Buon Appetito - Canton: A Cozy BYOB Dining Experience in Canton, CT

Our party of three came here to treat a friend to a birthday dinner. He suggested this restaurant having eaten here once before and remembered their food well. My partner and I had high hopes thinking of the amazing eatery in North Stonington that has exceptional food under the same name. A casual room for diners, there is no bar, so it's BYOB. No complaint in terms of the savings, as the corkage fee per bottle is $2.50. This in itself is a draw if you don't mind food that is simply okay. We brought sixty dollars of wine from our house stock and paid five bucks to drink it. Good deal. Waiting to be seated, we saw the specials menu had a list of things that were not available, including the lamb I hoped to order. My partner wondered why they just didn't list what was available. Moving on, as soon as we sat down, we were asked if we wanted the garlic cheese bread. We said yes, though I'm not sure it was complimentary. It had a good texture. We ordered two appetizers. Our birthday guest wanted to try the roasted peppers in balsamic vinegar with Kalamata olives a second time. My partner saw on the specials board stuffed clams and chose those. The peppers were cooked through and had the flavor it should. The stuffed clams resemble the stuffed clams one can buy in a grocery store's fish department. A small mixed greens salad came with our mains and the house dressing. The three mains were Chicken Marsala, Shrimp Provencal and a Chilean Sea Bass featured on the specials board. It took some time before our entrées came to the table.The Chicken Marsala was not the classic version by including tomatoes. The Shrimp Provencal was served not quite as described, but okay. Most dishes here are served on angel hair pasta - even the filet mignon and leg of lamb. New to me... For $29.95, my Chilean Sea Bass was a mystery fish, under a large ladle full of what was comparable to Hollandaise sauce. At best, it was four oz. in size. In N.Y., CA or many other places, this fish is a high-end product, served elegantly in a larger portion for its often market priced cost. The red sauce on the accompanying angel hair was not to my liking. Boxed it up after one bite to bring home for my partner. There were no desserts available when we tried to order one for our friend's birthday wish. All chocolate cakes and cheesecake were sold out. One lemon cake dessert was left. We passed. This restaurant is fine for people wanting a relaxed atmosphere and not expecting more than casual fare.

Went to enjoy a meal with my parents for their anniversary. It’s definitely a small crowded place and very loud when at capacity. They had to find a spot for us last minute because they said they don’t get notifications for online reservations so they never got ours. They were very kind to squeeze us in on a busy night. Since they were at capacity, service was slow. It took a while to get our order in and also to get our food. The food itself was good! The pasta and shrimp were the best part.

What a delightful find! This hole-in-the-wall restaurant doesn’t look like much from the street. But the menu has an excellent variety, the portions are generous, and the food is delicious. The risotto was cooked to order! The meal came with a large bowl of freshly grated parmesan. And the chocolate decadence cake was divine. The owner told me that they’ll be celebrating their 30th anniversary this coming January, and I can see why they’ve lasted this long.

If you're looking for a semi-casual and laid back BYOB with your special someone, this is the place. Atmosphere is relaxed, food is comforting, and the staff is fantastically friendly. A single talented chef prepares all the meals with care and attention, bring your appetite because portions are large! Especially well prepared chicken in a variety of dishes, but plenty of eggplant and mushroom with amazing flavor.

1st time visiting the restaurant with friends. A small place offering BYOB along with a nice menu. Great service along with a good meal. Sausage appetizer outstanding, along with the garlic bread.

Food was good but not exceptional. Overall culinary experience was underwelming. House salad very disappointing approximately two shredded lettuce leaves. For a 30.00 pasta meal you might expect a larger house salad and perhaps an offer of fresh Italian bread. Mostly all pasta dishes on the menu have the same basic sauce of onion, garlic and fresh tomatoes with variations to protein, vegetables, added cream or butter. Large pasta portions distract from culinary expertise. I ordered a scampi with shrimp. Scampi lacked traditional favors of garlic and butter. Cavatelli was small and didn’t have flavor or texture that sets it apart from other pastas. Ingredients were fresh. Service was excellent. It was great to be able to bring your choice of beverages.

I think this place has been around for decades. It has a solid clientele of regulars and a very consistent chef. The place is small, so reservations recommended. The food itself is hearty and delicious. The place is byob, so bring your own reds and whites to pair with the pasta!

Definitely call days ahead to make a reservation. Restaurant is small with tables close to each other. Very loud in there, but cozy / small family feel. Food was good but would like to return and try something else.