Have been to Roli twice and it's one of our new favorite spots in New Haven. Consistently great, inventive menu that's actually really reasonably priced for the quality level. Excellent service and atmosphere too. All in probably a top 5 restaurant in the city for us. read more

ROLi - Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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After a few spoiled years of Brooklyn dining (where even the dive bars have opinions about fermentation), my husband and I have been trying to fall back in love with the New Haven food scene. We've already done the full circuit and were starting to run out of steam. Then he spotted this place on Yelp and somehow grabbed a same-day 9 pm Friday reservation. Walking in, it was buzzing. Packed, energetic, not a sleepy student crowd in sight. The space has that semi-upscale vibe that could lean sterile if not for the open kitchen and movie-theater-style board listing the specials -- quirky touch, and it works. We were seated elbow-to-elbow with two other tables (so maybe not your candlelit-date choice), but given the packed house it wasn't as loud as I thought. We ordered the burrata, beet salad, octopus, and cod. Everything had personality -- creative but balanced. The cod was steamed perfectly with a sauce that somehow managed to be both rich and delicate, and the beet salad with citrus was just so smartly done. Honestly, this is what Tavern on State wants to be: food that's actually good and inventive without tipping into try-hard territory. Hope they keep it up -- it's easily our new favorite spot. Parking's your usual parallel-street adventure, but we found a space nearby and rolled right in. read more

ROLi - Dinner menu - 10/24 - Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Great date night spot with good variety of appetizers and entrees. The octopus in the pulpo was tender but leaned heavily on the sauce for flavor. The branzino was well balanced. Service was quick and friendly. read more

ROLi - Pulpo - Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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The chef spoke to me and my mom the whole night about every topic I could've imagined (we sat at bar). All while cooking the most delicious food I've ever had! Truly one of the most unique culinary experiences of my life. read more

ROLi - Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Excellent restaurant. New Haven is lucky to have them!! Everything from the cocktails to dessert was great. Atmosphere is fun and service was great. Will be back soon! read more

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Sat at the chef's counter with a fun view of the action and friendly interaction with the gracious chef. Everything was a hit including the large plates of branzino with crispy skin and filet steak for two which was great value and perfectly medium rare. The stars of the show happened to be the sides, especially the mushroom and polenta as well as the rainbow cauliflower. Cocktail list is gin centric and well executed. No beers on draft it seems but a satisfying list of ~10 bottled options. Didn't get to try dessert but baked Alaska was tempting (a little odd to have to ask for a dessert menu only to be reminded that there was another reservation after us -- we ate at the steady pace that food was served). Overall, tasty food, expert and friendly chef, surprisingly strong value, and well appointed interior. read more

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What a great restaurant! Service, ambience, food was excellent. Some of our favorite dishes were the mushroom with polenta, the watermelon salad, the branzino, and the langos!! The peri peri shrimp and the steak were solid but the other dishes were so good! Definitely give this place a try! read more

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ROLi is quite the experience in New Haven! I was so excited to try this beautiful new place and it far exceeded expectations. The dinning room is beautiful, a fun and lively atmosphere with a mix of low-top, high-top, and bar seating. So we went here on Saturday evening .. what first catches your eye is the classy interior esp the bar, green with gold accents... clearly designed to be both seen and instagrammed ... The attention to detail carries into the food and drinks as well. The chef is Hungarian with a training in French cuisine.. so definitely expect that through the menu. Modern European Flair with good quality food & ingredients. The Salmon entree was the best I've ever had.... It was cooked to perfection with a crispy skin. This could easily become a go-to for date nights. Next time I want to try Lángos (Hungarian fried bread). read more

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Wow. Went to Roli to celebrate my BFF's birthday. Parking isn't the best but we were able to snag a street spot and our other dining companion parked in their lot where they validate your ticket for $5 parking fee. We waited maybe 20-25 minutes for our table at the bar. We ended up moving from the table back to the bar because service was super slow and there was a huge group next to us getting all the attention. Onto food. We started with the bread which came with truffle ricotta. Delicious. We went a little overboard on the apps so also got Brussel sprouts, which were delicious as well. Loved the pearl onions and peppers. So good. We also got truffle frites and the polenta with mushrooms. All the appetizers were very delicious. For entrees we all got different fishes. I had the cod. It was incredible. The sauce it came with was outstanding and the leeks in the dish really stood out. The birthday girl had the skate piccata dish and loved hers and our other friend had the branzino and loved it. We were so stuffed at this point but were celebrating a birthday so wanted to dessert. We were torn between the baked Alaska and the toffee pudding but went with the baked Alaska. It was good but you have to like basil a lot as it was basil and strawberry inside. During our time at the bar we were very well cared for by Andres and the female bartender. The decor in this place was incredible and you can see a lot of thought went into the design. We will definitely be back. Don't sleep on this place! read more

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We had dinner here last night. Our server Madeline was outstanding, she suggested a great cocktail and explained the menu in perfect detail. The food was incredible, the flavors of the dishes we ate were unique and very satisfying. It was evident that the chef used quality ingredients and ensured that every dish was on point. I highly recommend this restaurant. Go enjoy the ambience, service and excellent food! read more

We went for their Hungarian night, which as of now is on Tuesdays. As someone who went to Hungary almost every summer as a child to visit family, I've always missed Hungarian food in the US. Even good Hungarian food is very hard to find where I've lived. Hence, I was so happy to find this place. They make things a bit differently from what I'm used to, but still "magyaros" and "hagyományos," just with a bit of some fine-dining and personal touches from the chef, which were welcome. For instance, never tasted that much köménymag (?) in a gulyás, and they may have toned down the intensity of garlic I'm used to on lángos. Nonetheless, these are quite subjective, and the food was still quite flavorful, delicious, and fulfilling--just what I was looking for. I'm looking forward to trying other Hungarian offerings in the future if they switch things up! My favorite dish was the csirkepaprikás--they nailed it with the flavors and texture. Lángos and fánk can often be too oily for my tastes, but these were perfect without sacrificing the flavor. The apricot jam and the powdered sugar on the fánk were awfully nostalgic for me and reminiscent of the baked goods I'd had frequently in Hungary. Really, all of it was delicious. This was the first time my girlfriend ever tried Hungarian food, and this place left an excellent first impression. The ambience inside was interesting and alluring--sort of higher energy for dine dining, yet with the lighting perfect and some elegance. The service was decent, and the waiter and waitresses cut to the chase with their questions and communications. Will definitely come here again, maybe for their schnitzel night. Gratulálok a szakácsnak! read more

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Beautiful restaurant; well designed and chic! Menu is interesting and has European dishes. We enjoyed our experience and its a great date spot. Food was well done. Heads up, it is street parking! read more

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Loved everything about this place, the food, the service, the drinks, the location and the ambiance! Reservation recommended if you'd like a table but sitting at the bar was great. Bartenders were attentive and made great cocktails. The food was delicious, my least favorite was the tempura squash blossom but to be fair I'm not a fan of tempura but my friend wanted to try it. The Pulpo was charred and so yummy. The Gambas were a little struggle to get the legs and skin off (I prefer not to eat that part) but it was very flavorful with a little kick to it. I was stuck on what entree to order but went with the Branzino and I'm so glad i did. I couldn't stop nodding my head after each bite because of how delicious it was. The interior was such a vibe, I loved every detail about it, the gold accents, the green tiling, their floral vintage mural, the quirky bits and the led mirror in the bathroom. Shoutout to the creative who directed the decor and of course the chefs and team who made this experience well worth the money spent!! I will definitely be returning. Thank you! read more

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First time at ROLi and it was amazing!! First off, our waiter Paris was awesome. So attentive and knowledgeable. We asked for recommendations and he was prepared with answers catered to our interests. The drinks were delicious. I got an espresso martini with the Irish cream and my friends not a glass of rose and an espresso martini without Irish cream. For apps, we went with the langos and the burrata special , which was delicious. For entrees, we ordered the butchers steak and the branzino. Both dishes were delicious! My only comment would be the bordelaise sauce for the steak was very salty with a heavy pepper taste (it wasn't bad, just was too peppery for my liking). Overall, our experience was excellent and we will be returning again! read more

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I was drawn to Roli through a pop up and am delighted I found it. It is newly opened on Chapel St. The space is beautifully designed with an open kitchen in the back. The service was pleasant. Our salads were outstanding. My watermelon cucumber salad was perfect for a summer evening. My three other dinner partners thought their salads were great too. Our entrees were winners. Clearly freshly prepared, appealing presentation, and delicious. The sticky toffee pudding for dessert was a lovely choice. The drink menu was appealing to my friends who drink alcohol. This newcomer should be on your list!! I cannot wait to return. The sign on the wall promoting daily specials caught my eye. PS: check out the design mirror in the restroom! read more

Absolute best meal I have had out in years. So glad that I saw that they were in the running for the CRAZIES. The three of us shared the octopus, mushrooms, and escargot appetizers. Each one was better than the previous. Entrées were moules frites, cod, and Branzino. We were all making ridiculous Yum Yum sounds at the table. I cannot recommend this place enough. Can't wait to return. read more

ROLi - Octopus. Absolute best I've ever had. - Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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We had a fantastic brunch at ROLi! A really lovely space with mostly banquette seating. We started with the Arany Glauska for the table. Delicious small, rough pastry balls with cinnamon sugar & custard. Perfect brunch app! I had the Jambon Benedict - perfect poached eggs & perhaps the best hollandaise I've ever tasted. My husband loved his crepe, my son's salmon was delicious & his London raised girlfriend was so, so happy with her full Irish plate, It's very, very busy - definitely make Really excellent food, and worth the prices. Very much looking forward to Hungarian night & fish fry! read more

Everything was wonderful at our dinner at ROLi! As soon as you step inside, it's a beautiful spot with a large bar seating area. Whoever designed it did such a great job, it's stunning! Drinks were perfect, we got strawberry gin cocktails that were delicious. We also ended the night with espresso martinis that were on point. Ordered a couple appetizers because there were so many good options. There was a burrata peach special that was incredible. We had never heard of Langos- little fried dough like bites! So good!! Add the prosciutto for sure. Main entrees were also spot on, we all ended up stealing bites from each other. We ordered the steak, duck special, gnocchi, and the tuna Nicoise. And each was great in its own way. Finish the night with a baked Alaska- dessert heaven! Wonderful new spot and highly recommend. read more

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Amazing food service and atmosphere . Delicious apetizer and amazing steak. I just got back from Europe and this restaurant is amazing!!! read more

FANTASTIC dining experience. Super cool decor and vibe, friendly staff and delicious food and drink. Our party of five dined here soup to nuts and all of us loved the food. Don't miss the baked Alaska for dessert. Can't say enough good things about Roli. read more

We had the chefs menu at the counter. The staff was awesome, knowledgeable and efficient. Chef Roli was cooking right in front of us. He was friendly, sincere and engaging. The food was outstanding and the whole experience was totally worth it. read more

Amanda our server was excellent. The Pulpo, Burrata, Halibut fish, Hungarian Red Wine, Vietnam Chocolate cake & Strawberry Tiramisu were all superb. Thanks to Angela & Chef Roland, Good luck. Beautiful inside, great decorations read more

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I had high expectations and wow! My expectations were definitely exceeded. My boyfriend and I picked ROLi to celebrate our 11 yr anniversary. We live less than a 5 min walk but upon entering... the ambience, the lighting, the decor, and the music made us feel like were in a hip NYC restaurant. The cocktails were delicious and creative. We made sure to order the Gulyás and Langos - traditional Hungarian dishes - from the appetizer menu. The Gulyás was flavorful and the Langos was so tasty (the shredded asiago was not strong as I expected it to be). My boyfriend ordered the gnocchi and I ordered the beef bourguignon. The gnocchi dish was light & delicious. However - when I say the beef from the beef bourguignon melted in my mouth, I am not exaggerating! This dish was the standout to our meal (I'm glad I had leftovers!) A perfect comfort meal on a cold winter night. We ended the evening with the apple strudel - a delightful dish of light flaky pastry filled with warm apple. Yum! Our server Amanda was wonderful. Although the restaurant was busy, the drinks and food came out perfectly timed. We were there for a total of 2 hours and we did not feel rushed at all. I have been to ROLi one other time - for brunch - which was also exceptional. I HIGHLY recommend this Wooster Square gem! 10 stars! read more

My experience at Roli was neither good nor bad. The parking situation is interesting because they inform you they have parking for guests. You have to enter the restaurant for a ticket before eating. My friend was told it was $5 to park in the lot, but they did not charge us for the parking. I ordered two separate gin cocktails, gin is their "specialty" and I didn't particularly care for either drink. My friends ordered a vodka and tequila cocktail and enjoyed those. The bread appetizer was good. I ordered beef bourguignon and the sauce was so salty it was almost inedible. My friend's salmon was small for the price. Overall the experience was just there. read more

Fun cocktails and atmosphere, friendly staff, and great food. We're big fans of Angela and Chef Roland and used to frequent their Bruxelles restaurant in Norwalk. We were excited to see they had this new restaurant and loved that some old favorites like the branzino and gin bowls are still on the menu but with some new fun dishes as well. Highly recommend. read more

This stunning new restaurant in New Haven is a fabulous jewel in an area that was in need of a great restaurant. From the gorgeous decor (wallpaper and light fixtures imported from England) to the sparkling glassware hanging from the stunning horseshoe bar to the open kitchen ROLI is a winner! Chef Roland has created a menu that makes it hard to choose which exciting dish to order. Each of the eight dishes we tried was innovative, delicious and perfectly executed from the stuffed Zucchini Blossoms on top of the BEST Caponata I have ever had to the succulent Branzino on top of a delicious medley of peppers and tomatoes with the unexpected pop of the crunchy corn kernels (how does he do that?) and the luscious velvety corn puree. There are no losing plates here only winners! Cannot wait to return . read more

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Great Wooster Square dining experience! Everything I ordered was fantastic. Ordered the lagos which was incredible. The mixed green salad was simple, yet tasty and refreshing. The chicken was cooked very well with perhaps with a very favorable jus and sweet potato mash. Went great with the kale and peppers as well. I had the King Calpyso, a rum focused drink which was very well balanced. Lastly the Sacher Tort, which was better than the one I had at the Sacher Hotel in Vienna. I went for the soft opening on their third night and the service was great. It's also beautiful inside! Immaculate vibe and atmosphere. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Service was a little slow but I didn't mind , it was nice to take our time with dinner. The food and drinks were delicious, and the place itself is absolutely beautiful. Love looking around the place. Will definitely be back to try out the chef's counter menu! read more

the food was absolutely delicious! the service was quick and hospitable. we sat at the chefs counter and got to speak with the owner and watch all of the amazing cooking. it's so calming and pretty inside! read more

I am in love with the aesthetic of this place! Specifically the bar, it is gorgeous. Wine list is decent and everything we ordered was fantastic. The cauliflower is incredible, highly recommend. My only complaint is the music- the night I went it was little all over the place and nothing was quite aligned with the vibe of the place, but that may have been a one-off. read more

The pulpo and lamb shank were decent. Side of street corn salad tasted of chemical liquid smoke. Ambiance was just ok. Lighting was too bright. Worst dirty martini of my life. read more

Excellent food and creative cocktails. Service and ambiance were also outstanding!! Will be back

Just went here for the first time after seeing it open in the Wooster square neighborhood a few weeks ago and it did not disappoint. Every dish that we ordered was exceptional, the drinks were amazing, the service was top notch, and the ambiance was fun and unique. They clearly pay a lot of attention to detail in everything that they do here and I will absolutely be coming back. Can't recommend this place highly enough! read more

Superb Food in a Stunning Locale with a Great Vibe! Upon entering ROLi one is stunned by the architectural and design elements unfolding in front of you. The high ceilings lend a feeling of majesty, with many felicities noted as you walk throughout the restaurant. The lighting throughout enhances the experience, and the horseshoe bar is magnificent. Executive Chef Roland has put together a menu featuring well-known as well as new and creative selections. We started with gin bowls called Bodza in Bloom and Melons & Melons, both new and tasty. We then shared two small plates, the langos (Hungarian fried dough with asiago cheese and sour cream) and the roasted beet salad, a harmonious combination. For entrees we chose the hand-rolled ricotta gnocchi, served with green asparagus, braised artichoke, sun dried tomato, basil, pecorino cheese and white wine sauce; and the burger, medium rare, with sharp Irish cheddar, onion jam, thick sliced bacon, tomato, bibb lettuce on a bun, served with classic Belgian-style frites. Both entrees were perfectly prepared. For dessert we shared the Sacher Torte, described as a classic Viennese chocolate cake layered with apricot jam and served with chantilly cream. We left happy, bound to return soon. read more

Roli is good but it's too bright, it's too loud, it's expensive and the service is poor.