The Boathouse at Saugatuck Has a New Chef & Vibrant New (Waterfront) Menu Restaurant Outdoor Dining Waterfront Lunch Patio Cocktails American Lobster Roll Burgers Westport Jessica Ryan September 03, 2021 From beaches to boathouses we’ve been thoroughly enjoying our local waterside dining venues. We recently had the opportunity to dine at The Boathouse at Saugatuck. If you haven’t been in quite a while it’s time to come back, and you’ll be in for a pleasant treat. Located upstairs at the Saugatuck Rowing Club, the restaurant has seen a couple of transformations over the past few years. The newly renovated interior boasts a coastal yet elegant setting along the river - the vibe here is upscale yet relaxed. Another noticeable change is the food. The menu has gotten a whole new wardrobe and wears it well.We sat down to talk with Scott Greene. The Boathouse’s General Manager joined the team just months before the pandemic gripped our local businesses. His vision, creativity and forward thinking has elevated the restaurant to new heights. He’s responsible for the arrival of Chef Jason Milanese and his newly invigorated menu where his inspiration and presentation is reflected in the flavors. Chef brings his experiences from Tarry Lodge as well as Relais Chateaux’s Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod. Read More
Rosina’s Opens in Greenwich with Elevated Old School Italian Features Interview Restaurant Italian Greenwich Cocktails Pizza Pasta Homepage Andrew Dominick August 29, 2021 There’s a rejuvenated buzz in Byram’s business district at the old digs once housed Mill Street Bar & Table and before it, Lolita Cucina.The sounds of chatter and laughter, forks clanking and squealing against bowls, and hungry patrons slurping peppery, parm covered cacio e pepe are all coming from Rosina’s, a new Italian restaurant brought to you by a couple of young industry veterans you should recognize.Rosina’s is the creation of Jared Falco and Coby Blount, who met at Fortina’s Armonk location in 2014. Falco helped run the show in the kitchen, while Blount managed front-of-house operations. “We’ve been trying to do something together for five years,” Falco says. “When we met, we clicked and always had mutual respect for each other. Even if we had it out, we could still be cool.”The pair had a dream to work together, they just needed it to come together. Separately, they kept honing their crafts in the restaurant industry. After his first stint at Fortina, Falco took up executive chef duties at Washington Prime, Amore, Speedy Romeo, and he’d return to Fortina to express his creativity as a co-culinary director. And there’s a chance you’ve come across Blount at SE Uncorked or East End to name a few.Their friendship kept them in touch, and they’d occasionally entertain meetings with possible investors.“They didn’t have what we wanted,” Falco says. They wanted Sophia Loren on the walls eating spaghetti and that’s not us.” Blount chimes in, “Some of them wanted to use other people’s ideas or rip them off completely,” he says. “It didn’t feel like what we wanted to do. Or they wanted to do something corny that we weren’t into.”What they wanted to do was classic but refined Italian food. And although it took a few years to come up with the concept, it’s the food Falco has been cooking for over a decade. Think along the lines of riffs on traditional pasta dishes, big salads, thin and crispy pizzas, and seasonal vegetable small plates. They also knew they wanted to be a neighborhood spot with affordable prices but with a handful of indulgent offerings if the mood should strike you. Read More
Friday Froth: Berlinetta Brewing Opens in Bridgeport with A Focus On Classic European Beer Features Restaurant Brewery Beer Bridgeport Homepage Opening James Gribbon August 27, 2021 The bright white space drips with psychedelic funk as I step into Berlinetta Brewing this summer. A few decades of listening to Georges Collinet's "Afropop Worldwide," I recognize Hugh Masekela and am beaming, not just at that, but at the racks of books (actual paper books!) in reach of tables lit by huge windows. This is a very, very promising start for the downtown Bridgeport brewery.Step up through the back doorway the tasting room shares with lofts in the newly refurbished building and you'll enter a mini in-brewery record store. Racks of LPs beside a twin turntable setup are for sale or maybe trade if you're feeling barter-y. Co-owner (co-brother), and head brewer Rich Ruggiero has also crafted a tube amp powered reel-to-reel Hi-Fi stereo which can drive the sound system at the click of a toggle switch. Walk in the front door, and you'll see it (and likely him) behind the taproom bar. Read More
Amis Trattoria Switches to Sharable, Family Style Italian Dining Features Restaurant Westport Italian Amis Trattoria Family Friendly Andrew Dominick August 24, 2021 When CTbites last left Amis Trattoria in October of 2020, the Italian-inspired restaurant adopted a fresher, more fun approach. It’s still fresh and fun, only with an idea that executive chef Jes Bengston wanted to implement just under a year ago. The thought for Amis then was small, shared plates and heaps of handmade pasta meant to be passed around amongst your dining companions. Well, it’s here.“Everything is meant to be a taste or a bite,” Bengston says. “It should feel like you’re having dinner at your grandmother’s house. It’s how I eat, even when I went to Don Memo solo, I was kind of confused on what to order, but I still got a bunch of stuff so I could have a bite.”Like Bengston, I’m on the sharing bandwagon. Heck, you probably are, too. It’s why Amis’ antipasti refresh is a dozen dishes deep. You and your family or friends, or a mixture of the two, can pick at a shallow dish of citrusy, herby olives with a little heat from pickled fresno chilis or you can fight over who gets the last couple of pecorino and black pepper dusted cacio e pepe fries.Amis’ O.G. roots are sticking around, though. Crispy Brussels sprouts and those fat, tender, saucy old school meatballs are still favorites that aren’t going anywhere. Just expect less heavy fare to balance it out like spicy crab bruschetta with a burst of brightness from lemon aioli and some Calabrian chili heat. It’s a nice bite and no one would blame you for not sharing this particular plate. Read More
La Plage Opens at The Inn At Longshore on Westport's Waterfront Restaurant Waterfront Westport Seafood Raw Bar French American Homepage Opening Jessica Ryan August 22, 2021 La Plage is officially open in Westport. The Inn at Longshore and adjoining restaurant were recently acquired by the Greenwich Hospitality Group, the parent company of the Delamar hotels and restaurants. La Plage is their gift to Westport.Pronounced plah-je, plage is the French word for beach, and a fitting name when you have a French chef at the helm in the kitchen. Until recently the restaurant was home to Pearl at Longshore which shuttered its doors in January. The interior has undergone a bit of a facelift to embrace its new coastal, casual vibe. Gone is the darker, refined and urban inspired décor which has been replaced with brighter white-washed walls, wicker lampshades and a livelier, beachier ambiance. Queue in the steel brass drums perhaps, but this isn’t your piña colada/Cheeseburger in Paradise type joint. This upscale yet casual eatery is best perhaps described as a beachy chic shack of sorts. Read More
Flavorism: 5 Ghost Kitchens in Stamford Feature Local Chefs Thru Unique Delivery Platform Features Restaurant Delivery Delivery Service Ghost Kitchen Stamford Pizza Salads Burgers Jessica Ryan August 19, 2021 Long before the term ghost kitchen became part of our vernacular, Jonathan Brennan was busy building his in the heart of Stamford. Today his virtual food hall features six farm to table kitchens under one roof, is bustling and has plans for expansion in the very near future. Each kitchen features a unique menu with a different flavor profile to accommodate a wide range of different tastes and lifestyles with a focus on heath and sustainability. While Flavorism could be touted as a Ghost Kitchen, it’s really so much more. It’s a focus on sustainability, the elimination of excess waste, serving the local communities and hiring local talents. Read More
LobsterCraft Opens in Greenwich With A Serious Lobster Roll Menu Restaurant Greenwich Lobster Lobster Roll Sandwich Seafood Lunch Opening Jessica Ryan August 17, 2021 Quietly, three months ago, Captain William Michael Harden aka “Captain Mike” opened his second Lobster Craft location in the heart of Greenwich on Greenwich Avenue.We sat down to chat with him about the Greenwich location, new menu items, new restaurants down the pipeline and the challenges of opening a restaurant during a pandemic.Like most restaurants, staffing has been an issue and he’s operating with a skeleton crew but he’s very proud of his young workers, their work ethic and dedication. With over a decade of success with the original Fairfield location as well as the Lobster Truck, the recipes have been perfected and feeding the masses is the easy part. (The hard part, for us, was deciding which roll to get! Scroll down and you’ll see what I mean!) Read More
Arugula Bistro in West Hartford Celebrates 25 Years with A New Look Restaurant Hartford County West Hartford Mediterranean Middle Eastern Homepage Kristin L. Wolfe August 15, 2021 Have you strolled down Farmington Avenue lately? West Hartford is BAAAACK! And, Arugula Bistro is now all dressed up and ready to party. The colorful block mural and beautiful lavender plants along the front of the restaurant are just two visual signs that Arugula is awaiting your arrival. Back open this summer after some much needed reno, your spirit and belly will be delighted by the changes. Like many restaurants, some time closed during the pandemic was spent fixing to-do list projects. What went from much needed new flooring to some equipment and furniture overhauls, became the redo Chef Christiane Gehami and Chef Michael Kask had always wanted it to be. The pair have run Arugula together for twenty-five years and they’ve worked hard to evolve; behind them, in long-time starring roles on the team are also Steve Reynolds and Shari Warbelow. Read More
The Bronx Deli - A Little Bit of Arthur Avenue in Oxford CT Restaurant Oxford Naugatuck Deli Italian Grinders Sandwich Lunch jeffrey schlesinger August 14, 2021 10458…that’s the zip code for Arthur Avenue in The Bronx. Considered by many to be the Mecca of Italian food in the NYC area, people travel for miles to enjoy bakeries, delis and traditional red sauce restaurants. When you are 75 miles away, and looking for an Italian grinder, that drive is formidable.Fortunately, if you are in the Seymour / Oxford area in The Valley, there is an incredibly delicious alternative, The Bronx Deli – A Taste of Little Italy, on Main Street (also known as route 67). Located in a nondescript strip mall with Dunkin’ and Oxford Pizza Palace (which serves some pretty good cracker-crust pizza), this unassuming deli serves some of the best cold and hot grinders without fighting the traffic on 95 and the Hutch to The Bronx.According to the website, The Bronx Deli is a family-owned restaurant, with locations in Naugatuck and Oxford. Read More
Little Dumpling House Ghost Kitchen Opens in Westport from Folks at Grammies Donuts Restaurant Asian Chinese Japanese Sushi Westport Ghost Kitchen Homepage Opening Stephanie Webster August 11, 2021 The team that brought you the uber popular Grammies Donuts + Biscuits is back with another crave-worthy ghost kitchen concept, Little Dumpling House. For those unfamiliar with the notion of a “ghost kitchen,” it simply means there is no dining space. Guests can order online and either get their meals delivered or picked up. In this case, it’s Asian to-go.Little Dumpling House is the brainchild of owners, Charlie Gilhuly and Molly Healey, but their Asian inspired playlist is all Healey’s handiwork. The menu at Little Dumpling is small but very well executed, and also quite nicely priced. Healey wanted to create healthy clean flavorful Asian cuisine with something for everyone (including the kids), and they have delivered on that promise. Read More
2021 Guide To Waterfront Dining in Connecticut Features Restaurant Dining Guide Waterfront Outdoor Dining Best of CT Summer Dining Homepage April Guilbault August 08, 2021 If there is one thing that makes us long for summer all year long it is the ability to eat, play, explore, even sleep and just “be” outside. That carefree feeling of stepping outdoors without the boots and the hats and the puffy coats. Grab your flip-flops, maybe a bit of sunscreen and off we go! Ah, the carefreeness of it! And eating outside? How can it be that a bit of sun and air will elevate even the simplest food? A hot dog never tastes better around a campfire or at a ballgame. A bag of chips at the beach with a sandwich? Perfection. So, to that end, we have compiled a list of GREAT WATERFRONT DINING spots-some of which have indoor dining with fabulous views and many perch you outside on beautiful, expansive decks or docks to enjoy their dishes. If a simple hot dog tastes great outside, these venues will have you giddy. Read More
The Wheel Opens at The Village in Stamford Features Restaurant The Village Stamford The Village Farm To Table Stamford Cocktails Dessert Homepage Opening Andrew Dominick August 07, 2021 Chances are that by now you’ve heard at least a little something about The Village, located in Stamford’s South End. If you haven’t heard a peep about one of Fairfield County’s most buzzworthy openings in a while, you must be totally cut off from civilization aka social media.The CliffsNotes explanation of The Village is simple. It’s a multi-purpose space. Think offices, pop-up events, an outdoor patio that’s exclusive to Cisco Brewers from Nantucket, a rooftop garden, private event spaces, a tequila bar, and a New American anchor restaurant in The Wheel.The Village, as a whole, is financed by media mogul and Greenwich resident Brent Montgomery who with Jimmy Kimmel, founded Wheelhouse and all of its umbrella companies. Brent’s wife, Courtney, who founded Wheelhouse Properties, oversaw the development of The Village.That ends your crash course on The Village. But this is a food site and we’re here to talk about The Wheel and what it offers to quench your thirst and fill your bellies.“Let’s start at the bar” seems typical for one of these articles but we have to in the case of The Wheel. There’s a team of heavy hitters in the industry that are on board here, including beverage director Kyle Tran. Tran’s resume includes stints at Grant Achatz’s molecular gastronomy-based bar, The Aviary, and the Los Angeles branch of Employees Only. The current lineup of cocktails leans toward refreshing for summer with spritzy, ice cold, tiki type drinks. Expect fresh squeezed juices, house-made syrups, infused liquors, and for each beverage to be made with precision and care.Much like the cocktails, The Wheel’s menu is as farm fresh and seasonal as it gets. Chief food curator Mike Geller, owner of Mike’s Organic, is using his connections to local and semi-local farmers and purveyors to get the highest quality ingredients right to The Wheel’s kitchen. To boot, Geller and the culinary team are even growing produce and herbs in The Village’s rooftop garden to use in the restaurant and at the bar.In said “kitchen” is executive chef Chris Shea. Shea is the culinary director for APICII, a hospitality management and development company. He’s also headed the pass at The Wayfarer and David Burke Kitchen, to name a few. Read More
Experience Restaurant L’Ostal's Spectacular Summer Menu Restaurant Darien French Menu Update Fine Dining Wine Bar Homepage Jessica Ryan August 03, 2021 Last month Restaurant L’Ostal’s Chef Jared invited us back to sample the new summer flavors. His menu changes regularly to keep things interesting but remains concise, keeping options to a minimum. There’s enough of a selection to please the palate yet not too much as to overwhelm. This of course is intentional; there’s just one chef in the kitchen and he wants perfection. And perfection is what you will get.I’d like to say that L’Ostal is for the adventurous, inquisitive, and those familiar with the flavors from the Pyrenees to Provence, or would like to become so. So if Steak Frîtes or French Onion Soup is what you're after, you’ll have to look elsewhere – at least during the warmer months which beckon flavors that are vibrant, green and fresh. What you will find here, at L’Ostal, are some of the best damned Escargots and Oeuf Mayonnaise made with Provencal mustard, pickles, onion and croutons. (I wrote about those from our last visit here.) Read More
Introducing The Charles Underground: Darien Butcher Shop's After Hours French Alter Ego Features Restaurant Darien Darien Butcher Shop Underground Dinner French Homepage Andrew Dominick August 01, 2021 It’s past 6 p.m. The Darien Butcher Shop is closed. You cruise by and you see people inside. Some are standing, others are sitting at community tables, and they’re all probably enjoying a glass of vino while they chat, laugh, and catch up.You can’t walk in for a slab of bacon or a thick, bone-in ribeye, so what’s actually happening?Four days per week, Peter Crawford transforms his business into The Charles Underground, a French-inspired eatery, and the shop’s after-hours alter ego.The Charles is where Crawford, a former New England Culinary Institute graduate who has worked with Charlie Palmer, Jean-Georges, Neil Gallagher, and Terrence Brennen, gets to step back into his passion as a classically trained French chef.Foie gras and dry-aged steak? Sure. Homemade boudin blanc sausage with Robuchon potatoes, and morel mushroom sauce? They have done that, too.Lending a helping hand in the front of the house is someone you might recognize from his time at Kawa Ni. Anthony Rinaldi acts as a restaurant jack-of-all-trades at The Charles, whether he’s waiting and bussing tables or assisting in the kitchen with cooking and occasionally washing dishes. Read More
Grounds Donut House in Danbury with Premium Drinks + Ice Cream Injected Donuts! Restaurant Features Danbury Doughnuts donuts Dessert Breakfast CTbites Team July 30, 2021 Danbury Connecticut has been on a donut driven sugar rush ever since Grounds Donut House has arrived. With completely unique flavors like Arnold Palmer Iced Tea, Orange Milano & Chips Ahoy, there is no doubt that you will leave the donut haven with smile on your face and a yearning for more. We are also excited about their new…wait for it… Ice Cream Injected Donuts available for in store purchase only.Located off of the Lake Avenue Exit, Grounds Donut House serves donut lovers creative donuts, premium coffee, over-the-top coffee drinks, and for the 21+ crowd, alcoholic beverages featuring local brewers with donut-y friendly flavor profiles. Grounds keeps their menu pretty consistent, as they have their everyday classics, but they also rotate new donuts in to allow their customers to try new flavors each time they come into the donut house. Read More
Hinoki Opens In Greenwich with Japanese Izakaya & Dim Sum Restaurant Dim Sum Chinese Japanese Sushi Dumplings Greenwich Homepage Jessica Ryan July 25, 2021 Hinoki, a relaxed tapas-style Asian cuisine in a casual, fine dining atmosphere opens in Greenwich.Some things are worth waiting for, and Hinoki was one of them. Slated to launch prior to the pandemic, the restaurant’s doors are finally open. Brought to you from the successful team behind Miku Sushi in Greenwich and Kumo Sushi Lounge in Scarsdale, K. Dong and Chef Steven Chen, Hinoki introduces a new concept in Asian cuisine, bringing together a relaxed tapas-style Asian cuisine known as Izakaya along with the exclusive chef’s table experience known as Omakase, in a stunning setting at 363 Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich. The two concepts are separated into three separate sleek and elegant dining areas including a private omakase event space, as well as an outdoor space on Fawcett Place. Read More
The Zeneli Brothers Open Zeneli Pizzeria e Cucina Napoletana in New Haven Features Restaurant Pizza Italian New Haven New Haven Pizza Homepage Opening Christopher Hodson July 16, 2021 If you live in the New Haven area and are looking to book a trip to Naples, Italy, don’t buy that ticket just yet. At the end of Wooster Street on the right hand side, there is a place that will take you there in 90 seconds for a fraction of the price. Zeneli Pizzeria e cucina Napoletana is the new kid on the block of this already famous street known for some of the best pizza not only in Connecticut, but America as well. Wooster Street is home to several pizzerias, none more famous however than Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana and Sally’s Apizza. These two legendary powerhouses are what enshrined this street on the pizza map forever. Cue the Zeneli Brothers. Read More
Small State Provisions IS OPEN: Let Them Eat Bread! Restaurant West Hartford Local Artisan Bread Baker Bakery Bread Shop Opening Kristin L. Wolfe July 14, 2021 Are you ready to carb out on THE MOST tremendous bites of bready goodness your lips have savored? Small State Provisions in West Hartford’s GastroPark has finally opened.Owner, and head baker Kevin Masse has been incredibly patient this last year waiting to open his storefront bakery. Despite it being a difficult time for any industry, Masse’s fan base has multiplied; and, to see him finally open the doors to his beautiful brick and mortar was a pretty emotional moment. As he opened the doors for the first time on Saturday, July 3, he grabbed his camera to capture the smiles and cheers in the line as it wrapped around the door in the parking lot of the GastroPark, now THE place to “Gather and Graze” in WeHa. Small State Provisions’ goodies were sold out in 45 minutes! Read More
Guide to Connecticut Lobster, Clambakes and Seafood Shacks: 2021 Edition Restaurant Features Best of CT Seafood seafood boil Lobster Lobster Roll Lobster Bake Clambake Dining Guide homepage Homepage April Guilbault July 11, 2021 It is doubtful that, when mentioning summer eats, lobster anything wouldn’t be in the Top 3 list of foods that folks love, drive miles for, yearn for during the winter months and spiritedly debate (hot? cold? with mayo? just butter?). Well, summer is here, time to strap on that bib, lick those buttery fingers and well, get crackin’. From piled-high lobster rolls and creamy bisques, to hot fried clams and fluffy fritters, seafood rules the roost when temps rise and those ocean breezes soothe the soul. Whether you are searching for a lunch by the water or hosting a party for friends (weee! finally!), these venues will add some buttery fun to your summer days. Bon appetit! Here, let me tie that bib for you…. Read More
RHK Seafood Boil and Bar Opens in South Norwalk Restaurant Features Seafood Cocktails Burgers seafood boil South Norwalk Norwalk Homepage Andrew Dominick July 09, 2021 South Norwalk is boiling over…with seafood. Seafood boils, that is. And SoNo is set to get that times two.RHK Seafood Boil and Bar is one of two Cajun-inspired seafood joints to open its doors downtown, the other being SoNo Boil, just a block away.This isn’t a comparison between the two, but rather a focus on the former in RHK. You can compare and contrast on your own time, eating your weight in shellfish, chorizo, corn, and potatoes for research purposes.RHK—located in the former Mama’s Boy, then Beach House space—comes to Norwalk from the folks behind Round K Coffee & Roasters in New York City.But how does a seafood boil idea stem from coffee shop owners? It’s simple. Hospitality.“Coffee is the most common and traditional way to show hospitality,” says owner Ockhyeon Byeon. “At Round K, we are able to provide locals and visitors with all-in-one hospitality, from greetings to serving foods and drinks. I’m looking forward to introducing lower Fairfield County to Cajun-inspired seafood boils, where the goal is to gather, eat, and have a good time.”Byeon also likened South Norwalk to where he’s from in South Korea, where seafood is a main food source. He even purposely parks his car on the top level of The Maritime Garage because the ocean view reminds him of where he grew up. Read More
