Fornarelli’s Ristorante in New Haven has taken over the Ninth Square quarters previously occupied by Yolande’s Creperie & Bistro and Central Steakhouse. Anyone familiar with the space knows it’s a highly attractive one, with a lower level that opens up all kinds of wine tasting and special event possibilities. The horseshoe-shaped upper level has been finished with photos of the owner John Fornarelli’s Italian family, wine barrels, and a mural of Triggiano.
For southern Italian cooking, the food is exceptionally light and subtle, valuing sourcing and simplicity of preparation. Peruse the photos below and see Italian cooking with a difference. I could go on and on about the lightness of the deep-fried artichoke hearts, the octopus salad, the lemon chicken and the tiramisù. This is southern Italian cooking at its best.
Fornarelli’s offers a four-course, prix-fixe menu on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for just $25 per person that is not be missed. Be there, or be (Ninth) Square.
THE VERDICT: Fornarelli’s Ristorante offers fresh, subtle southern Italian cooking in an evocative setting.
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CONTACT INFO: Fornarelli’s Ristorante, 99 Orange Street, New Haven; 203-745-5677; www.fornarellisristorante.com