One Twenty Three Restaurant & Bar

I’m trying to figure out how some of these reviews, especially the ones that are so negative prior to October 2015, are posted here for La Vista when the place only opened in the last months of 2015. This is a new restaurant, new owners, new kitchen. It does not deserve the poor comments which seem intended for the failing restaurant that was there previously.

The food is good, the setting is calm and ideal for conversation. But, the food is unimaginative, some of the waiters are excellent, others mumble and ask you if you want another glass of wine when it’s still ¹⁄₃ full. The restaurant could have potential, but the menu hasn’t changed in a long time and it’s really basic «continental» fare. Most of the guests tend to be older and that may be ok for this menu, but to attract a younger guest or more foodies, this place needs a food «redo.»

I’ve passed by the place many times and when I finally went in I couldn’t have felt more welcome. Granted, I sat at the bar but everything was great. From the host, which turns out is the owner, to the great appetizers (that’s all I had today). Looking forward a full blown dinner.

Great margarita! Excellent food. A nice neighborhood restaurant with a cozy atmosphere. It is not cheap, but worth it!

Café 123 is the best kept secret in New Canaan, CT although restaurant is located just across border in Vista, NY which is within easy driving distance and with ample parking which is impossible in New Canaan. Wide variety of choices on menu from pasta dishes to seafood, steak, rack of lamb, duck, and weekly specials. Salads are included with entrees making prices very reasonable. This is a family run restaurant without high cost staff and space rental as in New Canaan and therefore are able to serve quality dishes with fresh linens, at reasonable prices. We are steady weekly customers for the past several years, and have hosted Birthday and other special occasions since they can accommodate large groups. We are reluctant to offer such a glowing review of Café 123 for fear it may become too popular requiring waiting at the bar and difficulty getting reservations. However, the truth must be told.

Don’t ever try and return a dish here!!! I was thrown out of the place for my wife returning a plate that tastes like water!!! I pulled the manager who turns out to be the owner aside to talk about how rude his waiter treated my wife and was literally throw out of the place. In front of people in the town that I know! I was civil the whole time. I pulled him aside in a quiet manner as not to make a scene. Then he accuses me of making one!!! I will never go back here! Go try the new ninos! That’s where I’ll be going!!! The topic of my hat is bs. I removed it as soon as I was asked to. It was actually one of the only times the waiter was polite! And as far as my wives dish goes… She was fought over the replacement of it. That’s why I talked to the manager in the first place. I was accused of being a «gang banger» because of my hat?! I have never been treated worse in my life. I would never dream of treating one of my customers the way I was treated ever! Maybe that’s why this place was empty when I was there. Take a word of advice here… Your customers pay your pay checks!

TERRIBLE!!! Hated it the first time… Gave it another chance and it was terrible again. And i did not appreciate the waiter arguing with me! My dinner was shitty! Dont try and justify it!

Awesome neighborhood restaurant. Great drinks, and nice meals at a leisurely pace. I wish they’d change the menu and the «specials». It’s been the same for eons.

We recently moved up from Brooklyn to the south salem area. Looking for decent Italian food we came across 123. Our standards are high coming from New York City of course and we know it will be near impossible to find a replacement of our beloved John’s on 12 street in the east village. We were pleased with the food here. Clams were fresh and bread freshly baked. Endive apple salad and tuna tartar apps were very tasty. Not quite John’s but we will be back to try more.

We had not visited this restaurant since it was L’Europe years ago. I heard talk of new owners but if they are new, they didn’t change much. Décor and menu seem about the same as 10 years ago. I am surprised at all the four star reviews on Unilocal because, while the food was OK, it was what I would call basic «country club dining room» food with little that was exceptional about it. Serviceable, but nothing more. Two big aggravations: the service, while pleasant, was excruciatingly slow– 3 hours from sitting down to paying the bill– and a lot of wine pushed and poured with the result that the bill plus tax and tip for two of us was almost $ 250. Nowhere near a $ 250 quality meal. And I’m only willing to spend 3 hours in a restaurant if I am enjoying Eleven Madison Park’s 9 course tasting menu. I don’t think we would go back which makes me a little sad as the help/​owners seemed very nice.

Noni D.
We love this restaurant, it became a second home for us. The personal service and care, accommodating to personal needs with a big smile., and willingness to help. is a hallmark of this restaurant. After our first visit, we were greeted by our names in subsequent ones.
The food selection is generous and varied and the quality is invariably excellent. The wine selection matches the food and ranges from very expensive, great wines, to good moderately priced ones.
The venue plays an important role in our love of this establishment. The warm atmosphere, quiet ambiance, and plenty of space between tables create a very comfortable background to the food and wine.
And last, but not least, the bar is very well stacked and the barman is the most talented and personal barman we have met in years.
Highly recommended

You can get a good meal at a fair price. The spaghetti and meatballs are a hit as well. This restaurant is solid and it is worth the trip down the road from New Canaan. Also have been there for bigger get together and they have done a nice job.

If you pass 123 heading towards New Canaan, make a U turn. It’s elegant, comfortable and the service is great. Dress up or casual. The burgers are great and if you can’t choose between the chocolate cake or crème brûlée, order both. It is a little pricy but nicer than anything you would have found if you’d kept going.

Went for first time and had the bacon wrapped pork. The place is truly impressive and they have created a wonderful atmosphere — 5 stars for that.
The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive — 5 stars for that.
The red wine selection by the glass could be better) in terms of choice and quality — 2 stars for that.
The food did not impress me. While the staff talks highly about everything I flu d truffle pizza, crackling calamari, sashimi appetizers average and main course — pork wrapped in bacon — was so salty that I found myself downing a glass of water after every bite.
No question this place will do well and is a huge plus for the area but the food could be a bit better.

Food is horrible. Service is worse. Flavorless and either cold or undercooked. Stay away from the escargot and lamb.

End of story: Well-​prepared food for reasonable prices. Worth trying if you are in the area.
123 is off the beaten path near the border of New Canaan, in Vista. It’s an Italian restaurant with all the classics like fried calamari, chicken piccata, and veal marsala. We’ve tried the salads, pasta dishes, and meat dishes, and all have been delicious.
Because of the location, it’s never very crowded, so if you have a bigger party of diners, go there for lunch or dinner instead of the busy New Canaan eateries. Good food and more elbow room.

Awesome food, good wine, great martinis, and ok staff!

I ordered the salmon and I was really impressed it was very tasty.

Very good and recommended. Much better than I was expecting. Service was friendly and attentive. Food was very good. Reasonable wine selection. Nice fresh baked, warm bread to start with. Salads included with dinner (where do you see that anymore). Mahi-​Mahi special with pineapple curry was delicious as was the scallop and shrimp risotto. Prices were excellent for Westchester.
Overall, a solid choice for a tasty dinner at an affordable price. We shall be back.

There’s ambition in the woods at 123. The menu diversity, food taste and on-​plate presentation would be competitive in a metro area locale. Service good but not tops during a recent lunch. Only real things holding it back is décor and somewhat clumsy (only at times) service. Very plain-​Jane interior. Very worth it for food; we plan to go back.
Second visit better than first. Décor unchanged but service more coherent. This is a really good restaurant which is worth a drive.