Restaurants in Branford

“Buena comida y buena atención 🙌💯”

“Great service and good. Definitely worth the visit. Staff is wonderful and the chefs are phenomenal.”

“Fabulous food and amazing staff”

“my wife and I were looking at places to go, There was Doma, Pasta Cosi, LaMonacos,Goodfellas, Cava, so many other places , But we optioned for Rossittos, and asking Branford locals they gave some mixed reviews, I made reservations for valentines day, We were looking forward to it, And then we Arrive, Its like a Noisy Bar as soon as u walk in , We were seated in the Back along a long wobbly bench seat Next to a filthy wall with an oil pipe coming out, We ordered, The wait staff was extremely slow, I get it , It was busier than they probably ever are considering the occasion, No excuse, we ordered cacio e pepe, And a Lasagna Simple, Casio Pepe which is supposed to be done with Romano Cheese and Black Peppercorns , And pasta Water to form the Gravy.....over Bucatini which is a hollow pasta Well what I got was Brown Butter and someone's leftovers in a Bowl The portion was literally 3/4 eaten when I got it, I immediately asked waitress what the hell is this, she ignored me and walked away, The waitress comes by after almost 30 minutes of it sitting on my table and uneaten, and asks how was everything and is something wrong, I explained that situation, and this is not what I ordered, Couldnt be, We sat next to a couple who ordered Pasta and the Portion was Very Large and looked delicious, Then mine shows up which is literally 2 fork full of pasta in a bowl with This gross looking Brown Buttery sauce and Green parsley I have Many Photos, the waitress asked what I wanted her to do and I was mortified and quipped Bring me what I ordered for 26 dollars , she said We just want to make ya happy sarcastically , I said there is Nothing you can do to make me happy, But bring us the check she did 45minutes later and it was 89 dollars For a lasagna and Cacio e pepe, one soda and a martini, I added it came out to 61 dollars so where is the additional 28 dollars, we paid , Said nothing No Tip and left, Never will I ever Return I guess they charge extra for someone else's Leftovers the kid forgot to wrap!....”

“Carla and Rob and their staff make you feel welcome and have excellent Italian fare, both imported and home-made. Do not pass up the gelato as it's all fresh and there are amazing choices, changing constantly. Can't say enough good things about this venue and it's owners.”

“visited Hornets Nest for the first time yesterday , by accident , just driving by . Had a great lunch , very pleasant people . Highly Recommended . Going to make it our stop when in the area .”

“I have been ordering takeouts at Il Forno for the past seven. I started with bacon and onions pizza which was great. I then changed to eggplant pizza and it has to be the best I have ever had. Now I have moved on to shrimp marinara with linguine and I can't tell you how great this dish is. The shrimp are so large and fresh and the sauce is excellent. The filet of sole must weigh at least 2 pounds and my husband gets it every week. The filet is enough for two meals and so is the shrimp. Thank you Il Forno for making our Friday takeout a special treat.”

“I have dined in and gotten take out… never have I had a bad experience either or. So glad to have a great establishment right down the street. Cocktails and craft beer selections are great too. Kudos to whoever does the cocktails. That watermelon one is on point.”

“The staff is so great, They have so many great drinks and treats to offer.. I definitely recommend this coffee shop and it’s a great to place to hang out! 👍”

“Awesome place! Food was delicious . Definitely going back”

“I finally got to try Tasty Yolk and holy heck is this sandwich good!”

“The atmosphere at the bar is excellent, with great lighting and music. I just stopped by for a quick bite. the portions were generous, and while the pork chop was a bit dry, everything else was great.”

“Good food, good service, clean and comfortable. Its a great place.”

“Loved foods. Tried both lunch and dinner several times. It was very delicious. Tried their new lunch buffets yesterday, varieties of items were available. Highly recommended!!!”

“Went to Jerry’s last night and I was soooo full because it was sooo delicious I had to come home and get into bed! The salmon is like butta in your mouth! The tuna firm and soft at the same time… and the eel… OMG… hadn’t been there in a long time and it was excellent!!! Fresh & delicious, go and enjoy!”

“Excellent for a night out with friends!”

“excellent food, knowledgeable wait staff, great atmosphere. I would return”

“Had a craving for New Haven style pizza. It was ice storming so allot of places were closed, but I was VERY happy with Branford Pizza! Crust was suuuuppper thin, crispy at the top, foldable with excellent sauce and just the right amount of cheese. Very reasonable! Also ordered a ruben for the next day and this did NOT disaapoint! Even with reheat, it was DELICIOUS! Very generous corned beef, tangy sauce, plenty of kraut & cheese. FILLING! Came wrapped in foil so super easy 2nd dinner . Will absolutely order again. THANK YOU!!!”

“Came for Mother’s Day, My first time here. This was a hit!! a very big hit! The service was amazing, the food was delicious, the atmosphere was so inviting & pretty. Portions were big & menu had tons of options. We can’t wait to come back! Well done”

“My friends and I had a fantastic experience dining at Drea’s by Goodfellas! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt warm, welcoming, and intimate. The food was absolutely incredible—every dish was full of flavor and beautifully prepared, and the complimentary bruschetta was a wonderful touch. Nick, our server was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the evening as well as everyone with filling our glasses with water and cleaning the table for the next course. We can't wait to come back!”

“Food was delicious & staff was friendly, prompt. They went above and beyond.”

“We visited for the first time yesterday and the service and food was fantastic! As old Saybrook residents we think this is a fantastic business to bring to the town. There was a fantastic selection of drinks and we can’t wait to come back again soon!”

“best chicken franchise with lemon, spinach and mashed potatoes. compliments to the chef”

“Best and friendliest staff...best food! I've been a customer for 15 years, there's no better pizza place! You guys are the best!!!!”

“Ordered La.Luna from Slice app Food came very fast and it was delicious. Would recommend this restaurant and order from there again.”

“Blue cheese dressing was a big hit with your wings for my gathering. Folks were like “this is some good s__t!””

“Jane and the rest of the staff have been absolutely delightful throughout dozens of visits. This is the coffee shop that has yet to mess up my order compared to all of the other ones in the area. Love the time it doesn't take up out of my day to order here compared to other stores. The etiquette and politeness are also far above all others here locally 10/5”

“Good service, clean facility and friendly employees!”

“The beer is incredible…best I’ve ever had. The food trucks are OK most of the time, depending on what you like. The in house soft pretzels are terrible and don’t align with the caliber of beer that is offered. There are way better options.”

“Such a great restaurant! Their food is outstanding and the specials are even better. Haven’t tried a dish we haven’t enjoyed. The staff is awesome - attentive and friendly. Highly recommend!”

“I’ve been coming to Willoughby’s since 1994 they have always provided a consistently outstanding cup of coffee. I also buy their beans which are roasted to perfection. Treat yourself, you won’t regret it.”

“Four of us walked in here for lunch after the Thimble Islands tour. The place was well run and busy. Each of us ordered different sandwiches. We sat ourselves outside and enjoyed the view. Our food came promptly and we were all mostly very pleased with the quality. The only one complaint was about the quality of the croissant itself in one sandwich , but overall, we were very pleased with the taste. My turkey on a ciabatta was excellent. We would definitely return again!”

“I stop by at least once a week”

“Probably my favorite restaurant in Branford. Best lobster bisque hands down! Service is always so wonderful, kind and accommodating and the food is out of this world.”

“The Best, and I’m a Blue Devil Westie girl. :)”

“Excellent Food! Friendly Service! Unbelievable Deserts! My Favorite Restaurant!”

“Absolutely love Darbar! The food and cocktails are always delicious and innovative— owners are so kind and friendly. Always love coming here!”

“I Had the blackened Salmon fries super crispy. It was cooked perfectly and was well seasoned. The fried shrimp were also perfect as well according to my fiance.Service was good as well. Highly recommend”

“I'm really picky about my pizza and today I tried their for the first time. AMAZING.”

“Excellent menu, food, staff and ambience!”

“Went here last night for Cinco De Mayo the food was delicious and the bartender was great!!!! Will definitely be back!!! And highly recommend”

“Excellent pizza and such a nice family!! We were there last night, 🤌🏼 delicious ☺️!!”

“I went Branford Beach for the first time today. What a great experience!! Amazing breakfast sandwiches!!! Coffee, hot latte, cappuccino and Iced latte were all so tasty!!! The chocolate cheese muffin was top notch!!!! No it’s as well we’re so good!!!! Highly highly recommend!!!!! Oh and the staff are friendly and super helpful!”

“This has been a favorite of ours all the years we lived in Connecticut from Darien to Old Lyme. Last. Night did not disappoint! 6 of us all ordered different dishes and there were raves for all of them. At the end of the meal, the chef/owner came to our table to see how we enjoyed our dinner. And chatted with us finally sending a plate of deserts to us. Everything was perfect and I cannot wait to go back especially for those crab cakes !”

“I am from Vermont came down here to see Tom Z. It’s good food good service I ordered a large breakfast but finished breakfast foods, but sadly I didn’t finish good coffee. Waitress wanted me out so waitress want more people come in to take my seat. Because I am using sign language talk to my iPhone to my friend that they think it’s waste time to sit too long. Forced me to leave Found out they don’t accept credit cards none. Only cash. I didn’t see any signs on entry door glass. It was on cashier very small sign”

“Best place with the best people and the drinks are great!”

“On Saturday, June 11th after my Mom’s Memorial service I brought 35 people to lunch. The waitstaff was well organized, very attentive, not to mention the food was OUTSTANDING!! Everyone ordered off the menu, drinks were served along with appetizers and dessert. We all ate at the same time which is hard to do with that many people. I would highly recommend Cafe Fiore in Branford, CT to anyone who is looking to have an event or just a nice lunch or dinner. They staff worked so well together that I gave them a 30% gratuity. WELL DONE CAFE FIORE!”

“Love the new make over. The service and food are great!! However the noise level is so uncomfortable and the was not a full seating. So bad that the hostess had to go outside when answering the calls. Highly recommend sound proofing panels.”

“A favorite spot for early morning coffee and. Friendly and efficient staff. Wonderful breads, pastries, muffins. Little quiches are just great. Have oatmeal and yogurt with fruit etc. Hot egg meals and sandwiches. Impressive espresso machine. Our little group meets regularly there. We try other places now and then but always return to the favorite.
Branford is very fortunate to have such a spot.”

“I have been going to Carson’s for many years now. I recommend everything regarding this restaurant. The food is delicious and always consistent. The bar and the drink menu and selection is exceptional. The restaurant is always sparkling clean and the service couldn’t get any better. Rick the Manager works alongside them like Family and you feel right at home every time you walk in the door. ;)”

“I stopped for the night and had the pizza. its right up there with the best. If I had to choose between Them ,Pepes and modern ID pick them.”

“This bakery is incredible! We ordered their cannoli cake for our office and their Italian rainbow cookies - everyone was asking me where I got them and saying how amazing they were. The cake was light and melted in your mouth. The rainbow cookies will carry you to seventh heaven.”

“I haven't been there in 20 years, this month I have ordered food for pickup and I was so delighted that the taste, quality of tge products in each dish. Home made dumpling WOW Ming the next generation is carrying your lion city resturant into the future”

“Everything is great from food to service. Thanks again everyone for great experiences and thanks to my wonderful friend for recommending me this place”

“Overall a good catering/Italian deli and restaurant with some dine in and definitely good take out food. There's a lot of food on the menu. Delivery service too!”

“Not only does this restaurant have THE BEST Mongolian Beef, but they will make it spicier if you ask them to. I will never eat at another Chinese restaurant ever again.”

“I think it’s mentioned that they have the best ice cream in the state, which is definitely the case! The winner for me and my wife is the pumpkin ice cream, only available in the fall. It’s a winner every time, but all their other flavors taste great!”

“Very nice workers here!! Very fast and friendly service!!”

“Great looking Easter cookies Sarah!! Amanda just texted me pics of Sammy and Wrenley with theirs and they absolutely loved them. Thanks! Tony - another delighted Canadian customer!”

“Awesome breakfast and lunch every day. Very clean deli. Stop in have something good to eat.”

“definitely recommend - lots of great smoothie options - delish!”

“Common Grounds in Branford is my “Go to” every day after my workouts. I meet with friends for coffee and spirited conversation, and see a lot of people I know….and I always make new friends! The staff is AMAZING and I love the owners! Great vibe and the BEST JAVA on the planet. And the wraps…..YUMMY!!!! Thank you!!”

“Online ordering has worked well here. Services like Uber are fine when they have discounts, but Five Guys has its own ordering page, and that lets you say when you’re on the way. Then pickup is very quick, and you don’t have to wait on the fries. Food-wise it’s tasty, consistent with other Five Guys”

“Good food and portion sizes, and very friendly and attentive waitstaff. Glad I stopped in while traveling.”

“First time going. My husband and I enjoyed it very much. Food was exceptional good, fresh, and very reasonably priced. The seating are was cute and the staff was friendly. We definitely are going back!”

“Underrated by far. The food here is excellent in every way and made with care. Highly recommend!”

“I used Shoreline for my Son & Daughter-in-law’s Baby shower. I was in constant contact with Dena and she answered all of my questions & concerns. She set everything up with what was needed and wanted.
She sent me one of the Servers for the extent of the party. Leidy was amazing and so helpful!
I would use them again if I ever need another event catered & definitely would recommend them to anyone.”

“Was first time going I had a couple of ??? And when I asked all staff 3 person just stared at me so I let them know it was my first and still no help so I ordered what o thought would be good and it was good and Also super expensive !!! The staff will have be not return here again”

“I really like this subway It was very clean, organized and the workers made a great sandwich. Very quickly& efficiency! My new subway to go to in the future!”

“Always our “go-to” pizza place in Branford, CT. Deliciously consistent, New Haven style pizza with quality ingredients. 5 ⭐️’s!”

“Classic local Italian deli where everything is done right, tastes great and you won't be disappointed! Takeout, eat-in & a solid catering business. Be sure to give them a try!”

“During my previous visit to this establishment, I had an exceptional experience. My recent trip further enhanced my satisfaction with the quality of service I received. The employee responsible for taking my order was courteous and efficiently prepared my sandwich according to my specifications. Notably, he refrained from being impolite when I requested modifications to my #8 sandwich, unlike other locations I have visited. Despite its greater distance from my residence, I intend to prioritize this establishment over others due to the overwhelming satisfaction I experienced with the quality of service and the kindness I was met with.”

“This restaurant never disappoints. The food is consistently delicious, and the people working here are always friendly. You can tell they care about the quality. Highly recommend!”

“Stopped by this Popeyes on our way back into Massachusetts from New Jersey and were greeted by two smiling helpful young men, Isaiah and Rome. Food was great but they were even better and made our night. They were so friendly and kind. We need more friendly smiling ppl like them in this world!”

“Amazing food - especially the fresh, table-side guacamole made to order, huge delicious portions, great drinks, and fast & friendly service, Guacamole’s is the best!!!”

“Excellent Food! Friendly Service! Unbelievable Deserts! My Favorite Restaurant!”

“Went to Jerry’s last night and I was soooo full because it was sooo delicious I had to come home and get into bed! The salmon is like butta in your mouth! The tuna firm and soft at the same time… and the eel… OMG… hadn’t been there in a long time and it was excellent!!! Fresh & delicious, go and enjoy!”

“Best and friendliest staff...best food! I've been a customer for 15 years, there's no better pizza place! You guys are the best!!!!”

“On Saturday, June 11th after my Mom’s Memorial service I brought 35 people to lunch. The waitstaff was well organized, very attentive, not to mention the food was OUTSTANDING!! Everyone ordered off the menu, drinks were served along with appetizers and dessert. We all ate at the same time which is hard to do with that many people. I would highly recommend Cafe Fiore in Branford, CT to anyone who is looking to have an event or just a nice lunch or dinner. They staff worked so well together that I gave them a 30% gratuity. WELL DONE CAFE FIORE!”

“Pizza was fantastic! I got a small house special with cherry peppers ! Soooo good !”

“I have been ordering takeouts at Il Forno for the past seven. I started with bacon and onions pizza which was great. I then changed to eggplant pizza and it has to be the best I have ever had. Now I have moved on to shrimp marinara with linguine and I can't tell you how great this dish is. The shrimp are so large and fresh and the sauce is excellent. The filet of sole must weigh at least 2 pounds and my husband gets it every week. The filet is enough for two meals and so is the shrimp. Thank you Il Forno for making our Friday takeout a special treat.”

“This has been a favorite of ours all the years we lived in Connecticut from Darien to Old Lyme. Last. Night did not disappoint! 6 of us all ordered different dishes and there were raves for all of them. At the end of the meal, the chef/owner came to our table to see how we enjoyed our dinner. And chatted with us finally sending a plate of deserts to us. Everything was perfect and I cannot wait to go back especially for those crab cakes !”

“Love the new make over. The service and food are great!! However the noise level is so uncomfortable and the was not a full seating. So bad that the hostess had to go outside when answering the calls. Highly recommend sound proofing panels.”

“Good food, good service, clean and comfortable. Its a great place.”

“The food was excellent....we all got something different....stir fry.....lemon chicken.....chicken cordon blu....beef enchilada....so good....the first thing I noticed is how clean it was insude....”

“The beer is incredible…best I’ve ever had. The food trucks are OK most of the time, depending on what you like. The in house soft pretzels are terrible and don’t align with the caliber of beer that is offered. There are way better options.”

“Wife and I dined today Friday for brunch. I had cheese grits and lobster,wife had a egg and sausage sandwich.Also ordered 2 toasts,which were covered with ricotta,pistachios etc. All were very delicious and HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Service was also very good! Bob Branford, Ct.”

“Good food, good service, clean and comfortable. Its a great place.”

“Puppuccino for my pup. And Matcha Latte”

“Good service, clean facility and friendly employees!”

“Good food and portion sizes, and very friendly and attentive waitstaff. Glad I stopped in while traveling.”

“This location is always dirty and messy!!! Once one of the workers was filling up the forks and with no gloves on (he was the cashier) he grabbed the forks by the part that goes in your mouth!!! Both bathrooms were broken overflowing toilets and they were still open, you'd think they would've been locked up so no one walked in.... The dining area, tables are always filthy with trash on them and the trash cans over flowing. I really don't understand how anyone can work like that, explains why no one eats there (unless its when it 1st opens for the day when its somewhat clean...). My son insists on eating there....”

“yes but why where the kiosks off at lunch time n only one cashier otherwise the food was ok”

“Stopped by this Popeyes on our way back into Massachusetts from New Jersey and were greeted by two smiling helpful young men, Isaiah and Rome. Food was great but they were even better and made our night. They were so friendly and kind. We need more friendly smiling ppl like them in this world!”

“Online ordering has worked well here. Services like Uber are fine when they have discounts, but Five Guys has its own ordering page, and that lets you say when you’re on the way. Then pickup is very quick, and you don’t have to wait on the fries. Food-wise it’s tasty, consistent with other Five Guys”

“New management… I had the honor
To meet a young man named Deon, hopefully I got his name right lol, he was transferred there when they reopened the store a few week
Ago. What a professional young man … full
Of life , professionalism.. and very educated and enthusiastic… I’m not
Sure we’re to give him 5 stars but it was such a pleasure to be taken care thru drive thru with this young man … 5 stars for him..!”

“visited Hornets Nest for the first time yesterday , by accident , just driving by . Had a great lunch , very pleasant people . Highly Recommended . Going to make it our stop when in the area .”

“Great service Friendly staff Very clean store”

“Classic local Italian deli where everything is done right, tastes great and you won't be disappointed! Takeout, eat-in & a solid catering business. Be sure to give them a try!”

“Buena comida y buena atención 🙌💯”

“I picked up lunch today in the drive through and the food was hot and fresh. Just the way I like it. Fries were fresh and salted perfect. The chicken wrap was fresh and the burger also. Im not sure what the managers name is on shift at lunchtime today, but thanks for making sure my food was fresh!”

“The staff is so great, They have so many great drinks and treats to offer.. I definitely recommend this coffee shop and it’s a great to place to hang out! 👍”

“Such a fun spot for a summer day! Great outdoor seating, live music, delicious food, and beautiful waterfront views. We loved the wood-fired pizza, lobster roll, poke bowl, and buffalo mac & cheese. Micro Creamery also has a food truck stationed there for those with a sweet tooth!

The Paddle Pub Cruise was the perfect addition. You don’t even have to paddle, you can just sit back and enjoy the ride if you prefer. It was super relaxing, scenic, and so much fun! You can also bring any food or beverages purchased at the brewery on board, and either queue up your own playlist or let the crew take charge of the aux. Definitely worth checking out!”

“Arguably the BEST coffee shop in town. The owner is so sweet and every visit that I get to see her has been wonderful. I'm loving the iced Biscoff latte! I love this spot and the atmosphere is always relaxed and very comfortable. Highly recommend for a good cup of coffee or tea with a sweet treat!”

“Staff very friendly and welcoming. They have a large variety of options very fresh. Forgot to take pix, but burrito bowl, Mexican bowl and Buffalo chicken salad were really good. Lite Ranch dressing was delish!”

“10 out of 10 ! Everything about it was great .”

“First things first, the food tasted good. You have to realize that this is a brand new location as of late August 2026. I went there for the first time today September 8, and things are still getting ironed out. It's a little chaotic to say the least. They had a high volume of orders on the board. People order on the app, on the phone, and so if you're going to walk in you may face a little bit of a wait. We encountered virtually no problems as a walk in. I was a little confused about the menu not having been there before, and it was clear that the cashier was also a little confused about how to do certain things. They displayed wing combos, but I couldn't figure out how to just order wings, which are apparently 5 or 10 vs. 6 or 8 for the combos. But, there were plenty of knowledgeable people there to help and we were able to order with no problem. I did see a few people who were waiting a long time for their order. I don't know if they ordered online and then came to soon, or if something was wrong with their order or they got skipped or whatever the case may be. There is not a lot of seating here. This is primarily a to-go establishment. There were two tables, one that could fit two seats and one that could fit four seats. All in all, I was satisfied with the taste of the food for what I was expecting.”

“Normally I have a good experience..I placed an order online at 1:30am on weekend (open till 2am) The,y called me to CANCEL my order!!..I mentioned they were open till 2am, she just said they were closing at 1..That was it..too bad-i couldn't believe it, I go there late after work all the time!!-”