Layla's Falafel Opening in Westport w/ Delicious Authentic Middle Eastern Fare Restaurant Middle Eastern Stamford Westport Fairfield Catering Delicious Dives Lunch Homepage Stephanie Webster April 12, 2017 Layla's Falafel, with their delicious and authentic Middle Eastern menu, is opening in Westport in late April. Offering a full menu of authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, Layla’s (named for its owner) serves up well-priced, flavorful and fresh fare. Ideal for takeout, a quick lunch or a pre-movie pit-stop, it’s a solid alternative to your standard takeout repertoire. Previously only found on Black Rock Tpke, their new location will be across from Stop N Shop at 1537 Post Road East in Westport. Read More
Dew Drop Inn in Derby: Adventures in Chicken Wings And More Restaurant Bar Delicious Dives Comfort Food Lunch Derby Kid Friendly Beer Homepage Burgers James Gribbon April 09, 2017 "When I was first looking for a location, I didn't even want a place with a kitchen." It's not what you expect to hear from the owner of a bar which has become more famous for food than its drinks. When Bronx-native Jay Carlucci bought the Dew Drop Inn in 2006, "I just wanted a neighborhood bar, I wasn't even looking north of White Plains." One major reinvention and many smaller renovations later, the Dew Drop is a linchpin of both the restaurant and social scenes in Derby, and a regular top three finisher in every list of the best wing spots in Connecticut."It was rough then, but it was definitely a local hangout, a neighborhood bar." His vision was to take the concept and make it better. Within the first few months every light beer was taken off the menu, and Carlucci heard about it: 'You're crazy, you didn't make money in the valley selling new beers.' Read More
Embody Fitness Gourmet Opens New Location in Darien Restaurant Darien healthy Juice Bar Juice Cleanse Take Out Stephanie Webster April 07, 2017 After nine years, EMBODY FITNESS GOURMET has a new location in Darien, at the Palmer’s Market Shopping Center (380 Heights Road). This is one of three Embody grab-n-go healthy organic locations; the others residing in New Canaan and Westport. Embody is our go-to spot for protein shakes, juices, and salads. In Darien, they have also started serving Intelligentsia coffee--one of the top coffee roasters in the country. Embody's menu embraces all forms of lean proteins and nutrient dense vegetables and fruits in their menu creations, many of which pair well together allowing customers to mix and match items for an entire day's worth of nutrition. My personal favorite...The Almond Buzz, a perfect combination of almond butter, almond milk, bananas, cacao and protein powder. Read More
Donut Crazy Opening in West Hartford Restaurant West Hartford Bakery Dessert Coffee Breakfast Stephanie Webster April 04, 2017 West Hartford is about to get their very own Donut Crazy. Let the gluttony begin! The latest location in the donut empire will be at 993 A Farmington Ave in West Hartford, right across from Bartaco. Renovation is currently in the works and they expect to open this summer. West Hartford will feel lighter and brighter than the clubby New Haven location, but will share most of the same features. This follows closely on the heels of their recent opening at the Westport Train Station. I'd say CT is digging their donuts. However, doughnuts aren't all Jason Wojnarowski, Donut Crazy founder, has to offer. They will also be serving ON TAP nitro coffee, cold-brew coffee, iced teas and chocolate milk using Arethusa Farm’s milk and Shearwater's fair trade Coffee. In addition, they will be serving made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, also available on a glazed donut if you dare! For folks who prefer something more savory, they will have bagels & lox and avocado toast. The bakery team also makes muffins and sconces from scratch and will continue to surprise guests with some really special confections. Read More
28 Places For Easter in CT: 2017 Edition Restaurant Holiday Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson April 04, 2017 Easter- one of the most egg-cellent holidays- is on Sunday April 16. Restaurants across Connecticut are creating special Easter menus, from the traditional to the more festive. Be sure to make your reservations soon so that you can celebrate with some-bunny special.Redding Roadhouse, Redding, will host an Easter buffet with a cold station, cheese and charcuterie display, pastries, an omelet station, waffle bar, hot buffet, and more. There will even be appearances by the Easter bunny.Norwich Inn, Norwich, presents an Easter brunch from 11am-3pm. The spread features pastries, an omelet station, a raw bar, carving station, dessert, kids' options, and more.Present Company, Simsbury, will serve Easter brunch starting at 10:30am.L’escale, Greenwich: L'escale's Easter brunch will include a raw bar, country table, an omelet station, a breakfast station, desserts, and more. Join them from 11am-4pm.Bernard’s, Ridgefield will serve Easter brunch and dinner on Sunday April 16. Brunch runs from 11-12:30pm while dinner runs from 1:30-6pm. Read More
PizzaCo Opens in Stratford: Bruno DiFabio Creates Garage-Fired Pizza Restaurant Stratford Pizza Lunch CT Beer Kid Friendly Celebrity Chef Homepage James Gribbon April 02, 2017 The first hot rod movement was sparked by people who realized cast off objects still had plenty of potential. Kids walking to school in post WWII America passed junkyards where derelict Model T Fords, relics even then, baked in the sun. An after school job's income could net you one of those heaps, and with it came your first taste of independence. Dropping in a salvaged flathead V-8 could make that old bucket loud, fast, and dangerous. The sexy combination was like flypaper to teenagers and young veterans, and their creativity launched an American culture.Newly opened PizzaCo, just across the street from Two Roads Brewing Company, is one such hot rod. Once the site of several thoroughly defunct gas stations, the old place has been cleaned up, given a new paint job, and had its own motor swap. The driving engine is now a Marra Forni oven. They call their pizza "Garage Fired," and PizzaCo's edge was hiring world champion Bruno DiFabio to create it. Read More
Thai Kit: Top Notch Thai Cuisine Found in Fairfield Restaurant Thai Fairfield Lunch Home Delivery Take Out Asian Homepage RealGuy March 26, 2017 The passage of time is strange. The distant past and the very recent can bend back on each other and almost touch, and what was once long ago can feel as real now as the blossoming of first love, as the comforting aroma of mom’s home cooking… Lately when I’m in the mood to go back up the river of time to that place in Southeast Asia that destiny would see us go just once, I visit Thai Kit on the Post Road in Fairfield. It's a brand new Thai restaurant with a couple of advantages over some other places I have tried. If you find yourself in the neighborhood, or if you live in the neighborhood, just past the McDonalds at the circle in Fairfield heading toward Black Rock on the left-hand side, Thai Kit is a delicious destination well worth exploring. Read More
Amis Trattoria Opens March 31 in Westport w/ Epic Italian: 10 Questions with Chef Brad Spence Restaurant Italian Westport Chef Talk Lunch Celebrity Chef Homepage Opening Andrew Dominick March 24, 2017 You know that Bedford Square Building and Firehouse at 59 Post Road East in Westport that’s been under construction for a while? Well, it’s finally coming to fruition. On March 31, two occupants will crack the doors and open to the public, Anthropologie, and the place we’re here to talk about, Amis Trattoria. Why are we excited about this? Amis is owned by The Vetri Family, with Chef Marc Vetri at the helm, a chef who is widely regarded by his peers as one of the best Italian cooks in the U.S. If the whole women’s clothing and home décor concept and a restaurant opening in the same space seems confusing, well, there’s a story here. Read More
Viceroy Publik House Opening in Stamford: British & Indian Pub Fare + Live Music Restaurant Stamford Indian Pub Bar Lunch Gastropub Opening CTbites Team March 23, 2017 Taking a page from history, from what is now referred to as the “British Raj”, the British rule over the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947, Viceroy Publik House pays homage to this now proud British and Indian cultural connect, offering a high energy English pub setting featuring London curry, pakoras and pints, and an edgy live music venue which is just as diverse as its menu. Located in Downtown Stamford, CT, Viceroy Publik House brings together these two cultures, rich in history and with a strong food and drink identity found in pubs throughout London. Viceroy will be opening in April of 2017. Read More
25 Epic Desserts to Eat in Fairfield County Before You Die via Spoon University Restaurant Dessert Best of CT Kid Friendly Homepage CTbites Team March 23, 2017 Our friends over at Spoon University published this super sweet article. In case you missed it, this is a solid Fairfield County dessert roundup. NOTE: Vespa is Westport has since closed, so cross that chocolate layer cake off the list. People often associate good food with big cities like New York or LA. The truth is good food is everywhere - you just have to know where to look for it. Even Fairfield County which is made up of 24 small Connecticut cities and towns, boasts some incredible food. Here's a list of the most epic desserts in Fairfield County. 1. Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcake at Cake Box Read More
A Roman Refresh At Stamford's COTTO Restaurant Stamford Italian Pizza Pasta Cocktails Lunch James Gribbon March 19, 2017 The Italian word cotto translates directly to "cooked," a simple enough name for a pasta and pizza spot just off Stamford's bull's eye, but neither the place nor the word are as obvious once you look deeper. No mere red sauce joint, the Bank Street trattoria has Roman roots. It's also a wine bar: cotto, you see, can also mean "sauced." The space has been open as COTTO since 2012, but restaurateurs Claudio and Silvy Ridolfi have revamped the staff with chef Rolando Guardado via Z Hospitality group (Mediterraneo, Terra), sommelier Ian Toogood (A Voce, Le Fat Poodle), and mixologist Eric Bufo, formerly of Walrus+Carpenter. CTBites took a look. Here's what we saw. Read More
Fleisher's Craft Kitchen Closing To Focus on Butchery Restaurant Butcher Westport Stephanie Webster March 16, 2017 This Saturday will be the last day of service at Fleishers Craft Kitchen, the restaurant adjacent to the beloved Saugatuck butcher shop. In 2013, co-founders Ryan Fibiger and Paul Nessel opened the restaurant to further the company's commitment to nose-to-tail eating. Every dish featured cuts of meat from the butcher counter famed for its quality, ethics and transparency. Fibiger, who recently left his position as CEO but continues to advise on long term vision and growth, says, “The restaurant and staff have been integral to teaching people how to prepare Meat Raised Right. But, we've always been a butcher shop first, and we think it's time to get back to our roots and refocus on providing a truly remarkable customer experience.” Read More
Fortina Launches "Underground" Culinary Experiences Features Restaurant Underground Dinner Rye Brook Pop-Up Dinner Catering Stephanie Webster March 16, 2017 I initially held off on sharing my tasting notes for Fortina's epically unique "underground" dinner last week, as it felt like a tease to share an eating adventure that could not be experienced by our readers. Well, all that has changed. The private dinners that began as a way for the Fortina culinary team to stretch their legs, experiment with flavors and dishes, and ultimately serve to inform new menu items, can now be booked by YOU. Here is a little inside scoop on last week's carefully orchestrated 8 person dinner/performance, complete with 10 courses, alcoholic icees, an opera singer, a comedian, escargot served on a VCR, and heck of a lot of fun. Read More
Top 20 Chicken Parm Sandwich in CT: Vote For Your Favorite! Restaurant Italian Lunch Comfort Food Best of CT Stephanie Webster March 14, 2017 CTbites was recently asked to join forces with USA Today, The Food Channel, and Sandwich America, to create a list of The Best Chicken Parm Sandwiches in CT. The following article represents the top 20 sandwiches in our fair state, including: Gaetano's, Amore Cucina in Stamford, Aniello's in East Haven, Lucy D's in Stratford, Tutti's in Westport and sixteen more. USA Today Best10 asks readers to vote for YOUR favorite from our list. Go forth and VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE. Read More
Donut Crazy Opening in Westport Train Station w/ Grab-N-Go From Match & Nom Eez Restaurant Breakfast Doughnuts Coffee Tea And Coffee Take Out To-Go Vietnamese Westport Dessert Stephanie Webster March 13, 2017 Great news for fans of the outrageous donut bakery, Donut Crazy, and Chef Matt Storch's Match & Nom Eez. Donut Crazy will be opening March 16th in the old Steam Coffee spot at the eastbound side of Metro-North’s Westport station in Saugatuck. Donut Crazy, founded by Jason Wojnarowski will offer coffee, tea, espresso, and an assortment of grab n go dishes provided by Match and Nom Eez restaurants. Here's the concept; give the people what they want, coffee in the morning, and quick delicious takeout for hungry commuters when they emerge bleary eyed at the end of the day. Read More
Chutni Biryani & Noodle Bar in Stamford: CT Has A New Indian Culinary Gem Restaurant Stamford Indian Delicious Dives Lunch Homepage Fairfield County Foodie March 12, 2017 I am originally from India so I am always game for some Indian food. Sadly, Connecticut doesn’t have that many Indian restaurants. Of the ones I have tried thus far, I find myself recommending the same 2-3 places to everyone who asks. For a proper sit-down experience, I really enjoy Chef Prasad Chirnomoula’s INDIA restaurant in New Canaan (and now his new location in West Hartford). For a delicious fast-food, grab-and-go experience, Gopinath Nair’s Tikkaway in New Haven is a sure bet. Finally, for an in-between experience that is good for casual eat-in or take-out, I highly recommend Royal Guard in Norwalk.And then, I happened upon Chutni Biryani & Noodle Bar…. totally by accident. It was during a cozy dinner with my honey at Mason-Dixon Smokehouse in Stamford a few months ago… we were seated right by the window overlooking the line of restaurants across the street. What a peculiar concept I thought…. a Biryani AND Noodle Bar…. say what?! Read More
Arrivederci, Vespa. Welcome, The ‘Port via Dan Woog Restaurant Westport Opening CTbites Team March 10, 2017 Wondering what's going in to Vespa's space in Westport? Dan Woog has some answers.In its 2 1/2 years in Westport, Vespa earned the loyalty of many customers.Unfortunately, they came almost entirely on Friday and Saturday nights. Owner Bobby Werhane thought there was a demand for “a New York style, modern rustic restaurant” in that location.There was. But attracting diners on more casual weekdays was tough. Though the 155 seats inside were filled — and in summer, the 60-seat patio was packed — the size of National Hall, plus the difficulty of scheduling employees for both peak and slow times, led to what Werhane admits was “inconsistency.” Read More
Taco Loco's Party Truck: Turn Your Next Event Into a Party (sponsored post) Restaurant Food Truck Catering Mexican Tacos Gluten-Free Kid Friendly CTbites Team March 09, 2017 Are you ready for food truck season? With summer right around the corner you can bet on seeing the Taco Loco Party Trucks cruising through your town. If you are hosting a party this year the Taco Loco Party Trucks are a must have! Imagine not having to worry about shopping, setting up, cooking, or cleaning. All you have to do is invite your friends and family and we will take care of the rest! Read More
Stew Leonard's Launches Edible Cookie Dough Restaurant Features Kid Friendly Dessert Stephanie Webster March 08, 2017 This week Stew Leonard’s in Yonkers rolled out their version of the latest food trend, edible cookie dough. More good news: all five of their locations will roll it out in the next 2 weeks. Edible cookie dough will be available in a cone or a cup at $3.99 for a single scoop and $6.99 for a double scoop. Stew's Edible Cookie Dough will be available at their ice cream counters. Kids...start freaking out! Read More
The 10 Most Highly Rated Restaurants In CT via OnlyInYourState.com Restaurant Best of CT Homepage CTbites Team March 08, 2017 In case you missed this article last week, this is in from OnlyInYourState.com. Connecticut has great dining options all across the state, but some stand out among the rest. To find the most highly rated restaurants around, we turned to Zagat, Connecticut Magazine and Yelp to help us hone in on places that were offering the best overall experience in food, service and location. Get ready for a magical dining experience, because these places are pretty awesome.Check out the list of highly rated restaurants: Read More
