First time eating at the restaurant - it's loud, crowded, and the food is amazing. We started with the calamari app. Prior to this they brought out bread. I ordered the short rib Ragu. Amazing. Not a red sauce but a beef stock/almost Marsala base- so yummy and if you love mushrooms this is for you. The Sunday Sauce platter is massive- and has a ton of "meat" and the linguini with clam sauce has real clams in shell. Everyone enjoyed their meal. So yummy! My only negative is the place needs to add some fabric pieces to absorb noise as even the wait staff had trouble hearing us. Other than that, the food is amazing. read more

Molto Darien - Sunday sauce (sorry it's out of focus) - Wine Bars Near Me - Darien, Connecticut

See all

We came for happy hour. Drinks were amazing, food was really good. Bartender was excellent. The problem was when we moved to a table. Sometimes your server can ruin the experience and that's what happened. Our server was rude, and scolded us multiple times. A drink that I had sitting at the bar I was not able to have at the table, even though it was on the happy hour menu. She said they couldn't do anything custom. I was just removing the spice from the mango margarita. OK. The waitress was nasty with several people at the table, and it became apparent that she was trying to pad the bill. She would criticize what we ordered and say we needed a lot more than that. She scolded several people or talked down in a rude fashion. She would disappear without checking on the table. We had to chase down people to find out what happened to some of the cocktails. Hmmm... I think I will opt for the polite bartender who made a fabulous drink and stay at the bar next time. read more

See all

Casual but posh, perfectly prepared dishes, down to the exactly medium rare that I asked the salmon to be. read more

See all

Great service, the waiter was very nice to my aunt who wanted help with her order. The food was delicious. I loved the pesto sauce. The ambiance was nice considering we came early and there weren't many people. The music added to the atmosphere. Overall, 5 stars! read more

Molto Darien - Pesto Gnocchi - Wine Bars Near Me - Darien, Connecticut

Went here for a family dinner and had a great experience! From their good cocktails to their generous portioned entrees, this place is a must try. Service was nice and timely as well. Would definitely go back! read more

See all

We went here soon after it opened a year ago and everything was quite good. Visit last week in July '25 -- pretty inedible. What happened? Bread even tasted stale. The chicken marsala was so tough and rubbery- a knife could barely cut it. It also had a very off taste. Probably I should have sent it back. The mashed potatoes and sauce were not even good like they were last visit. The orichette dish-- was not al dente-- it was more like halfway cooked. And loaded with way too much oil. The meatballs- also good last time had a very off flavor -- very off! Other pasta dish was cooked al dente but again the sauce was way too loaded with oil. Salad with beets was okay, rather blah. Bill sure wasn't cheap...Not sure what the heck happened here! read more

I've been dining at Molto's first location in Fairfield for years since I was in college, so I was excited to try their second location in Darien Commons! The restaurant is absolutely stunning and has the same menu we know and love. You can't go wrong with any of their homemade pasta dishes or pizza, and you could make a meal out of their appetizers, like Italian tapas style. The short rib was cooked perfectly in our risotto, and the bolognese sauce for my pasta was delicious. Fantastic drinks too. Servers were very attentive and food came out quickly. We went early on a Sunday afternoon and it was a wonderful experience. read more

See all

Food is awful. So bland. Food tasted like what I'd expect at a downscale chain like an Olive Garden. Started w fried artichoke. So bland and thickly coated with the fried batter. Not the fried artichoke that is lightly fried, crisp and has some flavor. The "dipping" sauce tasted like mayo and ketchup. The muscles in a "wine sauce" tasted like they were cooked in a canned tomatoe sauce. Zero flavor. The "crustinis" were toasted slices of bread. No fabulous bread or garlic or light parm? The burrata salad however was delicious. My husband's order was just "ok" (arrinchini and short rib ravioli). he also woke in the middle of the night w diarrhea. Enough said. Service was just ok. We were there on a Monday night and there was a light crowd as one would expect. We were so rushed. Ambiance. Nice looking. Noisy even though it was only a light night. read more

My family loves this cozy restaurant. They say the food is always fresh, plentiful and delicious. Service staff are extremely friendly and attentive. read more

So excited for this grand opening of Molto! Walking into this restaurant there was an awesome chic vibe. The decor done by interior designer Robert Valle was exquisite. The beautiful bar being the focal point with a great crowd. Loved the separation of tables by all the lovely greenery. Well done !! Service was great and prompt. Food was very good. We tried a variety of tapas. Crispy artichokes, meatballs, antipasto, mussels, tuna tartare and burrata. All really good , mussels and meatballs being my fav ! Main dishes we shared the Chicken Scarp, orecchiette, and penne vodka. All shareable and tasty. Too stuffed for dessert so we will have to go back again. Great addition to Fairfield county. read more

See all

Great service, delicious food and very relaxing atmosphere. All the Happy Hour selections were excellent, as well as the spicy mango margherita. read more

We love this place. The food, service and ambiance are excellent. It's great to sit outside when the weather is warm. read more

On a warmer evening sat outside. Restaurant was busy. Knick playoff game attracted a pretty good crowd at the bar. We had 3 different pizzas and salad. Drinks and deserts; chocolate ice cream, crème boule & gelato. Cappuccinos! Very good service and food quality was vg. Enjoyable experience, not rushed at all. read more

First, I have to say they were not very friendly when we walked in. There was a salmon BLT Panini. It was pretty good the side salad. The lettuce was brown. My wife's Panini was burnt. She asked for another piece of bread and then they said no we don't have half piece of bread not very good would not recommend this. read more

What a wonderful experience we had while we were visiting this beautiful spot! The staff was wonderful, the service at the bar with Cris and Jose was outstanding. We got the burrata, margherita pizza, pesto gnocchi (not pictured), espresso martinis, and carrot cake! 5/5 starts -- we love the ambiance, the food, and the staff. Can't wait to come back! read more

See all

I really like the place in Darien. Although the bar can get filled with some obnoxious drinkers, the food is good. I had the chicken scarp and it was better than expected. Good spice to it but not overpowering. This is the second time we've been to this location and both meals, one with the kids and one with friends, were very good. read more

Great food, attentive service and attractive decor, but.... BRING EARPLUGS! I have never been in a restaurant with so much noise. You can't hear yourself think let alone your table/mate's conversation. Too bad, but it was obviously designed to be this way with all the hard surfaces and tile. Also, very expensive. Too bad. We won't be back. read more

Molto Darien - Calamari salad. - Wine Bars Near Me - Darien, Connecticut

Great place to grab lunch or dinner! Very family friendly during lunch hours. The food is absolutely amazing and authentic. Pasta is handmade and you can really taste the difference. Pizza is scrumptious and a really nice shareable size. My personal favorite: the meatballs! I'm not even a big meatball person, but these are just too good! Definitely recommend the ravioli! I will say if you plan to go for dinner, MAKE A RESERVATION! This place is jumpingggg in the night lol. read more

Food was great. A bit expensive in my opinion. It took to a loooooong time to get served our drinks and food. Also kids running all over the place. Parent people parent. read more

My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The food and drinks were outstanding, specially the delicious caponata, and the service was equally exceptional. We appreciated the attention to detail and the welcoming atmosphere which made our experience truly memorable. read more

Too many kids It's like a nursery lol And far too loud with noise Parking difficult It's like a McDonald's Italian Make believe restaurant read more

I ordered lasagna, fettuccine bolognese and Sunday gravy. Lasagne a little salty but good. Fettuccine bolognese was ok. Not enough sauce because the pasta was all stuck together. The Sunday gravy was terrible. Short rib was OK. The meatball Ok. The braciole was absolutely hard and dry. The sausage was dry as well. Extremely disappointed after spending $87 read more

Long wait, got here at 6:10 pm, they did not serve us or even take our food order. By 7:00 pm server came to our table to offer us "bread" and supposedly take out order after an hour wait. Very disappointed. First time and last time here. What a disgrace to this place which was supposed to promise so much. Worth thinking it twice. Just a friendly heads up read more

This extremely noisy open space restaurant on an early Saturday night felt like being in rush hour Grand Central Station. The portions are very large, each easily for two. My pasta, bucatini short rib, didn't have a flavorful sauce. Although seemingly popular and crowded, it is not an enjoyable dining experience, especially if you'd like to have a conversation with your dining companion(s). The servers tried their best, in unattractive surroundings. read more

Had an extraordinarily experience here at Molto for lunch. First new place in awhile that has been above expectations and really hit all aspects of making for a great experience. Friendly service, enjoyable atmosphere. Food was phenomenal, from appetizers to main courses. Octopus was cooked perfectly, great charred flavor and texture which many times can be cooked incorrectly. The potatoes, tomatoes, and cured meat was great as well especially with the dipping sauce. Short Rib Risotto was delicious! Not flavor I anticipated but not in a bad way. Really enjoyed it, could be a main course meal in itself. Black Past Fra Diavolo was delicious, good flavor, small hint of spice but definitely not overwhelming, could taste all the flavors. Sunday Gravy was amazing, huge/filling meal. All their pasta is also house made! read more

See all

So happy to see the food options at Darien Commons. We finally had a chance to visit this restaurant. We were waiting on another couple so we had a drink at the bar. Good selections for wine and booze but limited on craft beer choices. Other reviewers are right - this place is LOUD. Please put in some panels on the ceiling. The place was packed so I'm glad we made a reservation. The service was very good. I had the orchiette pasta and it was outstanding - I highly recommend this dish. My tablemates had the veal and they enjoyed it. We split a few desserts and I had a sambuca served in a martini glass (weird?). I was tempted to try a pizza but maybe next time. read more

Ok so after several months gave it another try Went in on a Saturday night quite late Big mistake Omg the noise hit me even more - you really struggle to hear the person you are with - they seriously have to sort out sound deadening it's just awful Tuna tartar/avocado starter and buffalo mozzarella. Tuna tartar was too dry, no sauce, they'd also mixed wasabi in with the avocado... doh.. Lasagna and bucatini pasta beef short rib for mains. Pasta short rib (pasta choice was a bit odd with this dish).. it's very filling but not tasty. Lasagne - I tried and couldn't taste any meat - tasted like a vegetarian... Wine was 'ok'.. though red was served at room temp (wrong!).. Our biggest issue was the cleaning of the ovens - I recognized the smell as sometimes do this at home - the smell was bad (a bad burning smell) and happened about 5 times throughout the meal (after 9pm) We didn't do coffee or deserts as our server disappeared so we were waiting about 30 mins after we finished the main meal - the restaurant was rapidly emptying out so I guess they didn't care much at that point After the second time we definitely won't be returning read more

The only reasons I feel compelled to give this restaurant 2 stars are the service and food. The greeting I received when I walked into Molto was friendly and I immediately felt very welcome. The decor is superb. I ordered the short rib entree which was absolutely delicious. Portions are generous so I was able to take half of my dinner home. Now on to the noise level. It's nearly impossible to hear the server let alone one's dinner companions. I've been in noisy restaurants before but this takes noise to a new level. It was so bad that our server apologized without our saying anything. I asked if management was thinking of doing something about it and he said they're trying but it's very expensive. This should have been thought about before the restaurant opened. It's a completely new space and Molto is the first occupant. Their Fairfield location is just as noisy. I would never have gone to the Darien location but my son made the reservation. Good as the food, service and decor may be, I'll never go back nor would I recommend this restaurant. Sorry...the only way I would consider another visit is if noise abatement is addressed. read more

Food is always excellent, servers are friendly and accommodating. Service is prompt. I love this place!

Horrible experience, rude server and rude manager! We went there to celebrate one of my friends getting into dental school, a group of 5. they have happy hour from 3-6, when we asked for the happy hour menu the service changed immediately. The place had probably 5 tables occupied, almost empty! they close taps on us 2 times because they were changing servers, at the end the manager came and clean the table on us. Literally kicked us out. We were a group of 5 ladies, polite, we had 5 plates to share and each one had 4 drinks. I felt like they we were doing us a favor for been there! I will never go back there! read more

First off Great Location came in with a few friends for a little celebration. Decided to sit at the bar was greeted by this beautiful angelic woman who was very welcoming patient with my group while we were taking a long time deciding our drinks and then main course. I believe her name was Delphine. She even pointed / suggested out some top sellers from the menu that myself I'll definitely will be back for because them dishes were amazing. From the pizza to the mozzarella sticks fried calamari. The Lobster Fettuccine , I almost ordered another to go it was that good . Asking to refill our drinks in a timely fashion. Service like that will always get you a great tip from me. My only complaint would be the Shrimp Cocktail either was over cooked or Frozen Shrimp, just not my Fancy. But everything else we had as a Collective. 4 outta 5 stars for food . And 5 stars for how our service the bartender took care of my group. Will be back this weekend read more

Molto Darien - Wine Bars Near Me - Darien, Connecticut

Every time I come to this establishment I'm quickly greeted by the friendly hostess. Food and drink service is prompt and precise. The meals never cease to amaze. This salmon was cooked to perfection. Nice crisp exterior with a silky smooth interior. Food came out nice and hot. Perfect portions for my current diet. Love the consistency and good vibes. read more

Molto Darien - Salmon Hollandaise via Brunch Menu - Wine Bars Near Me - Darien, Connecticut

Food is fantastic and service is so great. Restaurant is beautiful and they run a tight ship. Yeah it's a little loud but so what? The food is BANGIN! read more

Food was overcooked and dry, and we expressed this to waiter, he only apologized; service was spotty; not going back

Place looks beautiful! This place actually makes it's own pasta which is rare. Food was delicious. One of the best Italian places in the Tri state area. read more

Molto Darien - Bolagnese with Papardelle pasta - Wine Bars Near Me - Darien, Connecticut

We were greeted at the entrance by the owner and she had a terrible attitude. The food was awful and extremely overpriced. On average you spend around $100 per person and they gave you styrofoam for your leftovers. That's how cheap they are. DO NOT RECOMMEND read more

Fabulous food and so far the bar staff have been great. We always like to sit at the bar. Yes the acoustics in here are quite poor, but I feel sitting at the bar for some reason feels less like a Jack hammer renting space in your head. We will definitely keep going back if the food is still good, and the bar staff make eye contact and observe empty glasses. Oh and it has such an extensive menu. Love it! read more

Absolutely horrible service, we had a reservation at 8 o'clock for two people and they gave our table away to a couple that had similar clothes on compared to what we were wearing and they came in fifteen minutes after us considering we were there 10 min early for our reservation. We talked to a manager about the mistake, who then said that he would fix the issue and get us seated right away. Unfortunately this manager did absolutely nothing to help us and made no eye contact with any customers for the next 5 minutes. Horrible communication between hostess, servers and management. The hostess informed everyone that they were overbooked yet were still taking walk ins and allowing the restaurant to become completely disorganized and unable to serve their customers within a reasonable amount of time. After 40 min of waiting we left before we had to deal with any more of the mess that was occurring. read more

Great branzino at prix five Lu nch. Covered in a tomato and olive sauce and plenty of potatoes. Extremely well priced especially as a glass of wine is included. The mediocre star account is because of the appetizer. Fig and goat cheese bruschetta topped with ....strawberry jam. Yuck. read more

Great food and impeccable service. Everything we ordered was very good (favorites were the scallops, squash gnocchi, lamb chops, chopped salad). Staff was very attentive and checked back on us frequently. The bar was pretty busy when we got there but we're able to get cocktails pretty quickly- highly recommend the blood orange margarita and one called smoke something (can't remember the name but they light it up in front of you- definitely cool factor) . They were very good! It is just a bit bright for the vibe- would be great if they turned down the lights a bit for the dinner crowd. read more