Gioia Italian Restaurant, Market, & Gelateria Opens In New Haven October 19th Restaurant New Haven Opening Pizza Wood Fired Steak Cocktails Gelato Specialty Market Pasta Homepage James Gribbon September 26, 2023 Gioia, the new wood-fired Italian dining/cocktail/gelato/rooftop bar on Wooster Street from partners Tim Cabral (Ordinary) and Avi Szapiro (Roìa), is set to open in October, but we’ve already visited the spot to give you a first look.You’ll see the space, get a glimpse of the enticing menu, and read our exclusive interview with the partners about the concept’s creation in their own words. Read on!Avi describes how the two met one night in 2011 when he was eating at Caseus: the seed event which would lead to the creation of Gioia.“I thought nobody knew me or what I was doing, and Tim comes up to me and says ‘I heard you’re opening a restaurant, what’s the concept?’”That turned out to be Roìa, which opened within two weeks of Tim’s Ordinary (“We literally shared a back door between the restaurants, we’d steal stuff from each other all the time.”), and the two became great friends, to the point they started brainstorming ideas just so they could work together. Read More
Gabagool Wine Bar Opens in Fairfield: Turning Lemons into Limoncello Restaurant Italian Lunch Fairfield Openings Pasta Jessica Ryan August 19, 2023 Gabagool Wine Bar is the newest incarnation of the former Fairfield favorite, Toto Restaurant, which shut its doors suddenly and unexpectedly about a year and a half ago. I worried that, tragically, this too had succumbed to the pandemic, but alas – and thankfully, such was not the case. The restaurant that occupied the main level in the red building on Reef Road sat vacant and dark for over a year. This was all due to massive flood caused by a ruptured pipe. With water everywhere, the restaurant’s interior needed to be completely gutted and rebuilt. Thankfully for us restauranteur and owner Antonio Ninivaggi does as only Antonio does… He turned his lemons into limoncello, and thus Gabagool Wine Bar was born. Read More
Best Bowls in CT: Acai, Poke, Middle Eastern, Korean, BBQ & More! Restaurant Features Bowls Acai Bowl Korean BBQ Best of CT Highlight Healthy Eats Vegetarian Middle Eastern Build Your Own Bowl Greek Homepage April Guilbault August 18, 2023 Whether it’s the dog days of summer or life just has you too busy to be bothered with cooking, some of the simplest, and often the most delicious meals, come in bowls. Chock full of healthy and delicious ingredients like grains, veggies, meats and fish or brimming with fresh fruits and icy smoothy-ness, bowls in all shapes and sizes make eating fun. They are convenient, interesting and delicious-what a trifecta! Here are some of our favorite bowls in Connecticut. Go build one for yourself! Read More
Vespino Pizza + Restaurant Opens in Fairfield Restaurant Italian Opening Pasta Pizza Lunch Prix Fixe Kid Friendly Fairfield Homepage Jessica Ryan August 13, 2023 Nestled in a quiet corner of a shopping plaza located right off of the hustle and bustle of Fairfield’s Black Rock Turnpike is Vespino Pizza + Restaurant. Located in the space that was formerly Stefano’s, Vespino fills a void in the area’s restaurant scene. Best described as elevated casual in a stylishly modern setting, Vespino is an ideal choice for a quick neighborhood lunch, casual dinner with friends and family, or an after work cocktail. Vespino has already established a loyal clientele and has earned praises for their pizza, pasta, appetizers and main dishes. Sister restaurant to longtime local favorite Quattro Pazzi Café, Organika and the newer kid on the block, Pizza Lyfe in Westport, we came in with high expectations, eager to try a few dishes ourselves. Read More
Rive Bistro in Westport Celebrates 10 Years With Chef Roland Olah At The Helm Restaurant Westport French Water View Waterfront Pasta Seafood Cocktails Chef Alert Homepage Jessica Ryan June 15, 2023 There’s a lot to celebrate at Rive Bistro in Westport. Owner Eric Sierra is thrilled to be celebrating the restaurant’s 10th Anniversary. In addition to this great achievement, Sierra who is stepping away from the kitchen recently brought Chef Roland Olah on to take the helm. After having won a green card in the lottery, Olah left his homeland of Hungary in 2009, along with his position of Executive Chef at the renown Café Erté, to take a chance and pursue a dream in the states. Knowing that he could always return home, he and his wife along with their then young daughter began anew in New York City under the tutelage of Chef Daniel Boulud. Olah would then move to Connecticut to plant some roots. He served as Executive Chef at Martel in Fairfield as well as the now shuttered and well received Brasserie Bruxelles in SONO. Read More
Three Girls Vegan Creamery in Guilford: All Vegan. All Delicious. Restaurant Vegan Vegetarian Special Dietary Needs Specialty Market Bakery Lunch Guilford April Guilbault June 07, 2023 Tender meatballs nestled in bubbling, vibrant San Marzano tomato sauce. Hearty breads that cradle cutlets generously smeared with homemade pesto. Crispy-on-the-outside Mac and Cheese balls and tender Crabcakes with a dollop of Horseradish Dill sauce. Lasagna that is layers deep, stuffed full of gooey cheese and smothered in more of that delightful tomato sauce. And it’s all vegan. Without getting too Hallmark-y, it is all based in love, as well. Tracy Alexander, with her two daughters Brittany and Taylor form the triumvirate of Three Girls Vegan Creamery in Guilford, Connecticut. Mama Tracy creates the recipes and menus, while daughters Brittany and Taylor run the locations and handle the marketing. Read More
Chef Driven 'DIG' To Open In Stamford with Mindfully Sourced Veg Forward Menu (via The Patch) Features Restaurant Openings Vegetarian Vegan Special Dietary Needs Stamford Lunch healthy Homepage Richard Kaufman via The Patch April 07, 2023 The old Bull's Head Diner which closed in 2021 has been transformed into a new, unique eatery that has something for everyone. DIG, a chef-centric restaurant based in New York City, will open up at 43 High Ridge Road the week of April 17.DIG has locations in Boston and Cambridge, Mass., Bridgewater Township, N.J., New York City, Philadelphia, Pa., Rye Brook, N.Y., and soon-to-be in Washington, D.C.The Stamford location will be the restaurant's first stand-alone location.DIG's seasonal menu is scratch-cooked and features fresh salads and market plates curated by their in-house chefs. The menu is rotated regularly, highlighting the freshest vegetables of the season.Patrons can expect various salad and grain bowls. Current offerings include the beet & goat cheese bowl: farm greens, roasted red beets with clementines, preserved orange vinaigrette, with crumbled goat cheese, super-seed crunch with balsamic dressing on the side;Or the kale caesar bowl: cashew kale caesar, farm greens with mint, tomatoes and cucumbers, and avocado, with cashew caesar dressing and toasted breadcrumbs on the side — among many other options.You can also build our own bowl, add an a la carte side like roasted sweet potatoes or the Jasper Hill mac and cheese: Jasper Hill three-cheese blend, Ithaca milk, whole-wheat pasta with crispy panko breadcrumbs.Read the complete article on The Patch. Read More
Beastie Burger: CT Entrepreneur Creates Delicious Plant Based Burgers Ingredients Features Vegan Vegetarian Plant Based Ingredients Burgers Healthy Eats Health & Wellness April Guilbault February 07, 2023 This is the story of a plant-based burger patty that began with a wedding invitation. Our heroine, Lisa, receives her son’s wedding invitation in the mail one day. Joy! But, oh, on that day, she is feeling that she doesn’t want to be in the spotlight, walking down that aisle as the Mother-of-the-Groom, with everyone staring at her. So, to help counter her depression and anxiety, she soon finds a local fitness trainer. In walks trainer Joseph and Lisa’s life begins to change. Even more changes are to come down the road, including, oddly, a little incident with a meat grinder on Rt.8 on dark and stormy night.As Lisa Nicholas begins her transformation and changes the way she thinks about nutrition and exercise, Joseph suggests upping her daily intake of protein to build those lean muscles. Problem is, Lisa had tried the vegan lifestyle years before and was hitting a wall with food being interesting and, also, getting enough protein. Read More
Guide to 35+ Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants & Bakeries in Connecticut (2023 Edition) Features Restaurant Vegan Homepage Guide Vegetarian Highlight April Guilbault February 04, 2023 Cutting down on meat these days? If you are, then no doubt you are on the lookout for delicious plant-based eateries. Here’s our listing for you—you little budding veggie lover—that highlight fabulous eats to break any preconceived ideas about being plant-forward in the ol’ Nutmeg State. Read More
Grumpy Dumplings: Small Batch Hand-Folded Fresh Dumplings Delivered! Features Dumplings Thai Pasta Asian Farmers Market Local Chef Vendor Highlight Homepage Stephanie Webster January 04, 2023 A few months ago, a friend whose taste I trust asked me if I had tried Grumpy Dumplings? I said I had seen the account on Instagram, and recognized them from the local farmers’ markets, but had yet to try these so called “grumpy” dumplings. I was however already somewhat obsessed with their Japanese anime style branding, so why not give it a go? A few days later, I was able to procure some of their small batch dumplings ordered through their Instagram account (they since have launched a web site with online ordering), and as a bonus…they even delivered within 20 miles of Norwalk. Dinner was saved. Read More
My Favorite Dish: Rosina’s Raviolo al’ Uovo Features Interview Restaurant Pasta egg yolk ravioli Greenwich Byram Rosina's Greenwich Rosina's fresh pasta Homepage Chef Chefs Chef Talk Andrew Dominick December 29, 2022 I’ll be the first to admit that since Rosina’s opened, it has become my toxic trait. And I mean that in the best way possible. I’ve eaten there for dinner, I’ve attended several happy hours and one industry night, and I’ve celebrated a birthday there.Full transparency, Jared Falco, Rosina’s co-owner and executive chef, is a good friend of mine. I’d like to say I go so often to visit him, and that is partially true, but Jared, I’m sorry, it’s for the pasta. Still love you, bro! Read More
Casa Me Opens in Westport with Beautiful Italian Cuisine & A Cocktail Program You'll Want In On Restaurant Westport Openings Italian Pasta Cocktails Cocktail Lounge Homepage Jessica Ryan November 21, 2022 Casa Me elevates the local restaurant scene with its exceptional Northern Italian vacation-inspired cuisine.For months Westporters and passersby wondered what was to become of the slightly rundown restaurant in Sconset Square in the midst of a massive renovation and remodel that seemed to take forever. Rumors began to circulate… a Mexican restaurant was coming to town (another?). A Spanish restaurant was moving in. (That’s across the street.) There was also some speculation that a new concept by restauranteur Mario Fontana, owner of the Bodega restaurants both in Fairfield and Darien was going to open. Fontana was indeed opening a new restaurant, Case Me, but the cuisine would be distinctly vacation-inspired Italian cuisine. This time he would be joined by his wife, the lovely Pina Ferlisi, who would take on the role of Creative Director after leaving a long and successful career as a fashion director for such esteemed brands as Henri Bendel and Alexander McQueen. Read More
Cluck Cluck: 7 Questions with Ben Pote of Wildacre Rotisserie in Greenwich Interview Restaurant Chefs Chef Talk Local Chef CT Chef Fast Casual Chicken Vegetarian Greenwich Family Friendly Andrew Dominick November 10, 2022 In June 2022, Wilton resident Ben Pote opened Wildacre Rotisserie, a new fast casual concept whose signature is an expertly roasted heirloom chicken and an overall menu that’s all about freshness and quality.This “Cali-style” chicken joint isn’t only bird-focused, though, as it’s got plenty in terms of vegetarian options—including a whole roasted za’atar seasoned cauliflower. Read More
Il Pastaficio Opens in Westport: ‘No Alfredo,’ Authentic Italian Foods (via Westport Journal) Features Ingredients Restaurant Openings Westport Pasta Italian Stephanie Webster October 28, 2022 This just in from Gretchen Webster of Westport Journal, on a new spot for fresh pasta and authentic Italian goods in Westport.Two years after his quest began to bring authentic Italian pasta and sauces to Westport, Frederico Perandin, a native of Venice, Italy, has opened Il Pastaficio, a downtown shop and restaurant.The business, at 135 Post Road East, features a display case filled with samples of more than 15 kinds of freshly made pasta.If linguini and rigatoni sound familiar, some of the other fresh pastas at Il Pastaficio — bucatini, cavatelli, ravioli ricotta e spinaci or raviola Emilla — may not. Another case is filled with freshly made sauces, including pesto Genovese, puttanesca and cacio pepe sauce.Read the complete article here. Read More
Chef David DiStasi Opens MATERIA Ristorante in Bantam, CT's New Culinary Treasure Restaurant Litchfield Bantam Openings Italian Pasta Fine Dining Chef's Tasting Homepage Jessica Ryan September 24, 2022 Last spring, Materia Ristorante, a most enchanting restaurant nestled in the bucolic town of Bantam in the Litchfield Hills, quietly opened its doors. Like descending upon a picturesque Tuscan villa, entering the scene at Materia is truly an experience from the moment you pull into the driveway. Do allow yourselves to take a moment or two to admire the magnificent setting. The expansive land behind the restaurant, the sights and sounds of the river flowing past all set the stage for what’s to come. You know something spectacular is about to happen. Read More
Cugine's Italian Opening in Stamford From Restaurateurs John & Morgan Nealon Restaurant Features Stamford Openings Italian Cocktails Pasta Fine Dining Homepage Stephanie Webster May 10, 2022 Stamford restaurateurs John and Morgan Nealon today announced the opening of Cugine’s Italian in Stamford’s Harbor Point community at 121 Towne Street. The restaurant, expected to open later this Spring, will feature alluring, well-plated Italian cuisine, coupled with refined cocktails and a robust wine list.“Our goal with Cugine’s is to offer not only Harbor Point, but Fairfield County as a whole, an entirely new Italian dining experience,” said John Nealon. “This sophisticated restaurant will invite our guests to take a step back in time and dine in the era of Frank Sinatra, with dark interiors and furniture, beautiful soft mood lighting, a period playlist and classic Italian cuisine.” Read More
Pier 131: Dine and Drink on the River in Shelton this Summer Restaurant Shelton Comfort Food Waterfront Patio Outdoor Dining Burgers Italian American Pasta Lunch Brunch Openings CTbites Team May 03, 2022 Pier 131 Restaurant and Bar is poised to be one of CT’s “it” destinations this summer. Nestled along the newly renovated Shelton Riverfront with stunning views of the Housatonic River and the historic Old Shelton Railroad Bridge, Pier131 is located in one of the most stunning spots in Fairfield County.Although very much a neighborhood restaurant, this high-energy gathering place and urban retreat opened its doors late last summer and quickly became a popular destination drawing diners and photographers from all over Fairfield and New Haven Counties – even on the coldest winter days.The setting immediately draws you in and the tasty something for everyone menu will keep you coming back. Pier 131 has also done a great job giving diners an entertaining experience with live music several nights a week, a DJ every Sunday afternoon, as well as Trivia Night, a daily Happy Hour, $5 Margarita Tuesday, Pasta Sunday (with half off select bottles of wine). More events will be added to the line-up as the weather starts to warm. Read More
Haven Hot Chicken Opening 2nd Location in Orange CT Restaurant Openings Orange Fried Chicken Sandwich Fried Chicken Sandwich Not Chicken Vegetarian Comfort Food To-Go Fast Casual Stephanie Webster March 03, 2022 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, has announced its opening of a second location in Orange, Connecticut. Located at 550 Boston Post Road, the 1400 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 famous fries and seasonal limited-time offerings.(Read our review of their New Haven location here.) Read More
Plantidote Foods: Wholesome & Tasty Vegan Plant-Based Patties, Made in CT Features Ingredients Vegan Vegetarian Plant Based Healthy Eats Burgers Local Artisan Stephanie Webster January 25, 2022 As keepers of Connecticut culinary intel, we field a lot of reader queries. One question commonly asked is, “where can I get really good quality, great tasting vegan food” that also answers the question, “why can’t I understand half the ingredients in the so-called “healthy” convenience store foods? We recently came across Plantidote Foods vegan, ready made plant-based patties, and they check all the boxes. They taste great, have just 10 nutrient packed ingredients, all of which you can see, pronounce and understand, and they are made right here in Norwalk CT. Read More
Gabriele’s: Old School Italian Steakhouse Opens in Westport Restaurant Steakhouse Steak Westport Fine Dining Pasta Italian Dessert Wine Bar Jessica Ryan January 01, 2022 Located in the space that was originally The Dressing Room next to the Westport Country Playhouse at 27 Powers Court, Gabriele’s opened its doors this winter. Gone are the traces of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Save for the fireplace, the space has been completely transformed. The former rustic vibe has been replaced by plush banquette seating, white linen tables, dramatic chandelier lighting, and beautiful woodwork evokes a classic steakhouse vibe, but the newly light and airy atmosphere offers a modern touch. Read More
