Phone: +18603162552
Address: 437 Main St Middletown, CT 06457, 06457-2838, United States
City: Middletown
Menu Dishes: 35
Reviews: 2248
Website: http://www.escact.com/
"Great atmosphere and decor, very good northern Italian food and other diverse selections, excellent appetizers and charcuterie, surprisingly large well prepared portions, amazing bread, responsive service, but, sadly a self inflicted wound on the wine by a restaurant that calls itself a wine bar. Wine should be stored and served at 55 to 65 degrees. This is challenging for many restaurants who will hover around room temperature. Unfortunately, the bottle we ordered, a well selected unusual norther Italian gem, was nowhere near even that. It was every bit of 80 degrees. Literally warm to the touch as if it were close to bright lights or the kitchen. We had to put it in the water bottle chiller. At this temperature, for any length of time, wine “cooks”, a trade term indicating spoilage. Unfortunately, ours was close to “cooked” indicating long term poor hot storage. This is sad because Esca has a smartly selected list with some delightful options. It makes no sense why they would invest in very nice wines and then undermine them. We thought maybe it was our bottle alone but we saw other reviews complaining about the warm wine. The average customer might not notice but anyone with any wine expertise will. Please Esca, fix this.We would like to come back for your delightful food but frankly, we would be hesitant to order another bottle.What an unnecessary loss…"
Full menu - 35 options
All prices are estimates on menu.
Starters
Surf Turf
A delightful combination of tender grilled steak and succulent seafood, perfectly seasoned and served with a choice of sides.
Salads
Beet Salad
Colorful beet salad with arugula, goat cheese, walnuts, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing.
Caesar Salad
Crisp romaine lettuce tossed with creamy Caesar dressing, garlic croutons, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Arugula Salad
Arugula Salad: Fresh arugula leaves with shaved Parmesan, cherry tomatoes, and a light lemon vinaigrette.
Caprese Salad
Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil drizzled with balsamic glaze.
Antipasto Boards
Seafood
Fried Calamari
Crispy fried calamari served with a tangy marinara sauce for dipping.
Grilled Octopus
Tender grilled octopus served with a zesty lemon dressing and a sprinkle of fresh herbs.
Sandwiches
Hearty Fare
Cioppino
Cioppino: A hearty seafood stew with clams, mussels, shrimp, and fish in a rich tomato broth.
Raw Bar
Sides
Brunch Sides
Smoked Bacon
Savory, crispy smoked bacon with rich, bold flavors, perfect for breakfast or enhancing your favorite dishes.
Entrées
Tuna Tartare
Tuna Tartare
Freshly diced tuna mixed with herbs and spices, served with a tangy sauce.
Fresh Wraps
Main Course
Toast
Avocado Toast
Creamy avocado spread on toasted artisan bread, garnished with cherry tomatoes and a sprinkle of sea salt.
Seafood Dishes
Fried Calamari
Crispy fried calamari served with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.
Hot Food Menu
Lobster
House Specialties
Linguine Clams
Linguine with tender clams in a savory garlic and white wine sauce, garnished with parsley.
Dessert
Butler-Style Passed Hors D'oeuvres
Contorni
Egg Dishes
2 Eggs Any Style
Two eggs cooked to your preference, served simply.
Odds & Sods
Bar Bites
Main Menu - Menu
5Chris
The food was fantastic and the staff went above and beyond to make our birthday celebration special.
Address
Reviews
5Stacy
Service was excellent and accommodating of my food allergies. The food was delicious! We only ordered appetizers, and they are more than enough. I'm definitely going back for an entree.
5Natasha
I ordered take out thinking we would grab and go meet up with a friend. It turned out that the friend bailed on us. We asked if we could eat our food outside and the service was great! Food was amazing!
4Ange
Lived in Middletown for years and finally decided to try out this spot. I should of tried it earlier. Really good restaurant and great staff. Good and drinks came out fast and was delicious. Highly recommend View menu
5Andrew
We came here fifteen deep for Mother's Day brunch. Food was fabulous. They had a great variety of things to choose from. Stefan the crepes chef was very friendly and did a nice job. The desserts were to die for. What a great experience...
5Sean
I have visited this restaurant multiple times. I absolutely adore their Sunday brunch! The upscale and authentic Italian cuisine, along with their excellent wine selection, is truly delicious. I highly recommend this place, especially for special occasions. The decor is a perfect mix of sophistication and a calming atmosphere. They even have a separate level for hosting events!
2Ben
I don’t like leaving bad reviews. The menu looks awesome. We had great drinks and appetizers. But we waited 3 hours for our entrees to come out (after our server went to the kitchen multiple times), before we had to find an alternative. Our waiter was fantastic but honestly something in the kitchen was seriously wrong. It was a busy Saturday night sure. But if you can’t seat a full house you need to reduce your seating or increase your kitchen staff. View menu
3Jon
This restaurant can be a bit hit or miss. The drinks are consistently good, but the food ranges from great to mediocre. The prices are very high, and for the price, the quality should be outstanding. I was disappointed with the surf and turf dish I had yesterday. The steak was overcooked and thinly sliced, when it should have been a nice rare hunk of meat, especially considering the high price of $38 for just the steak on its own. Overall, the experience was underwhelming considering the cost.
2B
This was our second time here. Once for dinner a few months ago, wonderful experience. Today for lunch was underwhelming. We were one of three tables around noon. We ordered the lunch special which included half sandwich, soup salad/fries. Soup was lobster bisque. It wasn't bad, but way too salty. Sandwiches took quite a long time to come out. At least the waitress apologized for the wait several times. More concerning was the fact that my girlfriends sandwich (the roasted turkey sandwich) was very small. Smaller than a McDonald's egg Mcmuffin. The top slice of bread was the small butt end of an Italian loaf and hard as a rock, Inedible (see photo). It was supposed to have coppa on it, which...
4howard
Great atmosphere and decor, very good northern Italian food and other diverse selections, excellent appetizers and charcuterie, surprisingly large well prepared portions, amazing bread, responsive service, but, sadly a self inflicted wound on the wine by a restaurant that calls itself a wine bar. Wine should be stored and served at 55 to 65 degrees. This is challenging for many restaurants who will hover around room temperature. Unfortunately, the bottle we ordered, a well selected unusual norther Italian gem, was nowhere near even that. It was every bit of 80 degrees. Literally warm to the touch as if it were close to bright lights or the kitchen. We had to put it in the water bottle chille... View menu
Categories
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Cafés Charming cafés offering a variety of freshly brewed coffees and teas, along with light snacks, pastries, and desserts. Perfect for a morning pick-me-up or an afternoon treat in a cozy atmosphere.
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Kebab Savor our delicious kebabs, expertly grilled and bursting with flavor. Choose from a variety of meats and vibrant spices, served with fresh sides. Perfect for a satisfying and flavorful meal. View menu
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Pizza Delve into our perfectly baked pizzas, crafted with hand-tossed dough, rich tomato sauce, and a blend of gourmet cheeses. Each slice bursts with fresh toppings, ensuring a delightful bite every time.
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Fast Food Enjoy a variety of quick and delicious meals perfect for on-the-go dining. From juicy burgers and crispy fries to refreshing drinks, our fast food menu satisfies your cravings with speedy service and irresistible flavors.
Amenities
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Wine
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Takeout
- menu
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Delivery
- menu
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Romantic
