La Foresta Restaurant & Wine Bar

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Dream Built on Two Decades of Experience

In July 2014, Francesco Lulaj brought his biggest ambition to life on Route 81 in Killingworth, Connecticut. After more than 20 years working in restaurants across Italy, New York City, and New Haven, the Killingworth resident opened La Foresta Restaurant & Wine Bar — a place where serious Italian cooking meets an exceptional cellar.

The Wine List That Earned National Recognition

Wine Spectator awarded La Foresta its Best of Award of Excellence, and one look at the list explains why. The cellar holds over 1,600 selections and more than 10,000 total bottles, making it a genuine destination for wine lovers well beyond Connecticut. For an Italian restaurant of this scale in a small New England town, that kind of depth is rare.

What's on the Plate

The kitchen draws on local Connecticut ingredients and homegrown herbs, grounding the Italian menu in the seasons. A few dishes stand out as signatures: Pappardelle Alla Foresta brings together fresh pasta ribbons, wild mushrooms, peas, prosciutto di Parma, and a Parmigiano Reggiano cream sauce. Vitello Cassamare layers medallions of veal with mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, Maine lobster meat, whipped potatoes, baby spinach, and a garlic brandy sauce finished with truffle. The Carpaccio Di Manzo — thinly sliced raw filet mignon over baby arugula with truffle oil and lemon peppercorn vinaigrette — offers a lighter but equally considered option.

The Atmosphere

La Foresta runs a daily Social Hour and brings in live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, giving the room an energy that suits both a quiet weeknight dinner and a livelier weekend gathering. Private events and catering round out what Francesco and his team offer — a full-service Italian restaurant that takes both food and hospitality seriously.