This is the second time I've had a problem here. The first time they tried charging me for drinks I never received. Tonight I asked for the Veal Milanese but parmigiana style. The owners wife told me it would cost me 50.00 rather than the 34.00 cost of the Milanese. I said for a scoop of sauce and a slice of cheese? Wow!!! She said "well he really doesn't do that". Ok! It must be so much trouble. They have many other dishes with red sauce. There are plenty of other good places in the area to spend your money!! read more

First time we ate here, food was good, portions are extremely small for an Italian restaurant not something my wife and I are used to. We are not big eaters but whoever heard of an Italian restaurant that serves french portions. The angel hair pasta l ordered looked like it was scooped from an ice cream scooper. We ordered dessert just to have more to eat but after dinner we went through the Burger King Drive-Thru cuz I was still hungry. 6 months later we decided to meet two other couples at the bar before a show. When we arrived dressed in sport jackets, ties and the women wearing dresses, we were told that we cannot sit at the bar, which mind you was totally empty. We were told that the seats were reserved and that we could not sit down, not only that we were nice about the whole thing but the girl was adamant about it and rude, needless to say will not be going back and I can tell you that there are plenty of Italian restaurants in Middletown area that serve normal size portions for the money that are worth the drive from Old Saybrook. read more

Every time we visit La Marea it feels like going to Nana's house for a Sunday dinner. Wonderful owners and awesome food. Be sure to have the cheesecake. Thank you Nino and Juliana! read more

My son asked us what we wanted for Christmas. We said a gift certificate to La Marea! He went there and it was closed, so he bought a visa gif card! We went there for dinner and their system did not take it! Every place should take a visa gift card! The food was good! The service was too good! You couldn't even eat a bite without them asking you how it was! We won't go back! read more

Ordered take out last night - I got the Frutti di Mare w Paccheri Pasta and my husband Fettucine Bolognese. His was one big lump stuck together which, to be fair, was probably due to the take out container - but flavor was off - Chef Boyardee in flavor (we have had this before so we know this dish). Mine had very nice flavor but there were 7 (yes seven) tubes of pasta, 2 shrimp, 2 small scallops and a few muscles. (I actually thought my container was empty it was that lightweight.) For $27, I was hoping for something that would fill me up. (BTW I do not have a big appetite at all - can't eat more than half a burger for dinner.) I know restaurants are struggling but for that price point I was hoping i would not have to dig thru the fridge for something to else to supplement my meal....seriously, pasta does not cost that much. read more

Had dinner here Saturday evening. The experience from beginning to end was excellent! I did receive a call from the owner earlier in the day to make sure that our party was aware of the Masking protocol, which is something that we as a family appreciate. It protects us all. We chose to sit outside, and the way it was set up was beautiful, you felt like you were in a quality setting even being outdoors. Then comes the food! What deliciousness! Everyone at the table was totally satisfied ( even me!) We will be going back. read more

One of our favorites. Great cocktails, superior food and very attentive service. My one tip is if you want bread with your cocktails, ask for it then. Otherwise everything is terrific. read more

Food is tasty, but portions are very small for the price charged. Have also heard that many people have problems with "bar reservations." Atmosphere is great, but there is much better bang for your buck elsewhere. read more

Our family celebrated my sister's (50 something) birthday tonight and La Marea Ristorante made our evening very special. Our meals were fantastic, the service and staff were impeccable. To top it off, Juliana (the owner) gave my sister a beautiful rinestone crown to wear - while she was princess. We had so much fun - thank you everyone I would highly recommend this restaurant for an enjoyable evening of dining. read more

So LaMarea takes "BAR SEAT" reservations when asked if we could stand until someone left we were told "NO" . So we left. Not overly friendly and a tad bit snooty . The Hostess must be the owner because she was not personable at all . Unless she knew you , and would be Fired working anywhere else short of Walmart . With the amount of restaurants in Old Saybrook / Westbrook area I guess they're ABOVE ALL THAT .. NOT A FAN AND WON'T BE BACK read more

We had a group holiday lunch there. I had never been to this restaurant before but the menu and pictures on the website looked great. Unfortunately, I ended up being very disappointed. Although the flavor of the linguini with clams was fine, it wasn't what I would consider spectacular and the portions were tiny for the price and the quality. Others in the group were also dismayed with the size of their portions. Service was pleasant but extremely slow. Some members of the group were also disappointed with the flavor of the specialty drinks that they ordered. read more

Went for Father's Day. Sat outside which was very nice. House salads were skimpy at $9.00/each. The entrees were good, but extremely overpriced. Not worth the $$$$. read more

Amazing dirty martini with stuffed olives. Calamari appetizer was very good cooked perfect. I ordered the rib eye steak medium rare it came out well done. I didnt make a big deal and ate most of it. The waiter took one round of drinks off the bill which was very nice. I just dont understand overcooking a steak from medium rare to well done. Everything else was good but I gave it three stars for the $36.00 steak that was not to my liking. read more

Fantastic homemade pastas, and spectacular pizzas. The owners are very nice and engaging. Make sure you make a reservation, it gets very busy. read more

Made reservation( 3) for 7 pm on a busy hot summer Sunday. Is a Nice large and well appointed restaurant with large attractive bar and ample seating areas. There are quite a few waiters. We waited about 10 min for our table in the very back of the restaurant. Ok table. With tablecloth and nice silverware. Ordered a beer and some waters. Then it took another 15 minutes to place our order. Not exactly speedy at this restaurant. Finally placed order for a house salad , an arugula and prosciutto pizza, a pork chop and 1 lasagna. The food took about 30 minutes to finally arrive. The pork chop was about $30. The pizza was $16. The lasagna about $23. The house salad cost around $10. The food was all properly cooked. The pork chop , large, long bone, juicy and nicely charred. The arugula pizza had a large qty of raw arugula on top of a hot prosciutto and cheese pizza. Very nice. The lasagna was ample, pretty good. But nothing special. All in all pretty pricey food. Portions not large. Even pasta was priced from $24-30! The kitchen cooks well. Service is variable. Prices are high for what they are serving. read more

Ok here's the deal about La Marea, the decor is good, the service is attentive, and the cooking is quite good, albeit a little pricey, but they committed the cardinal sin of delivering me the wrong meal, which led to myself eating after my wife. Also no redress was offered in the form of maybe a dessert. They did give us the go to table when we balked at the wait time. Zero to 5 stars I'll give a 3-1/2 because of the mistake. The maitre noticed my duress and produced the correct meal in the requisite time, but alas too late. read more

I am a fanatic of amazing service and quality food... and I was just simply impressed with the quality of the detail to both at La Marea! From the amazing service provided by Keith to the warm welcome by the owners, who simply made our night. And then there's the food... which was simple but complex in flavors! Thank you for making this meal an unforgettable experience! read more

I really like this place. The entire building and grounds have been remodeled beautifully. We normally sit at the bar and Jeremy is the best. Good selection of domestic and craft beer bottles and draft. Note: Jeremy is known for a fine collection of bitters. Bathrooms are very clean. The food ranges from pizza (very good) to Italian specialties. The Zuppa de pesc is excellent. Make reservations, even for the bar. read more

Excellent food and service; just a little loud! We enjoyed a group dinner here just a few nights ago, six ladies on a short gal pals' trip. Our server was friendly, professional and ever present. Drink orders and wine arrived promptly, as did salads we shared and all the entrees. Overall, the food was very good. I had a pasta and mushroom dish that was good, but nothing special. Prices are within range for comparable quality restaurants in the area. Dessert was probably a highlight; outstanding tiramisu and cheesecake -- both super light and flavorful. The only downside is that the dining room is very loud when tables fill up; high ceilings, bare floors -- we were literally shouting to hear each other. The food and service are worth it, so perhaps the outdoor tent seating is a better way to go. read more

Tonight was our first visit. We are looking forward to returning often. The restaurant is clean and comfortable. The staff was very professional, attentive and friendly. Drinks were mixed perfectly and nice wine selection. Our appetizers and dinners were delicious. Presentation was beautiful and portion size was just right. Owners on site and frequently check on tables. 5 stars !! read more

La Marea in Old Saybrook doesn't need me to tell you to go there. We waited a few weeks for the team to sort themselves out (always a good idea when it comes to a new restaurant), and the parking lot was positively packed when we arrived at 6:30 on a Wednesday night. Juliana and Nino (fresh from Rustica in Chester) own this new Italian spot in a building on route 154 that morphs into a new eatery every few years. None of them stick and it's the sort of place we think of as cursed. But not La Marea, because it's got all the parts right: an interesting menu with lots to choose from for every kind of diner, sweet staff, and a renovation that took the structure back to the studs for a complete transformation, from white washed pine ceiling to hefty chandeliers, and an open kitchen. Let's call it Haute Barn. From a starter of perfect Margherita pizza to my wood-fired roasted chicken with salty kale and fingerlings, every course that arrived at our table was competent and yummy. Kids will love watching the pizza master flip pies into the air and grownups should not miss the homemade Bailey's. Stracciatella (chocolate chip) ice cream with a shot of espresso is the way to go for dessert. Maybe it was that Bailey's, or the fact that the owner is Juliana, or perhaps the crispy biscotti, but it brought me back to a long-ago moment in Tuscany, when my husband and I spent hours in a romantic castello nibbling biscotti, sipping Vin Santo and trying to speak to our charming waitress, whose name was also Juliana. If a local joint can transport you to Tuscany, I think that means go. read more

La Marea - Italian Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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Three stars because I actually want to like this place. They have adjusted to COVID very well, outside dining, spaced etc. the outside dining definitely impacts service but they did the best they could. Our waitress was a bit lost but ok. My disappointment is Value for what you pay for: fried calamari dish $15 - 2 shrimp and maybe 4oz total of food. - Seafood Stew was kinda pathetic ( I get this wherever I go) flavorless, but again value- 2 shrimp, 2 clams, rest mussels for $28 - earlier in day I bought 2lbs of mussels for $4/ retail -- the value issue has been consistent here since opening. Nice owners working hard, have improved service ... but relative value issue read more

Building has been transformed into a beautiful setting with nice appointments throughout the bar and dining areas. Unfortunately our party of four were less than impressed with lukewarm gnocchi, very ordinary bolognese pasta dish and decent pizzas. Waiter did not aim to react when we lightly mentioned gnocchi was lukewarm, he stated " if it really is I can see what I can do"...embarrassing at best. Live locally and want to support but attitude and less than impressive menu with no standout dishes, it will be awhile before we revisit. Hopefully the service improves as the restaurant reaches a post opening customer frequency. read more

I have driven by this establishment several times and I have to say it did intrigue me, but their online menu didn't wow me so I never stopped. Well, that has all changed. This place is amazing. The food is beyond excellent. It is as close to home made as you can get in this area. The decor inside is beautiful a yet simple. The staff is so nice and accommodating. The meat and cheese board is the best in the area and I can't say enough about the gnocchi. I could not stop eating them. They have a pastry chef on staff that makes the most decedent desserts. I have not had desserts so tasty and artisanal since my last trip to Vegas. Do yourself a favor and check them out. They have several events planned in the near future such as wine dinners and regional tastings that seem like a lot of fun. read more

Best Italian food in Middlesex County. Wonderful ambiance and excellent service. You won't be disappointed.

Please hurry up... My husband made reservations for New Years Eve. We were seated at a lovely table, ordered cocktails (delicious) then appetizers, main course, bottle of champagne, desserts and after dinner drinks. All was very good BUT as we were in the middle of eating our desserts we were asked by our waiter to PLEASE HURRY UP as they needed the table! I have never had this happen before and you should have seen us scooping our desserts into our mouths and gulping our drinks as the hostess glared at us. It completely ruined New Years Eve.... read more

Walked in at 630 for a 630 reservation sat right down at 800 still no dinner no up date and no I'm sorry for the wait completely unacceptable. Only come here if you have a ton of time to waste and the waitress never comes by to ask if you need anything. read more

Stopped for lunch and what a great idea. A bottle of chianti, sure! We ordered the Pork meatballs served with polenta and caramelized onions, side of broccoli rabe. I had Gnocchi and sausage which was a fantastic forgot what else we ordered. If you order grappa, ask for the chamomile and your going to be happy and forgetful too.... read more

Tonight walked in without a reservation. The "boss" was very rude. Done with them. Went to alforno who were very helpful and nice. The food was better than la marea. They lost a full time resident for life. read more

My recent visit to La Marea was one of contrasting feelings. While the atmosphere, food were superb. I am starting to notice cracks in the entire offering. We sat at the bar and at times we had up to three different restaurant workers working behind the bar. Yet they made very little contact with the patrons. This was uncharacteristic of our prior visits. A prime example was what happened after having a great round of apps and getting our dinners. We practically had to do jumping jacks to get the bartenders attention and finally the perplexed floor manager saw us waving and came over. We did not have any silverware. So sadly enough I have seen this way to many times i.e., where a awesome restaurants ends up blowing up when the staff sinks the ship. Everyone was so focused on going through the motions they tuned out the customers. I will definitely try it again and loved my meal. Hopefully this was a one time issue. read more

The only reason I have given this restaurant two stars and not one is because I did not have the chance to try the food. I have been in and out of the restaurant business myself for over 30 years and was very taken aback by the lack of professionalism from the owner herself. When we walked in right at opening, I thought it was a hostess being rude and continued over to the bar to look at a menu. The bar, although completely empty, was fully reserved and we were not able to sit for a quick drink. I have never been in a restaurant ( have run restaurants all over the country) where the entire bar is reserved before opening so I shared that I thought this is a mistake with a very friendly waiter. What happens when someone's table is not ready for dinner, they don't have an option to wait at the bar? I myself, like to try a new restaurant by sitting at the bar and eating apps. This is not an option as a walk in. When I walked out, I was told it was the owner at the front (not a hostess) so I felt the need to share with her how shocked I was with the treatment we received by her when we first walked in. I was smiling and laughing trying to Be polite (not sarcastic) and she continued to be rude. Truly appalled! I always hope that a new restaurant will be a success as I know first hand how hard it is to succeed. It starts at the top with the owners themselves and I do hope they start to appreciate and treat customers in the fashion that they deserve like the family run Al Forno in town! Being of Italian descent and having lived in Italy, Al Forno's food is as good as it gets in the area, along with the best customer service!! read more

Three visits to this excellent restaurant now, and I have no choice but to give it my highest rating. Jordy makes pizza that is absolutely sublime, the best crust you'll taste outside of Naples, Italy. The meal starts out with absolutely fantastic bread and quality olive oil. Nino has shown great care with the selection of the menu, and every appetizer and entrée I have tried has been cooked and seasoned expertly. Contrary to many popular American Italian restaurants, a light touch is used with the saucing, allowing the flavor of the food to shine through as well as the sauce. The exterior, ambience and bar scene are all welcoming, and the service is old world and efficient. Whenever I see customers waiting in line at the Olive Garden, I shake my head and wonder why they are not lined up to visit a restaurant like this. Absolutely some of the best Italian food you will find in Connecticut. read more

My husband and I were so excited to go to this restaurant last weekend as they seemed to be pivoting well with covid. The tent and space was beautiful but our waiter was inattentive - took 20 minutes to get a drink and longer to order. The other staff seemed overwhelmed and there was unprofessionalism displayed between the staff in front of us. The food was meh - underwhelming and my halibut was so over cooked and dry. It is VERY expensive for what it is. We won't be returning. read more

The renovation is fantastic. My server, a tall italian kid, 30ish. All though nice, flakey with entire order and reeeeeked of cigarette smoke. major turnoff. I tried to fix an order issue with the manager, young kid with pushed up hair... to no avail. Not a terrific service experience with these two kids. My double cut lamb chop only had 'three 'chops' and they were singles. The polenta underneath way over done, like they heated the plate with the polenta while they were trying to figure out my missing lamb chop issue. Terrible dish. Friendly busser saved the day. read more

Had lunch at La Marea yesterday. We sat at the bar. Bartender was pleasant. Our bottle of white wine wan't chilled enough. This was my second visit. Pizza is ok. Even with the brick oven the pizza was under done and bland. I've had much, much better. The sausage & broccoli rabe panini had way too much broccoli and oil - it was dripping with oil. A long wait for our food - and it wasn't that busy. Will try it again - maybe. read more

Not impressed, will not return. Tried La Maria on a Saturday night. Very noisy, poor service. If it were not for the owners we would have walked out. Got seated, ordered drinks and almost finished our glass of wine before waiter came for our order. That was because we flagged down the owner who got the waiter. Next , order an appetizer. This came quickly but needed to flag down one of the owners for plates to eat it! Entrees were good. Unfortunately dropped my fork. Could not find the waiter or owner to help with a replacement. Service is shared by waiters and bus people who bring food and clear. They were very rushed and dropped our foods quickly to rush off to other tables. We were noticed by one bus person who was able to order us another wine .Of course the waiter shows up at the end when he wants to make an impression before payment. I like to cook so one of the many reasons I go out to dinner is the atmosphere, service and of course the food. This place is new but not worth the hype. Have enjoyed other restaurants in this community much more. read more

Went to la marea last night with a party of 10. First of all, the place is beautiful. I had a salad and NY strip and it was awesome. I also had some pizza that cooks in 45 seconds in the wood fired oven and it was unbelievable. My martini was great and so was the wine. Definitely recommend but make reservations as it will be a busy place. read more

Went for lunch and enjoyed it. The atmosphere is my favorite part, especially the bar area. I think the prices are fair, I wouldn't expect them to be a cheap option, but nothing out of the ordinary for a 'finer' restaurant in the area. The owner is very nice, but I think some of the other staff could use a little polish. Another small downside was that I wish there was more homemade pasta, but I would like to try the pizza - looked great! Will return. read more

We had a great experience here. The renovation is beautiful and the service at a meal during the week was very professional. We had the grilled tuna special, perfectly cooked, and a Tuscan fish stew with a delicious sauce. We will be back to try the rest of the menu. read more

Juliana and Nino finally did it! They opened their own restaurant. This couple has been in the scene for years and now have their pride and joy. They bring a tastefully renovated building with comfortable seats and ambiance to Old Saybrook. Nino, straight from Capri and lovely wife Juliana, the Italian dessert queen, usually greet you with a hug and make you feel right at home. The food is a wonderful mix of wood fired pizzas, (fantastic !) homemade pastas (so good like nonna would make!) and classic entrees. Save room for Juliana's desserts!(cheesecake!) You will enjoy this place! Make reservations because they are always busy! read more