Doma On Main - Branford, Connecticut

tom spaeth

Only had the pizza but let me tell you.....it's legit !! Will definitely go back to try more food !

Adam „Bash“ El-Bashary

I came here with a friend yesterday, and the food was absolutely amazing. Very, very impressed!

Decor was gorgeous, atmosphere was wonderful, our server was a delight, and the food had a richness that is missing from most restaurants of its category.

Staff were very respectful of my service dog, and just overall made the entire experience memorable.

If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would - we will definitely come back!

GINa MCCABe

Unexpectedly fantastic!!! The Pear Salad is a must! The Sweet Potato Ravioli was at another level!! Highly recommend!

Nicole Bartner

So, apparently Doma has been here for a whole while and my parents and I missed it. But! I only recently got them onboard with my #1 hobby: trying out restaurants. I visit from Vermont every other week and now we choose a new spot pretty much every visit. I mean a “new spot” for us. Doma was last week’s spot. The location is SUPER convenient: right on Main St in Branford. Although not next to The Green, a few blocks past that. There is no off street parking and there didn’t appear to be any handicapped spots close to the corner entrance? Which I did think was weird and which we could have really used…

Doma’s interior is super nice. Although definitely in a throw back kind of way. It’s kind of a theme in Shoreline Italian spots IMO: They’re trying to relive the “Glory Days” of Italian restaurants here in the US. You know, back in the 80s when Italian food made it to “fine dining” status.
Dad made a reservation for 4 and, for some inexplicable reason, they sat us directly next to the kitchen door? We were across from the bar. Turns out there is a whole second dining room on the “other side” of the bar/pizza oven. I do feel like that would have been a better seating area for us. But! It is clear that Doma is also operating on the old school/traditional “model” of restaurant management: i.e., the strict hierarchy of staff -there’s one guy seating everyone and just watching the staff - the person who fills your water glass cannot take your order - the waitpersons have strictly defined/assigned tables.

This model is terrible for the industry, for the workers and for the diners (I own a restaurant, I’m the cook, I know what I’m talking about). The restaurant industry REALLY needs to wrap their collective minds around moving past this. Believe me, it will greatly improve working conditions and dining experience and help with the ongoing so-called “hiring crisis”…

Anyhoo, they were BLARING Frank Sinatra. Like in a weird way. I mean it was INSANELY loud and I myself am a blarer of music. This was so incredibly loud we really couldn’t even have conversation. I was laughing at the volume. Which leads me to wonder wth was that manager dude doing? He didn’t notice people were YELLING AT EACH OTHER? Dad actually asked them to lower the music and I SUPPORT the request.

Dad lectured me about including the bread a restaurant brings to the table in my reviews. I do not. I think serving bread to the table is stupid. I don’t eat the bread. I am here for THE FOOD. IMO it’s a whole holdover from the ‘80s, as referred to above. The 80s came to an end (Thank God!). Let’s all move on. Shall we?

We started with a cheese pizza. It was an excellent cheese pizza for a restaurant. I mean I would not order pizza to go from Doma, this is The Land of Apizza and there are many other spots with better, amazing even, pizza. But for a nice dining spot this was a really, really good pizza!

Buffalo Shrimp Appetizer: Weirdly, this was the best thing I had. It was EXCELLENT. Shaved, fried celery strips were delightful. Shrimp cooked perfectly, delicious Buffalo Sauce and Blue Cheese Dressing.

Caesar Salad was a solid: MEH. Not bad. Not great. I added A LOT of red pepper flake to give it some flavor.

Side of Broccoli Rabe: PERFECTION. In the way it was cooked, seasoned and the fact that they cut the Rabe so you could just eat it with your fork without the big struggle.

Then I got my “test pasta” for restaurants: Penne alla Vodka. The Penne was cooked perfectly al dente. But Doma’s Vodka Sauce is not Vodka Sauce. It was a sweet tomato sauce. I added A LOT of red pepper flake (which was super fresh and actually spicy - so SNAPS to that!) and kept eating because that Penne was lovely.

I tasted the other entrees at the table that were fish and veggies (I don’t eat beef, pork or poultry) and they were VERY, VERY good. So I am giving 4 stars because I’m pretty sure I could order something a lot better than the Vodka Sauce… But I do have to deduct a star for that sauce and the weirdo seating and cray cray music volume. (LOL)

Janette Suffern

Another delightful and charming spot in Branford. Service always friendly and food consistently well prepared from pizza to main meals. A regular treat each visit.

Michele Acton

I’ve eaten at Doma before and enjoyed it but never had their pizza until last night. The pizza was incredibly good; thin crispy crust and the right amount of ingredients. We’ll definitely be back.

Ted Keyes

What a fabulous place, came across it via recommendation from a friend. Small but quaint place with an old school itlaian feel. Love the music. Food is delicious. Service is great. I've been there multiple times already and will be goin back again.

Linda Zalonski

This was your first time going to this restaurant it was an awesome experience service was amazing I will be going back for sure I am sad we have not been there before people take notice you should go it is so great.?❤️?