I'm not giving it 5 stars, my work friend from years ago is. Yes, that is how long it has taken me to try this restaurant. I'm reviewing a place for the first time I've never actually stepped into. In hopes of finding good Italian food since I miss my Mom's. I kid you not, every time I call I am told they are 'closed for a private party', or they have been booked and can't get in and even on the private party days, no takeout and so I keep trying but never get an answer lately! Because I have given up on Italian food in Fairfield County and this place is my last hope. So if Mike's reads this, please tell me the best possible night to get into your restaurant? I am told your tiramisu is to die for. Well, I don't want to die, but I would like to try it before I do? Thanks. read more

First time at Mike's. We were met at the door by Nino (owner) and he sat us at a nice table for 4. He opened the extensions and proceeded to bring food to the table. No menus, just asked what we liked. He started us off with Burrata with roasted peppers and an arugula salad. Delicious! Then he opened a nice bottle of red and served us sautéed artichoke hearts, bread and olive oil, also fantastic. The whole time he was personable and friendly. As if this wasn't enough, he then served us fresh parpadelli in a wonderful sauce. He did it all. I watched as he left our table and went right to the stove. Back and forth, all evening. He did the same for others. For entrees he served us shrimp, chicken and veal. Enough of each for 4. Then we ended with gelato, port wine, limoncello and coffees. What a fantastic night. The place was well appointed and warm. This is a hidden gem and a must go to. read more

Wonderful food, beautiful place, owner very nice. So that's the trifecta for a great restaurant!

It hasn't always been easy finding Italian food in town that reminds us of home (Brooklyn/ southern Italy), even with the endless amount of Italian restaurants in Norwalk. This spot is approved by me and (more importantly) my Neapolitan mother. read more

Absolutely hands down THE BEST Italian restaurant in CT, we're talking on par with the best of the best in NY (Rao's, il Mulino, Parkside..). This rare gem has been hidden away since 1969. Nino who took it over from his father is a master. Italian born with a fierce culinary background and global travel. Word to the wise, this is not the place to go and order a chicken parm, my advice, just tell Nino to make what he wants for you. read more

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From the complimentary champagne and salad upon arrival to the delicious meals (shrimp and lasagna), everything was amazing. Nino never fails to disappoint. A hidden gem in Norwalk that gives you a taste of Italy. read more

Mike's Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

The restaurant is small and quaint. The owner meets you when you come in. He introduces himself and the history of the restaurant. There is a bottle of wine on the table (house wine) but you can order any wine or cocktail. The owner tells you the specials. If you are not sure, there is no menu on the table or given to you but you can ask for one. The menu is extensive. They put a salad on the table and fresh bread. I would as to see the menu for apps. I plan to next time. We both gad pasta that was on the specials and both were truly excellent. The dessert also excellent. We will be regulars. read more

I've literally been coming here for several years as you can see by one of my old checks dated back to 2014. Been coming a couple years before that also. I'm not going to say I don't know why I haven't left them a review. I know why I haven't done a review nor taken any pictures. It's because Nino (the owner) is always engaging with you taking care of you and your mouth is watering with each & every meal or appetizers that come to the table. So it's always been nomz nomz nomz..... Yummy yummers deliciousness..... Because it is a phenomenal time every time I've come here regardless on which day I've come or who I've come with. Everything & I mean everything has always been absolutely perfect amazing & incredible. Outstanding to say the least. Nino, who is the owner and he also serves you is the epitome of hospitality. Over the top amazing service. Stellar service always. Even when it has been busy. We're always talking and he has you try something new every now and then and his reccomendations have always been spot on. He has even had some type of pasta from Italy that I've never before seen or heard of here in the United States. I can't even remember the name of it. Regardless of what I've eaten here it has been delicious. He's reccomended different wines at times and they've always been great & paired well with our meals. He has also made it through Hurricane Sandy that hit us back in October 2012. He bounced back. He had many cases of wine he wasn't able to get reimbursed from the insurance company from the water levels that washed into the basement & damaged the labels. Nino is always a gracious & stupendous host & server. I can't get it across how outstanding the food is here. It takes me over an hour to get here otherwise I'd be here more often. And it's here in Connecticut. The owner (Nino) has another restaurant that he's partners with his sister. But it's a serious hike to get there. I'm talking a plane ride to get there. It's on the Amalfi coast in Italy. Do yourself a favor. This is not a miss. This is a MUST stop restaurant on your list. You will be thanking me once you've stopped by and eaten here. The prices are a little expensive for some people but the food is WELL WORTH it. It's a pretty epic place. Small tight parking lot on one side of the restaurant. Otherwise street parking which has always been pretty easy. The restaurant is on the smaller size. A small amount of 4 top tables. Think it's about ten or so tables. It's a very cozy, warm and inviting place. You will not be disappointed. You'll be so happy you finally made it here. Mention to Nino that Hank said to stop by and he'll be treating you like family. He'll treat you like family regardless. Who am I kidding. I can't even begin to describe the flavors of how good the food is because I'd be taking up much more space. Try them out and you'll definitely know what I'm trying to convey here. You'll be so happy once you've been here. Mangia !!!!! read more

Mike's Ristorante - Been coming here for several years - Italian Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Nino runs the best Italian restaurant in the country. Authentic. Amazing. The best service and super food. I LOVE THIS PLACE. If you want a real treat for a special occasion this is the place. read more

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For a number of reasons, including the Covid years, it has been too long since we dined at Mike's Restaurante. but despite the passing of time, it was as if we never left! The food was fantastic, the wine unforgettable and the care in service that Nino provides, second to none. And all of that and more for a price that no one in Fairfield could ever match. We and the couple we introduced to the Mike's experience will be back to regulars going forward. Thank you Nino for taking so much pride in what you do! Bob Clemmens read more

This place is small so get a reservation. I attended a company event here and it was fantastic. All of the courses if food were well thought out and delicious. The "have it your way" shrimp stole the show. I would recommend that without hesitation for any part of the meal. Nino is a fantastic host and I hope to visit again soon. read more

Walked in with a reservation for 4 people on a Friday evening and promptly seated by the owner/Chef, Nino - no menus - and fed a 6-course menu of excellent food and wine. Absolutely amazing! Go for the absolute surprise of what's coming next, cozy atmosphere, Nino's fun stories (if you care to engage with him - he's a hoot!) and enjoying classically-prepared Italian cuisine, without a worry. Truly an experience we won't forget, and will definitely be back. read more

food was clean delicious home made good. Spectacular service.the environment: You feel like you're at somebody's house warm cozy, clean friendly amazing. 10 star review I celebrated my 75th birthday and our 52nd anniversary and we had a fabulous time read more

Best meal I've had this year. The impeccable service as highlighted each course as it was served. I can't wait to go back. read more

A winning combination. delicious food and fantastic service. My husband ,our friend and I enjoyed the most delicious Italian dinner. The owner Nino came to our table to share the specials which we ordered and we're thrilled, most delicious! Nino made us feel we were the only table in the restaurant! Very special. A great evening " breaking bread" with our friend. Run, don't walk and get to your table at Mike's Resturant! read more

Nino made our experience feel like home. We loved the salad, bread and wine already set up on the table for us. Our meals were delicious and we've already recommended to several family and friends. read more

Trust the reviews. Mike's Ristorante is the definition of home away from home. Nino is so personable and really cares about you as a customer. He'll go out of his way to give you the best service, he even gave us some Prosecco with our meal. This type of service is beyond average. So kind. As for the food...look at the picture. This was by far the best Chicken Marsala I ever had in CT. If you want authentic Italian- this is your best bet. Will come back. Also, everyone was socially distanced as well. read more

Mike's Ristorante - a plate of food and wine - Italian Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Stopped here based on a yelp review and it was delightful. Small, intimate restaurant with impeccable service. We were greeted with fresh bread, a lovely salad to share, an aperitif and then heard the specials and chose wonderful homemade pasta dishes. The meal ended with a scoop of gelato presented to us so beautifully. Great wine! You feel like you're in the mans home and you're being cared for like weary travelers from the road stopping in for some true heartfelt hospitality. I cannot wait to return. Delicious and atmospheric. Don't miss this Italian gem. read more

Amazing Italian restaurant...no menu's everything is specially made for night...and everything was spectacular. This is a new restaurant to me and I will definitely be back. Can't say enough good things about this place. read more

My husband made reservations for dinner (highly recommend you do the same) and we had a wonderful dinning experience at Mike's Ristorante. Upon entering we were greeted by the owner, Nino. Our table was set up and waiting for us with water, breadsticks, and a bread basket. We were served a tasty and well dressed salad with shaved Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, and thinly sliced prosciutto to share. The menu has many options: about 6-8 antipasto options, and main entrees that include pasta, fish, chicken, and veal. I ordered the pappardelle special (thin broad large pasta noodles smothered in a bolognese sauce with prosciutto and mozzarella). It was delicious. My husband ordered the mezzaluna ravioli special (half moon shaped ravioli stuffed with goat cheese in a tomato based sauce). He ate every last bit of it. Once we were done, our plates were promptly removed and a delicious slice of almond amaretto tiramisu appeared in front of us. It was amazing! We were offered espresso or cappuccino to go along with the tiramisu, but declined, though I can only imagine how perfectly it would have paired with it. Once we finished, I was very grateful and appreciative, that my husband and I were able to just sit and talk. Other places would have given us the check and rushed us out. Like I said, wonderful dinning experience! Service was excellent and very prompt. Looking around at all of the other dinners--everyone was thoroughly enjoying their meal while Nino and another gentleman were ensuring everyone's needs were met. read more

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My girlfriend took me out to dinner here last night (Friday, March 9th) and it was fantastic! We were greeted and seated immediately by Nino, one of the owners, who gave us a very warm welcome. After bread and cheese were brought to the table (within a few moments of us sitting down), Nino came back, introduced himself officially, and told us about the specials. Needless to say, the service was very warm and very prompt. We ended up getting the bruschetta appetizer and it's some of the best bruschetta I've ever had. My girlfriend got the Bolognese special and I got the Gamberi Fradiavolo...both were superb. And after being completely stuffed from dinner, the chef brought us out complimentary white-chocolate encrusted gelato. We will both definitely go back to this restaurant again...outstanding service, excellent food, wonderful ambiance, and reasonably priced. The best Italian food I've had in Fairfield county (and I've tried quite a few places in Greenwich, Stamford, and Norwalk). read more

The most delicious Italian food I've had in Connecticut so far! The owner was so personable and made us feel welcome. Covid restrictions are followed and tables are spaced out. Penne vodka, pappardelle, and veal were amazing!!! Will definitely be back soon! read more

Met my son at Mike's Ristorante who recently moved to Norwalk. Mike's is a throw back restaurant; family owned with outstanding food, good service and an owner who not only cares about the customer but is outgoing and personable. read more

Great meal! Fresh pasta, nice ambiance. Nino works to please.

Without a shred of doubt, Mike's Ristorante is BY FAR THE BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY. It is the best Italian food I have had outside of my many trips to Italy. Reasonable priced food and wine. Do yourself a favor, make this your go to Italian restaurant for occasions big and small. read more

Nino was charming. The food was delicious. Most of us had the pasta Bolognese. Just beer and wine, both were good. Really like this little place! read more

Have been to Mike's many times over the years and have always had a great meal with friendly service. My wife and I went for the first time since COVID. We sat out back in a nice little patio set up with four tables. The food was amazing as it always has been and Nino as enjoyable to talk to as ever. Will definitely be back again soon. read more

I walked into this restaurant that my surogate grandfather used to love to go to before he passed 15 years ago to commemorate his memory. I walked in to ask for a table for 2 and the chef frowned at me and made a throat slitting gesture towards me. I walked out. Not a welcoming place. I wish them the best but can't recommend them. It might've been ageism? I'm baffled and hurt. read more

I had Absolutely Delicious sole stuffed with crab meat dish Great service The owner Nino is really friendly Great little spot Only wine and beer served read more

We tried Mikes for Valentine's Day on the recommendation of one of our clients. The restaurant is in an unassuming location but when we entered we quickly realized we had discovered a hidden gem. It's rare we have a restaurant experience so memorable that we can't wait to take our family, friends and visitors. Truly high quality and authentic Italian food which made us feel like we were teleported to a small, intimate restaurant in Italy. Family owned for over 50 years; this restaurant provides both an excellent dining experience and food. You don't feel like you're dining at an American Italian restaurant. You feel like you're dining at an Italian restaurant in Italy. The owner, is from Italy. He knows quality and it shows. He didn't ask us what specific brand of white or red wine we wanted, he just brought us wine that was delicious and that anyone would enjoy. We did. Sometimes choice isn't a good thing. Good wine is good wine. Great food is great food. I'm a hard man to please. I always hate to try new restaurants as I am usually disappointed. My wife is truly a saint for putting up with me. I wasn't just pleased with our experience at Mikes - I was delighted! Everything was great from the appetizer to the limoncello. Even the espresso was on point. The table bread initially appeared a bit bland, but I soon realized it was intended to be dipped in the sauces. The Misto Sel Mar (seafood) appetizer was particularly delicious. The ingredients in our entrees were clearly very fresh. We can't wait to be back and bring our friends and family. read more

We loved the Mike's restaurant. Especially the food it's amazing and. Nino is.a. Superstar. When's to cooking. his personality. Is Unbelievable. He is. Michelin chef. read more

Mike's Ristorante is a very authentic Italian restaurant. The owners are super friendly and engage you in conversation. The service at this restaurant is some of the best I've ever experienced. The food, however, speaks for itself. I had a mushroom appetizer dish that was very flavorful as well as a plate of proscuitto to start. Their pasta is also very authentic and home-made. I ended the meal with a cappuccino and tiramisu which was also very good. I have been meaning to come back to this restaurant because of the food. read more

My girlfriend and I have only been here 2 times, but each time was perfect. Once you sit down you have a plate of prosciutto, salad and bread. The service was superb; quick, welcoming, friendly, perfect. The food was amazing as well. I got a simple shrimp dish but it tasted amazing. My girlfriend got a chicken dish with oven roasted peppers, artichokes with a wine sauce. Following dinner, we had the tiramisu. It has to be the best tiramisu I've ever had. The topping makes us think of the toasted almond ice cream bars...so damn good! This atmosphere is relaxing and enjoyable with dim lighting and touch of Italy throughout. One of my favorite restaurants in the area, no doubt about it. read more

My girlfriend and I had a reservation (suggested) for Saturday night. The restaurant is small and cozy with wonderful Italian music playing softly in the background. We were seated by an outgoing and friendly gentleman named Nino. Almost immediately he suggested the house red wine ....which he did three more times in the next several minutes!! We both had dinners (overpriced) served over homemade pasta. The various ingredients were delicious except for the pasta which was overcooked and "mushy". We declined his wine suggestion and ordered the house chardonnay which turned out to be a bottle of Josh. I understand a restaurant will markup the price for profit....however being charged $45 for a $14 bottle of wine is a bit overzealous and greedy! In my opinion simply not good business. I would not recommend this place as there are many others to choose from in the area. read more

We went to Mike's Ristorante for the first time in the Fall of 2019 and instantly it has become our go-to restaurant. On our first visit, Nino, the owner/Chef, greeted up like we were old friends. Each time we go in for dinner it's like going home to family. The experience, the service and of course the food, it is all exceptional and top-notch. As someone who is Spanish/Italian, I grew up with really great food and find it very hard to find restaurants and food that is comforting and gives you that feeling of home, not to mention delicious. I have found that with Nino and his restaurant. Going to Mike's Ristorante is like getting a big warm hug, for a lack of better words to describe the entire experience. Thank you Nino! read more

Such a delicious experience with homemade excellent quality meals. Nino The owner is a delight ! This is like being in Italy where you are treated like Family and the seasonal Food is the specialty. And such a treat to be given a hot Dish -like being in the kitchen of your favorite relative. And if that's not enough, homemade limoncello with dessert. Best to call ahead since this is a small family-owned restaurant. Andiamo! read more

I'm adding another 5 star review to the pile because they deserve it. From start to finish this place is amazing. Great food great atmosphere. Honestly whatever you order you can't go wrong. I got a parpadelle dish with italian ham, cheese and red sauce and my boyfriend got a farfalle with clams, shrimp and calamari. Both were amazing. I'm spoiled with Italian food, I grew up with it, I lived around New Haven most of my life and I lived across the street from Arthur Ave. for 4 years. This is better than all of that. Seriously. read more

Nino has been wonderful to me and my husband over the years. I love the food in his restaurant. The penne ala vodka is the best ever. The almond tiramisu is the best dessert I have ever tasted...EVER! Love this place but make a reservation! read more

I've lived in this area for over 25 years and really annoyed at myself that I never heard of this place. What a phenomenal little restaurant. My wife and I went on a Friday night. MAKE RESERVATIONS AHEAD OF TIME! There aren't many tables and, judging by the atmosphere while we were there (and the sign on the front door saying they were booked for the night), you'll have a hard time getting in. The light salad and bread are perfect starters. For dinner, I had the angel hair w/ pesto. My wife has a penne dish with meat sauce, I believe. I downed mine. Absolutely delicious. It was a very simple dish that I had never even thought of but was perfect. The highlight of the night, however, is the dessert. I'm a dessert JUNKIE. I'm very picky and I've eaten just about everything you can imagine. One bite into the almond tiramisu had me swooning. I'm being dead honest when I say it's one of THE best desserts I've ever tasted. I could live on it. One other thing that happened to solidify how great a place this is, I jokingly said to the waiter I would like 15 more desserts when he asked if there was anything else we'd like. How surprised was I when he handed me one in a to-go container with the check...ON THE HOUSE! SOLD! Michael's is a no-brainer for a nice date night out or a dinner with friends. No way you're leaving disappointed. They made two more loyal customers in us last Friday. read more

Having eaten a couple of tasty business lunches here in the past, my SO and I finally enjoyed a Friday night dinner here recently. Note that you should try to secure a reservation. If you don't have one, it's a good idea to at least call ahead, as it's not a very large room. Most--if not all--of the tables were reserved, and they mentioned that the entire restaurant was booked for a wedding party the following day. We were greeted by our server (timely, attentive, and charming) and Nino. Bread and water was promptly brought to the table. Echoing everyone else, some cheese, prosciutto and a small salad came out next. I wish more places did that! The other diners (all couples) were staggered, both in terms of meal stages and seating arrangements. I assume this was by design, allowing a single server to efficiently handle the entire room as well as achieving some privacy in an otherwise wide-open space due to temporarily vacant tables in between filled ones. They didn't have a wine list; instead, our server suggested the "house wine" (his words) that was out on the tables. He let us try a sample before committing. However, what bothered us is that the price was a complete mystery. You don't want to embarrass yourselves by asking and seeming like total cheapskates (which we aren't; we have no problem spending extra money on a bottle, it's just the principle of the thing). And then what if you aren't happy with the answer? Then you have to dance around whether they offer less expensive alternatives, potentially creating an even more awkward situation. In the end, we thought, hey--it's the house wine, which is generally a good value (see http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/house_wine). Our samples were pleasing, so we accepted the bottle. I quietly joked to my SO about it being a surprise $60 expense. For dinner, he got the lobster ravioli on special and I ordered the Cavatelli alla Campagnola. Both dishes came out piping hot (a positive). His ravioli was delicious and warrants a return visit. My dish had a generous amount of chicken, but unfortunately was fairly bland. Perhaps I am ignorant of how it should taste, but I wouldn't order it again. During dinner, a few disruptions took away from the otherwise intimate atmosphere. I'd be more understanding if we'd popped in during prep time for a 5pm dinner, but it was around 8pm. These were fairly noisy activities such as the staff pushing tables together, clean silverware clanking as it was slung into holders, various bangs and clangs in the bar and kitchen, etc. Not deal breakers, but enough of an atmospheric distraction to note. After dinner, the complimentary almond tiramisu was absolutely amazing: texturally spot-on, perfectly moist, excellent flavor. Our cappuccinos accompanied it well. Then came the check. My joke ended up being accurate; we were charged $65 for the bottle (just over half of our total bill). Not a horrific amount by any means, but again, it's the principle of the thing--it's not fair nor acceptable to put the customer in that situation and it comes across as underhanded not to have the prices readily displayed. I harped on the flaws in this review, but overall we really did have a pleasant dinner here and we will return. With a few tweaks, Mike's Ristorante would deserve a 5-star rating. read more