Best Italian Restaurants and Stores in NY, CT, and MA.

[Milo65]

Adrianna’s -New Haven is my favorite Italian Restaurant.
Stores- Liuzzi North Haven, Rosa’s - Wallingford, Sapora Di Italia - Hamden

 

[karstenkibbe]

If you ever find yourself in Midtown East post-Covid with time to kill, La Bellezza on 49th btwn Lex/3rd makes the best eggplant parm wedge in Manhattan. Paper thin, zero grease, bread and sauce are amazing. A little heavy handed on the cheese but they are happy to ease up upon request.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Westerly Packing - best soupy in New England!

A lot of folks make their own in the Pawcatuck/Westerly area also. I think it's used for local currency.

 

[Improviser]

There are at least a dozen excellent Italian delis in CT, but Sappori d‘Italia in Hamden is worth a trip for its eggplant pizzaiola alone. Everything else is great, but I‘ve never had or seen anything like that anywhere else.

Their mini spinach bread and mini broccoli breads are great too. But, if the truth be told, Michelangelo's on Derby Avenue in West Haven has better, crispier mini breads. The odd part is they are owned by the same owner(s). Not sure if they cook them longer at Michelangelo or why the reason.

Other than that, the food is basically the same. May be a better pastry selection at Sappori where they have benches in the back if people want to eat outside in clement weather.

At lunchtime, best to call in to Sappori or have a long wait in line.

 

[jimva]

Esca in NYC has been a longtime favorite. Serves southern Italian seafood. Try the uni pasta, it’s amazing

 

[methodology]

We might have to next create a thread for best Italian bakery.

Im addicted to the chicola bread at roccos in new haven. Theres another place in hamden that is just as good if not better

 

[huskymedic]

Im addicted to the chicola bread at roccos in new haven. Theres another place in hamden that is just as good if not better

Little Italy in Wallingford is my overwhelming favorite for Chicola Bread (...and I’ve had/still buy all the others Venice, Rocco’s, Apicella’a Lupi-Legna, T&J). We are blessed to have so many choices.

 

[8893]

We might have to next create a thread for best Italian bakery.

Im addicted to the chicola bread at roccos in new haven. Theres another place in hamden that is just as good if not better

For cakes, pastries and cookies, Lucibello's in New Haven.

I believe Sapori d'Italia in Hamden also does the chicola bread; our friends who bring their eggplant pizzaiola usually bring that, too.

I like Apicella's Italian bread.

 

[UConnMatt813]

Zia cucina, Cavallos deli, or santopietro’s deli in waterbury are all fantastic

 

[dvegas]

Also a big fan of diMare, but Beldotti Bakery on Newfield Ave makes the best cannoli in Stamford.

Try Sal's on lower High Ridge Road. In the plaza where Coalhouse Pizza is. Assuming he's still around, Sal filled each cannoli to order...

And Beldotti's is excellent. But it's kosher (dairy), so there's a bunch of Italian specialities they don't offer.

 

[superjohn]

Solid food but I can eat their My Mother’s Chips (fried Zucchini/Eggplant) till the cows come home!

They do those at Da Capo in Litchfield where Viron Rondo used to be, I get those and a salad when I'm back in CT.

TheVenetian in Torrington, good food, nice ambiance. But strictly just food, I’d have to pick Anthony’s on Main St. in Torrington.

Grew up eating at Anthony's once a week. The Venetian is a classic old world place that's incredibly hard to find in cities anymore. Sadly I heard nobody in Michael's family is interested in taking it over, it would be a real shame if it went out of business. Totally class place with the booths and beautiful murals, Michael welcoming you at the door in a suit, tableside Caesar salad and Dover sole. It's been there for an astonishing 100 years.

 

[Greathusky]

If you are ever in Southington, try Fratelli's. Not well known but very very good.

Take it from this paisano!

 

[karstenkibbe]

Try Sal's on lower High Ridge Road. In the plaza where Coalhouse Pizza is. Assuming he's still around, Sal filled each cannoli to order...

And Beldotti's is excellent. But it's kosher (dairy), so there's a bunch of Italian specialities they don't offer.

Haven’t had Sal’s in about 5 years. Beldotti has been filling to order since they bought the space from Mario Cerbone 30+ years ago. The fact that it’s kosher (dairy and pareve) has no impact on whether they do or don’t offer certain Italian pastries.

 

[HCCForever]

Cafe Silvium in Stamford. (Hard to get in)
Ralph and Richs' ( Bridgeport)
Dolce ( Danbury)
Babbo ( Manhattan) expensive

The northeast has many great Italian restaurants, live in Minnesota where Olive Garden is the only choice

I understand. I moved to Spacecoast and miss the many options in CT. I grew up on pastries from Modern and Mozzicatos on Franklin Ave.

 

[dvegas]

Haven’t had Sal’s in about 5 years. Beldotti has been filling to order since they bought the space from Mario Cerbone 30+ years ago. The fact that it’s kosher (dairy and pareve) has no impact on whether they do or don’t offer certain Italian pastries.

I didn't say pastries... You won't be getting any prosciutto bread at Beldottis (I went to high school with Mike)

 

[UconnU]

A bottle or red, a bottle of white, it all depends upon your appetite. Get a table near the street at Emilio's in little Italy. Always a favorite.

 

[karstenkibbe]

I didn't say pastries... You won't be getting any prosciutto bread at Beldottis (I went to high school with Mike)

That’s for sure! ?
Mike and his family are special people. Really kind and gracious.

 

[HungryHuskies]

Gaetano's (deli/market) in Stratford

 

[8893]

Gaetano's (deli/market) in Stratford

Great sandwiches. They also have a place on the Post Rd. in Westport, near the Fairfield line; and they recently opened another in Shelton.

 

[auggie22]

Two great ones in western suburbs of Boston that are no more:

1. Vechia Roma in Newton, a hidden gem
2. Casa Mia in Waltham (opened later in a different location and under a different name, but the quality at that point was greatly diminished)

Casa Mia was my favorite. The owner held center court most nights, greeting all of his guests with a hand shake and a hug like you were family. Small place. Food was great, and he ran it like each of his patrons were special. I later learned that he was a mob capo in the Patriarcha crime family, and also the first of la casa Nostra to be captured on fbi wire tap during a mob induction ceremony.

 

[huskymedic]

Gaetano's (deli/market) in Stratford

Great sandwiches. They also have a place on the Post Rd. in Westport, near the Fairfield line; and they recently opened another in Shelton.

A container of their long hots and a half dozen assorted arancini to go are worth the trip alone!

 

[Milo65]

Gaetano's (deli/market) in Stratford

Overstuffed breads!

 

[August_West]

Goodfellas in New Haven is one of my favorites in CT.

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[Ts5034]

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[August_West]