We all know that a nice salad goes really well with pizza, right? But do you ever get bored of the same tired old ho-hum salads? Well how does this baby sound? Heirloom tomatoes, honeydew, cantaloupe, basil, EEVO and vinegar, a big hunk of Burrata cheese, and cornbread squares? https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=rn_I83pgA_O_tmR9w3xjRQ&userid=cVrM2BvOvPV0Vi_rC8kepQ It was gorgeous- a rainbow of reds and yellows and oranges and greens . And yes, it tasted tremendous, one of the most original and delicious salads I've ever seen and tasted. The pizzas were even better. Cooked in their old school wood ovens, they had a very thin crust (after all, this is New Haven), lots of cheese, lots of great red sauce and a very generous representation of the four toppings we tried. We ordered a small with meatballs and mushrooms https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=OlplO38xtq5NcUF3ZuVo8g&userid=cVrM2BvOvPV0Vi_rC8kepQ and another small with half sausage and half artichoke. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=lGqD3I1Wc-1tTYVgV5FxGw&userid=cVrM2BvOvPV0Vi_rC8kepQ Each small pizza ran $12. They were all superb. A few takeaways- the sausage was outstanding, with lots of thick slices all but blanketing its half of the pie. I also was surprised to see a lot of portobello mushrooms instead of the usual button mushrooms. So if your State Street faves are jam packed (as was our intended destination of Modern Apizza), just keep driving a few more yards toward the train station, and enter NOLO's big spacious lot and grab a booth or a table in their huge dining room. You will be as glad as we were to find this place. read more

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Tried to go to the usual De Legna spot on Saturday night with my guests from out of town. It was at that time that I realized their traditional location has moved down the street to NOLO. The good news about this move is that the new location has on-site parking. HUGE bonus for any restaurant near/around State Street. Can't emphasize this enough, the convenience is worth one additional star on its own. The new establishment is VERY different from what you may be used to if you are familiar with De Legna's original spot. Personally I much preferred the original location setup because the vibe was much more comfortable and welcoming. The new interior is a trendier (for better or worse) and the seating is a combination of traditional tables, round booths/tables, bar seating, and even 2nd floor seating that appears to be more geared towards a bottle-service type setup. Most importantly, the pizza is still great (the same as it has always been from what I can tell). Our waitress was fantastic and accommodating. It's clear that the restaurant is still getting used to the inevitable adjustment that comes with moving an established pizzeria down the street into a new building that had an identity of its own. They've got a bit more work to do to make it cohesive, but I'm excited to see the evolution of the journey. Needless to say, I'll be back to chow down on my favorite New Haven pizza. read more

NOLO - The Margherita - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I'll preface this review by saying I had high expectations for this spot, passing it for months and eagerly waiting for Da Legna to open this spin off location. Overall, our experience was pleasant, but there are a few things that were off. Nolo's motto is Real Food, Real Wine, Real Good Times - at least according to the signature postcard that comes with your check. The space is nicely designed - and huge! The bar area is about as big as the main dining area, and we snagged a peak of 5 or 6 booths on an upper level above the bar that was described as an area for potential spill over though with a minimum price tag. (Pseudo private space?) There was clearly much thought put into the design, including that stools, which have a modern foot rest, and the light fixtures throughout the space. Rachel, our waitress, was attentive. Overall, there seemed to be a lot of people working here for the number of customers on this given night. The brewery vessels in the front of the restaurant might make you think this spot is going to be more about the beer. While the beer menu is thoughtfully curated, I wouldn't call this spot a "beer bar," and it certainly prides itself on its wine menu more so. I asked the owner about this, mmm, potential disjointedness. Maybe he was surprised or off-put by my question, but after explaining that the wine menu is particularly large and that their 16 handles will eventually be all their own beer, he excused himself to talk with one of the waitresses and never came back. This mishandling alone was particularly disappointing, especially since he passed our booth multiple times after the first discussion. I wish he had engaged with us more, and I would think he'd want to hear more about his customers have to say. So I'll mention more here: The menu is a little confusing. Why is a burger under a "small" food option? (It is not "small!") Why are cocktails and pitcher cocktails on the same page as the food menu? Why are your pitcher cocktails not available as one-off drinks? (You'd make some money here.) Why are there no stouts on your beer menu in the middle of December? (Maybe these questions are why he avoided coming back.) That being said, the food was definitely the highlight of the experience. The wagyu tartare ($19) was tasty and came with a nice flat bread. The burger was the winner at the table, with that bacon bourbon jam adding such a nice texture. My Italian ramen was... weird. I took a risk, but the broth with such elegant ingredients was strange. But it grew on me. It was a bit too salty, and I provided my feedback to Rachel. There were only two desserts available tonight, and we opted for the salted chocolate pot du creme, which was light and a nice way to end the meal. (The candied lemon was a little strange, though.) I never thought I'd include this suggestion in a review, but you could upsell us more. If the burger comes with nothing but the burger, suggest a side. When I'm done with a glass of wine, offer me another. Alright, I'm going to cut myself off here. Nolo is definitely worth checking out, and I look forward to coming back and potentially updating my review in the next few months. read more

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This restaurant has one of the most impressive spaces in NEw Haven. Reminiscent of a Williamsburg NY restaurant. The menu is eclectic and impressive. Trying a few dishes out just to get a feel of the menu. My God! There burger was amazing with flavors galore to savor. The meatball appetizer was outstanding! Could past it up. The beet and carrot salad was flavorful and intense! The Salumi plate was outstanding with a wide arrange of cheeses and meats. Our waitress Lacy was attentive but not too intrusive. A great balance in customer care. Great place to unwind after a long work day or week. Don't past this place up. read more

NOLO - Beets and Carrot Salad - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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We were trying to get to the brewery, which was apparently closed for COVID reasons but decided to grab food. The restaurant itself is nicely laid out and they are taking appropriate safety measures which is good. The pizza we got was great, and the beer was just okay. My issue was our service, which wasn't the fault of the person working as he clearly was doing 3 different jobs at once. This business needs to staff better. Period. read more

So Saturday night was our first time for their apizza under the De Leon's-NOLO label. We'd been here before Covid/19 when a full dining experience was still available. Sorry but 1st time was better. Not that the pies weren't good but they weren't as good as the 1st time. It may be that their pizza crust - which was nicely charred came home to eat pretty limp & slightly spongy. The crusts held up though. Red pizza Sauce was good. For 16 bucks for a small you'd do better at Zuppardi's. read more

I really hate leaving reviews. But this restaurant served raw chicken to my pregnant wife so I need to this time. We came here a few times and it was always good. We specifically liked their chicken and the pizza was pretty good too. This time was different. When we arrived at the restaurant we weren't greeted for a few minutes. When we were greeted there was an awkward exchange with the hostess, which resulted in us cutting each other off back and forth. I just wanted to tell her that I had already grabbed a menu but she seemed visibly angry with me that I didn't first tell her if I wanted to eat outside or in. This was just mote awkward than anything. But when we sat down, we weren't brought drinks for about ten minutes, which was pretty much how the rest of the service for the night was. It looks like they may have been understaffed because many of the tables didn't look like they had been bussed for a while. When we've seen this at other state street restaurants, for example (Dashi), they went out of business soon after. I would've given them more of a pass if it were busy but even on fathers say, there were maybe only 6 tables filled. Also for a place charging $14.00 for an artichoke appetizer, which consists of 3 hearts only, I would expect a better ambiance. (The artichoke dish was very good but small). Finally we placed our order. About 40 minutes later our food came. The chicken my wife and I previously raved about was different. Rather than being charred on their wood fire grill and deliciously salty and savory, it was rubbery and shiny looking. When my wife tried to cut it open to share with her mom, it was tough. This should have been a sign that maybe it was undercooked. My wife and her mom ate most of the dish but as they got down towards the bone, it was clear that the meat wasn't cooked at all. Bone-in chicken can sometimes have more of a pinkish hue so at first we didn't think much of it, but as you will see in the attached picture, this was just raw! When we complained to the waiter (who not once had checked in on us) she expressed surprise that it was cooked that way as well. She said she would talk to the chef about it. Boy am I glad I took a picture first, because when she came back, she didn't offer to take it off the check. My wife and her mom ate most of the dish so on one hand I understand this, but they also didn't really notice it was raw until they got to the center. We're not ones to make a scene so we got the check paid and left. I will say their pizza (the Olli) was good but if going for pizza on state street, I would always go to modern. I would be willing to try this place again and am saddened by the downturn. It was probably just a bad night for them but ended up being a really bad night for my wife. read more

NOLO - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Thoroughly enjoyed eating here. My fiancée and I decided to check out this place since we live so close. There was adequate parking and indoor and outdoor seating. We chose to eat outdoors and wasn't unduly bothered by bugs. Our server Alejandro was amazing! Checked in constantly without being intrusive. We chose to get separate entrees and split a pasta dish. That ended up being the right amount of food for us, as the portions are a bit small but delicious! I got the grilled octopus and my partner got the burger. We split the cacio. Everything was great and the beer selection is awesome (three of the items on draft are made in house). The apple crisp wasn't particularly good (homemade ice cream was too sweet and the crisp wasn't hot) but overall we had a good time. Can't wait to go back! read more

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My 5 friends and I went to celebrate a birthday and omg the pizza is phenomenal!!! I ordered the vegan bacon pizza. The bacon is made of Smokey tempeh! The tomato's on the pizza were super fresh and delicious ! The best part was the crust it was absolutely scrumptious with charred edges! Will be back for sure! My friends rated the pepperoni as best, followed by honey pot, and the state came in last! Outdoor seating is safe and 6 ft apart for parties of five or less. Service is impeccable! Private parking lot next to the restaurant. Due to Covid Nolo is not making their own beers but plenty of options on draft list. read more

NOLO - Left over vegan bacon pizza for next days lunch! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Husband and I came to NOLO for the first time tonight for date night. We heard about Meatless Monday's and were SO excited! My husband is a vegetarian and sometimes it's difficult to find a nice restaurant that has options for him besides a salad. This was such a great choice! We ordered the State St Pizza (veggie special) for dinner as they were already out of the chickpea curry! Clearly Meatless Monday's here is popular! I'm happy to hear they sold out, shows that meatless Monday's are worth it! While waiting for our main dish to arrive (pizza), Chef Chrissy came out and greeted us! She is so passionate about her meatless Monday menu and it shows! Highly highly recommend! I can't wait to see what's on the menu for the next meatless Monday! This might be our new date night stop!! (Oh and we enjoyed the Mexican street corn for an app, too. It was yummy, but MESSY! As expected haha) read more

NOLO - Mexican street corn - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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These folks were a little slow out of the blocks, but they finished nicely. We decided to try this place on a Sunday evening (after we couldn't get outdoor seating at L'Orcio). We were seated quickly and a waiter brought us menus and bottles of water right away. And then began...the wait. We had the pleasure of watching pie after beautiful pie be walked past our table before anyone even asked for our drink orders. Once a waiter FINALLY asked if we'd been served, by beau replied "not at all." The waiter was most apologetic and brought our drinks about five minutes later. Then, we blinked and one of our pizzas magically appeared. I'm relatively certain the server gave us another patron's pie to keep us from leaving. And it worked. We're SO freaking glad we stayed! I never thought I'd say this, but these guys easily give Pepe's and Sally's a good run for their money. The crust is superbly crisp and thin. The combination of toppings on the specialty pies is ambitious (as it should be). I plan on making my way from Orange to New Haven REGULARLY for this pizza. Nicely done, Nolo. read more

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I really love Da Legna's pizza. I'm still not exactly sure what's gone on that their dine-in dinner has moved to Nolo and the original Da Legna is just take out. I miss Da Legna's ambiance. Nevertheless, a group of us wanted to get some pizza after going to East Rock Brewery last week. Nolo is in the old building where Jet Cleaners was (and I hadn't been there since it was Jet). The space was totally revamped and reconfigured. Overall they made the space look very modern, attractive, and inviting. When we arrived, the hostess said the downstairs tables were reserved (and the roundish tables really only seemed to fit 4-5 people and we were a group of 7) but thankfully there was seating upstairs. The upstairs area is meant to feel like individual lounge-y spots, with slatted walls separating your "balcony" for lack of a better term, from your neighbors' balconies. The back of the balcony was a half wall, so you could look over the side at the patrons below you (A+ for people watching and trying to figure out who's on a bad date). The downside of these 'balconies' is they're really made for friends and drinks, not for dinner. The layout of the couch, ottomans, and table made it awkward to order a few pies. Everyone had to hold their plates as the table was low and not near everyone seated. The layout of these balconies could be greatly improved by a U or |_| shaped couch with a small, central, taller table, making it easier to have drinks OR food upstairs. That being said, the pizza is so good! It tasted identical to when it was being made over at Da Legna, so I was very pleased. Their basic red pie with mozzarella is delicious, as are their specialty pies. I left full and happy with dinner. Plenty of drinks to choose from, too. Our waitress was very friendly and accommodating with our orders and extra seating, utensils, water, etc. I still miss the prior location, but I would definitely come back here for pizza! read more

Never sure what a new place is going to offer Nolo is not what I expected. The beer is brewery prices, which is awesome, and the food is high end. The Pizza was creative and perfectly cooked. A good mix of California styling with New Haven cook and bake. The Burnt Honey Lamb Ribs were Heaven. It joined the clean plate club. The Ribeye was spot on. Beautiful taste. Texture and cook. The cocktails will kick you when you're down. It was a perfect experience and already planning what to eat next time. read more

NOLO - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

One red pizza - The sit down ,I had picked up. It smell goooood before I went home ！ Pizza is thin and very juicy , everything match very Very excellent！！ Thank the chef， Continue to make excellent food ！！ read more

NOLO - The sit down，you must try - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

11/15/19: The vegan cheeseburger pizza is now on the menu as the Beyond Good. I would get it sans tomatoes but it is still good. Came here for a birthday party. The pizza is basically the same pizza as Da Legna's, which makes sense because they moved operations over here. First the meh/bad: If you are vegan, the only consistent option for you here is the pizza. The sauce of the vegan pizza was way too sweet and really heavy with oregano. It clashed heavily with the cheese. I don't remember any of the vegan pizzas I've ordered at OG Da Legna ever tasting like that. The cheese melted and the crust wasn't insanely blackened, so I appreciated that. They didn't advertise the special (vegan cheeseburger pizza) though, it was leaps and bounds better than any vegan pizza I've had at Da Legna's. If I had know about it sooner I would have ordered that instead. The good: service is much better here and the staff is more attentive. The space is absolutely beautiful and accommodating for everything from dates to groups. The mixed drinks are ok, martini wasn't anything to write home about, it was perfectly serviceable. Honeypot remains a huge favorite for the meat eaters. Desserts looked tasty, again a fine carryover from Da Legna. Beer menu looks fine, though didn't try any. Vegan and GF items are labeled clearly (thank you for that). If I were really in a pinch for a group all diets friendly option I would come here and try to get the vegan cheeseburger pizza. Otherwise, solid meh. read more

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This location is nice! It's relatively new, only been around for two years, the inside is newly renovated and the service is great! The staff is very friendly and attentive. Would def return here! read more

NOLO - Funghi pizza (mushroom, truffle, ricotta) - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Well this was a bust. Huge mistake Da Legna made in closing one of the best little pizza restaurants / bars in New Haven to accommodate the issue across the street, when NoLo opened to expand the business. Staff overwhelmed and not focused on the client. Bartenders literally running around. Ordered the Clark pie with sauce on the side - which came Ice Cold. Requested it hot - never even came out! Didn't get to enjoy the pizza at all! Disappointing. What a shame - No thanks - we're good. Too many other good spots downtown. Won't be back read more

Outdoor seating mask required if you go inside but not outside! Food was pretty good and beer was good as well! So many options for pizza. We got a large "Arugula" for 3 people and portions were substantial!!! We got a box to take home the extra. Good pricing and the waitress was friendly. Can't wait until this place opens back up for indoor normalcy. read more

So we waited 2 years for this place to open? Liked it better as a Cleaners. Food was super expensive. We expected brilliance but it was pedestrian at best. Question? Is this a restaurant or a brew pub? The beer was nothing special. Craft beer options in all surrounding towns trump this beer by leaps and bounds What was with the "Cleaners" neon light? I know from going to Jet as a kid with my dad that the floor is the original cleaners floor. Have you ever heard of a cleaner not contaminated by solvent? I question that they let them build food service on the site Beautiful place, nicely reimagined, but very cold, cavernous. Sorry to say but won't be back read more

Fantastic Pizza! I love that they have such great vegan options. The people are super friendly and the atmosphere is beautiful. I can't wait to come back and try the rest of the vegan pies on the menu Salsiccia pizza was the winner for me read more

NOLO - Vegan Pizza and Salsiccia Pizza - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Went twice in past 2 weeks. Food: 4.75 stars. Pizzas and burger were superb. Two pizzas, one red, one white, and the burger were all among the best I've had in New Haven or anywhere. Also tried some veggie sides. Really fresh ingredients and great flavor. A little pricey for sure, but not more than many other places downtown, and the pizzas are large enough to share unless you are super-hungry. $30 gets you a pizza and a side, so that's $15/pp. Coffee was also nice and there were a few interesting beers. Would be good if they lowered prices of certain items a tad but I'm still doing 5 stars here. Location: 4 stars- great near-downtown location in the only real city in CT, near everything. Minus one star because the street is a death trap of speeding right next to the highway on-ramp so be careful trying to walk, bike, or even drive there. There is plenty of free parking, if you are driving. Service: 5 stars. Very friendly and professional. Ambiance: 5 stars. Can't find anything wrong here. It's spacious and pretty inside. I went during the day so not sure what it's like late at night. But if you feel you're paying an extra $5-10, maybe chalk it up to how much they spent to renovate the old dry cleaners into a pretty space. Average: 4.5/5 read more

Wow. The Da Legna crew have knocked it out of the park with Nolo (not surprising). A ton of love was put into this space converting it from the old Jet dry cleaners. The space is gorgeous with a great vibe. Food is excellent. Pizza is even thinner than Da Legna, but fantastic. Only tried the Wild Boar Ragu entree, but it was great. House made pasta and a ton of flavor. Thunderbolt IPA was very good from the brewery side. Looking forward to trying more. read more

I used to pick up my parents' clothes here all the time. 25 years later, it's a trendy new Italian restaurant and brewery. Life is funny. With Nolo now in business, this part of New Haven gets a long-awaited facelift. While visiting CT for the holidays, my mom happened to mention a new place on State Street that "used to be the old Jet Cleaners" so, we just had to try it out. The result: Finally, you don't have to settle on just pizza or "Goodfellas". And if you're bored with "L'Orcio" or "Portofino's" this could be another option down the road. For the late night bar crowd, it's a winner. Atmosphere: The lay-out is super spacious, sleek and modern, high ceilings with low bizarre, although impressionable lighting and plush velvet booths. We arrived right before 5pm on a Saturday evening, as they were opening. My first thought was how great a place this would be for events and parties and how much I couldn't wait to return with a larger party. Yes, even before eating I wanted to return ;) Immediately I felt at home even though it was a bit empty during this time. It picked up well into our meals. There is a memorable mural of a vintage train at the end of the room which, for this train-crazed fool, was delightful to stare at during our meals. Unfortunately, the seating, was a bit on the disappointing side as stools are nice-looking but not very nice to your tush. Because they're higher up, my feet had no place to rest, causing my napkin to fall off my lap and onto the floor every so often. After several attempts, I finally gave up and sat next to my partner while we ate side-by-side. Kind of strange as they were completely empty and wouldn't seat us in a nicer booth. **Note to the General Manager: There was a noticeable draft (pun not intended), causing it to get incredibly cold at times. The silverware and plates freezing in our hands. Don't know if this is because of a ventilation issue in the kitchen or a faulty heating system. Very uncomfortable that we had to rely on the heat from the ovens a couple yards away. It did eventually get warmer but could be improved. Meals: The menu is sophisticated and well thought out. A nice variety of dishes and assortments. As this is a brewery as well, you'll find an extensive drink menu featuring both modern, well-blended cocktails and a variety of beers (which I didn't try this time). For appetizers, we absolutely LOVED the "Cacio e Pepe" which was heavenly, as well as the "Beets and Carrots" with Faro, fennel pollen and stracciatella. For our main entrees we shared "Wagyu Tartare" and the "Wood Grilled Half Chicken" which came with incredibly rich mushrooms and charred Broccolini. The accompanying roux was incredibly buttery and rich and almost inedible. It could have been watered-down or reduced a bit. And for dessert, I can't remember what exactly it was we had...a lavender honey ice-cream with caramelizad pistachios and some kind of rose-flavored cake? ...whatever it was it sealed the deal. Overall, a solid dining experience, incredible customer service, with just a few minor issues that can be resolved. But overall, worth it and will definitely return. And order more drinks. read more

The best of the best! Can't wait to stop in again. Pizza was delicious and my drink topped with "Chianti Foam" was fabulous!

We've been waiting for NOLO to open and we have not been disappointed each time we have had the pleasure of eating here!! The space is positively beautiful the wood fire stoves are so impressive. It's truly a new haven original that honors the heritage of the city that it shares. The farm to table selections on the menu that change frequently is thoughtful and amazing!! The combination of the meal choices are a culinary adventure that is just outstanding! Compliments to the chef! The wood fire pizza is thin crust and amazing traditional types are offered as well as seasonal selections. For example, I was pleasantly surprised to see "hen of the woods" in one of the selections which tips its hat to the farm to table offerings. Our 14-year-old son asked to have his birthday here. They were kind enough to accommodate our large party. He loves good food and our family was equally as impressed with the menu, the atmosphere, and the service. Foodies need apply and feel the vibe and eat amazing food with your beer or specialty cocktail selections. This place is worth the wait and the drive! read more

I've been here already several times since it's been open the last few months. I really like the spacious parking lot and the large inner space; we've had large groups here without feeling crowded and the upper level has a lounge space. We got pizza the first few times but where I think Nolo really shines is its pasta - made from scratch, this is my favorite bucatini cacio e pepe in New Haven. It's got amazing texture. The pizza is also good, similar to Da Legna, given the owner. I also enjoy the sour Watermelon on the Streets in the Town of New Haven beer. I've also heard good things about the burgers. The catch of the day was great the first time but kind of fishy and less fresh the second time, but still okay.  Servers always really nice, though sometimes things are a bit slow.  Overall, a tasty new place in New Haven; it's a pizza town but try the menu beyond the pizza here. read more

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Such a great addition to the State St. repertoire! My boyfriend and I went for the first time on New Years Eve (when I emailed about getting a reservation, the manager personally gave me a call to help me make a reservation - so nice!). It was a great place to celebrate. Really great atmosphere on the inside - trendy but comfortable and homey. Our waitress was obviously new to serving, but did a great job on a very busy night and was incredibly sweet, inquisitive, and attentive. When my boyfriend didn't like his beer she got him a new one right away and didn't charge him for the one he didn't drink. Was also happy to ask the bartender specific questions we had about the drink menu. Thank you Elizabeth! The food was amazing. We splurged and had the wagyu tartare to start and it was totally worth it! For our mains we split the wild boar ragu and olio (?) pizza. Both were truly fantastic - we cleaned our plates. Had an amazing rose cake with lavender ice cream for dessert. All in all super delicious. My only hope is that they expand the menu as time goes on - more options for both food and cocktails would be awesome! Can't wait to go back. Thank you so much to everyone at Nolo! read more

We had an amazing time last night! We came out to NOLO for a girls' night reunion with my high school girlfriends and the service and atmosphere were phenomenal! I love the rounded booths - perfect for catching up. We split a bunch of the appetizers - winter greens, meatballs with polenta, and salumi - their cheeses are delicious! We ended with the savory rose cake and the dark chocolate pot de creme - so decadent! Our cocktails were fantastic as well - particularly the blood orange and vodka martini. Rachel was an incredibly sweet server! We will be back we love it! read more

NOLO - Winter Greens Salad - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Atmosphere: fun and energetic. Service: attentive and helpful. Drinks: Above average and creative. BUT the Food : Disappointing and undercooked. I would love to rate this restaurant higher based on the atmosphere and service but since we come for the food, it must be weighted heavily. The Pork Belly and Brussels appetizer was very cold in the middle, while the outside was charred and warm. Eating partially raw pork belly is never acceptable. Next were the wings, which were cooked but had rubbery skin and lackluster flavor. Lastly the pizza, which looked and presented great to the eyes while being perfectly charred on the outside crust was under cooked and doughy underneath. Based on the local competition in the area, I can only assume this was an "off night" otherwise they won't be around long. read more

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Like other reviewers I am giving this place 3 out of 5 stars because of price. I liked that we didnt have to park in the street. The restaurant is spacious, clean. The staff was attentive and polite. Our food was good. But the $12 toasted cheese sandwiches, $13 glass of wine and my $7 beer were a little too pricey for us. We wish them the best but we won't be coming back due to the price. This is not a budget friendly place. read more

NOLO - This small $7.00 beer was good but not $7.00 good. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Right around the corner from where I work, sonits very convenient for a business lunch or dinner. Walking there- the entryway is initially confusing- as people sitting outside look at you like you are an imbecile trying to figure out which way to get in from the sidewalk. It's not at all obvious. They have their own parking!!! Interior is rather nice, big, roomy, vast feeling... Noisy. I was with three others and we could barely hear each other talking loudly- so we asked our waitperson if they could lower the music slightly- and they did (most other places would not care, I think)! Gold star. Had some cab wine to start- pretty good. But: $11 per glass = :-/ Come on. The amount is small. Give me a break. Menu has numerous items that are glutenfree! I had the pickled shrimp with greens. It was truly delicious. I liked it so much I had ANOTHER! Others ordered a pizza, and octopus. They ALSO ended up ordering the pickled shrimp after I told them what I thought! The verdict was it was really very good. Pricey, though: 4 of us with 2 drinks each and food came to around $250 (not including tip). A bit too pricey for me to do on a regular basis. But maybe for very special occasions. It's a shame, because if it was t so friggin expensive I'd eat there a lot more. Verdict: It's good. Pricey. Yummy. Go there and try it out yourself! read more

After having been back a few times, I think NOLO falls just short of 5 stars. The happy hour is excellent, with great prices on the in-house brews, pizza, and single patty burger. I'll definitely be back for it. Consistency is hit or miss. My wife ordered the red snapper a second time and it was missing the crisp and tenderness that won both of us over the first time. I got the NHV white clam pizza, and while the flavor was fine, the clams themselves seemed improperly prepared, with quite a lot of silt remaining in them. A bit of silt is to be expected with clams, but it seemed like I was spitting out sand every third slice. BAR manages to avoid this; given the higher price point, I don't see why NOLO can't. read more

I go with my coworkers every once in a while. It's a good time depending on who you go with. They do have a happy hour. But here's something I think is worth noting: It's not a regular bar, or a dive bar. It's "upscaley". So if you intended on grabbing a glass of Merlot-no. If you wanted a basic captain and coke -no captains. If you wanted nachos, or wings (very basic cheap bar foods, this is not the place). They do serve tequila however and they have their signature cocktails. Approx $13 bucks for a totem pole for example. The bartenders have some hesitation about altering the beverages, I'm not sure if it related to the drinks being pre mixed, or maintaining the prestige of the drink. This is not a critique--just an observation. They do have a nice Cabernet and the guys usually get some kind of beer on tap (I don't drink beer, so I have no suggestions)They're favorite for some time was a "moist green", but I don't think they sell it anymore (also not sure why). We have had issues with seating being reserved in the past, meaning that we'd come in and plop down at a table, and we'd be asked to move after being served our first round of drinks, to accommodate other parties. One evening we were actually moved twice.We're all young and easy to please with a free drink here and there for the inconvenience, but I think the consensus is just that: this is an annoying thing. I think what draws us back is the location, atmosphere, and the attentiveness of the servers/bartenders. They are actually great and the drinks are pretty good. The food--not sure about, but people definitely enjoy it, pizza seems to be a hit. Nolo is a hit but we need to go a few more times without any hiccups for me to update this review. It is new, and the summer is coming so I'm sure my coworkers and I will be here several more times this year. Stand by. :) read more

Came for our anniversary dinner and we left overly satisfied. Started with the apple salad and got a pizza because I needed to have it. Primary course was the burger, which was one of the better burgers I've had especially with the bacon jam. My wife got the gnocchi which was equally as amazing. We had stopped in previously for a drink so this place is pretty versatile from that standpoint. There's a lot going on depending on what type of night you're looking for. Another bonus is that they have their own parking making it easy to get in and out. read more

Outdoors: Great parking space. Great outdoor lounge perfect for spring/summer! Indoors: extremely spacious. High ceiling. 2nd floor is a private lounge, great for private parties and groups. Service : great! Alejandro was our server. Very friendly. Very informative. He told us that everything is fresh and from local produce and that there's no freezers except for the one that carries the ice cream which even that, the chef makes himself from fresh cream! Food: amazing. You can taste the freshness. Queen pizza. Perfect amount of crunchiness, cheese, basil, and sauce. Pasta - forgot the name of it but it was a creamed base spaghetti pasta, i think pancetta, with a touch of fresh lemon. Wow. This was amazing. Meatball on sourdough bread - huge serving. Very filling but very flavorful and meatballs was very moist! The best was their woodfired spiced carrots. This was like nothing I've ever had before. I bgg usually dont like cooked carrots. This is a must try! Their ice cream was to die for! Soooooo fresh. read more

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I have been to Nolo twice now, once for a business lunch and this second time for a nice date night with my husband. On both occasions, I have had great service, great drinks and amazing food! It is nice to find a place away from the chaos of having to park downtown that has a great ambiance and good quality food. They have that "Farm to Table" feel where their menu changes based upon what is available seasonally and they do source a lot of their ingredients locally, which I love! On my first visit to Nolo, I had the Nolo burger, which was one of the best burgers I've ever had. My coworkers were also pleased with their selections as well. On this last visit to Nolo, we started off with the Salumi plate. All of the meat & cheese selections were delicious! I ordered the Meatball Beach pizza (white pie with meatballs, beach mushrooms, fennel and salmoriglio) and my husband ordered their Orecchiette with Crab. Both the pizza and the pasta dish were great! For dessert we couldn't decide so we opted for two desserts...the Woodfired Apple & Cherry Crisp and the Banana Custard Cake. Again, both were exceptional! The homemade ice cream on the Apple Crisp alone is worth coming back for! They should sell that in pints to go! My only slight criticism (but not enough to knock a star off) would be about the brewery aspect of the place. They only had two beers of their own on tap and many other guest taps. I expected more beer options and hope that they grow that side of the business more. We will definitely be back! read more

Nolo is very spacious with an extremely long bar area. We were seated in a booth. It wasn't cramped or overly furnished. I actually felt as though it was sparsely decorated and that may be because of the size. Upon seating us they provided us with several menus-wine, beer and cocktails, meat/cheese boards, and small plates and entrees. The wood fired broccolini appetizer ($7) were delicious an had a nice kick! We ordered two pizzas. They come in a size slightly larger than a personal pizza. We opted for the Nolo cheese ($15) it's a red pizza with 8 different cheeses, oregano and basil and the Shroomi ($19) two kinds of mushroom (hen of the woods & oyster mushrooms), fontina and mozzarella, charred kale, red onion and lemon. It was tasty but the favors were surprisingly mild considering the abundant combination! The crust is the best part-super thin and just the right amount of char! Service was very good but they're not afraid to charge! read more

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Update: Went back a second time, and found the food to be significantly better. I'm thinking the "Italian ramen" I mentioned in my previous review was a fluke. It's no longer on the menu, so maybe the folks at Nolo thought the same. Anyways, I had the Rhubarbella to drink, which was delightful. My friends and I shared lobster mac; duck baos; Brussels sprouts with pork belly; the Honeypot pizza; the capricossa(?) pizza (prosciutto, artichoke heart, etc.); and a pizza with mashed potato, corn, bbq sauce, pulled pork, and mozzarella. All were really delicious, particularly the deservedly-renowned honeypot and the duck baos. My only criticism of the food is that the mashed potato/pulled pork pizza (the name of which I'm forgetting) was really, really heavy--almost oppressively so, and I say that as a guy who generally has a lot of gusto for heavy food. I think that if they'd gone a little lighter on the mashed potato, mozz, and bbq sauce, the taste of the corn and the pulled pork would've been able to come through better. As it was, the latter two got a bit lost in the slop of the goo-ier toppings. One other quibble, atmosphere-wise, is that while the 'terrace' seating upstairs is a really cool concept, it gets extremely hot in the terrace booths that are directly above the kitchen's wood-fired ovens. If you're going to seat people there, you need to find a way to make the temperature reasonably comfortable--or at the very least, warn guests about what they're getting into. read more

We stopped in for lunch between errands and really loved how simply the brewery is decorated. The purple booths are stunning. We shared two small plates and a dessert. We wish we'd tried this place sooner when we lived in New Haven! The food was delicious and very creative. Looking forward to checking this place out for brunch one weekend. read more

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We went on a Saturday night and it wasn't crowded at all. The space is very large, with plenty of comfy booths, regular tables, upstairs intimate seating, bar seating, and outdoors patio seating. The interior is very well designed, making you feel comfortable and laid back but also getting a hip vibe at the same time. The service was very fast and the entire wait staff was extremely nice. We tried two do their partnered beers, which were pretty good New England IPAs. The shrimp arugula salad was fresh (maybe could've used more salt), and the mushroom pizza had a crispy, burnt crust from their fire oven and a generous amount of toppings. The music selection and speaker system were impressive without being too loud to enjoy conversation. It was a great experience overall and perfect for a casual dinner out with friends or on a date. Bonus - there's a parking lot! read more

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