Transilvania Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in East Haven

Living in the Northeast, Romanian cuisine is not a common thing. So when my (horror-loving) inner circle and I discovered that this restaurant exists, we made immediate plans to visit for dinner. When you arrive, you are immediately met with kitschy fun - "impaled" skeletons in honor of Vlad Tepes, cobwebs, and an animatronic werewolf and mummy. The exterior sets a comfortable, fun mood that continues when you enter and find yourself it what appears to be a tavern set in a classic Universal Monster movie movie.

If you're not an adventurous eater, the menu has plenty of the old standbys. Chicken wings, nachos, stuffed mushrooms, cobb and Caeser salad, burgers, a Reuben, and a chicken sandwich. But anyone willing to try something new or slightly outside their comfort zone will be GREATLY rewarded. For appetizers, the eggplant spread and the fried Brussel sprouts were perfection, and my friend "refused" to share the Romanian-style meatballs. The brisket flatbread gave a delicious preview of an entree to come.

And then there were the entrees! I ordered Vlad's Favorite - the skinless sausages were flavorful, the fries were perfectly cooked, and the pickled salad added a bright, vinegary addition to the heartiness to the meat. Members of my party who ordered the beef goulash were too busy making yummy noises to notice the jealous glares from the rest of us. One friend ordered the paprikash and, upon clearing his plate, wished for a piece of crusty bread to sop up the amazing sauce that was left. The braised beef brisket was a sizeable portion that came on a bed of perfect mashed potatoes and gravy. The traditional stew was silently devoured. And the members of our party that ordered the NY strip steaks were delighted that they'd been cooked perfectly to order.

THANKFULLY, we saved room for dessert! The Vlad The Impaler dessert was playful and delicious. The apple strudel - perfect! The lemon mousse cake received high marks. The pistachio cheesecake was gone in the blink of an eye. The chocolate chip lava cake put my friend - the meatball hoarder - into a near food coma. And my traditional papanasi was a discovery that I will be dreaming about for a while...at least, until my next visit!

The cocktails were pure delights, the mixed berries and pomegranate soda was a star of the night for multiple people, and we heartily recommend that wine lovers try the Romanian offerings! Service was incredibly friendly and personable. And the pricing was more than reasonable for the quality and portions of the food. And I need to call out something that is all too rare - unlike most restaurants, who seem to follow a "get 'em in and get 'em out" model of service, the Transilvania encourages you to sit, relax, eat, and enjoy. The staff was there to answer any questions and bus empty plates and glasses quickly, but at no point did any of us ever feel rushed. My party and I left with full bellies and happy moods.

We live south of Boston, so visiting the Transilvania involves a 2.5 hour drive each way. At the end of the night, we all agreed that the drive was well worth it! I look forward to our next visit and cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough to...

My buddy and I went out to talk and grab a bite to eat; places to do both tend to be hard to find these days. I chose Transilvania because my wife and I had gone back when they had 1st opened, and it was A+ in all the categories that matter: food, service, ambiance, and price. So we visited on a Tuesday and there were 5 tables of folks eating and conversing, plus 1/2 dozen bar flies (the cute kind)... not bad flow for mid-week. We were invited to sit wherever we liked 👍, and had just sat when we were welcomed and thanked for coming in 😇. Ashley - our beautiful, polite, and attentive waitress brought us some cold water 💧 and took our order. My friend had the Goulash and Ashley recommended the brisket; so yeah, I had that 🤣! Always get the recommended dish is my motto... unless you're deathly allergic to something recommended, then don't 😝. I started with a Caesar, my friend a bowl of cream of mushroom 🍄 soup. The Caesar was crisp, shredded nicely, with homemade croutons, and a tangy dressing... stupendous! The Cream of Mushroom was served in a clay bowl and was hot , well flavored, and hearty. We were salivating for more, when Ashley reappeared carrying our main courses!! OMG 😲 😱 - the smell alone made my stomach ache w/ need... it was time to taste it. The brisket over mashed taters w/ a side of grilled asparagus, smothered in a gravy boasting a complex flavor profile? 😋 I couldn't stop eating once I started; simply brilliant 👌. My buddy took a tentative swirl of his plate. He mixed the dolup of sour cream into the goulash (tender cuts of beef in a flavor packed gravy). It was the 1st time I can ever remember him being that quiet... the only sound made by him was from the chewing 🤑; he didn't even want to give me a bite to try 😤! He said he was sorry, it was just too good to give up! We finished up - he with a lemonciello,, and I with a cappuccino... perfect end to an unforgettable ❤️ meal. Ashley provided take out containers and a bag to drop em in... she was fantastic from start to finish 👏 . So... check out time wasn't painful. $100.00 + $25.00 for Ashley... 2 apps, 2 entrees, 1 dessert, 1 cappuccino. I didn't even blink - it was exceptional 👌 👏 🙌 😎 😍. If you're interested in eating delicious, home-made dishes @ a fair price... this gem is a must to experience! Throw in the lovely Ashley, and the comfortable environment - only a fool...

Nestled within a historic building, Transylvania offers a cozy setting that invites diners to immerse themselves in Romanian culture. However, while the restaurant has its charms, there are several areas where the experience could benefit from thoughtful enhancements.

The table runners reflect the restaurant’s theme but appear somewhat worn, detracting from the overall aesthetic. The centered lighting fixtures, though intended to create ambiance, come across as excessively bright, particularly for a dining experience that calls for any privacy.

The outdoor landscaping could use some attention, and the walls show signs of unfinished work, which disrupts the otherwise inviting atmosphere. Inside, the beautiful wooden floors and sturdy tables add warmth, though the dark finish on the silverware is concerning, as it shows signs of wear that hint at lower quality materials.

Service at Transylvania is friendly, with our waitress, Jennifer, making a commendable effort to ensure we felt welcome. However, there were noticeable lapses in basic dining etiquette, such as serving drinks without a tray and occasionally forgetting which dishes belonged to which patrons.

The menu features some promising items like the fry basket, which pairs well with a flavorful aioli. The baked cascaval with apple and bread, while enjoyable, felt somewhat conventional and lacked a creative twist. Conversely, the Hell's Burger was a highlight, showcasing juicy beef, crispy bacon, and a perfectly grilled poblano pepper. My wife enjoyed her melanzana but remarked it was rather "flat" in flavor.

A unique touch comes from the "Vlad the Impaler" donuts—though fun in concept, they could benefit from a bit more finesse in execution.

Transylvania has the potential to offer a truly memorable dining experience. With a few adjustments—such as improving service flow, enhancing the acoustics, and refining the presentation—this restaurant could shine even brighter. Overall, it’s a charming spot with a lot of heart, just in need of some polishing to reach its...