FAQs

Reservations & Dining

Yes, we do, and we highly recommend making them if you know you want to come for dinner, or brunch. You can book easily using our online booking system
We accept reservations up to 60 days in advance. For special occasion dates, such as holidays or major city events, reservations may open earlier or later than the standard 60-day window once our menus and event details are finalised.
We strongly recommend making a reservation. While we may be able to accommodate walk-ins, there is often a wait.
Yes of course, but you must phone the restaurant to do this. Our space is small so we need to coordinate larger groups carefully.
To ensure all guests can enjoy their dining experience, we allocate seating times as follows:
· 2 guests: 1 hour 30 minutes
· 3–5 guests: 2 hours
· 6+ guests: 2 hours 30 minutes
We kindly ask guests to respect these timings, as we operate multiple seatings during service and want every guest to have a smooth and enjoyable, relaxed visit with us.
Yes. Our full dinner menu is available every night. Feature Nights simply offer additional specials alongside it, and “very special” ones if we might say!
Our Chef’s Counter is an intimate six-seat experience where guests can sit close to the kitchen, watch Chef ROLi and the team at work, and enjoy a bit of conversation when the pace allows. We highly recommend choosing the Chef’s Tasting Menu when booking the counter for the full experience. On weekends, the tasting menu is exclusively served at the counter. During the week, it remains the preferred option, though the regular dinner menu may be available if the counter has not been reserved specifically for the tasting experience.
No, the bar is not available for reservations, it is ‘walk in only’. We make exceptions to that on holidays, and special event nights where we may take reservations for it.
We do not have a private dining room.
Yes, we are open to full restaurant buy-outs. Please email angela@rolinewhaven.com with your request.
We offer a beautiful selection of house-made individual desserts and, with one(1) weeks’ notice, can prepare a large-format Sacher Torte for celebration. Please call the restaurant for pricing and to place an order – we love helping mark special occasions. If you prefer to bring your own celebration cake, a $4 per person cake-cutting fee will apply.

Parking

Please note that ROLi does not have a guest parking lot anymore. Sorry, we wish we had, but that is how it is! Street parking is available throughout the surrounding neighborhood, and for many guests, Uber/Lyft is often the easiest, most stress-free option, especially on busy evenings and weekends.
Nearby public parking options within a short walk of the restaurant include:
- State St Garage - 270 State Street, New Haven, CT 06510 -/+ 5 mins walk
- Granite Square Garage - 690 State Street New Haven, CT 06511 -/+8-10 mins walk
- State/Chapel Parking Lot - 253 State St, New Haven, CT 06510 -/+ 4 mins walk
As always, please carefully check all parking signs and restrictions before leaving your vehicle.
Do not park in the lot behind our back entrance OR our former short term rental lot at 71 Olive St (labelled Ahern Properties) both properties WILL TOW YOU!
We have no control / power over this - they are private lots, so please avoid this situation!

Food & Dietary Requirements

We will always make every effort to accommodate food allergies. However, as we operate a busy kitchen, we cannot guarantee that all allergen needs can be fully met.
We offer several dishes that do not contain gluten. Each menu item is coded for allergens, look for “gf” to indicate gluten-free options.n
Our menu includes vegetarian dishes (marked v). While we do not have dedicated vegan offerings, we’re happy to adjust a dish where possible. Due to our cooking style and ingredients, options for strict vegans are very limited, and we appreciate your understanding of this.
Yes we love to, whenever the quality meets Chef ROLi’s standards and it is financially sustainable for us to do so.

Drinks & Bar

Yes. We offer a full bar featuring premium spirits, a curated selection of European and local bottled beers, and a thoughtfully composed wine program.
Yes, we do. Wine at ROLi is about enjoyment, discovery, and approachability. Our list spans the globe, with a particular focus on small estates and producers who embrace organic and sustainable vineyard practices. We’ve curated the collection to feel inviting and easy to navigate — whether you’re exploring something new or returning to an old favourite.
Yes. We offer a seasonal scratch cocktail menu, with a particular focus on gin.
Yes, you’re welcome to join us for drinks at the bar. However, please note our bar is intimate, and we prioritise dining guests. Our Horseshoe Bar offers bespoke cocktails and gins from around the world, along with a tailored bar menu.
Yes, Monday to Friday, 5pm–6pm at the Horseshoe Bar. (Excludes holidays and special event nights.) We serve drinks and nibbles. You can see the menu here.
Yes. Guests can bring their own bottle provided it is not currently listed on our wine menu. Corkage is $40 per 750ml bottle. We kindly ask that all bottles be unopened and presented to your server upon arrival.

Families & Children

Absolutely. We welcome families of all ages. Please note that children are not permitted in the bar area due to licensing regulations.
Yes, we offer a children’s menu.
Children who are well-behaved and remain seated during dinner service are always welcome.
Yes, we have both available.

Accessibility

Yes. All of our spaces and restrooms are fully accessible.

Takeaway

We offer takeaway ordering via this website. We do not provide delivery. To order online for a pick-up go here.
Feature Night specials are not immediately available online. Chef ensures we can accommodate in-house reservations first. If available, these items may be released for takeaway after 8:15pm on the relevant evening. Please call the restaurant to inquire after 8:15pm on the relevant night.

Outdoor Seating & Pets

Yes. Seasonally, approximately mid-May through mid-October.
While we love animals (our logo says it all), only dogs certified under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are permitted inside the restaurant. When our patio is open, well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome outdoors.

Gifts & Merchandise

Yes. Gift cards are available in any amount starting at $10 and can be purchased at the restaurant or through our website store.
Yes, we offer ROLi-branded hats available in-house or through our online store for pickup or delivery.

Dress Code

We don't enforce a strict dress code, but we do ask guests to avoid beachwear or overly casual attire. Our dining room has a vintage, elegant atmosphere, and many of our guests enjoy dressing up a bit - it makes for great memories (and photos!). Feel free to bring your personal style, but we recommend smart casual as a guideline so everyone feels comfortable and in tune with the space.

Postcards

Yes! We send postcards out every single night, it’s one of our favourite rituals. We have a selection of different postcards that you can choose from. You can write your message and a correct address and we’ll do the rest!
See bottom of page for why we do this!
Occasionally some boomerang back stamped “address unknown” and join the ROLi postcard graveyard (a sad little place). Clear handwriting and a correct full address give your postcard the best chance of making it to its destination. We promise we do our part and send them on their way nightly!

Do you like postcards as much as we do? 🐌 ✉️⁠

ROLi postcards have quickly become a meaningful part of who we are. They were never created as a marketing idea, but came from a simple belief: that writing to someone you care about, with pen, paper, and thought is a quiet, yet powerful act of connection.⁠ ⁠

We offer these free to our guest, simply for you to send a hello, a thought, a story, or a memory to someone who matters to you.⁠ ⁠ Some things are still worth slowing down for and we are happy to be a very small part of that!⁠

In a world of instant messaging we wanted to encourage something slower, more deliberate, and far more personal. There is something undeniably special about a handwritten note arriving in the mail. It's tangible, lasting, and deeply human.⁠ ⁠ Many of us remember the joy of receiving postcards from grandparents while they were away. Those small, unexpected messages carried a kind of magic. For us, that feeling is a sentimental memory we wanted to bring back to life through ROLi.⁠ ⁠

This idea also mirrors how we think about food and hospitality. Just as a dish can transport you back to a memory or a moment in time, a postcard carries a similar feeling, a physical reminder of a shared experience.⁠ ⁠ When you dine with us, you'll often find postcards featuring our little dachshund and other playful vignettes.