fantastic. The sardine ripiene is my favorite, a big plate of fresh filleted sardines stuffed with bread crumbs and pan fried in extra virgin olive oil, served on a mixed salad with lemon vinaigrette. This comes with three plump perfectly cooked sardines that are lightly fried to give the outside a little crisp, while leaving the inside soft but meaty. The flavor is deep, smokey, and the good kind of fishy, with a nice heft from the bread crumbs. The greens are lightly dressed and the lemon makes the dish dazzle. The affetato misto comes with prosciutto di parma, salame, capicolio, pecorino, and mixed olives. All of the meat is really quality, the pecorino nice and musty, and I enjoy the tart marinated olives. The insalata di farro, a barley salad with fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, basil and Parmigiano Reggiano, is another winner. It's summery, clean, nutty, and full of flavor. The pasta is amazing. Get the homemade pappardelle. You can substitute it in any pasta dish for an extra $2. The noodles are fresh and cooked beautifully al dente, and the long wide sheets are just irresistible. I've tried the pappardelle ragu, al pomodoro, and con salseccia e cime di rape, and the pasta shines in each. The ragu is a meat sauce made with pork, veal, beef, and tomato, along with a little bit of trace vegetables. It's splendid, hearty and flavorful, and it gets a sprinkle of parmesan. I forked up every last shred of sauce. The basic pappardelle al pomodoro is breathtaking. The tomato basil sauce is flawless, acidic and punchy with a little sweetness, and with heft and creaminess from a dusting of parmesan. The fancier preparation with sausage and broccoli rabe was nice, but a bit too rich due to a cream sauce. The handmade ravioli is also a great choice, though beware - the portions are much smaller, with four large ravioli for a whole order. The pasta is really great, supple with a bit of resistance. The tortelli di zucca has a smooth butternut squash filling and a killer sage butter sauce. The ravioli di aragosta comes with a lobster filling and a whole lot of mixed seafood tossed in a tomato cream sauce. This one is a little bit heavy, and the amount of mussels, cockles, shrimp, and calamari overwhelms the more delicate pasta. The seafood isn't as good as the pasta, so the spaghetti ai frutti di mare, which came with the same assortment tossed with garlic, tomato, and parsley isn't my favorite, though it is good. Of the other pastas I do like the bucatini all'Amatriciana, long tubes of pasta in a smokey tomato sauce with pancetta, onions, and red pepper, topped with parmesan. This is tart and smoky with nice salt from the pancetta and cheese. The only non-pasta entree I've tried is the branzino al frutti di mare, and it isn't as good as the pasta. This is a fillet of sea bass pan sauteed in cherry tomato sauce with cockels, mussels, and shrimp, tossed with cavatelli pasta. The fish is good, but pretty standard, buried in seafood, and even the cavatelli is dense and gluey. I've tried most of the dessert menu and it's all great and worth getting, if not the main event. The lemon tart with fresh kiwi is probably my favorite, nice and refreshing, then the rich, airy, moist charlotte, a chocolate mousse cake with rum-soaked amaretto cookies served with a caramel drizzle and a nice heap of whipped cream. The cheesecake with strawberry is decent, crumbly with a browned top, and the tiramisu is a standard but tasty version of the Italian dessert. Even the flourless chocolate cake, a dessert I tend to avoid because it's almost never good, was dense, moist, and compulsively edible, served with a great hazelnut gelato. If you want to end a fabulous meal on a sweet note, you have many solid options. I am smitten by the welcoming environment and fabulous, affordable food. I dedicate my 700th review to this wonderful restaurant. L'Orcio, may you stay put for any future visits I make to this city. read more

I'm Italian. And being Italian I have a huge Italian family. And my huge Italian family loves to cook.......wait for it......Italian! So when I go out, Italian restaurants are usually not my favorite, especially since I know how much it actually costs them to make the dishes! Italian food has to be one of the cheapest to make. Back in the old days, Polenta was a dish eaten by the poor. It consists of corn meal and water. Now, you'll find it on the menu of some of the fanciest Italian restaurants as a $12 appetizer!!! But I digress, back to business. L'Orcio is small but cozy. In the summer the back outdoor patio is simply awesome. Vines that grow above and around create the feeling like you're sitting on a Tuscan veranda. The menu is simple and ever changing, the sign of a great chef who doesn't like his menu to get stale. Homemade pastas, such as gnocchi or noodles are fresh and always served al dente. Various ravioli's are a house favorite, including rabbit and butternut squash. And the veal is served thin and unbelievably savory. As good as the food is, it's consistent which is one of the most important aspects of a good restaurant; Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes! Pricing and portions are on par with most other Italian restaurants in the New Haven area. Parking is very convenient, there is a lot across the street with saved spots. Overall L'Orcio is a must visit for anyone that loves Italian. It is definitely a league above Brazi and lightyears beyond Goodfellas. The ambiance makes it a great spot to celebrate a birthday, get together after a long week at work or take your significant other out for a splendid meal. read more