Filtering by Tag: Comfort Food,Fairfield

5 Spots For Great Philly Cheesesteaks in Fairfield County CT

Features Restaurant Sandwich Philly Cheesesteak Comfort Food Sandwich Guide

Hannah Goodman

When you are raised by a Philadelphia native, the only things you know to be true are “go birds!” and what makes a true Philly cheesesteak. I have tried and (mostly) enjoyed cheesesteaks up and down the eastern seaboard. Fairfield County, Connecticut has never been known for making a great cheesesteak, that is, until now. I have rounded up the top five restaurants in Southwestern Connecticut that offer authentic cheesesteaks and if you know a good cardiologist, please send them my way, because these are the ones that have truly stolen my heart (and worsened my cholesterol). 

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Darbar India: Indian Pizza, Tacos & Beautiful Authentic Indian Cuisine in Branford

Restaurant Branford Indian Pizza Tacos Takeout Lunch Cocktails Comfort Food Homepage

Jessica Ryan

So this taco and this pizza walk into an Indian joint…

Darbar India located in Branford, Connecticut is a family run business that has been a staple of the Branford community, serving authentic Indian cuisine for nearly 30 years.  Sunny, Vinny and their father Haresh Nariyani took over the business in 2008 and this past January they relocated to its current location on Montowese Street. 

When we were invited to check them out we naturally had to scope out their Instagram account which was filled with images of pizzas and tacos! Whaaaaat??? We really had to go see what this was all about. 

Inside we found a small, modern space flanked by quintessentially Indian artifacts and figurines, punctuated by their fish pond. While the decor might be simple, it’s the food that steals the show. Darbar prides themselves on their traditional flavors and cooking styles. While Sunny and Vinny were both born in the states, Haresh did not come over until 1990. 

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Somos Handcrafted Arepas Opens in New Haven & Shelton

Restaurant Latin American Arepa Venezuelan Opening New Haven Lunch To-Go Delivery Comfort Food Homepage Shelton

James Gribbon

So, maybe you’ve had an arepa. Eaten hot from the pan, or made into fat little sandwiches somewhat akin to a stuffed pita, the puffy, crispy, hunger-busting cornmeal cakes are the unofficial comfort food of Venezuela. Or maybe you haven’t. Somos Handcrafted Arepas wants to help with that.

Brothers Alejandro and Andres Cordito grew up in Hamden as the sons of Venezuelan parents, and started taking notice of how the everyday food they had at home, on trips to visit family in Caracas, and during Andres’ time in college in South Florida, just wasn’t apparent in Connecticut. Now, with two locations in New Haven and Shelton, they’re increasing access to this gloriously variable sandwich. 

What does that mean? I’m glad you asked! 

First: Say “ah-RAY-pah."

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John & Morgan Nealon To Open New Restaurant, Crust Issues, in Norwalk CT

Restaurant Opening Norwalk Pizza Comfort Food Cocktails Italian Lunch Kid Friendly Homepage

Stephanie Webster

Restaurateur husband and wife super-team, John & Morgan Nealon, are back at it again! Enquiring minds wondered what was next for this duo, and now the wait is over. John & Morgan have just signed the lease on the old Davinci’s Pizza in Norwalk at 60 Connecticut Avenue. Get ready for CRUST ISSUES, a casual neighborhood joint, opening in early Fall. As the name might suggest, there will be pizza, but as per usual with these two, it won’t fit into a classic pizza-style. More on that if you keep reading… and wait till you hear what else is on the menu.  

Crust Issues is housed in the bones of an old school pizza spot, with tiled floors and big pizza ovens in the open kitchen, and the Nealon will be leaning in to this relaxed vibe. Guests will order at the counter, grab one of the 40 seats, and enjoy a cocktail (John’s got some fun new tricks up his sleeve in the cocktails department…obvi), and you’ll likely get a Nealon bringing some tasty elevated comfort food to your table. 

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Chef Emily Mingrone Launches The Pearl At Fair Haven Oyster Co. Food Truck September 1st

Restaurant Food Truck Hot Dogs Lobster Roll Comfort Food To-Go Ice Cream Canned Cocktails CT Beer New Haven Fair Haven Opening

Stephanie Webster

This just in. Chef Emily Mingrone of Tavern On State, Provisions on State, and her most recent addition, Fair Haven Oyster Co, is off on another exciting culinary adventure. After winning “CT’s Restaurant Of The Year” in 2022, Mingrone is expanding her New Haven footprint and launching a NEW FOOD TRUCK, this weekend, Friday, September 1st. The truck’s name is “The Pearl At Fair Haven Oyster Co.” and you can find it just next to her restaurant, Fair Haven Oyster Co., in the marina picnic area. The Pearl will be open Fridays-Sundays, noon to 7pm in the season, and depending on demand, Mingrone may keep the party going all year long. 

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Gabagool Wine Bar Opens in Fairfield: Turning Lemons into Limoncello

Restaurant Italian Lunch Fairfield Openings Pasta

Jessica Ryan

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.

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Vespino Pizza + Restaurant Opens in Fairfield

Restaurant Italian Opening Pasta Pizza Lunch Prix Fixe Kid Friendly Fairfield Homepage

Jessica Ryan

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.

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Two Roads Food Hall & Bar Opens in Stratford From Two Roads Brewery

Features Restaurant Food Hall Burgers Tacos Brewery Two Roads Brewing Company Opening Comfort Food Homepage

James Gribbon

The Two Roads Food Hall & Bar is now open at the brewery’s expanding campus in Stratford. The food hall, in an expanded space which formerly housed garage-themed PizzaCo, now incorporates three food concepts: Skull City Taquitos, Roost House Chicken, and Industry Schnitzel and Sausage, with a full bar. 

All three concepts are handled through a single kitchen at the newly designed space, and ordering is done through kiosks at the food hall, or inside the tasting rooms at the Two Roads and Area 2 breweries, with delivery right to your seat. 

CTBites has your first look...

If food hall head chef Tim Lonczak sounds familiar, it’s because you may remember the Meriden native’s name from Heirloom at The Study Hall in New Haven, and most recently at Isla & Co. in Fairfield. Already acquainted with former Isla manager - now Two Roads hospitality manager - Ben Paré, the pair joined with restaurateur Frank Klein to bring the food hall to life.

“It’s really exciting to do, because I don’t know of any brewery in Connecticut doing anything like a three-brand, fast-casual concept,” said chef Lonczak. “It’s familiar dishes, but elevated, changed up a little bit.”

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Press Burger Opens in Wilton With Tasty "Feel Good" Burgers & Fried Chicken Sandwiches

Restaurant Burgers Hot Dogs Fast Casual Wilton Fried Chicken Fried Chicken Sandwich Opening Comfort Food Kid Friendly Lunch

Ella Alpert

The beloved New Canaan burger joint, Press Burger, has opened its second location in Wilton with even more delicious and creative eats. Co-owners Seth Leifer and John Gallagher set out to continue Press Burger’s mission as a delicious and fresh form of fast food, while expanding beyond its classic burgers and fries with new sauces, fried chicken sandwiches, the carrot dog (you’d be surprised how good it tastes), and more. As Leifer puts it, Press Burger is the Cava, Sweetgreen, or Chipotle of the burger world, a type of “cleaner, finer, fast casual.”

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Hot Murga Indian Hot Chicken Opens in New Haven

Restaurant Fried Chicken Sandwich Fried Chicken Hot Chicken Comfort Food New Haven Opening Fast Casual To-Go Indian

James Gribbon

"Suffer for your art” is the operative phrase when reviewing a hot chicken joint. From the roar of takeoff, to the turbulence, and spine-compressing jolt of landing, you know what’s coming because you’ve bought the ticket and taken this ride before. You can predict the future: it’s the opposite of gambling. In a new study researchers found gorillas will spin themselves until they fall over because getting dizzy is kind of like getting high to them, and that’s fun. Same goes for humans scorching our faces off via chicken breast. 

Occasionally on the rides we buy, something unexpected happens. It may be a “Yes, thank you for waiting: we currently have no idea where we sent your bags,” or it may be “So sorry, there’s a mechanical issue on your cross-Atlantic flight, and you’ll have to stay in a free room in Reykjavik for 24 hours and watch the Aurora Borealis.” Could go either way. Which is why it’s pretty cool to find an Indian/Nashville hot chicken smashup on Howe Street in New Haven.

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Gooseboro Drive-In; 60 Years of Hot Dogs, Burgers and Ice Cream in Bantam

Restaurant Hot Dogs Delicious Dives Comfort Food Bantam Litchfield Kid Friendly Homepage

Jeff "jfood" Schlesinger

Hot dogs have been around in various shapes and sizes for centuries, some say dating back to 700 BC; today they are a staple at Fourth of July and church BBQs and grabbing a red hot at Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium was always my go-to food. Natural casing, foot-long, knockwurst, beef, pork, chicken, veggie, tofu, cheese conies, they have been a part of the American culinary scene since forever. There is something special about the salty-spicy combo, the ease of eating, the number of toppings that make them even better…sometimes they are the canvas, sometimes they are the art.

Finding a great and fun hot dog in CT has been an adventure, so when I read that Gooseboro Drive-In in Bantam was awarded the best hot dog at the Litchfield Fair, it definitely hit my radar.

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Chick-Fil-A Is Coming To Fairfield: Says First Selectwoman (via Patch)

Features Restaurant Openings Fried Chicken Sandwich Fried Chicken Fairfield

CTbites Team

Chick-fil-A, the popular national chain of chicken restaurants, is slated to open a new location in Fairfield, after its application before the Town Plan and Zoning Commission was denied in 2021. The popular chicken restaurant is slated to move into 750 Post Road, the site that previously housed Joe's American Bar & Grill.

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick announced the news on Monday, confirming that the restaurant will move into the former Joe's American Bar & Grill site at 750 Post Road. The property, which has sat vacant for more than three years, had been declared a blight in 2022.

Read the complete article at Patch.com.

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Haven Hot Chicken Opens In North Haven

Restaurant New Haven North Haven Openings Fried Chicken Sandwich Fried Chicken Lunch Comfort Food Kid Friendly

CTbites Team

 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, today announced that it its fourth location at 146 Washington Avenue, North Haven is now open.  This 1100 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 beloved fries, sides and seasonal limited-time offerings.

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Fairfield Gets a New Buzzy Italian Hot Spot with Il Pellicano

Restaurant Openings Fairfield Italian Lunch Cocktails Homepage

Christopher Hodson

If you work hard enough and put in the time to learn your craft, then success is sure to follow. Just ask Saul Medina of the newly opened Il Pellicano in Fairfield. Medina’s journey to this point in his culinary career proves that there are many different paths one can take, and if followed, will lead to the same desired destination of becoming a head chef. Born in Puebla, Mexico, he migrated to the U.S., and like so many before him, landed in New York City. He brought with him a deep love of food and cooking, both taught to him at a young age by his grandmother and aunts. Without any formal training, Medina started at the bottom as a dishwasher but quickly worked his way up the kitchen ranks. His strong work ethic, desire to learn, and ability to travel gave him crucial experience and the necessary exposure to many different styles of food very quickly.

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Crispy Melty Food Truck Opening Caseus Provisions Retail Spot in Wallingford April 1st

Features Restaurant Openings Food Truck Wallingford Comfort Food Kid Friendly Sandwiches

CTbites Team

Award-winning and beloved Connecticut brand Caseus today announced the opening of its newest venture: Caseus Provisions, a brick-and-mortar specialty shop and grilled cheese to go counter at 619 Center Street in Wallingford, Connecticut. Known for its famous tomato soup, mouth-watering grilled cheese sandwiches and delicious treats from the Crispy Melty food truck (formerly The Caseus Cheese Truck), the new shop will offer its famous grilled cheeses made fresh to-go, cheese and charcuterie specialty platters and a highly curated shop of provisions including chocolates, pickles, vinegars, pastas and more. The specialty cheese shop and grilled cheese quick service restaurant will open on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

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Bonkers Cupcakes Offers Build Your Own Cupcakes in Fairfield CT

Restaurant Features Cupcakes Bakery Baked Goods Dessert Build Your Own Kid Friendly Fairfield Cakes

Oliver Clachko

Build your own cupcakes? Yes please.

We really feel like we hit the jackpot,” says Kris Stevens, owner and operator of Bonkers Cupcakes in Downtown Fairfield. “We absolutely love making these things, and being able to sell them is truly amazing.”

Bonkers offers a variety of cake flavor options, and gives customers the ability to select a cake flavor and then top it with their favorite frosting. Sure they have all the cake classics like chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet, as well as more creative choices like banana. To complement these flavors, Bonkers has a large selection of both Italian and American buttercream frostings. Stevens points out that Italian buttercream, which is much softer and not as overly sweet as American buttercream, is preferred both by himself and many customers. The notable frosting flavors include coconut, raspberry, salted caramel, and even coffee.

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Guide To Black Owned Restaurants In Connecticut

Restaurant Features Best of CT Dining Guide Black Owned Hartford County New Haven Fairfield County Jamaican Soul Food Juice Bar African Cajun Comfort Food Homepage

CTbites Team

To celebrate Black History Month 2023, we have updated our guide to black owned restaurants across the state of Connecticut.  If you see a place that is missing, please let us know.  Big ups and thanks to Molly Alexander for compiling an excellent start to this list with her Google Map posted to Eat in CT. Get out there and support these restaurants.

We did our best to compile a comprehensive list, but if you know of a spot we missed, please contact us here.

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Tümü Opens in Fairfield with Delicious Authentic Mexican Fare

Restaurant Fairfield Mexican Takeout Meals To Go Catering

Jessica Ryan

A couple of months ago, right before the holidays, I wandered into the newly opened Tümü in Fairfield in the Harry’s Corner shopping plaza. 

Tümü, the Mexican word for butterfly, embodies the beauty and passion of Karla Krassin, a Weston-ite who was born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico. The chef and caterer now has a storefront that is part home décor boutique and part takeout restaurant (although there are two tables if you chose to eat in). Through her food and stunning items made by Mexican artisans, she brings the flavors and colors of her homeland to us and in so doing she honors the true recipes and techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation.

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