Cafe Melba - Milford, Connecticut

Easy Peasy101

Found this restaurant from an Instagram reel, and don't regret checking it out! We went on a Saturday night and the place got busier as we ate. We had no wait when we arrivdd and got to be seated outside. The menu was relatively small but it all seemed delicious. The food was delicious even with some adjustments we had to make (like removing the prosciutto or bacon). Best scallops I've had in a long time. Had a wonderful time and would go again if ever in the area.

Gianmarco D'Emilia

A great spot to have in the neighborhood! I love that it's a relatively small menu that changes daily/weekly. The dishes are a perfect size to share and try a variety of different things. The only downside of this place is that I want to order the whole menu every time I go. Never been disappointed by a dish.

Jessica Garza-Rice

Chef Dan never disappoints. This is a must try place. Food is amazing, staff is great and the vibe is just right. I’m not a professional reviewer so don’t have a 5 paragraph essay to write. Just go! 🙂

Michael Brennan

Overall I thought it was very nice. The flavors were well designed, the ambience was chill and welcoming and the staff was friendly.

That said, it's completely hidden away, the definition of a hole in the wall. I drove past this place for probably a year before even realizing it existed. The outdoor seating area is also a hidden gem, it's in a dollar store plaza and at first glance you'd never think there's a little courtyard but low and behold!

The food as I said tasted great, but the presentation lost a few points. Really for simple things, for example on the course that had bread, while again very tastey, serving those dishes on a massive uncut half loaf of bread is just clunky and awkward to share. It's not like they're giving you a knife to cut it and it would really be better if it was just sliced up a bit for you.

Staff was trying their best but the place was packed and between inside and outside it felt like they were a little short handed. Personalities were great though and everyone was welcoming and friendly. It didn't impact the atmosphere but they could probably do with an extra bar tender.

Overall a great addition to the Milford bar scene , especially in that part of town.

Delaney Altieri

We came to Melba on Saturday the 29th for an anniversary party for my sister & brother in law. Wow. The food was amazing, the STAFF WERE INCREDIBLE! I loved all of the decor, art, seating areas, all of it! The swordfish was incredible, obviously the chicken sandwich slaps. They did such an amazing job taking care of everything, staying on top of clearing/refilling food, bussing, the bartenders were very attentive, the drinks were delicious. Music was great, the ambience changed just slightly throughout to match the vibe of the party. Coming in from Denver & not having been back to CT in the last few years, I was pleasantly surprised to see something so cool without trying to be.Thank you all so much, for a real good time! ❤️⚡?

I. P.

My second visit and I'm still underwhelmed. The menu is more interesting than the actual food. The Negronis (and maybe other cocktails) are batch made and not freshly made. The sauce with my swordfish bites was still gelatinous from underreheating. The dish had three small cherry tomatoes. As far as desserts, supermarket ice cream is much better.

Tyler Marino

Went here with our 8 month old daughter, staff was very friendly. The service was great, food was fantastic. We had the beets and ricotta, Burrata toast, fried chicken sandwich and ravioli with short rib. Everything was fresh and delicious, the chicken breast was a little thick but really good regardless. I look forward to coming back here and sitting on the patio during the summer!

Larry Shanbrom

We finally got around to trying Cafe Melba and we're definitely not disappointed. The food was delicious and genuinely innovative and the short wine list had some very cool options. We had a bottle of a delicious gruner veltliner (seldom seen on most wine lists!) that was the perfect choice for a warm summerish night. Our server, Sophie (a college student on summer break) was delightful.
We will definitely return, but there are a few caveats:
1 - we were able to eat outside in the spacious patio and it was very enjoyable. While I know that several reviewers like the indoor area, we are definitely not fans. It really seemed very much like a dive bar and there was definitely an off-putting scent. Again, different strokes for different folks!
2 - the food was delivered way too quickly. I realize that the small and medium size plates are meant to be shared and enjoyed together, but we had all 4 dishes (a salad, a delicious long bean preparation, and 2 medium plates) delivered within 20 minutes of sitting down. Had we not decided to linger a bit, we would have been out the door in less than 45 minutes. Please slow down a bit!!!!
3 - while this wasn't a problem for us, I can see some diners being disappointed by the actual plating of the food. Nothing was particularly attractive in the way that the dishes were presented. That being acknowledged, everything was delicious!

We'll be back, but I do hope the management team takes to heart my review and makes a few changes that could definitely enhance the total experience.