Best Restaurants that are Worth The Drive in West Haven

Always a phenomenal experience at Artisan, from the fresh and delectable food, to the beautiful environment and attentive service. Highly recommend!

Zucchini chips and deviled eggs were awesome. Dinner was also excellent. Service was fantastic.

We were sat late for our 7pm reservation (7:20), which I thought was not great, especially since they have a pretty strict dining policy. Once sat, our server did also take a while to even come to the table. Once we finally ordered, our first course came fairly quickly but the entree took a really long time! They seemed really busy, but for a place that's that hard to even get a reservation at, I would appreciate more prompt seating and service. What's the point of a reservation if you're still having to wait 20 minutes standing at the bar?!?

The dining experience we enjoyed at The Essex will undoubtedly be one of our favorite meals of the year. We reserved a spot at the Chef's counter which overlooks all the action happening in the kitchen. Watching how well the culinary crew was orchestrated was a real treat. We opted for the Chefs Tasting Menu, and it was a great decision. Highlights were the lobster bisque. the Hiramasu Cru, lobster quenelles (a real treat), crispy octopus, Jurgielewicz duck, and the Wagyu. Shout out to the chef and his team, and to our server who helped us pair our meal with some enjoyable wines. The Essex has a cool vibe, and they strive to make everyone feel welcome. Highly recommended!

L’Orcio is always excellent — very reliable. The only downside, in the icey winter, is parking — but that is on the city of New Haven.