Sal E Pepe Contemporary Italian Bistro

Restaurant is located in a strip mall in Newtown, CT. Our party of 9 people enjoyed the food and beverages with no notable complaints. The salad was super fresh and excellent. Food plating was pedestrian and the portions were modest. Service was excellent but the restaurant was eerily empty, even for a Wednesday evening. Seating was comfortable and uncrowded. The restaurant is divided into two sections with one section for large groups and the other with smaller tables and the bar. The sirloin tips and lasagna were excellent, but overall, I would not go out of my way to dine here since there are some many other options.

It is a lovely, peaceful dining room. The service is always excellent, efficient, friendly, on point (especially Shannon). The food is always well prepared and there are always many good choices.

The food is okay at best. We started with the calamari(which cane out very quickly after ordering) and it was chewy and parts of it were not even hot which was odd that one plate of food was two temperatures. We had one dish from the pastapalooza option. Its a cool idea but the execution fell short. The homemade pappardelle was good but again the food was barely warm. We also ordered the rigatoni which was just lacking in flavor. We decided to go there because that day I saw them post on FB about pistachio cream puffs which sounded great, unfortunately when we went we were told they were no longer on the menu but they had pistachio cream pie. The pie was good but nothing I would rush back for. The bar seating is comfortable and they have a nice cocktail menu.

The best Italian in Newtown, CT by far! Gnocchi alla vodka, eggplant parm and filet are to die for and their salads are super fresh and delicious. They also have THE BEST olive oil dipping sauce and they serve it with freshly baked bread (on the house!). I’ve never had a bad experience dining here. Staff is always attentive and friendly.

Amazing food! Run don’t walk here! Delicious fresh, well cooked, quality entrees and good home made warm bread served with dinner. Quiet calm ambience and seems a ton of regulars dine here. Chicken dish had a very scrumptious sauce. Salmon was cooked perfectly and the accommodate whatever way you prefer your fish cooked. It was delightful and everyone left full and happy. Easy parking lot and nice environment! We will be back! 5 stars and above!

I had seen Sal E Pepe featured on numerous “best restaurant” lists for Connecticut, particularly in Fairfield County. At first, I thought the hype might be exaggerated, but I decided to take my mom there for her birthday, along with my sister and my 18-month-old nephew. I’m so glad we did! Almost as soon as we sat down, my nephew had a full-on meltdown. My sister was mortified and initially wanted to leave, but the staff was beyond kind and accommodating. They immediately brought over a basket of toys to help distract him and later even let us move to a quieter, empty section of the restaurant so we wouldn’t have to stress about him crying or wandering around. Their thoughtfulness and hospitality alone deserve an 11/10. As for the food, it was just as impressive. We started with a beet salad that was unlike any I’ve had before—it featured green beans and fried gorgonzola, and it was absolutely delicious. They even split it into three portions for us, which was a nice touch. My sister also had a creamy chicken soup that we could not get enough of. For our entrées, I had the Sunday Sauce, my mom had the lobster ravioli special, and my sister opted for the penne alla vodka with chicken. We also ordered meatballs and French fries for the baby. The Sunday Sauce was fantastic—a generous portion that tasted like something my grandmother would have made. The lobster ravioli was packed with seafood and well-balanced in flavor. My sister felt the vodka sauce was fairly standard, but she raved about both the chicken and the meatballs, calling them some of the best she’s had at a restaurant. To top off the meals we had some desserts. I had the pistachio pie (which was highly praised by the waitress), my mom had creme brulee, and my sister had the Nutella mousse pie. As well, we had some espressos and I tried the biscotti liqueur. They were all very good. The pistachio pie was so light following such a heavy meal. The creme brulee was a bit runny for our liking but the flavor was good. The Nutella pie was so good. I was worried it would be too rich since it comes with a lot of chocolate and candies however it too was relatively light. And the espressos were perfectly made. I never had biscotti liqueur but it was very good! After this experience, I completely understand why Sal E Pepe is considered one of the best. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the service is outstanding. Not to mention, the prices were more than reasonable! I’ll definitely be coming back!

A great night with the family. Food worth traveling for. The service was fantastic and our servers were all incredibly kind. Everyone we dealt with were absolutely professional. Food is very well done and carefully considered. You will have trouble deciding what you want to commit to!

This was the best Italian food I've ever had. The Bolognese sauce and gnocchi was delicious. My husband loved his seafood risotto as well. I wish we lived here so that we could eat hear often!