I came to Villa Lulu in downtown New Haven for a birthday dinner and the entire experience was absolutely perfect. The restaurant is located in a charming historic building, and the stylish decor gives it such a warm and homey feel. It is elegant yet totally relaxed, and the staff is incredibly welcoming and attentive from the moment you walk in. We started with the fried artichokes for an appetizer and they were nothing short of amazing. They were breaded and battered perfectly, and oh so crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. For our main courses we ordered the Chicken Parmesan and the Squid Ink Linguini. The Chicken Parm was completely top notch and cooked beautifully. The Squid Ink Linguini was equally outstanding and packed with flavor, definitely a must try if you visit. Everything from the cozy atmosphere to the expertly prepared food made it a birthday dinner to remember. If you are looking for amazing Italian comfort food with a wonderful neighborhood vibe, this is the spot. I highly recommend it and will definitely be returning! read more

Villa Lulu - Squid Ink Linguini - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Another great dinner at Villa Lulu recently and updating the rating to 5 stars now that we've been here a few times with excellent service, food and ambiance on every visit. We were at the Shubert for a Neal Diamond inspired show that was also excellent. The place was packed and they were very short staffed so this could have been a disaster in the making. Our server, Josh, was a true professional (I know this as a long-time former professional myself) and handled the volume with an excellent demeanor and the utmost skill. The kitchen was totally dialed in and really you would not have known the business was under stress. We had the charcuterie board, the chicken saltimbocca, and 3 pasta dishes (I didn't pay attention to the specifics). Fig and espresso martinis were big hits and they had just enough variety on the beer menu to cover all the bases. Josh made excellent menu and wine recommendations and the timing of everything was spot on. This is an excellent restaurant. We've been here a number of times with all different guests and everyone raves about it. I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't enjoy Lulu. If you're looking for a great experience in downtown New Haven you won't miss by choosing Villa Lulu! read more

What a great dining experience. We started with the charcuterie board which is enormous. It contained 3 different types of cured Italian meats, olives, 3 types of cheeses, pine nuts and bread. It was really good, so much that we could not eat it all. For my entree I had the veal bolognese which was outstanding. It was so rich and flavorful. To end the night we had the orange olive oil cake which was good. Overall, we were really impressed with the restaurant and the service. We will definitely go back.the restaurant was really nice, a cool vibe! read more

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We were in New Haven for a special event and chose this restaurant. Had never been to the charming house 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. read more

We came to Villa Lulu for dinner and had an enjoyable meal outside, except for the occasional moped blasting music. We weren't sure about the portions and ordered way too much food for 2 people: - Crabcake ($18+) - Scallops ($18+) - Mushroom Crostini ($14+) - Brussel Sprouts ($8+) - Mesclun Mix ($14+) - Caesar Salad ($13+) We absolutely loved the scallops with polenta and lobster bisque. They were delicious and we will surely be ordering them again. The crabcakes were good and the salads were ok. The mushrooms had too much garlic and the sauce was overpowering. As for the service, they came around a lot at the start of our meal and tried to clear away plates which still had food on them. But later on when we actually had plates which needed to be cleared or wanted to get the check, they were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps the experience is different inside. We were too full for dessert, but hope to try them next time. read more

Villa Lulu - Scallops, Mushroom Crostini, Caesar Salad and Mesclun Salad - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Great lunch spot in New Haven! Seafood was really fresh and everything came out hot and delicious. The service was really quick and friendly. We were in and out and back to business. The location is interesting and feels like you are in someone's home that was transformed into a restaurant with multiple floors and rooms available. read more

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We came here for lunch during restaurant week and the food was delicious! Service during lunchtime was quick and attentive. I ordered the branzino and it was amazing! read more

Villa Lulu - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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The most charming Italian spot tucked inside an antique home. It's like fine dining at Grandma's in the best possible way--perfectly fancy yet super cozy. I loved that they offered an eggplant meatball, which didn't disappoint. Our server was amazing, and every dish was a hit. We're definitely coming back to Villa Lulu next time we're in New Haven! read more

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Charming is right, feels like you are in someone's home. Especially because the rather cute bartender reminds you of the Italian boy next door, little "fucks" under his breath and all. Had a very simple affogato that the bartender didn't forget to point out I made disappear fast and a very good virgin Dark & Stormy. If I wasn't full from the Bronx Night Market, I would have tried the menu on for size. Maybe next time. Oh, the guy in the glasses and very well cute brown jacket who seems to be running shit, very charming indeed! read more

Went for a girls night on a Monday night and had a great time - the food and service were amazing. It wasn't busy but we were able to stay until closing with no rush out. Would recommend and would go back! read more

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I visited Villa Lulu for the first time with my boyfriend for New Year's Eve dinner. It was such a nice time. The service was amazing and and the food was delicious. We ordered the crab cake and arancini for appetizers. The arancini was lacking flavor but the sauce was good if you like spice. The crab cake was super tasty and flavorful. It also had a good textured. For dinner, I had one of the NYE's specials which was the Chilean sea bass on top of lobster risotto. It was delicious.....the lobster risotto was creamy and perfectly seasoned. The sea bass melted in my mouth. It was surprisingly so good. My boyfriend ordered the spicy ala vodka rigatoni with breaded chicken and it was really good. I definitely would recommend Villa Lulu. I didn't catch our server's name, but she was extremely sweet and made us feel very welcomed. read more

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Myself and three friends went here to celebrate myself in another friend's birthday during New Haven restaurant week. We went for lunch on a Sunday. The restaurant itself looked very nice and fancy. The staff was nice. It was disappointing that the menu for restaurant week was different in person than it was online. Some of us did plan on ordering something that was no longer on the menu.. we each ordered an appetizer and an entrée. Two of my friends ordered arancini and they both really liked it. They also ordered the chicken Parmesan. I think they both thought it was OK myself and my other friend who were celebrating our birthdays we ordered the eggplant meatballs. I had to make sure there was vegetarian options for myself. I read some reviews and they said that the eggplant meatballs were delicious. I did not care for them. They did not have much flavor. We also both ordered the vegetable risotto as we were told that it was a special dish just for restaurant week. I actually really love risotto so I was excited. Unfortunately both of ours were undercooked. The rice was crunchy. They were happy to take it back and remake it I was just concerned that it would happen again and we both decided to get the rigatoni al vodka.. It was rich and creamy. I thought it was good. Overall, I wasn't excited about the food. I would go again at a different time to try the food again especially since the staff was super nice. read more

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Probably the best Mushroom and Salad I had, The short ribs pasta and Baranzino fish was done perfectly . We enjoyed here , the only downside is we sat outside patio , people keep passing by to the backside of the building. Lastly my suggestion is please wipe water glasses and keep them clean ... See you read more

The foods good, the service sucks. Had to ask 3 different people and waited 15 minutes for bread.

Stopped here on Independence day for an unplanned dinner and it turned out really great! It was pretty busy outside so that was a good sign. I got a hugo spritz and we started off with the arancini. It was sooo good! Then for entrees we got the prosciutto pizza and the lobster ravioli. Both were tasty. Our server was very attentive. Made for a wonderful night overall. read more

Villa Lulu - Arancini and hugo spritz - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Villa LuLu is not the same restaurant it once was. The service was extremely subpar, it almost felt like the waiter was AVOIDING our table. We were one of maybe 3 or 4 tables on a slow Sunday evening. About halfway through dinner our water glasses were empty and we waited for about 20 minutes to even see our server to be able to ask for a refill. The calamari was rubbery, and the arancini was bland. Our entrees were small and left us hungry and reminiscing of better Italian restaurants we had been to in the past. Everything was over priced for extremely basic and boring food. The bathroom sink had a hole in the porcelain and a light bulb out. The dining room chandeliers had bulbs out. If this is the attention and upkeep they give to the places customers see, I'm afraid to look in the kitchen. I guess this place was empty for a reason. read more

Villa Lulu - Broken Sink - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

The food was ok. We had the crab cake and 2 pasta entrees. The pasta was tender and still had a bite to it, i would eat their pasta again. The ambience is unique, it has an old-fashioned elegance. We thought the service was a little odd. The guy who greeted us was strange, the lady that seated us was strange, and our server was strange. They sat us directly next to another table of 2. Despite every other table in the room being empty, we had to whisper to have a conversation and not disturb our neighbors. Our server looked at me like I had 2 heads when I asked how a certain dish was prepared. All that being said, everything came out as expected, the experience was just a little uncomfortable. No one said goodbye when we left. read more

My fiancé and I visited Villa Lulu prior to seeing a show next door and were very happy with our meal! We started dining a little after 6pm and even with a drink, appetizer, and our entrees, we were out a little after 7pm with plenty of time to spare before our show. Our server, Mario, was attentive and professional. We were very impressed with the charcuterie board we received - this is how every restaurant should be serving them! Plenty of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments to enjoy. Our pasta dishes were delicious with very flavorful sauces, and the portions were just the right amount with no leftovers to take home. I liked that we were seated upstairs, and it was a really nice vibe. I would definitely go back here for Italian dining in New Haven and would absolutely come back prior to seeing a show in the area. read more

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Time: November 2022 and August 2023 Place: This place is great for a group dinner or date night, as the ambience is good. There's a lot of space and seating, and the place is formally decorated. The restaurant building is a repurposed house, but their interior design worked in a way such that it added to their restaurant brand. Wait staff were friendly, but we were seated on the second floor so we were not visited that often. The food also took a while to come. We didn't mind any wait though, since our group had a lot to catch up on! Food: ⁃ Pappardelle Bolognese: The pasta texture was decent, but the sauce was a little too bland for my taste. The ricotta was also not creamy enough to enhance the pasta's tomato sauce. The dish wasn't bad, but I sadly did find myself just mindlessly eating most of the dish rather than being engaged by the flavor profile. ⁃ I've also gotten take out from here prior and was not impressed with most of my order. I got the squid ink linguini, but it was lukewarm by the time I got to it. As such, it's probably not a fair account of the taste. The dish was slightly too bland for my taste, and the salmon was alright (on the drier side and also lacking in seasoning). Their shrimp scampi came with ciabatta bread and was really delicious though! Very buttery and savory, but not to the point of feeling greasy. Overall, I am glad I tried this place out, but I think there are other places I prefer to satisfy my craving for Italian food. There is nothing bad about this restaurant, but the food also didn't leave a lasting impression on me. This would still be a nice place for a homey yet classy date night! read more

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and two years later, the service, food, and ambiance are still there! and i have to stop in here for dinner almost every new haven visit. read more

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A friend recently told me New Haven is dead in January. I say this because, my only experience with Villa Lulu ("VL") was on the first Friday of January 2023. My wife and I had an enjoyable and offbeat dinner with some great parts, a mixed food experience and some unusual DJ-ing practices. VL is a young Italian restaurant on restaurant row in downtown New Haven. It's in a multi-level red brick building. The decor was cool and that's a definite selling point. VL's website indicates that they're a contemporary Italian Restaurant. I can't say that the menu for our visit sends that message. The pasta entrees included Lobster Rav, Cacio E Pepe, Penne Alla Vodka, Bolognese, Linguine and Clams. The meat and seafood entrees included Chicken Parm, Seafood Risotto, Veal Marsala, Chicken Piccata and Short Ribs. There's nothing wrong with offering traditional entrees if done well, but it's difficult to reconcile most of the menu options with Villa Lulu's aspirations of being a contemporary Italian restaurant. Our server was wonderful. He cared both on a server level and on a personal level. He was authentic. He made recommendations. He joked. He listened. Our food arrived timely. His service was by far the biggest positive of the night. But at the same time, there was an informal vibe in the restaurant. It was not busy. January in New Haven. So there were unexpected things. Like one moment, we're listening to Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash (sort of unusual for a contemporary Italian restaurant, but I'm a fan). The next moment, a song stops midway, and we're listening to Marvin Gay. It was somewhat comical, but also not particularly professional for an upscale restaurant. I had higher expectations for the food. I told my wife as I scanned the menu, "I'm looking for a reason not to order the Bolognese." I couldn't find one so I went with my safe order. It was fine, but unremarkable. I've had three different and outstanding Bolognese dishes over the last two years in CT. VL's was a couple steps down from each of them in terms of flavor, texture and color. We also ordered the "eggplant meatballs" at our server's suggestion. I understand that these crispy cheese-filled balls are somewhat popular. With the red sauce, ricotta and pesto, it was certainly visually appealing and the red sauce was very good. My wife and I agreed that they were decent, but not a particularly strong dish on our night at least. Somewhat similar to decent fried Arancini balls. My wife's seared salmon dish with beans seemed like it made the strongest showing. Maybe this was a case of a restaurant letting its guard down a bit in January in New Haven, but we expected to be more impressed by a contemporary Italian restaurant with a 4.5 Star Yelp rating in New Haven. 3.5 Stars read more

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We recently went to Villa Lulu to try out their restaurant week menu and it did not disappoint! We were blown away with how friendly their staff was and how quick our food was brought out. They were very busy and didn't look like they had a single open table so definitely make a reservation ahead of time! Their meats were very tender and the sauce on the lamb shank had an amazing flavor! We wish we could try every single thing on their menu which means we'll definitely have to return! Everything from the restaurant itself to the cocktails to the food is esthetically stunning and overall was such a nice experience. If you're looking for the perfect meal, this is definitely the place to go! read more

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Came to Villa Lulu for the first time on Christmas Day (when, yes, they are open and busy!). The space is cozy and elegant but low-key -- we sat on the first floor and it was quiet and calm the whole night despite the presence of many other customers. The staff was clearly spread a little thin but still attentive as possible and friendly, and our waiter was thankfully knowledgeable about the wine list. Dishes were uniformly very good but standouts included: -Fritto misto: lightly fried veggies (cauliflower, string beans, zucchini) and shrimp with a delicious lemony aioli. Just wish the portion was a bit larger for sharing! -Linguine with clams: flavorful brothy sauce and lots of good sized clams! -Veal with artichokes: veal was flavorful pounded thin and artichokes especially very fresh The wine list is extensive and cocktails really interesting and well-executed too (I had the each one which really did taste quite peachy). read more

Villa Lulu - Veal Carciofini - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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In spite of Grubhub dropping the ball, the folks at Villa came through. I wanted Eggplant Parmesan but they didn't have the ingredients. To compromise they created a meatball eggplant on bolognese. Very good sauce on a decent amount of perfectly cooked pasta. The meatball eggplant was ok. I was really hoping it would be fantastic. It was good. Don't get me wrong. It's definitely worth you ordering it to judge for yourself. Finally the bread that came with it was average. read more

Villa Lulu - Eggplant, meatballs, and Bolognese - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I came in on a date and had the best experience!! The Chocolate cake was to die for. My server Libby was so attentive and accommodating. I'm vegetarian and have dietary restrictions, she made sure to let me know what was available for me. She suggested these special chocolate cake shots...the reason I'm going back! Service was absolutely amazing and I will be asking for Libby again! read more

After passing by Villa Lulu's charming and quaint exterior so many times, I was excited to try them out for dinner. We opted to sit inside and we were led up a flight of stairs to the second floor. The waitress dropped off some bread for the table - the bread itself was average but the olive oil was very fragrant and fruity. I ordered the fried calamari and the eggplant parmesan. The calamari was on the oily side but I liked the pickled peppers that came with it - the peppers added some heat and refreshing acidity to balance out the calamari. The eggplant parmagian was delicious. My friends both ordered the gnocchi pomadoro, which they both enjoyed. The restaurant was pretty quiet on a Sunday evening. We had the entire second floor to ourselves and there were no diners in the third floor either. The first floor (bar) was very lively. We were the only table upstairs, and our waitress was very kind and attentive - she made frequent trips up the stairs to refill our water and bring us Parmesan/black pepper. My only complaint about the indoor space is that we were visited by quite a few flies - not sure if it was because we were seated near a (closed) window, but I'd probably try sitting outside next time. read more

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I had an afternoon to myself after The Rents absconded to Florida and decided I wanted GOOD Italian. Mostly I do not eat Italian food out (unless I'm in NYC and some, specific spots in the New Haven area...). I am second generation Italian. Mainly I can cook anything myself better at home. But if there IS a good Italian restaurant?? I. Want. Excellent. Pasta. I spent some time checking out Italian restaurants in downtown New Haven. My first concern was the menu, the food pics I could see online, their overall ratings. But I also need the kind of vibe where a single, grown woman can go dine alone at the bar. That's a specific kind of "niche" dining when it comes to certain types of restaurants: Italian being one. I need to see a good sized, comfortable bar in the restaurant before I'll even consider dining there. Then I needed a place that was open for lunch. Preferably a place that doesn't close between lunch and dinner because my real dining preference is a late lunch. Villa Lulu ticked all the boxes. So! Mom and Dad left at 11am and, once I was sure their plane had actually taken off I headed out to New Haven. What a great spot! So good, in fact, that I went back the next day for another late lunch and went for my third time yesterday. I have only been on the first floor, because that's where the bar seating is and it's a big, long, comfortable bar. Every person who has waited on me has been EXCEPTIONAL. Really great vibe, good service, fun conversation, warm, inviting, diverse team working here. Impressive. I dine alone the vast majority of the time, so vibe is extra important to me. If you are always dining with someone(s) else then you can perhaps tune out or overcome a less than delightful vibe. I don't want to have to try to do that. I want to be interacting with people and connecting. That happens every time I'm at Villa Lulu. The waitstaff is attentive, knowledgeable about the menu (there are different lunch and dinner menus) and the very respectable wine list. So what I was really after on my first visit to Villa Lulu was pasta. I'm not looking for "modern/fancy" Italian food, I'm looking for perfectly executed pasta. Which is rare. Trust me. The pasta needs to be al dente (if your pasta is even a moment overcooked I am OUT - don't come at me with that stuff) and then your sauces must be delicious. I am OFTEN disappointed. My fist two visits to Villa Lulu I ordered from the lunch menu (dinner menu is MUCH larger). The one thing I was definitely going to have was Eggplant Meatballs (!!). I LOVE eggplant and I don't eat meat. So perfect for me. They are DELICIOUS and the marinara is excellent. Marinara is The Test of any Italian restaurant. Your marinara needs to be delicious enough to eat alone, with a spoon, like soup. Villa Lulu's is that good. I had the fried artichokes. I see what they're trying. They're going for Roman Jewish fried artichokes. But they're using jarred artichoke hearts and a deep fryer. Skip these. I had a Caesar Salad. If you follow me at all you KNOW I'm ALWAYS going to try the Caesar. Villa Lulu's Caesar Salad is EXCELLENT!! There are not many excellent Caesars out there. Trust me...I've had this salad 3x. I knew Rigatoni alla Vodka was on the menu. I. Love. Vodka Sauce. I also happen to love Rigatoni. These are Mezzi Rigatoni. Even better! Fabulous. I've now eaten it THREE Times. The pasta was cooked perfectly every time. Yesterday I asked for it a little extra spicy and it was. DELICIOUS. However! They also have Cacio e Pepe on their menu. I love Cacio e Pepe. I have never had good Cacio e Pepe in a restaurant. Until Villa Lulu. On the menu the Cacio e Pepe is with linguine. I am EXTREMELY picky about my pasta shapes and I do not like linguine. But, there is also Bucatini on the menu. I. LOVE LOVE LOVE Bucatini. I asked if they could do Bucatini Cacio e Pepe for me. They did and it was AMAZING. This Cacio e Pepe is so FULL of flavor and umami. The silky, creamy mouthfeel is heaven. Yesterday I tried the shrimp and scallop risotto with a lobster cream sauce. The shrimp and scallops were cooked perfectly. The sauce was DELICIOUS. The risotto did not rock my world. It was okay. But I think the rice was wrong. I am SO IMPRESSED by Villa Lulu's ability to turn out SPECTACULAR pasta dishes. I kind of want to try more/different ones. But I also don't think I can pass up the chance to eat their Vodka sauce every visit. It's hard to eat TWO pasta dishes for one meal. But I'm going to keep trying to do that at Villa Lulu! read more

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Finally got the chance to visit Villa Lulu during New Haven Restaurant Week. I've always walked past this spot thinking I needed to add to my list. I enjoyed my experience here. The restaurant week selection was tasty; classic Italian dishes with a nice atmosphere. We went for a date night and it was exactly what I was looking for. Right in New Haven and perfect since you're near so many bars for a post-dinner drink. Would come back! Instagram @sipsandsizzles read more

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I celebrated my birthday here with friends and we had a blast. Great food and amazing service.

We went here as a group of 7 to celebrate our son's 28th birthday! This was an excellent dinner from beginning to end! The drinks, wine, appetizers and entrees were all delicious. Service was great and we are all still raving about our meals! Our son and fiancée, who live in New Haven, will most definitely return and we will hope to when we visit! read more

Was in town for a meeting and wow! Totally blown away with the quality of Italian food at Villa Lulu! Walked in on a weekday and was able to get a table, no problem. Wait staff was attentive and gave great recommendations; I am a sucker for eggplant anything! And the eggplant parm here exceeded my expectations! Ordered the steamed clams and mussels for appetizer (which was on top of orzo, pretty filling for just an app dish! Could've been a main course), followed by the famous eggplant parmigiana and side mushrooms. All exceptional! Overall, great service and excellent food. Highly recommend the eggplant parmigiana! Will be coming back! read more

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This restaurant is situated right behind the big parking lot next to Louis Lunch. The outdoor ambiance is really picturesque. The service was 5 stars our server was attentive and polite. The food service was fast so we put our appetizer in a while before we put our food order in. The spicy rigatoni alla vodka was not spicy at all but was mouthwatering and the portion sizes of both dishes was perfect. The bolognese pasta tasted fresh and was a perfect dish of texture and taste. I loved this restaurant and I can't wait to return again next time I am in New Haven!! read more

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Sometimes it's best to go to a place with no expectations. Because then you can forget what you think it should be like and just enjoy the place. And I loved this place entirely unexpectedly. It's got a great renovation and the service was friendly and efficient. But the food was terrific. One of my favorite dishes at another Italian restaurant was one that could never seem to be matched. Until this place. I had the Pappardelle Bolognese. Wow. I had to eat it slowly to enjoy every morsel. Just rich in flavor. But the pasta itself was fresh and cooked perfectly. Add to that a great cocktail. A lovely panna cotta for dessert and a fresh cappuccino and I'm not sure what else you'd want in a place. On a Thursday night it wasn't crowded. Don't overlook this place. It's a winner and great place to go when you've got tickets next door to College st music hall. read more

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Seated 18 minutes before we received our first glass of wine. No bread delivered to table. Appetizers - Eggplant meatballs arrived luke warm. Average flavor. - Scallops drenched in sauce and garnished with sprouts which were too bitter for the dish. Liked the polenta base. Entrees: - Branzino - the main part of the dish should be the fish but it was over flowing with capers, overwhelming the dish. There were nonbones, so that's good. Asked for bread to soak up the sauce, but it never arrived. - Lobster Ravioli - the pasta was garnished with lobster, which was great but again, the dish was smothered with sauce, drowning the experience. Dessert and coffee: - Tiramisu was right out of the box and drizzled with too much caramel and not enough powered sugar and cinnamon. - Cappacino arrived 15 minutes after dessert. Fail. Parking: - Bonus! Parking was validated at College St Parking across the road so that was free. read more

On a visit to see our daughter, my wife and I took her to Villa Lulu for dinner. We sat outside and embraced the sounds of the city. Our waiter--or should I say our consultative salesperson--Joshua from Texas, immediately came over to help us choose our meals. I've never had a waiter go through a menu and personally offer recommendations the way Joshua did, and I was extremely impressed with his demeanor. The food more than matched the quality of the overall experience. The three of us began with appetizers of meatballs and steamed clams, followed by a Caesar salad, which came topped with whole white anchovies. Our main courses arrived in a timely manner, and we enjoyed the Short Ribs Special, Branzino Puttanesca, and Short Rib Fettuccine. For dessert, we all had decaf cappuccinos accompanied by cannolis. A restaurant experience should be memorable enough that, with so many dining options in New Haven, you still feel compelled to return--and Villa Lulu achieved exactly that. read more

I'm between a 3.5 and 4, only getting a 4 because our waiter was fantastic! Food was good, solid good. The last two times we came were summer and we sat outside and it was fabulous. This time was just good. Everything was yummy but wasn't HOT, just warm. Not sure if it's because they have to climb two flights of stairs to get to our table but it is what it is. I always get the branzino and that's always fabulous, went different tonight so maybe that was the issue. And it is NOT handicap accessible- it's a LOT of stairs. Like a LOT. read more

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Had an absolutely wonderful time here last night with my friend. We were hungry so I got myself the salmon which was AMAZING and very very moist. The drink special they had of the maraschino spritzer was my fave drink I had all night, it was very light and fruity, and I hope they always have it on the menu! I honestly would have never even gone to this place if it weren't for repeal day so I'm super excited to have found it! Def will be back in the future for sure. Oh and our waitress/bartender was amazing, I don't remember her name, but she was so so nice. read more

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We were tired and hungry after driving for almost 3 hours. We didn't expect too much about the food since we didn't do our homework for researching and reviewing their menu and reviews from other customers. However, we were surprised by a very professional waiter, and then their best warm and crispy bread with perfect olive oil! My husband decided to order chicken Pam which he is very used to. Unexpectedly, he loves the chicken. Only wish they'd cooked the pasta about 2 minutes longer. My crispy artichoke and mushroom were also phenomenal! Strongly suggest trying the crispy artichoke when you are there! read more

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My wife and I had the chance to try this Italian restaurant in the center of New Haven. We shared arancini for a starter, my wife had an Italian lunch bowl, and I went with the pappardelle bolognese with a couple meatballs. The arancini was a bit bland by itself but the dipping sauce was fantastic. The bolognese was fantastic, meatballs were good, and the lunch bowl was great. The Lunch bowl came with a maple vinaigrette that was out of this world. The day was perfect for enjoying the street-side seating. We will definitely be back to try other menu offerings. read more

Villa Lulu - Street side tables - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Villa Lulu is a new, modern Italian restaurant in New Haven. This is a first for the city as the closest thing we've had is Olives & Oil which isn't much to write home about. We stopped in on a Friday and we're seated at the bar (we knew the bartender). I immediately started taking pictures for my review and the GM asked if we'd like a tour. He showed us the second floor which had a private dining space that can sit 32 people and has a fireplace that'll really add a nice touch to the space. He then told us about the the third floor, which sits around 6-12 people and provides a much more intimate setting. We headed back downstairs and ordered our drinks. My friend got the Olivetto and Patty made me something special with rum which was really good. For food, we stuck with appetizers and got the artichoke and salmon (the full name escapes me). Before our food came, we got some bread which I opted out of since I was drinking my calories instead. Our food arrived and the artichoke was ok but the salmon wasn't good. I couldn't eat it so my friend did. Overall, despite me not liking the apps I got, I must say the staff is excellent. They were very welcoming and engaged in conversation with the patrons. You can't even tell they've only been open for two weeks as they are settling into New Haven quite nicely. Their grand opening is in a week or two and I'm excited for them to be introduced to the city. I gave the GM some decor recommendations that I felt would be great ahead of the grand opening so hopefully he listens haha. read more

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