Best Places to Eat in Connecticut

Connecticut Food

 

Are you looking for eateries that offer creative and delicious foods in Connecticut? Here are must-try restaurants with unique cuisines and extensive wine selection.

The Place

The Place is a great outdoor Connecticut restaurant that offers authentic seafood. Visitors can dine while cracking smoky lobsters, savory clams, and so much more. They also have a large menu that allows visitors to take their orders. And instead of chairs, the bright red tables are encircled with freshly cut flowers and tree stumps.

On top of their menu, you’ll find Roast Clam Special. It’s dressed with cocktail sauce and put on the fire to roast with flavor. You can also choose a variety of veggies like zucchini, onions, yellow squash, and bell peppers.

Seafood lovers can try the lobsters – they are first boiled before being cooked over the fire for a smoky flavor. But what makes this Connecticut restaurant truly unique is they allow visitors to bring their dishes to supplement the meal.

Miya’s Sushi

Miya’s is the first sustainable Sushi Connecticut restaurant that offers inventive twists on Japanese cuisine. You can treat yourself to a grand picnic to celebrate kindness, nature, and connection. Alternatively, you can choose a multi-course dinner that features Chef Bun’s classics. Don’t forget to satiate your taste buds with the signature plant-based sushi platter. It features organic veggies, weeds, nuts, and fruits. The appetizers consist of:

  • Hot pickled edamame
  • Wild oyster mushroom broth
  • Crispy fried potato rolls
  • Seaweed salad
  • Organic leafy greens with vinegar dressing
  • Slimy fermented soybeans

Guilford Lobster Pound

Guilford Lobster Pound is a family-owned Connecticut restaurant that offers authentic seafood dishes. You’ll not only enjoy freshly caught lobster but also taste the difference. Besides, this restaurant serves ice creams, hot chili hot dogs, and cold drinks. The detailed menu also includes:

  • Clam chowder
  • Stuffed clams
  • Soda and ice tea
  • Chips

No matter the time you visit, you’ll find something new on the menu. The deck can be rented and designed to accommodate your needs.

Mecha

Mecha is a hidden gem that offers Asian dishes – from Japanese Ramen to Vietnamese Pho. Their signature dishes on the menu consists of:

  • Korean fried chicken
  • Shiitake
  • Pork belly
  • Roasted mushroom dumplings
  • Kale salad
  • Red oil dumplings
  • Firecracker wings
  • Saigon egg rolls

What makes Mecha a top Connecticut restaurant is the happy hour. Every Monday to Friday you can enjoy dishes at reduced prices. They also serve a variety of drinks like:

  • African temple tea
  • Tequila and mescal blend
  • Passion fruit
  • Pineapple
  • White rum Agricole
  • Grapefruit bitters
  • Reposado tequila

Barcelona Restaurant

Barcelona is a renowned Connecticut restaurant that features an ever-changing menu. Their dishes focus on seasonal ingredients and specialties. Whether you need Mediterranean cuisines or vegan options, the restaurant has you covered.

When you place your order, Chef Jason Toledo will prepare a meal that will take your culinary experience to the next level. This Connecticut restaurant also offers an extensive wine list from South America and Spain and has one of the best Restaurant Design in the state.

Frank Pepe’s Pizza

This is arguably the oldest pizza restaurant in Connecticut. It’s known for the signature thin-crust pizza baked in brick ovens. And depending on your preference, you can top the pizza with freshly-chucked clams or local veggies.

Even if you’re a large group, you can be sure this Connecticut restaurant will accommodate you with ease. It has a capacity of 3,800 square feet, enough to occupy 100 people.

Avanti restaurant connecticut

Avanti

Avanti is one of the best Connecticut restaurants located at 34 River Rd, Meriden. It has an extensive menu option that caters to the needs of every palate. On the top of their menu, you’ll find weekly specials served in family style. You get Chicken Parmesan over penne, broccoli, garlic, and vodka with a chicken cutlet. Other options include:

  • Cocktails – Italian bloody Mary
  • Panko encrusted shrimp
  • Chicken in pesto cream sauce
  • Sautéed shrimp, calamari, or mussels

In addition to that, Avanti offers a variety of appetizers and main dishes. You can try their home-made Italian bread served with pasta or salad. Their appetizers include shrimp cocktails, fried calamari, stuffed mushrooms, and cream sauce. If you’re looking for something hot from the oven, you can go for Lasagna, Eggplant Parmigiana, baked cheese, or pasta.

The main dish consists of chicken stuffed with sausage or broccoli. Alternatively, you can take boneless breast sautéed in lemon butter. Both can go with white wine or masala wine sauce.

Seafood enthusiasts can enjoy salmon Calabrese. And depending on your needs, you can sear with roasted peppers, olives, artichokes, or brandy cherry sauce. The salmon can also be served with wine sauce that features fresh Italian herbs.

When it comes to dessert options, you have a variety to choose from including:

  • Housemade creme
  • Tiramisu
  • Mango sorbet
  • New York-style cheesecake
  • Chocolate or vanilla ice-cream

The banquet menu consists of a four-course dinner that includes pasta, main dishes, salads, and desserts.

Cucaramacara restaurant

Cucaramacara

This eatery offers burritos, tacos, and other foods with Mexican fare. The burritos consist of steak, chicken, macho man, placero, fish, and shrimp. You can also go for fajitas like steak, chicken, veggies, shrimp, and cucaramacara comb.

Sandwich lovers can try pork lion with adodo sauce, chicken cutlet with lettuce and tomato, and Milanesa (mayo, steak, cheese, fried beans, and avocado). The side dishes consist of:

  • Rice
  • Beans
  • Corn salad
  • Guacamole

Huxley’s Bookmark Café

Whether you’re in town for breakfast or lunch, this Connecticut restaurant offers an array of options for calorie-conscious people. You can also sink your teeth to something delicious that suits the needs of meat lovers and vegetarians.

On top of the menu, you’ll find golden brown pancakes served with butter and syrup. Depending on your needs, you can go for:

  • Banana walnut pancake
  • Chocolate chip pancakes
  • Fresh blueberry pancakes
  • Pancakes topped with bananas and strawberries

Sandwich lovers can satiate their palates with bacon or sausage, corn beef hash, Canadian bacon, or Western sandwich. Other signature dishes are Nova benedict, eggs benedict, Panini wonder, and Huxley scrambler.

The other reason why Huxley’s is a go-to option for many families is the fact that they have a friendly kids menu. Your little ones will enjoy grilled cheese with French fries, hot dogs, Mickey Mouse pancake, single Texas French toast, or fruits and toast. There are also a wide variety of beverages for kids like:

  • Flavored coffee/tea
  • Hot chocolate
  • Milk
  • Freddo espresso
  • Soda
  • Milkshake
  • Juice

When it comes to side orders, you can go for grilled veggies, Canadian bacon, rib-eye steak, gyro meat, onion rings, potato salad, stuffed grape leaves, or cole straw.

Olympos Diner connecticut

Olympos Diner

This is a family-friendly Connecticut restaurant that serves authentic American cuisines. They offer breakfast the whole day, so it can be the perfect place for late breakfast.

You can go for egg sandwiches (egg, cheese, and bacon), pancakes and French toast, Omelets (two eggs), or breakfasts sides.

If you happen to be in Connecticut for lunch, Olympos should be your go-to option. They serve signature sandwiches like:

  • Open tuna melt
  • Reuben
  • Montecito
  • Cheeseburger and bacon
  • Roast beef and Swiss
  • Turkey and bacon
  • Virginia ham and Swiss

When it comes to salads, this Connecticut restaurant will cater to the needs of carnivores and vegans. Some of the options in their menu are:

  • Buffalo chicken salad – onions, cucumbers, mixed greens, blue cheese crumbles, green peppers, etc.
  • Baby spinach salad – cucumbers, tomato, hard-boiled eggs
  • Chef salad – cucumbers, onions, Virginia ham, roast beef, green peppers, turkey, etc.
  • Cobb salad – green peppers, blue cheese & bacon, avocado, and boiled egg
  • Greek Salad – kalamata olives & stuffed grape leaves, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, feta cheese

Looking for a Connecticut restaurant to take your dinner? Well, the Olympos Diner has your back. Before you take the main dish, you can boost your appetite with crab cakes, fried Buffalo wings, Greek fries, or fried Mozzarella steaks. Don’t forget to try their soups and beverages like:

  • Homemade chocolate mousse
  • Ice cream
  • Milkshake – strawberry, vanilla, or chocolate
  • Pie
  • Specialty milkshakes
  • Homemade puddings

Spoonshoppe Brooke

Spoonshoppe Brooke is a unique Connecticut restaurant that offers local seafood, sandwiches, and soups. Every year, this eatery welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world. Needless to say, this Connecticut restaurant serves great-tasting and affordable seafood.

Whether you stop by for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you can try the great burgers, hot dogs, soups, sides, and more. On the top menu, you’ll find cuisines like:

  • Chicken caesar wrap
  • Turkey club – toasted hard roll of lettuce, bacon, or tomato
  • Hot pastrami sandwich
  • Salmon burger – salmon on a toasted chipotle mayo or lettuce
  • Bacon, lettuce, tomato with a choice of bread
  • Hot lobster roll – a quarter pound lobster served with toasted roll

Their side dishes consist of potato salad, onion rings, French fries, coleslaw, green salad, or French fries.

Tacos Ni Macho connecticut

Tacos Ni Macho

This Connecticut restaurant offers authentic Mexican street food. Their appetizers consist of French fries topped with garlic and cheese, homemade tortilla topped with sour cream, Mexican street corn, guacamole and chips, and chips and salsa.

You’ll also try Mexican-inspired dishes like buffalo chicken, deep-fried flour tortilla, or quesadilla filled with French fries. In addition to that, this restaurant offers authentic dishes like:

  • Mulitas – two mini corn topped with cheese, tomato, guacamole, or cilantro
  • Flautas – pan-fried rolled tacos topped with sour cream, avocado, or cilantro lime sauce
  • Sope meal – it consists of two hand-made corn topped with onions, sour cream, beans, or queso fresco.
  • Huarache – it’s a hand-pressed grilled tortilla topped with onions, lettuce, cheese, and beans
  • Authentic quesadilla meal – it consists of hand-pressed corn served with rice or beans

This Connecticut restaurant offers outside catering services, but you have to give 48-hour notice. You can go for:

  • A full-size pan that consists of specialty meats
  • Half-size pan
  • Quarter size pan
  • Small burrito platter
  • Large burrito platter
  • Quarter pan of guacamole
  • A small tray of churros
  • A large tray of churros
  • Tres leches

Taproot, Bethel

Taproot offers foods with down to earth setting and those that feature local ingredients. Their detailed menu is divided into sections like bites & small plates, bread, plates, noodles, and veggies and sides. After you enjoy your meal, you should try their cocktails like the golden child, Thai tea, further east, gin slinger, or uncle’s medicine.

Since taproot brings a simple but unique cooking style to the Connecticut restaurant scene, it has earned stripes from all over the world.

Other non-alcoholic beverages include oat milk, unsweetened iced tea, diet cola, pink lemonade, sprite, decaf coffee, herbal tea, and coke.

Do you have a wedding, birthday, or any other private event? Well, Taproot has everything you need to make your event unforgettable. They allow host private events that include their signature menus.

Stone Row Kitchen + Bar

Stone Row Kitchen

Stone Row Kitchen is a state-of-the-art Connecticut restaurant where small plates bear surprises. It’s a few blocks from Eastern Connecticut University. What makes this eatery one of a kind is the fact that their salads hit the perfect notes. You can go for herb-marinated olives or additive peanuts.

Another minor element that steals the show is the sunny-side-up egg, asparagus, or grilled ramps. The cinnamon and hints of clove bursts with flavor.

Metro Bis

Metro Bis is a special restaurant that allows you to dine at the heart of Connecticut. On the top menu, you’ll find the first course that includes slivered garlic, sweet peppers, and spicy tomato sauce. The second course features dishes like sliced onion, French fries, Metro cheeseburger, chopped egg, Cobb salad, or tomato ginger dressing. The third course includes shaved chocolate and whipped cream.

If you want to host a private event, Metro Bis has you covered. They can create a custom menu for brunch, lunch, and dinner. This Connecticut restaurant offers space to host birthdays, weddings, showers, anniversaries, meetings, and more.

The gallery can accommodate up to 120 people, while cocktail celebrations can host up to 300 guests. If you’re a small group, you can book the Serenity room – adjacent to chef Prosperi’s book collection. It can accommodate 8-14 people.

Vintage restaurant connecticut

Vintage

Vintage is a Connecticut restaurant that pays to old and new traditions. Their menu consists of cheese from local farms and the best meats. Once you step into the restaurant, you’ll meet Chef Tim. Because of his commitment to local food, he offers an incredibly delicious menu.

This Connecticut restaurant marries upscale comfort with flavor. While its name conjures images of the past, the eatery serves food that reflects modern culinary sensibilities.

The menu consists of breakfast burger, classic vintage burger, Cato burger, pork, veggie, sausage, brisket, and sloppy Joe.

If you want to host small parties, Vintage offers a cozy and intimate setting for 30 people.