With the spring season in full bloom, Easter can’t be far away! This year, restaurants across the state are preparing special menus, including prix fixe meals and buffets, to celebrate the holiday. Whether you’re looking for a festive brunch or dinner, there are options all over the state. If you are hosting an Easter gathering at your home and you are looking for catering options, there are businesses ready to help out with the cooking! No matter how you choose to celebrate Easter this year, it’s sure to be delicious.
This guide has been organized by county to help you locate a restaurant nearest you. Scroll to your home county to see what businesses offer Easter specials this year.
Since April of 2024, a new restaurant by the name of Rye Bird, located in the longtime former home of Isla in Fairfield, teased a tasty, affordable, neighborhood restaurant concept. Operated by Post Road Hospitality, Rye Bird officially cracked open its doors on October 19 after hosting some patio preview parties prior to its grand opening. Rye Bird’s founder and president Frank Klein hopes it’ll catch on as the “next neighborhood joint” for a bunch of reasons.
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.
The holidays are quickly approaching; before you know it, it’ll be time to set out your milk and cookies for Santa. This also means it’s time to book your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day reservations! Restaurants across the state will be open on Christmas Day, with even more open on Christmas Eve for a festive holiday lunch or dinner. If you plan to prepare a dazzling holiday feast at home but need an extra set of hands in the kitchen, why not call up your favorite local restaurant? Many offer catering with pick-up and delivery options, with menus including all of your Christmas needs, from appetizers to desserts.
We’ve broken this guide up by county to make it easier to find a restaurant near you – Fairfield, New London, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, and Windham. Simply scroll down to the region of the state you live in (or wherever you and your family are gathering this Christmas) and check out which restaurants are open on December 24 or 25. Happy holidays!
SHOP LOCALLY at these 9 Connecticut dairy farms this holiday season. Here’s where you can find delicious eggnog, made in CT, and in some cases, delivered to your doorstep!
And here we are again, on the threshold of the holiday season! The weather might be a little warmer than usual (but then again, it snowed this morning. Anyone else keeping up with all of this?) but the holiday spirit is in full swing! With that comes the quest for the perfect gifts for all those lovelies on your list. We have scoured and explored and found some delicious and interesting gift ideas for you…fresh delivered milk anyone? We have divided this curated list into four sections: Gifts, Cookbooks, Subscriptions, and a few “Beyond Connecticut” items not to be missed.
Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays to you, our fellow foodies!
Get those stretchy pants out of the deep, dark depths of your closet…don’t worry, we all have a pair! Once a year, these pants are necessary, as holiday excitement overtakes the part of the brain that tells us we’re full. We fight that voice that tells us to stop, that third and even fourth helpings of mashed potatoes and red wine aren’t going to help us cope with that obnoxious uncle your mom sat you next to out of spite. You know what will help? Pie and pie only. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, as you can eat as much as you want without being judged, though they’ll still try. But keep your head held high, as this year you can brag about the wonderful pies you’ve spent hours upon hours picking out. You even preheated the oven and scooped out perfect balls of vanilla ice cream. So don’t let anyone tell you that you did nothing, because ice cream is not easy to scoop.
All throughout Connecticut you can find plenty of delicious pie options, whether you want your pies fruity, custardy, creamy, or gluten free. As they say, Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful, and while we celebrate our family, friends, furbabies, and crazy uncles we’ve never met, it is important to recognize the true Thanksgiving savior: pie. Lucky for you, this guide is organized by county, so scroll down to find yours! Gobble, gobble.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and restaurants across Connecticut are preparing countless turkeys and pumpkin pies to serve you and your family. Whether you’re preparing a meal at home or you’ve decided to visit your favorite local restaurant, there are tons of businesses that are hard at work to make sure your Thanksgiving is the most memorable one yet.
From roasting a whole turkey yourself to heat-and-serve meals to a fully-plated multi-course meal served at the table, you can find your level of Thanksgiving exertion among the restaurants in this roundup. Time is running out, so don’t delay – order your Thanksgiving dinner or book your reservations today!
For your convenience, the guide is organized by county – simply find yours to see what local options are available! We have also made note of which locations are providing Vegan options this year. And, finally, if you want to pick up a fresh turkey to cook at home, there is a section devoted entirely to Connecticut farms at the bottom of the guide.
Connecticut is gearing up for the holidays with both the long running Miracle Christmas pop-up cocktail bar opening at three Connecticut bars, as well “Joy-ah for the Holidays! A Winter Wonderland” and “Ordinary’s Spirits of Christmas Past”, in New Haven. Make sure you hit up all of these as each has uniquely kitschy holiday décor, signature holiday themed cocktails, nibbles, and all the cheer and vibes you could possibly want or need.
Miracle Bar Pop-Up CT Locations
For those unfamiliar with Miracle Bar, this beloved Christmas themed holiday pop-up cocktail bar launched in 2014 in New York City, will continue spreading holiday cheer this year with over 100 locations around the world. Miracle is sure to get even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit. Grab your ugly Christmas sweater and head to their following 3 CT locations featuring over the top holiday decor, holiday cocktails and oh so much more:
Welcome to New Haven, CT, where hidden gems await to host your next company get-together. Nestled amidst the vibrant cityscape are venues that promise to elevate your corporate events with charm, delectable cuisine, and unique atmospheres. Whether you're seeking the cozy ambiance of a café, the fresh flavors of a seafood restaurant, the warmth of an Italian eatery, the sophistication of a bar and steakhouse, or the soulful tunes of a jazz cabaret, New Haven offers a variety of settings to suit every occasion. Join us as we unveil six of the city's best-kept secrets for company gatherings, each offering its own distinctive appeal and the promise of a memorable event.
Tucked away in a small residential neighborhood just off of Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield is a small and unassuming restaurant. Some may recognize this as the former home of Liana’s Trattoria which closed its doors during the pandemic. Just over a year ago, Joanne Monroe took over the empty space and brought life back inside the four walls. Joanne, no stranger to the hospitality industry, was with Liana for nearly 15 years. No one knew the restaurant as well as she did, except perhaps Chef James Agoglia, who worked with Liana for about 5 years and returns to the helm of the kitchen with all of his unbridled talent and creativity. These two are a talented duo. The new restaurant plays homage to the former while moving forward to create new traditions.
This year marks the 150th Running of the Roses at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby is known as the most exciting two minutes in sports, and businesses across Connecticut will host viewing parties on Saturday, May 4th to make sure you can enjoy the action. Derby-themed food, mint juleps, and more will be available throughout the day at several restaurants around the state. Make sure you don your fanciest hat – many restaurants are holding contests! Some events are fun for the whole family, while others will have age restrictions, so make sure to double-check ahead of your Derby Day festivities.
A new Spring menu has launched at Sally’s Apizza, but before launching into the particulars allow me to introduce you to Chef Bret Lunsford who recently joined the Sally’s team as Executive Chef and Culinary Director. An Italian American raised in Mississippi, Chef Lunsford grew up eating the approachable foods of his heritage, and his love for cooking led him to work for local restaurants through high school and college where he earned a Masters in Musical Theater. But the kitchen ended up being his true passion and he subsequently enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America for more formal training. While there he did his externship at the esteemed August restaurant in New Orleans before joining Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group in 2013. He began his 10-year career at the Michelin-starred Gramercy Tavern under Chef Michael Anthony. In 2015 he joined the opening team of Untitled at the Whitney Museum. In 2016 he transitioned to Blue Smoke where he rose in rank quickly to become executive chef.
It’s time to don your Easter bonnet and head out for what will hopefully be a bright and sunny holiday weekend! Whether you are looking for brunch or dinner, many Connecticut restaurants are serving tasty specials in celebration of Easter Sunday. If you are planning on hosting Easter at your house, several businesses have catering menus available as well.
Be sure to double-check the dates on some of these events, as several restaurants are hosting Easter get-togethers the weekend before. We have broken this guide up by county so you can easily locate an Easter brunch or dinner near you!
Connecticut’s beloved bagel brand, PopUp Bagels, kicked off four years ago when Goldberg and his cousin Jeff Lewis started making bagels for family and friends in the midst of the pandemic. Rave reviews led Goldberg to launching a backyard preorder pickup bagel biz that sold out time and time again. PopUp would then take their bagels on the road, opening…well…everywhere.
if you don’t already know what PopUp Bagels is all about—are fresh bagels, served to the customer piping hot, NOT pre sliced, and artisan schmears. The original concept required pre-orders of a dozen bagels, but when they launched their NYC location (to VERY long lines I might add), they spearheaded their new retail model. This was then replicated in Greenwich, where guests can walk up and order 3 bagels and a schmear for $12.
Popup Bagel’s NEW Newtown opens this weekend, March 22nd with pre-ordering only Friday, Saturday Sundays, but starting next week, the Newtown spot will be open every Wednesday-Sunday for for both pre-sale and walk in.
UP NEXT is their Fairfield location opening June 1st in the old Lobster Craft spot.
Elicit Brewing Company’s second location will open to the public on Monday, February 12, and CTbites has the inside scoop. More accurately a brewpub, the brand-new location will encompass a microbrewery, 100-tap taproom and social space, an in-house cocktail-focused speakeasy, and a large, covered back patio with direct access from the Fairfield Metro train station.
It’s February, which means love is most certainly in the air! If you’re looking for a romantic dinner for two to celebrate that special someone in your life, there is no shortage of places in Connecticut offering Valentine’s Day specials. There are plenty of prix fixe menus to go around, taking the guesswork out of the holiday! Be sure to book your reservations well in advance if you want to dine at your favorite restaurant. If your idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day involves less of a candlelit vibe and more of a laidback one, there are a lot of fun promotions to keep your Valentine’s Day more casual (I’m personally eyeing all of the great pizza specials). And if you want to celebrate Galentine’s Day with your closest friends, there are tons of special events happening this month, too.
Long story short, this is the month to celebrate all of our loved ones, and Connecticut’s finest restaurants want to be a part of that celebration!
Haven Hot Chicken, which brings Nashville Hot Chicken and “Not Chicken” to the area as one of the first fully dedicated Nashville Hot Chicken concepts in New England, today announced that it will be opening two NEW LOCATIONS in Fairfield, CT at 907 Post Road in Oxford, CT at Quarry Walk, later this year.
When I asked the Haven Hot Chicken team how long it took them to arrive at this just about perfect combination of crispy, juicy and flavorful chicken, they laughed and said they have been recipe testing for over a year. Their tagline is “CRISPY CRUNCHY JUICY SPICY DELICIOUS,” and I’m gonna say “nailed it.” You can truly taste the time and commitment to research in every item on this takeout/delivery menu.
Both locations will feature the brand’s signature menu of crispy, crunchy, juicy, spicy, delicious chicken and vegetarian options ranging from Country (not spicy) to Haven (extremely spicy), including the epic and signature “THE Sandwich,” as well as other featured mains, classic sides and seasonal limited-time offerings.
We all love Eggnog, but we love it even more when it is sourced from local Connecticut farms. Here are 5 spots to check out for locally produced Eggnog for your holiday table.
This Eggnog lands on our gift-giving list every because, well, it’s simply a holiday must-have for a good, ol’ fashioned hap-hap-happiest holiday and this is the best one you’re going to get!
It’s a farm-to-bottle process for this holiday favorite that is produced at a home farm that has been chugging along for nearly two and a half centuries. This is eggnog the way eggnog should be made.
