L'Orcio

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Address:
806 State Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Neighborhood:
New Haven

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Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $30 and under

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L'Orcio Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://lorcio.com
Email: alison@lorcio.com
Phone: (203) 777-6670
Hours of Operation: Lunch Hours:

Friday Lunch Special

(3 Courses $19)

11:30 - 2:30

Dinner Hours:
Sunday 4:30 - 9:00
Closed Monday
Tuesday - Thursday 5:00 - 9:30
Friday & Saturday 5:00 - 10:30
Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian
Executive Chef: Francesco d'Amuri
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Beer, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine
Private Party Facilities: L'Orcio has a private dining area that works well for small intimate functions as well as large groups of up to 50. Menus are customized to customers requests.
Private Party Contact: Alison (203) 777-6670

Getting there

Cross Street: Pearl and Eld Streets
Public Transit: Minutes a way from Union Station.
Parking: Private Lot
Parking Details: Off street parking is available in the State Pulaski Lot which is located 1/2 a block from the restaurant.

A word from L'Orcio

L'Orcio is an upscale dining establishment serving Contemporary Italian Cuisine. In house made specialty pastas like Gnocchi, Papparedelle and Eggplant Ravioli are only part of the L'Orcio experience. Chef d'Amuri, an Italian native, also works his magic grilling whole fish and juicy steaks and… offers a variety of meat and fish dishes daily. Desserts like Tiramisu', Charlotte agli Amaretti and Lemon Tart are also prepared in house. A relaxing and elegant ambiance with a European flare is the perfect backdrop for lunch, dinner or spirits. Located in a refurbished historical home the restaurant offers three unique spaces for their guests. Whether you're having a cocktail at the handsome bar, an intimate dinner in the elegant dining room or Appetizers with friends under the Wysteria covered Pergola in the courtyard all of your senses are sure to be pleased. Family owned and operated with an eye for detail L'Orcio has a lot to offer. Come in for a meal, a drink or just to say "Ciao."Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerItalian

Diner Reviews

"L'Orcio serves fabulous Italian regional cuisine, does not skimp on quality, has a patio in the back open in warmer weather, and a good bar. This is not Italian-American food, a cuisine one can find elsewhere in New Haven in abundance."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"L'Orcio, a find in New Haven, savory, sentacious choices for lunch on a beauftiful spring day. Recommend Strongly Larry Segall"
Dined on 4/11/2014
"There is never a time where the service has been poor. Every visit is awesome and the staff superb."
Dined on 4/10/2014
"The dishes were delicious. Simply and well-prepared. We felt as if we were at the table while some Italian Grandma was cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Nothing fancy. Everything scrumptious and bountiful."
Dined on 4/9/2014
"l'Orchio is a really pleasant room, quiet (at least 5-630 when we tend to eat there). Brick walls, soft lighting, nice garden in back where you can eat in good weather. The food is extremely good. Not a large number of dishes, but all with imaginative recipes, well-executed. We haven't ever a meal there that was less than very good. The sauces are flavorful, often a little unusual, light on garlic. Prices are fair for a restaurant of this quality. There's free parking in the lot across the street -- the sign says "Monthly with Permit" but the restaurant owns it, so you can park there. The wines are good, and also reasonably priced. Service very good."
Dined on 4/9/2014
"This is a great location for a special occasion. The food is delicious and the service was good. It is small inside, so it can be a little loud when they are busy. The wine list isn't huge, but there is something for everyone."
Dined on 4/7/2014
"I liked it here. The food was simple but good which I liked. They didn't try to over complicate anything. Dessert was delicious. Service was good."
Dined on 4/6/2014
"Revisted this spot after being away for more than 10 years. It was even better than I remembered. Spelt salad with fresh mozz, tomatoes and basil was delicious. But the chicken cacciatore special was over the top. I am still dreaming about it. They didn't have one of the wines we wanted but had plenty more that were outstanding and priced right. Service was very good and friendly. Parking was a bit limited as the lot across the street was full, though we did find a spot on the street. A valet would improve the experience. Overall this was A+++."
Dined on 4/5/2014
"They have a lot of pasta dishes! Since I do not eat pasta I thought I would have a hard time finding something to eat. For an appetizer I had the fried Sardines which were awesome. Then for dinner I had the veal saltimbocca which was also great. My husband tried the lamb chops which he said were very good. We also ordered a side of swiss chard which was very bland and I wouldn't get that again. And the crème brulee for dessert was also not that great. Very milky tasting and not their specialty."
Dined on 4/4/2014
"Had been to L'orcio for lunch once, was seated outside. Enjoyed it very much, then received gift certificate and went for a special birthday dinner for my husband, everyone in our party enjoyed the food and atmosphere, we were seated upstairs, parking is somewhat inconvenient especially in the rain. Shared the fried sardine salad and mussel appetizer between 3 people (mussel dish very ample) entrees were filet mignon ( a little on the rare side, even for ordering that way) cavatelli with eggplant, tomatoes ( good, but not unique) a special, Scottish salmon with ricotta gnocchi, I think the best entree. Salmon was delicious and gnocchi amazingly light. Desserts blood orange gelato and a lemon tart, both good but not outstanding"
Dined on 3/29/2014
"Our dinners were very good. Portions were very small (especially the fillet steak). The hot antipasto was very disappointing, a big plate with a few grilled vegetables on it."
Dined on 3/29/2014
"L'Orcio was a really nice surprise. The food was elegant and thoughtful. The wine list was extensive and had a wide range of pricing. Innovative cocktails were also on offer and the portions were very large. Our sever was attentive and recommended many dishes. Overall a very good experience."
Dined on 3/28/2014
"Never heard of you before....was given a gift card and have already recommended it to at least 20 people. We will be back very soon with a few friends. Best italian food we've had recently and the presentation of it was fabulous. Great find."
Dined on 3/22/2014
"L'Orcio has become a special little treat that my husband and I enjoy reserving for just the two of us. The food is exquisite, authentic and simple Italian. A true hidden gem of New Haven."
Dined on 3/19/2014
"This was my first time at L'Orcios and I was not overly impressed. First off, our waiter didn't introduce himself, just poured our waters and asked if we wanted something to drink. Our appetizers came in a timely manner, but we needed to ask for bread, then we also had to ask for butter and olive oil to accompany it. Our entrees came out and I had to ask for a knife because mine had been cleared away with my appetizer plate, to which he brought me a butter knife which could not cut through the chewy, tough veal. The dish was way too salty for my taste and the texture of the veal was not tender. Also, the meal was a la carte and a side of penneI was $10, slightly overpriced in my opinion."
Dined on 3/22/2014
"My wife and I visited L'Orcio on March 22, 2014. As usual, the food was well prepared and very tasty. My wife has many allergies (gluten & others) and the chef always takes care of her of dietary needs. Our server was attentive, very professional and made sure he understood what my wife's allergies were so he could relay this information to the chef. My wife and I have never been disappointed with L'Orcio. The quality of the food and drink is quite good and we like the comfortable dining area. We will definitely return in the future. Over the years, we have brought family and friends to this restaurant and everyone always comments about how they like L'Orcio."
Dined on 3/22/2014
"L'Orcio is a gem hidden in a row house on North State Street. Inside, the warm homey feeling is preserved in the spare upstairs dining room. The food was simple but extremely well-prepared. My branzino was served with a tasty assortment of vegetable in a very light sauce, and was excellent. My wife enjoyed her salmon and the garlicky spinach was perfect. Service was a bit slow, possible because of the two-level arrangement."
Dined on 3/22/2014
"Hands down the best ragu I have tasted. The food here is always fresh and spot on. The downstairs dining area is a better (more romantic) ambience than the upstairs area. The staff is friendly and attentive."
Dined on 2/1/2014
"this is the best italian food, to my northern italian taste, that I've had in a very long time. outstanding...presented nicely...just right flavors, portions, selection....whole thing was really good. after years using open table...this is the first time i've been compelled to write a review...that good."
Dined on 3/9/2014
"We arrived at 7:30 PM for a 7:45 PM reservation and were seated immediately (didn't appear too busy). We were greeted but then the waitstaff disappeared for more than 15 mins while we were anxious to order a pre-dinner cocktail. Service overall was very friendly, but started off slow and wasn't speedy in refilling waters or pouring wine. Our starters were a soggy bruschetta with broccoli, fried sardines (which were good but served on plain lettuce), and a plate of cured meats. Cinghiale Peppradelle was well seasoned but pasta overcooked, a Filet mignon was cooked to order and delicious, and veal was again well seasoned if only a little overdone. Overall food was satisfactory, service improved to very good and we enjoyed our night."
Dined on 3/7/2014
"Excellent menu with flavorful alternatives to the standard italian fare. Salads were lightly tossed with a subtle dressing and generous in size. Special homemade raviolis were yummy. Dinner partner raved about the sardine appetizer and the salmon entre. All four of us cleaned our plates. Lemon tart was amazing as was the dessert wine. Fairly priced for the quality of the food and the pleasant, professional, unrushed service. Easy parking. Try It!!"
Dined on 3/7/2014
"This was my first time having dinner at L'Orcio and I already booked my next reservation there. The atmopshere and food was outstanding. All 4 of us had delicious appetizers and entrees. I had the homemade noodles with a light red sauce and the flavors were so fresh and the pasta was very light. Then I had the veal scallopine for my entree and it was superb. Cant wait to head back in April."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"My boyfriend and I visited L'Orcio for our anniversary that also fell on Valentines Day weekend. The building and environment itself almost had a "Boston" vibe. The ambience was classy, dim lights, and wonderful décor. Our waiter was phenomenal, very attentive yet not obtrusive at all. Our meals were also delicious. I ordered one of the specials (spinach and feta ravioli and for him, a Bolognese type dish). The wine list was great, and the creme-brulee was a perfect cherry on top. We appreciated the wait time between courses too, it gave us time to talk and we didn't feel rushed out at all. We are definitely planning on going back a second time!"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"This was out first time here and we enjoyed the meal! Menu is affordable priced considering the reviews. There are no traditional items on the menu."
Dined on 3/6/2014
"Dinner was absolutely wonderful as always although drinks were way too strong."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"A really great restaurant and we will be going back. The gnocchi are homemade and better than my mom's!"
Dined on 3/1/2014
"We are always happy with the food at L'Orcio and find restaurant always a pleasant experience."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"The food is all very fresh and the dishes are all great. I always love the ricotta gnocchi - I don't know anywhere else that makes them with ricotta. They are so much lighter than the traditional ones made with potatoes. My family all enjoyed their entrees and the service was good. The place is beautiful, especially in the summer when you can sit outdoors."
Dined on 2/18/2014
"We went there recently and the place was packed. The Food was great and our waiter was very attentive and helpful. However, we ordered several cocktails that were off the mark....the cosmo for my wife was way too sweet and my Martini was not mixed properly. They need to re-train the bartender; short dude with a unkempt, scruffy beard and a not so pleasant personality."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"We had a reservation for two, they seated us promptly. We split a Mediterranean salad, which was mediocre. An eggplant-pasta dish was a complete miss, though, with pasta that was an almost in-edible al dente. The lobster ravioli was outstanding, as was the tiramisu. Our drinks were fine. I'd love to love this place, because it's small, romantic-y, and in the neighborhood, but with two very disappointing dishes out of four, I won't be returning."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Excellent food, as always. The prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the food. Also, our waitress was fantastic, which is consistent with past visits. One if my favorite restaurants in New Haven."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Real Authentic Italian cooking. I mean it is the real deal. My husband had the orecchiette con broccoli and the veal scaloppine, and I had the carpaccio di manzo and the filet mignon. The food was outstanding, and I also like their wine selection, I recommend the Vernaccia!"
Dined on 2/8/2014
"Meet with 5 friends on Saturday and had a most enjoyable time . Good food , Great service , warm surroundings ."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"Our dinner was the Saturday night before Christmas. The restaurant was not full of patrons. Our waiter was uninterested and the service was poor. Although our drink order was taken soon after our arrival we did not receive them for approximately 20 minutes later. And that was only because we were seated in the bar area and could see them waiting to be served. I asked the hostess to see if she could get them and instead of just taking 5 steps to bring them to us she looked for the waiter and told him we were waiting. The waiter never apologized for the poor service. The food was good but overpriced for the quality and quantity. Everything was a la carte."
Dined on 12/21/2013
"One of the top 10 restaurants in New Haven by far. Make a reservation in advance though as they fill up quick."
Dined on 2/14/2013
"I have eaten at L'orcio several times and have never been disappointed, The food is fresh, cooked to perfection, and presented by knowledgeable servers. Would eat there more often if I lived closer."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"Outstanding food, very good service. A little noisy on a busy Saturday evening."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"I was looking for an Italian restaurant with food that was a little out of the ordinary, yet simple and good. It's a small restaurant yet you have plenty of space. Two specials, Osso Buco made with pork and mushrooms and Pappardelle with Lamb were both excellent. The pork was served over polenta and was earthy with the broth and mushrooms. The pork was cooked perfectly tender. The lamb dish had silky homemade pasta with plenty of lamb - delish! The dinners are definitely the star and they have grass-fed beef too! The bread isn't my favorite for an Italian restaurant but you don't want to fill up on it anyway. Save space for the great dinner. We only had gelato for dessert - it was a nice ending but nothing special. Service was perfect."
Dined on 1/11/2014
"Great dining experience, a real treat to the palate. Delicate italian food prepared by a master chef from Italy. Complimenti!"
Dined on 1/10/2014
"…..after maybe the 100th time in this restaurant, the quality of food and staff is still the best around!!! The homemade pasts's and branzino will transport you to a piazza in Italy"
Dined on 1/8/2014

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