Welcome to Geno Auriemma’s newest restaurant, Cafe Aura. Focusing on upscale dining, an extensive bar with world-class wines, prime steaks, and classic Italian dishes with a modern twist, Cafe Aura is sure to please.
Cafe Aura has been consistently recognized by diners and readers across Connecticut for excellence in both cuisine and atmosphere.
The restaurant was voted Best New Restaurant in the 2020 Best of Hartford Magazine Readers’ Poll, and has continued to earn accolades each year since. In 2023, Cafe Aura placed in the top 3 for Romantic Restaurant, Wine List in a Restaurant, Special Occasion Restaurant, and Italian.
In 2024 and again in 2025, Cafe Aura was a finalist for Best Wine List in the Best of Hartford Readers’ Poll. The restaurant was also featured in Connecticut Magazine’s Best Restaurants 2025, named the Hartford County winner and a statewide finalist for Best Wine Selection.
From standout wine offerings to memorable dining experiences, Cafe Aura continues to be a local favorite year after year.
Geno Auriemma was named coach of the University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball program on May 17, 1985, and in 35 years has led the UConn Huskies to twenty Final Fours, eleven NCAA championships, six perfect seasons and 49 conference championships. A 2006 inductee to both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Auriemma became just the fourth women’s basketball coach to reach 1,000 career wins on Dec. 19, 2017. He was the fastest coach to reach the mark and owns the best win percentage in the sport (.884). Auriemma has been named Naismith National Coach of the Year eight times, AP National Coach of the Year nine times, WBCA National Coach of the Year seven times and conference coach of the year 15 times. Off the court, the Huskies boast a perfect 100 percent graduation rate among four-year student athletes while regularly participating in community service and outreach activities.
Coach Auriemma has served as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National team for eight years, leading Team USA to the 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medals. He also led the United States to gold in the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Championships.
Auriemma, the son of Italian immigrants, was born in Italy and moved to Norristown, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, with his parents, brother and sister, when he was young. He is a graduate of Bishop Kenrick High School and West Chester (Pa.) University. His coaching career began as the assistant women’s basketball coach at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia during the 1978-79 season. He later coached boys high school basketball at Bishop Kenrick before becoming an assistant to coach Debbie Ryan at the University of Virginia in 1981, where he worked until UConn hired him.
Coach Auriemma currently resides in Manchester, CT with his wife Kathy. Geno has three children and three grandchildren. To learn more about Coach Auriemma, please visit www.GenoAuriemma.com.
