A little hidden gem in an unexpected location. We missed the place all together and had to reroute. Doesn't feel like you are going to a restaurant because it's in a residential complex. Upon entering, you are hit with aromas of deliciousness. The boards around the dining room are creativity written dishes from the menu. The courses were large and had seconds to enjoy again. Everything was yummy from drinks for dessert. Services was wonderful and all around a great find. Felt like you were enjoying a home cooked meal in someone's house. read more

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Nice little spot towards the Silver Bridge in Sandy Hook. Nice set up for intimate dinners as well as groups. Beer list is a little limited, but usually something good. Had the lasagna which was great. The focaccia bread is really nice and worth the price as an appetizer. Staff were very nice and able to help out with some allergy concerns. Looking forward to going back. read more

People are quick to complain when food takes time. Sometimes slowing down is the whole point. At Mangia Mi the food is absolutely worth it. There isn't a large kitchen packed with cooks turning out rushed plates. It's one chef, in an open kitchen making dishes to order with fresh homemade pasta, right in front of you. You can literally watch the creation from the bar. Three simmering pots lined up in red, white and green (nod to flag) and an incredibly talented chef orchestrating it all. That's what makes it so special. Brava Chef Rebecca. read more

We had heard the hype in town and have waited to come- but I now question WHY? Well it was a mistake and one we won't make again. Mangia Mi East- what a lovely addition to the Newtown restaurant scene. It is homey, it is cute, it is comfortable, it is it all THAT and THEN SOME. Our family of four made reservations for a Saturday early dinner to get in before the real rush. Although it got busy quickly. Service by our waitress and all other staff was extremely friendly, prompt, and helpful. Really neat cocktail menu all spring cocktails named after Billy Joel songs- cool! We got the Big Shot cocktail which was like a Manhattan but sooo much better, balanced, and strong. Loved it- will be getting again! The food- what is there to say other than exceptional. You have to get the focaccia bread to start, so good. Dare I say I am not a huge "bread" fan and yet I easily devoured it. We also got the meatballs and a spinach salad to start. The red sauce is soooo good, meatballs melted in your mouth. Salad- they did not skimp on the Gorgonzola or walnuts and nicely dressed. Entrees were equally wonderful from the cheese pizza (holy cheese goodness) to chicken Parmesan, and fettuccine Alfredo. Too full for dessert but many to choose and sounded amazing. So so happy we finally came and we are already planning our next meal with more family to join! read more

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Such a great spot, my husband and I absolutely love Mangia Mi! We typically sit at the bar and have a front row seat watching head chef, Rebecca White, cook up everyone's meals; she is incredibly talented and gracious. We've told our friends and family to pop by, and recently brought my mom and friend for a girls night - we ordered multiple apps/entrees to share family style (stacked eggplant, pear salad, bolognese, carbonara, marsala), all fantastic. The staff is kind and friendly, and the overall atmosphere and vibe is welcoming, laid back and relaxed. Always looking forward to our next visit! read more

Lets begin with the wrongs. The parking situation for now - Not good. The restaurant shares their parking lot with condos I was told by the hostess that they are in the process of building more parking hopefully thats finished soon. My husband dropped me off and parked down in the new parking area before the Foundry. The next real bummer no crispy on the outside soft on the inside bread on the table. Focaccia is on the menu but to buy. I would have even taken that on the table. The young staff were AMAZING - welcoming, and patient. The decor is really cute with some fun paintings. They offer a unique charcuterie board with meats, cheeses, peppers, olives etc. You have the option to pick 3 or 6 options. We decided to go with a small plate or fried calamari with banana peppers. The calamari had big, nicely breaded rings. The banana peppers were cut really thin so all could enjoy them. For my meal I went with Alfredo sauce it was very good and not overly rich. Our tagliatelle pasta was amazing - long and delicious. The Sunday sauce my husband had with his meal - a meatball or two, sausage and pork shoulder. All the meats were tender and flavorful. If I had a Nonny / Nonnie I would imagine thats what her sauce would taste like. Im thinking about it right now to close out Elly's Chocolate cake. We were served a generous piece. The icing was so very creamy. The cake was melt in your mouth soft. The perfect way to end our meal. read more

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We got take out tonight and it was delicious! We got the focaccia bread, the tagliatelle with crispy chicken cutlet in a piccata sauce and the Sunday Gravy over homemade cavatelli. It was all very very good! We think it would have even been better (hotter) if we ate in restaurant instead of taking it home. But we were very happy with the quality and we are extremely picky due to the fact our son went to Fordham in the Bronx and lived on Arthur Ave so we'd eat there a lot. This was just as good if not better! We will be back! read more

Can't beat a mid week happy hour! Disappointed to see the pricing go up, we appreciate the authenticity of each dish but are still happy to be able to support local. read more

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Absolutely wonderful! Head chef and owner Rebecca White stopped at the table and visited and what a great and inspirational success story. A woman who had a vision and made it happen. My companion was in for her fifth visit. She's bringing all of her out of town guests. We started with well made cocktails (the list is pretty awesome), peach burrata crostini and the eggplant stack. Followed with fresh pasta tagliatelle, Alfredo sauce, fresh mushrooms, peas, and pancetta (a much smoother version carbonara). Pasta bolognese was outstanding. Portions are nice size, we took home leftovers. Looking forward to the pizza next time. read more

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The food was excellent! Both the chicken parm and the lasagna were wonderful and the portions were huge.

My son recommended this place for dinner so we met him and his wife there, We were pleasantly impressed with the atmosphere of the place. Very neat and clean nice bar setup. Service was very good, never rushed. The apps and salad and dinner and drinks were excellent as well as dessert. We will be back. read more

mangia mi east - Shrimp Fra diavalo over pasta with arugala salad and some Merlot. - Italian Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

Lovely new Italian restaurant with friendly staff. Food was fresh and flavorful. Pasta tagliatelle was very saucy and tasty. The pancetta was super flavorful. Tasted like my mom's a ham with cloves. Lots of mushrooms and plenty of peas. Eggplant parm was saucy and tomatoey. Pizza is Nee Haven style but felt more heavier than actual NewHaven. Everything came out nice and hot and good comfort food on a cold day. Loud and lively music played from 80s. Give it a try if you are in the area. read more

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We were really hoping that this was going to be our new favorite place - unfortunately that won't be the case. We started with meatballs ...$18 for 3 meatballs. They were cold. After sending them back - they came out for 2nd time warm (not hot). The meatballs were ok but the sauce was an over cooked / burnt taste. Our Caesar salad was super awkward. Huge whole ribs of Romain lettuce on a platter. We were given tiny plates ( saucer size) so the lettuce hung over the plate in to the table. When I asked if we could have larger plates I was told they didn't have anything larger. When I questioned that they didn't have any larger plates to eat off of in the restaurant, we were given shallow bowls that also didn't fit a length of the lettuce. For our entree we had a chicken parm dinner that was fairly expensive considering it didn't come with pasta ($28). Just sloppy, slightly burnt chicken parm in a small oval casserole dish. A side of pasta is $10. It was a fairly small serving and a weird gummy texture. We love fresh pasta and are familiar with different texture. This was not that ! This was closer to wallpaper paste. chicken parm with pasta @ $38 is a NYC price so it better be good. It wasn't . Being fans of New Haven style pizza , we also ordered a pizza. It was also a disappointment. It was sloppy, saucy and burnt (not charred). As for the ambiance - it feels more like a deli or a breakfast spot. The decor absolutely doesn't match the price point. Positives : the house red wine was good. Our waitress was friendly. With so many great options in town we won't be back anytime soon ( or ever). read more

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We had an amazing anniversary dinner last night at Mangia Mi East . The food and staff were excellent and we'll definitely be going back. Chicken Marsala, Chicken Milanese and fried provolone all pictured below. Highly recommend!! read more

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Food quality / price (value) rating 8.5. The atmosphere is casual but upscale. The menu is well rounded with several standard Italian dishes with a contemporary slant. We both chose the Halibut special. It was prepared and presented nicely. The service was very good. We sat outside on their beautiful Victorian porch. The dishes are served a la carte, no bread or salad, which always feels a little disappointing. The beers were reasonably priced, and they have a Happy Hour Monday through Thursday. Two halibut dinners, one wine and two beers came to $120 plus tip. read more

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My wife and I had the pleasure of attending the soft opening and also Opening weekend (first weekend in October with the in-laws ) of Mangia Mi East in Sandy Hook, what an experience! I We were greeted by the friendly staff who made us feel right at home and greeted us by name from the soft opening back at the end of August. The ambiance is inviting, perfect for a nice dinner out or a even a seat at the bar and open kitchen. Now, let's talk about the food -- AMAZING! Each dish had authentic Italian flavors that truly impressed. We couldn't get enough! Mangia Mia East is now in our dining rotation. If you're looking for delicious Italian plates, pizza and drinks, this is the place to be! Can't wait for our next visit! read more

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Rebecca the owner and magnificent chef and owner is nothing but a walking angel she's a new we'll welcome addition to Sandy Hook CT I witnessed her preparing a awesome meal for her staff that she does every evening for her staff at the end of the night her food is nothing but decadent fresh home style and plain ole delicious myself and my mate Jeff will be patronizing her restaurant every week coodles and much love and support to Manggi mi east Jeff and Michelle read more

mangia mi east - Rebecca the owner of - Italian Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

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Lovely restaurant located in a picturesque setting! Staff was very accommodating and the food was fantastic ! Rebecca, the owner, went out of her way to make us feel welcome! We started with a charcuterie, then the best homemade pasta with prosciutto and peas! Next came the chicken Milanese deliciously breaded! Dessert was a lemon burst of flavor! Excellent vibe! read more

Went to mangia mi east for the first time yesterday. The prices on the menu are a little insane - chicken parm is $29 and a side of pasta that you can't choose or customize is $10 more. No pasta comes with it. The chicken parm was good, the pasta wasn't. The prices just didn't make sense for what you got. They said full meals served two but they weren't as big as you expected. Nostranos you get far more food for a better price (and ifs all amazing). You get absolutely nothing, not even complimentary bread. Also, I'm not sure where they got the idea for their lasagna bolognese. I lived in bologna and whatever we got yesterday was nowhere close to lasagna bolognese. The beef had a wonderful flavor but lasagna bolognese is supposed to have many layers of pasta and filling this had ...a top layer of pasta with a weird taste. We ordered affogatos that didn't come with espresso. A group of 4, with 3 non alcoholic drinks, two appetizers, 4 entrees and dessert cost $250. That's insane. It was not worth that price. I'm glad we tried it but we will absolutely not be back. There are better and more reasonable places in Newtown. read more

Mangia Mi East is our go to restaurant in Newtown! The food is fresh and full of flavor. The dishes are creative and specials change frequently. Chef Rebecca has an amazing presence that is enjoyable to watch. She has full command of the open kitchen. You need to visit. You won't be disappointed. read more

Parking and staff issues. Tried to go there tonight at 5pm there was no parking, not even in the townhomes behind the restaurant. Those townhome folks are now "saving spaces" with parking cones. Went to leave and people were parking on the side of the driveway effectively cutting the driveway to one lane. The road out front was busy and the first in line was taking a left....several more cars went to enter and now the driveway and road are blocked. This is a real safety issue. How could Newtown P&Z and Sandy Hook developer Michael Burton sign off on this design? It's a recipe for disaster. Last time we were here the food was fine but the high schoolers waiting tables were an issue. I asked, "What beers do you have?" 17-year-old waitress responds " I don't know" then just looks at me. No let me find out, nothing. I end up giving her a short list of what I like and tell her to try to get close. So, she comes back with a beer, no glass and goes to take our order. I ask "Are there any specials?" Again, she responds " I don't know." I ask can you please find out. Finally, were waiting for our check, I am a little fed up at this point and just hand her my card and tell her we need to leave. She comes back with a check in the folder and has rung my card, she drops it and leaves. I open the folder and there is no pen to sign and tip with...I end up getting up and running her down. She still doesn't have a pen and needs to go into the back to get one. Owner: Detail matter. read more

So delicious great service and a nice patio! Even the owner came out to say hello. Very accommodating to our large group. read more

mangia mi east - Cheese pizza - Italian Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

Couldn't decide between 3 or 4 stars for this place. I went with 4 because we want them to succeed and believe they will improve as time goes on, especially if they listen to, and act on the customer feedback. Here are some pros: Apps are all delish and come out quickly. Especially the eggplant stack and calamari. The homemade pasta is top notch, the portions are huge and the staff, while very young, is very nice. It can be entertaining to watch the chef owner at work over the stove from the bar, but beware, they cook their pizza in a regular over on a regular wire rack. It drips all over the inside of the oven and makes a ton of smoke (which imparts smoky flavor on the pizza, which is interesting, but may not be for everyone) and we've literally been smoked out of the bar area. They refer to the pizza as "New Haven style", but I'm not sure why. It is good and thin/crunchy crusted, but it is a style of its own, featuring a heavy dose of Asiago. If you don't like the saltiness of toasted Asiago, this pizza may not be for you. They serve their Caesar salad on whole romaine leaves. It's enormous and enough for four. The chef/owner will tell you you're supposed to eat it without silverware. We usually don't want to get dressing all over our fingers, so we usually use fork and knife. Speaking of the dressing, it's usually very good, although we aren't a fan of mustard on our salad....occasionally, they are too heavy handed on the mustard, which ruins it for us. We mentioned this to our server and we're told she wasn't surprised because they don't really follow a recipe. We always ask for more shaved parmesan and house made croutons - delish! Cons: The "baked and sauced" and pasta dishes tend to be over-sauced, and they do not serve bread unless you ask, in which case they will charge you about $1 per thin slice of hard, tiny crostini. The sauces are flavorful, but very salty. I usually order a half portion and really want to finish it, but can't because I have to drink so much water because of the salt. I won't even use extra grated cheese, which I love, because it's already so salty. Not too many options for food sensitive people, besides charcuterie. Desserts are good, but not great. We hope they introduce daily special at some point to see what else the chef can do. They would do well by hanging some soft materials on the walls because I gets VERY loud in the small dining rooms and parking is terrible on busy nights. Best to go early or late. This would probably be a 5 star place if we were out west. But the expectations in the Northeast tend to be higher and more traditional for Italian Food. read more

We had been seeing photos pop up on Facebook and couldn't wait to try it. We made a reservation for 5:00 on a Sunday evening for 2 of us. Parking was fine since it was an early dinner hour. Oh wait, it was fine because on one else was there except a couple at the bar. We each started with a martini which was only filled half-way in the glass - in other words, we got ripped off about 40% of the drink. We started with the focaccia which was good and reasonably priced. We ordered a Caesar salad to share next. Didn't come until after our entrees came. The croutons were so hard and chewy - awful. We both got the Nonna's Sunday gravy special. We eat out a lot and rarely don't eat what is put in front of us but tonight that happened. The gravy was very dark brown - like it burned and they stirred it up. The meatballs and sausage were both dry and flavorless. We sent both orders back. We regret that we didn't take a photo. We ended up eating bread, Caesar salad, 2 martinis and 2 wines for over $100! Do not recommend and will not go back. read more

Really wanted to LOVE this place as this quaint town needs some good Italian and had high hopes after hearing great reviews from friends who tried them during their soft opening but sadly, didnt score great with us and our party! Ambiance is nice and plenty of space between tables and the bar area is simple but inviting and you have a clean view. The staff is very friendly and nice and naturally with time they will get more seasoned but for opening weekend, no complaints. We started with some apps of a few salads, meatballs, fried calamari and eggplant stack. First remark from all of us is where's the bread (the new version of wendy's, where's the beef!) How can you sit down to dinner and not get bread-yes they offer focaccia as an appetizer BUT what about that nice crusty italian bread with either some kick arse olive oil or creamy butter but BREAD is needed! The salads were very good-nice dressing and flavor and great ingredients. The eggplant stack was very good and offered a nice presentation and flavors but could use a little salt-an easy fix. The meatballs (3) had both great texture and flavor and the sauce that they sat in was very tasty. The calamari was just ok-good crunch but other than the sauce, the breading itself lacked flavor. Drinks were good and the wine selection was great. Main course for our party consisted of a few sunday sauce dishes which 3 members all agreed had potential but proved to be very dry and needed more gravy to make it "typical" sunday sauce (we are all italian and sunday sauce has been a staple for all of us) Meatball in sunday sauce was good, and pork was tender but there was no sign of sausage and again FRUGAL on the sauce...we had to ask for sauce a few times because the pasta drank it up but the little sauce that we did have was very tasty...but then we asked for more (i know but even looking at pic shows lack of sauce) we were cut off! Alas...on to the next dishes...the chicken parm was tasty but a small portion for the price and is served in its own oval casserole dish. Nicely cooked and tender and good flavor. A side of pasta with Alfredo was ordered and honestly, the alfredo sauce was awful! No flavor or taste but thankful the pasta tasted good but again, the alfredo sauce was not enjoyable and again, was cut off from getting more "gravy". The chicken piccata wasnt bad but the complaints was how the chicken was sliced and served on this dish and the quantity-I stress quantity because our waitress repeated countless times that it was family style. I tried this dish and it was ok but having tried it, would never order again. The lasagna Bolognese was decent but could use some sauce...again, we come from a family where gravy is in a bowl and sits at the table with a laddle and yes, it gets refilled but i understand we cannot have that mentality at a restaurant BUT if you serve sunday sauce, it needs all the guts, sauce, meatball, pork and Sausage!!!! We all agreed it was not bad and we all seemed to enjoy the appetizers and drinks far more than our entrees. Cannot say anything about dessert as we decided to call it a night after 3 hours. Maybe we may try again but not rushing back anytime soon. Oh and on another note, parking here has potential of being a nightmare as it sits in front of condos and not much parking available. We were lucky to find a spot as were the 2 other cars that joined but when we left, the lot was packed! read more

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Went here to try the Sunday sauce it was dry and not enough meat, very disappointing and we were hoping for this place to be a bright spot in town instead it's a bust! Also asked for extra sauce and was told after receiving a small cup that I reached my quota lol one and done for us. read more

We love sitting at the bar to watch the chef at work. We started with the arancini followed by the homemade pasta dishes. Amazing! Highly recommend. read more

If you have a chance to stop in please do. Watch the kitchen in action. Watch the 'family' take care of things. Enjoy the refined chaos on a busy night- I loved that after working in the bizz for many years. I understand that some reviews aren't 'all' star- but I sure hope that you see all the 4 & 5 stars, realize what's there, and try them out. read more

We had 10 ladies here for a birthday party for 2 of our friends. Most of us had never been here. What a great experience!! From the quality of the food to the professional service and even a visit from the owner- we were so pleased- All of our pastas were excellent, from the bolognese to the creamed mushroom tagliatelle, the stacked eggplant, and the lemon shrimp with linguine- The service was top notch and was very doting on us all- We will definitely be back- thank you for the great experience!! Gina P read more

This was our first visit and, since it was at a slow time, Rebecca, the owner, was our host. All six of us enjoyed hearing her stories about the food and menu. From the aps to the pizzas to the pasta dishes, everything was delicious. The cocktails and sangria were also enjoyed by those who had them. This will certainly not be our last visit. As Newtown residents, it is a joy to have another high quaity restaurant from which to choose in this town of great places to dine. Thanks, Rebecca, for the wonderful dining experience. read more

Great food and service ,best restaurant in sandy hook area ,open cooking ,talented owner ,best hidden secret in town

Food is delish, great service and a fun atmosphere! Love it for take out too! I love their eggplant stackers appetizer. All their pasta dishes are so good and great pizza. read more

Decidedly mediocre and disappointing. We were very excited to try this out, but it mossed the mark in a number of ways. We sat at the bar, which is not a traditional "bar" - it's a counter five feet from the open kitchen. The wine and liquor is on a small table and shelves in the back corner. The range hood on the huge stove was so loud that we couldn't hear the music. We could have forgiven all that if the food was amazing, but it wasn't. We watched pizza after pizza come out burnt, so we didn't order pizza. The salad was just ok. The "fresh" pasta sits on baking sheets next to the stove and is cooked on demand for each dish. I don't know if it's frozen or how fresh it was, but it came out clumped and not well cooked at all. The breaded chicken was pretty flavorless and very oddly served (pasta in a bowl with the chicken cut up on top like you'd do for a five year old.) No bread. The red wine was chilled. They just opened so we'll give it another chance in a few weeks, but they've got some work to do. read more

Food is excellent. Noise is unbearable but we moved to outside....so much better! The parking is also limited so be prepared. I had a wild mushroom pizza and it was excellent! read more

So sorry to report on what I hopped would be wonderful, however, we were disappointed. While the room is nice & welcoming, it was so loud it was hard to hear someone at our table... very noisy. No gluten free pasta (very rare today), salad was large, just Roman leaves uncut, shrimp & pasta was too rich, wine list was lacking, bololgnese & pasta was good as well as the carrot cake is a winner. read more

First time dining here. Service was OK. Food was pretty good. However, they charge for bread for the table and have NO gluten free pasta. A Caesar salad was a plate of whole Romain leaves with shredded cheese. Not very appealing. It is also VERY loud. read more

Celebrated 2 birthdays with 10 people...the food and service were fabulous. Owners very friendly and welcoming. The place was buzzing, beautiful decor and great friday nite vibe! Large pasta potions, homemade with love! And all at a great price. Continued success to the owners and staff! We will definitely be back! read more

We arrived at the beautiful building and were expecting a great dining experience but were immediately turned off... inexperienced waiter, warm water, no bread, high prices and many other complaints. Our pasta was precooked and cold. Chicken was deep fried and greasy. There are so many great restaurants in the area but Mangia Mi needs to improve. read more

Absolutely love this new Gem in sandy hook. The food is delicious and the staff is great. It gives off good vibes when you walk through the door and that's my kinda place. The wild mushroom pizza is my personal favorite. I do however miss the flag!!! Hoping to see it come back in the spring‍. read more

Had high hopes for this place and props to the owners for renovating this gorgeous old house. Ambience - 1. if you like eating at Starbucks, you'll love this place! Bare low-cost furnishings, no carpet, no tablecloths, no table lamps, no candles, no window dressings, and walls covered with chalkboards. Horrible acoustics make conversation impossible - there's nothing but hard reflective surfaces. Apparently there's some kind of music going on but the only thing audible is the thum-thum-thum of a pounding bass that only serves to elevate stress levels. Patrons in sweatpants and backwards ball caps. Overall super-disappointing. Service - 3. Our waitress was very pleasant and smiley, a high point. Not so much the scowling person who un-screwed (eww) our wine bottle. Appetizer took a long time to come out and arrived after those of people who arrived after us. Other dishes were a little slow in coming but not intolerably so. Coffee came promptly just after desserts, points for that. If you have leftovers they bring an aluminum dish for you to slop the food into yourself, but I'm not paying $220 to handle food. If you ask, though, they will pack it for you. Food 2-1/2 - menu is ok, nothing special. No bread is served and no soups are offered. Salads appear to be designed to serve 8 persons, maybe it's a California thing. "Lemon Shrimp" appetizer was a waste of time and money - lukewarm and completely mediocre. When it comes to meatballs I'm a little biased because my husband makes the world's best, but I liked these. A bit rubbery, but together with the rich sauce, very nicely flavored. The eggplant stack was good, with very fresh mozzarella and the same sauce as the meatballs. The pizza was, well, not really pizza. This is because I believe pizza crust should be made of pizza dough, and this crust was about 50% parmesan or romano cheese. That said, I like baked parmesan, and enjoyed this stuff, whatever it is. Hubby did not like it at all, said that between the crust and the additional parmesan they put on top, he couldn't taste the dough, sausage, tomato, or mozzarella. I had the halibut over pasta. The portion of fish was generous, and the fish itself was fresh and nicely cooked. The pasta was superb - fresh and thick and chewy and tasty. Really good pasta. Carrot cake was excellent and espresso was fine, although decaf was not available, what? Like you can't go out and buy some decaf beans? Reservations are completely disorganized. You can't book online, even with Google Assistant. You have to phone, and they don't open 'til 4:00. I called on a Thursday and was told they didn't have anything until Sunday, so I booked for Sunday. On Saturday I got a text saying "Please confirm your reservation for Saturday". So we went on Saturday and there were many empty tables the whole time we were there. You have to take your check and pay at the bar, as if you're at a diner. I really wanted this place to be great and if it was we'd be there weekly, but as it is there are many places offering a better overall dining experience for within a 5-mile radius. read more