The Italian Connection

This is a pretty cool old-school Italian restaurant. It’s like being in somebody’s home, and it has a warm atmosphere. Pictures hang on every wall, and the staff were professional. I definitely recommend getting a reservation. Even though I didn’t have one, though, the staff got me in. I tried the fettuccine Antonio, which was delicious. The smoked meat really added to the creamy flavor. Prices seemed reasonable. This is definitely a hidden gem in Fort Wayne.

We went to this charming and timeless place after a day celebrating my great nieces 5th birthday. They had one of the best marinara sauces I've ever had, fresh made pasta and meatballs that were equally as tasty. I'll be visiting again with family. Thank you for a wonderful and memorable moment in time with my family. 💕

I've been here for a decade and I have never heard of this place before, until I was talking with some guys at work and one of them told me about this place. It is in fact a restaurant, but it was someone's house that has been converted. Its wonderful in there. The tables are a little close together, so there's a nice background noise of people enjoying themselves, but its not so loud you can't hear the company you're with. The staff was very pleasant - though they have a unique way of interacting with the clientele. Not bad, just different from other sit down restaurants or reputable eaterys; maybe a bit less professional than what I'm used to, but that doesn't mean it was bad. They recommended dishes, and wines, and even explained to me what some of the Italian words meant. They described in great detail what their dishes were like and which ones might suit my tastes. The walls were filled with memories. Pictures from various families crowded them, and it felt like a museum of happiness in there. They used bottles of wine that had been signed with notes of appreciation and dated by previous customers going all the back to before I was born. The real star of the show for me was the food though. Its been about a month since I went there, and I'm still thinking about the food. Now understand, I've never been a real fan of Italian food. I mean its a poor food. It was borne of necessity, and now its considered "luxury" for noodles with a bit of toppings. But this dish that I got, the Alex's Special... it was truly unlike anything I have eaten before. They served the dish to me on plating that was chipped a little bit, but clearly very well cherished and taken care of. And when I bit down into the food itself it was like I got connected to the entire Italian culture. Generations of love, laughter, and bliss seeped through me as I chewed and then swallowed that one bite. It felt like that scene in Avatar when Jake Sully connected to the ancestor tree of Eywa for the first time. Thats the best way I can describe it. I understand now why Italian food is coveted and considered a delicacy, I had just never experienced true and real Italian food before in my life. I can see why this place is so popular, and why one requires a reservation. I made mine 3 months in advance as it was a special occasion for someone I love. She too enjoyed it. If you care about someone highly, I recommend taking them here. It was fairly priced, and you get a lot of food for the amount that you pay. Its an older fashioned sort of place, with incredible charm. I recommend everyone in the Fort Wayne area eat here at least once before they die.

So disappointed. Was hoping for a lovely dining experience. Unfortunately we had only had a couple bites of salad when our pasta arrived. By the time I got to my pasta it was cold. Turns out it did not matter. The Alfredo sauce was so bland and tasteless it was basically inedible. Our server was personable and pleasant but we were very disappointed with our experience.

An absolute gem of a restaurant. Beautiful, history-rich decor. Kindest staff, founder singing live, owners engaging with customers in the most friendly ambiance. And the food...out of this world. Highly recommend the 'garlic, basil and burrata' appetizer. I cannot wait to return.

First things first, aesthetically speaking, absolutely adorable. It feels like going into my Italian grandpa's wine cellar/hideaway. We had a large group and were sat at the party table, placed in the loft of the restaurant. Cozy, for sure, although, it is quite dim lit, in the room we were sat in, almost dark. I hesitate to mention that there are photos of Donald Trump on the wall, which was off-putting to our group. Our server, Michelle, was very sweet & attentive, great service. Now, on to the food. The noodles are handmade delights. Perfect texture, not too soft, not too firm. The sauces were very disappointing, along with the lousy, soggy bread, and lackluster salad. If you like sauce very basically flavored, you may find it to suit you. Another thing it pains me to mention; the pepper dispensers/shakers really needed to be cleaned, they were all terribly filthy. I'll likely give them another try (if someone else is paying). I do think we should all continue supporting local restaurants.

The Italian Connection is a unique restaurant with a cozy ambiance. The owner sings songs throughout dinner time, which is a nice touch for me but other guest did not like his rendition of his songs. We were seated upstairs with a large party, which gave us privacy but meant we couldn't see the activity on the first floor. The food was also unique, but sometimes not in a good way. The salad was a very small plate with lettuce and some Parmesan cheese. The seafood appetizer (scallops, shrimp, mushrooms, and a variety of vegetables sauteed in white wine, garlic, and oil) was okay, but again served in a very small dish. My main course was chicken parmesan with a side of spaghetti. The pasta was el dente, but the texture reminded me of the egg noodles. The chicken parmesan was average. The highlight was the bread and compound butter. The server was great. She went up and down the stairs to bring us food and drinks all night long. The downside of a large group is you are charged 20% tip already so just be aware. Overall, the Italian Connection is a love-hate relationship. Some people really like this restaurants, others it the polar opposite. The ambiance is nice, the owner is unique, and the server was great, but the food was inconsistent and odd at times. I don't think this is the type of restaurant I will return for, but visit and make up your own opinion

Unlike any restaurant you’ll find in Fort Wayne, this hidden gem perfectly executes its limited space, feeling cozy, authentic, and wholesome. Pasta made from scratch, and a great wine selection without drowning you in excessive options

Our party of six dined here on a Friday evening, the first time for all of us. We didn't have a reservation but there were several tables available. We were seated in the back next to the karaoke machine. We all ordered different entrees. Fresh hot bread and garlic butter were served. We also each received a small salad. We promptly polished off the bread in the basket and another basket was brought out. Service was excellent. The only thing that detracted from our experience was a couple of young children running wild at the table next to ours. There were only two tables in the back, ours and the table next to ours where a family with young children was sitting. They were there before we came in and were still there when we left, so probably the children were bored. But they were running around our table, bumping into our chairs, and occasionally shrieking at the top of their lungs. A definite annoyance when we were hoping for a nice dining experience. All of us enjoyed our meals, the homemade noodles were excellent!

The special tonight was delicious! Quaint, authentic Italian. Will be back! Prices are very reasonable for authentic Italian as well.

Authentic Italian eatery. I'm from back east, Philadelphia PA, and was thrilled to find The IC. Love the veal. meatballs not so much. Service is ok. Prices are ok. Ambiance is pleasant. Great vibe there.

A special place to visit. authentic Italian, friendly staff, a great place to take your sweetheart, anytime of year

0/5 food 2/5 service 4/5 Ambiance It was my 1st time and I doubt ill ever return. I ordered chicken alfredo with fried chicken breast. The noodles were clumped together, sauce not seasoned, breading falling off chicken and meat rubbery. Worst alfredo I've had in 48 years of life. I hear it used to be a great spot! I'm not sure what has changed but IT IS NOT GOOD.

My family and I LOVED this place in the past...Much to our surprise, the restaurant has severely declined in food quality. The spaghetti sauce tasted like cheap canned marina sauce. The lasagna was dry and flavorless. The Chicken Parm was very dry and the sauce was horrible. The gluten free chicken Alfredo was flavorless at best and the noodles were thick and dense. The service was still good and ambiance was still cute! Honestly, very sad that I won't be able to go to this place again since I have Celiac and have limited gluten free Italian options.

Food was excellent as usual. Owner sang in back room; talented, very entertaining! Service was great. Was an overall fun experience!

Very good service... fun to listen to the owner sing... food came out fast and everything was tasty.

Unless you have 2 hours to wait for a below-average meal avoid this place. The seafood is so overcooked it's rubber. The pasta was cooked into a huge glob and the meal in general had no flavor. The salad is 2 pieces of romaine lettuce ripped up and coated in oil with crouton dust on it. There were 4 ppl in the restaurant and we waited 2 hours on food. The new owner is now the chief and he must have been trained at McDonald's. He was screaming at my sister and grandmother when they said that their food was not edible .The waitress was telling us what an awful chef he is and that she has a lot of complaints about his cooking. Rethink your decision to go here to eat. It used to be amazing now I would not feed it to my dog for fear he would choke.

Had dinner there about a week ago based on the fact that it's supposed to be the best Italian in Fort Wayne. The owner no longer cooks. His daughter is just learning in between doing her day job. Nice people but the food was terrible. We had chicken parm - like a chicken nugget no sauce or cheese on the chicken with a side of kid's portion of spaghetti. Our friend had veal parm but it was plain veal no parm.. The owner does sign karaoke all night and he said they are only open 2 nights a week because they are considered a destination restaurant. Just say no.

Our dining experience at the The Italian Connection was the worst, rudest dining experience that we have ever had. The food was unseasoned and bland. The owner held a business meeting at the next table over while his screaming grandchildren were loud and running throughout our dining area with their parents running after them, threatening to "beat their a**es! The Italian Connection was recommended to us by a waiter at another Italian restaurant in Fort Wayne. This waiter stated that it was true, authentic Italian like your grandmother would make and guaranteed us that they served the best cannoli in the Fort Wayne area. We made our reservation for 6:30 pm on a Wednesday evening. The restaurant was fairly empty when we arrived. We walked by several empty tables and were seated in the back room of the restaurant. Also seated in the back room with us was a table of two adults and two children. The children were a little unruly and loud but tolerable at that point. While eating our uninspired salad of lettuce, two croutons and vinaigrette served on a small saucer, the owner/chef comes out and begins talking to the couple and children. They begin to have a very loud business meeting, discussing business related topics such building improvements, formation of an LLC, how they pay their taxes online, operating costs and owner payment. The entire time they were talking over the escalating loudness of the two children. The level of talking and children screaming coming from their table was SO loud that we could not even have a conversation at our table. The couple begin arguing over who should be watching over the kids. The kids are up and running all around our dining area. At one point, the husband grabs one of the children and threatens to "beat their a**" if they don't stop. Our bill for three people with appetizer, entrees and dessert was approximately $100. On the way to the car, they were outside talking loudly in the parking lot. We were so frustrated that they had ruined our dining experience that we finally said something. They were rude and condensing in response to our frustration over the dining experience. They actually yelled back at us. My oldest son was concerned because the husband "appeared' to come around a vehicle at us. Save yourself the worst dining experience ever and do NOT go to The Italian Connection!

The service was great. The ambience was subpar as there were family members of the owners there. That were a little bit distracting with the karaoke machine and a 4 year old. I heard heard the food was very authentic, but found it to be uninspiring. Unfortunately, not the gem I was hoping for.

What a nice experience! Stopped in for Valentines day and we certainly got a treat. Reservations are a must if you plan on coming, as space is tight! This restaurant is all about the experience. The small place looks like nothing special from the outside with only a red neon sign. But once you step inside you feel as though you have been transported to Italy. Soft music, small tables, the smell of fresh bread and wine bottles stashed in every place possible. Our service was good, but it could have been better. It was understandable though as they were extremely busy. Prices are very reasonable considering the quality of food! We started off with a bottle of Chianti, which was fantastic and full bodied. Then for dinner, I ordered the manicotti. First they brought out fresh bread which was served with house garlic butter that was very tasty. Then we got a side salad, which the dressing was a bit too sweet for me. My entree was delicious. The pasta tasted so fresh, the sauce had amazing flavor and the cheese just melted in your mouth. Luckily the portions were perfect size and we still had room for dessert. I decided to order the lemon cream cake. It was light and just the perfect amount of sweet! The night was topped with the chef coming out to sing karaoke! If you haven't already, you need to experience this place!

The Italian Connection is under new ownership. We took our family there for dinner and had a horrible experience. It took over an hour to get our food despite the fact that there were only two other tables of two. Out of 11 people only 1 person liked what she ordered, and even that was wrong, spaghetti and meatballs became spaghetti and over cooked sausages. All of the dishes were way overcooked. The shrimp was like chewing on a rubber ball. Some dishes came out hot others came out Luke warm. The wait staff tried their very best to take care of us, but it's pretty tough when the owner/cook (no chef) isn't producing. We asked to speak to the owner. He made excuses and denials and was flat out rude. We have been going there for 30 years but will never return.

Homemade noodles, karaoke music by Alex, quaint atmosphere, moderate portions, great food, beer and wine, love the family photos and some Catholic memorabilia.

This restaurant has been around for 42 years. I've been here a few times over the last 15 years and always had a great time, between the food, karaoke, and dancing, which is why I wanted to go here with a group of friends to celebrate my birthday. This is the kind of place you go to cut loose and have fun, not because you crave their food, if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, they have some dishes that are good, like their fettuccine Alfredo and their meatballs. The marinara is fresh and authentic, but I honestly don't know how they get away with serving some of the things they do, like their weak salad served on a little saucer and dried out, tough, breaded chicken cutlets in their chicken Parmesan, etc. The baked caprese salad had no mozzarella cheese that was advertised, just tomatoes and sauce. I don't believe this was a fluke, as another reviewer mentioned the same thing happening to them. My friend who is gluten free loved their gf pasta, which I tried, and it was surprisingly good. I don't even know where to begin on the service. I can't recall a time or place where I have ever been waited on by such rude wait staff. Our waitress, who made sure we knew she had worked there for decades, seemed to think she was queen of the castle by the liberty she took with her snide remarks about everything from the menu items, to how patrons prefer the other waitress over her, simply because she has bigger boobs! We observed her drinking wine throughout the night in between her singing (poorly) with the owner, Alex, and serving customers. Many of our orders were screwed up. When reminded of an item we were waiting on, she would scoff, and act as if it was terribly inconvenient for her to simply do her job. Our table joked that it reminded us of dining at Ed Debivic's. At least there, you expected to be razzed by the wait staff because it was part of their schtick. She was clearly inebriated by the time she delivered our entrees and we simply couldn't believe how unprofessional she was being (and getting away with it). But why wouldn't she? Alex, the owner, was just as drunk as she was by the end of the night, which is obviously part of the work culture there. Both of them were cussing and dropping f bombs while trying to converse with us, all too casually. Apparently, Alex's daughter is taking over the operations, including the cooking, while he retires to only providing the entertainment. Unless she makes some much needed improvements, I can't see them being in business long into the future. Needless to say, I will not be returning, Sad.

Brought my grandma here for her 81st, and it was perfect! Great food, the chef sings throughout the meal, and the house cab paired great with the pasta. Would highly recommend for a fun date night or family night out. Great entertainment, food, and service!

I have always wanted to try Italian Connection. Family owned and operated serving authentic Italian cuisine. I enjoyed a delicious meatball appetizer. For my main course I had the lasagna with homemade lasagna noddles with a delicious red sauce - it was excellent! I can't wait to visit again. FYI call before you go. Hours are based on reservations I believe that's what I was told.

Waited years to go to this place based on its history so we finally made reservation. Cute place and server was fine however, we knew we were in trouble when the tiny salad plate with 1/4 cup of iceberg lettuce, a handful of crouton and some oily salad dressing was presented. The bread was just meh and the appetizer of meatballs were as tough as a hockey puck. The anti-pasto appetizer plate was nothing more than meat and cheese from a package on a bed of lettuce and tuna from a can. It got worse as the 4 different main dishes arrived. The best thing we had was the wine. It was agreed between the 4 of us, we will sadly never ever return. Baffled with the fascination of the place.....

The worst dining experience ever!! The food was gross! The salad was terrible and their bread is soggy, no flavor at all in their food.

This is a hidden gem in Ft Wayne! The atmosphere is nostalgic and when you eat there it's an experience all by itself. Don't be in a rush to do anything else and enjoy good company and dishes that are perfectly portioned and made from scratch. I'm a fan of their linguini with clams. Their homemade raspberry, pistachio, and double chocolate gelato are recommended also. More than reasonably priced as well.

The best kept secret in Fort Wayne. The food is OUTSTANDING !!! Highly recommend the Flamingo Shrimp which is off the charts great. Everything was perfect, the service was great and the ambiance is fantastic and cozy. The chef Alex is a culinary genius.

Usually enjoy the warm atmosphere and good food here, but lost my appetite tonight when I saw they are now peddling Trump wine. Will not be back until that changes.

Heard lots of good things about this place but ultimately it was underwhelming. Decor hasn't been updated in years which is not a big deal given the traditional Italian menu. My wife had seafood gnocchi and I had butternut squash ravioli. Both were ok but nothing very memorable. If anything I think the ravioli could have been cooked longer as the pasta was unusually thick. I can see why so many people like the place but I was expecting more.

Great Italian American. Wonderful family atmoshpere--family photos are plastering the walls. Wine bottles from patrons' special events commemorate countless special evenings. Everywhere you look is an interesting story waiting to be told. And the food is amazing--fresh, hand-made noodles and made-to-order sauces will knock your socks off. The home made gelati are outstanding as well. Everything has a very mediterranian feel, look, and taste. One of a kind, hard to find, and memorable. This is a great first date place (or anniversary, or birthday). Tell them Dave and Keri from Warsaw sent you. ****UPDATE**** Alex has updated his Fettuccini Antonio. It now has italian bacon in it in addition to the proscuitto. It is very good. A little more salty now, but I like it a little better.

I can't ever get enough of this place. Not sure what other reviewers were expecting. No, it isn't Del Posto of NYC, or La Scarola of Chicago, but there are only a few places in Fort Wayne as quaint and cozy as The Italian Connection. And even fewer with this affordability. When you come here you are getting an experience, not just food. The atmosphere feels like you have been invited into a big Italian family's home. From the pictures on the walls from floor to ceiling, to Chef Alex's crooning on the mic, you have to be absent of a heart to not enjoy this dining experience. I had the seafood gnocchi special and it was delicious. This place is a Fort Wayne gem, if you know how to appreciate it and aren't all about the pretentiousness of some other dining spots, particularly downtown.

Our family absolutely loves Italian Connection. We go there not just for the food, but the experience. It's a small house where all the cooking and dining occurs. On the weekends the chef, Alex, ends the night with singing on his karaoke machine, complete with a light show and bubbles. Alex always brings up guests to sing along and dance! We have never had a bad meal there. A month ago we celebrated my mom's 60th at Italian Connection and they executed a dinner for 20 flawlessly. From appetizers of pasta and meatballs and shrimp, etc., to meals of chicken piccata, scallops, shrimp scampi, and veal... everything was timed out perfectly and all meals were hot and delicious. We never had to ask for more drinks or refills... they always were one step ahead of us. If you want a quaint and different experience and good homemade food, visit Italian Connection!

Atmosphere was okay, fancy dining and all. The experience made it worthwhile but the food was bland and overpriced. Sure, it's authentic, but I'm sure if you're going to spend that much money on authenticity, you could find it else where with a cheaper price tag. Portion was expected considering it's a "fancy" restaurant. Server was fine, maybe a bit too serious. Giving this place a 2 stars mainly because of the entrees, couldve gone to an Italian chain restaurant that serves better and cheaper food. Appetiser was neat, though. To be fair to this establishment, good job on the decor, made dining more intimate.

If I could rate this establishment at ZERO stars, I would. This restaurant was recommended by a friend so we had decided to give it a go. We were a table of 4 who made reservations at 7:30 P.M. - the literally little house was already packed. By the time we were seated it was 8 P.M. - then came our very inattentive waitress. She gave us about 25-30 minutes to look at the wine menu then about another 20-25 minutes to come back with it. At this point in time, she never gave us a chance to put in our appetizer or dinner orders. When the appetizers did arrive, they were absolutely foul. The meat and cheese platter came with tuna fish from a can, sardines, and some other foul tasting fish that our waitress couldn't even name when we asked her. She apologized that we didn't like it but it was still on our bill at the end of the night (quite annoying). Our other appetizer which was supposed to be a baked caprese was just tomatoes in sauce, NO CHEESE WHATSOEVER. When our dinners arrived around 9:45 P.M., we were starved. Mind you, one of our guests had a gluten allergy and she was sure to state that at the beginning when we ordered and again when her meal came. When she got her meal, it was NOT gluten-free although the waitress told her it was. We had to call over another waitress, after 15 minutes of trying to get someone's attention who worked there, to correct her meal and it added another 20 minutes onto us just waiting to eat so that we could all eat together. When our waitress finally came over to ask us how our meal was, we told her about the gluten mistake and she did nothing about it. That was also still on our bill. Then came the karaoke. This was extremely unprofessional considering we barely got our meals when the chef came out with a waitress to sing a ton of songs. If he wasn't so focused on singing, maybe we would've been fed by a decent hour. The whole meal was a fiasco and I would NEVER recommend this establishment to anyone who wants a good meal. All of our dinners lacked taste and were basically children's portions. This place deserves to have a 0 star rating for their poor service and even worse "homemade" food. We will not be returning.

Ambiance!! The location is deceiving....fantastic charm and decor on the inside. Stay late to make sure you hear the chef do his Sinatra medley.

This place is amazing!!! The food authentic! The owner sings amazing! A must for amazing Italian food. Had a great time.

I love this spot! Handmade noodles and a nice serenade as well! It's such a great family spot in Fort Wayne and very cozy.

Romantic setting. Delicious and decadent food. Engaging and entertaining chef (slash DJ/singer). Extensive Wine List. Funky neighborhood. Great experience. There is a lot of great food in Fort Wayne. I suppose it stems from the lack of anything better to do, but it is to the benefit of foodies in Northern Indiana. The Italian Connection was recommended by family and I was extremely happy that they did. This is the place that you want to go on an anniversary dinner. It's intimate and it has great food. Now, there is a single quirk about the Italian Connection that I should mention. The Chef. He is a great cook, but sometimes he feels the need to come out and chat, or sing karaoke for you, or play some music. It's a great experience and it is really fun, but all of this shenanigans might get in the way of you getting your food. I recommend going while you're not in a rush, and enjoy "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" in an Italian Restaurant.

This place is a Ft. Wayne gem. A great family restaurant with a warm, homey atmosphere and ultra-friendly staff, there's no better place in town for a homemade Italian meal. The pasta is fresh, and there's a decent little wine list with a good variety of Italian wines. The desserts are variable, but the gelato is a consistent winner. The gem that sets this place apart from all the rest is the Frank Sinatra karaoke performance put on by Alex, the chef and owner, toward the end of the evening after he's finished in the kitchen. After the show, Alex walks around to talk with the diners. Nary a more fun eating experience!

I first dined at this establishment back around 1990. We were here twice, although I cannot remember the specifics, both times left me with the desire to return for the wonderful service, atmosphere, and food. Well, 20 yrs later the atmosphere is still wonderful, service is average, and the food quite poor. The House salads were premade, only consisted of shredded iceberg, and the dressing atrocious (some sort of thousand island/italian blend I think). The wine list was slim. I ordered the clam linguine and while the pasta was cooked very nicely the sauce was unremarkable. Our party also had the chicken parm and it appeared to be breaded and fried chicken fingers served with a bowl of pasta. . . again purely unremarkable.

This is by far my wife and I favorite restaurant. It is one thing to find a restaurant with great food but when you find a Gem like this, great food and great people it is hard to make the decision to eat somewhere else

WARNING.. this place is terrible. Don't waste your money. The salad was so sketchy. First off the door was locked for over 10 minutes after they opened. The only reason they unlocked it was because we called. Then they sat us down and the water was already sitting on the table. How long has that been there?? We got the artichoke dip and it was greasy and basically only cheese. The noodles were hard and not cooked. The lasagna was most likely frozen. I'm glad we didn't stick around and see the "entertainment". So many better Italian restaurants in Fort Wayne. Honestly fazolis is better. WOW

Absolutely one of the best Italian restaurants in Fort Wayne. Authentic made from scratch pasta they even have gluten free options which amazes me for such a small family run business. The ambience of the inside is steeped in tradition... bottles of wine shared by others celebrating over years. What a quaint and amazing restaurant. Service is always attentive. Expect To be surprised by this little 'off the beaten path' place. I drove by for years and assumed it was more like a diner. Boy was I wrong. My favorite dish is the gluten free chicken parmesan.

Literally the worst meal I have ever had. The pasta was undercooked, the white sauce was DISGUSTING in my both of the meals we ordered. The seafood was disgusting, the salads were small. The service was good, but it didn't make up for this flaming pile of garbage

To much B/S just to go eat some Pasta. I don't want to hear you sing ok buddy? I don't want spoiled beef ok buddy? When meat goes bad you toss it in the trash not down my throat. You lost your mind? ok guy? You get my drift? or do I need to come back up in there and knock your block off?

Average Italian food. The atmosphere is unique. WARNINGS: If unlucky enough to be seated in a specific waitress's area be prepared for a very rude demeanor and (2) If you have party of 6 or more look at the check to see if they already added the tip. We did not look and tip was added and we tipped again and was not told by waitress. Had to call place to get credit.

Excellent place for date night! Reservation-only, empty tables between customers, and the waitstaff wore face masks. The food and atmosphere were nothing short of spectacular! Thank you for a much-needed break from quarantine.

Loved it!! Family friendly atmosphere and delicious Italian food..just like my grandma would make it. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in town. The singing is a delight, too!

A homey, quirky atmosphere- the "hole in the wall" that is typical of a long established one man show. The service was attentive. The portions were generous. The price of the entrees were appropriate. I found the lasagna to be a bit bland. The pasta had a great consistency and would have been an excellent dish with a bit more pepper and garlic. The desserts were the strongest part of the meal. We tried three different dishes and they were all excellent.

Ok if the owner wants to sing a few songs of Karoke fine. But to sing for an hour straight with strobe lights and bubbles that is not my idea of a great dining experience. It was obnoxious and I could not hear my dining companion over his singing. Not to mention when I got my dish they forgot to put the sauce on it. Just gave me plain pasta with meat. Unacceptable for the kitchen to forget to add the sauce to an Italian dish. When I pointed it out instead of remaking my entree they brought out a bowl of sauce for me to add. I was given no compensation for it. Never again.

A truly memorable experience! Not the everyday restaurant. If you're celebrating a special occasion and you want great Italian food in an intimate setting that is truly a family business, look no further. However, the hours are a little strange, so make sure you call ahead and book a reservation. Our appetizer of garlic cheese bread was delicious. The chicken alfredo was great, and the pasta was made fresh, and tasted like it. The sauce had an unexpected lemon flavor. My husband really enjoyed his lasagna, and my Mom raved about her eggplant parmesan endlessly after we left the restaurant. But, despite how good the food was--and it was very good--the best part about visiting The Italian Connection is seeing how much the owner cares about the business. It's funny, because the huge corporate Italian restaurant Olive Garden's slogan is "When you're here, you're family," but at the Italian Connection, you are actually treated that way. We visited to celebrate my graduation, and my Mom told them it was a special occasion when she made the reservation, so the owner came over to our table to personally greet us even though we'd never been there before, and then he rolled out the karaoke machine and sang a song dedicated in my honor for my academic achievement. The staff and owner of The Italian Connection made our special occasion a truly memorable one, long after our food was eaten and the bill was paid.

My husband and I have a date jar and one of the dates was to pick an ethnic restaurant we have never been to. He picked The Italian Connection. As soon as we walked in it was like we walked out of Fort Wayne straight into an Italian Bistro in Italy. The ambiance alone was worth the trip here. A small place with a very Italian romantic vibe. We started with a bottle of Prosecco which was the best we have ever tasted. It was smooth and delicious. For our appetizer we had their fried meatballs. It was like tasting a piece of Heaven. The bread was hot soft and with the garlic butter it just melts in your mouth. The salad had a fruity vinaigrette that was very unique and tasty. I had the Shrimp Flamingo and my husband had the Chicken Parmesan. Both were so delicious and tasted authentic. I have never tasted Italian food like this before. My taste buds were in Heaven. As for the dessert it was so amazing we had gelato and cannolis and a cappuccino coffee. And as we sat there eating our dessert the owner got up and started to sing. Nothing like that bit of magic to end our date night. This is a must try. It is one of the cities hidden treasures. We will be back very soon. My taste buds cannot wait.

I'm not sure how this place got such a good reputation. Before I talk about the negatives, let me admit that the ambiance of this place is wonderful, and the singing is great! However, the food at the Italian Connection was the worst I had ever had. I ordered the ravioli and was regretting my decision as soon as I took the first bite. The meat inside of the ravioli was sour and tasted like it was 10 years old. The ravioli itself is so thin I could practically see through it. I have had $1.00 cans of Chef Boyardee that were 10x more tasty than is food. It was the most over priced, small-portioned, nasty-tasting food I had ever had. I was willing to take one for the team, however, and not complain about the food because we were there for a friend's birthday. However, I was taken aback by what happened at the end of the evening. As we were sitting around the table chatting, finishing up our evening and watching our friend open up gifts, we were listening to the owner sing karaoke. All of the sudden we realize that the owner is singing the national anthem on karaoke and one of the tables next to us (who were friends with the owner I believe) stood up during the singing. By the time we realized what was going on, the song was about over so some of us were standing up but a few remained seated. All of the sudden, the owner's friend starts grabbing our arms and yelling at us to stand up and practically forcing us out of our seats. Let me tell you, I'm one of the most patriotic people you will meet and I didn't mean any disrespect by not standing up. But to sing the national anthem while people are eating and not really paying attention to what was going on is just very strange. I believe the guy who forced us out of our chairs was friends with the owner because they were singing numerous karaoke songs together throughout the night. All in all, it was a very weird and unsatisfactory experience for me. I feel bad saying this because the owner seemed like a great guy. I was just so perplexed by the bad tasting food with all of the hype, and the fact that I thought I was going to be stabbed over not standing for a karaoke song just wasn't what I needed after a long day at work.

Ignore the bad reviews. Where else in Fort Wayne can you get house made pasta, dessert, and espresso for two under $50?