Basta Trattoria

One of the more refined dining options in Yale area, the place is almost always full as it serves lovely Italian dishes with friendly and warm service. The meatballs is reputed to be a state winning dish. Everything we ordered was incredibly well made and delicious. Truly a treasure of a restaurant.

We live nearby and went here for a Saturday dinner. The atmosphere&service is great! We ordered the meatball which is wonderful. Both me and my boyfriend loved the food and will definitely be returning soon!

Exceptionally welcoming staff and above average service overall. The meal was delicious and I would highly recommend. 10/10

Insufficient stars for my experience. It was beyond every expectations for any dining option. Photo of Farfalle Funghi with a meatball and bottle of Super Tuscan. Parked at nearby Crown Ave garage - couldn't have been an easier walk. Parking would've been validated but we visited for several hours and garage wouldn't honor it - I had no issue with the $13 charge because Basta, and my visit with dear friends, made every concern melt away! The staff were tremendously generous with their time - no pressure to leave to let others use our table - we were strongly encouraged to stay as long as we wanted! This is a MUST visit Italian experience! Food delectable - service impeccable - prices very reasonable!

Exceptional meal. The food is fresh and so well prepared. Every meal was perfect. We were a party of 7 and it was a good thing we made a reservation because the dining room is small. In fact I don't think I would go there without a rezzie. I had eggplant parmigiana that was perfect.
The service was top notch, also. 7 full meals, 3 appetizers, 4 non-alcoholic drinks and a glass of wine came to $320 w/tax & tip. Well worth it.

Good Italian food establishment, I recommend to visit. Relaxing atmosphere, the interior is quite in the spirit of the direction of the kitchen. I like pasta with seafood ginger pie. The prices are average. It's clean. The staff are great. I bet 5 points

A charming, fine dining restaurant in the heart of New Haven. They have the best linguine with clam sauce I’ve ever had: mostly clams! Cocktails also excellent along with the Basta salad. If you want a server who really add something to your evening as far as personality, ask for Robyn. She’s the best. This is a wonderful Italian restaurant: five stars!

For a great vegetarian dish, ask for what Bruce has which is a penne dish with an eggplant rolatini set on top. The red sauce is delicious!!

I only wish I could add a sixth star.

We dine at Basta about 10 times per year and always have both great service and fresh, delicious dishes. I especially love the dark chocolate-cocconut bites. We did both our family holidays @basta this year for Christmas and New year's eve. We loved everything about our food and family time there.

Basta is one of our celebration or special event restaurants. It's just too good to waste on a mundane night. The pasta is fresh and well sauced. The entrees are carefully considered and well-executed. The staff is friendly and efficient. Each course of your meal is a delight

Our favorite restaurant in New Haven. The food is delicious and the staff are welcoming and knowledgeable about the menu and wine. The food is prepared to order so you can tweak it a bit if you like . is in a tiny space so make sure you make a reservation.

Love Basta! I've eaten there about 7 times over the last 2 years, and every meal has been wonderful. Of course Anonna's Meatballs are amazing (and I usually save a few for lunch the next day), but I've also loved the calamari and fish dishes.

I dined at Basta on my first visit to New Haven last week end. As well as enjoying the outdoor dining with my friend and her awesome dog (Nova), I had the best pasta sauce I have ever tasted. I look forward to another visit to New Haven and will definitely be dining at Basta again!

Enjoyed another dinner at this quaint Italian restaurant in the heart of New Haven by Yale University. The Sunday Italian Dinner is a favorite. The meatballs are award-winning. If I am in the mood for fish, it is the Bronzino Milanese. For dessert, the creme brûlée is a must....not too sweet and so creamy. The staff is very accommodating and friendly. A milestone surprise birthday was held here a couple of years ago. The guests still mention the great experience they had at BASTA. Great for private parties, too.

Food is unbelievable. My wife and I always get the mussels appetizer. I love the Sunday Dinner pasta item but the Penne A La Vodka is great as well. This place has spoiled me and I can no longer eat pasta sauce out of the jar.

Extraordinary. Took us in just after closing, best service I’ve had in the US, appetizers, second plates, main entrées were paced perfectly, the wines were good, food was excellent, service by the gentleman Sicilian waiter whose name we did not catch was superb. Waited for one course to be done before bringing the next, never rushed us, very attentive, best service in New Haven bar none.

Food was great, so was the service. Interesting specials, excellent fresh fish. Nice being able to see the chefs at work while eating. One of the very few restaurants that have the timing between courses down to a science. Very pleased and will definitely come again!

Full house on a Monday. My dish, Sunday dinner ,rich red sauce , best meatballs iveI had in any restaurant. Our server Hector was friendly,eager to please and professional . A nice cozy setting adds up to a very enjoyable evening with four of us happy with our different dishes.

The best linguini and clam sauce in the world! And try their dark chocolate and coconut deserts. It's embarrassing to admit that the food was so addictive, we came back for dinner four times during a six day stay!

I don't review often, but after my experience tonight I feel obligated to write about my experience. Hands down, this was the best Italian food I have had since living in Italy.
As a 100% Italian-American, I have enjoyed tremendous food made by my mother growing up. It is hard to enjoy a meatball or gravy not made by my mother. My wife and I never go out for Italian food because it doesn't make sense to pay money for food that we can make at home better. However, tonight my wife wanted Italian food after delivering our first son, Rocco, just yesterday. So I ordered take-out so we can eat something other than hospital food at Yale Children's Hospital.
We ordered chicken parm, pappardelle carbonara, and the Sunday dinner. As I ordered, I told Nicholas that we are staying at Yale and that we just had our first son. When I arrived to Basta (short walk from the hospital), I was greeted by Nicholas and Valerie who once worked at our favorite restaurant, Foe in Branford, before it closed. They told me that they included a chocolate dessert for my wife on the house.
When I delivered the food, the entrees and sides where put in really neat food boxes that kept the food warm through the cold walk back to the hospital. As we ate the chicken parm, I said that this was the greatest chicken parm I have ever had. Sorry mom. And Connecticut magazine got it right with it rating of best meatball in Connecticut. The eggplant was cooked perfectly and so was the pasta dishes. Although some may view the prices high for Italian food, I must say that Basta makes their entrees with the highest ingredients and passion.
Bravo Basta! You made our last night memorable. An impressive second to a family that just had the most memorable moment of their lives. Oh, and our nurses loved it as well!! You may be getting more takeout requests from the maternity ward at Yale!

The food is absolutely divine and the ambiance is cozy and romantic. The beautiful cherubs painted on the ceiling, along with the delicious food, make you feel like you’re in Heaven.