Opening in Branford in 2016, Strega moved to Milford in 2021 before expanding to a second location in New Haven in 2024. A year later, the Milford location closed — leaving the New Haven location as the only Strega restaurant.
The gap left in the Milford community following Strega’s closure has been filled with the opening of the Sorrento Cafe & Wine Bar last month at the former’s 9 River St. location.
The restaurant offers traditional Italian fare in a setting that evokes Italy’s Amalfi Coast with yellow, blue and white decor, and even a lemon tree. The menu offers pizza and pasta dishes as well as braised pork cheek, chicken rolle stuffed with broccoli rabe, baked branzino and chicken marsala among other offerings. Sorrento Cafe & Wine Bar also offers outdoor seating along River Street.
Sorrento Cafe & Wine Bar is open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
As for Strega, which was awarded a coveted “Due Forchette,” or Two Forks, award from Gambero Rosso, owner Danilo Mongillo has listed his New Haven restaurant for sale with the home listed by Home Services of America in February.
Mongillo said in a statement to CT Insider that the decision to sell the restaurant “is not a step away from the project, but rather a natural evolution of it,” as he plans to grow the business across the state.
Includes previous reporting from staff writer Tanya Babbar.
Dining and Cooking