REVIEWS

Zagat Survey 2006
Rated: Excellent
Boosters say bravo to this pearl of a dining spot in Mystic; robust and surprisingly elegant tastes along with excellent service make this Italian a favorite and it’s gotten even better now that recent renovations have improved comfort and noise levels; its is a restaurant that could make it in NYC.

Zagat Survey 2003
Enthusiastic encores for the wow!, fantastic food with big flavors are heard at this high energy Mystic Italian Restaurant located in Downtown Whaler’s Inn; even though it’s extremely noisy, with tables too close together, the cuisine and personable service are with the turmoil.

Zagat 2002
Everything is done right on the exciting menu at this Mystic International with an Italian bent; creative pastas and other well-executed dishes entice the crowds into long waits in summer and this cozy but loud bistro.

Zagat 1999
Quaint Italian-seafood gem in Mystic that uses fresh ingredients in interesting combos; it can get noisy and the wait can be long but reviewers claim it’s like the best of NYC without the pretension.

New York Times Travel Section
Saturday, April 21, 2007


Frommer's Review
Ask locals about the best restaurant in town, and they'll likely send you here. As a result, it's a money machine for the owners, even on a rigid Tuesday night. Regulars are families, couples old and young, friends with friends, and men in suits or polo shirts and khakis. On weekends, it can get as noisy as a disco, aided by bare wood tables and floors, and the waitstaff can get a little scattered. Warm, coarse country bread arrives with drinks, supplemented with marinated olives and a white-bean red pepper spread. Order antipasti and get a plate crowded with salami, provolone, tuna chunks, artichoke hearts, and sliced tomatoes. At least half the entrées involve pasta -- lobster ravioli, shrimp with penne, linguine and clams -- but cool weather choices usually include braised lamb shanks and osso bucco. One special was sautéed tilapia over a zingy risotto with haricots vert and chopped tomatoes given a drizzle of pesto.

Best Restaurants of New England
By Nancy and Richard Woodworth
"The extensive menu rarely changes but offers plenty of excitement, especially among the specials."

The Hartford Courant
By Lee A. White
"Bravo Bravo, the baby of well known area restaurateur Carol Kanabis has been going strong for over 10 years and is everyone's favorite shoreline restaurant. It's pretty, with big gate windows and graceful modern furniture, and sits about four feet above street level right by the flagpole and the historic bridge in Mystic. "