Locali — Restaurant in New Canaan

Modern take on small Italian plates by Jean Georges alumnus Chef Mogan Anthony (Spice Market, Perry St). Wood fires artisan thin crust pizzas come out blazing fast from a gorgeous custom Stephano Ferrara brick oven. (Ferrari of pizza ovens, handmade brick by brick by the craftsman himself). Focus on wines and beers. Very small but Summers include an intimate patio which doubles the seating capacity. (shaded tables)

You may reconsider the famous white clam pizza by Frank Pepe (CT, now a small chain) after enjoying Chef Anthony's take with bolder flavors. As with all his cooking expect layers of flavor and punches of umami. Think shaved cauliflower, cashew, white balsamic and sliced Medjool dates. Brussel sprouts, whipped mortadella. Come for the small plates, stay for the pizza. A spicy 'meatless' (impossible burger ground) bolognese pasta dish that's perfectly cooked and even perfectly sauced, will make you realize maybe you can do without. There's the almost all too familiar and overly trendy ubiquitous burrata but also an interesting whipped sheep's milk ricotta dish dressed with citrus and hot honey served with olive oil soaked pieces of thick cut bruschetta. Many great veg options for starters. But you can still dirty yourself with a new take on calamari. Solid fun menu all around. Leave the generic Italian-American cooking and dishes at the door.

Sometimes great things do come in small packages and a small gem of a restaurant would all be understatements. Emphasis on the small. We wish we could all have a Locali near us. And that dream is getting closer now to reality. (*2nd bigger Locali coming to Mt...

We had such a perfect dinner at Locali this past weekend! Although the weather is obviously getting cold, we were still able to sit outside given their setup. They have a lot of heaters, so that the cold actually doesn't feel that bad! Especially with a glass of wine, you definitely won't feel it at all!

The staff that we encountered here were definitely some of the nicest people! My husband and I arrived early to meet up with a friend for dinner, and they were super accommodating to let us wait for her. We were treated so well the entire time, the waiters are super sweet and attentive.

Started out with some shishito peppers; I really love the seasoning that they put on them! I'm really surprised how delicious they can make just regular peppers. For our two other appetizers, we got the crispy brussels sprouts and the beet salad. Whatever they did to the Brussels sprouts, it's pretty magical!

In terms of pizzas, the Snake Oil is a must! Sweet and spicy always work so well together on a pizza (just think hot honey)! It's such a great blend of ingredients: san marzano tomatoes, capicola, fior di latte, pecorino, garlic, sriracha, honey and scallions! I also got the Vegan Impossible Bolognese which was pretty legit. If you didn't tell me, I would never have known that this...

Restaurant Review: Locali Restaurant, New Canaan

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Locali Restaurant in New Canaan, and it was a truly delightful experience. The menu offers a fantastic selection of dishes, and everything I tried exceeded expectations.

One standout appetizer was the Hot Honey Whipped Ricotta—a perfect balance of creamy, sweet, and spicy flavors that was both innovative and delicious. The Goat Pizza was also fantastic, featuring fresh ingredients and a perfectly baked crust.

The highlight of the meal was undoubtedly the Famous Locali Clam Pizza—by far the best pizza I've had in a very very long time. Crispy, flavorful, and expertly crafted, it’s a must-try for pizza lovers. I grew up in Brooklyn and have had pizza literally all over the world. This is the real deal.

For the main course, I ordered the Crispy Chicken Milanese, which was simply amazing. The chicken was tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection with a satisfying crispy crust.

Locali Restaurant offers a memorable dining experience with top-notch dishes and a welcoming atmosphere. I highly recommend it to anyone in the area looking for exceptional food and great service.

Rating: 5 stars...