Some restaurants feed you. Gino's Parlor makes you feel at home.

Since opening at 102 Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook in 2021, Gino's Parlor has brought more than four decades of New York pizza tradition to Connecticut — and never once lost the soul that built it. This is a place born in Queens, raised on real ingredients, and rooted in the belief that good food and good people go hand in hand.

Today, Gino's Parlor is owned and operated by Artie Praino — a familiar face in the Newtown community and a Queens native who has spent decades building relationships one table at a time. From the Newtown Deli to the Sandy Hook Deli, Woodbury Deli, and New Milford's Zaragoza — and now Gino's Parlor and Zaza's on Main — Artie has always understood that people don't just come back for the food — they come back for how you make them feel.

Now, he's got his eldest son by his side.

Joseph Praino stepped up to be Managing Partner of Gino's Parlor, and for Artie, it's the part of the job he's most proud of. "I've worked hard my whole life, and having Joseph here with me every day — watching him step up, take charge, and bring new energy and ideas to the table — that's what it's all for. Family means everything. I couldn't be more proud."

It's the kind of thing you can feel the moment you walk in. Two generations behind the counter, both with the same commitment to quality, the same pride in the product, and the same insistence that every single person who comes through that door leaves satisfied.

Gino's Parlor is also proud to be the sister restaurant of Zaza's on Main, now open on the village green in New Milford. Where Gino's is your neighborhood go-to for pizza and pasta, Zaza's is the elevated night out — global flavors, bold cocktails, vibrant energy, and live music. From lively brunches to intimate dinners, Zaza's is where the community comes to sit, sip, and savor. Two restaurants, one family, the same standard of excellence.

Gino's has introduced daily lunch specials, Monday through Friday from 11am to 4pm, available for dine in and takeout. Each day features a rotating menu of soup, salad, sandwich, burger, and pasta — all priced accessibly for the hardworking men and women of Newtown and the surrounding area. Because a great lunch shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg.

Monday through Wednesday from 4 to 9pm, Gino's Pasta Night Dine-In Special offers three full courses — salad, your choice of pasta dish, and dessert, plus a soda, coffee, or tea — for just $20.95 per person. It's one of the best deals in Fairfield County, full stop. View the full Pasta Night menu at ginosparlorct.com.

The fan-favorite Family Special is still going strong: a large cheese pizza, five wings, five mozzarella sticks, five garlic knots, and a two-liter soda for $30.95. Feed the whole family without breaking a sweat.

Cash customers save 3% on all orders.

Sample Of The Menu

Appetizers: Oversized arancini rice balls with spinach or meat and cheese, homemade Nonna's meatballs, and garlic knots that people drive across town for.

Soups & Salads: Homemade chicken noodle soup and Gino's famous salad — lettuce, tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, carrots, pimentos, and house-made Italian dressing.

Sandwiches: Classic parmesan heroes available with chicken, sausage, meatball, eggplant, shrimp, or veal.

Pasta: Don't leave without trying Pasta alla Gino's — crumbled sausage, pan-seared chicken, spinach, and cubed mozzarella in a pink sauce. A house staple for good reason.

Pizza: 18" round or Sicilian pies with endless topping combinations. Specialty pies include the beloved Drunken Grandma — thin crust square with vodka sauce and fresh mozzarella — and the mac & cheese pizzetta with homemade macaroni and four-cheese sauce. Vegan, gluten-free, and cauliflower crust options also available.

Calzones, Wraps & Panini: Customizable calzones and rolls served with sauce, plus wraps like the chicken bacon ranch and chicken Caesar.

Entrées: The grilled salmon — blackened or grilled, sautéed in garlic and oil, served with spinach and roasted potatoes — is a quiet standout.

Dessert: The Nutella pizzetta says it all: Nutella, roasted marshmallows, chocolate drizzle, powdered sugar. Order it. Thank us later.

Gino's Parlor is open 7 days a week from 11 am to 9 pm. Dine in, takeout, curbside pickup, delivery, and catering all available. Order online through Slice or find us on Uber Eats. Ask about the full catering menu for parties and events.

Gino's Parlor, 102 Church Hill Road, Sandy Hook. Visit ginosparlorct.com, email info@ginosparlorct.com, or call 203-304-1304. Follow on Facebook and Instagram.