At No Mames, there are also no rules. The modern Mexican cantina by DORO Restaurant Group, which opened in Wethersfield April 30, is intended to be a fun escape with fresh flavors and beachy Tulum vibes.
No Mames (a Mexican slang phrase for “no way,” says executive chef and partner Ryan Van Grouw) opened this week on the Silas Deane Highway, in a shopping plaza between a Marshall’s and a pet supply store. Van Grouw says he wants guests to come in and “be blown away by the experience.”
“They’ll come in here after [shopping], not even realizing that we’re here, coming in to get tacos, and the next thing you know, they won’t know what hit them,” he said. “They walk in, the place is beautiful…everything is done with purpose, everything is done for a reason.”
The 120-seat restaurant’s decor is inspired by restaurants in coastal Tulum, with high ceilings and a breezy feel. A semi-open kitchen gives diners a glance at the work behind the scenes, as cooks press fresh tortillas, grill peppers and tend to a slowly rotating trompo, or vertical rotisserie, cooking a stack of marinated pork to be shaved for al pastor tacos.
Sally’s Apizza, the iconic New-Haven restaurant and bar, founded by Salvatore “Sally” Consiglio in 1938, will open on Thursday, August 29 at 5:00pm in Wethersfield. Situated on the ground level of the residential complex, The Borden at 1178 Silas Deane Highway, the Sally’s Apizza in Wethersfield marks the first of four forthcoming Hartford area locations, including Farmington, Newington, and South Windsor.
Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Bret Lunsford created a menu of noteworthy additions to complement long standing favorites. Guests will notice a variety of starters and salads to start off the meal such as Italian Wings with Calabrian Chili; Meatballs served in marinara and accompanied with house-made focaccia; a Wedge and Caesar Salad as well as a selection of bruschettas including Tomato and Eggplant. An expanded entree section features both Chicken and Eggplant Parmesan; two pastas including a ricotta-filled Ravioli and Chicken Francese.
Nestled in a strip mall in the Broad River section of Norwalk, you could easily miss Antojos Columbian restaurant. You’ve probably driven by, and barely noticed it, or you may remember our write up on this hidden gem back in 2017. Whether you’re new to Antojos, or a loyal customer, you’ll want to pay attention. They are serving up some seriously tasty authentic Columbian fare, and some exciting new menu items have recently dropped. We felt they were ready for their close-up. Enjoy the photo journey, complete with menu names for easy ordering. Get that drool cup ready…
I can admit when I have a problem. Connecticut has several great food trucks, and I social media stalk a bunch of them. The addiction is obviously the food, then there’s this game of being able to track down the truck or trucks in question. Will I be free? Where will the truck be? What time? And for how long will they be there?
One that I played cat and mouse with recently was The Colombian Hot Dog, a mobile trailer that specializes in Colombian fast food. They were put on my radar by a local photographer friend who spent some time shooting The Colombian Hot Dog crew in action one summer night. He suggested I check them out, but it took a while since the truck is only parked in Norwalk one night per week.
You could speed right through the Broad River section of Norwalk and not even know Antojos was there. Being from Norwalk, and still residing here, I pride myself on knowing what’s in the area, but this small Colombian restaurant that opened last December was off my radar until recently. If not for a couple of friends—both of whom are Colombian—who posted mouthwatering photos and their own rave reviews of Antojos, I still might not have noticed Antojos as it sits in the corner of one of New Canaan Avenue’s strip malls, in the space that was formerly Lou’s Pizza.
Antojos is a small spot, with seating for maybe 25 customers. There’s booth seating on one side of each table, with cushy pillows for added back comfort, and chairs on the other side for non-booth loving people. Also, there’s a wooden bin of silverware on each table, so you won’t have to bother asking for an extra fork or spoon should you require a fresh one, or for sharing purposes. Walk in, have a seat, and you’ll promptly be greeted with fast, friendly service.
Just as the crisp Fall air reminds us that winter is around the corner, Brasitas in Norwalk (and the original location in Stamford) transports us to the warm Caribbean or to sunny South America.
Colorful in tropical hues of marine blue, coral and yellow, the decor of Brasitas feels very much like a Caribbean beach front café…as authentic native art from Colombia, hand picked by owner Jaime Guerrero and his wife, Nubia, adorn the walls, and brightly colored embroidered pillows line the banquettes. Two to three times a year the husband and wife travel to their native Colombia in search of new recipes and native art.
The Norwalk location, opened in 2008, is managed by Jaime’s nephew, Fabio Rojas, and has a loyal following among lovers of authentically prepared and beautifully presented Pan-Latin cuisine.
