La Tavola — Restaurant in Waterbury

Please read it before visiting this place.

On June 20, 2022, I was traveling with my family (5 people). We decided to have lunch when we were close to Waterbury (Connecticut). So we stopped, and I Googled some spots in the area. That's how I found the La Tavola restaurant. Since we prefer Italian cuisine and the restaurant had good reviews, we were happy to go there (previously called and booked a table).

As for the cuisine, the food was average (for our taste). But my review is about something completely different.

One of the dishes in my order was Eggplant Torta. When this dish was brought to me, and I cut off a piece of it, I saw something inside it that looked like a tiny living tadpole (I am attaching a photo). It floated in the sauce for a while, and after I caught it and put it on the edge of the plate, it stopped moving. Frankly speaking, I was utterly shocked and confused.

After that, I turned to the restaurant workers, who expressed their surprise and took my plate with the dish. Further, I asked for the bill. This dish has been excluded from the bill. BUT! I did not hear any apologies, attempts to explain this incident or something the restaurant simply obliged to do in this case! I'm not talking about any loyalty in the form of additional discounts or some kind of compliments. But that's, unfortunately, not the end of the story.

When I asked the waitress (dark hair, short haircut) if the restaurant would like to somehow comment on the incident and show customer service, I received the answer: "what should I do?". So I said, "ok, I'll leave Google review and contact the relevant regulators to request a health check of your establishment." In response to this, the restaurant representative took my card AND LITERALLY THREW IT TO ME, just right in my face.

I was forced to go inside the restaurant, call this employee again, and once again ask her to accept my payment. The payment was taken, but I heard several emotional, impartial comments addressed to me. Also, the restaurant's representative told me the following "do you have a garden? I think you don't. Then you would know that the bugs inside the greens are normal". I was shocked and asked again, and I quote: "Do you think it's normal when your guests have live larvae in their dish?" The response of the restaurant representative was as follows: "Yes, for us, it is absolutely normal." Bottom line.

Given this egregious fact, as well as the behavior of the restaurant representative, I am forced to prepare an appeal to the regulatory authorities, as well as to the Better Business Bureau, to investigate this incident.

Please consider this review if you plan to visit this restaurant, especially with...

Any reason to go to La Tavola is a good one, whether it's planned ahead or last minute. Attending an opening a block away on a Monday in early June, we were glad to see La Tavola was open as many restaurants are closed on Mondays. We chose a table outside on the front patio. Late Spring weather gave us a balmy breeze throughout our extended time here.

Our party of three ordered drinks and two appetizers since we'd all just had a sandwich wrap at the event. I wanted to try their gnocchi starter but it was sold out. The eggplant torta was exceptional, and I'm not an eggplant person. Definitely something to order again. Meatballs are a big deal in Waterbury, and the competition is serious. For this reason, I had to try theirs. Not my meatball. Too soft. They broke apart easily. Nice sauce and flavor, however; these things are personal. Drinks had a good pour and were well made. The ciabatta was light and airy served with a garlic puree. Our waitress really knew the menu and food as veteran staff, which is always appreciated.

The friend who joined us never saw the glass floor in their bar before and had to marvel at it, running downstairs to take photos from below looking up, as well. Everyone loves it. We could not leave without ordering an entrée to go to have the next day. The Paccherri with roasted chicken, pancetta, sundried tomatoes, leeks, spinach and garlic in a shallot broth is a fine medley.

Another popular caterer for outdoor parties in the warm weather is La Tavola's Pizza Truck. They bring their mobile wood-fired oven right to your home or event and hand make dozens of pizza with a variety of toppings. There is a list to choose from if there are some things you don't like or some you just love.

Attending a party that had the La Tavola mobile unit on hand was a real pleasure. Fresh hot pizzas kept coming from the truck to the oven to the table and every one of them was a sensation to your palate, but there is always an individual favorite. From ricotta and spinach, to white clam, to meats and vegetables, it's a well-rounded variety. With the truck catering service, comes salad, cappuccino and espresso and gelato.

If pizza isn't what you're looking for, they also have a catered menu that includes many of their popular dishes from the restaurant - from salads and appetizers to baked specialties, meat, seafood and Italian favorites. Orders can be placed for small, medium and large gatherings.

Good classic Italian...

I think it’s hilarious this place is rated so well since it gave me the worst food poisoning of my entire life. About a year ago my sister and I went here for lunch and to see if it was a good place for a rehearsal dinner for her wedding. Initially I really liked the restaurant. We ordered a chopped salad, a soup, rice balls, and a salmon meal. There were things floating in my water which I never said anything about I figured it was lemon or soap residue. My sister went to the bathroom and their sinks were not working and she was unable to wash her hands or flush the toilet. That night at 1 am I woke up throwing up for hours. I had never been so sick in my entire life. My sisters bridal shower was the following day and I texted her that I would not be able to attended because of how sick I was. An hour later around 2:30 in the morning she called me to tell me she was also sick. My sister missed her own bridal shower because she had to go to the hospital because of how sick she was. Clearly something happened there to make us sick. I am not sure if it was cross contamination because the sinks were not working or the food or whatever was in the water. I tried to contact the manager and it took him a week to call me back I tried to contact him multiple times. When he finally returned my call he insisted it wasn’t their food and offered a gift card. How funny why would I ever want to eat there again with how sick it made my sister and I? He also said that we must have had some “weird flu”. My sister and I do not live together and I had not seen her for 2 weeks prior. The only thing we did that day was eat at this restaurant and parted ways after. We both woke up around the same time in the middle of the night sicker than ever before. They did refund the meal but I will NEVER recommend this place to anyone or ever be coming back here. Beware...