50 Best Italian Restaurants near North Branford

“Delicious seafood and steaks! Excellent martini's!!“

“Just tried this joint for the 1st time ever and mannnnn...This is the type of independent Italian American deli that would make John Gotti shed a tear. One of the best Italian combos I've ever had in my lifetime. The amount of sandwich that this one man serves you for $10 should be the national standard for America. Last of a dying breed and I put that on Jesus sandals. I'd give this mf 6 stars if google would let me. God Bless.“

“Bobby’s Pizza has been a local favorite for over 30 years, known for its consistently excellent thin-crust pizza. As a pizza lover, I can say Bobby’s nails the perfect balance between crispy and chewy with their thin slices. The crust is light yet sturdy enough to hold the toppings without becoming soggy, offering that satisfying crunch when you take a bite.

The sauce is tangy with a hint of sweetness, complementing the fresh, gooey cheese that stretches with every bite. Bobby’s doesn’t skimp on quality, ensuring every slice is flavorful without being overly heavy. Whether you go for a simple cheese slice or a fully loaded pie with pepperoni and veggies, each bite is a testament to the care they’ve put into their craft over the decades.

Operating for over 30 years, Bobby’s remains a go-to spot for pizza enthusiasts who appreciate the simplicity and perfection of a well-made slice. It’s the kind of place that keeps you coming back for more, and with good reason. That’s why they call me the pizza gavone.“

“I have been ordering takeouts at Il Forno for the past seven. I started with bacon and onions pizza which was great. I then changed to eggplant pizza and it has to be the best I have ever had. Now I have moved on to shrimp marinara with linguine and I can't tell you how great this dish is. The shrimp are so large and fresh and the sauce is excellent. The filet of sole must weigh at least 2 pounds and my husband gets it every week. The filet is enough for two meals and so is the shrimp. Thank you Il Forno for making our Friday takeout a special treat.“

“I literally just had a chicken cutlet with eggplant and pesto. All I have to say is Finally we get some real Italian food around here. Outstanding flavor that just melts in your mouth with every savory bite. Delicious!!! Sorprendente!!!!Thank you to the young lady for the recommendation! I definitely will be back. Thanks for a delicious meal!“

“Fabulous food and amazing staff“

“my wife and I were looking at places to go, There was Doma, Pasta Cosi, LaMonacos,Goodfellas, Cava, so many other places , But we optioned for Rossittos, and asking Branford locals they gave some mixed reviews, I made reservations for valentines day, We were looking forward to it, And then we Arrive, Its like a Noisy Bar as soon as u walk in , We were seated in the Back along a long wobbly bench seat Next to a filthy wall with an oil pipe coming out, We ordered, The wait staff was extremely slow, I get it , It was busier than they probably ever are considering the occasion, No excuse, we ordered cacio e pepe, And a Lasagna Simple, Casio Pepe which is supposed to be done with Romano Cheese and Black Peppercorns , And pasta Water to form the Gravy.....over Bucatini which is a hollow pasta Well what I got was Brown Butter and someone's leftovers in a Bowl The portion was literally 3/4 eaten when I got it, I immediately asked waitress what the hell is this, she ignored me and walked away, The waitress comes by after almost 30 minutes of it sitting on my table and uneaten, and asks how was everything and is something wrong, I explained that situation, and this is not what I ordered, Couldnt be, We sat next to a couple who ordered Pasta and the Portion was Very Large and looked delicious, Then mine shows up which is literally 2 fork full of pasta in a bowl with This gross looking Brown Buttery sauce and Green parsley I have Many Photos, the waitress asked what I wanted her to do and I was mortified and quipped Bring me what I ordered for 26 dollars , she said We just want to make ya happy sarcastically , I said there is Nothing you can do to make me happy, But bring us the check she did 45minutes later and it was 89 dollars For a lasagna and Cacio e pepe, one soda and a martini, I added it came out to 61 dollars so where is the additional 28 dollars, we paid , Said nothing No Tip and left, Never will I ever Return I guess they charge extra for someone else's Leftovers the kid forgot to wrap!....“

“Hands down best lunch I've ever had !! I celebrated my 60th birthday with my bff today ! I can't wait to go back... service: impeccable food: Outstanding cocktails: super fun and delicious ! This restaurant is not just a 10... is above and beyond !! Thank you Sabrina for a wonderful afternoon in your beautifully decorated restaurant. You and your husband have a winner in my book ❤️“

“I have dined in and gotten take out… never have I had a bad experience either or. So glad to have a great establishment right down the street. Cocktails and craft beer selections are great too. Kudos to whoever does the cocktails. That watermelon one is on point.“

“This was our 2nd time going to Favio’s Trattoria for dinner. The food, atmosphere and service is great. The new owner David is very attentive and is an amazing chef.. Food was prepared to perfection.“

“So on my way home and I’m starving but I’m in Durham and it’s almost 9:00 pm so I pull into Carmines and the guys r outside. I walk up and they say r u picking up and I’m like no I wanted one of the frozen pies in the case. Sorry register is all closed. Ok thanks anyway I said and one of the chefs hands me one of his pies and says enjoy. Love you guys at Carmines.“

“My family orders Minervini almost every Friday! The only pizza my youngest daughter will eat. They just changed their chicken fingers and my oldest daughter and I think the new ones are even better! I’m a picky eater and they’re probably sick of my special orders 🤣 but always accommodating. Highly recommend!!“

“Excellent menu, food, staff and ambience!“

“Excellent food, good service.“

“incredible sandwich and service. super fresh ingredients and maybe the best bread I've ever had. highly recommend.“

“Amazing authentic Italian food; cozy & classy ambiance, private back room for parties & outdoor seating.“

“Stopped in for dinner, the food was top notch, service friendly and prompt, and atmosphere was relaxed welcoming with a great music selection. Highly recommend the Chicken Parm“

“FABULOUS FAMILY ITALY ALWAYS“

“Great squid among other foods“

“Awesome foods, staffs very friendly and accomodating.“

“My favorite restaurant of all time“

“Best Italian restaurant in the area I come all the way from Florida to go there Make sure you ask for Francesca for a waitress the best Thank you Francesca for a great experience“

“First time here & Booked a party for 32 last night. They were helpful with the booking, queries and accommodating with requests and putting the decor out. The food was amazing and complimented by all and the manager/owner who looked after us were attentive. Great evening for all - thank you will be returning!“

“I had an INCREDIBLE experience at Olive Garden North Haven. After hearing complaints about the quality / service, I was worried to come. I was so so happy about the unlimited breadsticks I took a picture. My server was wonderful, may have accidentally gotten her in the picture. 😂😂 10/10 service!!!“

“On Saturday, June 11th after my Mom’s Memorial service I brought 35 people to lunch. The waitstaff was well organized, very attentive, not to mention the food was OUTSTANDING!! Everyone ordered off the menu, drinks were served along with appetizers and dessert. We all ate at the same time which is hard to do with that many people. I would highly recommend Cafe Fiore in Branford, CT to anyone who is looking to have an event or just a nice lunch or dinner. They staff worked so well together that I gave them a 30% gratuity. WELL DONE CAFE FIORE!“

“I visited Shoreline for the first time tonight after driving by many times. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich on focaccia to pick up.. and since sides at most places are tiny, I ordered an extra.. both Cole Slaw and Macaroni Salad. Well the sides are large and so is the sandwich. Two whole chicken breasts with mozzarella and honey mustard. All very delicious! But way too much for me to finish in one meal. I’m saving half of it for lunch. It was a great choice to visit Shoreline! I will return!!“

“We had dinner tonight at Nikki and Frankie's on Route 80 on the recommendation of a friend.. the eggplant was fantastic and made the right way the good old-fashioned Italian way.. the meatballs were legit the sauce was delish and couldn't be any fresher... we were welcomed like we were walking into aunties dining room and the place was clean as a whistle.. A must go to !“

“We had one of their amazing cookies as an appetizer- DELISH!!!! Garlic bread w cheese was very fresh and perfect as well. Chicken parm dinner was amazing. The chicken was very tender w just the right crisp!! I HIGHLY recommend this place!!!“

“The carbonara is THE BEST!!! I WILL NEVER EAT ANY OTHER 😋“

“Ordered La.Luna from Slice app Food came very fast and it was delicious. Would recommend this restaurant and order from there again.“

“Always great dinners, salads, and of course Apizza! Tony and the guys are the best!“

“Great, please. It's been open for a very long time. They pride themselves with a high rating for sanitation, however, the date of the certificate is very dated. I believe in the 1980s, however, the Pizza and quality of sausage cheese is very tasty.“

“Such a great restaurant! Their food is outstanding and the specials are even better. Haven’t tried a dish we haven’t enjoyed. The staff is awesome - attentive and friendly. Highly recommend!“

“We just hosted a baby shower at Cafe Amici and can’t rave enough about them! The staff was exceptional, helpful and so kind. The food was also outstanding! Our event was buffet style and they made sure we never ran out of any options while keeping the food hot and delicious. Lindsay was especially lovely and cheerful, you’d think she was just as excited to be there as we were! We will absolutely be back!“

“First time there. Wanted to try a different place than our usual couple of places. Very interesting menu with a huge variety, we had to bring home 3 different pies to try, and they were great! Can’t wait to go back and try more. 🍕❤️“

“This restaurant deserves a resounding ten out of ten, as it masterfully showcases the art of flavor in every dish. Every item on the menu is a testament to culinary excellence; you can rest assured that nothing here will fall short of delightful. The burgers, in particular, are a revelation—rich, juicy, and undeniably savory, they may very well be among the best I've ever tasted. I wholeheartedly recommend that diners indulge in the full array of offerings; the experience promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.“

“Possibly the best prepared Italian food deli in Branford. I’ve been a big fan of PNM deli for 30 years plus. As long as I can remember. My favorites there include sausage and pepper, broccoli Rob, chicken and onions and chicken Parmesan. Their pizza is not one of my favorites for that I personally love another great Italian favorite in Branford, LoMonacos
But if you’re looking for ready to eat ready to go food, they also make terrific subs. I’m trying to stay away from carbs these days so I don’t eat too many of those anymore, but I stopped at PNM once a week at least.“

“Having an outside party? THIS is the best food truck to hire! Today, June 21,2025, I’m at my niece’s graduation party & this food truck was amazing! It’s like having a personal restaurant on your lawn. The pizza was fantastic -THE BEST- actually! Frank made me a gluten free pizza with potato, bacon & carmelized onions. Oh my goodness! It has to be the BEST GF pizza I have ever eaten in my life. Super thin, well cooked! I can’t say enough good things about this pizza. He made all types of pizza. Very organized, clean and so delicious! Wonderful people to talk to! Then they have other services like Gelato Giuliana-between the pizza and the gelato-it is the best of New Haven! Then if that wasn’t enough, he made Italian coffee! I have never been so impressed by a food truck in my life as I was today! Wonderful experience! Best Wishes to Frank & his team! Buon Appetito!“

“Good pizza, fast service and got a party of 21 in and out quickly with lots of kids.“

“Finally was able to give Three Girls a try, it’s been on my list for a while, and it was even more amazing than I was anticipating! They were so friendly and the food is SO good. I love the mashed potato pizza! I cannot wait to go back!“

“I stop by at least once a week“

“We had a picnic wedding celebration for our daughter and son-in law at our home. They had gotten married in Italy a few months before. The pizza choices were amazing and delicious, never a line. Salad, gelato and expresso were all a hit with our guests. I would recommend using them. Luigi is wonderful and easy to work with.“

“Great wait staff Food was delish“

“Love these guys. This place is like 2 minutes from me, I get food here all the time. The guys running the show are all awesome, and the food is great. All of the people I've shown the pizza to as well (~20) say great things about it as well.“

“First time last night 5/16/2024. Excellent Happy Hour..Food & Drinks. Service with Angel(place packed)Great Service. Fun night with Excellent Band. You won't be disappointed !!!“

“Amazing food and friendly staff!“

“Excellent pizza and such a nice family!! We were there last night, 🤌🏼 delicious ☺️!!“

“Came by today to try the food. What an amazing experience we had. Super clean . Everything came out fresh lots of flavor and the staff was simply wonderful. Even offered free samples of tostone chips ! Will be coming back soon ! Thank you again!“

“Cannot thank the staff, especially Debbie, Cheryl, and Christine for their amazing efforts in coordinating a dinner at Gaetano's following a funeral for our treasured family member. We could not have been more pleased with the accommodations, the food, and especially the service. We received many positive compliments from our family and friends. We could not have picked a better spot to gather. We are so grateful for the comfortable, supportive and positive experience we had during such a difficult time we were all going through.“