This place is damn near perfect. Went in on a Friday night to get a couple small plates and drinks but ended up trying about ten or eleven dishes. We were quickly sat at the bar upon arrival and from there forward were repeatedly impressed. The bartender was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, his suggestion for wine perfect. Starting off with three small plates the food came out quickly and was paced well. Everything was so good we did two more rounds of food while drinking our wine. The only thing I wasn't in love with was a lavender tequila we ordered, it was too sweet for me, but my girlfriend enjoyed it immensely. Prices were incredibly fair, left feeling almost too full and didn't spend an arm and a leg. The energy in the room was upbeat and positive. The staff all seemed to be enjoying themselves which I believe is important in a place like this. The only complaint I would have, putting Osa at damn near perfect instead of perfect, is the noise. I truly hope some sound dampening is on the way but that will not stop us from returning soon. We anticipated the opening of this place for a long time and with a great atmosphere, amazing food, and perfect service this place is sure to become a staple in Middletown. Beyond happy to have this restaurant here! read more

What a welcome addition to Middletown! We tried the charred shishito peppers and the coppa di testa small plates then split the crispy pork shank for dinner. Although full, sated and happy thank goodness we did not skip dessert. I am not a big dessert eater but I would stop here just for dessert. We had both offerings tonight, the strawberry semifreddo and the wood roasted peaches. The best desserts I have ever had, fresh fruit showcased amazingly! Our compliments to the chef. The pictures online do not do the restaurant justice. As a longtime fan of Krust where I have never been disappointed, I plan on enjoying this change up to my old standby. Every dish we had was absolutely incredible.. read more

Tried it the first month it opened & went back again this month. Very tasty and creative. Menu is more accessible thank previously. Cocktails are delicious. Service is better. Can go for a date, drinks with friends or a big group! Love that it's owners are from Krust and River Tavern also read more

I really wanted to like this place. After months of following on IG and drooling over the food we made a reservation for a birthday dinner on a Saturday. Unfortunately we were seated in the communal seating area on uncomfortable stools (with no where for the ladies to hang their purses), not exactly what I expected, especially since it gave an option on Open Table for regular seating. Although the food was all pretty good, from the smalls plates to main dishes, OSA fell flat on their service and timing of drinks and dishes. From the start the server was rude and absent, which for me is usually overshadowed by good food. However the time it took for drinks to come out, and the fact that one of our meals was clearly forgotten killed the night. It wasn't until 4 others had finished and stacked their plates that our one diner got her burger. I get it, stuff happens but at least make it right and apologize for the mistake. We bailed on dessert here, although they sent out a couple pana cottas (one of the few things I won't eat). I think some fine tuning and this place will be a solid high end spot in Middletown, they just left a sour taste in my mouth. read more

Great concept design and execution. First time visited for dinner on Saturday and am definitely coming back. Stars are going to increase as we go back and try more dishes. Server was efficient and polite .. just the right balance of paying enough attention to us yet allowing us the privacy of enjoying our meal and having our conversation. We started with 3 small plates: Octopus grilled, fresh bread and kimchi. Only suggestion (this is my personal preference) with the octopus would be to leave the whole tentacle intact. Visually to be I like the look of it and cut it ourselves as we eat. Tasted great. We both had the burgers and it was perfectly done. The fried potatoes were perfectly crispy outside. Suggestion ... can we have a pepper mill available for the waiter/waitress to come and ground some fresh pepper on food when needed? I asked for it on my hot potatoes and she gave it to us but already ground and in a bowl. The entree menu was short and was refreshing to see that. Please continue to just have 4 or 5 main entrees based on what the chef finds available that day, week or month. Continue this narrow focus with high grades to execution. read more

My daughter celebrated her birthday here the other night. Our party of six had trouble deciding, so ordered all eight of the small plates to share after three appetizers for the table. It was a delightful experience. These offerings definitely call for your attention to nuance and being present in the moment. The combinations of flavors, textures and visual presentations start conversations all around the table, many starting with "Oooo" or "Wow!" Not a single dud in the bunch and all exceptionally fresh. A nice selection of beverages at reasonable prices complimented the meal. We may have been lucky that it was not packed the night we went, but the service was attentive and enthusiastic. We will be happy to return and will be talking Osa up among our friends. read more

Grab your foodie friends and go here now. No, I mean it. I had my birthday outting here and it was perfect. The atmosphere was great, the staff (Pete, you rock) knew their stuff which is needed when there's dairy and peanut allergies in the group, the drinks were spot on, but best of all was the food. It was AMAZING and please please please get the sunchokes and the braised short rib croquet. You're. Welcome. read more

This is some of the best food I have eaten in Connecticut in quite some time. Every ingredient has a purpose and can be traced back to the farm/grower. Chef Matt Wick and his team have truly composed a menu that is thoughtful, responsible and most importantly, incredibly delicious. The wine and spirit list is unlike anything you'll find in the area (ask for an Amaro cocktail and you will not be disappointed). Service is excellent, as is the atmosphere. A win for Middletown! read more

What a phenomenal dining experience. We need more places like this! After hearing about this place from friends in the industry, I took my partner for dinner last night and we left feeling satisfied and inspired. The decor is simple and inviting, with a long family-style table running down the middle. It was occupied by a large group (who also seemed comfortable and happy), but I could easily envision meeting new people over dinner in this way. We sat at the bar, which was the quieter part of the restaurant, and immediately ran into a friend. Max, the bartender, was welcoming and enthusiastic. He created two beautiful and expertly balanced cocktails for me - one with apple cider and bourbon, and another with lavender and rye. My partner doesn't drink, and Max made him a delicious cider-infused non-alcoholic beverage. The care that he put into every drink he made was truly uncommon, and we enjoyed chatting with him about the food and other things. The chef, Matt, stopped by twice to say hello and check on us. The pride that he took in his food was clear, and we were glad for a chance to thank him. The food was amazing. To start, we tried the mussels and potted pig's head. The mussels were plump and juicy, sitting in a delicious XO and wine sauce that we had to order more bread to finish. The potted pig's head really stole the show - it was the perfect thing to spread over warm toasted bread. For the main course, we shared the octopus and the gnocchi. The octopus was the best we've ever had. They served it grilled with charred purple cabbage and shaved cured pork. The gnocchi was alla romana (the larger, flat discs) and came in a hot cast-iron dish with sausage ragu and cheese. We finished with an apple and maple tart, which I loved despite my usual apathy for dessert. As if things weren't great enough, the meal was very affordable for its caliber. Osa was inventive, well-executed, and affordable. Thank you Max and Matt, we'll definitely be back soon! read more

Hands down one of the best meals we've had in a long while. Every single dish from starter to main course was packed with flavor and so much attention to detail. We started with the chicken liver mousse and shishito peppers. Both were out of this world. Then we had the squash (without cheese because my husband is lactose Intolerant) and we didn't feel like we missed a thing. It may have been the best dish of the night. Then we split the monkfish and it too was just wonderful. The wine list is friendly for any budget and the cocktails unique and inspiring. Mike S. was our server and prompt, friendly and made great recommendations. If you're looking for a nice night out -- with friends or date night you gotta check out Osa! read more

Osa - Monkfish - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

All I can say is...WOW!! Came here tonite with high expectations and they were all met! First, our waitress, Kayla, was so kind and attentive and super informed when it came to the menu. The food....was absolutely amazing! I couldn't stop eating. Such a great place and so glad it's in Middletown. I HIGHLY recommend this place for delicious funky meals and great drinks. Definitely coming back. read more

Creative, unique, delicious small plates with ingredients locally sourced. Nice little venue. A great addition to Middletown. Recommended read more

Osa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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I've been dying for this place to open up, as I was driving down Main Street looking for somewhere to grab dinner I saw they were finally open! They did not disappoint! Osa has a beautiful environment, astonishing what they did with that spot!! I ordered the pork agnolotti, smoked tomato sauce, diva cheese fonduta, black olive crumbs & basil ravioli dish and although it was very small and rather pricey it was sooooooooo good! The Krust guys do not disappoint! Love this place, just remember to bring a little extra cash! ;) read more

YES. JUST YES. This place is all it's cracked up to be. It's menu is a little confusing at first--it's basically a tapas style restaurant. I went as a group of 4 and we essentially ordered one of each "Share Plates" on the menu (around 12 dishes). We asked for the plates come in waves, so it felt like we were eating an appetizer and main dish round. The food is quite elegantly prepared and presented. Very high quality ingredients. Their drink menu is fantastic. I highly recommend the Savage Garden! read more

First time dining here. Opened the door and was greeted with loud obnoxious music not appropriate for dining. Asked server to reduce the volume after being seated but if she did it was still too loud. Interior is mostly hard surfaces which amplify the noise in addition to the fact that the music being played was more "bar" music than dining music. And the bar is at one end of the open floor plan and can be boisterous. On to the food. roasted olives were good but could have been roasted longer. Iberico ham was sweet and went well with the very good bread that we had to order ($4). I had the small portion of Cacio & Pepe ($16) which turned out to be much smaller than I expected. After requesting and adding additional cheese and pepper it was good. My friend ordered a burger medium (shame on him). He said it was OK and the fries were good. Service was excellent but I had reservations for a family dinner of four for Saturday which I canceled because of the ambiance (lack thereof) and limited menu. Only two couples dining when we arrived and a few at the bar. When we left there were more people at the bar than dining so make your own evaluation from that. Won't return. read more

First time visitIng this place for dinner. Couldn't have been happier! The food was excellent! The service was friendly, knowledgeable and very willing to work within my husband's dairy allergy. Definitely try it!!! read more

For a true farm to table experience with exceptional tastes and creativity OSA is the only place to go in Middletown. They deliver 5 star service everytime, no matter if you are going in for a 2 hour long exploration of their menu or just grabbing a burger and beer at the bar. read more

so good every single time! amazing food and drinks!!! geeat service!!!! absolutely love!!!

I found this restaurant to be very expensive, especially for the amount of food you get. While I love Krust and The River Tavern, I walked out of Osa hungry and broke. read more

There are many things to enjoy about this place. For one, the cocktail list is unique and full of new drinks to try. The bar seating is nice and allows a window to peak in at what's going on in the kitchen. The food is outstanding, don't be afraid to try different menu items as you will certainly miss out on something amazing if you do. Ask questions if you need everything will be explained as the staff and ownership are very friendly! read more

The place has a nice concept but seating is odd and it super loud. Food selection is limited however the pate and beets were delicious! Our main courses were mediocre at best. Porchetta was 100% fat, monkfish was dry and mussels were fishy. Desserts were tasty but the apples should have been warm. Needless to say glad we tried but I will not be a repeat customer. read more

Went with the roasted mushroom/ kale dish- it was phenomenal! Perfectly balanced flavors- the menu itself is incredibly exciting to read; I would love to try most of these interesting dishes with completely unexpected ingredients, skillfully combined and including many floral elements (which I personally enjoy) I will DEFINITELY be back. With friends :) Great Experience. Beautifully plated, I might add. read more

My husband and I decided to finally try Osa, and were honestly very disappointed. We had high hopes as the menu sounded awesome, but it just didn't live up to our expectations. Everything we ordered had the same smokey flavor (which was very odd) and the flavors of all the dishes didn't seem to come together properly. The restaurant is quite pricey based on how we perceived it's quality. We ordered the smoked carrots with creme fraiche, octopus, "gnocchi" (I would not call this dish gnocchi!) and mushrooms with polenta. The polenta dish had starchy, uncooked yellow beans that were absolutely terrible. I would not recommend Osa - there are many other restaurants to enjoy in the area! read more

Fantastic little place . Great wine and delish small plates with ample vegetarian options . Service was excellent. Will return.

The first thing that stands out about Osa is the interior design. It's stunning, and has a Scandinavian vibe with lots of sleek blonde wood which sets it apart from pretty much every other restaurant in the area. Much like the space itself, the menu is well designed offering a mix of appetizers like roasted olives in tart fermented chili paste. They have a limited but well curated beer menu with great picks from ME (Maine Beer co!), VT (Lawson's Finest) and CT, with a number of German beers on draft. The small plates are reflective of the local farm scene with an emphasis on highlighting fresh veggies like smoked carrots and a black garlic creme fraiche with pleasantly crunchy toasted seeds on top. They have a smaller selection of larger plates to share, and so we tried the locally grown and wild foraged mushrooms with charred kale, yellow beans, and creamy polenta ( the monk fish osso bucco sounded amazing, but will have to wait till next time). The portion of the large plate was perfect to split as an entree for two, and we left feeling incredibly satisfied, so much so that we had to skip dessert (which sounded delicious). We can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu as it evolves, and explore the cocktail menu in the depth that it deserves. read more

Osa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Fantastic, creative and delicious food. It was so loud we were nearly shouting through the whole meal on a Saturday around 6:30. Would love to try again during a less busy time. read more

This is a great little place to go try creative small plates and cocktails. I loved the food I ordered. The atmosphere is minimalist and wood heavy, which makes it pretty loud and echoey in there. They obviously put a lot of care into the food. I'll be back for sure. read more

Shared wood smoked chicken entree, eggplant share plate and caesar salad. Chicken very ordinary, served with an over salted salsa, eggplant was too sweet, and caesar salad was not edible for me. No anchovy flavor and too many crumbs or whatever on the leaves. Croutons were tough. Couldn't chew them. Had eaten here a few months after they opened and the food was delicious then. Will not return read more

Interesting food and good cocktails made with fresh ingredients. Really cool vibe inside. Some might think the prices are high for Middletown but they are using really good ingredients and a lot of their menu would be hard to find anywhere else locally. Glad there is a place like this in town. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Middletown by far. The food is outstanding, new and inventive every single time I go. The drinks are incredible and well worth their price. The waiters are knowledgeable and great. This is a must try. read more

Excellent food, delicious cocktails and fabulous service. So nice to have reasonable portion sizes. This place gets loud, so if you know someone like my dad who has difficulty and gets irritated in loud restaurants, probably not the best place to go. Also, the benches are hard! Would be improved if they had some cushions (or complimentary pork rinds ). read more

Top notch experience all the way. First you must take in the very carefully thought out design which brings the overall vision to life. It is elevated and interesting while remaining very approachable. Quality in every detail. My favorite cocktail was the Evergreen, a concoction of herbs, chartreuse and gin which is light and refreshing. The menu is diverse and it was hard to choose because it was all so appealing. Definitely share plates and order more so you make the most of it. Very passionate crew and left feeling inspired to experiment with vegetables more on my own....however the pork shank is EPIC and a must try. 100% will be back. read more

This place is incredible. Everything about it was a new and wonderful experience. There's no place like it anywhere in CT! Top notch food, service, price, atmosphere and overall experience. Ill be back again soon! The menu is all local CT produce and meats. Farm to table 2.0. treat yourself and visit this place. Not expensive, about $50 for a three course meal and two drinks. read more

The food was absolutely delicious. I loved that the dishes were small and affordable, they were perfect for sharing. We were able to get a taste of all the things they had to offer. The interior of the place was also very cool. Been a couple times now and will definitely be back. read more

Incredibly delicious food - can't wait to go back!

Second time at Osa and LOVE it. Food is fantastic and bartenders now how to properly mix a drink. The food comes up promptly (but not too fast) and the staff is attentive and educated. One of my new favorites in all Connecticut. Glad it's local so I can keep going back! A great variety of small plate choices. Food recommendations: the chicken liver mousse is amazing (and I typically hate chicken liver, yuck), scallops in corn, the squash, and the monkfish. I've had much of the whole menu and I have not found a dish I haven't liked. read more

This is not just a place to eat. It is an experience and a lesson on how we Americans need to eat: The chef is passionate about the food, the artistic presentation and the "farm-to-table" philosophy. I recommend the "small plates" and savor every dynamic morsel they put before you. Take in the beauty of each plate. Take the time to ask the knowledgeable and attentive staff what is in front of you. The food is nothing like anything you've had before and that is not hyperbole. Open your mind, open your mouth and take your time. This is not fast food and it is not a family buffet. If you are a true "foodie" you will love this place. I love this restaurant. read more

Great experience- food is VERY good! Love the fact that there are many small dishes and only a handful of main dishes. Everything we had was delicious. Dessert was great and worth the calories! read more

The food is freshly and meticulously prepared for each order using locally sourced food. The attention to detail is certainly on par with any restaurant in Manhattan. The bartenders are craftsmen and each drink is done very well. The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is that the restaurant is a bit pricey, however, well worth it for a special night out. Highly recommend giving OSA a try and you will be a fan! read more

The previous reviews had piqued my interest enough to leave my foodie home town of New Haven for dinner at Osa. It was well worth the trip!! The casual but classy atmosphere was refreshing compared to the stuffy feel at a lot of other fine dining restaurants. The cocktails were unique and perfectly balanced. I couldn't resist a refill! We started with the bread and the fingerling potatoes. Both were delicious. The herb aioli that was paired with the potatoes was amazing. We also had the olives starter, which was surprisingly spicy, but still very enjoyable. The bibb salad was extremely fresh and the bacon was thick and flavorful. The star of the meal, however, was the NY strip. It literally melted in your mouth. The celery root purée and bordelaise sauce that accompanied it was incredible and only elevated the dish! The chocolate chip cookies desert came out hot and were the prefect gooey texture. The menu changes daily, so it is exciting to see what the Chef thought up that day. The only critique I can give was that it was quite loud in the restaurant for the amount of people inside. Some fabric accents and decor could help to absorb the sound, as the wood slatted walls seemed to amplify it. Nevertheless, this place was worth every penny and we will definitely be back! read more