The doldrums of winter are behind us, and spring is starting to show some signs of life around Connecticut. In addition to milder temperatures and the first flowers starting to pop up, restaurants around the state are preparing their specials for St. Patrick’s Day! Don’t be fooled by March 17 falling on a Monday this year, as these restaurants are ready to party. If you prefer to stick to the weekend, there are plenty of events and menu specials leading up to the holiday, too.
Whether you are looking for a green beer, a corned beef dinner out with friends, or a catering menu to bring St. Patrick’s Day to your home, the following businesses are ready to celebrate. This guide is organized by county so you can quickly locate a restaurant near you that’s taking part in the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
Breaking BBQ news from Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque. We’ll bring you more on this exciting opening very soon!
Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque (Mighty Quinn’s), the acclaimed NYC-born restaurant known for its all-natural slow-cooked meats, announced today the grand opening of its new location at The Waypointe in Norwalk (11 Merwin Street). The opening will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Greater Norwalk Chamber and Mayor Harry Rilling on December 18 at 3 p.m., ahead of the grand opening on December 20. As part of the opening celebration, Mighty Quinn’s will donate 10% of all grand opening sales to Norwalk based charity Filling in the Blanks, which works to fight childhood hunger.
For those unfamiliar with Mighty Quinn’s, it was the first authentic barbeque experience in a fast-casual setting after co-founder, Pitmaster, and CT resident, Hugh Mangum smoked brisket and pulled pork out of a mobile smoker hitched to his pickup truck in Williamsburg (Brooklyn). The brand’s process begins with the best, all-natural meats and poultry, seasoned with perfect spice blends and then smoked with wood for many hours until the perfect harmony of smoke, flavor and time emerges.
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.
The uber-talented team that brought us Hachiroku Shokudo & Sake Bar, Hachiroku Handroll Bar, and most recently The Loop by Hachiroku, (Japanese marketplace), has done it again. The Wine Bar at The Loop opened a few weeks ago, and it is already drawing wine enthusiasts from all over the state of CT, seeking both their unique wine portfolio and outstanding Izakaya Japanese cuisine.
The Wine Bar at The Loop is a collaboration between Hachiroku’s Yuta Kamori and Ungrafted Selections’ Jason Black and Adam Bitker, purveyors of conscientiously farmed, handcrafted wines from small, independent growers. The partnership is magical with each brand delivering a “best in class” offering backed with deep knowledge and a desire for excellence, but with none of the fussiness that sometimes happens in the wine world. The Wine Bar is laid back, smart, sublime with that slight edginess we’ve come to expect from Hachiroku. It’s a vibe and we are here for it.
It’s time to get spooky! Halloween is right around the corner, and restaurants across Connecticut are preparing to throw festive parties and host seasonal gatherings with plenty of decorations, costumes, and ghoulish menu specials.
Whether your vibe on Halloween is to order from your favorite pizza place as you hand out candy or you want to go all-out and attend a lavish costume party until the wee hours of the morning, there’s an event for you happening in late October! There are events for all ages as well, with the littlest trick-or-treaters to the young at heart having plenty of options this month to celebrate the season. You’ll also find businesses across Connecticut featuring Día de Muertos celebrations in early November.
We’ve broken this guide up by county so you can easily find a Halloween event nearest you!
If you live in CT, you likely have heard the name, Chef Ashley Flagg. She has been the executive Chef at the iconic Millwright's in Simsbury for five years, and has worked in the industry for over fourteen. Flagg is now getting ready to head out on her own, and has signed a lease for a new spot at 1046 New Britain Ave in West Hartford. The restaurant will be called The Laurel and it is slated to open its doors in early 2025. Are we excited? Heck yeah we are.
The name, The Laurel, is an ode to Flagg’s grandmother who inspired her love of cooking. It is also s a nod to the Connecticut state flower, an appropriate choice, as Flagg is a strong supporter of sourcing close to home. The concept is centered around globally inspired shareable plates utilizing the best local purveyors, farmers, and artisans.
As the holiday season approaches, finding the perfect venue for your corporate holiday party in Norwalk, CT is key to setting the right tone for celebration. From classic restaurants to modern event spaces, Norwalk offers a range of venues designed to accommodate every style of corporate gathering. Join us as we discover seven standout locations known for their charm, amenities, and ability to create memorable experiences for your team.
Winter is quickly coming to a close, and things are starting to look a little more GREEN around the state of Connecticut. That can only mean one thing…St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner! Whether you celebrate for the corned beef, the Guinness, or simply to enjoy the company of family and friends, there are plenty of restaurants around the state offering menu specials and events. This guide is broken up by county so you know exactly where to go to find the perfect St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
We don’t have to explain how big of a deal Thanksgiving dinner is. Arguably, it is one of the most highly anticipated meals of the year – not just for the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pie, but for the time spent with loved ones.
Some years, you want to go all out and embrace your inner Martha Stewart. There are businesses in Connecticut ready to supply you with the highest quality fresh turkey. Other years, you want to kick back and let someone else do the cooking. There are countless restaurants and catering companies across the state ready to take your order for a fully prepared meal. Or, maybe, you want to switch things up and take the family gathering on the road – as you might imagine, there are tons of excellent Connecticut restaurants open on Thanksgiving with special menus just for the holiday.
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. The time is now to make your Thanksgiving dinner plans, and either place your orders for a catered meal or book those reservations at your favorite restaurant!
There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are turning, and the sun is setting earlier and earlier each day. That can only mean one thing – Halloween is right around the corner! Restaurants across Connecticut are celebrating the season with an array of special events to take part in. Whether you want to find something for the family or for a fun date night the weekend before, there are plenty of parties to choose from (many of which include costume contests, so be sure to dress up!). And on the night of Halloween (don’t forget it’s on a Tuesday this year), there are even more special events in case you want to take this year off from passing out candy to trick-or-treaters.
It won’t take too long to find a spot in the state to dance the night away this Halloween while you enjoy a bite to eat with a specialty-themed spooky beverage. Check out what the restaurants below are offering, and be sure to check ahead of time if they recommend making a reservation.
Flowers are blooming and temperatures are rising, which can mean only one thing – Mother’s Day is right around the corner! Flowers and hand-written cards aside, Mother’s Day is a great opportunity to treat that special person in your life to a memorable outing. Restaurants around Connecticut are preparing for the big day with special brunch and dinner menus that any mom would enjoy.
Show that special mother, grandmother, aunt, wife, sister, cousin, friend, or any important “mom” figure in your life just how much you appreciate them by treating them to a special meal at any of the restaurants listed below. Just like our other dining guides, this one is organized into county so you can easily look up which local restaurants are offering a specialty Mother’s Day menu.
Warmer weather is right around the corner, and you may find yourself along the Connecticut shoreline this spring or summer looking for a romantic dinner or a fun night out with friends. With seaside communities ramping up for the busy season ahead, we were invited to check out the re-christening of The Crow’s Nest, the bar and lounge area found within The Wharf Restaurant at Madison Beach Hotel.
The restaurant and bar have been mainstays at the hotel since the building was rebuilt in 2012, and new this season is the re-imagined lounge area dubbed The Crow’s Nest. We were able to get a sneak peek at the beautiful space ahead of its opening to the general public, and we can safely say that this will once again be a popular summer destination for both overnight guests and those passing through town for the day.
“In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it, you’ll be the grandest lady (or fella) in the Easter Parade..”, or so the song goes. The bonnets and parades may have gone by the wayside since that song was a hit, but Easter dinner, with its traditional ham, springtime vegetables, and pastel-colored desserts, remains something to look forward to. Gather your family and friends (and fellow jelly-bean lovers), and enjoy a beautiful day with good food and celebration of a new season.
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!
Sparkles and decorations, music and merriment, parties and gift-giving and of course, holiday dining. New traditions to begin or a revisiting of favorites from year’s past. We all have those special dishes or holiday sweets that make us pause as nostalgia fills our hearts. For those reasons and more, it is one of the most wonderful times of the year. We would like for you to be able to create new memories with those you love, so we have compiled a list of Connecticut eateries that are going above and beyond for the holiday season. They are categorized by county-Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Windham-so you don’t have to waste time researching, you can just swan dive into celebrating the season. From our plates to yours, Happy Holidays. May it be delicious!
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 its third location in Norwalk, Connecticut. Located at 596 Westport Avenue, the 2500 square foot location 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), along with their beloved fries, sides and seasonal limited-time offerings. The group recently opened its Orange location in June 2022, and its first, flagship location in the heart of New Haven in October 2020.
Renowned Celebrity Chef Todd English and global entrepreneur Keith Burkard recently announced the formation of their newest joint venture, EHG, The English Hospitality Group. Featuring dozens of restaurants, hotels, nightlife venues and ghost kitchens, both domestically and internationally, EHG has positioned itself as a leading global operator, owner and developer by identifying opportunities that think beyond the traditional hospitality business model.
As part of this new initiative, English has announced that In Stamford, CT, EHG will debut a 80,000-s.f. immersive, discovery destination Todd English food hall and global art exhibition that will encompass a web 3.0 era consumer experience to wow the masses. It is destined to be a focal point for all to visit in the tri-state area and East Coast.
If you don’t know Dave Kuban from Dave’s Planet Pizza, you really should go introduce yourself. Sure, he runs Planet Pizza’s highly successful Norwalk location, but this restaurateur offers so much more to the Norwalk community beyond pizza and oversized grinders. Dave is the guy who will unfailingly step up to help his neighbors or support a local fundraising effort. Whether he rolls in with his pizza truck to raise money for a family whose house has burned down overnight, or is feeding the homeless in the midst of Covid, he has been there for Norwalk for 30 years, and continues to be an anchor with his mobile pizza truck and storefront.
Now, Kuban has a new project underway, and again, he has stepping up to support Norwalk. Kuban and his brother in law have taken over Marinelli’s deli in the town’s Strawberry Hill neighborhood. Marinelli’s was an institution, serving Norwalk for over 70 years, and locals were devastated to see it shut its doors in the midst of the pandemic. Kuban is taking the reins to preserve the heritage and community spirit that Marinelli’s had embodied.
For the four Reyes brothers, the butterfly is a symbol that pays homage to their mother, representing her strength and signifying a rebirth. In the midst of the restaurant industry’s toughest times, Javier Reyes says such a symbol is what we need most. That’s why he and his family have closed the doors of their popular Mezon Tapas Bar & Restaurant, and have opened a new Latin restaurant in Danbury. Fittingly, they’ve named it the Spanish word for butterfly, “mariposa”, that embodies the boldness of their mother.
