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

[HuskyHawk]

Davios is a chain.

And it’s good. It wasn’t always a chain. It started as a single restaurant. DeFillippo was a young chef and bought it in 1985. He didn’t have a second location for 14 years.

 

[Waterbury]

Just go to the Town Plot neighborhood in Waterbury and pick a place. A fiercely Italian neighborhood, only the best Italian restaurants survive there. I see a restaurant from Town Plot has already been mentioned in this thread (La Tavola).

 

[Waterbury]

My #1 is Zero Otto Nove on Arthur Ave.
I've left Yankee games in the 6th inning just to get there before the post-game rush.

i can vouch here. amazing

 

[8893]

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.

 

[HCCForever]

.....correct and at the Rising Sun after a brief foray as a UConn student

We drank plenty of Tora Toras at the Rising Sun after Whaler games. Jimmy might have been there but memories are fuzzy.

 

[USNavyDog]

Not sure if it's italian but Paul's Pasta in Groton is my favorite restaurant. The fettuccini alfredo is the best I've ever had.

I also like the Chicken Diablo and Spaghetti Pie at Paul's Pasta. Great Italian restaurant in the town of Groton that proudly supports our US Navy submarine force.

 

[methodology]

Surprised viron rondo in Cheshire hasn’t been mentioned

 

[8893]

Surprised viron rondo in Cheshire hasn’t been mentioned

Classic case of too high expectations for me. Liked but didn’t love, but only been there once.

 

[huskymedic]

Surprised viron rondo in Cheshire hasn’t been mentioned

Classic case of too high expectations for me. Liked but didn’t love, but only been there once.

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

 

[Huskyhoops25]

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

 

[Excalibur]

Classic case of too high expectations for me. Liked but didn’t love, but only been there once.

It’s very good, but a notch below the level of L’Orcio and Goodfellas.

And Salute is a major notch below the level of Viron.

 

[2PointGuards]

In Westerly RI, Ritacco's Market and Westerly Packing. WP makes their own Soupy; sweet and three levels of heat.

Westerly Packing - best soupy in New England!

 

[EROCK CONN]

Angelos market in new britain is fantastic - great italian cold cuts

a and s - any of the locations.

 

[Milo65]

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.

They make a mean grandma’s pizza slice!

 

[karstenkibbe]

Angelo’s Specialties has Italian markets in both Norwalk (Rt 123) and Stamford (right off high ridge). I like right near their Norwalk location and their real deal as they come.

Can’t beat diMare pastries. I did my grad schooling right near their Stamford location and cannolis at least twice a week. As a kid, I was walking distance from their Greenwich location right off Exit 5.

Villa Nouva in Cos Cob is fantastic. A deli right on the Cos Cob harbor bridge makes fantastically light and flavorful chicken cutlets.

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

 

[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)