ROIA Restaurant in New Haven

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ROIA Restaurant Celebrates Five Years in New Haven

If you follow my Connecticut food and travel adventures regularly, you know that my number one criteria for dining out is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the experience. Eating out is an occasion to be relished and appreciated!

ROÌA Restauran
261 College Street
New Haven, CT

Breaking bread with friends, both old and new, while drinking in the sights and sounds of my surroundings is what every successful dining excursion must include. 

Chef's Sample Small Bite

And while I typically aim my camera at the beautiful sights that decorate the plate in front of me, sometimes the details and the ambiance of the decor at my location demand equal attention from the camera lens. 

Follow along with me at just such as place, as I indulge in the stately elegance found at ROÌA Restaurant - along with some exceptionally notable cuisine.

Magnificent architecture, old world charm, convenient location, delicious food, outstanding service... the ROÌA has all this, and so much more!

ROÌA is located on College Street, adjacent to New Haven's legendary Shubert Theater, in the area formerly occupied by the equally historic Taft Hotel's grand dining room.

Dining at ROIA Restaurant and Cafe

Named for the river ROÌA that begins in the French Alps and winds its way down to the Ligurian Sea to the little Italian town of Ventimigilia the menu blends a bit of both France and Italy's cuisines, highlighting seasonal harvests and fresh catches from the sea.

Executive Chef and Owner, Avi Szapiro, discovered the space while acting in a restaurant consultant capacity for the location's former owners. 

Chef Avi and Meera
Photo Source: Instagram

But Chef Avi fell in love with the space, and instead of a consultancy, acquired ownership, beginning a journey that included over a year of extensive renovations, opening the ROÌA Restaurant and Cafe in March of 2013. 

With his wife Meera at his side, Chef restored the venue to its former glory, uncovering the beautiful plaster molding and columns found within.

And while the space surrounding us as we dined was indeed beautiful, it was in the flavor of the dishes that we ordered where Chef's attention to detail would truly shine.

We started our meal with some signature cocktails, the Orange Blossom pictured below on the left and the Liqueurian to right. 

Next we ordered from the appetizer section, the Carciofi alla Judea, a citrusy artichoke dish, and the Soupe du Jour, a deliciously light butternut squash soup.

Carciofi alla Judea 

with pecorino di fossa, 

meyer lemon, parsley and pickled chilies

Soupe du Jour
Butternut Squash

View from the upper level
(Available for private parties)

Then we moved on to our main dishes, ordering one of the many specials of the evening Tajarin and Clams - with made on premise pasta. And the great thing --- Chef Avi is now including this dish on the new spring menu!

Tajarin and Clams
thin egg-yolk ribbon pasta with littleneck clams,
spring onion, ‘nduja, garlic 

I cannot begin to describe how delicious this dish was,  particularly the savory with 'just a hint of spice' sauce made with nduja sausage, a spicy, spreadable pork salumi from Italy, loosely based on the French andouille.

The cowboy, who isn't really a fan of shellfish, dug right in for a forkful and declared he was ordering this on his next visit!

Tajarin and Clams
thin egg-yolk ribbon pasta with littleneck clams, 
spring onion, ‘nduja, garlic 

For his selection, he chose the ever popular Steak Frites, a lovely grass fed beef, perfectly rested, dressed with an aromatic and flavorful tarragon shallot butter.

Steak Frites 

8 oz. grass-fed beef onglet, 

tarragon-shallot butter

(Served with arugula salad not pictured)

Chandelier at ROIA

The finale, two extraordinary desserts, a Lemon Panna Cotta and a special Pear Dessert offering.

Lemon Panna Cotta 
with poppyseed shortbread crumble

Pear Dessert
with Meringue and Pistachios

The ROÌA Restaurant is the perfect place for a romantic dinner, a special occasion, or a fun gathering with friends. The restaurant is also available for private parties and functions, both large and small.

With its location next to the Shubert Theater, it's the ideal location for dinner and a show! 

Open for brunch on Sunday - check out their Mother's Day Brunch Menu  HERE

Be sure to stop in soon and enjoy some of Chef Avi's delicious offerings!

ROIA Hours of Operation

Tuesday to Saturday
Lunch    11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Dinner   5:00 pm to close

Sunday
Brunch  10:30 am – 2:00 pm
Supper  4:30 pm – 7:30 pm

ROIA Restaurant

261 College Street
New Haven, CT
(203) 200-7045
http://roiarestaurant.com/

About Avi Szapiro

A native of Bogota, Colombia Avi Szapiro was just 13 years old when he discovered his passion for cooking in the family kitchen. In 1998, Avi enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), which led to his first experience in a Michelin-starred kitchen as the apprenticeship program took him back to France and to Lyon’s Restaurant Pierre Orsi.  The training he received there fostered the love of French techniques and classics that are elements of his cooking to this day. Chef Avi's intention and main goal is to uplift and nourish his guests with each meal they have at ROIA. 
  

About ROÌARestaurat and Cafe

ROÌA Restaurant is located in the heart of downtown New Haven next to the Shubert Theater and adjacent to Yale University campus. ROÌA is housed in what was originally the grand restaurant of the historic Taft Hotel built in 1912. The charm and grandeur of this architectural gem have been restored to create a setting where you can enjoy great food and great company. 

Pronounced ROY-ah, ROÌA showcases Avi’s seasonally informed food, inspired by French and Italian cuisines and rooted in local sourcing.  The restaurant features food that delivers maximum flavor with a minimum of ingredients; food that combines culinary restraint with dynamic creativity.