Mystic’s Grass & Bone Can Be Your New Sandwich Shop & Butcher via CT Magazine Restaurant Butcher Mystic Lunch Take Out Sandwich Specialty Market Connecticut Magazine August 17, 2018 Connecticut Magazine shares a unique find in Mystic. Half sandwich shop, half butcher, these guys know a thing or two about meat. Check it out. A sandwich is a common thing. Delis and grinder shops can be found throughout our state. But once in a while a new sandwich comes along and causes us to look with fresh eyes at this most classic of foods. Down in Mystic, the brains behind the operations at seafood-focused Oyster Club and burger-centric Engine Room have launched a new venture called Grass & Bone, structured around making the best sandwiches they can, with the freshest, most locally sourced ingredients they can muster. Read More
Guide To Great Gelato In Connecticut Restaurant Dessert ice cream Gelato Kid Friendly Best of CT Homepage April Guilbault August 14, 2018 The humidity is making your hair look like Rosanna Rosannadanna’s. You are sweating just…standing…still. What can help ease the ills of this sweltering weather? Gelato. The cool will survive! Cups and cones of creamy cold, Italian, La-Dolce-Vita-I’m-on-a-Vespa gelato. Luckily, scattered across our fair state, a wide variety of gelato can be found and now you have a reason to smile about this crazy heat and humidity. Scoops, scoops away! Brava! Read More
Hola! Evarito’s Mexican Opens in South Norwalk Restaurant SONO South Norwalk Mexican Kid Friendly Cocktails Lunch Norwalk Homepage Andrew Dominick August 11, 2018 SoNo’s biggest recent mystery involved the space where Washington and N Main streets meet. Stacked piles of wood blocked all hopes of peeking inside. A fox shaded on the ends of the wood made passersby more curious. What stumped a bunch of us even more was another fox that popped up in the windows, this time in emoji form, accompanied by the hashtag #Hola. What was this riddle? A restaurant? Another bar? In SoNo, that’s what it usually is. But definitely something with a Spanish cuisine theme, right?!I was puzzled. I posted about it many times. I asked around to no avail. People asked me what it was. I had no freaking clue. Eventually, I heard it would be a Mexican restaurant concept by the good folks at Skal Restaurant Group, who run things at The Cask Republic locations and The Ginger Man Greenwich. All of this was later confirmed (sort of) by a fittingly odd Instagram account that tagged me in a lot of posts as they did food and drink research in Mexico. It’s a secret no longer! Evarito’s is now open in South Norwalk! Read More
Gaetano's Moves Arthur Avenue To Connecticut Restaurant Features Deli Westport Italian Sandwich Lunch Catering Specialty Market Cheese James Gribbon August 07, 2018 Some time several decades ago Milanno Ukehaxhaj left Kosovo at an opportune time on his way to America and making me a sandwich. That is skipping over a lot, but we'll get to the details in later paragraphs, and anyway it was a very good sandwich. This sandwich was not made when I visited the deli earlier this month with his wife and business partner Diana feeding me information as well as chicken parmigiana, it was made during my lunch break at a summer job I held in 2000, which is when I fell in love with Gaetano's. Read More
Floating Tiki Lounge Making Waves In Stamford Harbor (via Hey Stamford!) Restaurant Stamford Bar Cocktails Hey Stamford! August 06, 2018 Finding a good spot for cocktails by the water is not tough to do in Stamford. Between rooftop bars in Harbor Point, The Beer Garden in Shippan Landing, Prime, Mexicue, or Crabshell, you can always find a great restaurant by the water. Though, with the addition earlier this summer of Fairfield County’s only floating tiki bar, there’s now even a place where you can drink ON the water.Captain John’s Tiki Tours & Boat Rentals launched earlier this summer and has been making waves in the Stamford Harbor ever since. The floating tiki bar is the brainchild of (Captain) John Davis. I had a chance to tour the harbor with the Captain recently and can say it’s really a great experience! Read More
Chef Adam Roytman Takes Over Bar Sugo in Norwalk...And It's Delicious! Restaurant Norwalk Italian Cocktails Bar Pizza Pasta Homepage Andrew Dominick August 05, 2018 Just over a year ago, Bar Sugo quietly changed hands. Change, even if it happens slightly under-the-radar, can be either good or bad, but in Bar Sugo’s case, change is reinvigorating. I’m reluctant to say something like, “Bar Sugo is back!” because the reality is, it never left, it’s just kind of different. In this case, different is good, and this is an appropriate time for Bar Sugo’s reintroduction. Bar Sugo’s newness starts with its new owner, Adam Roytman. Some of you might know Adam as a former partner at Walrus + Carpenter and Rothbard Ale + Larder. At each, he was the opening day head chef, and chances are you saw him occasionally tending bar as well. Dubbing him a jack-of-all-trades restaurant guy is a proper description. Read More
It’s Back: Pepe’s Fresh Tomato Pie Returns for the Summer Restaurant Pizza Fairfield New Haven Danbury Uncasville Andrew Dominick August 04, 2018 At nearly every pizza place, I have a set order or a few go-to specialty pies. I’m sure you can relate. This also applies to the legendary—and ever-expanding—Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana. My usual suspects at Pepe’s are the tomato pie, occasionally a white clam (with bacon, obviously), or their still sort of new Margherita with thick-cut pepperoni as an added topping. Every summer, I’m willing to make drastic life changes for Pepe’s fresh tomato pie, so based on mood, one of those other pies gets dropped as fast as a failing relationship. After all, those other pizzas will still be there waiting while you explore other options. Read More
M&M Steaks: New Philly Cheesesteak Food Truck Hits the Street Restaurant Food Truck Steakhouse Lunch Stamford Openings Homepage CTbites Team August 01, 2018 It’s as much a part of Philadelphia folklore as Benjamin Franklin, the Liberty Bell and Rocky Balboa – just a whole lot tastier. Connecticut foodies can now obsess over a new food truck, M&M Steaks, which will specialize in Philly cheesesteaks. Owned by Philadelphia native, Dan Mullineaux and food industry veteran, Hector Medina, M&M Steaks has launched and hit the streets of Stamford and has parked at 110 High Ridge Road (Lord & Taylor parking lot) with a few Friday evening dates this summer at Half Full Brewery. Read More
Jasper White’s Summer Shack at Mohegan Sun Restaurant Seafood Cocktails Mohegan Sun Lunch Uncasville Hope Simmons July 31, 2018 Sure, Connecticut is loaded with actual seafood shacks. But not one I know resembles what you’ll find in the cool, casual confines of the Mohegan Sun casino. In a summer that’s been off the charts hot and humid, retreating to Jasper White’s Summer Shack is pretty much just what the doctor ordered. Read More
Top 10 "Grab-able" Burgers In Fairfield & New Haven Counties Restaurant Burgers Best of CT Comfort Food Lunch Delicious Dives Homepage Lou Gorfain July 29, 2018 For the past few years, CTBites’ annual Top Ten Burgers has crowned the best premium hamburgers in Southwest Connecticut. Featuring the usual suspects, the rankings didn't vary much each summer. (In fact, our 2018 roundup would have welcomed only one new candidate, the robust Tavern Burger just introduced at GreyBarns.) By focusing on those elite burgers, had our list become elitist? This year we decided to widen the lens to include both Fairfield and New Haven Counties and shift the focus to the casual, every-day burgers that we usually crave: a really succulent beef patty adorned with our favorite fixings at a reasonable price. Convenience ups the appeal.Ironically, two candidates from last year’s gilded list qualified by value and ambience as casual, neighborhood hamburgers. Four of the entries are indigenous to the state, including one that is steamed not fired. Surprisingly, half of the patties are not even served in conventional, soft buns.We paid close attention to bread/beef ratios. A limp bun immediately disqualified any contender. Most prices hover around 10 dollars, one as cheap as 5.25, but none more costly than 15.Herewith, the best of our local, “grab-able” burgers. Read More
The Hummus & Pita Co. Opening in CT Featuring The "Hummus Shake" Restaurant Openings Mediterranean Dessert Smoothies Lunch Brookfield CTbites Team July 24, 2018 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. Read More
Avenida Venezuelan & La Calle Arepas Bar: Local Tattoo Artist Opens Two Areparias in Norwalk Restaurant Venezuelan Norwalk Lunch Kid Friendly Homepage Andrew Dominick July 22, 2018 If I told you a tattoo artist opened two restaurants in the same city, you might think I was trying to set up a joke. It’s no joke, and it’s not even that farfetched if you talk to Javier Eastman, who just opened Avenida Venezuelan Food and Le Calle Arepas Bar in Norwalk. So, how does a tattoo artist with almost 25,000 Instagram followers get into the food service industry?At Avenida, you can expect an array of empanadas, 16 different stuffed arepas, pastelitos (small savory turnovers filled with meat, cheese, or both), traditional Venezuelan breakfast plates, and a few larger dishes like Pabellón Criollo, Venezuela’s national dish, comprised of shredded beef, rice & beans, fried sweet plantains, egg, avocado, and cheese. Additionally, there are patacón sandwiches (beef, chicken, or pork between deep-fried plantain slices), burgers, and Venezuelan-style hot dogs topped with shredded carrots, cabbage, ham, salsa, cheese, and crushed potato sticks. Read More
34+ Places for Lobster Rolls in CT: 2018 Edition Restaurant Best of CT Seafood Lobster Summer Delicious Dives Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 17, 2018 Summer is here and nothing embodies summer in New England like the lobster roll! Whether you prefer yours hot or cold, with or without butter, classic or with a twist, Connecticut restaurants and seafood shacks are featuring them on their menus. Here is a list of 34+ places where you can get some lobstahhhh!!Lobstercraft, Fairfield: LobsterCraft opened its retail doors a few months ago in Fairfield. Parked next to the shop is their truck, and a tented, casual seating area, reminiscent of those great roadside eateries along the coast of Maine.Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale, Westbrook: Lenny and Joe's serves buttered lobster in a grilled split top hotdog bun and with one side of your choosing, like onion rings.Knot Norms, Norwalk: n addition to the classic lobster roll, Knot Norms in Norwalk has rolls of all varieties! Join them for a Fried Chicken Roll, Roasted Oysters and a Crab Salad Roll, and more.Liv’s Shack, Old Saybrook: Liv’s Shack, located directly on the waterfront at the mouth of the Connecticut River, celebrates Summer in New England with hot buttered lobster rolls, fish tacos, hand-ground hamburgers and more. Read More
Weenie Lynn's Hot Dog Food Truck: Killer Dogs & Sandwiches Restaurant Food Truck Hot Dogs Danbury Comfort Food American Take Out To-Go Kid Friendly Catering Homepage Stephanie Webster July 14, 2018 After seven years in business, it feels like it's about time to celebrate one of the old school CT food trucks, Weenie Lynn's. Weenie's is a family-owned & operated hot dog and specialty sandwich truck that has been serving the local food scene since spring of 2011. The truck is based in Danbury CT, but they are more than happy to bring their delicious dogs (and five kids) all over the tri state area...and they do. Weenie's serve two sizes of 100% All-Beef Hot Dogs (over 20 toppings & condiments), as well as Bratwurst, Kielbasa, and fresh-cut (never frozen) french fries, They also feature an ever growing menu of delicious sandwiches, many of them riffs off the classic grilled cheese. Read More
Tarry Lodge Debuts "Aperitivo" Happy Hour Features Restaurant Happy Hour Pizza Westport Italian Wine Bar Andrew Dominick July 11, 2018 Happy hours are one of life’s greatest pleasures. Bad day? Have a reduced-price wine, beer, or cocktail to take the edge off. Even worse day? Have more than one. Hungry? Happy hours usually offer a handful of delectable bites to be had on the cheap as an accompaniment to your glass of booze. I’m obviously a fan of the whole idea of happy hours—and I’m betting you are too—so I’m always on the lookout for new ones in the area. That’s when I came across Tarry Lodge Westport’s brand new Aperetivo Hour.Introduced in May, Aperitivo Hour goes down Monday – Friday from 4 – 6 p.m. It features wine and cocktails for $10 each, and five snackable small plates for $5 per. Read More
Heibeck’s in Wilton: American Roadside Fare Since 1931 Restaurant Wilton Take Out ice cream Burgers Hot Dogs Tacos Comfort Food American Lunch Kid Friendly homepage Homepage Brett Levy July 08, 2018 Escape to a different era where comfort food is locally sourced, you are served with compassion and a smile on a garden patio, and you can experience a country feel that makes our fast-paced world slow down just a bit. This cute date (BYO), family fun and good vibe spot is something special to CT that you simply shouldn’t miss.Heibeck’s in Wilton opened in 1931 and has been family run for four generations. Back then, George Heibeck and Katherine Dhly Heibeck stayed up all night to hand churn over 100 of their original ice cream flavors to perfection, and then served the creamy goodness to their loyal customers daily. Though their ice cream is no longer produced on premises, the family prides itself upon the use of local food sources. Read More
Sandy Hook’s Nouveau Monde Wine Bar Has Paris-Bistro Feel Restaurant Sandy Hook French Lunch WIne Wine Bar Connecticut Magazine July 05, 2018 Looking for French fare, with an exceptional wine list? Connecticut Magazine reviews Nouveau Monde Wine Bar in Sandy Hook, CT. At some point during your visit to Nouveau Monde Wine Bar, you will start to crave wine.Maybe this craving will begin when you walk in and see the steampunk elegance of the main dining area, a space that feels equal parts bar, classic cafe, restaurant and offbeat library. Perhaps it will strike as you read the wine list itself, a thick document that goes on and on like a William Faulkner sentence punctuated by descriptions such as “spicy yet fruity, red wine drinkers’ rosé.” Maybe it will begin when your server asks, “What type of wine do you usually drink?” and you realize “IPAs” is not an acceptable response.Or, at least, that’s what happened to me. This newfound appreciation of wine capped (or in this case, corked) a visit to the restaurant that, to put it in language a wine lover would understand, was a rich, full-bodied evening highlighted by notes of cellared ambiance, clean, bright food flavors that were anything but dry and a sweet, rich finish courtesy of a knockout dessert. Read More
Gluten, Grain or Dairy Free? Pour Me Cafe in Danbury Has You Covered Restaurant Vegan Vegetarian Special Dietary Needs Danbury Local Artisan Gluten-Free Lunch Breakfast Homepage Stephanie Webster July 01, 2018 You know how it goes. When you have a food allergy or sensitivity, or if you eat vegan or paleo, and you want to go out to eat anywhere, it can at times be quite the task to find a place to accommodate for what you need and want. Enter Pour Me in Danbury. I heard about them from a friend who also has food sensitivities and she called it a ‘healthy comfort food type place.’ So as someone who can’t have gluten or dairy, I was naturally intrigued. It was so nice not to have to call ahead to see if they had options other than a salad! Andrea Gartner, the owner of Pour Me, opened the fine fast food cafe in downtown Danbury on a mission to revitalize downtown, and to provide food that gives people the fuel they need to “go out and do good in the world.” Read More
Norwalk’s Catch of the Day Lasts All Summer Long (sponsored post) Restaurant Norwalk Seafood lunch Fish Raw Bar CTbites Team June 26, 2018 Photo Credit: The Cask RepublicInspired by New England waters and international flavor profiles, Norwalk Now celebrates summertime with vibrant seafood dishes befitting that of a thriving coastal community. From raw bar favorites laced with hot sauce to butter-vs-mayo lobster roll wars, Norwalk restaurants embrace the season with a variety of classic, innovative, and over-the-top seafood dishes that add to our summer enjoyment. Read More
LobsterCraft Opens Lobster Shack in Fairfield CT Restaurant Seafood Lobster Lobster Bake Catering Food Truck Lunch Fairfield Comfort Food Outdoor Dining Homepage Jessica Ryan June 24, 2018 It’s just as you’d imagine a perfect lobster shack to be – small, somewhat quirky, a whole lotta fun and absolutely delicious. LobsterCraft opened its retail doors a few months ago in Fairfield, just off of the Post Road. You have to look for it. If you blink you’ll likely drive past the sandwich board sign, the first time you go. But once you find it you’ll never forget. Parked next to the shop is their truck, and a tented, casual seating area, reminiscent of those great roadside eateries along the coast of Maine. I think those are the truest gems – lobster rolls the way lobster rolls are meant to be. This is a paper plate and paper napkin eatery which only enhances the whole lobster roll experience. Read More
