Casanova

That very well may have been one of the best meals of my life!! The food was obviously to die for, but the ambiance and level of hospitality was also beyond elite. Couldn't recommend this place more - can't wait to be back! My favorites were the vodka sauce pork chop and of course the golden deviled eggs - cmon now!

We chose this restaurant to celebrate a birthday and it ended up being quite a disappointing experience. We brought a cake from home and at no point — not during the reservation, not by the server, and nowhere on the menu — were we informed that there would be an additional higher charge just to have it brought to the table and for plates to be provided. We cut the cake ourselves as our own traditional way. They served us plates. The fee simply appeared on the bill at the end of the night. This is not about the cost, it’s about transparency. Policies like this should be communicated clearly in advance so customers can decide for themselves. Surprising people with extra charges during a celebration feels unprofessional and takes away from what should be a joyful occasion. Because of this lack of honesty and clarity, we will not be returning. To future guests: if you plan to bring a cake to celebrate your birthday, make sure you ask about all possible fees beforehand — nothing is explained ahead, and they will surprise you with a higher fee after all. Food not that great, lack of flavor. Atmosphere is classic. Service is okay, despite the "fee cake" lack of information.

Other low reviews are right. Extremely overpriced mid food. I went with my husband and father-in-law on Valentine's day when it was pretty empty around 1pm (a red flag in hindsight). Online menus said the dishes we wanted were cheaper ($46 for the seafood Ciopinno I got for example, but was $55 on seating. Which was missing any scallops by the way, which I just now realized). We sat and waited for food for a long time, and the service was slower/more lacking for this cost. When we needed anything, our waiter was missing, so it took forever to order our desserts or get our entrees. They do the bougie "still or sparkling water" and put 1 bottle for the three of us that was emptied in the first 10 minutes since sitting, and there were no refills or more waters. We got the steak tartare which was honestly pretty good/fresh but nothing to write home about flavor-wise. And had 3 tiny pieces of toast to use to eat it with, which you literally can't even see in my picture because they're that small. To be fair, I asked the waiter if we could have more toast or something to scoop it with, and pretty much at the end of our meal, some random homemade bread came out (but it was free and yummy). But we thought the waiter was gone or forgot or was avoiding telling us no for the longest time, so I literally already ate almost all of the tartare with a fork by the time it came out. The pork chop parmigiana was well seasoned, cooked well, and a great portion/size. The sauce was good too, although the amount of buratta cheese was a little disappointing for that price. My Ciopinno seafood pasta was good although the sauce too watery and kind of diluted the tomato and seafood flavor. The seafood tasted good and fresh minus 1 shrimp that just tasted not quite good/off, so if I get any stomach sickness I'll edit my post. Would've been nice to have the scallops though... We got the pistachio gelato w/ the marshmallow and no picture because we absolutely destroyed it. Was the only 10/10 and thing worth writing home about overall, but the price of everything else + not optimal service is not enough for me to come back or recommend with so much better competition that can give you more for that money. $256 for 3 people. 2 pork cutlets, 1 ciopinno seafood pasta, 1 steak tartare starter, 2 pistachio gelato + 20% tip Nice clean bathrooms. Nice vibe & decorations in the restaurant. Weird music that didn't fit the vibe but whatever. I wouldn't go with over 4 people as it's a little small inside, which is par for the course in New Haven restaurants, but probably could to with combined tables. Rough parking too but it's downtown. I don't care for this stuff too much though compared to food, service, and price though

Food presentation was overall great, service was ok ( waited an hour to eat at being seated promptly). Servers were kind and attentive. Being so we waited an hour to eat , we asked the other patrons if their food was delicious and we all had the same experience, mid at best. I would return for dessert and appetizers only. The food lacks flavor. Atmosphere great , esthetics are beautiful updated fixtures and seating. Energetic atmosphere great music.

Casanova Restaurant is a real gem in New Haven! Our server, Lonnie, was attentive and friendly, making the evening enjoyable. I tried the Cioppino Seafood Stew over spaghetti with lobster tail, mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, and calamari — it was outstanding. Every bite was full of flavor and perfectly cooked. For dessert, the tiramisu was light, creamy, and just right. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the service matched the quality of the food. Highly recommend Casanova for anyone looking for authentic Italian dining in New Haven!

We walked up randomly on a busy night and they managed to find us a table. The deviled eggs and the margarita pizza were both delicious. The entire staff did a fantastic job of keeping everything moving along smoothly and ensuring a great experience.

Absolutely fantastic! The service was friendly and professional, and the dishes were executed with perfection and passion. Close your eyes and you feel like you are in Italy! From the primi to the dolci, every bite got better and better. I highly recommend the Caramelle pasta, the Tartufo Nero pizza and the Pecan Cream Puffs (I will be making a return visit soon to sample the entrees). Casanova has been open for only 2 weeks, but Joe and his team are on track to become one of New Haven County’s best Italian restaurants!

I stumbled upon this amazing restaurant by accident and it was the best food accident I made during my trip to New Haven. The food, service, atmosphere and overall experience was amazing. If you're undecided as to where to eat a quality, fresh Italian meal in this local area, do yourself a favor and stop looking, just come to this spot. Joe, the executive Chef and owner is the kindest guy around and he loves to engage with guests and chat. I'd give the review six stars but sadly there were two women sitting next to me bothering me the entire time I was trying to eat and so I guess the security isn't great there but maybe they have to let ALL members of the community in. That being said, check it out! Bravo Chef Joe, BRAVO!

We went to Casanova for New Year's Eve. The food was amazing. The staff was so friendly. We will be back

Have been seeing this place pop up on my social media so I decided to give it a try and I'm glad I did! The inside is super nice, I love the decoration and overall vibe. Our server was very kind and was patient after me and my friend were too busy yapping to look at the menu. We got the whipped ricotta which honestly I would go back JUST for that. It was incredible. We also got the eggplant, and the spicy vodka sauce. Both were incredible. (Too good to take a picture we dove in immediately). And for dessert we got the cheesecake which was also delicious (pictured). Definitely will be back!

Came for lunch on a Wednesday around 1pm. Had a reservation for 5 and was seated upon arrival. They weren't very busy, maybe three other tables. Happy to hear of restaurant week and got the squash soup and the fig pizza. Others in my party order pasta, octopus and another pizza. The ginger ale ordered with the food took about 10 minutes to arrive and the food took about 20-25. Not sure why since it wasn't busy. Food was ok, pizza decent, good size and more than enough for one person. Squash soup was very tasty. The decor was so beautiful with nice colors and a mural on one wall. There was 'bar' seating near the pizza oven to have a front row view. And I loved the sky lights that added natural light towards the middle of the restaurant.

Unfortunately I can't remember the dish names so I just described them! Service was great. The place was cozy and food was delicious. One small thing... it would have been nice if they had bread at the table for us while we waited.

Give this new restaurant in downtown New Haven a try! Excellent eggplant pizza! Yummy burrata and peach salad. We all enjoyed our entrees but the star of the show was the pork chop parmigiana. It was a huge, tender chop. We ordered the pecan cream puffs for dessert. They were a bit underwhelming, but we had a really nice meal.

Strictly reviewing on the Margherita pizza that was offered as a special during the chalk art festival last weekend, this was not my cup of tea. The service was super friendly and efficient to get slices out the door, and the restaurant had a really nice ambience! The pizza itself, however, was a bit disappointing because the crust in the middle was extremely floppy and the cheese was a little bit overdone, to the point where the middle of the pizza felt a little soggy for my taste. The puffy crust was super tasty, but not enough to make up for the middle of the pizza. I see that the restaurant has received lots of nice reviews for other dishes, so I am eager to come back to try one of those! But if you are looking for a Neapolitan pizza, I may check elsewhere.

The food here was so good! We happened to come in during restaurant week and the fig and arugula pizza and vodka sauce pasta were amazing! We also had their eggplant appetizer which was delicious! Finished it off with their bask cheese cake. Great service, and a cute restaurant great for a dinner date.

Casanova should prove to be a wonderful addition to the New Haven culinary scene. Having opened just days ago they seem to have their act together, the service was spot on as our server was pleasant, well informed and very helpful. The atmosphere is relaxing yet sophisticated in decor, very tastefully. The WC was spotless! What I particularly enjoyed was the menu, diversified yet not overly so to the extent of absurdity. The menu was tight and all of our selections were tasteful, well seasoned, properly executed and substantial and best of all very well priced! We look forward to returning and making this one of "go to" venues!

My husband and I were impressed with our first visit to Casanova. We enjoyed wonderfully attentive and friendly service from the hostess and our server. The restaurant is well designed and comfortable. The menu is varied and the dishes are reasonably priced. We ordered a kale Caesar salad, sweet potato pasta with crispy prosciutto, and potato/bacon and rosemary pizza. Everything was fresh and well prepared. The pasta was perfection!! The pizza was subtle in flavor, though that is to be expected from potatoes. I would've happily added more bacon and rosemary, but I like bold flavors. The dough was perfectly soft. The salad was ample and filled with Parmesan crisps. We didn't have time to sample dessert, but we will on our next visit. I can't wait to go back and try the spicy pasta and the pizza with the egg on top. So many fantastic choices! I'm really glad that Casanova opened, and we appreciated the warm welcome we received!!

My phone was being repaired at Apple so I was sadly unable to take pictures of this phenomenal meal. I started with the lobster tail which came with a nice aromatic horseradish chimichurri. The mini focaccia was light and fresh. The burrata salad I cannot rave enough about. The speck pairs so well with the sweetness of the peach. The caramelle pasta dish was amazing as well. Fresh, flavorful and not too sweet. I can't wait to go back and try the pork chop... love this place! The service and the ambiance was great as well. Incredibly kind and attentive staff from the hostess to the server. Catch a seat at the bar to watch pizzas being tossed into the oven, a true art!

Casanova is definitely decorated cute but it is tiny. Felt like we could hear everything the table next to us was saying and vice versa. Ordered the Pipette and added shrimp. The shrimp was so rubbery and over cooked, the pipette had little flavor. I expected more from this restaurant. The tiramisu was great.

Great experience, well worth the try of a new restaurant. Pasta was excellent, oysters very fresh and tasty, dessert tiramisu was not extremely sweet just right, item one on the dessert has very sweet mashmellow melted on top of pistachio ice cream but added a nice dimension to the taste.

This new restaurant exceeded our expectations. Delicate and thoughtful creations satisfied our palette leaving us wanting to return. We are from out of state but Casanova will stay with me.

Authentic unique Italian food. Very interesting menu, a standout from other local Italian spots. Service was great with a very attentive waiter. The music and lighting create a nice ambiance, very instagrammable

Ambience excellent, service excellent, food very good (including desserts). Will return soon, highly recommend. Only concern is the pricing on cocktails & sides.

really great food and service! the staff is very nice and the vibes inside are great. got the burrata salad, and it was heavenly. very very reasonable prices too! will def come back if in New Haven again

Excellent service. Delicious food. Our pescetarian diet can knock some restaurants off our "return" list but Casanova has plenty of seafood and vegetarian options. Everything was yummy but the branzino was stellar. Nice vibe, not too loud. Definitely will return.

Warm and friendly atmosphere! The food is delicious! Very comfortable and cozy! Cheers to Chef Joe and the incredible staff!

Pleasantly surprised by our first visit! Food was delicious (farro salad, chicken breast, agnolotti), portions were plentiful, service was good. Our server was charming, but we sat outside and didn't see him again after getting our mains. One of the pitfalls of outdoor seating. Looking forward to going back, I hope the menu changes with the seasons!

Excellent tasty food beautifully presented. Attentive service by my server Lonnie per my charge receipt. Hilarious drink names as per Andrew, its creator. I will certainly return for a future meal. Try

Food and drinks were incredible, servers were super attentive and charming. A cute space with great vibes! Have already gone twice and definitely will be back for more.

We only learned this just opened when we walked in. We were staying at the nearby Courtyard Marriott and walked over. The food was top notch (the burrata salad was incredible) and the waitstaff was very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend. We also loved the decor and ambiance.

The 3-star review is b/c of our server. He dropped off our food and we didn't see him again all night. Finally, I had to ask another server to tell our server to come back to our table. He made time to mingle in the kitchen and chat with the hostess, but fell short of taking care of his paying customer. It's too bad b/c the food was delicious and the atmosphere enjoyable. With so many amazing dining options in New Haven, you need to provide better service.

Went there on opening night with my wife. We found the restaurant to be very comfortable, the staff was pleasant and friendly. We started with the Truffle Deviled eggs.My wife had "Caramelle",with sweet potato filling, I had the "Mezzo Rigatoni"pomodoro pasta both dishes were delicious. We ended with the Cream Buff dessert. We will definitely go back.Great ambience.Good luck to Chef Joe.