Gioia Cafe and Bar

Nicely curated restaurant with a terrific bar. They offer both indoor dining and rooftop dining. The house salad was superb and very nicely dressed. We only had the pizza, which was atypical of pizza in the area, which I guess they need to do because of all the famous pizza restaurants in the area. However, if you are going to offer a different type of pizza, it had better be terrific, which this was not. It was a dry brick with a tangy sauce. Seemed to be a cross between a Sicilian slice and Detroit-style - but it failed at both. Need to add some olive oil for moisture, as it was very dry. I would skip the pizza and return to try other dishes in the future. Service is very good!

We reserved a table for a large family for New Years Eve, and were dismayed to find only a $95pp Prix Fixe menu, with a $50pp fee to cancel the reservation. When we expressed our surprise to the waiter, he said “it was mentioned when you booked on open table.”The booking appeared like a routine reservation initially, and the Prix Fixe menu was not mentioned on the website. Looking back we did find a note about it in the fine print “additional notes” section of the confirmation email if you scrolled all the way down. Perhaps we should be more meticulous about reading the fine print of routine dinner reservations, or perhaps the information should be presented more unambiguously so your customers don’t arrive and leave feeling scammed. The wait staff and manager were dismissive and did not express any understanding of our frustration with the lack of transparency, nor did they bother trying to convince us that the experience would be worth it. Although it was difficult to stomach the surprise cost (close to $1000 when we had only expected a few hundred), the food was delicious and we were happy to be able to sample the different options available for each course. Service was adequate but uninspiring given the exorbitant cost.

We had our wedding reception at Gioia, and it was fantastic. The food was excellent, the pacing just right, the waitstaff were amazing. They were great to work with when planning our event, giving us tons of options to make our day special. We can not say enough about how much we enjoyed Gioia.

Goia never disappoints! Their rooftop is the perfect little escape and the rooftop menu is a special Little surprise. The veggies are always fresh, and their bread for pizza is a change up from the New Haven style thin crust. Great place for a special Night or just catching up with friends. Staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly!

First of all, the atmosphere here is amazing. The bartenders are cool and conversation, the vibe is comfy and relaxed. Even in such a loud and busy restaurant I felt totally at ease. The pizza is OK but the pasta is the star of the show. The pistachio ice cream is incredible, earthy with a crunch nutty finish. The prices are surprisingly fair.

Parking free right at the restaurant, very convenient. It’s a cute setting, we sat upstairs on a warm fall evening and server was lovely. The main dining room is elegant and there’s a fun little shop. Though the food is delicious, (non pizza items) portions are too small, that’s why I give it 3 stars.. Gelato was offered as a nice treat.

Great service. Comfortable seating. Has rooftop. Has its own parking lot. Small market in the restaurant. Staff were all very friendly and attentive to clients.

This place is separated into a rooftop bar/restaurant, a small market selling Italian goods, and then an indoor sit-down restaurant. My partner and I went to the rooftop and the market and had a very pleasant experience at both! The rooftop has a very nice ambience. We were recommended the bucatini limone and the zucchini & squash pizza by our server. The food was amazing as you can tell a lot of care is put into highlighting the flavor of the ingredients. The staff at both the rooftop and the market were super friendly and helpful. I would love to come back here eventually!

Gioia is a multi-use Italian eatery that opened in New Haven, Connecticut in October 2023. It was founded by a partnership between restaurateurs Tim Cabral & Avi Shapiro and contractors Anthony & Gerard Bianco. Cabral is one of the owners of the cocktail bar Ordinary while Shapiro was the chef and owner behind ROÌA before it closed. The two met at a restaurant in 2011 and soon became great friends. After COVID happened, and ROÌA shut down, the two started brainstorming about a new culinary project that they could work on together. After acquiring a space on Wooster Street that was previously home to Tony & Lucille's, the partners set to work on a culinary vision that was new to the neighborhood and New Haven as a whole. It functions as an Italian restaurant, cocktail bar, rooftop bar, gelateria, and specialty market. The space was dubbed "Gioia", which is Italian for "joy". My family and I recently stopped for dinner at Gioia. A spacious dining room encompasses most of the ground floor, while a seasonal rooftop cocktail bar fills up the second floor. To drink, I ordered the "Black Manhattan" (Old Overholt rye, Foro Amaro, 1757 Torino, Luxardo cherry, Liberation Unholy Mole bitters) from the bar. This was my kind of cocktail! For food, we decided to order multiple plates for the whole table to share. We all enjoyed the "Crispy Potato" (salsa verde, aioli), "Butternut Squash Ravioli" (brown butter, fried sage, hazelnut breadcrumb, parm), "Margherita Square Pizza" (tomato, bocconcini, basil), and "Goat Cheese Square Pizza" (truffled ricotta, parm, red onion, pistachio, honey). While we waited for our food to arrive, my older son and I explored the market, which is stocked with everything from housemade pastas to sauces and Italian provisions. We were interested in some gelato for dessert, but our server informed us that there was a better selection if we went outside and ordered from the gelato window directly. Collectively, the delicious flavors that we sampled were "Vanilla", "Vanilla/Chocolate", "Strawberry", and "Caramel Apple". We thoroughly enjoyed every dish that we sampled from our experience and the staff were lovely. We look forward to returning!

First thing first, hands down the best gelato I've ever have in the U.S!! The gelato is so silky smooth, creamy, and packed with flavor! They have really unique gelato flavors to choose from. I'm truly in love with their desserts (I probably go too often haha). Definitely the best desserts I've had in this area! My go to desserts are the almond torta cake and their seasonal sticky toffee pudding cake with warm caramel sauce (tastes just like the sticky toffee pudding I had in London). I've been to Gioia a few times (mostly for desserts) but I thoroughly enjoyed my brunch experience here. The decor has an elegant feel and the overall ambience is impeccable. The glassware they use for brunch is straight from Italy and so beautiful!

We ate at the bar and everything was excellent except the bartender. He incorrectly told us the pasta ragu was not available and would be a vegetarian dish but then flip flopped saying it was available as a meat dish. He was inexperienced and cared more about chit chatting with the other servers than tending to us. Despite that, the food was 5 stars! Carrot appetizer stellar, pasta with chickpeas off the hook and modified ragu with meat excellent. Kudos to the gracious chef who told us if he can make any change, he'd be happy to do so. They make their own pasta and it's delicious! I'd have ordered the white bean soup but they were out of it, unfortunately. Mocktail list is great as is the dessert selection. Unfortunately we were too full to order dessert. Next time for sure. Space is lovely as is the Italian market. This is a great addition to Wooster Street!

What a lovely place for Sunday brunch! Beautiful rooftop dining or in the restaurant with a full service bar. Food was exceptional. We had the margherita Sicilian pizza, shashuka, cacio peppe scrambled eggs, beet salad, rigatoni carbonara. All the dishes were delicious. Be sure to ask for the homemade jam with the toast. Ours was a peach jam and it was so good. Be sure to visit the Italian market next door and also the gelato stand around the corner!

What a joy to be at Gioia! This modern Italian inspired cafe and bar uses such unique ingredients and flavors. I started off with a date and walnut infused vodka mixed with a blood orange soda. I must say it was very interesting but delicious. For a salad starter we had the fennel and citrus salad as well as the gioia salad with lemon and olive oil. Both were fresh and light. For the appetizer we chose the arancini. This was made with fried mushrooms and farro risotto in a parm fonduta. This is not your typical arancini but it was absolutely amazing. My favorite was actually the entree. We shared the Wooster square Goat cheese pizza made with truffled ricotta, parm red onion, pistachio and honey. The flavors blended so beautifully. Our server was very attentive and the atmosphere was very relaxed. There was a candle lit on the table and such good vibes. I can't wait to come back and goon there rooftop!

Went for apps and cocktails last weekend prior to dinner reservations we had elsewhere. Wish we stayed here! The ambiance was delightful. We got there early (6pm) on a Friday night and sat at the bar until about 7:15. Our bartender Freddy was a doll and super knowledgeable. Their cocktail menu is fun and creative. I started with the Monty's Cure which was amazing. A friend had the Pera di Fuoco - to.die.for. So unassuming - spicy, crisp, sour, sweet. Everything you could want in a Fall/Winter cocktail. My husband started with a Fig Margarita - yummy but once he tried the Pera di Fuoco - he had that next. Last person in the group had the Wingman which he enjoyed. We tried 2 apps - the fried artichokes and the arancini - both out of this world. If we weren't meeting 2 friends somewhere else - we would have likely eaten dinner right at the bar. Can't wait to go back for their Christmas pop-up!! Been a while since I've rated something 5 stars.

Gioia is such a great local spot with good vibes and delicious food. We came for dinner on a Saturday night with a reservation but our table wasn't ready, so we decided to sit and dine at the bar. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. - Olives ($6+) Even though I love good olive oil, I'm not a fan of olives, which I generally find too salty. However, these warm marinated olives, I loved. They weren't too strong or too salty--they were just right and are a must-try! - Farro Arancini ($13+) with fried mushroom & farro risotto, parm fonduta These fried rice balls were flavorful and tasty, but also quite filling. Maybe a bit heavy for an appetizer for 2 people, especially if you want to try a variety of dishes. - Ricotta Ravioli / S ($17+) I ordered this as my main dish and the smaller size was large enough for one person. The combination of the mushrooms and cheese was divine. - Grilled Fish ($32+) Salmon with farro salad, yogurt, harissa My boyfriend ordered this and I just had a bite, but it was a nice dish also. The only reason for the -1 star is for 2% fee for "Kitchen Share" added to our bill. Not really sure what this is for.

Came here for a 6 pm Thursday meal. The restaurant was decently busy but not crowded at all. The staff was incredibly nice, and overall the place was very cozy. The appetizers were all delicious, and the stand outs to me were the potatoes and the mussels. The potato pizza was overall was fine. Very starchy overall, rosemary heavy which I loved. I did enjoy the cream sauce on it too, it just needed a touch of salt for me I think. Overall cute place!

I came here for a quick dessert while walking around the area. It was my first time visiting New Haven and a friend who studied here mentioned this was her favourite restaurant. While we had other dinner plans we made sure to stop by for a dessert. I had the chocolate-coconut and raspberry sorbettis. Both were equally refreshing with a good mix of sweet and sour flavours. I would highly recommend mixing and matching various diverse flavours as I would now come back for this pairing + to try new ones as well.

Had 6pm reservations for 4 people. Two of us got there at 540pm and ask to be seated early as the other 2 party members were en route about 5-10 minutes away. Mind you, the restaurant was completely empty , except for two occupants sitting at the bar. The hostess told us we couldn't be seated until the whole party was there as in the past people have come late and they were going to busy that night. Now it's 545 and the hostess still didn't sit us and not one other person was in the restaurant. We were literally about 5-10 feet away from here watching her stand there texting on her phone. I yet again went over and asked to be seated. She replied again in a condescending tone it's the policy of the restaurateur not to seat anyone until the full party arrives. Under normally circumstances I understand but this restaurant was beyond empty. I took it upon myself and finally sat down at one of the many empty tables and the hostess comes over and says I guess you can sit here as you took it upon yourself to seat yourself. Now it's 547pm and the two people in my party arrive. I was beyond disgusted with the hostesses attitude so we left. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. Their people are nasty and their policies are lacking. It's a tiny hole in the wall dump. We went down the street to Eddie's and had a very good meal. STAY AWAY FROM GIOIA!!!!!!!

Fortunately it was easy to make a reservation for two for a great time slot on a Saturday night. I had a question and left a vm and received a call back from the restaurant. The staff are very nice and professional. We were seated promptly at a booth table which was cozy for a cold winter night. Our order of grilled calamari bruschetta came first but the calamari was cold and the bread was soggy in the middle. We assumed that it was ready quickly but sat for a bit before it was served. When we told our server about the calamari being cold and soggy he asked if we sent it back. This was an odd question since he was our server and came to the table after we already consumed it. We were curious who he thought we would send it back with?? Our N'duja mussels were just right. We also tried the Gioia salad and the braised lamb pappardelle - both were exquisite. For dessert we had the vanilla gelato with expresso and the best pistachio gelato that we have ever had. Overall it was an enjoyable evening with good food and service.

Have been here three times now and it's always been a really nice meal with good service. The gnocchi and pasta have always been excellent, nice cocktail menu, inventive brunch too. The chairs are not comfortable, but most restaurants seem to have terrible chairs so I won't dock them a point a for that.

Gioia has delicious, fresh pasta dishes! They also have great cocktails & desserts. Their small plates are great to share with others so you can try a little of everything! Beautiful interior and great rooftop bar for the summer and winter! They also have their own small parking lot which is a plus on Wooster St. Service is always top notch, the staff is always very helpful!

I was unable to attend a few events at Gioia, which saddened me because it looks great. I recently had a different event on Wooster Street and I used that as an opportunity to order a cocktail. I didn't visit the rooftop bar, but I understand it's very cool. The restaurant and bar space is awesome. I asked the bartender, whose name I think was Kaylee, to make me something passionfruit flavored. Which was not in the menu. It arrived and sort of looked like a margarita in a wide circular stemmed glass. The drink was pale yellow colored. It tasted like passionfruit. Sweet but not too sweet. Very good. At least one of my friends ordered an espresso martini and liked it. Can't wait to return for a meal, gelato or more drinks. Five Stars

Although the rooftop was closed on this Tuesday night, we thoroughly enjoyed our evening. Jenna was great as our server tonight. I had a smoked old fashioned and everyone was wowed by the presentation. I ordered off the $39 prix fix menu - burrata salad, fettuccine shrimp fra diavolo, and the chocolate mousse. Absolutely delicious and amazing. A must-visit locale!

The food is quite different here. It gives you a flavor of Old Italy. If you are not very much familiar with Italian cuisine, I would not recommend this place to you. But if you would like to taste something different, this place is definitely for you. The service staff are very courteous and help you with any dish you would like to know more about.

We must have hit an off night. Our server was pleasant and attentive. The restaurant was very clean and dinnerware was authentic Italian. The food and wine were disappointing. All three plates were bland. The full size ordered was smaller than the half size. The glass of wine was not drinkable. While not charged, fairly certain they were not believing that it was not good. Either opened too long or a bad bottle. After having been recommended was a disappointment. Tried the Gelato- fun flavors-

Had to try this place as I wait for my pizza from Frank Pepe. Grandma Pizza slice was good . Crust was light and the chocolate coconut gelato was delicious. New Haven ,CT

This was our second visit to Gioia. The first visit was for brunch and we loved the menu so naturally we had to return for the dinner menu. The service and ambience was wonderful all around. Plates and serving sizes are big and we had some take home for the next day. Our next visit will be for the rooftop and we can't wait!

LOVED LOVED LOVEDDD THIS SPOT! Such a great find even for a fairly new restaurant they are easily establishing themselves as a missing piece to the Italian strip that is Wooster St. I highly recommend the goat cheese wooster square pizza and the cocktails, sooo incredible! Beware it is a bit chilly indoors and the wait times can be high when it's a nice summer night like this one Lovely staff! Flavorful food!

This is purely with regards to the the bar and the Friday afternoon, July 25 bartender. Avoid the bar. I have never seen anyone measure out with a shot glass a glass of wine. Basically for 3 ounces of house Pinot Grigio I was charged $13. I asked her to add club soda and she measured that out with a shot glass. I asked her why, and she said they are having a hard time getting seltzer. An astounding response. In addition, we finally got our bill and they added almost a two dollar charge to tip the kitchen staff, but we never ordered food and we only had one round of drinks because of the service

My first issue with this restaurant is the noise level. There were four of us - I needed to almost yell to the person next to me and talking to the person across from me was very difficult. The prices were a bit high but that's to be expected these days. Almost no traditional Italian fishes on the menu, but I guess they're trying to be different compared to the numerous other Italian restaurants on the street. My gnocchi dish was oily without much flavor. We also ordered the Banzai fish special to share and it too didn't have much flavor. I'd give this place another chance if it weren't for the noise level.

This place is incredible! Our server was fun, engaging and informative. The nicest thing I can say is that his mode of service completely fit the style of the place. The cocktails were really different and supremely flavorful. The pear margarita was a 1 out of 10! We split a lot of dishes. Highlights were the delicata squash, perhaps the best vegan dish I have ever had, and the fennel salad. I can't wait to return and try some of the other amazing dishes on the menu. Pro tip: get dessert! Both the pastries and gelato are made in house. They are not to be missed! By the way: lots of on street parking on the adjacent side street.

I really enjoyed the ambiance of Gioia as well as the very friendly staff! I have heard great things about the rooftop bar but I didn't personally get a chance to go up there. The appetizers were amazing. I'm not a big beets fan but I finished one whole bowl of the whipped ricotta and beets appetizer. The broccolini was also amazing. For the drinks, I tried a gin&tonic and a tequila based drink, both were great. I tried a non-alcoholic tamarind sour and it was SO good! For the main course, I enjoyed the pasta and the salmon. I did not try the chicken, but everything was good. I was less impressed by the main course than the appetizers, dessert, and the drinks. For dessert, there were tiny bite sized chocolate cakes which were very good! Highly recommend this place for an experience with big groups or a small party!

Gioia recently opened in the Wooster Square area and has received remarkable publicity about the owners and their new establishment. It is evident that a lot of time, energy, planning and money has been put into this restaurant, marketplace, and gelato window. As we checked out the place and strolled through all of the areas, we were surprised to find that not one employee was welcoming, helpful, or interested in anything but their telephones. Unfortunately, after the cool reception, we decided not to stay there to eat. We will possibly try again another time as many friends have been pleased with the quality of the family style dinners they ordered. The menu looked interesting and the marketplace had an outstanding selection of Italian imported goods. The gelato window is a novel idea in that area but personally I prefer Italian Ices which are available across the street. Parking was frustrating and the noise level was not conducive to a relaxing meal.

Would recommend! Nice that there is parking available for busy Wooster St. We ate upstairs on the patio. While it was pretty and nice upstairs, we went on a hot day, and I would have rather been inside but the hours didn't allow for it during lunch. Docking a star for the pizza, when surrounded by other great spots it's hard to compare. The rest of the menu looked good and I would go back to try other things.

Delicious dinner with friends. Cocktails are always great and so aesthetically pleasing. Had the half bird which was flavorful and a big portion. Tiramisu for desert... everything was lovely and excited to go back soon.

I've been wanting to come here since I moved to Connecticut. When I found out they opened the rooftop, I was like, I HAVEEE to go before summer ends. So we finally made it at the end of summer after multiple tries and long waiting times, lol. They have a private parking lot which is convenient. It was a quiet evening on the rooftop, surprisingly. The rooftop was cute but nothing amazing... for cocktails, we started with the north star and lawyer syndrome. They were pretty good. Then we got the Chicago style Italian beef sandwich as an appetizer. Afterward, we got the calamari po boy and the Wooster square pizza. They were alright but nothing special.

Went back some time ago and was just thinking about some of the best pastas I've had and Gioia is definitely one of the best spots to find a great homemade pasta! The drinks are fantastic, the pastas are fresh and the vibe is immaculate! Keep thinking about when I need to return to try another dish of theirs!

Don't even know where to start here - our dinner here was an EXPERIENCE and the very BEST kind. The name of this restaurant is fitting because the vibe inside is fun and welcoming. The decor is elegant while also being laid back with big comfy booths and beautiful lighting. I'm obsessed. Adding to the experience or maybe making it were the wonderful humans who work there. Our waiter, Alex, was absolutely amazing! Fun, friendly, and gave great menu suggestions. The bartender and manager were also super friendly and went out of their way to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Everyone seems truly happy to be working there. And the food - perfection. All homemade pastas and breads; how can you go wrong?! The stracciatella fig appetizer was to die for. The ravioli were also a favorite. The salmon was cooked to perfection with a yummy olive bite in the sauce. Just so good. We finished with the caffe martini, their version of an espresso martini with a homemade whip topping and desserts. Couldn't have been better. Highly recommend coming here and sharing a bunch of appetizers, pastas, and mains. For our group of three women we ordered two appetizers, two small pasta plates, one grilled fish, and two desserts. It was the perfect amount and we ate every bite! Make a reservation here for a delicious and memorable meal in the happiest place around!

Recently had a chance to check out Gioia! Here's my run down: Space: Beautiful! It was packed on a Wed night. We got lucky and there was a booth available Service: Our waitress was great. Very attentive! Wine: the wines were awful! I had a rose and kept thinking it was lukewarm because of the mouth feel. My friend had Sauvignon blanc and hated it. Switched to a Pinot Grigio and it was way too floral for me. They need to get some better wine in! Appetizers: The Star of this place. For real. We got the potatoes and the broccolini. The broccolini was so tasty and the potatoes with salad verde and aioli were out of this world. I could have eaten another bowl Pastas: We shared the gnocchi and rigatoni carbonara. They were good! Can't wait to try the butternut one next time. Entrees: Epic fail. We shared the fish. Not only was it very fishy, there were a lot of pin bones. Dessert: We shared the chocolate torte and also got a pistachio gelato. Loved the pistachio gelato! It wasn't overly sweet which was refreshing. The torte was good and olive oil gelato so creamy! Complimented it well It was a reasonably good experience. I'd probably stay away from wine and maybe just do all apps and pasta next time. Hoping they'll make some adjustments, but we will give it another go.

Meal was delicious and wholesome. Very modern italian but still comforting and classic. Ambiance: The restaurant was very busy and energetic when we went. It has a young feel and a stylish look. The upstairs area has a fun bar/ social feel. A great place for family, friends, or work dinners, but perhaps not a place to take grandparents as it was loud.

Excellent food and wines Good service Participated in a special cigar event and it was done with taste and warmth by the staff

I've been to Gioia a few times. But today, we're not talkin' about the pasta, the pizza, or whatever else they got goin' on inside. No, today, we're focusin' on the new Gelato window they just opened up on the side of the building. Picture this: We're down on Wooster Street, right? We had a nice meal--you know, one of those meals that makes you wanna unbutton the top of your pants. And after dinner, we decide to do the whole Italian thing, take a little passeggiata. And our friend, she's goin' on and on about the gelato at Gioia. She's like, "You gotta try it!" So we figure, why not? Let's give it a shot. Now, this place, it's got all the classics like chocolate, sure, but they also got these wild flavors like Blueberry Crisp and Strawberry Balsamic. My wife--who, by the way, doesn't even like blueberries--tries the Blueberry Crisp because our friend wouldn't stop about it. I went for the Hazelnut... but somehow ended up eatin' the Mango Sorbet. And my daughter? She orders the Mango Sorbet and ends up with my Hazelnut! I'll let you figure out how that happened, here is a hint, she's three. Let's first talk convenience here. The window? It's tucked around the corner from the main entrance, not directly on Wooster, but it's, like, two yards off the street. You're practically there. It's the perfect little pit stop on your stroll, a genius move bein' so close to Libby's Italian Ice. If you just wanna grab a quick dessert, this is where you go. Now, the gelato itself--this is where things get serious. That Blueberry Crisp? My wife, who doesn't even like blueberries, remember, she loved it! It's creamy, with a hint of vanilla, none of that fake stuff. It's refreshing, it's natural, and then you got these little bits of crisp in there, like a crushed-up cookie but better. My advice? Ask for extra crisp. Trust me. The Hazelnut? Sweet, creamy, and you can taste the real hazelnuts. The Mango Sorbet? Not too sweet, but you can taste the mango, like it was just picked. Again, super refreshing. And the service? As always, fantastic. If you're hittin' up one of the many amazing spots on Wooster Street for dinner, I highly recommend skippin' dessert there and goin' to Gioia for the gelato. Unless, of course, you're eatin' at Gioia. Then you're already in the right place, so just stay there and get the gelato. We can't wait to check out the rooftop next time!

We had a fantastic meal at Gioia in New Haven. A huge plus is that they have their own parking lot. Just passed the restaurant. That's a definite win for Wooster Street. We went close to opening so we didn't have a problem sitting but any later I would definitely recommend a reservation. He had appetizers and pasta. The salad was great and so was the mussels. I'm a big olive fan but these were not my favorite probably just my preference. My friend and I had three different pastas. She got the large dish of the tagliatelle. Bolognese and I got the two small dishes of the Caico e Pepe gnocchi and butternut squash agnolotti. All were fantastic. We had a great waiter in the space is incredibly cute. This is a great date night restaurant. It's just a little bit on the pricier side but still relatively affordable. Will definitely be coming back.

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Absolutely my favorite restaurant in CT! If I lived closer, I would be here every day. The whole team at Gioia was so welcoming, and the atmosphere felt like a fun dinner party at your best friends home. It's clear there is so much thought behind every detail, from the creative cocktails, to delicious food that was easy to share. Bravo to the entire team front & back for creating such a memorable experience! I love how this restaurant is a perfect date night spot, a fun family dinner, or bring a big group of friends & order a little bit of everything to share. MUST SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT! The strawberry rhubarb tart changed my life in the best way! Also incredible affogato! Can't wait to be back soon

ORIGIN: Gioia (JOY-ah) Cafe & Bar opened in October 2023, a partnership between Tim Cabral (New Haven's bar/lounge -- Ordinary) and Avi Szapiro (formerly ROIA). The restaurant's name means joy in Italian. CONCEPT: According to a press release, joy is what Cabral and Szapiro look to bring to New Haven through what they describe as "fun" twists on classic Italian dishes. House-made pasta and pizza are foundational menu items, with many vegetarian options. Wood-fired vegetable and meat dishes enhance this thoughtfully constructed collection. In time, house-made gelato will be amongst the street side offerings, expanding the "to go" products beautifully displayed in the attached market. LOCATION: The restaurant is located in a white painted brick building at the corner Wooster and Brown in heart of historic Wooster Square -- boldly across the street from Pepe's, and beside Zeneli's pizzerias! A dedicated parking lot is available to Gioia customers. AMBIANCE: Upon seeing the photos posted by Jocelyn, an active CT Yelp Elite Squad contributor, I was immediately drawn by the restaurant's aesthetics. Food is served on hand-painted plates imported from Italy. Brass pendants illuminate the dining room. Illustrations of mothers and sisters of restaurant associates line the walls. Blond hairpin bentwood chairs surround cafe tables, mirroring the shape of the curved upholstered banquettes, high top chairs, and entrance to restaurant. Graphic design of menus and signage reflects the same aesthetic, highlighting simple curved lines. While great Italian food can be found steps away, what sets Gioia Cafe & Bar apart is the effort to incorporate thoughtful design to elevate the dining experience. I had opportunity to meet one of the owners, Tim Cabral, and learned the restaurant was two and a half years in the making, and some features are yet to be unfurled! FOOD: Despite no published menu at the time, I was confident that Gioia was going to be a big hit, and snagged a dinner reservation for two on a late Saturday afternoon. Looking to experience a variety of menu items, I took advantage of the ability to order some dishes as small or large. I am a big fan of gnocchi and ordered the Gnocchi Cacio Pepe, which another Connecticut Yelp Elite Squad contributor, Allison, had raved about, as well as Ember Roasted Butternut Squash Agnolotti. These small versions of pasta dishes are both priced at $15. Out of the two Gnocchi Cacio Pepe was favored-- composed of rectangular pillows of potato-based gnocchi enveloped in a creamy cheese and black pepper sauce. This paired nicely with the server's recommended glass of Pinot Nero. In the course of explaining the menu, the server had pointed out the grill and rotisserie in the kitchen, which was visible from the dining room. We had a hard time selecting from the many attractive options, and settled on two dishes from the wood-fired category: hanger steak and Italian sausage. Both dishes had the promised char and smoky taste that developed through the preparation method, and both offered a unique twist on Italian cuisine. Tender hangar steak was served beside crisp grilled broccolini and a large pool of anchovy-seasoned dipping sauce ($39). Classic Italian sausage with sautéed peppers and onions was elevated by the addition of crunchy toasted bread crumbles and fragrant fennel pollen ($22). Steven presented a hot pink after dinner menu shortly after plates had been cleared. I chose the Crispy Apple Crostata as I was eager to try the Malted Milk Gelato that accompanied it ($12). The central component proved not to be a Crostata, but rather a fried apple-filled hand pie with crunchy maple sugar topping. I liked the presentation, as well as texture and temperature contrasts the dish offered, but found the name misleading. A cup of Cappuccino complemented this dish ($4). SERVICE: Despite having officially opened the previous day, the service was well-coordinated. The server, Steven, initiated an informative review of the menu, and highlighted the orientation towards "family style dining". (Serving spoons and small sharing dishes are presented each course.) TIPS: The restaurant dining room is configured and designed in a way that suggests privileging of groups of three or more customers. That mirrors the restaurant's orientation towards "family dining style". Couples will likely be seated along the central space divider at peak hours. The cafe tables here are close together and narrow, with one side an upholstered long banquette, and the other lined with cafe chairs. The cafe chairs are relatively small in diameter, and are not the most comfortable for lengthy dining -- particularly for large men. Consider selecting seats for your dining companions with this in mind. The dining room has a tall ceiling and there is no apparent effort to muffle noise. The future three-season rooftop will likely be a better location for those needing or preferring a less boisterous setting.

This is more of a public service announcement than a review but, for the love of all things sacred, do NOT--under any circumstances--order the Carne Crudo from the bar menu!!! It's marketed as a steak tartare when, in reality, it's mystery meat BATHED in BBQ sauce--that's right, BBQ sauce!! Oh, and it's served on an inedible cardboard risotto cracker. (Side note, the plate was not wiped off before service which is a minor point but worth mentioning). Service was really good at the rooftop bar (they took our app off of our bill) and all the staff were friendly and courteous. Rooftop ambience is great--has a real "Brooklyn" vibe and offers a terrific alternative to other New Haven hot spots. My wife had been several times and loved the food so I'm very much looking forward to giving it another go!

I had strawberry gelato. A small in a cup is $5.75. A large is about $10, I think. I went for the small. It tasted basically like the recipe I have for home-made freezer ice-cream (milk, condensed milk, flavoring). This was a bit disappointing. The strawberries were very clearly the Bonne Maman strawberry jam you can get at the store for $4 - 5, so no fresh or local strawberries were used. It just tasted like it was mixed with a jam. Kelly's Cone Connection or Ashley's do local fruit when it is in season, but not Gioia it seems. I think that they're relying more on location on Wooster to boost the gelato without actually investing in the product. It's ok, but I won't go back for it.

I came here for a happy hour after work and it was a great spot for that! The food was delicious and loved the drinks. Ambiance was great, lots of seating. I like that there's limited parking spaces too, rare for downtown New Haven. Quick service. Only thing I wished was for more menu items for happy hour.

I think I should go back and order different things! I loved the ambiance when I walked in. I love the seating- the colors are super cute. I also love the open kitchen. The bathroom was great too. Whoever did the design made some good decisions. This is a great spot to have a cute meal. I haven't been on the rooftop but I bet it's even better! I also liked the service. Everyone was great. The reason this gets 4 stars instead of 5 is that I didn't love the food. I think I should've ordered some pizza or pasta. I saw some pizzas and they looked amazing. First, I got a spritz, and it tasted good. But it wasn't really a spritz (it was in a Negroni glass and it wasn't bubbly). Then I got a bunch of small plates, and I thought some of the flavors were too overwhelming (too sweet, too smoky, too salty). I wish the ingredients got to shine a little more.

Food, service and ambiance were top shelf. Felt like I was in little Italy in New York. Food spectacular. Service was the best. Can't wait to go back next week

So cute! The ambiance is amazing-- the swankiest decor and bright colors. Even the bathrooms are enviably decorated. The service was really attentive and great. The prices of the food was super reasonable. The food was SO yummy. I highly recommend the cacio e Pepe gnocchi, bucatini, affogato, and pistachio gelato. There was no wait to get a table when we went because they're a new restaurant, but I'm sure that will change once people realize how awesome this restaurant is!

Gioia (Joy-ah), a newer spot in New Haven. It's located on a street with some well known restaurants, Sally's, PEPES, ZENELIS. Gioia has a beautiful rooftop. Suited with fans, and curtains to block out the rain. The cocktails were not good. I got a maitai that was super watery and tasted borderline like Aperol spritz. The food was a bit bland. Not worth the price, we got 3 oysters for the price of what should've been 6, and they were TINY. It was laughable. We also got a margarita pizza. It was missing an ingredient, perhaps salt, oregano or even a hint of garlic. The texture was pleasant, I give the main foods a score of 1-2 out of 5. The best thing on the menu was dessert, the chocolate cake it was impeccable. It gets 5/5. The service was so so slow. To also note, we got there before a couple of parties- both whom were greeted by a server before us (Organizational issue). Our server who came to us was precious, she was doing her best, very pleasant, but i hope the restaurant is planning on hiring more people so they aren't stretched out so thin leaving people waiting for long periods of time for service. We almost left because of that. I would not recommend this restaurant, and I would not go again. Restaurants have become all about looks rather than the quality of food you're getting. Disappointing.

Cheese Board Prosecco Stopped in here for an appetizer while waiting for friends for dinner. The cheese board was great size to share for two. And it was paired perfectly with the Prosecco.

Was excited to try this restaurant. Arrived at rooftop on Saturday night and asked for table for 6. Was told to have a seat at the bar while the rest of my party arrives and they prepare my table. Checked Back with hostess alerting her that party was almost there, and she said our table would be ready. When my party arrived and we asked to be seated, she said there was no table, and there would be 60 min wait! When questioned as to what happened to the table she was preparing for us, her only response was "my bad", and in other words, "I messed up!'l. After much ado, we were able to secure a table downstairs but the food was only so-so and with hostess's mistake and lack of response, I will not be returning nor recommend. Customer service 101 is required for this hostess on rooftop. Only positive was the rooftop bartenders! They were excellent!

What a beautiful place! I would highly recommend for smaller groups who like to share food and enjoy a good laugh. I've been here now several times. Each time did NOT disappoint. BRUNCH - Would recommend the assorted pastries to start. Everything was made in house and baked that morning. The waiter told us they were going quick so we put that in right away. It came with some butter and strawberry jam which we then asked to keep and for some extra bread, which in reality wasn't needed because the scrambled eggs came with sour dough. - I love a good spicy Bloody Mary, but this wasn't quite it for me. I should have asked for the spice, but I did ask for the antipasto on top which consisted of a canned artichoke, sundried tomato, and red chili. I would suggest getting something else to drink! - The scrambled Cacio e Pepe ... WOW. I almost got pasta, but this did not disappoint. The scambled egg was made perfectly and it had the same flavor as any good cacio e Pepe. DINNER I've been a few times and have tried to get something a little different. One of the nice things is how easy it is to share plates to I highly recommend coming with people who are open to try things and don't mind splitting the check - however I did come with a group that preferred not to share and they easily accommodated when it came time for the bill! The pasta. Just get it. All of them. My favorite is the rigatoni carbonara, but honestly everything is made in house so you can't go wrong I wasn't a fan of the pizza - we got the potato. It was super filling and a little too much for me. Note this is not New Haven style pizza so the bread is much thicker! Some of the drinks are a bit ... petite. They are good though! But just know that coming in. This is a place to enjoy food and wine! My favorite cocktail has actually been the non alcoholic bev Lady Lucy. It's got a spicy marg thing going on. AMBIANCE AND STAFF The ambiance is everything. Very insta worthy. The plates have inspired me to redo all my kitchen gadgets very much a warm welcoming and fun place to be. The staff like most places is hit or miss. Because people are there with bigger parties it can get a little loud - one waitress was SO soft spoken I could barely hear her. But the others have been knowledgeable about the food and great with conversation. I will note the booths are a bit tight - as a plus size person, I would recommend requesting a table as the booths by the bar do not adjust.

Been here about four times in the past few months, mostly downstairs but upstairs for drinks on two occasions. Staff is always friendly, professional, and attentive. They know the menu and they know their cocktails. Food is the primary reason we keep coming back, but what's good food without a good drink? When we bring friends for the 1st time they all agree this restaurant seems to be on another level. Still haven't tried this pizza, but have tried almost everything else on the menu, which is always evolving. My favorite: Black Manhattan, Bucatini in Pistacio Pesto, Rotisserie Chicken w/the best crispy potatoes. Upstairs is a great way to end the night with a different vibe......even in winter.

had an amazing time!!! sat on the rooftop bar and it was absolutely gorgeous. the drinks and food were delicious. we got the zucchini pizza and salmon! all the employees were lovely and attentive. i can't wait to go back