By Jaycek Simko
(February 15, 2023) — Open for only 6 months, Morina Italian Restaurant in the Tylerville section of Haddam is serving up delicious, homey Italian food. With recipes from both expert staff and owner Edisa Morina’s mother, the restaurant combines authentic recipes with the ambience of fine dining.
Along with specialty pizzas and pastas, the garlic knots, made fresh each morning by Edisa’s mother, are a customer favorite. After a better-than-anticipated start six months ago, the restaurant recently applied for a live entertainment license with hopes to host local bands and karaoke nights.
Despite Morina’s opening mere months ago, Edisa’s story actually started seven years ago, when her family moved from Albania to Connecticut. Since moving here, Morina has worked multiple jobs in different Middletown Italian restaurants. She has experience as a waitress, host, bartender, and manager. While she worked, Morina also found time to pursue higher education. She already has her bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University and is a semester away from obtaining her master’s degree from the University of New Haven.
When Morina first started planning for her own restaurant, she decided upon Italian food because of her experience with Italian restaurants, its similarities to Albanian food, and her connections with local distributors. With lots of support from her family, she found the perfect spot in Haddam to open up shop. Since opening, Edisa credits her family for their help every step of the way. She said that the restaurant may be “under my name, but it’s our family’s.”
When asked for the secret to her success, Morina replied, “Do what you enjoy,” and “Never give up… Believe in yourself!” With a smile, she also shared that fear of failure pushed her to work even harder. My family and I recently had the opportunity to enjoy the fresh new tastes offered up by Edisa and her family. Don’t take my word about the delicious new food option in town; stop by Morina’s this week and decide for yourself!
Photos provided by Morina Restaurant
