[Tubeworm]

I'm wondering what are the largest Italian neighborhoods state-wide in terms of population (who are of Italian background/decent) and influence (food, culture). I'm aware that CT has it's fair share of diversity, but where do they reside specifically!?! Thanks in advance !

[AnonChick]

Wooster Square, New Haven, CT. Home of Pepe's and Sally's Pizzerias, Libby's Italian Ice, several other restaurants and pastry shops. It is a very -old- Italian neighborhood, with the first immigrants to come from Southern Italy in the 1870s. The Square, nicknamed "Little Italy of New Haven" was occupied almost entirely by Italian immigrants by 1915. The Square itself was build around 100 years before that. Ours is one of the oldest settled Italian neighborhoods in the USA.

East Haven is also heavily populated by Italians, throughout the town. But some of the older neighborhoods behind the Town Hall have a higher concentration than others.

[Stylo]

I believe Italian is the biggest ancestral group in CT.

Wooster Street is known as CT's "Little Italy". The food there is more consistent than Manhattan's Little Italy IMO, which isn't what it used to be.

Wooster Street - New Haven, Connecticut's "Little Italy" - a set on Flickr

[willow wind]

I'd venture that the Wooster St. area in New Haven would up there at the top. Nearby East Haven has a very high Italian population. North Haven is right up there too.

Waterbury would be on the list. Hartford's south end used to be mostly Italian. Over the years most Italians have moved out of there to the surrounding towns such as Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, Newington.

Bristol has lots and lots of Italians as does Southington. I'm likely leaving some towns out- I'm sure others will add them in.

[AnonChick]

I've never been to Manhattan's - but I used to frequent the North End in Boston. Though Wooster Square is Connecticut's own treasure, the North End's got them beat. But just a pinch of oregano

[Stylo]

North End is definitely superior too.

[Tubeworm]

Originally Posted by Stylo

I believe Italian is the biggest ancestral group in CT.

Wooster Street is known as CT's "Little Italy". The food there is better than Manhattan's Little Italy, which isn't what it used to be.

Wooster Street - New Haven, Connecticut's "Little Italy" - a set on Flickr

Very nice photo collection! Those cannolis in Libby's look delicious!

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Tubeworm

Very nice photo collection! Those cannolis in Libby's look delicious!

They are good, but nearby Lucibello's is better overall.

Lucibello's Italian Pastry Shop - New Haven, CT

[AnonChick]

Originally Posted by Tubeworm

Very nice photo collection! Those cannolis in Libby's look delicious!

The cannolis at Libby's ARE delicious. So are their snowball cookies, and their chocolate lace cookies, and their anginettes, and their tiramisu, and their CHOCOLATE ICE OMG and I can go on and on and on.

They opened a "satellite" shop down the street from where I live. This is one of the reasons why I haven't lost much weight in the past year. I -do- walk to the store though, that's a rule. If I want their cookies, I have to walk to and from, to get them. I make a circular route, from my house down to the gas station, then over and through the fairgrounds back home. It's probably just under a mile, round trip.

[Tubeworm]

Originally Posted by AnonChick

The cannolis at Libby's ARE delicious. So are their snowball cookies, and their chocolate lace cookies, and their anginettes, and their tiramisu, and their CHOCOLATE ICE OMG and I can go on and on and on.

They opened a "satellite" shop down the street from where I live. This is one of the reasons why I haven't lost much weight in the past year. I -do- walk to the store though, that's a rule. If I want their cookies, I have to walk to and from, to get them. I make a circular route, from my house down to the gas station, then over and through the fairgrounds back home. It's probably just under a mile, round trip.

Wow, good deal! I wish I lived closer to NH! The best Italian near Danbury is probably Downtown Bethel. There's LOTS of family-owned pizza takeouts and a bakery along with other Italian-owned businesses/restaurants.