Sal’s Pizza & Pasta

I had the broccoli rabe and sausage pizza, picture is enclosed. It was very good, however I wish that they had sautéed the broccoli in oil and garlic before they put it on the pie. It would of added a lot more flavor. It was very cheesy and creamy and the crust was good. I would of liked it if the crust was a little thinner. We also order a meatball sub which was very good. They also serve warm bread and butter. The bread was outstanding. One thing to you need to know is that they do not take credit cards, but there is a ATM machine in the Resturant

My family and I just went here for our first time the other night. It was much fancier on the inside than I expected but still casual enough for children. The atmosphere was great and the staff were friendly. Our waitress Barbara was wonderful. My daughter got a pizza, my husband got «Sal’s pasta», and I got the linguine with clams. (See pictures). Our dishes also came with a decent sized fresh salad. Everything was delicious and the portions were pretty decent sized leaving us with leftovers. I have no complaints.

I ordered pizza from here last week for the first time. Their website said they had two different types of pizza so I made sure to ask for the thin crust pizza. The pizza crust was thick so I think they either have me the wrong kind of pizza or their version of thin is off. Also the cheese kept falling off the pizza. I was not that impressed. They also don’t take cards for payment so I had to waste money at their ATM. Not my first choice for a pizza place.

Superb stuffed breads! It hit the spot after a long day of swimming at the nearby Saybrook Point Spa and Inn. The tall, gentleman owner of the family establishment wished my companion and I a sincere Happy Valentine’s Day. We received a warm introduction to his sister and wife. How sweet!

The trauma of leaving New Haven is mitigated by Sals.
Consistently great sauce, lots of oregano, and a decent pizza. Bacon here is really killer with big thick chunks not the thin strips. Crust is a bit dense but that doesn’t detract. Rather, it’s a nice filling pizza, and I don’t overindulge.
Calzones are also wonderful and again, the bright sauce is the star.
It’s not new haven, but, great in it’s own right.

This place is the epitome of Italian food and desserts. I’ve been eating here since they first opened (minus the years since I moved away in 2005) and it has been consistently perfect every time. The best pizza, stuffed breads, Italian appetizers, and pasta around. I haven’t tried the dessert menu as that was added after I moved away but it looks amazing. When I went home for a visit recently, this was one of the places I made sure to go back to and it was just as good as I remember, as it has been every time.

I used to come to Sals from time to time, back when they were in Westbrook. Occasionally, I’d eat in the dining area, but most times, it was a To Go order. This was my first time back in about 5 – 8 years.
Impressions:
Food: good. Used to be great.
Service: Bleh. The same same «Pizza Nazi» lady (Sister?) that runs the register is still here. Still a ray of sunshine. It must be hard scowling your whole life.
Cash only as noted elsewhere here.
If I’d sum it up, it’s still a good sandwich stop. Just get in and get out in a hurry, lest the staff infect you with their pleasant demeanor.

Update: I went for the pizza again, and was disappointed that Sasha no longer works there. This time I was waited on by Elaine, who is great also! The Sicilian pizza was also outstanding.

Every area has one really great restaurant. In the greater OLD SAYBROOK, area, it is SAL’s. Whenever I have guests from out of state, we eat at Sal’s.
It is an italian rstaurant. BEST PIZZA AND CALZONES IN CONNECTICUT. A cheese calzone costs $ 13.75 and it is huge. Two can eat one Calzone and won’t be hungry. My wife’s favorite is the LASAGNA and three can eat one meal. This is the only resrtaurant my wife will order LASAGNA. It is that good. She usually orders Chicken Parmesan at an Italian restaurant.
Restaurant is usually very busy and do not take credit cards or reservations. Separate take out business area. If you have to wait, it will be worth the wait.
Once you go there, you will keep coming back.
TRAVEL WITH KAL

Sal’s used to be a great Westbrook restaurant, but when they moved to Spencer Plains Rd., they started going downhill. The food grew less & less authentic, even greasy, and service staff are now outright unfriendly, and rarely smile. Go to Alforno’s just down the street: it’s Zagat rated & authentic Italian, with staff who treat you like royalty. Alforno’s has fresher ingredients and better pizza, too, with a far superior crispy crust. Sal’s also only takes cash, and waiters will laugh unkindly at customers who offer a credit card.

I’ve been to Sal’s Pizza for years and finally got around to writing up a review. We have been to each of their locations, but their Old Saybrook locations is perfect! There is plenty of space for dining in, taking out and parking.
Everything we get here is excellent and the same quality each time. I always like to start with the soup of the day which varies with the seasons. Their best soup is the minestrone if you can get it.
Their salads are large and fresh and can normally be shared between two people. Our family always shares the Sicilian style pizzas either with sausage or just plain cheese and sauce. We always have left overs and there is nothing better than Sal’s pizza for breakfast the next day.
In the past years I’ve also gotten subs, calzones or main dishes. Everything is great, but the pizza is something that we crave when we come back to CT.
The staff is great and many have been working at Sal’s for years! it is so nice to see familiar faces and have the staff recognize my family.
Sal’s is very kid friendly, we brought a 1 and 3 year old here with no issues. If you do have small children go early so you can get in and out fairly quickly.
I’m already looking forward to our next pizza here!

Good, simple food. Their linguine with broccoli was tasty, with the right amount of garlic. The personal pizza with red sauce topped with sausage and onion was reminiscent of pizza I had as a kid. The sauce is slightly sour, which I enjoyed as something different from the typical NY style. All in all a pleasant evening.

Sal’s is closed on Mondays. Need to adjust in Unilocal so it doesn’t say that it is open on Mondays.

Absolutely love Sal’s! We used to go when they were in Westbrook years ago when we lived in Guilford. 2 years ago we passed it and wondered if it was the same Sal’s. We got there almost every Saturday. To the people who complained about the crust being dry. You can request light crust and they are more than happy to oblige. All the servers are very nice and sometimes when busy it can take time to get a refill. That’s why we order a pitcher for only $ 4.75 or so. Their prices are very reasonable! Barbara is very nice!
The dining room is always spotless! There is ample parking. The food is delicious. Especially their sicilian pizza! Great atmosphere…
We come 20 miles from East Haven every Saturday.

I’m Italian and from new haven. I travel to sals for an authentic homemade Italian meal when I don’t feel like cooking! Need I say more? Antipasti, wine and homemade pasta. Great sauce! Great food! Great prices! Large portions! Cash only.

Awesome food!
Can’t say enough! I am a pizza snob and I real Italian and tell you this is the closest thing to going to Italy…

I’m a summer person here. It’s 2015. What kind of large restaurant doesn’t accept credit cards?! Also took forever and doesn’t deliver. Won’t be coming back. I’d advise others to do the same until they stop scamming people with 3 dollar ATM fees

I refuse to be in the Westbrook area without eating Sal’s. I have already eaten here twice this week and just finished a discussion on how excessive three times in six days would be. Verdict: still not enough.
Your best value is definitely a sub. Hovering around $ 7, anyone who can finish a whole deserves a medal. And a treadmill. My favorite is the tuna toasted with provolone, lettuce, tomato, and banana peppers. It must be two cans of tuna on an entire loaf of fresh bread. Regrets are for suckers. I can promise the traditional meatball or chicken parm will not disappoint either.
Thoughts of their pizza make my mouth water; these guys are on par with the New Haven standards I have. My sister keeps coming back to her favorite (eggplant and tomato) and I always steal a slice. If she switches it up and gets a calzone, the entire family could eat for two days. Those things are massive.
I could continue on about all the delicious pastas we have eaten, my dad’s favorite chef salad, how amazing the bruschetta is (warning: massive serving; easy to split among six), and the tempting new dessert menu (advice: homemade cannoli) but I have rambled on plenty. There is no way to be disappointed in Sal’s. Unless, of course, you only bring a credit card because they don’t take those.
tl;dr: massive portions, all delicious, no credit cards

Excellent eggplant grinder — get it with provolone! Eggplant is very flavorful and not breaded. Sauce was very well balanced. Roll was perfectly lightly toasted. Great quick stop off 95.

We came to this restaurant while visiting family in old saybrook, ct. The parking lot was pretty full. Our party of 6 was seated quickly. Their menu is extensive with pasta, grinders, and pizza. We ordered a large (18″) meatball pizza and a small 12″ chrese, onion, and garlic pizza (only 2 sizes). The large pizza can easily feed four; our order was more than enough.
The pizza was amazing. Fantasy quality. Thick crust and medium amount of sauce. Generous toppings and very filling. I would highly recommend trying out this restaurant.
Reason for 4 star instead of 5: CASH ONLY, they do not take cards; also crust was a tad dry but that’s a matter of preference.