Cafe Aura - Manchester, Connecticut

Saki T.

Cafe Aura restaurant is a great spot with nice service, and the food is great a well. At our most recent visit, our server, Abby, was just wonderful. She recommended the chef's special for the evening, and it was certainly a winner. I had the branzino with spinach and fingerling potatoes 👌🏽!
The ambiance here was quite nice. I'd recommend this restaurant.

Nicole S.

Went for a birthday dinner with friends. Noted on the reservation and the requests were accommodated without reminding. Staff was professional and pleasant and the food was delicious though the arancini could have come out at a higher temp. Always a great customer experience.

Jazz A.

I went here yesterday for a pharma dinner , and we had the best time, the restaurant is high end with modern chic vibe . The staff was amazing and very friendly , and the food matches the aesthetic (high quality and delicious) . We had a couple appetizers to share across the table . The meatballs were my favourite, we also tried the calamari which was good and the Ceasar salad (also good) .
And for my entre I got the filet mignon which was cooked with perfection and came with the asparagus and the potatoes. I loved the potatoes were so good I think I ate all of them before I even got to the filet since they were just so delicious. And the tiramisu was amazing as well . Highly recommend café aura . And I will definitely be back .

Tom D.

What a wonderful restaurant, the experience from when you walk in the door to when you leave was perfect.
The food, the service the atmosphere

Danielle S.

As a big Uconn fan for 30 years and Italian food lover dining at Cafe Aura had been a goal of mine and finally got there. Cafe Aura did not disappoint. My mom and I went for Mother’s Day and not only impressed by the food but the ambiance and service. It was very clean and modern inside. Our server was attentive and very professional.

We had the mussels to start, they were fresh and the sauce it was in was incredible. The grilled, garlic bread on top was the perfect way to use to dip into the sauce.

Our entrees were the cacio e pepe and the black sea bass. Both excellent with great flavor.

The cheesecake was fresh and very light.

Overall, great experience and can’t wait to be back.

Marla H.

Beautiful place with outstanding service and excellent food. We had the breakfast flatbread, chicken and waffles, and French toast and all three were equally delicious. Will definitely go back and take others to try it!

Bob H.

As longtime patrons of Cavey's, we were heartbroken when they announced their closing in May 2019. But when Geno Auriemma (head coach of UCONN women's basketball and part-time restaurateur) bought the restaurant, I remember thinking, "If anybody can pull off a second act for this venerable instutution, it's Geno." With a redesigned menu and redecorated interior, Cafe Aura opened phoenix-like later that December.

My wife and I eagerly tried out the new restaurant, and I have to confess that we felt that they weren't quite hitting the mark in their first few years of operation. It certainly didn't help that they opened right into the onslaught of COVID, although they did resume a limited take-out operation as soon as they could. But a few more years later, Cafe Aura appears to have hit their stride and be on top of the game, and have earned their status as a fitting heir to their legendary predecessor.

Although we've dined at Cafe Aura 3 to 4 times per year, this review will specifically cover our Mother's Day 2024 meal. Appetizers included calamari and Caesar salad. The calamari was crunchy and sweet with a clean, clear flavor, and accompanied by a nicely spicy marinara dipping sauce. The Caesar was highlighted by crisp romaine coated with a classic creamy dressing, crunchy garlic-infused croutons, and topped with generous shaved Parmesan. Entrees were lasagna bolognese (a generous slice, the sauce a flawless balance of creamy and meaty), grilled sea bass (firm yet flaky fish grilled to perfection and seasoned nicely), and a 12 oz. NY strip (aged beef done textbook medium rare with sides of fingerling potatoes and grilled baby carrots). Desserts encompassed tiramisu, creme brulee, and canollis. All in all a great meal, executed and served with excellence.

I should mention that during the main course, executive chef Erminio Conte stopped by the table. When I replied, "Wonderful" to him asking me what I thought of the lasagna, he responded, "Of course it is," and then added, "You know, it's the simple dishes that are the most difficult to get just right."

If I can find any fault, it may be that Cafe Aura ain't cheap. But the old adage that you get what you pay for is amply illustrated here. As was Cavey's before it, Cafe Aura is our go-to for special occasions.

Red

While it's a beautiful restaurant, I was very disappointed in the execution of the octopus dish. It was charred nicely but was way over salted, a bit too chewy and served in a very clunky manner. The vinaigrette tasted of just that, vinegar, it was on on a bed of way too much celery root and who thought putting 3 large, whole, cold raw tomatoes in this dish would be in any way appetizing? octopus should be enhanced by the other items on the plate not hidden by them....also I ordered a 9oz glass of red blend. This was a $21 glass and when I took my first sip I knew it was open too long to serve. I asked the bartender when it had been opened and he stated 3 maybe 4 days and asked if I'd like a new bottle opened. While I was glad he offered the proper response is, let me open you a new bottle... and finally what was I suppose to do with the parmesan and olives I was given? I was waiting for some bread or something to pair it with but I guess people eat chunks of parmesan without anything else? Needless to say I was not about to order dinner after that experience.