This restaurant has the best food ever! Ask for Ella!!! Best apps, best entrees, best server!read more

Service was okay, white Pizza tasted good but didn't expect the ricotta cheese to be baked into the…read morepie. Sure we could order on the side but why? I will definitely go back and try something different.

My wife and I recently dined at 745 Osteria on a Saturday night. The space, especially the patio in…read morethe Summer, is very cool. Service was excellent the entire night. My wife and I shared arancini with a basil aioli. The three rice balls were beautifully plated and tasty. I ordered an Aperol Spritz (which was good) and Rigatoni Bolognese. The pasta had good texture and the sauce had a rich umami flavor. However, the sauce didn't pop for me relative to my favorite CT Bolognese's and there was not a lot of meat. I would definitely return to 745, but I would try a different meal next time. My wife enjoyed her Beet Salad, which I didn't photograph since she substituted Mozzarella for the Goat Cheese. The chicken she added had a nice grilled flavor. 4 Stars for the Food. 5 Stars for the Atmosphere and Service. Rounding up to 5 Stars Overall since I can't give 4.5 Stars.

We had great service. It's a nice restaurant but is located on a busier road. The food was great! I…read morerecently went to Italy and it reminded me of the quality of food there. I would definitely go back!

We were a party of 8. We felt welcomed, every guest was very pleased with their dish ( picked from…read moretheir traditional menu and from the specials) and their drinks. We left the restaurant feeling very happy to have come to celebrate at this wonderful restaurant.

Rossa Negra absolutely delivered. The food was muy delicioso from start to finish, and the…read morecocktails... well, let's just say they're the kind you need to keep an eye on. They go down way too easily. Do yourself a favor and order the pistachio martini -- dangerously smooth and totally worth it. The restaurant itself is super easy to get to -- it's right in a shopping strip near I‑95, and there's plenty of parking, which is always a relief. Inside, the vibe is simple elegance. You've got options: table seating, counter seating, and a full bar if you're in a cocktail mood. We couldn't decide on just one thing, so we went all‑in on appetizers: * Tuna Tartar - super fresh and flavorful * Calamari Ecuadorian Style - tender with a sauce that was different in the best way * Trio Empanadas - the Colombian beef and Ecuadorian chicken were my favorites; the plantain & cheese one wasn't really my thing * Chickpea Salad - the dressing deserves its own award And shoutout to Fausto, our server. He was knowledgeable, charming, and on top of everything without hovering. Just really solid service all around. Already thinking about what I'm trying next time.

Our favorite restaurant! Never nice staff- the best. Very professional but not stiff. The food is…read morevery large portions, hot and very high quality. They bring out bread that is delicious. The drinks are excellent and they have a variety of Martinis on their menu. They are super good especially the Pistachio which is probably the best I have had! Sooo good!! Their desserts are excellent too.

We had a farewell dinner with old friends at Luigi's last night. I can't think of a better place…read morefor our nostalgic and bittersweet parting. Our waiter Matt, played right into our intimate family vibe by calling us Aunt and Uncle. Now, to get to the food! Nothing says "love" like good Italian food. The artichoke hearts were crispy on the outside with soft centers, just like us! The pasta dishes are just like Mama made and the eggplant dishes are better than my Nonnas. Our hearts and bellies were filled but the next day was to be a long travel day for our friends. Two pizzas to go plus our leftovers were carried out by these satiated diners. Chow chow Luigi's and thanks for a touch of home.

Parking available in the front when we arrived and additional parking in the back. We were the only…read morecustomers when we arrived so were quickly seated. We ordered our drinks. They had a more extensive drink menu available with various mixed drinks and wine. The servers/waiters were attentive without being too invasive. The caprese salad was delicious and filling. The PEI Gorgonzola Mussels were good. I was expecting more of a gorgonzola flavoring so it missed the mark slightly for that. They were perfectly cooked. The short rib was tender and the grilled swordfish was amazing without any of the sides. The warm apple crostata should definitely be shared with others. It was warm, flaky, and balanced well with the caramel drizzle, whipped cream, vanilla gelato. This place is perfect for an intimate dinner, bar seating, or group! Plenty of space for all!

The food was much better last year (2025) when we came. The lasagna was mostly sauce, not much…read morericotta, the lasagna pasta was good but very thin. The extra meatballs were mostly breadcrumbs. My wife's veal parmigiana was cold. Don't bother ordering a mixed drink, mostly ice, weak drinks. $$$$ The Service/bar manager came over to berate me in front of my guests because I questioned a weak sub par drink filled to the brim with ice. lol I won't be back

If you ever wondered what would happen if Goodfellas, The Godfather, When Harry Met Sally, and a…read moresun-drenched afternoon on the Amalfi Coast all got together for Sunday dinner... the answer is La Marea in Old Saybrook. The name La Marea means "the tide," and after one visit you'll understand why. Like the tide itself, you just keep coming back. I've eaten my way from the seafood markets of Sicily to the cafés of Rome, the canals of Venice, the vineyards of Tuscany, and the bustling trattorias of Milan. I've spent enough time arguing over pasta shapes to qualify as an honorary Italian uncle. I don't throw around the phrase authentic Italian lightly. La Marea earns it. From the moment you walk through the doors, you're welcomed like you've just returned home after a very long vacation. Juliana is the kind of hostess who somehow remembers everyone, makes every guest feel like family, and radiates the warmth that reminds you of every wonderful Italian grandmother you've ever wished you had. She has that magical gift of making the entire restaurant feel less like a business and more like a celebration. Then there's Nino. Every great Italian restaurant has a heartbeat. Nino is La Marea's. His decades of culinary experience and deep Italian roots shine through every detail. You can tell immediately that this isn't about trends or gimmicks--it's about family, hospitality, tradition, and food prepared with genuine pride. The restaurant beautifully blends northern and southern Italian cuisine, using imported Italian ingredients alongside fresh local products, and the seasonal menu keeps every visit exciting while staying true to its heritage. (LaMarea Ristorante⁠) The staff? Absolutely phenomenal. Professional without being stuffy. Friendly without being overbearing. They somehow anticipate what you need before you know you need it. Glasses stay full. Plates appear at exactly the right moment. Conversations flow naturally. It's the kind of service that has become all too rare. And then... Brad. If cocktails were an Olympic event, Brad would need a bigger trophy case. Watching him behind the bar is like watching Tom Cruise in Cocktail--only with better drinks and significantly fewer broken bottles. Every cocktail arrives balanced, beautiful, and dangerously delicious. La Marea's craft and pre-Prohibition-inspired cocktail program is already impressive, but Brad elevates it into an experience. One drink turns into two, two somehow become "well...maybe just one more," and before long you're discussing whether Sinatra or Billy Joel made the better soundtrack for Italian dinners. Now let's discuss the food. The calamari? Outstanding. The Bolognese? Quite possibly one of the finest expressions of comfort food known to humanity. Combine the two? Forget NASA--we've discovered the greatest culinary achievement since someone first decided olive oil belonged on bread. If there is better calamari Bolognese anywhere on Earth, I haven't found it--and I've looked. Everything else follows the same philosophy. Homemade and carefully sourced pastas. Exceptional antipasti. Beautiful seafood. Wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas. Outstanding steaks. House-made desserts that somehow convince you there's always room for one more bite. The menu reflects the seasons while remaining rooted in authentic Italian tradition, and every plate feels thoughtfully prepared rather than simply assembled. (LaMarea Ristorante⁠) And then comes dessert. You tell yourself you're full. You are lying to yourself. Order dessert anyway. Trust me. What makes La Marea truly special isn't just the exceptional food or outstanding cocktails. It's the feeling. It's the laughter coming from neighboring tables. It's seeing Juliana greeting guests with genuine joy. It's Nino making the rounds. It's the staff working together like a family. It's that rare restaurant where nobody is trying too hard because they don't have to. Everything simply works. Walking out of La Marea feels a little like the ending of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. You don't want the experience to be over. You're already planning your next visit before you've even reached the parking lot. Five stars don't seem like enough. If Michelin awarded stars for making people genuinely happy, La Marea would need a new constellation. Bravo, Juliana. Bravo, Nino. Bravo to the entire staff. And Brad... keep those cocktails coming. I'll happily continue my very serious research. Highly. Enthusiastically. Deliciously recommended.

Excellent food & excellent service. The pizza was amazing. Great, chewy wood-fired crust and…read moreflavorful toppings. Every item tasted clean and well seasoned. Fresh flavors and a great atmosphere made for a wonderful last evening of our trip to Old Saybrook.

Great staff new look same great food bring the family family owned catering and delivery you…read moreshould stop by for dinner lunch

Went here for a take out pizza and the pizza crust is thick and chewy. The toppings were high…read morequality and the flavors are good but the crust needs some work given the number of local pizza choices.

I only went there once it was pretty good just had the pizza. It was good. The other food looked…read moregood too.

This place has been inconsistent for a while now, have tried it SEVERAL times, but tonight was the…read morelast time when there was a HAIR in the pizza, disgusting, will never order from here again, couldn't eat my dinner, threw it way, absolutely UNACCEPTABLE, GROSSED OUT.... I'm done with this place, used to be impeccable NOT ANYMORE.......

We had the Fiery Hawaiian and the God Father pizza with a side of meatballs. The pizza was good,…read morebut it was undercooked. It could have been a little crispier. The meatballs had potential, but they were still a little hard but the sauce good flavor.

Don't order a salad. They don't wash their salad there was dirt on all over. This is the second…read moretime this has happened.