I had the pleasure of visiting Ritrovo for the first time today with my business partner while picking up lunch for one of our physician offices, and I can't say enough about our experience. From the moment we walked in, Jaime, who was working behind the bar, made us feel genuinely welcome. He was kind, personable, and attentive in a way that's becoming increasingly rare. He even brewed fresh iced tea from scratch with tea bags and hot water while we waited. It's the little things that leave a lasting impression. And somehow, even the club soda tasted exceptional; maybe because everything about the atmosphere felt intentional and welcoming. I ordered the burger, and although they were out of gluten-free buns, they happily served it over their gluten-free penne pasta instead. It was such a thoughtful accommodation. Ironically, because my day in pharmaceutical sales became so busy, I never had a chance to eat my lunch. I brought it home, reheated it that evening, and that's when something unexpected happened. The very first bite of their homemade sauce stopped me in my tracks. Instantly, I was transported back to my grandfather's kitchen. I haven't tasted a sauce that reminded me of his in over 15 years. For a moment, I wasn't sitting at my own table; I was back with him. I found myself slowing down, savoring every bite, grateful for a memory I didn't know a meal could bring back. Great restaurants don't just serve food. They create experiences, care for people, and sometimes awaken memories you thought were gone forever. Thank you, Jaime, and thank you to everyone at Ritrovo. You turned an ordinary workday into something I'll remember for a very long time. I'll absolutely be back. read more

Obsessed. Seafood salad a+ Halibut a+ Ambiance a+ Gustavo our cutie pie brazilian waiter a++++ I kind of hope it stays this special.And doesn't get ruined by morons. Only come if youre classy and can keep it that way. read more

RITROVO - Halibut. Amazing - Italian Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

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while staying in Shelton, CT for the night I researched reviews to find a place for dinner and ultimately chose RITROVO. I'm glad I did - the place was great! The menu is slightly better than typical Italian... Service was great... Food quality, flavor, execution was excellent! I started with their pasta e fagioli which came out piping hot, fresh, and tasting amazing! It tasted so good that I had to send a pic of it to the wife so she could make some when I got back home! Entrée was a special of the night so it wasn't on the menu, it was their Chicken Scarpariello. This dish took a little longer to prepare, but it was worth the wait! It came out piping hot and ohhhh soooo good!!! The chicken was perfectly seasoned, cooked, tender, and sooo flavorful! The sausage, peppers, onions, and especially the potatoes in this dish were insanely flavored that I wanted a piece of everything with each bite of chicken! This dish was AMAZING - highly recommend it! Lastly was dessert - I opted for their Crème Brûlée as they make it in house and it was great too! One of the owners, a beautiful young lady came out to chat with me about their restaurant and I loved her story. She introduced me to Antonio, the owner/chef too and he was nice. Their venue is beautiful and is set up nicely for special occasions too! I'll definitely be back! read more

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My husband & I ate here for the first time this past weekend. Needless to say we can't wait to go back. We were greeted as soon as we walked through the door. The food is unbelievable!! We started with the mussels & oyster Rockefeller. Best we've had by far! The Gorgonzola cream sauce the mussels was in was so good we could've drank it. My husband got the pork chop and I got the burrata raviolis. Just amazing!! We were treated like we were regulars. Jaime the manager was so personable and kind. He told us the whole story how the restaurant came about. Gabby, our waitress was super sweet!! We will for sure be back very soon. We've already told people we know they have to try this place. read more

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I highly recommend this restaurant for great Italian food. I've never been disappointed here. The owner and his wife are super friendly and greet everyone with an honest warmth. Jamie, Anna and the bar staff are equally pleasant and always ready to make your meal special. This is a great Italian restaurant that stands out in an area with many excellent Italian style places to dine. read more

We had a great luncheon at Ritrovo Monday. The Olde Ripton Garden Club was Celebrating our 50th Anniversary. Great food,excellent service,amazing staff. Thank you Jamie and Antonio! I would recommend this restaurant to everyone !! read more

Seems like we all have the same experience. That staff is amazing and Antonio is always on site checking in on people. Great drinks at the bar and an extensive wine list. My wife had the Steak Au Poivre and it was cooked to an amazing medium rare with a perfect crust. I went for the 1/2 duck special and was very happy with it. Our son had the Orecchiette and cleaned his plate. Deserts were great too. I was able to try the Tiramisu and Molten Chocolate cake and each seemed baked fresh that day! read more

I had high hopes for this place, especially given all the great reviews, but sadly, we were very disappointed. Let's start with the positive... The place itself is beautiful, cozy, inviting, and really nicely laid out. Tables seem to be a little on top of one another, but they're nice size tables. Started the night off with a tiramisu martini, it was excellent... Great way of marrying decade and tiramisu dessert with an alcoholic twist of martini. Also split the zucchini blossom with my husband. This was decadent, honestly a great balance between taste, the crispy fried texture, and the ever so smooth tomato sauce that came with it. It wasn't just a sauce, it was a brilliant combination of texture, taste, and color... The taste buds were very excited and couldn't wait for what was to come. At this point, we were really excited, oh, I forgot to mention, the homemade bread, with hints of rosemary... You have my heart once you bring me, rosemary! It was excellent, nice, soft and chewy, yet crispy on the outside and the whipped goat cheese, like butter with an excellent accompaniment to the bread. At this point, the cadence was at a great pace. Andres came shortly after. My husband ordered the pork chop, and I ordered the chili and Seabass special which came with mussels and a tomato sauce with basil on top of the corn risotto. The pork chop did look appealing, but whatever strange reason, the pork chop with sliced into half inch pieces which immediately raised a red flag for both my husband and me. My husband is very particular in ordering his pork medium well too well done, as he does not like seeing any pink in his pork whatsoever given a harrowing experience from years ago. having said that, I don't know if it was their intention to slice the pork to ensure it was cooked to the correct wellness, but in doing so, it dried up the pork completely and made this dish absolutely an edible for my husband. To boot, the pork really had no flavor, but it looked beautiful, even a mist being sliced in little pieces. I tried it, and I too, felt the taste to be very flat. The vegetables that came with it were very good, nicely, roasted, and perfectly done, but the meal is not about the vegetables. It's about the pork chop, let's be serious, especially at $47.95! My Seabass was also very flat, it tasted more like poached fish than it did like a seared fish. Really did not have much flavor in terms of spices, the muscles are good, and the risotto was very good, but that fish itself lacked any luster whatsoever again, at the price tag of $47.95. The waiter came and asked us how our meals were and my husband explained to him his disappointment with his dish saying how dried out it was, and the waiter waiters response was I'm sorry, I'll give you a dessert on the house... Really? An eight dollar dessert equates to a $48 meal and that should satisfy my husband. About 3/4 of the pork chop was not consumed and nothing else was done. He asked me how I felt about my fish and I told him it was flat and really didn't have much flavor. He looked at me and said ok and walked away. The owner who had given us such a nice greeting when we walked in, recognized my husband, and when he came by during our meal, never once did he ask us how we were. Honestly, a real disappointment, we started off so nice and strong with this place, and the biggest showcase was such a letdown and the way it was handled was even more disappointing. It was our first time and our last time here. read more

RITROVO - Italian Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

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This new restaurant just opened 2 weeks ago where Carmines used to be. Our first visit was amazing and we already have plans for return visits! Chicken Marsala is my test dish for Italian cuisine and this was one of the best I ever had! Their bread is crispy outside and pillowy soft on the inside and I could have made a meal just out of that! My girls had gnocchi and chicken parmesan and both were generous portions and delicious! The staff were so welcoming and efficient but warm! The decor is understated elegant and we'd definitely come back for a special occasion (I already have my dish picked out)!! At $96 for three including a coconut daiquiri it was a little high for lunch but the portions were dinner sized and there were plenty of leftovers!!! This might just become a new favorite spot! read more

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We had an amazing experience at Ritrovo for my daughter's bridal shower. Jaime and staff/waiters went above and beyond. Food was amazing, wait staff was attentive and friendly and even helped bring all the presents out to the car. The room looked elegant and was set up perfectly for our party size. Everyone raved about the food and service. Jaime was so accommodating and easy going. He makes you feel like family. I highly recommend Ritrovo's for their food or if you are looking to have an event at a restaurant! read more

I recently visited Ritrovo for a repass honoring a family member. There were about 30 of us in attendance and I just wanted to thank the staff at Ritrovo for handling our large group with sensitivity, respect, and excellent service. Although the reason for the gathering was solemn, the staff at Ritrovo helped bring some joy to us all through excellent food and great drinks. We had the chicken parm, chicken francese, a seared fish with broccoli, table salads and bread. Everything was served family style for each table and was delicious. I would highly recommend Ritrovo for large gatherings and would be happy to go back anytime (maybe when less sad) to enjoy their food again. read more

I have ate here and ordered out numerous times! Always perfection. Recently stopped in late on a Monday night to take my mother for drink/apps/dessert. Everything was fantastic! The lemon drop martini was the best we have ever had, the Eggplant Rolatini were nice big pieces of eggplant and Tiramisu on the house to celebrate my mother was so light and flavorful. And as always the service didn't miss! I highly recommend stopping in to try it all! read more

RITROVO - Tiramisu & Lemon Drop Martini - Italian Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

I would love to say this is my first time with this restaurant our waitress Gabriella was wonderful. She was funny. She was pleasant. She explained ingredients she made recommendations. The restaurant looks great since the new owners are there. I used to know the previous owner and let me tell you this was by far much more pleasurable. The food was absolutely delicious. I had the branzino which was cooked perfection as well as I love that they were able to substitute broccoli rabe for regular broccoli. And when I just say you go to the restaurant for food, but your first impression is always your staff and let me tell you they were absolutely delightful read more

Great meal with Karaoke! But it was too loud! Great meal nice ambiance! Saw Duane Dart eating alone!! read more

Great tasting food and service. Would definitely recommend Ritrovo and will be back soon.

Absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish! The food was outstanding, fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Every dish we ordered was delicious, and you can truly tell there's care and passion behind the kitchen. What really made the experience exceptional, though, was the service and leadership. Jaime, was incredibly attentive, welcoming, and professional. They checked in to make sure everything was perfect and created such a warm, inviting atmosphere. It's clear that the team is well-run and genuinely cares about their guests. Between the amazing food, friendly staff, and top-notch management, this restaurant truly stands out. Highly recommend, and we'll definitely be back! read more

This place is so great. Me and my girlfriend went here when the other place we planned on going to ended up being too crowded and loud. This place is so fancy and elegant, while also being extremely courteous and welcoming. The food and service was excellent, the atmosphere romantic and inviting, plus the music variety was top-notch! I really recommend this place. I'm so happy I decided to go here! :) read more

The girls got together last Friday night we had a table of 7 ladies and the service the food and the cocktails were absolutely wonderful. We will definitely make this a go to place. Loved it! Toni read more

From the time you stepped through the door !! Staff was excellent! Waitress as Gabrielle she was excellent!! Food superb! I had the special rack of lamb cooked to perfection! Hubby had orecchiette pasta with broccoli rabe and sausage both generous portions!! This is our third time going never disappoints!!! read more

My husband and I recently visited Ritrovo for dinner. The nicely decorated dining room was filled with lots of diners with servers rushing around with delectable looking dishes. We absolutely loved our meals and look forward to returning to try some of their other delicious dishes!! Do yourself a favor - visit Ritrovo!! read more

First time there and had an enjoyable dinner. Not only was the food delicious but the service was great. Our waitress Gabby was friendly, outgoing and very personable. She was attentive yet not overbearing. The owner stopped and talked checking in on how our night was. Restaurant was inviting, will definitely be back. read more

Amazing experience! Excellent food and friendly staff Definitely will go again and highly recommended! read more

Great food and wonderful service! Pasta was homemade and the chicken Parma was pounded thin and tender!

I have been there twice. Both times the food was good however the service is subpar. Unfortunately both times the staff had a language barrier so consequently our drinks and food had issues. Need to be very specific when you order .. read more

We made a reservation through open table for 7:30. We arrived at 7:20 and the hosted told us to wait about 15 minutes for our table. The restaurant was packed. The noise level very high. We noticed others waiting as well. Our reservation time came and went. Every time we asked the hosted when we will be seated it was 15 minutes more. Anyway it turned out to be more like a 45 minute wait and we were still not seated. No one was moving. I assumed this place is overwhelmed and poorly managed. We left and went to another great Italian restaurant down the street. They need more kitchen help to keep the people moving or something. read more

Went for dinner and it took an hour and a half for my food to come out, not to mention I also ordered an entree to go and it was supposed to come with mashed potatoes and I received roasted potatoes instead. Terrible experience. Kitchen needs to get it together. read more

FANTASTIC pasta , some of the best I've had . Food is amazing , The staff and the owners were wonderful and go above and beyond for their customers. Clean , classy atmosphere. Can't wait to come back read more

Wifey and I had the best meal tonight at the newly opened Ritrovo. Calamari app was lightly battered and tender. Eggplant rollatini was fresh made with thin slices of fresh eggplant and also lightly battered and stuffed with fresh ricotta. Delish ! Clams and mussels in wine sauce super fresh and plump. The main course was bronzino with tomato and onion and fresh garlic and beans. Awesome ! Thank you ! The Chines read more

I mean I hate to be mean but the food is sub par and the prices are too high for the product. So let me start off with the positives. The service was very good and the waiter was entertaining. It was my daughter's graduation and they ended up giving her a free piece of cheesecake on the house which absolutely was delicious and very kind and thoughtful. As far as the food goes, I'm sorry if you're charging between 25 and $30 for pasta dishes like you need to own it 100%. They don't bring it to the table. I had the steak and Frites which I have to be honest was cooked very well, but it wasn't a very good cut of meat, the fries were very good and fresh. Seasoned well cannot complain. The sauce that they gave, was very good as well also. My daughter and wife had the clams and linguine, which didn't have much flavor and wasn't very tasteful. Father-in-law had the zuppa de pesce, he wasn't thrilled with it either. My other daughter had the carbonara, which was just ok. I mean, I can respect when people charge high prices for stuff, but they have to deliver, unfortunately, they fell very short with their product compared to what you're paying. I wouldn't go back there for one main reason, just because of the volume level. It was absolutely ridiculous, I felt like I was in a concert. I could not hear anybody or hear anything. My ears were ringing. It was absolutely absurd. Then you factor in the suburb food with a huge check, not a good combination. I will not be revisiting this establishment. I do hope the very fast for them, but I cannot lie and be dishonest about my experience. It falls way short of our expectations of a 4.5 that they have collectively achieved. Drinks were spot on also! They had a blood orange martini which was great . Very nice people and it hurts me with a heavy heart to have to leave a review like this it's not my intention to hurt the establishment but we eat out frequently and if your charging baller prices you need to deliver, you did not! read more

I went on a Saturday night, it was pretty crowded, I sat at the bar with my wife. The owner was the bartender and he was a great guy. I had pasta with a shrimp, zucchini, cream sauce, and it was delicious . My wife had the branzino and she loved it. This place is going to do really well read more

Delicious food, great service and the owners are so personable! We have gone a few times and food/service has been consistent each time. Gabby is a wonderful server who was not only spot on with service but has a great personality as well. Highly recommend! read more

Tried Ritrovo for the first time tonight and was very impressed! Drinks, appetizers and entrees were amazing as was the customer service! Will happily be back again! read more

RITROVO - Tomahawk special with lobster mashed potatoes and spinach - Italian Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

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Food is amazing. Been a few times. Wait staff and owner are very attentive! This is Antonio's fine dining! You can still order Antonio's old menu for take out and delivery as well. Two options for whatever your budget might be! read more

RITROVO - Italian Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

Decided to go here for dinner last night on a whim having never been there before. All in all was a very good experience . Both dinners were top tier I hade the bone in pork chop that was one of the best I've ever had !!!!! Tender full of flavor and perfectly cooked . My wife's pasta dish which I can remember was on par also. Leon was the server and was on top of things throughout the dinner ! Only thing I didn't like was the acoustics as it was hard to hear but after chatting with the manager. He said that sitting in the other room would help with that in the future. I highly recommend to give this place a try read more

Maybe too early to review but hoping they'll get better. Attentive wait staff and owner but they need to work on ambiance and food! You don't go out to dinner to pay high prices for mediocre food! Papperdelle was odd tasting with uncooked celery. Steak frites came with no sauce, should have been sliced and cold fries. Will return at some point and try again, hopefully just not great experience with new opening, read more

Had the Sea Bass dish last Sunday and it was great, Jaime at the bar will take good care of you! Great old school type of Italian restaurant. read more

Nice, newer restaurant on the scene here in Shelton. The main dining room was nice, well lit by a crystal chandelier (wouldn't be my choicez but looked okay.) anyway, the water and wine glasses needed to have been flipped right side up. They brought tap water out to us and it was almost elevated to the status of eggs. But they left the second glass, presumably the wine glass, upside downmon the table. First of all, both glasses should be flipped upright before I sit down. They brought us out bread, After askingif we wanted any, , which I also don't care for. Its bread - just bring out a full basket! But no - we got 2 piexes. And a tablesppoon of dipping oil. Not cool. Drinks were good but very slow in coming to the table - like 20 minutes after we ordered them. They were very well made, but we might have been able to order a second one had the first been more timely. Dinner was decent. I Had chicken picatta with linguine - the chicken plate was actually overheated and the chicken slightly overcooked. But the flavor was wonderfulz!. My partner had chicken Francese with sauteed veggies which she said was quite terrific. It came with sauteed veggies that were thoughtfullu prepared.. While i very much liked my dinner, very good - not great! read more

What a wonderful addition to the Shelton restaurant scene. Finally, an authentic Italian restaurant that has more than the usual Italian American fare. We had the chicken under a brick, which if you know this dish, can either be wonderful or dried out. This was WONDERFUL! All four in our party ordered it and we couldn't have been more pleased. We were practically licking the plate. The service was excellent; the owner, Antonio stopped by several times to check on us. It was a bit noisy, but it was also the holiday season so we hope things will calm down in the New Year. Can't wait to go back. read more

What a beautiful place. I've been there sevreal times and each time my food was delicious. The staff are very friendly. I highly recommend going and enjoying a wonderfully delicious meal with a nice glass of wine and being around warm friendly people. Antonio and Ada did an amazing job Donna read more

stellar food and atmosphere! authentic italian. chicken parm and caesar salad were so yum and service was top tier :)