Cafe Pesto’s is a welcoming Italian restaurant in Farmington, CT, where classic comfort meets attentive service and a warm neighborhood feel. Conveniently located at 1274 Farmington Ave, it offers an inviting place to gather for lunch, dinner, or a relaxed solo meal.
Guests appreciate the casual, cozy atmosphere, the option to make reservations, and the flexibility of enjoying their experience indoors, at the bar, or outdoors.
Whether you’re stopping in for a quick bite, meeting friends for cocktails, or settling in for a full dinner, Cafe Pesto’s is designed to make every visit feel easy, enjoyable, and memorable.
The menu brings together the best of Italian-inspired dining with options that suit a wide range of tastes and occasions. From comfort food and small plates to vegetarian options, coffee, dessert, beer, wine, cocktails, and spirits, there is something here for nearly every craving.
The restaurant is especially known for its fast service, great cocktails, great dessert, and an impressive wine list, making it a standout choice for guests who value both quality and efficiency.
With dine-in, takeaway, kerbside pickup, delivery, on-site services, and outdoor seating available, Cafe Pesto’s gives customers the convenience they want without sacrificing the quality and hospitality they expect from a top local restaurant. It is also well suited for catering and table service, adding even more value for celebrations, business gatherings, and family events.
Cafe Pesto’s is also committed to accessibility and comfort for all guests. The business offers a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet, along with an assistive hearing loop, helping make the dining experience more inclusive and welcoming.
With a strong 4.50-star rating from 150 reviews, the restaurant has earned the trust of its customers through consistent food, dependable service, and a pleasant dining experience. Guests can pay conveniently with credit cards, debit cards, or NFC mobile payments, and can also enjoy practical amenities such as a restroom and an on-site bar.
For anyone looking for a quality Italian restaurant in Farmington that combines flavor, convenience, and genuine hospitality, Cafe Pesto’s offers a place to return to again and again.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Cafe Pesto's
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Fried calamari, hot banana peppers, capers, tossed in a saffron lemon wine sauce
Hand breaded served with traditional house marinara
10-Piece chicken wings, served with carrots, celery, and blue cheese. A choice of mild, spicy, smoked BBQ, and chipotle cream, garlic Parmesan, honey and BBQ, teriyaki, sweet chili, and mango habañero
6-Piece, served with carrots, celery, and blue cheese. A choice of mild, spicy, smoked BBQ, chipotle cream, garlic Parmesan, honey BBQ, teriyaki, sweet chili, and mango habañero
Shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and red roasted peppers in a lobster cream sauce
Mussels with peppers, onions in a spicy tomato sauce
Shrimp sautéed in a garlic sauce
Sautéed spicy Portuguese sausage with shrimp and spinach in a lemon butter sauce
Grilled chicken breast marinated in homemade pesto sauce
Breaded chicken sautéed with capers, in a lemon and white wine sauce
Fresh salmon marinated in balsamic vinaigrette
Blackened chicken topped with peppers, onions, and mushrooms in a Cajun cream sauce
Stuffed with shrimp and crab meat, topped with a lobster cream sauce
Chicken breast with mushrooms in a Marsala wine sauce
Grilled chicken sautéed with onions, garlic, red roasted peppers, and tomatoes in a lemon cream sauce over penne
Meatballs in a tomato sauce over spaghetti
Assorted fresh seasonal vegetables served with either herb cream sauce, tomato marinara, or pesto sauce over penne
Sautéed chunks of salmon with garlic, onions, mushrooms, and spinach in a tomato cream sauce over fettuccine
Sautéed chicken with peppers, onions, and spinach in a spicy tomato sauce over angel hair
Sautéed shrimp with garlic and sun dried tomatoes in a pesto sauce over penne
Breaded eggplant with mozzarella cheese topped with tomato sauce over penne
Homemade vodka cream sauce over penne
Sautéed hot sausage with garlic, hot pepper flakes, and grilled red peppers in a tomato sauce over penne
Blackened chicken with alfredo sauce over fettuccine
Homemade meat sauce with ground beef, sausage and veal over fettuccine
Capers, olives, garlic, grilled red peppers, and anchovies simmered in a spicy tomato sauce over linguine
Sautéed shrimp with onions, capers in a garlic white wine sauce over angel hair
Breaded chicken cutlet with mozzarella cheese, topped with tomato sauce over penne
Grilled chicken sautéed with mushrooms, red roasted peppers, onions, and spinach in a Gorgonzola cream sauce over fettuccine
Grilled chicken with alfredo sauce over fettuccine
Crisp romaine with croutons and Parmesan cheese in a creamy Caesar dressing
Fresh mixed greens topped with dried apricots, dried raisins, dried figs, cashews, and aged Portuguese cheese
Fresh mixed greens topped with fresh mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, roasted peppers, red onions, and kalamata olives
Fresh mixed greens with peppers, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, grape leaves, pepperoncini, olives, and feta cheese
Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bacon, hard boiled eggs, mozzarella cheese
Fresh mixed greens with cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes and carrots
New England style
Assorted grilled mushrooms
Assorted vegetables
Rice
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
Hear from our valued guests
Food was delicious and staff very accommodating. House made rolls, large portions and tons of great choices for food. Yummy desserts too. Definitely coming back often.
Food was DELICIOUS!!! The tortellini rose was so so so good as well as the penne ala vodka. Will definitely be back. Give them a try!!
Celiac peeps… Cafe Pesto is heaven on earth!! GF fried calamari! GF lil’ rolls with thee most AWEMAZING pesto spread! They have GF pasta!! The service was on point, the food was beyond delish, and the atmosphere was delightful! We sat outside on Monday 8/18/25… perfect ambiance 🙌🏻
Cafe Pesto's is a wonderful restaurant right on route 4. It has a wonderful selection of Italian dishes with Spanish influence. I have been here several times with my wife and have had amazing meals every time. Great cocktails, quiet atmosphere, and pesto that you need to try.
Always very satisfied when we go to Cafe Pesto. Today we got take out and it was amazing. Our favorite Italian restaurant for sure. Usually we sit on the patio by the water. It’s very relaxing. Great place.
My husband & I ordered takeout from recently-opened Cafe Pesto this afternoon. Everything was outstanding! I ordered chicken & eggplant parmigiana (fabulous); my husband loved the chicken parmigiana. Each of our meals tasted fresh, delicious, and portions were plentiful. The just-out-of-the-oven rolls (we received 2 each) were fabulous & accompanied with butter and their divine pesto. Bruno assisted us at the front desk - super nice person. I spoke with the owner, Paul, a very nice person who should have great success with this gem in Farmington.
First & foremost...CALLING ALL CELIACS this place is SAFE & Deliziosa!! It's hard enough to find SAFE gluten-free food when you have celiac disease & a gluten allergy...lol but, to also have it taste so AMAZING, HOMEMADE & FRESH...well, that's the cherry on top! I LOVE Cafe Pesto & have to say, after only one visit it IS my favorite Italian Restaurant (w/some fantastic authentic Portuguese options) The food, GF Calamari Picatta & GF Chicken & Eggplant Parm, I highly recommend...they just need better GF Bread (it was extremely hard), however, the "bagna-cauda" type (Italian Salsa Verde) was to die for, just like great-gramma used to make! The gluten eaters in the group raved about their dishes which were the Baked Stuffed Sole & House Paella. We will be back, our server, Precious, was absolutely the BEST & we hope to see her again in future visits!
I'm so happy this little neighborhood restaurant exists. Try to visit when it's warm out so you can eat outside with a river view, or come any time because the vibes are immaculate. Good music - not too loud. The staff is wonderful - Precious has been my server 3 times. She's attentive & charming. AJ at the bar will suggest a delicious wine pairing.. The prices are extremely fair for the portion size... And the quality! So delicious. Whatever you decide on, definitely dip your bread in their homeade pesto. 🤌🏻 Thanks for curing my hangover, guys!
This place is a real gem! If I could rate it any higher, I would. The service is impeccable and the waiters/waitresses really know what they’re doing. All of the food is very well-seasoned, which is uncharacteristic of most American cuisine. The prices were great for food quality that can be compared to fine dining. The portions are also very generous. I had a chocolate raspberry martini, and the bartender tailored it exactly to my liking. We also had the Calamari piccata, and it was delish. The paella is Portuguese style, and it was delectable and flavorful. It reminded us of our fond trip to Portugal. The baked stuffed sole was great too. The tortellini rose reminded me of a fine Italian restaurant I have been to in the past. Wish we could have had dessert, but we were too stuffed! The specialty desserts are truly unique.
Amazing. Service was wonderful and the food was incredible. Really large portions, so a hearty meal for sure! The restaurant had such a nice atmosphere, cozy and welcoming. Absolutely would come again!
Common questions about Cafe Pesto's
Cafe Pesto's is located at 1274 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06032, United States, Farmington, CT, United States.
You can reach Cafe Pesto's by calling +1 860-404-2216.
Cafe Pesto's has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 150 customer reviews.
Cafe Pesto's features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet, Assistive hearing loop.
Cafe Pesto's features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Kerbside pickup, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Cafe Pesto's features the following highlights: Fast service, Great cocktails, Great dessert, Great wine list.
Cafe Pesto's features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Cafe Pesto's features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Small plates, Spirits, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Cafe Pesto's features the following dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Counter service, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Cafe Pesto's features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Cafe Pesto's features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy.
Cafe Pesto's features the following crowd: Groups.
Cafe Pesto's features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
Cafe Pesto's features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Cafe Pesto's features the following children: Good for kids, High chairs, Kids' menu.
Cafe Pesto's features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Paid parking lot, Plenty of parking.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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