Columbus Park Trattoria

Food is still delicious, one of the more reliable and consistent establishments in downtown. That said, service on the (front) outdoor patio, or lack thereof, was disappointing. Staff were busily chitchatting with each other while my water glass was unfilled; it took a long time for my check to arrive as well. Staff only had 3 tables. If you need to be in and out in a timely manner, do yourself a favor - sit inside!

There are restaurants, and then there are institutions. Columbus Park Trattoria is the latter — serious Italian cooking, no pretense, just soul. Handmade pastas, flawless seafood, and an incredible wine list that can take you from Piedmont to Napa in a single meal. But the secret sauce is people. Telmo, steward here for 13+ years, runs the floor with quiet mastery — anticipating, guiding, making the whole place hum. This is pedigree dining: old-world tradition, modern confidence, and hospitality that feels like family. Five stars. Easy.

The food, service, and atmosphere of this restaurant was amazing! It was steps away from our hotel door! The owner was absolutely amazing and was able to suggest specific dishes based on our requests and dietary restrictions! We had tiramisu for dessert and it was extremely flavorful! The strawberries on the top were almost as sweet as the actual dish! Very impressed with this location! We will definitely be back on our travels through the area!

THE BEST Italian food we have ever had! The fresh pasta was absolutely delicious! The service was impeccable, and our dining experience was one of our top rated ever! I can't say enough good things about this restaurant! Definitely GO!

Made the trip out from NYC for lunch and was not disappointed. I had a very good carpaccio to start followed by a simply delicious meat ravioli with brown gravy for a main. Both were incredible and if I'm ever back in Stamford it will be my first stop! Staff were very friendly and the place is light, airy and clean.

Reservations are required unless you sit outside or at the bar, the food is absolutely amazing and the atmosphere is elegant. It does get a little noisy once more people come in but it’s a small establishment so this is to be expected. I would recommend the Fettuccine as well as the Meat Ravioli with brown sauce. The cheesecake for desert was splendid also. All around this place is a great place to eat at if you are in the mood for Italian.

If you want great Italian sit down white table cloth, this is THE SPOT! Lobster ravioli can be incredible IF it’s fresh, also not loaded with ricotta and watered down like many other locations. Also check out Applausi in Greenwich, their sister restaurant if you want an equally memorable meal(actually may be even slightly better)

Consistently good Italian food. The homemade pastas are exceptional! The food is always fresh with good ingredients and flavors. The service and staff are very accommodating and friendly and expedient. The wine list is on the high side but has some very good choices. I recommend this place when in downtown Stamford.

I rarely give 5 stars for a first visit. I usually reserve that for a place that is consistently excellent. That way, someone relying on my 5 star review can expect the same experience. I'm giving CPT 5 stars after 1 visit because I could just tell that they will be great every time. Service was excellent, food was excellent, ambiance was very nice. The wine list was tremendous. Wine prices about double the retail price which is pretty normal. The menu offers a wide variety of interesting options along with a specials list that was truly special. We had - Burrata, grilled calamari, tuna, veal, stuffed chicken. Everything was excellent. We will definitely return!

We were lucky to get into this very busy restaurant on a Saturday night. The hospitality was warm and welcoming, and the service was attentive. We started with the special fig appetizer, which was absolutely delicious. I ordered the San Giovanni, which is normally served with fettuccine, but since I'm gluten-free, they substituted it with penne. I'm sure the fettuccine would have been just as wonderful, but the penne was excellent. My husband had the ravioli special with potato and sausage in a rich brown sauce--also outstanding. We dined outside, where the atmosphere was buzzing with energy on a beautiful August evening in downtown Stamford. Overall, it was a lovely experience from start to finish.

My tastebuds are happy. I didn't actually go to the restaurant, but my friends brought me dinner after their date night. The pork chop was perfectly seared and juicy. It was flavorful, and spoke to my tastebuds. There's a little kick to it so if you're not a spice person, then you might want to pass. I was told everything they ate at the restaurant was delicious. If it's this good in a takeout order, I can only imagine how good it is at the actual restaurant. Can't wait to go when I'm not babysitting.

Underwhelmed in every way. For the praise that Columbus Park has received it was an underwhelming experience. There was so flavor or seasoning in any of the dishes. Bland. Had ordered multiple dishes so it wasn't just one Service was ok, nothing outstanding, but on the slower side. I really wanted to love this place, but each dish was one disappointment after another. The drinks were the only good thing ‍

An outstanding meal was had tonight. We enjoyed great appetizers like stuffed mushrooms, and crab-cakes. This followed a pasta course and then short ribs for dinner. The Italian cookies for dessert were the perfect touch!! The service was excellent. A traditional Italian meal, I would recommend you try this place!!

This was my first time at the restaurant, and my friend and I had the best time. The octopus was delicious. The gin cocktail was fabulous, and the cured meats were delightful. I will return for more when I'm back in the area.

Such mediocre food. You can find much better Italian food in the area for the same $$ range. Not sure how the rating is high as it is.

Stopped in for dinner with a small work crew. It has been ~10 years since I've last dined here. Nice little place. Very good service. Started with the grilled calamari. Good choice. Wasn't overcooked, seasoned perfectly. Red pepper sauce not needed. Branzino special was good. Broccoli rabe was disappointing. Completely overcooked, it was pulverized. Didn't try desert but the other guys enjoyed. Will visit again

The go to always when in doubt. Awesome service and food is always fantastic! With summer here, eating outside is very nice.

The food is always great! The service top notch. Great place to celebrate my husband's birthday!

Service excellent. food varied and well served. Excellent pasta dishes . Several varieties of Ravioli offered when we visited

Lively yet Intimate, Delicious and Attentive service. This family-owned establishment is NEVER a disappointment when I return to the area. Make a Res as they are busy. For larger private gatherings, their 2nd Fl Venue is perfect

Good Italian food, especially the home made pastas and fish. Friendly service, and good list of wines by the glass

Had a wonderful lunch with 4 friends yesterday. As always, the food was amazing and the staff was attentive to all our needs. So friendly and helpful. I've been patronizing the restaurant both personally & professionally for over 25 years!! Highly recommend it!

Made a last min reservation for Monday evening. Restaurant was fairly busy for a Monday evening. Service was fantastic and bottles of wine were half off. First off get the fried oysters! Very Lightly fried they are served in the shell with a lovely sauce. We also had the lobster ravioli special which was delicate and delicious. We also ordered chicken marsala. It wasn't on the menu but they can make chicken dishes that are not on the menu eg Parmesan, picatta . The rigatoni was slightly too al dente for me. We also ordered the creme brûlée, chocolate cake and lemon cake. All in all a fantastic meal and good service.

Very good spot. Low key with great food. Says I need more characters to complete the review

Stunning service. Superb food. Splendid atmosphere. Super yummy menu. No further notes. Chefs kiss

Food is always great service is friendly (you feel part of family) Ambiance a little tight but good patrons. One of the top Italian restaurants in area.

It was crowded and very noisy on a Monday night. Food was pretty good but the service was just okay. Our waiter disappeared but the manager came and checked on us. Do they have a dress code for the staff as a few of them are in street clothes?

Spinach, cheese, ravioli and that is not only The dish to have when you're eating here The eggplant is done just right You can sit outside and enjoy the night

One of the most amazing meals I've had, with the most impressive service from the front of the house to the kitchen! Rockstar status I am so disappointed I haven't found this hidden gem sooner !!!

One of the very best... management and staff treat you like family... food is absolutely outstanding.

Great staff here, everyone was attentive and friendly. My daughter had the rib eye. It was super juicy and flavorful. I had the rigatoni alla vodka and my husband had the veal Vitello sorrentino. The veal he said was super good. He liked that it was thin sliced. Must've been good given the speed at which he ate it. We also had the calamari and fried zucchini for appetizers. The zucchini was amazing as it's thin sliced and lightly fried. The next I've had. The restaurant was clean and was busy for a Thursday evening.

Truly one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. The customer service is unmatched and the food is delicious. My best friend has been going here for a very long time and this was my second time going with her. All smiles, all night. I've never felt more welcomed by the incredible staff. So much love for this place.

The servers were extraordinarily friendly and the food was excellent. Ambiance could be better, the restaurant was clean and new, but it felt a little clinical.

Delicious food. Beef Carpaccio was amazing. Pasta was amazing. Service was on point and very friendly. Beautiful ambiance. Can't wait to go back!

It has been over 20 years since we have been back to Columbus Park. Not sure if the same owners or not from the late 90's. This is before marriage and kids. Dropped of kids at Stamford station and hubby said Columbus Park is still there! We get the first table at 5pm on the dot! Sometimes you worry if your memory of a well liked place can be the same as you remembered it. Well, Columbus Park was AMAZING. Bread was freshly baked. Super yummy. Our fried calamari was perfect with the best side marinara sauce with a little kick to it. My cockles (clam) linguine was my favorite dish at this restaurant many moons again. Well, it was better than I remember it! All dishes came out fresh and hot. Service was excellent and attentive. We even told our waiter tonight that we will be back. That is a promise!

I've been here twice now. Both times were a great experience with excellent food. It's in a nice lively spot in downtown Stamford. The dining room is small so on a busy night you would want a reservations . It's pretty loud. Not a place to have a quiet or boring meal. I can't recall exactly what I got the first time but I remember enjoying it. Last night, My wife started with a friend burrata with an interesting sauce - a cold yet flavorful sauce, kind of a strange combo with the hot fried cheese. Mine was better, a mushroom crepe dish with a bechamel sauce. My entree was a veal cutlet with arugula and mozzarella. Delicious and hearty. My wife had a fresh pasta with a number of vegetables that was delicious and a big portion. We finished with Cecilia's doughnuts, espressos, limoncello. The waiters were lively and fun and our cocktails were strong and well made. Prices are fair especially given that this is a high end kitchen with excellent food.

In town for work with a group and chose this establishment... very cozy and family vibe (albeit a bit loud at times). Appetizers were very good - awesome calamari. We all had a variety of dinner choices but everyone was very pleased. I had the seafood ravioli which looked to be a small portion, but very filling.

I have lived in Stamford since 1978 and never ate here. Tonight, my co workers and I decided we wanted desert and chose this restaurant. we printed out the dessert menu and made our choices and called it in. They told us they would not sell Crème Brûlée for take out, only in restaurant. . The 3 of us that wanted it made a new choice. Cheesecake. They didn't have any of that either. Nor did they have anything at all except Tiramisu. 1 item out of ten choices on the menu. I understand things are weird, and delivery is spotty, but maybe they could have told us during the first phone call. Instead of us spending 15 minutes for nothing. All my friends say this is a great restaurant. I will never know. Because I am petty and little things like this bug me.

My mom and I had the chicken scarpiello and it is always delicious! We share the Italian fries which are also amazing. We always have the same waiter and he's the best! He always remembers our drink order and food order every time!!

Whoa, this place was off my radar and blew me away. Excellent service, the focaccia bread with hot oil to start was outstanding. I came for restaurant week lunch and had the chickpea soup and chicken entree..both were fantastic. The bartender Tomo is top notch will definitely be back to try dinner.

I can't believe we have not been here before?!?! I had the fried oysters and they were awesome. Perfectly cooked and outstanding flavor. I also had the cave tell I with seafood. Also very good. This is a definite must try for Italian food fans. It is small and charming

Had one of the top meals in Stamford last night with colleagues. The scallop app special had so many different flavors and the scallops just melted in your mouth. We all ordered one the special entrees. I had the stuffed pork chop with prosciutto and mozzarella with GF pasta. Though I was full, I couldn't stop eating. Everyone else talked about how amazing their meals were as well. I will definitely return with the family..so good!!

Came to celebrate my brothers 55th birthday. Food was great, but noticed we weren't getting as good of service as everyone else. I paid for the bill and sent everyone (the 3 adults) the bill so they can Venmo me the difference. My brother in law noticed that the waiter had already added the 20% gratuity after we had also added 20% to the total bill. We initially did not notice the waiter had already gratuity. This is weird considering there were 4 adults and 1 child. Usually gratuity is added to bills of 6 or more, but I am assuming since we had color to our party they automatically added 20%. I was pissed so I went to the restaurant and they reconciled the difference. I will not go there again. I would rather go to Cafe Silvium which has better authentic food or Davina.

Delicious food, good variety menu of pastas (although I wish there were more non-pasta options). Classic Italian. Fresh food that tastes great all around. Beautiful and colorful presentation - good attention to detail. The home-made bread and alfredo sauce were top. The portion size was perfect (smaller than the typical American oversized portions, but good enough to fill you up the right amount) My only issue is that after checking twice and reconfirming with the waiter that my dish would have linguini (not spaghetti) my order still came with spaghetti, which was disappointing. Attention to detail is key. Otherwise, beautiful atmosphere, new fresh décor, great location - would gladly come back.

Definitely high quality Italian cuisine. The menu was very impressive. It wasn't a basic cheap Italian restaurant that is on borderline of casual/fancy. It's fancy high classic dining. I decided to order the swordfish, it was cooked to perfection. One of the best swordfish I ever had. Everyone in my party was satisfied with their meal. It was very tight inside if standing, but once sitting I didn't really notice. The staff wear Christmas hats for the holidays and the whole restaurant was decorated very nice. I really appreciated the holiday cheer.

There are a wide range of Italian restaurants in Stamford to choose from but I consider Columbus Park #1 if you want to experience authentic Italian fine dining. Don't come here if you're expecting Americanized dishes like fettucine alfredo or chicken parm. There are plenty of restaurants in Stamford serving that sort of fare (and do it very well). What I like most about Columbus Park is the food is spot on with respect to portion size, presentation, and ingredients. Outstanding bread basket filled with airy slices of fresh focaccia and peasant bread. The bread is Anderson Avenue style with a soft inside and thick, crusty crunch. The three pasta entrees my daughters and I ordered were fantastic (Cavatelli Mare, Ravioli stuffed with lobster and crab, and Paccheri Al Ragu Bianco). None of these dishes were swimming in excess oil/sauce as everything on the plate melded together. We also ordered Torta Della Nonna (lemon custard pie) for dessert, which is very light and has a refreshing lemony flavor. We were lucky to get seated at a separate table for four by the kitchen, so weren't as cramped for space as the other diner seated along the wall.

My favorite restaurant in Fairfield county. Had lobster and crab ravioli, amazing! Light, delicate and savory. My wife is not a pork chop person and orders pork chops every time! Charceutteri amazing! The fried zucchini is crispy , light, and delicious. Service is fast, friendly , and attentive.

I had my Holiday party there. The food and service were fantastic! Definitely recommend!

Food: 3 stars Service: 4 stars We decided to stop by for a quick lunch, service was great. They were really friendly and efficient. We ordered the bruschetta to start, it took a very long time to come out. Id understand if it was busy but, there was 4 tables at most. I wouldn't have ordered it had I known it was a trio. The traditional bruschetta was just ok, (not as seasoned as cottos) but the other two (basically pesto and olive puree) were not very good. It took even longer for the kitchen to put out our entrees, we ordered half portions of the gnocchi al ragu and fettuccine ortolano. They were both good in portion but lacking in flavor. The fettuccine itself was thick and chewy but, the gnoochi had good texture. Both were fresh in the bright side. I'd come back to try out a dinner service at most.

4.5 stars - such friendly services, great atmosphere and amazing food. 1/2 star off only because the staff kept wanting to remove our appetizers - barely half eaten - in order to bring out the main entrees. they should just leave them and bring out entrees anyway!!!

I had the fettuccine for dinner and the broccoli rabe as an appetizer. Both were absolutely fantastic. The broccoli rabe, in particular was the best I've had no bitterness at all. Loved the drinks as well. I had the St. Germain cocktail with champagne. Loved it. I'm all about the space - and this restaurant is great. Will be back.

I have been going to Columbus park for years . The best Italian Restaurant in Stamford. We sat at the bar and tried some new cocktails the bartender suggested . So good. The pasta dishes were like the best in Italy. The pork chop was tender and succulent. It will always be my favorite restaurant.

The food is really good, the seating is not very comfortable and the service can be better. We shall return for the good food.

Wonderful meal! We actually sat outside which turned out to be a good thing since the inside was quite noisy! Nice wine selection and not your typical Italian restaurant, many unique and delicious entrees. I got a veal dish that was delicious! Everyone in our party of 6 was pleased.

All around delicious fine Italian cuisine. I'm convinced there isn't a single bad dish on the menu. I tried an assortment of antipasti and entrees with The Boy and his family for dinner. We left overstuffed and extremely satisfied. Below are the highlights and can't misses: Burrata e Parma - Never pass on the burrata dish. Never ever. This cheese from the Gods goes perfectly with parma ham and roasted red peppers. Paccheri al Ragù Bianco - Ordered this for my entree because I love veal & I love mushrooms! This was the perfect combination with the pasta cooked al dente; I ate it all up! Lombata di Vitello - Absolutely divine, a definite must-have. The most tender veal loin chop seasoned with rosemary, garlic, and amazing hot cherry peppers! Don't pass on this. Also, don't pass on pairing your dinner with wine - you'll regret it!

Excellent meal with every course. perfectly cooked. Service excellent also and reasonably priced. We had heard of the great reputation of this restaurant through the grapevine and this reputation is well deserved. We will make this a go to place in the future. It is clearly very popular so I hope we can get another reservation!

An exceptional restaurant. From the minute you get in until you finish your meal the service and meal is top notch. I called, made reservations and gave them instructions that I would be celebrating my girlfriend's birthday and they went out of their way to make it special for her. For starters we had the charcuterie with two types of Italian meats and a cheese. This was a great way to start off the night. For our entrees we had the Ribeye meal and a pasta with ragú sauce. Both meals were excellent. The meals had so much flavor. The steak was cooked perfectly and loaded with flavor. The restaurant is not that large so I recommend you make reservations but it is nicely decorated with a small bar in the dining area. The waiters were really good. Always making sure everything is set. When I called to make the reservations I asked for them to bring a dessert which I pre-ordered and it went off perfect. I did not need to say anything, they brought it out after our meal and to finish everything they even brought us a drink on the house to celebrate her birthday. A nice touch! I will define back to try other menu items. Two thumbs up for this establishment.