Arethusa al tavolo

Reservations; yes. Expectations of an excellent meal; yes. Left at 9:30 pm the restaurant was still full. Excellent staff. Excellent food. A bit loud due to size, but still able to enjoy table conversation. Staff are truly incredible. Just the right amount of attention and friendliness without being pretentious. I was worried it would be too stuffy. Oh no, perfect! The food- spot on. Definitely worth a visit.

Amazing dining experience, in the most humble setting. Nothing grandiose about this place. Just pure skill and craft at work. Whether it’s ice cream or a full dinner. We were thoroughly impressed with the food and service. Again, THE FOOD!!! I don’t do fine dining often, but Arethusa is the perfect example!

This restaurant is exceptional. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, they make excellent food and drink suggestions, are patient when you can’t decide what to eat (because everything on the menu looks incredible!), and concern themselves with providing an amazing dining experience. It’s crazy that a sleepy town houses one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. We chose this location to celebrate our anniversary and they made it very special. The vibe is cozy and classy, and the food is cooked to perfection. It’s easy to tell that the chefs love food and care about crafting delicious, palate exploding dishes. I can’t wait to go back and try more of their food!

We came here for my special man's birthday. He thoroughly enjoyed his meal, I on the other hand, did not. I feel my taste buds may be off. Staff so sweet & courteous. Recommend getting reservations as it gets busy & is not that large of a space. Try to go early so you can go next door & get ice cream before it closes!

Arethusa is dialed in !!! Celebrating a second night in anniversary weekend we arrived pretty early on a busy night. They were most kind and got us a seat at the bar so we could have a cocktail and peruse the menu. It wasn’t long and we were seated and enjoying a lot of shared plates. The service was excellent. Everything expedited and followed up on. The cheese board was divine. A nice touch on desert. What a time. Glad we dressed up as there was a nice level of presentation going on.

My husband and I had been curious to visit Arethusa’s restaurant for the longest time, but have been saving it for a special occasion. We figured why not go for our first wedding anniversary! It exceeded our expectations and was exactly what we were looking for. We started with a tasty pretzel bun and Arethusa’s whipped butter, and we appreciated when they came around to ask if we’d like a second. The amuse bouche of chilled melon soup with mint was also a nice touch. We always love Arethusa’s cheese, so the artisan cheese board was a treat, and the braised duck dumplings were delicious and quite rich. Our entrees, desserts, and cocktails were all excellent, and they were kind enough to recognize our anniversary. Before we left, they came by with complimentary little guava bites that left us refreshed. Arethusa was everything we want from a fine dining experience. Quality food, professional and attentive service, but not a pretentious vibe. We were in and out in under 2 hours while never feeling rushed. I hope to come back to treat my mom for her birthday!

Possibly the best fine dining experience in Litchfield county! The food is always delectable and the service is impeccable. The complimentary treats from the chef before and after the meal are always appreciated. Recently tried a wild boar 🐗 entree with a citrus slaw, which may have been the best menu item I’ve ever tried at the restaurant. Also had the duck entree 🦆 which was stellar and highly recommend. This place is a must if you enjoy food!

So when someone says dining out versus eating out they are talking about restaurants like this. The service was amazing and the atmosphere is very nice. It is farm to table and they own the farm so everything is fresh and beautifully prepared. My "complaint" is portions vs price. I had the duck which was perfectly cooked but it was two small slices of breast and a bit of leg confit, another one of us had scallops and there were 3 scallops and both were almost 60 dollars each. Beautiful food, beautiful place, pricey but if you know going in (which we didn't) that you will be a little hungry when done it is worth it.

I love it here because they work hard to create a superior culinary experience and it shows from start to finish. Ambiance I'd classify as romantic with true candles throughout. The drinks are creative. I had a Bellini and flavor was wonderful without feeling too sugary. The food had so much depth of flavor and you know they had to think it through far in advance. My favorites are the scallops and sea bass. They bring homemade whipped butter and bread too! Finally service is always on point!

Arethusa al tavolo is a fantastic restaurant that lives up to the hype generated by an episode of The Dish on CBS Saturday morning news. I first learned of this farm to table restaurant from that CBS news feature a year ago and immediately added a stop to my planned holiday travels to the northeast this year. The location is a nice small town in Connecticut with a rich history. The restaurant is welcoming from the moment you enter. Our server April was awesome. My husband and I had a reservation, which is highly recommended and can be booked up to 90 days in advance. We booked at that 90 day out mark and are glad we did, since the restaurant was certainly full that evening. We started with cocktails....old fashioned and Mighty Manhattan. Both were delicous and definitely packed a punch. We ordered the flat bread and tartare starters, which were excellent. The complimentary pretzel bread and butter were great too. For our entrée we selected the steak and pork loin. They were both cooked to perfection and the combination of flavors was heavenly. At that point we found ourselves too stuffed to partake in dessert, unfortunately. However, servers came by our table twice offering samples from the chef on the house; a kind of squash and cauliflower soup in a shot glass and tiny apple muffins. We enjoyed both and appreciated the opportunity to sample other items from the menu. I also tried the figrone cocktail...delightful, to round out the evening. They also have a robust wine list and offer several different beers as well as mocktails; so most people should be able to find a beverage of their liking. The service was fantastic and we would definitely come back, should we be traveling in the region again. Thank you!

My husband and I had a lovely dining experience. The ambiance was quaint and upscale. We had a wonderful server who was helpful, knowledgeable and kind; she made of dining experience so fun! For food, we ordered the fog and prosciutto flat bread to start. I got the agnolotti as my main and my husband got the steak. We ended with 3 desserts (we got excited) - chocolate torte, beignets, and a scoop of sweet cream chocolate chip. Everything was well done and delicious; you can tell its all fresh ingredients. My only qualm was the price; I did feel that the cost was on the higher end considering everything. However, I would visit again. They really bring something special to Bantam, CT.

We went to arethusa over a year ago. At that time the food was delicious, very vegetable focused, and had a rustic style. We liked it then but on our most recent visit we found we like it even better now. The venue is the same but the plating is beautiful-every dish is a work of art. While vegetables are not as center stage as they were it's still a seasonally and locally inspired menu. They have lots of fun cocktails too. Service is great, our waitress was knowledgeable and attentive. We were tempted to try their plated desserts but in the end couldn't resist their amazing ice cream.

Every drink,appetizer and entree was delicious! Servers were prompt,personable and attentive without being over bearing. We loved the experience and will surely be returning.

I will do my best to recall what we ate. The restaurant is smaller and fancy with lots of STAFF attending to your table throughout the lengthy European style dining experience. We went three (3) plus hours with gaps between each course. Given we're in the "tech age" this would not fly everywhere but since we are in this area almost nobody should be in a rush. CARBONATED CUCUMBER YOGURT SHOT: -- super refreshing and tasty RATING = A+ FRENZY SAUVIGNON BLANC: -- I have fallen in love with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines in the summer and this is no exception -- super aromatic, grapefruit, citrus, crisp, peach or other stone fruit -- right in my wheelhouse of preferred sniffs and tastes for Sauv Blanc RATING = A- SHRIMP APP on a STICK: -- super aesthetically pleasing to the eye...as is everything here -- great texture and flavors "MEDIUM-RARE" SALMON: I wish you did not have to go to the "big fancy" or "small fancy" restaurants to get fish cooked the right way. "Medium rare" is the only way to fly and the best way to ensure no dry fish. -- yum -- moist and tender -- the bulgar tomato salad is delicious even though I am not supposed to eat much tomato RATING = A+ Dad's PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE looked great but I did not sniff in. A great dining experience when you are ready to indulge in a meal that will set you back a bit in the wallet.

Overall, a high quality meal with fresh, varied ingredients, and top notch staff. My reasons for not giving more than a 4 come from feeling each dish fell just short of anything more than good/great and the price points do not justify the full experience or separate itself from other "lesser" options for a special meal. Should you still go here for a special occasion, to experience it, or to say you did given its recognition? Yes...but we do not see a reason to go back more than once. I guess I'm struggling with what the place is: high-end, fine-dining restaurant with poured sauces and foams and ingredients that might have been placed using tweezers? A high-quality restaurant with dishes focused on showcasing fresh ingredients? A high-priced but relaxed restaurant? The setting and ambiance is nice, but I don't get a fine dining vibe...with starters at $20-$30 and plates at $40-$60 I expected an environment that was a bit more formal, but not in a stuffy or pretentious way. The decor is high quality but it doesn't deliver a "special" feeling that justified my internal argument before leaving the house if I should wear a tie. Based on the decor and the other diners I could have worn jeans and a sweater. The food and prices deliver fine-dining but the decor does not. We also found the entire place extremely loud due to the many hard surfaces. We sat at a 2-top across from each other and had difficulty having conversation (we are not even considered middle-aged yet). The menu is varied and provides great options for different tastes. We started with the shaved Brussels salad and the pork belly dumplings. The salad was fresh, bright, and had multiple textures and flavors but we could not describe it as anything more than "good." The dumplings were flavorful, with delicious pork belly, that made us wanting more. I enjoyed my beef short ribs dinner, but felt the item that lacked flavor the most was the beef. The added, poured, stacked ingredients provided texture, acid, and flavor but, in isolation, the beef fell way short. My wife said her scallops were big and fresh and tasty, but receiving 3 for $49 did not justify the dish. For dessert we both enjoyed our ice cream. Both dishes were a conflict of parts vs. sum. We debated our experience on the long ride home, which given the location, is probably a long ride for many guests. We both concluded it was a good experience but found no reason to return, which was unfortunate due to the many recommendations we heard from people to go here. Without listing other businesses in the Hartford to Litchfield area we have visited, we both agreed there are comparable options that deliver the same or better high-quality meal and a higher-end experience at lower price points. But, I wrote a long review that was more negative than positive and still gave it 4 stars, so what do I know...

Dined with a friend this week and had an amazing experience. Started with avocado/lobster salad the pork/leek entrees all perfect. The service is exceptional, efficient and unobtrusive. It really added to our lively evening

My boyfirend and I decided to give this restaurant a try. We were seating only 5 minutes past our reservation time which I think was perfectly acceptable for a Saturday night dinner service. Ambiance was nice but very loud as everyone's voices were echoing off of the high ceiling and open dining room. We were seated directly in front of the door and were getting a violent chill every time someone walked in or out. We started with the smoked trout dip and the pork belly dumplings ( both great). We were surprised how slow service was for listing a 2hr maximum for reservations on their website . I wouldn't have given this a second thought if I hadn't read that prior to coming. Our mains were the duck trio and the steak. I have to say the black garlic crust on the steak was out of this world! I could have done without the hassle back potato, it was overdone, hard to cut even with a steak knife and chewy. The center piece of duck was also delicious but the two other preparations on the duck were not up to par. Presentation and taste was that of cat food and the dish could have stood for a secondary root vegetable to balance out the beet glaze. We both had expresso martinis to drink - which were excellent. Lastly, desert , we opted for the flourless chocolate cake and a scoop of vanilla ice cream . I hope for the pastry chefs sake the other deserts were better than the flourless chocolate cake. VERY lack luster . We barely even ate it and was definitely not a great way to end our meal. It was bland , lacked depth and although I understood the intention with the lemon and coffee , the cake was too bitter for the tart lemon . It needed something a bit sweeter to balance. Overall 3 stars for me.

Upscale farm-to-table restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as bar seating, and solid drink/cocktail options I have been here for dinner a few times, and, although I have always been very impressed with the drinks I have gotten, the food has really been hit-or-miss. Some things I have had have been delicious, but others have not. Meals also come with some tasty bread and butter, a bite-sized amuse-bouche, and a small cookie for desert The most recent time I came the place was definitely understaffed, as there were a few open tables but I still had to wait 10 minutes after my reservation time for my table

The best restaurant in Connecticut. There I said it. Every time I come here I'm in awe at the food. Inventive dishes made with care that taste amazing. A brussels sprout salad wrapped in prosciutto? With butternut squash and cranberries and tapping Reece cheese to top with pumpkin seeds? Does this just scream autumn? And yet it was amazing mix of sweet and salt and so many flavors. Try the sea bass. It's impossible to describe well but it comes with chickpea fries. And yes it's amazing. Service is always impeccable. Water refilled. Napkins folded during a quick trip to the restroom. Very need met. The restaurant itself is homey and feels New England-ish with a New York sophistication. This place is my favorite place. We got lucky recently and scored a last minute reservation again. Don't miss the chance to try it. Yea it's expensive but in this case it's worth every dollar.

Eat Fresh. This place really needs no introduction. Hands down one of the best restaurants on CT. When you eat at Arethusa you can literally taste the sunshine, the morning dew, and the farmers blood sweat and tears. Everything on the menu is just so impeccably fresh. If they can't get it fresh it's not on the menu. Because the word is out it's nearly impossible to get a reservation here. We got lucky and got one the day before on OpenTable. We needed a last minute +1 so called the reservation # directly. Although we had to leave a message Peter helped to secure a table at the last minute. It always helps to call directly. Upon arrival we were seated quickly and Amber our waitress took our order. She was very attentive and friendly throughout our dinner. We got a simple bottle of white wine but they have a full bar menu and drafts as well. Quite an impressive wine list. Some people may get a little but of sticker shock as it's probably one of the priciest in the nutmeg state. But you really get what you pay for. Having the freshest and absolutely the best ingredients is expensive. And so is having a very capable and friendly staff. Everything ordered was magnificent. My starter salad was a culinary masterpiece. I guess it was kind of like a salad burrito. Everything was so amazingly fresh and well put together. I never order fish anywhere but Arethusa I do. And it's going to be one of the best executed fish entrees out there. Perfectly balanced. Extremely crispy skin and super moist on the inside. Simply amazing. For dessert they have a nice list of dessert wines, some cakes. And of course their ice creams. The table next to us ordered a glass of milk with their dessert. You may want to as well since the milk here is out of this world. The owners and workers really care about putting out a polished product. And Arethusa does this masterfully. Highly Recommended.

Such a calm, comfortable space. No yelling needed here to speak to your fellow diner. Professional staff and service. Little details to highlight your evening. In these days of fast dining, it felt like a vacation to sit and enjoy each course and each other, both of us having no need for cellphones. Reservations are likely necessary so plan ahead. You won't be disappointed.

Overrated. The food was ok, the service was great. My steak was obviously undercooked; even my guests commented about it.

Went here for a special occasion and it was amazing! Of course it's pricey, but well worth it for the service and quality of food. We traveled an hour away from New Haven to experience their culinary skills beyond their ice cream repertoire, and everything was on point. We left very full and happy!!

One of the better dining experiences that can be had in Connecticut. Michelin star quality without the price. The staff is extremely personable and makes you feel as if you are the only person in the restaurant. They are very knowledgeable about the menu. The presentation and taste of the food is exceptional. The food is farm to table with fresh ingredients. The dining room is dimly lit and intimate. The experience has been consistent the 5 times that I have visited.

Do yourself a favor and have a dinner here. You will have to book your table bit in advance, but it is worth it. The service is fantastic! In addition to halibut and sea bass, we also had tomato soup. I am not exaggerating when I say it was most likely one of best tomato soups I have ever had. The fish was good. Explosion of flavors. We had samples of chilled melon mint soup. So good! Finally, you must leave some room for their ice cream.

Coming back to review Arethusa as I feel my original rave review no longer applies. Arethusa was always our go-to special occasion place, we were by no means "regulars" but went on average 3 times a year to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays. In June of 2020 when the world shut down we were forced to cancel our wedding. We still got married but were unable to have our big wedding and reception. I emailed arethusa and explained the situation to them and asked if my new husband and I could be added to their takeout list last minute. We simply wanted two meals for a celebratory dinner. The email we received back was short, rather curt, and stated no, they simply could not add two more meals To their takeout orders for that evening. Just totally disappointing and not what one expects from a luxury dining establishment. Would 2 More meals really been that difficult to accommodate? I'm updating this review 3 years later because we now live down in Fairfield County and it has become clear Arethusa very much benefits from a "big fish, little pond" syndrome up in Litchfield. There simply isn't many fine dining establishments up there. Once you venture south though, Arethusa doesn't really hold up. There are so many excellent restaurants that also have incredible customer service down here. They remember you, they go above and beyond to accommodate wishes and requests, the food is exceptional. I far prefer places like The Cottage, OKO, The Welk, Nomade, La Plage, The Inn At Pound Ridge. And many others.

5 stars are well deserved. I changed our 2 person reservation two separate times and the manager, (Peter), was as accommodating as one can be. Once we arrived, we were seated immediately in a full dining room on a Saturday night, mid summer. From that point on, we had an extremely satisfactory dining experience. The staff was very polite and well informed of the menu. Our drinks were perfect and served promptly. Every dish served was a precise representation of what the menu stated. The menu will change frequently but I'll comment on one item I hope is on the menu our next visit as I'll be ordering 1 for myself rather than sharing. Yellowtail Tartare: Fresh and refreshing!! Nice size portion and the yuzu gives a perfect amount of citrus and acid to balance the creamy avocado, zip from the wasabi, and buttery texture of the Yellowtail Our expectations were very high as we spent the weekend in Litchfield, CT and planned our weekend around visiting Arethusa. And they did not disappoint!! Great job to the chef, the BOH and FOH staff, and management. And.. their ice cream shop with dairy from their farms is located right next door. Talk about icing on the cake. Perfect ice cream, rich and velvety without the overwhelming sweetness you typically find. The natural sweetness of the cream comes before any additional sugars. Can't go wrong with vanilla.

Arethusa is a solid 4-star dining experience in swanky/sleepy Litchfield County that is worth the wait. The team creates a diverse selection of sea-to-farm-to-table fare in an upscale interior that includes an outdoor covered-patio with a brick laid floor and a water-spouting-frog fountain. Appetizers we liked: Maine lobster on a bed of avocado surrounded by grapefruit slices; the downside is that for $31, you'd expect a more generous portion than 1-2 ounces of lobster. The yellowtail tartare was a crowd pleaser, especially when paired with a salty ridged potato chip. The beet & apple salad another terrific appetizer option. Main course: Duck prepared 3 ways: we liked the breast, but not unanimous on the pâté or the rillette. The seared diver scallops paired with onion risotto was spectacular, but for $59, you might expect more than 3 scallops. The service on the patio where we sat, was refined, often attentive, but sometimes spotty. $20 glasses of Chardonnay seem gratuitous.

The food, ambiance and service were all extraordinary! The cocktail and wine list were creative and everything from the delicious cauliflower and beet amuse bouche to the little madeleines that were brought with the check were beautifully presented and prepared with care and precision. The appetizers and entrees were clearly farm to table in the best sense of the concept and truly innovative and delicious. Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly without being overbearing. We were in Litchfield County for a couple of days and were underwhelmed by the restaurants that we tried until we ate at Arethusa al Tavolo which is an absolute gem which shouldn't be missed.

Despite the infamous status Arethusa has earned, this was my first visit. All was great: Ultra-creative menu, impeccable service, and our dish selections were all exquisite. Wine list was stocked with reliable offerings, as well as a few good values. We'll be back :-)

Everything was great. Food is always delicious and the service is impeccable. From the margarita, appetizers, meal and dessert - couldn't be better. I not a fan of huge portions, which is not the case here. I do come home satisfied not stuffed and carrying left overs. It was a perfect birthday dinner. I also like that it is not a huge restaurant nor is it stuffy. Over all I highly recommend Arethusa. Food is delicious!

Everything was outstanding! Food,service and comfort were very good! Reservations are definitely needed.

If yelp allowed 10stars, this extraordinary restaurant deserves them. I have never in my life have had such an incredible experience in a restaurant. Compliments to the owner, manager, chef, pastry chef, bartenders, wait staff and other staff that contributed to this out of this world experience. Such professionalism was observed during our visit, that makes you want to film them so that other restaurants can use it for reference and training. The cleanliness of the restaurant and the staff's aprons shall be an example to all in the food industry. The food has left me speechless. All the different flavors put so amazingly together to create this exquisite explosion of taste in your mouth. Just dreamy! Everything was made with love, just like anyone who creates and serves food should make you feel! You could taste the experience and care of the chef in every bite. So much worth the 2.5 months wait for a table. A must visit and revisit experience. Thank you so much for having us last night in your establishment and for the eye opening and memorable reminder of how food shall be served.

Great food, great service, fabulous staff! Pastries, donuts are all made by the pastry chef. Love their chicken curry on a croissant or over lettuce.

I have to say I was expecting so much more after waiting almost two months for reservations... bummer.. don't get me wrong the food was very delicious and fresh.. but no where near worth a two month wait and not to mention for the prices you pay I'd expect bigger portions. After a $300+ dinner we left hungry and ended up getting apps elsewhere... if the portions were a tad bigger we would definitely consider coming back because it would be worth it. On a good note, service was top notch and now a days that is hard to come by!

Second time that i have dined here and needed to leave another review. everything about this place is spectacular from the service to the food. had the smoked pork belly dumplings which may have been some of the best pork i ever have and squash blossoms were everything you could imagine. had the duck breast as a starter which was cooked to perfection over a beautiful sauce. girlfriend got the pork and that was also amazing, if you are looking for a great place to eat in the litchfield county i really don't know whats better. plan ahead tho because reservations are usually a month or two out!

Went last year for my birthday and had the best meal. This year, (was a milestone BD) we went again and was very underwhelmed. Food was good, service shotty, noise level too high to hear my partner. Didn't bother to do much for the BD (scoop of vanilla, which I don't care for). It's a long ride for us, so not worth the trip this time around. Hope it gets back on track.

Our recent experience at Arethusa Farms left us extremely disappointed due to the poor service we received throughout our meal. The most frustrating aspect was the excessive wait time we endured between the starting course and the arrival of our entrees. Hours seemed to drag on, and to make matters worse, there was not a single apology or acknowledgement from the staff regarding the delay. It was as if our time was of little importance to them. Throughout the evening, the staff seemed disinterested and failed to check on us regularly or take any meaningful steps to rectify the situation. The lack of attention made our dining experience all the more frustrating. We were honestly considering canceling the entree and leaving so we could salvage some of our night back at our hotel for the evening. The food did finally come out just as we were about to leave and we stayed because we had high hopes for the meal, but unfortunately, the service overshadowed the culinary aspects. Moving on to the food itself, the salad course was a major letdown. It consisted of a few flavorless leaves that lacked any creativity or enticing flavors. It felt like an afterthought, rather than a well-crafted dish worthy of a fine dining establishment. On a more positive note, the dumplings were a saving grace. They managed to impress us with their well-balanced flavors and enjoyable texture. The same can be said for the duck, which was cooked to perfection and provided a delightful combination of tenderness and taste. The steak, while not extraordinary, was passable. It didn't stand out among other steaks we've had elsewhere, but it wasn't a complete disappointment either. It fell into the realm of mediocrity. Surprisingly, the highlight of the entire dining experience was the bread and butter. The bread was fresh and flavorful, and the accompanying butter was a true indulgence. It's unfortunate that the bread and butter ended up being the most memorable part of the meal, considering the expectations we had for the other courses. In summary, our visit to Arethusa Farms was marred by the poor service and lack of attention from the staff. The disappointing wait time and the absence of any effort to improve our experience left us feeling dissatisfied. While there were a few redeeming dishes, such as the dumplings and the duck, overall, the dining experience fell short of our expectations. All in all this was a horrifically disappointing experience and it was for a birthday to boot. They had the gall to drop a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a candle for desert after we had to ask them to take our card so we could leave as fast as possible. I'm surprised all of the other reviews highlighted borderline overbearing service because this was not at all what we experienced. Just awful. Perhaps the farm can focus on improving their service and refining their menu to ensure a more enjoyable experience for their patrons in the future.

Fantastic service and food! A bit over the top but I liked it! You will be pampered. Very nice setting.

We long awaited our reservation for Arethusa (three months to be exact) and were looking forward to their farm fresh ingredients and creative menu. We started with the squash tempura appetizer, which we quickly devoured and wished we were granted a larger portion. We were enamored with their complimentary pretzel rolls served with fresh sea salt butter. Our short rib and prime striploin entrees were cooked perfectly, both of which barely requiring a knife to cut. The sides perfectly paired with each entree, completing a delicious meal. Staff seemed stressed out at times but were overall friendly and accommodating. We are huge fans of their ice cream and look forward to trying Arethusa a Mano to further explore Arethusa Farm's fresh farm to table offerings.

Everything you'd expect from a fine dining restaurant in the best way. The service was excellent and food was divine. The sea bass and short rib entrees were both melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The outdoor patio was beautiful - fully covered and nicely decorated with a fountain in the middle. Be sure to make a reservation online well in advance or call the restaurant if you're flexible with timing.

I came here for a special occasion recently, and I would certainly recommend it and return again. On first look, the space itself was a little disappointing. It was clean and had an average atmosphere, but it didn't seem very unique. The staff greeted us and were very friendly and professional though our meal. I couldn't have asked for better service! Even though the setting was average, the food was outstanding. The meal started with a pretzel roll with fresh butter and an amuse-bouche, which was delicious--a perfect bite of blue cheese, puff pastry, apple, and quince! We ordered the octopus to start, which included a very small portion of octopus. It was good but very small. I had ordered swordfish, which as served with a salsa and rice and beans, and my date ordered bacon wrapped halibut. The halibut was the standout meal, but both entrees were amazing! Everything tasted very fresh and the fish was cooked perfectly. We ordered desert of ice cream and cookies, and given the background of Arethusa, the ice cream was great! Overall, dinner at Arethusa al tavolo didn't disappoint. It is an expensive meal, but for a special occasion, it is definitely worth the price!

We had amazing food and even better service. Loved this place and though it is not cheap, the food is worth every penny. We had the best time and can't wait to come again.

This restaurant has a reputation that requires a reservation to be made months in advance. However, after our meal, I can confidently say the reputation is well earned. The restaurant is lovely, with a lively, but also refined atmosphere. Guests are greeted with an amuse bouche. While this was not the highlight of the meal, it's a kind touch. Everything on the menu sounds inventive and it's difficult to decide on what to try (I get the sense there are no bad choices). We split three dishes - the yellowtail tartare with radish and salt and vinegar chips, walnut crusted tiny beet salad with rilled figs, and the shaved brussels sprout salad wrapped in prosciutto with roasted butternut, caramelized pear and cauliflower rice. Every dish was delicious, and it was more than enough (too much) food for two. The flavors, sauces and combinations are complex and the rare dishes you think back on and want to recreate. The standout was the walnut crusted tiny beet salad, which tasted unbelievably flavorful - highlighting the sweet tastes of the beets. For dessert we sampled their famous ice cream, opting for the almond with toasted coconut. The entire meal was delicious and will become a place to make reservations for upcoming special occasions.

So this review is based on Arethusa al tavolo in the time of Covid-19. The restaurant is serving one meal (salad, entree, and dessert) on Thursday-Sunday, with a rotating menu. Each meal is $39.99, and you must reserve and pay ahead of time. Your meal will be left outside on a table at a previously agreed upon pick-up time. It is social distancing at it's finest. I've always wanted to try this restaurant, but as it's one of the fanciest in the area I've always been a little intimidated. The new world order has provided an opportunity to try their food in the comfort of my own home, with jeans and my dog. I am so glad I did - the meal was oustandingly delicious. It was packed in cute little plastic containers, a separate one for each course. The salad, a bibb lettuce salad, was a little sweet with gingerbread croutons but the grapes and Arethusa cheese was refreshing. The individual Beef Wellington was (IMHO) well cooked with pink, and such an explosion of flavor when you had a bite of meat and crust together. The potato croquette was rich and perfectly seasoned, and the dessert.... Ah, a nice crunch, rich chocolate, although the vanilla bean didn't break through in flavor. One day, when the world is normal again, I will bite the bullet to put on nicer clothes and eat in restaurant, because the food was some of the best I've had in a while.

This is the best restaurant period. Food is A+, service is A+, Ambiance is A+. I don't normally gush over a restaurant but this place, I gotta tell ya. I keep coming back to it time and again and am never disappointed. If you've followed my other reviews you know I try to be fair. This place is, in my opinion the top spot of the places I've eaten. If you can get in, you got to give it a try. You won't be disappointed. Unless you're cheap, then go to Texas Road house.

We came here on a week night to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant was on the smaller side, very cozy and intimate. Our server was very attentive and came by at all the right times (so I never had to suffer the embarrassment of having to smile and nod "everything's great!" mid chew). Menu items were on the pricey side but absolutely worth it. We had such trouble picking what to order because everything looked so good. We ended up settling for cheese plate (their gouda cheese won a national championship award), yellowtail tartare, pekin duck, and halibut. All were excellent. Food was innovative and refreshing. Each bite brought on new combination of flavors, it made the whole meal so delightful and kept us on our toes. Even though each dish had so many components, somehow the meal was light at the same time. The chef really made "simple" ingredients shine. I thought I wouldn't have any room left in my stomach after our appetizers and entree, but I am so glad we decided to try the lemon tart- it was to die for. By far the best dessert I had at a restaurant. Overall, this is the best meal we had in Connecticut, and made it to our top 3 list of favorite restaurants (yes, including ones we went to in Boston and NYC!). Quality here is unparalleled and food was made from the heart. We can not wait to come back. I would give this place 6 stars if I could!

Our absolute go to for special occasions. Food is unique and outstanding. Layered flavors in each course. Staff is terrific. Without going into details, when they know. you have special food needs or are celebrating a special occasion they bend over backwards to accommodate your needs or make the occasion a special one. Answering some critiques, you will be there for awhile, but you don't go there to grab a quick dinner. Unfortunately, its popularity requires some thinking ahead to get a reservation on a day you'd prefer.

We ordered half the menu and swapped mid meal in order to share all of the entrees with our California foodie cousins. The amuse bouche before our appetizers and desserts were a delicious touch. The potato crusted Chatham cod was flavorful and the roasted Mediterranean sea bass was absolute perfection. Do book the large front table as it is the best seat in the place, although there likely isn't a bad seat given the quality of the dining we experienced. Do also order the specialty ice cream flavor as Arethusa Farm has their own award winning dairy and ice cream shop. We had the unforgettable pumpkin spice cream, what sweet dreams are made of.

The best Connecticut has to offer. Quality from the moment you walk in, til you leave with a smile!

Very good restaurant with excellent service. The yellowtail tartar was impressive. The other items we had were very good. Loved the amuse bouche of yogurt melon cucumber soup.

Third time there! Always a wonderful experience. The maitre d' remembered us, which was a nice touch. Every single meal I have had there is beautifully presented. And tastes just as good as it looks. My husband and I shared the cheese platter, although the cheese portions are small, everything that pairs with the cheeses is delicious. He had a baby lettuce salad and I had the red snapper appetizer (special of the night). His entree was the striped bass and I had the poached halibut! We couldn't decide which fish dish we loved better! We always have a nice seating. Candle on the table, small floral arrangement. Fancy restaurant but not overly done. You can go in a nice pair of jeans and top or dress it up a little. Love this place!

Title: Extremely Disappointed with Poor Service at Arethusa Al Tavolo I recently dined at Arethusa Al Tavolo and unfortunately, my experience was far from satisfactory. As someone who appreciates good service and timely meals, I was left deeply disappointed by the lack of attention and prolonged wait times. While I must acknowledge the positive aspects of our meal, such as the delicious bread and mouthwatering duck dumplings, it is essential to address the major issues that overshadowed these highlights. Despite the promising start, our meal quickly turned into a frustrating ordeal as a two-course dinner stretched out to an astonishing 3.5 hours. The long waiting periods between courses were simply unacceptable. We waited for two whole hours for our entrees, which left us feeling angry and frustrated. It was disheartening to see other tables being served promptly while we were left neglected. Moreover, the quality of some dishes did not live up to our expectations. My fiancé ordered the steak, which unfortunately turned out to be bland and lacking in flavor. The little gem salad starter was nothing more than a few whole leaves of lettuce, leaving us underwhelmed and unsatisfied. When we expressed our disappointment to the manager, we hoped for some understanding and acknowledgment of the delays. However, we were met with further disappointment as the manager simply brushed off our concerns with a generic response. Instead of addressing the issue, he offered a weak excuse, stating that "everything is made to order," as if that justified the excessively long wait times. He then topped off our nearly full glasses of wine, promised to remove a round from the tab, which I later discovered was not true. Over $300 for mostly alcohol that filled our empty stomachs. It is disheartening to read numerous reviews praising the incredible experiences others have had at Arethusa Al Tavolo, while my own experience was marred by poor service and disappointing dishes. I can confidently say that I will not be returning to this establishment after the immense letdown we encountered. I sincerely hope that Arethusa Al Tavolo takes these concerns seriously and makes the necessary improvements to ensure that future patrons receive the high level of service and quality dining experience that they rightfully expect.

Peaceful, classy, warm ambiance. Extraordinary flavors. Fantastic Manhattan, very fresh fish.

Worth a stop when your are in Northwest CT. Strengths: *Excellent "ice-cream cone" amuse bouche *Yellowtail appetizer was star of the dinner *Squash blossoms a nice seasonal choice *Duck entree was expertly cooked *Solid choice of Champagnes on the wine list Weaknesses: *We had 5:30 reservations, but we (and several other parties) had to wait outside while the staff held a meeting that lasted until 5:45. This is not consistent with what one would expect from a high-end restaurant *Salmon entree fell short of expectations *Duck negimaki sounded better than it was *Waitress (Megan) needs a refresher on proper wine service. She started pouring full glasses without having us taste the bottle first *The wine list could use some improvement, both in terms of the quality and number of selections In summary, there are some glimmers of excellence, but work will be needed to overcome inconsistencies and other issues, if the goal is to be Michelin-star caliber.

After 3 months of waiting to get in here we made our way to Arethusa and we were very impressed! Everything was so flavorful and tasty and our waitress was extremely nice and thoughtful throughout the whole meal. Portions were bigger than I expected - we got 2 appetizers, entrees and dessert and we were very very full! It's pricey but a must try place at least once. Only complaint is that it is quiet loud and the potato with my striploin could have used some salt. I would have preferred a purée instead of the crispy potato cake but my boyfriend loved it! Just person preference on my end. Dessert was AMAZING though they must have a great pastry chef! I totally forgot I put in the reservation comment that we were celebrating a late Valentine's Day but that was a nice touch for dessert! Very thoughtful

Simply out of this world! Took my wife for our Anniversary after having the restaurant recommended by some friends and couldn't have been more pleased. The hardest part of the night was what to choose, everything was so appealing. Service was attentive while not being pushy, I forget the server's name but she was lovely. Cocktails were inventive and well displayed. They even used little clothespins to put the garnish on the glasses. And then the food... we'll definitely be back to try the rest! Pork dumplings and snapper crudo, amazing, and quickly devoured. They were kind enough to split the kale salad for us as a mid course and finally pekin duck and arctic char. My wife almost wept. The char was the showstopper for me with finely sliced radish, shaved horseradish, and mustard sauce. Thought it couldn't get any better, and then dessert. My wife ordered the lime cheesecake which was stunning and they took the care to write our Anniversary year on the plate, it was our 9th. From start to finish, a perfect night!