Filtering by Tag: Brookfield,Madison

The Wharf Restaurant at Madison Beach Hotel Reimagined with NEW Crow's Nest Lounge

Features open Hotel Cocktails Vacation Madison

Carly Terzigni

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.


Iconic CT Chocolatier, Bridgewater Chocolate, Looks To Expand

Restaurant Features Chocolate Specialty Market Dessert Sweets Confections Brookfield West Hartford

Stephanie Webster

As I bite into my first milk chocolate dipped crunchy peanut butter patty, I’m overwhelmed by the feeling that I’ve waited far too long to discover the edible joy that comes from the confections found at Bridgewater Chocolate. A trip to any of their stores, located in Brookfield and West Hartford (as well as a Westport weekend pop-up through December), will elicit a type of longing that will have you dreaming of chocolate at night, and as Michael Stern once stated so perfectly…

Walk into Bridgewater Chocolate, and the air inside is chocoholic heaven, with an aroma that is intense but not cloying, like vaporous cocoa laced with the sweetness of fruit. The store area is fairly small, decorated with the beautiful hinged boxes in which Bridgewater packs its goodies. — Jane & Michel Stern, Roadfood.com


jjStacks: Burgers, Fries, Shakes, Local Beer, + Mini Golf in Brookfield

Restaurant Features Burgers sandwiches ice cream Brookfield homepage Homepage

Andrew Dominick

Joe Attonito has his second act as a restaurant owner. In fact, he’s officially over a year into his next phase at jjStacks, where double cheeseburgers, hulking hot dogs, fresh cut fries, shakes, and other sandwiches are the focus.

If Attonito sounds familiar, you’re not imagining it. He owned the sports bar, Tiger’s Den, just off Ridgefield’s Main Street for 3 ½ years. “I was looking to get out of the industry,” Attonito says. “While attempting to transition out, I went to work for Jeff Taibe at Taproot, then I got into food sales at PFG (Performance Food Group). I wanted to get back in, so I started looking into getting a food truck.”

Attonito found a truck with the right price tag attached to it but his business partner at the time didn’t want the venture to be mobile. “I didn’t want to do a brick-and-mortar because I know what it takes; you gotta be there every day,” he says. “My partner told me to go look at the old Campy’s Cookout on Federal Road and to let him know what I thought. I saw the place, the property, the deck, the mini golf, and said to myself ‘Oh, man. This is perfect.’ I called the landlord hoping the rent would be too much and it’ll be crazy, and easy to say no. He was so friendly, accommodating, and the price was right.”

And just like that, from sports bar to a few stops in between, Attonito was back operating a sort of sportsy location, if you consider mini golf a sport.

jjStacks officially opened on August 23, 2020, a scary time to open a spot smack dab in a pandemic, according to Attonito, but he knew he had lots of outdoor seating on the side deck if people felt uncomfortable dining in.

The vibe at Stacks, though, is anything but uncomfortable. It’s a family friendly roadside joint with double stack burgers as its star and plenty of guilty pleasure grub.

Past patrons of Tiger’s Den will recognize his crispy, meaty chicken wings with a plethora of classic and creative sauces to choose from, and occasionally you’ll come across a Den special like mac & cheese, but with a jjStacks spin on it, like “Big Stack Mac” with chopped ground beef, bacon, and burger sauce.


The Hummus & Pita Co. Opening in CT Featuring The "Hummus Shake"

Restaurant Openings Mediterranean Dessert Smoothies Lunch Brookfield

CTbites Team

This August, The Hummus & Pita Co. will bring its healthy, fast-casual Mediterranean cuisine to Connecticut in a comfortable and inviting environment, at its newest location in Brookfield, Connecticut. This opening marks the first Hummus & Pita Co. restaurant to open outside of New York City.

What we love about The Hummus & Pita Co. is that all menu items are made-from-scratch on the premises, including freshly baked pita and laffa breads, and traditional-style meats cooked in a taboon oven.

But what REALLY sets them apart from your local Mediterranean haunt, are the signature hummus desserts offering such as the Dessert Hummus and the recently launched Hummus Shake. Yep, you heard me.


Fall RoadTrip Along I-95: Guide To Eating On Route To CT Casinos

Restaurant Groton New London Waterford East Lyme Best of CT Old Saybrook Branford Madison

Hope Simmons & Elizabeth Georgian

Inspired by a recent inquiry from a local chef, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite places to take a flavorful break on the way to or from Connecticut’s casinos. No need to gamble on where to stop for a bite; the southern shoreline towns along I-95 dish up some amazing food—from banh mi to seafood, donuts, Greek specialties and more. 

Branford

You’ve heard us say it before, but the recommendation bears repeating: look no further than Takumi Sushi, Ramen & Lounge for the finest sushi and ramen around!