We were on our way back home and wanted to give New Haven spots another try…read more The usual spots had a line of people. We laughed at them and moved on. We don't do lines. Found this spot and were glad we did. Pizza was absolute perfect. We tried 3 different pies.

Delicious FRESH food! 4.5/5.0. I wish Yelp would allow for the .5 in reviews! Went here yesterday…read moreto meet up with an old friend. We had the ricotta and honey on toast, meatballs, prosciutto/mozzarella to start, some white wine and of course PIZZA! The pizza was light and cooked perfectly. We had the Dolce Salato and the Diavolina. We loved the Dolce Salato! The Diavolina was good, but I think some more spicy salami or maybe an additional spicy component would have been a good addition to the pizza. It needed just a little bit more on the flavor side. But still everything here is high quality and I would recommend! Service was excellent. We were immediately seated and had the option to sit inside or outside. I first sat inside, then we moved to a larger table outside. What I really appreciated as a new mom, was their openness and flexibility for coming in with a stroller. I was nervous to be a burden to the restaurant, but they were super accommodating. Thank you On room for improvement, I think on a hot day, having the inside space being much much cooler, than the outdoor seating (especially for newborns/really young kids/elderly) would be beneficial. Yesterday it was cool inside to start (and remember I chose to move outside), but they started to leave the front door open to allow for easy movement of staff and guests between inside and outside, which made the indoor space get warmer over time. And I totally get that for the ease of movement for staff/guests, but maybe consider keeping it super cool on the inside, so that kiddos/elderly have a cool space on a really hot day to not overheat. The vibe here is great. Chill, warm and light! Come with family and/or friends and enjoy!

Relaxing atmosphere. Small place with delicious food. Tried the eggplant tower and sausage with…read morebroccoli rabe as appetizers. Both were wonderful. Entrees we tried were veal with fresh tomatoes- the veal was thin and butter tender. Lots of flavor in a simple dish. Also had beef bolognese- homemade pasta with amazing sauce. So glad we have leftovers form this huge portion. Staff was attentive but not annoying. I'd go back in a heartbeat

We came this past Saturday night for a nice meal out…read more Table of 8 (4 couples). We were promptly seated at our 6:30 reservation time. I got an Old Fashioned and asked for extra cherries. Who knew I would be charged $4 for that, wasn't told until we saw the bill at the end. (See picture) We started with family style platters of broccoli rabe and sausage, oysters, panecotto and a scungilli salad. The portions were generous for everything that was ordered. For an entree, I had the Pollo Fantasia. Chicken breast topped with crab meat, spinach and mozzarella. It came with mashed potatoes and zucchini along side. The mashed potatoes were a bit odd. More air and water, less potato. All of the food was fantastic though. I think everyone really enjoyed what they had.

I'm newly gluten free and struggling - during a visit with some friends who needed to eat a lot of…read morecarbs we came here knowing that they had GF pasta. They said any of the pastas could be modified and offered a few noodle variations which made me really happy, the noodles tasted so good I thought I maybe got gluten'd hahaha but felt fine. Their gluten free noodles are made with rice and corn so it balances out and doesn't feel mushy. Between our group we ordered risotto, pappardelle, and a shrimp pasta which we were all ecstatic with. Highly recommend!

A bit pricey, but delicious pasta! One of my favorite things to do is go to Italian restaurants in…read moreNew Haven and this one is one of the best! Their pasta is made from scratch and tastes so fresh. The texture is perfection. I got pappardelle w/ sausage and porcini mushrooms and it was delicious! My friends also enjoyed their meals. They were also very good portion sizes. As stated earlier, it's a bit pricer than other places but worth it. And you get complimentary bread. The service was also good.

Our group came to Encore to celebrate a birthday, we all came and left happy with our choice. We…read morewill definitely be making up excuses to come back here. It was the first time some of my group had experienced a pre fixed menu and it's safe to say they're sold. If you're celebrating anything special or even coming on a date or a time with family/friends this environment will 100% elevate the occasion. It's in a good area, the place is decent sized. I enjoyed that it wasn't huge because it wasn't at all overwhelming. The workers are very quick, helpful and resourceful. Everything from ordering the food on went very smooth. Not one mistake in our order and everyone enjoyed their meals. I felt that usually other places make small mistakes that make dinners go on forever but the night went so smooth that I was shocked. Thank you Encore team for a great time! PS: Dressing a little nicer than usual is recommended as I felt the place was classier than most.

We had a great evening here with Carlos as our server. We told the host it was my parents 30th…read moreanniversary & they kindly put candles & Happy Anniversary on a plate for them! So cute and definitely made this stand out to us. Thank you Carlos & staff, that was so kind of you! We all did the price fix menu which is a great buy - appetizer, salad, entree, & dessert for $49 each! The sauces were very flavorful & each course was delicious. Carlos brought over the bruschetta on the house while we waited for appetizers. Great espresso martini & the pom parade mocktail. Definitely will be returning. Gorgeous downstairs dining room & bar set up.

Dined at Skappo to celebrate our anniversary. Genuinely one of the most memorable dining…read moreexperiences of our lives. The ambiance is so cozy and makes you feel like you're in an Italian home. We had the stuffed fig dish, momma's Sunday sauce, The lasagna, and risotto with pistachio. Everything was simply perfect, full of flavor, and brought me straight back to my travels in Italy. The stuffed fig dish especially should win awards. This place is truly a gem that's owned by a kind and passionate family, and that's evident from the moment you walk in. The service isn't just great, it's literally like being invited into an Italian home for Sunday dinner. During our meal, the grandmother came out from the kitchen to introduce her adorable grandson (~8 years old?) who was helping out tonight around the restaurant and to thank everyone for coming. We've never felt this much love at a restaurant ever before, and we cannot wait to come back to try the rest of the menu (and the fig dish again), and keep coming back for more. Thank you Skappo for a wonderful dinner and evening! Please keep doing what you're doing - the world needs more of places like Skappo.

Can't stop thinking about this place, the food!! Best pasta I've ever had. Very authentic and warm…read morefamily running the place. Live in NJ but want to make trip to go back

Always heard what a great restaurant this was. It's better than that…read more What I did not know is they have a beautiful patio. The tables were not jammed together, you could actually relax and enjoy the meal. And what a meal!! Everything was fresh and well prepared. The ragu for the delicious pasta was key. Many places put some meat in a marinara and call it a ragu or a Bolognese. It's not and you can taste when a meat sauce is prepared separately and cooked slowly that develops flavor. Perfect here. Kitchen clearly pays attention to details. Cannot wait to go back.

Tried L'Orcio for my birthday and was really impressed. We had the formaggi and everything was…read moredelicious, especially the goat cheese and fruit bread. For dinner, we ordered several pasta dishes including Gnocchi alla Boscaiola , Pappardelle Al Ragu, a special and Cavatelli Alla Norma. Everything was incredible, and the handmade pasta really stood out. The gnocchi were especially memorable, very soft, pillowy, and perfectly seasoned. You can tell the pasta is made fresh daily. The staff were kind and welcoming, and the atmosphere felt cozy and charming. Would absolutely return to try more!! Would also love to take a pasta making class if the chef is ever offering

We were in New Haven for a special event and chose this restaurant. Had never been to the charming…read morehouse and had no idea what to expect. At first we arrived but our table wasn't ready and we waited 15 minutes. It wasn't a great start but sitting at the bar and drinking water made the time fly. At that later time point our table was ready and we climbed the stairs. This is an old house converted into a restaurant and we were on the third floor. It was a lovely table and had the privacy that is lacking in many places. There was a bathroom on the level so no need to run downstairs if needed. My irritation for the late start disappeared immediately. I haven;t even started to mention the food. I ordered tapas plates and a salad; others had dinner entrees where the portions overwhelmed. Even now I can remember the salad mista that was incredibly fresh with a fantastic dressing. Tried the Caesar as well and it is a tough choice, BTWl. I had scallops and risotto which was incredibly filling with a tremendous sauce. Presented in a lovely way. I also had the ricotta filled purses with brown sugar and the flavor combination was pleasing. Other dishes included the spicy rigatoni, steak, short rib and bolognese. Rave reviews for all. Dolci included gelato and the chocolate cake. Very important to make sure and try the sweet at the end of the meal. We will return and others should try this restaurant. Make sure you can get to those upper floors or choose a table without climbing stairs for the food and service will be well worth it.

Really nice covered patio. Super nice server…read more I loved the Ferrari rosé. Not too dry, very flavorful, almost like a cocktail but great for a hot day. Beet salad was amazing. House bread is great! Not a fan of the eggplant Parmesan, though. It was neither fried nor roasted but seemed stewed like in ratatouille, which is the least tasty way to make eggplant OMHO. I really could not eat it and just ate the tomato and cheese, which was fine because the salad and bread were filling. So I liked this restaurant a lot... But skip the eggplant Parm!

I usually take the time to drone on about meals that I've had…read more I simply wanna say the service was impeccable. Our server was polite, informative very helpful. Our drinks were exactly as described on the cocktail menu and obviously mixed by a professional The ambience is welcoming, classic comfortable. The restaurant stays quiet, even with many people in it. It's a very cozy family orientation, intimate environment. The food was impeccable. I did not have much experience with dishes serve family style, but we were a table of 10. We completely enjoyed her meals having the ability to taste a little bit of each one of the many dishes that were brought out was a culinary treat. These dishes were not only well prepared and well seasoned and well presented, but they easy to enjoy their easy on the pallet. No one dish was over seasoned or overcooked. The ingredients were obviously fresh. Nothing was overcooked. Nothing was tough. Nothing was harsh and the pallet this was excellent food. Cannot wait to go back this is a must go restaurant

BRING BACK CHEFS with ATTITUDE. I had the pleasure of dining at The Luke Brasserie today. Totally…read moreunplanned. I was searching for something that could match up to Maison Bar Vins back home. First off can we talk about the bones of the place. The Taft building which once was a hotel now sits and houses a very charming French restaurant with a chef who could care less who you are or if your camera is permanently to your hand. I sat at the bar and the chef seated me. I opted out for their three course pre fix bar menu. Chef and owner Vincent who had trained under ICONS in the culinary world met me with this good old fashion old school attitude that today's foodie influencers could never understand. Serious poised stern energy that I love so much about old world cooking boh lore. The food was great. The playlist was upbeat, the kitchen had energy. This place should be the hardest reservation to get in New Haven.

Gioia Cafe & Bar is always a great choice, but this was my first time checking out the rooftop with…read morea friend, and it was such a great experience! Our server, Kervin, was absolutely wonderful. He was friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down. His calm demeanor and genuine smile really stood out and made our visit even more enjoyable. The rooftop ambiance was perfect. It wasn't overly noisy, so we could actually relax and have a conversation. I also appreciated how thoughtful the staff was with the shades--they kept them down while the sun was out to keep everyone comfortable, and once the sun went down, they raised them so everyone could enjoy the beautiful view. The drinks were good, although I think they could've been a little stronger. The pizza, on the other hand, was delicious and definitely something I'd order again. If you're planning to sit on the rooftop, keep in mind that it's first come, first served, so get there early if you want a good spot. Overall, I had a fantastic time and will definitely be back. Highly recommend checking out the rooftop if you haven't already!

Was disappointed - it was a 10 minute wait for a slice so I ordered a scoop of ice cream 15 minutes…read morelater they forgot to put the pizza sliced order in they refunded the price of a slice, but not the ice cream I had while waiting for the pizza slice for which they never put the order in. It would've been a great gesture to offer a refund on the Ice cream as well because I really only got it because I was waiting for the pizza. That said the kid work in the counter was working her ass off but somebody backstage forgot about me and was disappointed to Manager didn't offer more to rectify the situation. - I never give a one star review, but wish I could here

Signage upon entering Connecticut points one to the "pizza capital of the United States", an…read moreinteresting claim to make as one leaves New York. What it's referring to is New Haven, and in particular the prominent restaurants that originate its local style of pizza. Modern is the third of a trinity of well-known pizzas, and unlike the others it has not expanded outside of New Haven and is not on the same Italian-heavy street. I was fooled by the name into thinking that it was going to be "modern" pizza with pineapple and edamame or something, but it is actually just as traditional as the others. There is a small vestibule on entry, where you are apparently supposed to wait and get your name taken for a table. I was a bit nervous that there were several groups ahead of me, but it was not a long wait for me, maybe ten or fifteen minutes on a weeknight. It's a fast-cooking pizza and a decent-sized restaurant, so in the entirely likely event of a line, it does move quickly. The menu is focused, with the pizza accompanied by beverages and a couple of salads and bread-based appetizers. Figuring I won't be back in the area for a while, I just went ahead and got a salad and garlic bread that I knew I wouldn't finish; I was offered a massive side of marinara sauce with my bread. I also got a white birch soda in the distinctive local brand to complete the experience, and it was a strong birch bark taste. The pizza crust felt a little chewy to me at first, but it grew on me. The ample char and my wise topping choice of cherry peppers delivered a complex mix of flavors that transcended simple description. It was perhaps my favorite of the big players (I've tried some satellite Frank Pepe's locations but haven't been to the original). And the price and the atmosphere are accessible even for people who aren't Ivy Leaguers. Maybe the Connecticut sign isn't an overreach.

The pizza was amazing and definitely worth the wait! We tried the clam pizza, artichoke pizza, and…read morepepperoni & sausage, and everything was delicious. The clam pizza was our favorite and is an absolute must-try! A tip for anyone visiting for the first time: if you see people waiting outside, make sure you go in and put your name down! We didn't realize there was a list and thought the line by the door was the line to get a table, so we waited for a while before figuring it out. The restaurant is spacious, the staff was super friendly, and there's street parking nearby. Great pizza, great service, and definitely a place we'd come back to if we're in the area again.