La Zingara Restaurant — Restaurant in Bethel

This was yet another excellent visit to La Zingara. My wife and I went on a Friday with no reservation at about 7 pm and were seated immediately. It is also winter time, and having been there during summer time, you would need a reservation otherwise.

La Zingara changes their menu seasonally, while also keeping their main chef specialties on the menu. The menu is broken into a 4 course menu. Appetizer, Salad, Pasta, Main course. There are usually specials to accompany the menu. You do not necessarily need to choose from every selection, depending on your appetite or how much you want to spend. I will say that once you start eating here, you will want to come back hungry, and try all 4 courses.

The specialty drink menu is small, but includes some gems. There is a full bar to complement. My wife got a glass of Rose' and I had a moonshine cocktail off the drink menu.

We both ordered the soup special of the evening, which was a pureed mushroom soup, with a touch of cream and drizzled with olive oil. Very rich and very filling. Excellent. For the salad, I ordered escarole with canelloni beans and garlic, and my wife got the Caesar salad(which includes anchovies, but I imagine you could ask them to be removed). For the main course, my wife got the Pasta Special which was large tubed pasta, with pulled pork in a beef reduction, with a whipped goat cheese and ricotta dollop on top. I got the Fish Special which was a swordfish steak with a pickled olive, tomato, and garlic "slaw" on top. For dessert we both ordered the Dessert Special which was a single carrot cake split in half horizontally and filled with a cream cheese frosting. We should have ordered 1 and shared it, because we both didn't finish our own and ended up taking them home. We also both got cappuccinos.

As for the price of the menu, be prepared to spend some money. The drink specials are all above 9 dollars, but well worth it. Salads range from 6 to 9 dollars. Main courses range from 14 to 35, depending on the faire. Desserts are 6 to 9 dollars. For the 2 of us, our total bill before tip was around 145 dollars. We didn't order a bottle of wine, so that total could have been much higher had we done so.

For La Zingara, the food is definitely worth the price. It is located in the heart of downtown Bethel, CT in PT Barnum Square. There is on street, non-metered parking as well as a full parking lot behind the restaurant, accessible from a driveway next to the restaurant and also from a side street. They also have a lounge separate from the restaurant called ECCO. It is not as expensive as the main restaurant, but be prepared to spend some money, as the atmosphere is friendly and inviting. The ECCO bar is closed during the first couple months of the year.

La Zingara also has a Sunday Brunch which is very good and we have gone to many times. They have a live violinist and guitarist.

We have been here many times, and will continue to do so. Excellent meal and service,...

We just moved to the area from Stamford and fell in love with this restaurant!

FOOD - we started with the "Straciatella, Fichi e Pistachio", which was INCREDIBLE, and a very healthy portion for two. We also shared a stuffed pepper special, which was broiled, so it was cooked to perfection - easy to cut, full of flavor, not stringy or chewy. I had the "Strozzapreti di Basilicata", which was so garlicy and delicious. I did add a little salt, but that's just because I like things saltier. I wish we had pictures!

SERVICE - Mike was our server and was very attentive, always smiling, and friendly. Lisa, one of the owners, also stopped by several times and made great conversation, telling us how the different dishes were made, and made us feel really welcome.

This place reminded me so much of Cafe Silvium in Stamford with its charm, authentic and delicious food, and great service. We can't wait...

Dinner last night with friends, party of 6, 7:30 reservation. I often pre-judge Italian restaurants by the quality of the Italian bread. Unfortunately last night they kept giving our table stale bread. Crouton-like. Snapped when you broke it, like the slices were out in the open for half a day. Didn't mention it because we are all friends of the non-complaining type. But I fail to understand how this could happen consistently all night in a quality restaurant. It was either recycled, or just left out in a basket for half a day before serving.

Left with a bad impression of the kitchen and suspicious of quality control as a result, but still had a good time and closed the place up. Noticed consistently high reviews for this place so my judgement may have been on a one-time bad night or fluke.

(Changed rating based on owner response. The entree's...