Pat's Apizza Opens in a Gas Station in North Haven Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Pizza North Haven Pat's Apizza Homepage Interview Ingredients Andrew Dominick November 05, 2025 You’re driving on Washington Avenue in North Haven, your car is thirsty, and you pull into Forbes Premium Fuel. Wait a second. What’s that sign say at the gas station? Pat’s Apizza? That’s your sign to swing open the gas station’s convenience store’s door. Look to the left and there’s a full-on pizzeria in there. Be honest…you thought this was gas station pizza, didn’t you? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but there’s a (desperate) time and a place for Stewart’s Shops, Love’s, Speedway, and Wawa. Let’s scrap that whole deal. Pat’s is a pizzeria that just so happens to be inside of a gas station and they’ve been getting a lot of love on social media since they opened on September 4 of this year. Read More
Malby Bakery Opens in New Haven with Creative Pastries & Elevated Classics Features Restaurant Bakery New Haven Opening Baked Goods Bread Shop Bread Aaron Gruen November 03, 2025 Malby, a new bakery in New Haven is churning out superlative sourdough alongside croissants, cookies, and Latin American baked goods.Owned by married couple Malby Rojas and Karla Tejada Arias, Malby opened in late May and is steadily expanding its offerings. “Every day, we add a little more bread, a little more pastry,” Rojas says. The neighborhood is already well-acquainted with Rojas’ bread, as she has been baking and delivering loaves from the basement of their home. Now, at her brick-and-mortar location, Rojas sells pastries, breads, and beverages inspired by the couple’s Latin heritage. Read More
3 Ways To Help Our Neighbors Impacted by SNAP Cuts in Connecticut Restaurant Ingredients food pantry SNAP SNAP Benefits Nonprofit CTbites Team October 30, 2025 Due to the shutdown of the federal government, millions of Americans will see their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits halted on November 1, 2025. This impacts many in our state. 360,000 Connecticut residents rely on SNAP to feed their families. 1 in 8 Americans and 1 in 5 children rely on SNAP. Our neighbors will be losing their SNAP benefits and this is our time to step up and support them.The following list of resources are here to help those who are seeking food pantries, organizations that assist those who are food insecure, and you’ll even find restaurants that are lending a hand at this time, or if you’re looking to volunteer, many of these local nonprofits could always use the extra help. 3 WAYS TO HELPDonate to CT Foodshare at CTFoodshare dot com. Every $1 donated = two meals.Volunteer your time with CT Foodshare. This helps spread the monetary donations further.Donate food to a local food shelter. Find the closest one at 211ct.org Read More
Dos Hermanos Guatemalan Bakery & Cafe Opens in Bridgeport Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Guatemalan Bakery Latin American Black Rock Bridgeport Opening Homepage Interview Andrew Dominick October 24, 2025 If you notice a bunch of people in Bridgeport’s Black Rock neighborhood entering a tiny storefront on Brewster Street, follow them, and the smell of fresh baked bread, inside. Welcome to Dos Hermanos Bakery & Cafe, owned by two brothers (hence the name), Giovanni and Nelson Castellon, who had a goal of opening a place of their own for a while to show the community an accurate representation of Guatemalan food. Read More
Beyond New Haven: Discovering the Greek-Style Deliciousness of Zois Pizza in Seymour Restaurant Pizza Seymour CT Pizza Trail Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger October 21, 2025 The Connecticut Pizza Trail recently unveiled its list of the top 100 pizzerias for us pizza-loving Nutmeggers. While I could easily name a few they overlooked, it’s no surprise that many of the revered New Haven legends made the cut, with the rest fanning out in a 180-degree sweep west, north, and east across the state. Some of the additional names were instantly familiar, others have now earned a spot on my ever-growing “must-try” list. As I worked through the county-by-county alphabetical lineup, my attention naturally drifted to my home turf, New Haven County. One recognizable name after another appeared, and then, near the end, there it was: Zois Pizza. Tucked just off Route 8’s Exit 18 in Seymour, this unassuming gem might fly under the radar for outsiders, but for locals, Zois has long been among the Valley’s best. Read More
Revisiting BAR’s Take on New Haven Pizza Restaurant Pizza New Haven New Haven Pizza CT Pizza Trail Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger October 20, 2025 Bar is located at 254 Crown Street in New Haven, CT, in an industrial building that proudly boasts its historical heritage with exposed brick, garage-style doors that open in warm weather, and vintage prints. As you walk through the different rooms and look at the food-beer offerings, you wonder whether Bar is a pizzeria that serves great pizza with a side of beer, or a microbrewery that drafts in-house microbrews with a side of New Haven pizza. For us, we were there for the pizza, and our single question was how it would compare to the other legendary New Haven pizzas. Read More
Little Lotus Omakase Opens in New Haven Restaurant Omakase Sushi Sushi Bar Japanese Opening New Haven Homepage Noah Schwartz October 15, 2025 There’s a new hot spot in New Haven, but you might drive past it without blinking.This small, waterside gem is located within the Pequonnock Yacht Club in the tranquil City Point neighborhood of New Haven. It’s housed in the building that was formerly City Point Kitchen, just in front of Shell & Bones, and is the pride and joy of restaurateur couple Larry Wang and Bilian “Nia” Chen.Despite having what may be the most progressive omakase menu in the state, Little Lotus is deeply rooted in history. So, if you enjoy things delicacies like sea urchin, O-toro, A5 Japanese wagyu beef, foie gras…and blow torches… keep on reading. Read More
Elm in New Canaan Relaunches Afternoon Tea Service Ingredients Interview Restaurant Elm New Canaan New Canaan Afternoon Tea Tea Time Interview Andrew Dominick October 15, 2025 Fridays and Saturdays are for sipping…TEA! Pinky extension for each taste of herbal, green, or black tea is mandatory, of course. On the heels of Elm’s overhaul of their interior and food menu, afternoon tea is back! If it feels like we’ve taken this tea journey once before, we certainly have. Back in 2021, I covered Elm’s spread of scones, bites both savory and sweet, a piping hot teapot, and for an extra charge, and if you desire, a glass (or bottle, if that’s how you get down) of bubbly. Read More
Last Call for Carnitas: Super Taqueria Las Salsas in Bridgeport Closing On October 19 Interview Restaurant Carnitas Bridgeport Mexican Tacos Interview Closing CTbites Team October 09, 2025 After well over a decade serving traditional carnitas and Mexican street food on Bridgeport’s State Street, owner and lifelong taquero, Gil Salvador Perez Hurtado, is shutting down shop at his beloved Super Taqueria Las Salsas. October 19, 2025 will be the final service day for the legendary taqueria which, if you read our story in 2024, began first as a low-key pop up out of Hurtado’s apartment, then became one of the state’s more popular food trucks, before he moved it to a brick-and-mortar location. Read More
It’s A Woman’s World: Bartender + Beverage Manager Kylie Keeley of Bar Bushido in Norwalk Ingredients Restaurant Interview It's A Woman's World Interview Bartender Bar Bushido Norwalk Cocktails Andrew Dominick October 07, 2025 Walk through the doors of Jeff Taibe’s izakaya, Bar Bushido, and chances are, you’ll be greeted by Kylie Keeley, especially if you’re sitting down at her bar. Correction. One of her bars. The pub part of Bar Bushido—where you’ll find yakitori, ramen, karaage chicken, DIY hand rolls, and other Japanese bar bites—is where Keeley says the “drinks match the energy.” The izakaya is a vibe; it’s loud (but with good energy), casual, and a great hangout for any occasion, and it’s where she’s rocking out a drink list of highballs, creative sake bombs, and cocktails ingredients (especially Japanese ingredients) that should spark your curiosity and tickle your tastebuds. At the very back of the space is Bar Bushido’s alter ego, a quieter, more intimate hand roll bar, where Keeley’s cocktails are more focused on highlighting a certain flavor profile. Read More
Why Modern Apizza in New Haven is #1 on the New CT Pizza Trail Restaurant Pizza New Haven New Haven Pizza CT Pizza Trail Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger October 06, 2025 Over the past months, I’ve been on a quest to find the best pizza in the Valley, exploring Waterbury and its neighboring towns. Now, it feels like the right time to turn my attention to what many consider the epicenter of Connecticut pizza: New Haven, where you're met with no shortage of options to explore. When a couple of buddies and I were scheduling a pizza lunch, we decided to sidestep the potential chaos of Wooster Street and headed over a few blocks to Modern Apizza on State Street. Once you manage to find parking, be prepared to wait, and count yourself lucky if you have that lucky timing of an immediate opening. We arrived just after noon and, to our good fortune, a booth was open in the back room. We took it as a sign of good things to come. As soon as our server arrived, we ordered a couple of bottles of Foxon Park, Kola and Root Beer, then got down to topping talk. We kept it semi-classic: one pie fully loaded with pepperoni and the other topped with sausage and onion. Read More
Delamar Hotels Opens American-Mediterranean Restaurant, Dandelion, in Westport Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Mediterranean Opening Interview Westport Dandelion Westport Delamar Hotels Homepage Andrew Dominick October 03, 2025 Just a mere mile and change from the Delamar Southport and Artisan, founder Charles Mallory’s Greenwich Hospitality Group has opened a new luxury hotel with a restaurant, Dandelion, that’s been booked solid for weeks right out of the gate. “We took ownership of it 2-3 years ago,” says Delamar’s corporate director of restaurants, Hicham Amaaou. “I’ve been working with Frederic Keifer (Delamar’s corporate chef/partner) since Artisan Southport in 2012, then West Hartford, and we created La Plage together from scratch. But this is two separate entities and the food is very opposite.” Read More
Cosetta Pizzeria and Paninoteca Opens in Fairfield from Bailey's Backyard Team Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Pizza Pizzeria Sandwiches Breakfast Coffee Fairfield Opening Homepage Interview Ingredients Andrew Dominick September 30, 2025 In 2024, when I interviewed Sal Bagliavio, the co-owner of Bailey’s Backyard, about his second spot, Taco Dia in Newtown, he very cryptically mentioned that he and chef/co-owner Forrest Pasternack were actively looking to open something else, somewhere else to follow up their taqueria. Cosetta Pizzeria and Paninoteca on the Post Road in Fairfield is that something else—and what it is, simply put, is a more gourmet version of the neighborhood slice shop, plus sandwiches (including breakfast), house-made pastry, and coffee. Read More
Guide To Great Coffee in CT: Celebrate National Coffee Day Sept 29 (2025 edition) Features Restaurant Coffee Shop Coffee Coffee Roaster Highlight Coffee Guide Homepage Carly Terzigni September 26, 2025 Coffee is more than just a drink. For many, coffee is an important step in their morning routine and an absolute necessity before starting the day. With National Coffee Day being celebrated on September 29, there’s no better time to check out Connecticut’s vibrant coffee scene. From cozy neighborhood cafés to trendy specialty shops, we’ve rounded up businesses across the state where you can grab your favorite cup of joe. Whether you are into the latest coffee trend or you like to keep things simple with just cream and sugar, there’s a coffee shop in Connecticut perfect for you. To make your search for your new favorite coffee spot even easier, we’ve organized this guide by county. Simply scroll to your local county to find the nearest coffee shops. Read More
Omakase Westport Opens With 16 Course Omakase ONLY Dining Restaurant Sushi Bar Sushi Westport Opening Omakase Homepage Jessica Ryan September 24, 2025 Last week I had the opportunity and privilege to attend the opening dinner at the newly opened Omakase Westport Restaurant at 45 Saugatuck Avenue in Westport. The vision of Chef Edwin comes to fruition in an incredibly intimate setting. Renowned for his ability to seamlessly blend traditional Japanese techniques with modern flavors and innovative presentations, Chef delivers a memorable experience. With decades of experience in prestigious New York City establishments including Sushi of Gari, Nobu, and Tender at the Sanctuary Hotel, Edwin has honed his craft to perfection. His most recent endeavors includes spearheading the sushi program at TerraSole Ristorante in Ridgefield, CT, and showcasing his talent at Omakase in New Fairfield. In collaboration with TerraSole owner Scott Yandrasevich, Chef Edwin is introducing his unique Omakase offerings to the local community, sourcing the finest seafood from Japan and fresh local catches. His passion for the art of sushi, combining the traditional with the modern, and dedication to excellence promise to delight and inspire all who visit Omakase Westport. Read More
Massimo Tullio Opens Neapolitan Inspired Massi Co. in Westport Features Interview Ingredients Restaurant Neapolitan pizza Neapolitan Italian Interview Homepage Westport Opening Andrew Dominick September 21, 2025 The space at 90 Post Road E in Westport has played host to three different restaurant concepts over the past eight years; Jesup Hall (farm-to-table American), then Don Memo (Mexican), and now, Massi Co., a Napolitano style restaurant. At the helm is a familiar face, co-owner of those previous two restaurants, and The Whelk, Massimo Tullio. The switch to Italian came about earlier in the year when Tullio, and his then partner, Bill Taibe, announced they would be going their separate ways with Taibe taking over both Kawa Ni locations in Westport and in Denver, while Tullio would continue operating The Whelk and Don Memo. Read More
Bartone's Apizza: Community Meets Great Pizza in Derby CT Restaurant Pizza New Haven Pizza Opening Homepage Noah Schwartz September 18, 2025 On March 15, 2024, a new pizza place opened in Derby with little fanfare. No social media push, no PR blitz. They just opened.Being a self-proclaimed pizza obsessive, I quietly noted it and planned to visit soon.A few months later, I did. It was a simple takeout order: cheese and pepperoni. And it was fantastic.When I picked it up, I noticed how genuine and engaged the lady was who was serving me. She made an immediate impression. I have since been back several times and recently got to sit down with her (Sheryl) and her husband Marcus, the unassuming pizza maker.Bartone’s Apizza is their pride and joy, and it is highly worth a visit for any pizza lover with red sauce running through their veins. It’s also the kind of place that is, sadly, a dying breed. The couple simply wants to serve and support the community they grew up in—and will literally do almost anything to make you feel at home (keep reading). Read More
What's Geoff Smoking? A BBQ Pop Up at The Country Table in Greenwich Events Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant BBQ Greenwich Pop-Up Interview Comfort Food Andrew Dominick September 16, 2025 Something that Lazlo reflected back on wasn’t his storied culinary career at places like Gramercy Tavern, The Whelk, or Mill Street Bar & Table, it was smoking meats and listening to music. “It was about what brings me back to what my groove was,” he says. “Twenty years ago, I had this little smoker. I’d invite my friends over, crank up the Grateful Dead, have a couple beers, and have a good time.” Read More
Norwalk's Best Kept Secret: Magic 5 Pie Co. Makes Sicilian Style Pizza Ingredients Interview Restaurant Pizza Limited Pizzeria Norwalk Ingredients Interview Sicilian Pizza Andrew Dominick August 27, 2025 I can’t put my finger on exactly when it was or where I first saw it, but early in 2025, I spotted a pizza at Magic 5 Pie Co. that left me both curious and confused. Known for their charred, crispy/chewy, light artisan pizza, I noticed a different shape. This one wasn’t round like their everyday pies. It was square. Later in the year while chatting with one of Magic 5’s owners, Shawn Longyear, who co-owns the pizzeria, along with The Spread, and El Segundo with Christopher Rasile, Andrey Cortes, and Chris Hickey, I couldn’t help but ask about it. Read More
Tacos 203 by Taco Guy Opens at South Norwalk Train Station Features Interview Restaurant Tacos Norwalk Tacos 203 Cocktails Grab-n-Go Mexican Homepage Fast Casual Opening Andrew Dominick August 25, 2025 As summer dwindles down in Connecticut, lobster rolls are out, tacos are in. At least that’s the case at the South Norwalk’s Metro-North station’s eastbound side. When the vacant space where LobsterCraft once slung rolls, lobster mac, and bisque, is now home to Tacos 203, a spinoff of Taco Guy. Owner Adrian Hurtado, who started his Taco Guy brand, first as a successful food truck, then a brick-and-mortar in Norwalk’s Wall Street area in 2023, snagged the train station spot by putting in an application bid for it with the Norwalk Parking Authority, not knowing whether he’d get it or not. Read More
