Materia Ristorante – Award-Winning Italian Dining in Bantam, CT

We had a phenomenal meal and experience at Materia this past month. As first time guests, we were very excited as we had heard about how great the restaurant is for quite some time. From the amazing service provided by Christopher Hodson, to the delicious cocktails, wine, and incredible pastas, we enjoyed every single aspect. My husband and I both agreed that the octopus may have been better than some of the grilled octopus that we had in Greece. Our favorite pasta was the Nerano. It is a summer special. The simplicity and freshness of the seasonal ingredients make for a really delicious bite. We also enjoyed that we could pick a dish or two from every section of the menu so that we could enjoy both pastas and meat dishes, and not be overwhelmingly full. Oh, and don’t skip the dessert and cappuccino! Everything we had was wonderful. We will be returning with friends for sure.

We had always heard great things about Materia, so my fiancé and I visited to celebrate one year until we’re married! The dining room was very chic, and the staff was all very professional and attentive. We had an amazing caprese salad to start with some of the best bufala mozzarella we’ve ever had, and then chose two dishes from the primi section. Truthfully we did intend these both to be our main meals, but decided to split the beef tenderloin special afterwards as we didn’t quite realize how small the portions were. Now that we know, we’ll make sure to order differently next time with less sharing and not being afraid to order multiple dishes as different courses. The flavors of the food really impressed us, and everything was very high-quality, including the desserts. I was grateful that we made a reservation because the dining room capacity is on the smaller side, and there was an influx of people between 7-8pm. We were so impressed by the food that we hope to come back after we’re married to celebrate our anniversaries or other special occasions. It’s easy to see why they won the award for best new restaurant from the Connecticut Restaurant Association in 2022!

It is rare to find an Italian restaurant outside of NYC that actually knows cuisine from the south and the north of Italy. I enjoyed a grilled octopus appetizer that needed only a lemon squeeze to make the dish perfect. My main course was Linguine à la Vongole which was a little salty but none the less delicious. Dessert was a panne cotta - actually better than many eateries both if if manhattan.… actually brought me back to my Lake Come trip . Just delicious - creamy with vanilla notes and topped with fresh figs..:quite frankly, heaven. I look forward to coming back to this beautiful restaurant.

Had a lovely dinner at Materia last night. The restaurant itself is lovely and the staff took very nice care of us throughout the evening. We started with cocktails: the Cosmo Italiano (which truth be told was delicious but had far too many ice specks in it) and the pickled ramp gimlet (much like a pickletini). We split the tataki appetizer with flavors of a puttanesca (wish the puttanesca was a bit more aggressive to be honest but overall nice dish). Then we each had a primi: the lobster risotto and the tagliatelle ragu (house dish). The risotto was delicious…it has a tarragon foam, smoked burrata, and a very al dente texture (would have liked a pinch of flake salt at the end). The tagliatelle was good but not wow (could have used some spice and some salt as well). For dessert we split the chocolate semifreddo with cherries, which we both agreed was divine. Overall, I would definitely go back, but I do wish the price point were a hair lower and the finishing flavor level was turned up a smidge.

We had an excellent experience at Materia Restaurant. We had a function of 60 people for a pre-wedding celebration, the food, drinks and hospitality were amazing. Every detail was perfect and we had a great night. I would highly recommend Materia for any dining experience (I have eaten there multiple times now).

First off our server (Orlando?) and the hostess were incredibly kind and made it a very special night as we were celebrating our anniversary. Perfect service and recommendations as it was our first time. We shared an app, a salad and two pastas. Everything was delicious. Drinks were tip top. The wine selection was very impressive. We had no room left for dessert, but in a very classy move they brought out a scoop of vanilla and a Lazer etched happy anniversary chocolate. Really nice and we were very grateful for the hospitality. Sorry my pics don’t do it justice the dishes were wonderful.

This was our first time dining here, and it was a truly wonderful experience. Our server, Chris, was exceptionally knowledgeable and guided us through the menu with thoughtful recommendations. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and impeccably clean. We started with the grilled octopus—perfectly tender with a rich, smoky undertone that was absolutely delicious. The asparagus dish was light and crisp, complemented beautifully by a bright hint of lemon. The lasagna special was packed with flavor, and the braised short rib ravioli was a standout—the beef melted in our mouths. The tagliatelle Bolognese was equally impressive, with tender pasta and a deeply flavorful sauce. To finish, we indulged in the panna cotta and tiramisu, paired with cappuccinos. Every bite was exquisite. Highly recommend—an outstanding culinary experience from start to finish.

We made our reservation online. We were politely greeted and given a table in the corner of the bar. Food was beautifully decorated on our plates and was delicious! Drinks and dessert were outstanding. I wished I had ordered my own dessert! We will be back!