Salvatore’s Steakhouse recently opened with little fanfare in Hamden’s Spring Glen neighborhood, but the news ripped through town like wildfire. It was fortunate that the kitchen and staff practiced extensively on friends and family before opening, because within just a few days Salvatore’s was fairly humming, even on so-called “slow” nights.
Salvatore’s owner, Victoria Ferraro, must have realized the restaurant was likely be busy from the get-go and would need to hit the ground running. You see, Victoria has a secret—she’s a third-generation Ferraro. Arguably New Haven “royalty,” the Ferraro family has been in the grocery business for over 70 years, tracing back to Salvatore, Sr. and wife Joan’s humble beginnings at Mohawk Market on State Street in 1952. Then, for almost half a century, Ferraro Foods operated on Grand Avenue, with the couple’s sons—Salvatore, Jr., John, Peter and Mark—joining their parents in running the business. Oldest son Salvatore, Jr., Victoria’s father, eventually became the company president, but sadly passed on in 2010. In spring of 2021, Ferraro’s Market moved to its current convenient quarters on North Haven’s Universal Drive next to Target, bringing with it its huge fan base. Victoria, oldest child of Salvatore, Jr. and Nancy, had to know Salvatore’s would have a built-in audience even before it opened.
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.
Once again, Strega owner Danilo Mongillo is celebrating a prestigious honor for his authentic Italian fare – but this one means more, he says.
Gambero Rosso, an Italian authority on food, wine and travel, awarded Mongillo’s New Haven restaurant a “due forchette,” or ‘two forks” designation in a recent ceremony in New York City. Restaurants are honored with a rating of one to three forks, similar to Michelin star ratings.
Last week I had the opportunity to check out Josie & Tony's newly launched lunch menu. The restaurant which opened just over a year ago for dinner, offered a lunchtime deli service featuring hot and cold Arthur Avenue-style sandwiches made on local Wave Hill bread, homemade mozzarella, fresh pastas, cured meats, assorted desserts and beverages. The lunch menu features all of the previously available sandwiches and most of the dinner menu dishes at an approachable price point.
There’s a special je ne sais quoi about Josie & Tony’s, named after owner Joshua Mesnik’s grandparents, with its old school vibe that offers a touch of formality without any pretention. The white table clothes, the framed Hershfield artwork, the black and white photos and whimsical Hershfield-like cartoons of friends, family and patrons grace the elegant walls that perfectly fit the “dinner club” aesthetic. This isn’t just a restaurant, but a beautifully executed dining experience.
The DORO Restaurant Group has covered French brasserie fare, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern and upscale northern Italian cuisine with its three West Hartford Center restaurants. For its newest concept, the group has planted a flag in a new town, with a southern Italian red-sauce menu friendly to families.
The new spot features casual Italian dishes, including pizzas, housemade pastas and its own takes on classics like chicken parmesan, lasagna and veal Milanese. Scott Miller, DORO’s chief operating officer and partner alongside CEO Dorjan Puka, said Casadoro’s cuisine is “a crowd-pleaser menu.”
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!
“Yale asked me if I was interested in the space, and I took it as a challenge. A small space, few tables, no pizza – I was able to focus on fine dining.” I’m in New Haven, talking with chef Danilo Mongillo about Strega, his second restaurant of the same name, but with a very different concept.
“You have excellent food here – French, Spanish, American – and I took bringing this level of Italian to downtown, not in competition, but just to bring more good food here. That was the challenge.”
The first time I ate at Strega was the location in Milford (both restaurants are just off the corners of their respective city greens) and I’d returned many times for his creations which were just a little different – the way a sentence is altered when the pen is in a different hand – and made with exceptional ingredients. I ask if the new Strega is based on anything regionally Italian, and he shakes the question off, moving in another direction.
“Fine dining is about the technique. It’s about the balance of the flavors – something sweet, something sour – and the balance with the wine. The balance of the bite.”
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:
Last month, Greenwich welcomed to the area Constantino’s Pasta Bowls, a family-owned and operated fast-casual restaurant with a unique take on Italian cuisine. Robyn Bordes and her husband, Michael, are also the owners of the beloved Constantino’s Pizza and Ice Cream on Putnam Ave and Love You a Latte (located right next to Constantino’s Pasta Bowls).
Robyn Bordes has worked in the food industry since she was 13 years old, starting as a waitress and eventually working her way up to restaurant business owner. She purchased the popular Villaggio’s Italiano Restaurant in Hartsdale and owned it for several years until she decided to sell it in 2020. In 2022, Bordes and her husband brought their expertise to Greenwich and opened Constantino’s Pizza and Ice Cream, which had previously been the location of Stateline Deli. Now, just two years later, the couple decided to expand their empire by bringing a new style of Italian food to the Greenwich community.
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.
Ever find yourself daydreaming about salty, oily tuscan bread with fresh prosciutto and earthy lettuce? Instead of booking that eight hour flight to Italy, the easier — yet equally tasty option — is located on Tokeneke Road in Darien. Cucina Daniella brings a mix of prepared Italian classics, fresh sandwiches on homemade bread and Italian-imported quality ingredients to Fairfield County.
While the gourmet grocery store opened in January, the project has been a long time coming for Chef and Owner Daniella Palazzolo. Palazzolo grew up in a food-centered Italian home with a love for the food her family in Sicily made. After 30 years in corporate America, she began selling her favorite imported Italian products — namely olive oil — at local farmer’s markets in 2019. During the pandemic Palazzolo obtained her carterring license and began selling prepared foods like meatballs and homemade pasta sauces. After seeing her success on a small scale, she worked with a women’s business development team to apply for a loan for a physical storefront and expansion of her team.
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.
Trattoria A’Vucchella is the epitome of a hidden gem. Open for a tick over a decade, directly across the street from The Bijou Theater in Downtown Bridgeport, it might be one of the city’s best kept secrets if you’re not a local, and if you didn’t somehow discover it naturally.
“It’s a tough location, but we have a loyal following,” says co-owner Pasquale De Martino. “They all found us organically, and once they find us, they come back and from all over. I love the community here.”
Martino—who opened the restaurant back in 2014 with Jennifer Galletti and Thomas Bepko—was formerly the owner of a limoncello factory for 10 years in his birthplace of Sorrento, Italy before selling it and eventually getting into the villa renting business in Italy with Galletti.
Shouting great news, quite literally, from Gioia’s rooftop!
Gioia Restaurant and Bar has just unveiled their new 2000 sq ft rooftop space which features two levels of tables and bar seating. The open air space gives off tree-house like vibes. The wooden structure is resplendent with lots of verdant greenery, branches dressed in string lights and fabulous views of New Haven’s historic Chapel Street below. The area was designed to be used during our stunning three seasons and can be enclosed to protect diners from inclement weather.
The magical, whimsical setting sets the tone for the rooftop inspired menu with dishes that are meant to be shared, and some that you won’t want to share. (Sorry, not sorry!) Selections include antipasti, crudo, salads, “Wooster Squares,” pasta, panini and dolce. You can expect the same level of flavor and execution you’ve experienced downstairs.
Udine, Trieste, Pordenone, Rome, Barcelona, Santiago, Athens, and…Norwalk, Connecticut? So, you usually don’t see six European cities and one South American city mentioned in the same breath as Norwalk, but when it comes to gelato and master gelato maker, Carmelo Chiaramida, this is perhaps the one time it applies. What Chiaramida is doing in Norwalk, opening his first OGGI Gelato shop in America, is simply every local ice cream lover’s good fortune.
Call it a coincidence through connection, actually. And it’s best spelled out by Maurizio Ricci, who along with his brother, Graziano, are the founders of Romanacci and Norwalk’s Osteria Romana.
