La Marea Family Style Lasagna with Juliana and Nino Pisanzio. Watch the video.
Melissa Cole heads to La Marea to learn to cook a delicious, easy meal at home. Click photo to view the video.
Located in Old Saybrook, CT.
Savor the authentic tastes of Italy when you dine at La Marea. Located on the shoreline of CT in Old Saybrook, our family-owned Italian restaurant prepares northern and southern Italian cuisine using a mix of the finest imports from Italy as well as fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy your dining experience in our dining room or be sure to reserve a seat at our conversational hi-top tables or at the bar in our lounge.
Upon your visit, you will receive a warm, welcoming greeting as you prepare to experience some of the best Italian food in Connecticut. Our menu is updated seasonally to feature traditional and modern Italian cuisine. We offer delicious antipasti appetizers including the very popular Parmigiana di Melanzane (Eggplant Parmesan), homemade and specially sourced pasta, and outstanding entrees of seafood, chicken, pork and our LaMarea favorite Occhio di Costata steak. We offer fabulous Wood Fired Neapolitan Style Pizzas and specials; all pizzas can be prepared gluten-free.
Your ultimate dining experience would not be complete without enjoying our craft and pre-prohibition cocktail list, extensive draft beers on tap, or a hand selected glass or bottle of wine from our curated wine list.
Be sure to save room for dessert! All our desserts are made in-house. The Budino di Formaggio (Cheesecake) is a must try! We offer traditional Italian digestivos and cordials to complete your dining experience.
Gluten Free and Vegetarian options are available.
Come meet our personable and knowledgeable staff, as well as Juliana and Nino Pisanzio, the owners of La Marea. Please make sure to check out our events page to see all the exciting specials we offer during the week that are not to be missed! Call the restaurant for your reservation.
If you can’t join us for an in-house dining experience, enjoy almost any of our meals for take-out. You can order your meals online or call us ahead of time for family sized entrée orders. See our menus for more information.
We can't wait to see you!
Dining Hours
Wednesday 4:30-9:00 pm
Thursday 12-2:30pm | 4:30-9:00pm
Friday 12-2:30pm | 4:30-9:30pm
Saturday 12-2:30pm | 4:30-9:30pm
Sunday 4:30-9:00pm
Reservations: Open Table
RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED. Please make your reservations using OpenTable for parties 4 and under. Larger parties (5 or more) must call us at 860.391.8614 for reservations.
If you are more than 10 minutes late for your reservation, your reservation will be forfeited.
Please note: your table will be reserved for:
1 hour 30 min for parties of up to 2
2 hours for parties up to 4
2 hours and 15 min for parties up to 6
2 hours and 30 min for parties up to 7+
Take-Out Hours
Wednesday thru Sunday 4:30-9pm.
Call: 860.391.8614
LOCATION
732 Middlesex Turnpike
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
Our Story
La Marea. In Italian it means “the tide.” An apt choice in so many ways because of what the tide symbolizes...rising, receding, constant, never ending.
To understand what La Marea truly represents and is all about, you have to know what Juliana and husband, Nino Pisanzio are all about. “Nino and I grew up the same way,” begins Juliana. My family relocated from Gravina, Italy to Stamford, CT in 1966. “I was born in Stamford, but my parents and I moved back to Italy when I was young. Nino is from the Island of Capri and has had 27 years of restaurant experience. Both of us were always surrounded by food and family. There was always good food, drink, people, love and laughter. That’s what kept people together. My mother always taught me that food nurtures your body and laughter nurtures the soul.” Nino went through culinary and hotel management training in Italy, then earned his chops working his way up in the business from washing dishes to making beds; “But I loved it all,” Nino expressed. His mother, is a cook and baker in her own right, from Lyon, France; and his father was from Capri, so Nino also grew up with an inherent love of food. Together we bring our strong Italian heritage and traditions to La Marea and would love to share them with you.
While some of the pastas, pizzas, salads, and main dishes are stationary, the choices change frequently, reflecting the seasons. Reservations are strongly suggested!
TAKE-OUT
Orders will be taken by phone only. Tips are greatly appreciated.
Come in to pick up your order at reception.
Please remember to allow for time for Take-Out, we prepare our meals fresh for your ultimate enjoyment.
We look forward to serving you delicious food! See you soon!