50 Best Italian Restaurants near West Haven

“This is our favorite reataurant in Ct ..the pasta fagioli is the best anywhere just like eating in Italy..they have live music Fri and Saturday and we sit outside eat ? drink and ? ?..it is hard to get in make sure u reserve in advance

Parking: right by the restaurant or across the street plenty of parking“

“We dined in last night (10/12/23) we had a party of 5. Our server was top notch, our meals were extremely delicious and outstanding in their presentations. The photos do not do any justice. I had Shrimp Fra Diavolo, Pinot Grigio White and my wife and I shared the Carrot Cake.“

“Always an amazing meal. Fresh. Hot. Delicious.“

“fried mozzarella r banging, get garlic bread with it to start off, after that whatever u feel like having, it the oldest spot around with one of best food in west haven“

“I dream about their eggplant parm. & pasta fagioli. Simply the best. Lou & Lorenzo Coletta make the best food ever. Everything is fresh and handmade. Great people.“

“The best pizza I have ever had. Whenever I get their pizza, everyone who eats it wants to know where I got it. The crust is crispy and just a delicious pizza.“

“A wonderful little Italian Pizza, subs and more restaurant. We always grab several jars of their Marianera and Tomato Sauce to go.“

“The owner Shawn has been a staple to our family for 10yrs! The food is always consistent, most AMAZING eggplant parm subs!! My kids devour the pizza! There’s nothing I’ve had in 10yrs that’s been bad! And Casa Bianca pays it forward for our community every chance they get! Always extremely helpful and friendly, they make you feel like part of the family! They’re amazing!!!“

“Helpful when I was searching for Pizza to be delivered to the midnight shift at YNH Hospital. Delivery was prompt, and folks said the Pizza---especially vegetable---was very good. I'll try them again! AND we odered all their salads to be delivered and they added amazing garlic knots. Today delivered eggplant parm, salads & pie. They are on a roll! THANKS!“

“Very good spot to eat highly recommended“

“As always this is our favorite night out in New Haven. The food is always amazing and the service is the best. From the time we parked we were greeted with a smile and a friendly conversation. Love the patio on a beautiful summer night. Now better place to be .“

“Fabulous food and amazing staff“

“Awesome hospitality - great people - excellent food and fantastic family!“

“Every bite was delicious!“

“This is my second time going. Highly recommend. The food and the owner are both authentic Italian. You can't go wrong.“

“We had a fantastic meal at Caffe Bravo! We ordered the arancini and buratta for appetizers. The arancini reminded me of what you get from an authentic, local Napolitan eatery in Italy. The buratta was creamy and super fresh. For dinner we had freshly made gnocchi , the linguine and vongole, and the grigliata di mare. The gnocchi were like fluffy pillows that were made moments before getting to our table. The homemade linguine was perfectly cooked with plenty of clams. And the seafood was grilled to perfection with a tasty farro rice as a side. And then for dessert we had the homemade tiramisu and chocolate lava cake that put us over the edge. Can’t wait to go back and bring friends so they can experience for themselves. 💯 🇮🇹 #caffebravo #forzanapoli“

“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.“

“This place is fantastic! We stopped in for dinner by chance with no reservations on a Saturday and were given a great table. The cocktails are amazing and they have a great wine selection, the food was delicious the service was great and the prices were not bad at all. This place is a definite yes.“

“I have been ordering from Minervini's since I moved to Branford and I never had any issues! Always a great service and delicious food!“

“First things first; Please understand that this is Strega’s fine dining experience. It’s a different vibe than the Milford location. A bright and modern aesthetic, no pizza, a few speciality mixed drinks and the restaurant holds 6 tables with 24 people max. Please don’t let the stark difference deter! It’s very intentional. The experience for us was truly special. The staff were top notch, and the food absolutely delivered on taste, presentation, quality and intrigue.

We did the chefs tasting menu. We were pleasantly surprised with plates we would have never ordered otherwise. An experimental dive into Italian cuisine, the chef plays with interesting pairings and bountiful ingredients, but absolutely sticks the landing.
Fettuccina Di Seppia - Cuttlefish Linguini, Orzo Alle Erbe Di Campo - Barley Risotto, and Trofie Al Pesto with Shrimp Tartare were among some of the offerings we enjoyed.

A few specialty cocktails were available. We were delighted with a Grapefruit and Rose libation, but all sounded tasty. I went with a wine - a couple wines-by-the-glass are available. I asked for a dealers choice, and it delivered. Tons of wines available by the bottle.

We wrapped it up with 2 small deserts; tiramisu and cannoli with freshly made cocoa whipped cream.

All and all, Strega New Haven did not disappoint. We knew the experience would be different compared to its Milford location, and we embraced it tenfold. Thank you to the chefs and staff - we’ll be back!

EDIT: 6/18/25 - We went back. It didn’t disappoint. More photos added!“

“Absolutely loved our meal and the service at the outside bar was excellent!! Totally will come here again on our way back from MA. Come check it out! Trevor G at the outside bar was terrific!“

“We stopped in for some stuffed breads and tried some italian pastry.They where all excellant and be back for sure.“

“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.“

“Modern Apizza is our favorite pizza restaurant. Always a must when we are in New Haven. Nothing comes close in Florida“

“This place is the best restaurant outside of Naples Italy. My wife and I have been to Naples many times and Zenelli’d reminds us so much of the restaurants in Naples.“

“Excellent dinner and very friendly staff“

“The food was absolutely delicious! I would definitely recommend!“

“Came here on a quiet weeknight and was amazed by the authentic Italian cuisine. Started off with a wonderful Burrata then I had the Rigatoni Bolgenese with was really good. We also bought a loaf of the Italian Bread to bring home. That bread with some Cabot butter and you are on to something!! Would visit again.“

“The best, delicious entrees. Wide variety of delicious appetizers and salads. Everything is cooked to order and can be personalized. Delicious cocktails with Melissa. Perfect dining experience with Arturo and Michael in the dining room. 10+. Our favorite Friday night spot, where we are family.“

“The plant based Italian combo was good ! I think y’all should start writing down the orders because I had to stand there and watch them making sure they put enough of everything . Other than that it was good . A lot of veggie and vegan options“

“I give Villa Lulu a solid 4, bordering on 5, but I'm so fussy, it's probably a 5. I save 5's for something so amazing I just can't describe it. After a brief snafu with who our waiter was, the staff was super accomodating with everything. They kept their promise to get us to the show on time. So, service ended up a 5 but started as a 2 or 3. Food, we had a variety of salads and appetizers, two main courses for 4 of us. All were very good., to excellent Atmosphere, 4, and I only detract because we had to walk up a steep flight of stairs to the dining room, so if you are physically unable to make the stairs, your options will be limited. There is al fresco dining but it was too cold. I am sincerely looking forward to returning and trying more options at a more leisurely pace because it's the type of place where you can actually carry on a conversation without the clatter of dishes and the intrusion of others' conversations. It's very warm and cozy and would be good for a romantic dinner. Reminds me of "The Big Night" kind of vibe.“

“I came from Virginia to visit my sister and kept hearing about it and wanted to try it. The Fresh Tomatoes Pizza was excellent! The staff was very friendly. Loved it!!“

“I've been there many times in the first years of the restaurant opening. Not since after covid im gou gvto try it again in December when i visit Milford. The food is delicious. I like that it is a small family owned restaurant. Eerything on the menu is prepared fresh and always great!“

“The staff and owners are awesome. And the dessert was amazing.“

“Great atmosphere, great wait staff and fantastic food. The portions are large too!“

“Awesome foods, staffs very friendly and accomodating.“

“Excellent food, good service.“

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

“Yesterday, they were at ShopRite in Clinton. I’m so glad they were as it was truly the best Italian sausage I’ve ever had! Top notch ingredients and no corn syrup or preservatives like the others. The best!“

“The best Restaurant in CT. A combination of good food, price, and attention, among other things, the kindness of its Staff. A great experience. I recommend it, you won't regret it!!“

“Best restaurant ever. Every visit was great! Food Great! Service great! Atmosphere great ! This is our go-to restaurant. Highly recommend !“

“I absolutely love this salad bar. It's always fresh. The food is outstanding and I NEVER buy premade meals. However, this is my go-to. Anything I've ordered here is delicious and made with good ingredients. I highly recommend. Staff is always friendly and helpful!“

“We have been dining at La Lupa for a few years and love it! The food is delicious, but what truly makes La Lupa special are the people. It is a friendly family atmosphere. From the owners, to the servers, bartenders, and bussers, everyone is so pleasant. We consistently leave with a smile on our face, which is pretty special.“

“Gabrieles was the venue for my son and daughter in laws rehearsal dinner and it was fabulous, the food was delicious and the staff friendly and accommodating highly recommend“

“Excellent menu, food, staff and ambience!“

“Absolutely delicious food, very friendly and wonderful staff, very accommodating we did not have a reservation. Definitely will be back😊😊“

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

“Great squid among other foods“

“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!“