Located along Long Wharf in New Haven, Il Gabbiano is an Italian steakhouse set directly on the water, offering sweeping views of the Long Island Sound. The location is undeniably appealing, with expansive waterfront scenery and a large parking lot—though even that was completely full when you arrived around 7:30 pm, a clear sign of the restaurant’s popularity.
Despite the crowd, we were seated immediately, though in the middle of the dining room. The restaurant was packed, extremely busy, and very loud, making conversation difficult. After noticing heavy foot traffic constantly passing by your table, we requested to be moved to a quieter area. The staff did accommodate the request, though the move came with an unfortunate downside: we lost our original waitress, who had been kind and pleasant.
Our new server, while friendly and talkative, proved far less effective. A request for separate checks was refused; she stated that the best she could do was split the total into two equal payments. When the manager came over, she explained that issuing two checks would cause the food to arrive at different times—a claim that felt questionable, especially for diners accustomed to restaurants accommodating this request without issue.
The restaurant offers a solid selection of cocktails and beers, but from that point forward, service was only adequate. Given the restaurant’s volume and noise level, the pacing felt rushed, with the clear goal of turning tables quickly. Appetizers were barely cleared before the main courses arrived, leaving little time to enjoy the meal.
Appetizers
- Eggplant Rollatini
Thinly sliced eggplant filled with ricotta, baked with mozzarella and marinara. It arrived lukewarm, though the flavor itself was enjoyable. - Polpette della Nonna
Beef meatballs in traditional pomodoro sauce with Parmesan and fresh basil. The sauce was good, but the meatballs were firmer than expected, lacking tenderness.
Main Courses
- Cavatelli Baresi
Ricotta cavatelli with crumbled sausage and broccoli rabe in garlic and olive oil. The dish was bland, with minimal depth of flavor. - Chicken Limone
Prepared with artichokes, sage, and lemon butter sauce. The chicken appeared and tasted boiled, with very little brightness or true lemon flavor. - Chicken Parmigiana
Chicken cutlet topped with mozzarella and marinara, served with linguine. This was the most successful dish at the table and was enjoyed by the person who ordered it.
Portion sizes across the board were generous, but flavor and execution did not match the scale.
Dessert
- Affogato
Vanilla ice cream topped with hot espresso—a simple, pleasant ending to the meal.
Overall Impression
Il Gabbiano shines in its location, views, and drink offerings, but the food felt more focused on quantity than quality. Combined with rushed pacing, excessive noise, and inconsistent service, the dining experience fell short of expectations.
Would I return? Possibly for cocktails and the waterfront setting—but not necessarily for the food.
Rating: 7.2/10
