Filtering by Tag: New Years,Beer Dinner

60+ CT Restaurants To Celebrate New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day (2024 Edition)

Features New Years Holiday Homepage

Hannah Goodman

Every year has its ups and downs, its highs and lows, and 2024 was no different. Maybe it was your best year yet or maybe it kind of stunk and you’re looking forward to 2025. Either way, I hope you were able to eat great food and share yummy drinks over inspiring conversations with family, loved ones, or by yourself if that’s what you really wanted (alone time is okay!). So no matter the type of year you’ve had, it’s important we all go out with a bang, collectively. This list will provide you with the many New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day dinners, parties, brunches, and celebrations that our great state of Connecticut has to offer. The list is also broken down by county, so you have no choice but to throw some glitter on, dig out your 2024 glasses that you’re planning on turning into 2025 glasses somehow (you’re creative, you got this), and get yourself to a great restaurant or a rockin’ club. Do we love clubs 364 days out of the year? Maybe not, but on December 31st, we do! Happy New Year to my fellow CT brethren and here's to 2025! And don’t forget the advil…you’ll thank me later.  


50+ CT Restaurants To Celebrate New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day (2023 Edition)

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April Guilbault

2023 went by in the blink of an eye 

and now it’s the time again to say goodbye

So long, yes, but also hello too

and may 2024 be wonderfully good to you. 

With tasty food and bubbly drink

we celebrate and sing, our glasses clink

We toast and dance, reminisce and dine,

trying to remember the words to Ol Lang Syne

No one knows, no one really cares

its about being together as good wishes blare

So, dine and drink well before that ball drops

and know that all of us at CTbites think you are tops!


40+ Spots To Celebrate Oktoberfest In Connecticut 2023

Events Features Holiday Oktoberfest Brewery CT Beer Events EVENT Festival Beer Dinner Beer Festival Homepage

April Guilbault

“Let’s get a drink”. “Come over for a drink!”. There’s nothing more convivial than sharing a drink together with a person or a whole group of favorite persons. And isn’t the ol’ saying -it’s 5 o’clock somewhere? Well, here’s a historical “reason” to raise your glasses high-Oktoberfest, the beloved, ancient event involving mouthwatering beers, so much (too much? never!) merriment and some fabulous lederhosen. Oktoberfest-ivities run pretty much the entire month of September and into October, so there are plenty of chances to raise that stein. And remember, we all put our lederhosen on one leg at a time. Prost!


60+ CT Restaurants, Bars & Caterers To Celebrate New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day (2022 Edition)

Features New Years Holiday Guide Events Homepage

Carly Terzigni

It might be hard to believe, but we are just days away from bidding adieu to 2022. With a new year right around the corner, restaurants all around Connecticut are preparing to ring in 2023 with specialty a la carte menus, prix fixe dining experiences, live music, and plenty of champagne to toast with at midnight. Whether you are looking for a special dinner earlier in the evening or a full-blown party to midnight and beyond, there is something happening on December 31 for just about everyone.

If something on this list strikes your fancy, make sure you call ahead to book a reservation. Have a happy and healthy new year!


Friday Froth: Beer Dinners at Little Pub- Featuring New England Brewing

Features Friday Froth Beer CT Beer Beer Dinner Craft Beer Brewery

James Gribbon

Anyone who's ever hit happy hour and subsequently remembered they hadn't eaten dinner while staring into a beer at another location sometime around midnight can probably feel the pain of the next morning right now, as you're reading this. Remember that? Well, let's not let that happen again, or allow ourselves to slap late night drive-thru - the FlexTape of Shame - over the leaky bucket of our decisions.

What we need is food with our beers, whether we're adding plates to pitchers and pints at the taproom, or exploring flavor combinations at home. Inspiration struck while I was at my first beer pairing dinner in over two years at The Little Pub in Fairfield, hosted by Greg Radawich, director of brewing operations at New England Brewing Company in Woodbridge. I'll get into what you can have from the brewery and pub, plus a few more ideas to serve as springboards for your own dives into brews and foods.

And if you missed this beer dinner, Little Pub will be hosting another beer pairing dinner with Fat Orange Cat brewery at Little Pub, Fairfield on Tuesday, March 1.


50+ CT Restaurants To Celebrate New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day (2021 Edition)

Features Holiday New Years Roundup Homepage Events

April Guilbault

Here we go again, roaring into the 20s, this time #22! To celebrate this flip of the calendar, whether you choose to dine out or partake in a delicious and fun takeout with friends or family, there are a myriad of delicious menus and restaurant events that await you as we kiss goodbye one year and welcome another. Raise that glass, belt out Auld Lang Syne, hope for the best, and support our favorite restaurants while we do! Happy 2022, everyone. May we all have a happy, healthy, and delicious New Year (fingers crossed).


70+ CT Restaurants & Caterers Serving Christmas & New Year's Dinners To Go or Dine In

Features Restaurant Holiday Christmas New Years Catering Catering Guide Take Out Homepage

April Guilbault

The holidays have arrived. Unlike the usual joy and party atmosphere of a typical year’s end, this one brings with it innumerable emotions. In the midst of this tumultuous year, though, we have seen people coming together, helping each other and their communities as we haven’t seen for quite some time on such a scale. As you can see with just a small glance, the Holiday list before you is a long one-one of our longest—but it serves a dual purpose: to keep you, our fabulous readers, happy, safe, and cozied up with your families and “pods”, but it also serves to help us be aware of the restaurants in our midst who are going above and beyond to simply make it through this year and greet the new one. We hope you will continue to support each other and support the businesses in our state which help to keep our communities thriving. Happy Holidays to you all, to good health, and of course, good eatings.

We bring you 70+ CT Restaurants & Caterers for Holiday 2020 Catering & Dining.


Stamford's Winter Wonderland Market & Beer Garden Opens Dec. 6th

Features Beer Beer Dinner CT Beer Pop-Up Bar Stamford

CTbites Team

Half Full Brewery and Mill River Park Collaborative announced today the return of Winter Wonderland Market & Beer Garden to Stamford, Conn.’s Mill River Park.  The Winter Wonderland is intended to celebrate and unite local residents and professionals through a diverse and expanded slate of programming, which will run from Friday, Dec. 6 through Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2020.


East Rock Brewing Company Opens In New Haven

Features New Haven Brewery Openings Beer Dinner CT Beer

James Gribbon

Pull back the hour hand on the clock of geologic time and the land in what was once New Haven begins to fill in. The sandstone rises up, glaciers come and go again in reverse, and the scenery levels off. The view across the water isn't Long Island - the glaciers pulled that land back with them - it's what will become Morocco. Now spin the clock forward again. The continents drift - ice, then not ice again - and the land erodes away until something seems to rise up again: the traprock scarp we know as East Rock. There's a lot of history here, and the newest bit to crop up is East Rock Brewing Company.


Beers & Bites August 15th Tickets On Sale Featuring Skinny Pines & Chef Geoff Lazlo

Features CT Beer Beer Dinner Food Truck Stamford Events

Stephanie Webster

Half Full Brewery and CTBites are beyond excited to bring you this year's most creative and collaborative food and beer-pairing event series. Not to be missed, "Beers & Bites" 2018 pairs limited release beers from Half Full Brewery with totally off-menu food items from some of Fairfield County's best chefs and food truck operators. Tickets for our August 15th event with Skinny Pines pizza truck & Chef Geoff Lazlo are going fast, so get your tickets now! 


Nibble: CT Food Events For April 29- May 6

Features Events Beer Dinner Pop-Up Dinner

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson

The 5th Annual Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival in Ridgefield starts Saturday May 5 at 11am and runs through Sunday 5pm. The Event will be held at the Historic Lounsbury House at 316 Main Street. Tickets: $10 for adults and $5 for students. Children under 12 are FREE.

Sunday, April 29th, Half Full Brewery is hosting a pig roast with Hoodoo Brown BBQ. Doors open at 12:00 for beers, starting at 1:00 Hoodoo will be serving up BBQ Wings (tossed in Red Bee Honey Sauce), and a Pig Roast that will feature a whole hog, apple-vinegar slaw, slider buns, cornbread, and mac and cheese. Reserve tickets here.

Tickets for The Schoolhouse at Cannondale’s Farm to Fork series go on sale May 1. Each evening includes a cocktail hour, a farm tour, and four locally sourced courses under the stars by Chef Tim LaBant. It takes place at Millstone Farm in Wilton, CT.

On Monday April 30, head over to Terrain Garden Café in Westport for “Dishing Local.” CTbites and the Westport Farmers Market welcome foodies to a food-focused evening and open forum in the terrain Garden Cafe. They’ll gather with some of the local food community's leading talents to discuss the latest trends, everyday eating, and tips and secrets from farmers and restaurateurs. This event is free and open to the public. Food and beverage available for purchase.

On Tuesday May 2, Fairfield Cheese Company presents “Cheese 102: Beyond the Basics with Arethusa Farm.” The class will expand on the basics and delve into cheese making, history, science, and more. Plus, taste plenty of cheeses and complementary wines. Tickets are $50 and the class runs from 7-9pm.

CLASP Homes 14th TASTE OF WESTPORT will take place on Thursday May 3 from 6-9pm at the Westport Inn. Enjoy samplings of specialty dishes from Amis, Harvest Wine Bar, Hummock Island Oysters, Pearl at Longshore, Saltwater, Bobby Q’s Cue & Co., Tablao, and more. There will be plenty to drink as well! Tickets are $75 prepaid, $85 at the door.


Recap: Beers & Bites at Half Full Brewery with Knot Norms and Hapa Food Truck

Features Homepage Dinner Events Beer Dinner CT Beer CTbites Invites

Andrew Dominick

Did you ever hear the one about the food truck chef and the restaurant chef at a local brewery? 

Wait, that’s a real thing. There’s no punchline. 

What I’m talking about here is the first ever Beers & Bites event that was held on April 5, 2018 at Half Full Brewery in Stamford. Beers & Bites is a collaboration between CTbites, Half Full Brewery, local food trucks and chefs. 

The idea behind Beers & Bites is to team a food truck chef and a restaurant chef to collaborate on a menu that gets paired with Half Full’s thirst-quenching brews. Think of it as a beer dinner where you won’t leave feeling overstuffed; it’s just enough food and drink. For $50 you get four-courses, four beers (refills were common so it’s a little more than four), a commemorative Beers & Bites snifter glass, and a damn good time in a non-pretentious, not overcrowded taproom. 


60+ Connecticut Restaurants To Celebrate New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day

Features Holiday New Years Homepage

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson

It’s almost time to bid farewell to 2017 and say hello to the New Year!  Connecticut restaurants are celebrating 2018 with epic parties, prix fixe menus, and hangover brunches.  Here is what they have in store!

  1. Washington Prime, Norwalk Washington Prime in SoNo's NYE Dinner has 3 Seatings: 4pm, 6pm, and 8:30pm. It includes selection of appetizer, entree, and dessert and costs $65 per person plus tax & gratuity.
  2. The Cottage, Westport: The Cottage in Westport presents a New Years Eve Brunch followed by a New Years Eve Celebration Dinner from 5:30-10:30pm. The a la carte menu will include lots of caviar, truffles, and buttered lobster!
  3. Griswold Inn, Essex: The Griswold Inn has NYE Dinner Seatings starting at 5:30 pm and the Shiny Lapel Trio will play from 10pm-1am. Entrees include Pan Seared Atlantic Salmon, Roasted Long Island Duck, Roasted Prime Rib, and Filet of Beef Wellington. It costs $60 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
  4. Present Company, Simsbury: Present Company's 5 course prix fixe NYE dinner includes options like lightly roasted cauliflower carpaccio with black truffles and beef “wellington” with mushroom stuffing. It is $110 per person with wine pairings available for an additional $40.
  5. Harlan Publick, Norwalk: Beginning 12/31 at 9:30pm, dance the night away and enjoy craft cocktails and a chefs buffet at Harlan Publick in Norwalk.

Nibble: CT Food Events for April 2-9

Features Events Wine Dinners Beer Dinner Homepage

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford hosts A Taste of History 2017 on Monday April 3 at 5pm.  The evening begins with a premier reception at 5pm and culminates with a food tasting, a cocktail tasting, music, a tour, and art inspired activities. 

Fermented beverages are prevalent, but what about fermented foods?  Learn about them and their health benefits at the Barrel Room in North Canton, CT on Monday April 3.  The class will cover foods like water kefir, milk kefir and kimchi. 

Connecticut Hops For Hope returns for its second benefit, Beers For Brittany, on Sunday, April 23rd. The event will be held at the brand new Counter Weight Brewing in Hamden, and 100% of ticket sales, in person donations, and on site raffle ticket sales will benefit Brittany Vellucci, a young woman fighting through brain cancer. Tickets go on sale tonight at 7p.m. RIGHT HERE


Nibble: CT Food Events for Week of March 20-27

Features Events Wine Dinners Beer Dinner

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson

On Monday March 20, Mikro Beer Bar in Hamden invites you to a Kent Falls Brewing Beer Dinner.  Chef Mike Fox will create a four course dinner to complement craft brews.  The event is limited to 50 people, so get your tickets soon. 

Which is better: beer or wine?  The question is difficult and divisive… but Fairfield Greenwich Cheese Company will help you decide!  Beer and wine will go head-to-head alongside a cheese plate to see which makes for the best pairing.  Join them at the Greenwich location on March 21 from 7-9pm and the Fairfield location on March 23 from 7-9pm.  It costs $50 per person. 

On Wednesday March 22, Cask Republic South Norwalk and Allagash Brewing Company are teaming up for a beer dinner.  Chef Carl will prepare a five course menu that will be paired with six Allagash beers.  It costs $85 per person and advanced reservations are recommended. 


Community Table & Kent Falls Brewing Co. Host Beer Dinner July 26

Restaurant Beer Dinner Brewery Washington

Amy Kundrat

Community Table & Kent Falls Brewing Co.
 are teaming up for a special evening of food and beer on July 26. Executive Chef Marcell Davidsen has collaborated with Barry and Derek at Kent Falls Brewing Co. on a summer-inspired menu fit for Connecticut locavore beer lovers. 

"We are very excited to host this event, and share some great beers and great food. And there might be a few surprises too," said Marcell Davidsen.

We have a sneak peek of the menu, which at last count is 7 courses and 6 beers, and as many reasons to get excited for this evening at Community Table. Tickets are $75 per person. Reservations are available on OpenTable.com.

July 26 Menu

Sourdough Bread
Toasted hay butter

Smoked Trout & Squash Blossom

Hazelnut crème 

Beer: Lade Øl 4.8 % Abv. 
A farmhouse ale brewed with smoked hay. This beer takes on delicate notes of sweet grass, vanilla and spice notes from the hay complementing our house yeast culture.  

Friday Froth: Two Roads Nor'yeaster Preview + "Junk Food" Pairing via Marcia Selden Catering

Beer Beer Dinner CT Beer

James Gribbon

Flowers are popping up everywhere this spring, even in our beer. TomorrowMay 7th, will see a special bottle release at Two Roads Brewing Co. in Stratford, featuring their newest creation, Roads Garden. The spring  Nor'yeaster event will also include limited supplies of Framboise Noir, a black raspberry lambic, and Road 2 Rouen, the brewery's "wild, Franco-Belgian IPA," based on Road 2 Ruin DIPA.

A sold-out, ticketed preview event was held this past Monday, when the brewery's tasting room is regularly closed, and CTBites was able to taste several of Two Roads' smaller production run beers, paired with "re-imagined junk food," via event partner Marcia Selden catering. 


Recap: Kent Falls Brewing Visits Little Pub in Ridgefield

Restaurant Beer Beer Dinner CT Beer

James Gribbon

This March only marks a year since Kent Falls Brewing Company released their first beer, and somehow it doesn't feel too early to call them "renowned." The Litchfield County operation has already become one of Connecticut's most productive, releasing 37 different beers and variants in their first ten months. That level of output is preposterous, and all the more remarkable not just due to the high volume of recipes, but for their excellence. Small wonder then, that Little Pub in Ridgefield chose to host the Kent Falls crew for a rare beer pairing dinner event early this February.