On the search for the best hot dog in Connecticut brings us to Top Dog Hot Dog in Portland, CT This side-of-the-road stand, only open seasonally, is well off the main streets. But the stand has made a name for…
Burger; Louis’ Lunch
An important thing to remember, indeed one of the core things I have learned in my many food adventures is this: The place that invented a food is never that great. This is because once a place becomes famous for…
Cheesesteaks: Philly’s A Taste of Philadelphia
When it comes to iconic foods, the cheesesteak holds a special place in many a heart—particularly those from the city of brotherly love. Eager to get a taste of Philadelphia right here at home, I ventured into “Philly’s” in New…
Arroz Verde; The Rockin’ Chicken
There are places where the name says it all, and then there’s Rockin’ Chicken—a spot where expectations run high, and the menu tempts you to embark on a culinary journey of Peruvian coal-roasted rotisserie. Rotisserie ChickenSome people, it seems, have…
Chili Dog; Bart’s Drive-In Halal
During the Hot Dog Days of Summer, all sorts of places call to us. Next up, Bart’s Drive-In (Halal) in Windsor. Chili Dog The first thing you notice is its generous size—this chili dog is extra long, ensuring you get…
Pulled Pork Sliders; Max Burger
Our journey brings us to Max Burger, a well-renowned establishment known for its innovative take on classic American fare. Let’s delve in. Short Rib Nachos Starting our adventure with the Short Rib Nachos, we were greeted with a bit of…
No Changes at City Steam
City Steam Brewery in Hartford closed its doors after a pipe burst this past winter. Long-time guests had noticed the beer quality and food quality going downhill post-lockdown. So this was their chance to reset. They had a chance to…
Hot Dog; Cricket Car Hop
On the search for the best hot dog in Connecticut brings us to Cricket Car Hop in Stratford. Fries First, let’s talk about Crinkle Fries. Historically, crinkle fries are crap. They require either seasoning (like the ones at Birdcode) or…
Chili Dog; No Pork on Dis Fork
Now that we are into the Hot Dog Days of Summer; we need to keep trying hot dogs around Connecticut. Up Next, No Pork on Dis Fork, a hot dog cart in Hartford” to sample their hot dog with chili.…
The Hot Dog Days of Summer
I always thought the ‘Dog Days of Summer’ referred to the tail end (get it) of summer. It’s not that. It isn’t even the end of summer. The source of the name is…astronomical. The term ‘Dog Days’ refers not to…
Fried Plantains; Sandra’s Next Generation
As the quest to discover the best fried chicken in Connecticut continues, it takes an exciting turn to New Haven. Here, we uncover a gem that’s serving up a myriad of soul food classics—Sandra’s Next Generation. The food here is…
Cheeseburger; Contois Tavern
Situated on the outskirts of New Haven, lies a remarkable spot often overlooked by the untrained eye—the Contois Tavern. This establishment has all the markers of a classic tavern: a welcoming ambiance, unfriendly faces, and a menu that has stood…
Burrito; Taqueria Micheladas Don Efren
The hunt for Connecticut’s best burrito takes us to West Haven where we find Taqueria Micheladas Don Efren, a local favorite known for its Mexican cuisine. At the heart of their menu, we have the traditional staple of Mexican cuisine—the…
Bobby’s Burger Palace
Nestled among the flashing lights and incessant chiming of slot machines at Mohegan Sun Casino, you’ll find Bobby’s Burger Palace. It’s a high-profile establishment backed by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, a feature that brings an undeniable allure and an elevated…
Waffle Fries; GoldBurgers
On the search for the best burger in Connecticut brings us to GoldBurgers in Newington. And while we didn’t find the best burger, we may have stumbled on to the best fries in Connecticut. Let’s start with from the beginning.…
Onion Rings; Clamp’s
Tucked away in the quiet reaches of New Milford, amidst the lush, unfolding landscape, is a roadside food stand only open during the fleeting summer months. The humdrum of life slows down here, replaced by the sizzling sounds of a…
Pizza; Naples Pizza
On the search for the best pizza in Connecticut brings us to Naples Pizza in Farmington. This beloved neighborhood eatery, Naples Pizza, has often been touted as the best in the Farmington area. It’s where countless locals have grown up…
Pastor Taco; Rivas Taqueria
A tour of tacos at Rivas Taqueria. There’s a certain charm in the pursuit of the perfect taco. Today, our quest leads us to Rivas Taqueria, a local hub that promises authentic Mexican. Let’s discover if it lives up to…
Brisket; Hoodoo Brown BBQ
On the search for the best BBQ in CT brings us to HooDoo Brown BBQ in Ridgefield. The smell of burning wood smoke hits you as you walk to the entrance, from the smoking pits that are in front. Let’s…
Wontons in Spicy Oil; Chef Jiang
On the search for the best dumplings in CT brings us to Chef Jiang in Farmington. We explore a range of delectable dishes to discover the highlights of these Chinese delicacies and delve into the world of flavors. General Tso’s…
Whipped Ricotta; Bricco
Just need that Whipped Ricotta in your life? Bricco (two locations, in Glastonbury and West Hartford) have you covered. Roasted Prosciutto Wrapped Dates These dates are generously stuffed with Gorgonzola, offering a burst of flavors. While the intensity of the…
Glazed Donut; Speedy Donuts
On the search for the best donuts in Connecticut brings us to Speedy Donuts in Norwalk. When it comes to satisfying our sweet tooth cravings, donuts often take center stage. In our quest to discover the finest donuts in Connecticut,…
Cocktails; I Know You Know
Looking for a Speakeasy-themed cocktail bar? I Know You Know in New Britain has got you covered. This cocktail bar has a code to type into a keypad to get in (the code is posted on their instagram stories each…
Greek-Style Pizza; Pizza House
On the search for the best pizza in Connecticut brings us to Pizza House in New Haven. Pizza HouseThis pizzeria was recommended based on our investigation into who invented the medium-thick crust pan greek-style pizza seen in CT (results here).…
Breakfast Sandwich; Rise
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in Connecticut brings us to Rise in Groton. Classic breakfast sandwich with sausage There is a top quality cheese here. The english muffin is griddled, so it holds up to the juicy…
Top 10 tacos in CT (so far)
Here we highlight the top 10 tacos in Connecticut that are worth driving to. We say (so far) because things change. Places go out of business (RIP the breakfast taco at Taco Daddy in Stamford). Restaurants change recipes. And some…
Yellowfin Tuna in Brown Butter; The Luke Brasserie
On the search for the best fine dining in Connecticut brings us to The Luke Brasserie in New Haven. The LukeInside the space is beautiful, with high ceilings and simple tables. To the food! Bread and butter A bite of…
Spring Dining; Pond House Cafe
Part of your spring bucket list should include a stop at an outdoor restaurant in a park. There aren’t many of those, but one place is the Pond House Cafe in West Hartford. The Pond House Cafe during the week…
Cherry Donut; Gerry’s Donuts
On the search for the best donuts in Connecticut brings us to Gerry’s Donuts in Ellington. First _The first rule of Gerry’s Donuts is get here by 8:30am, or most things are sold out. We’ve had to come a couple…
Chorizo Taco; Los Molcajetes
On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to Los Molcajetes in Norwalk. All the tacos come with chips and 3 salsas. All the salsas were good, none of them great. So we tried a sampling of…
Fine Dining at Maggie’s Tavern at Winvian Farm
On the search for the best fine dining in Connecticut brings us to Maggie’s tavern at Winvian Farm. As a warning, this is on gated property and you need a reservation to enter. The restaurant is in a Relais &…
That Seasonal Donut that isn’t Jelly; Young Buns Doughnuts
On the search for the best donuts in Connecticut brings us to Young Buns in Mystic. I stop by Young Buns maybe once a year. Every time we get a whole bunch of donuts, and are always disappointed. Except for…
Steak tacos; Taqueria Mexicana
On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to Taqueria Mexicana in West Haven. If you were to drive by this spot, you would barely see it; most likely never knowing what was inside. Taqueria Mexicana is…
Pizza; Camillle’s Wood Fired Pizza
As the winter chill starts to depart, we go hunting pizza again. This time, at Camille’s Wood Fired Pizza in Tolland. To try and stay consistent when rating pizzas we get a pepperoni and roasted pepper pizza at each place.…
Spring Bucket List
I like seasonal bucket lists. They are a list of things you can and should focus on doing in a given season. I mostly use them for inspiration, because they help give you ideas. I have never found a good…
Fine Dining; Millwright’s Restaurant and Tavern
Trying all Fine Dining Restaurants in Connecticut brings us to Millwrights Restaurant and Tavern in Simsbury. We opted for the tasting menu, to see exactly what Millwright’s had to offer. They say the tasting menu changes very frequently, so what…
Tenderloin; Olea New Haven
Trying all the fine dining options Connecticut has to offer brings us to Olea in New Haven. This Spanish-themed restaurant has some pretty obvious choices, but also some that stand out. Jamon iberico Among the world’s most sought-after ham, from…
Poutine; Chez Ben Diner
Connecticut is filled with diners, but Chez Ben Diner in Manchester is a Canadian-style diner, with their signature gravy and cheese fries. Poutine Poutine is a classic Canadian dish that is often eaten late at night after a night on…
Indian Hot Chicken Sandwich; Sherkaan Indian Street Food
You thought hot chicken sandwiches were over? Now some South Asian restaurants are letting us know their take. Next up, Sherkaan Indian Street Food in New Haven. Chili Cheese Stuffed Naan The first bites are a little plain, but then there…
Pork Gyoza; Nummy
On the search for the best dumplings in Connecticut brings us to Nummy in West Hartford. Nummy is one of those semi-pan-Asian restaurants, which is always dangerous. Sometimes that is because the owners are from somewhere that is not China…
Fine Dining: Union League Cafe
On the search for the best fine dining restaurant in Connecticut brings us to Union League Cafe in New Haven. The inside of this formal private club is gorgeous. The gas fireplace lends a homey air that is great for…
Cheese & Steak Grinder; Woodmont Pizza
On the search for the best grinder in Connecticut brings us to Woodmont Pizza in Milford. Steak & Cheese Grinder Honestly, it is kind of pathetic looking. Cheese is light and applied to the bun directly. But when you bite…
Espresso; Kevin’s Coffee Roasters
There are a lot of espresso roasters in Connecticut, we are trying them all. Next on the list, Kevin’s Coffee Roasters in Vernon. With about 20 different types of coffee and only 1 type of espresso, it made it easy.…
Best Dumplings in CT Worth Traveling for (so far) – 2023 edition
Dumplings. Many cultures have some variation of meat wrapped in a carbohydrate wrapper. But when we think of dumplings, we tend to think of eastern ones, bao, momo, gyoza, and the like. Here we work towards making a list of…
Onion Rings; Smokin’ With Chris
While searching for the best BBQ in Connecticut, we stumbled across some truly amazing onion rings at Smokin’ With Chris in Southington. We’ve tried quite a few things here, with the BBQ being mostly, okay. There are some bright spots,…
Espresso; Black Owl Roaster
The goal is to try every espresso roaster in Connecticut, next up is Black Owl Roasters (online only). This espresso roaster is one of the online-only roasters, so you have to order online and either drive to the owner’s house…
Tuna Tartare; The Charles
This winter, we will be reviewing all of the fine dining options in Connecticut, in the hope we can find the best of them. Up first, The Charles in Wethersfield. The Charles is beautiful on the inside, with a working…
Burrito; ¡Ay Güey! Cafe & Cocina Mexicana
On the search for the best burrito in Connecticut brings us to ¡Ay Güey! Cafe & Cocina Mexicana in Stratford. They don’t serve individual tacos here, so you have to go all in on a meat in a platter of…
Philly Cheesesteak; Second Poquonock Giant Grinder & Pizza Shop
On the search for the best Grinder in Connecticut brings us to Second Poquonock Giant Grinder in Windsor Locks. Connecticut is full of grinders; and unfortunately, since the pandemic many places have left us. The grinders at Second Poquonock are,…
Chocolate Chip Cookie; Leisha’s Bakeria
On the search for the best chocolate chip cookies in Connecticut brings us to Leisha’s Bakeria in Bridgeport. Unless you live in Bridgeport, this place can be a pain to get to. It is not open on weekends, closes at…
Espresso; Moodus Mud Coffee Roasters
On the search for all local espresso roasters in Connecticut brings us to Higher Grounds at 32 Main which is the sole brewer of Moodus Mud coffee. Espresso This happens every once in a while. A coffee brewer will make…
Wings; WesWings
On the search for the best Wings in Connecticut brings us to WesWings in Middletown. I had been trying to go here for a couple of years now, but because of the pandemic it was only open to Wesleyan students.…
Best Cider Donuts worth Traveling For (so far)-2022
The week just after Halloween is among the best time to go get apple cider donuts. The best cider donuts come from the best cider. The best cider comes from the apples at the end of the season; this time…
Apple Cider Donut; Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm
On the search for the best cider donuts in Connecticut brings us to Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm in Moosup. Apple Cider Donut with cinnamon sugar Huge trays of donuts await in this farm. This would also be a great place…
Burrito; Mil Sabores
On the search for the best burrito in Connecticut brings us to Mil Sabores in Bridgeport. There are signs everywhere in this Mexican/Venezuelan restaurant about the Birria. They even have a whole section of their menu dedicated to birria. So…
Onion rings; Cool Hand Duke’s
Came for the BBQ, which was sparse, but surprised by the onion rings at Cool Hand Duke’s in New Milford. I heard of a BBQ place in the charming village of New Milford. But it isn’t really a BBQ place.…
Espresso; The Coffee Trade
On the hunt to try every espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to The Coffee Trade in Avon. This coffee roaster is in a charming cottage-type building. For the espresso, however, that’s where the charm ends.It’s gross. The smell is…
Ribs; Ricky D’s Rib Shack
On the search for the best BBQ in Connecticut brings us to Ricky D’s Rib Shack in New Haven. I thought I had found the best ribs in CT before, but I was wrong. Came to Ricky D’s looking for BBQ…
Cider Donut; Dondero Orchards
Trying all the cider donuts we can in 2022 brings us to Dondero Orchards in Glastonbury. This donut is very odd at first. The out outside has no crisp to it whatsoever. It’s just dough. Also, it is dense. Think…
Cider Donut; Flanders Donuts & Bake Shop
Today, Flander’s Bake Shop in East Lyme This bakery has a good selection of donuts. Lines in summer are long, so it should be good, right? But here’s the thing, most of the donuts are just…okay. So we tried a…
Burrito; La Mexicana Grocery Store & Taqueria
On the search for the best burritos in Connecticut brings us to La Mexicana Grocery Store & Taqueria in Willimantic. The burrito here has a great ratio of fillings. Often in CT, burritos are just a little meat with an…
Cider Donut; Hogan’s Cider Mill
Lot’s of cider mills in Connecticut, and some make cider donuts. Let’s try them all. Today, Hogan’s Cider Mill in Burlington. Cider donutA very dry and disappointing cider donut. The flavor is the weirdest blend of apple and banana bread…
Brisket with Truffle Fries; The Cue
On the search for the best BBQ in Connecticut brings us to The Cue Restaurant and Catering in Danbury. There is no option here to get meats by the pound, so trying multiple meats you either need a big group…
Cider Donut; Plasko’s Farm
Lots of orchards and farms in Connecticut. Some of them have apple cider donuts. Let’s try them. Today, Plasko’s Farm in Trumbull. Cider Donut This donut is completely drenched in sugar. There is a slight cinnamon taste to the dusting,…
Apple Cider Donut; Woodstock Orchards
On the search for the best apple cider donut in Connecticut brings us to Woodstock Orchards in Woodstock. Apple Cider Donut So far, these are the second smallest donut’s I have seen in CT. Just slightly larger than the mini…
Fried Chicken; Drumstik Bar-B-Q
Early Fall is Fried Chicken season. And Drumstik Bar-B-Q in Bridgeport has some, but how good is it? Fried Chicken I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Crinkle-cut fries are garbage. But you can’t escape them here, they…
Wurst Sampler; East Side Restaurant
It’s that Oktoberfest time of year! On to some German food at the famous East Side Restaurant in New Britain. There’s a feeling here that is almost, homey. It doesn’t feel like a normal restaurant, but something different. Like a…
Brats and Hot Dogs; Carol’s Lunch Box
I’ve heard a lot about Carol’s Lunch Box in Farmington. Let’s see if it lives up to the hype. They’ve got a few options here, so to be consistent we go for a hot dog with chili and spicy relish.…
Mac & Cheese (and fried chicken); Craig’s Kitchen
On the search for the best fried chicken in Connecticut brings us to Craig’s Kitchen in Vernon. All of the meals come with two sides. Which is very luck for you when you find out some of the best food…
Taco Arabes; Tacos Santa Fe
Tacos. Is there ever a wrong time? This time we try the tacos at the food truck Tacos Santa Fe in New Haven. All the tacos here are double shelled, but they can’t be pried apart. Meaning you get lots…
Fry Chicken; Pampi’s Jamaican Restaurant
On the search for the best Fried Chicken in Connecticut brings us to Pampi’s Jamaican Restaurant in Hartford. Fry Chicken Fry chicken, as they call it here, is available either on its own or as a platter. First, the problems.…
Chocolate Chip Cookie; Fred 06825
On the search for the best chocolate chip cookies in Connecticut brings us to Fred 06825 in Fairfield. The pace couldn’t really be home to the best Chocolate Chip Cookie in CT, right? It’s a catering company. A tiny little…
Espresso; Daybreak Coffee Roasters
There are lots of espresso roasters in Connecticut, we are trying them all. This time at Daybreak Coffee Roasters in Glastonbury. Espresso (in Macchiato form) The espresso here is extremely bitter. Overpoweringly bitter. Which is too bad because the smell…
Joy’s Country Style Fried Chicken; Rooster’s Chicken & Waffles
On the search for the best fried chicken in Connecticut brings us to Roosters Chicken & Waffles in Wethersfield (and Manchester and Meriden and New Britain). Roosters is a local chain of restaurants. Some know them for their spicy chicken…
Espresso; Absolute Bearing Coffee Co
On the hunt to try every espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to Mystic for Absolute Bearing Coffee Co. But this picture isn’t them! It’s because the roastery has very odd public hours and does not have an attached cafe.…
Cider Donut; Silvermans Farm
On the search for the best cider donut in Connecticut brings us to Silvermans Farm in Easton. I actually had to come back to test the cider donut here. I wasn’t sure, after eating my first one, whether it was…
Fried Chicken; Lilly’s Soulfood Restaurant & Catering
On the search for the best fried chicken in Connecticut brings us to Lilly’s Soulfood in Windsor. Fried chicken Okay, the smell inside here is wonderful. The fried chicken comes wrapped up in foil, but looks very thin. There really…
Pizza; Brick & Basil Wood Fired Pizza Co
On the search for the best pizza in Connecticut brings us to Brick & Basil Wood Fired Pizza Co in Yantic. The first words out of your mouth when you bite into this pizza, from the fixed food truck, should…
Early Fall is Picnic Season, Picnic Season is for Fried Chicken & BBQ
The best fried chicken in the world is in New Orleans. At a place called Willie Mae’s Scotch House in the 9th Wars (don’t go to the outposts). There is no real competition. I used to think it was in…
3 Hot Dogs Worth Traveling For
Here we run down the best Hot Dogs in Connecticut. The ones who get the dog blistered just right. Whose buns are toasted. Whose toppings add to the whole experience. Just in time to close out summer. #3 Glenwood Drive-In;…
Hot Dog; Super Duper Weenie
On the search for the best hot dog in Connecticut brings us to Super Duper Weenie in Fairfield. It’s time to address the elephant in the room. You can’t do a rundown of the best hot dogs in Connecticut without…
BBQ Kielbasa; Smoke BBQ Cafe
On the search for the best BBQ in Connecticut brings us to Smoke BBQ Cafe in Enfield. This Polish butcher also seems to be home to a BBQ shop where they smoke meats. So we went traditional BBQ (pulled pork)…
Hot Dog; Dogtown
Since it’s the Hot Dog Days of Summer, we are highlighting as many hot dogs as we reasonably can. Today, Dogtown in Milford. Two different dogs today. The standard, and a crazy one. Devil dog Chipotle mayo, chili, Banana peppers,…
Jalapeno Margarita Mix; Grandma’s Market
Grandma’s Market and Catering is a hole in the wall corner store in South Lyme. They are also host to an amazing food option. Jalapeno Margarita Mix These homemade 1-liter containers sit in the fridge section of the store. It’d…
Hot Dog; Augie & Ray’s Drive-In
On the search for the best hot dog in Connecticut brings us to Augie & Ray’s Drive-In in East Hartford. Part of the Pratt & Whitney trifecta of East Hartford Hot Dogs (along with Maggie’s Lunch Truck and Mickey’s Oceanic…
Chocolate Chip Cookie; Kathy’s Famous Cookies
The smell walking into this cookie shop in Milford is the absolutely most amazing thing. It’s spectacular. Walk in, deep breaths. We came looking for the best chocolate chip cookie in Connecticut. Chocolate Chip Cookie The cookie itself is huge.…
Hot Dog; Jake’s Diggity Dogs
On the search for the best Hot Dogs in Connecticut brings us to Jake’s Diggity Dogs in Milford. There is a debate in Milford about who has better hot dogs. Jakes, or Dogtown. It’s Jakes. Onion Rings A small onion…
Tacos; La Joya Fresh Mexican
La Joya Fresh Mexican in Simsbury. Not much to say in the run up here. It’s a newish Mexican restaurant in Simsbury. So we went looking for tacos. Al Pastor Taco You know the flavor of orange chicken from dirty…
Chocolate Chip Cookie; Chocolate Geeks
This wacky shop in Essex, called Chocolate Geeks (formerly Truffle Shots) specializes in giving you the inside bits of chocolate truffles without the outer shell… Truffle shots are exactly what they sound like. Chocolate truffles, in shot glasses. The classy…
Hot Dog; Doogies
A staple of the Turnpike in Newington, Doogies serves up foot long hot dogs, cheesesteak sandwiches, and more. Onion rings These onion rings have a well seasoned breading. The tastes is mild yet present on the Fronions flavor. The coating…
Peking Duck; Shu Restaurant
I’ve previously profiled the amazing Seven Flavor Wonton’s at Shu in West Hartford. Which means, every time I go, it’s what I’m excited to get and mostly pay attention to. But now they have a special, that is only available…
Fries; Al’s Hot Dogs
Al’s Hot Dogs is a cash only shack in Naugatuck that serves up okay hot dogs but very good french fries. Onion ringsBecause every shack should serve up amazing onion rings, we have to try them here. Unfortunately, these were…
Lamb Samosa; Bhog Multi-Cuisine Indian
On the search for the best Indian food in Connecticut brings us to Bhog Multi-Cuisine Indian in Rocky Hill. Assorted Pakora Definitely the weakest of the options here. The Assorted Pakora is an assortment of deep fried foods. Jalapeno poppers.…
Chengu Dumplings; Steamed
Dumplings don’t seem like a summertime treat, because they mostly aren’t. But in the never-ending quest for the best food in CT, we headed out to Steamed in Madison. We got a nice assortment of what is supposed to be…
Mojo Wings; Coalhouse Pizza
Came for the Pizza while trying to hunt down the best in Connecticut. While the pizza is solid, we instead found some pretty damn good wings at Coalhouse Pizza in Stamford. PizzaThe pizza is pretty good. It comes to you…
Pizza; Zuppardi’s Apizza
On the search for the best pizza in Connecticut brings us to Zuppardi’s Apizza in West Haven. A great and heavily charred thin crust sits below this pizza. The toppings are heavy, and while there is cheese both under and…
Chili Dog; Maggie’s Lunch Truck
Maggie’s Lunch Truck, aka the Red Truck Food Truck, has been serving up hot dogs with chili since 1973. The problem with places that have been establishments for nearly 50 years is that they rarely change. That can be a…
Lunch Box; Mumbai Times
On the search for the best Indian food in Connecticut brings us to Mumbai Times in Cos Cob. Here, the lunch boxes come with dal (yellow lentils in sauce), rice, naan, a side special of the day, and your choice…
Chicken Peppercorn Pizza; Wicked Slice
Wicked Slice, with locations in Coventry and Hebron, are looking to make it onto the pizza scene in Connecticut. Here they make slices as well as whole pies. When asking what to try for our first outing there, they suggested…
Egg Bomb; Ray & Mike’s
Last time I tried Ray & Mike’s I saw they had won some awards for best cheesesteak. So why not try the steak egg and cheese breakfast sandwich? Well, it turns out, I was wrong. That is not the thing…
5 Places that Make Root Beer Floats with CT Root Beer
Quick storytime. Japan is home to many weird treats that, unless you grow up eating, likely taste gross to you. Things like shrimp chips. Well, it turns out, most of the world doesn’t drink root beer. It’s a very American…
Tacos; Fogata Mexican Restaurant
Northern Connecticut has been busting open with taco restaurants these past few months. Many of them were former taco trucks making the move to brick and mortar. Fogata is one of the newer taco places in Hartford. Thankfully, the tacos…
Patatas Bravas; Toro Taberna
I absolutely hate tapas. I’ve always felt they are a giant waste of money. You spend so much for so little and always leave hungry. So it’s best not to think of Toro Taberna in West Hartford as a tapas…
Hot dog; Glenwood Drive-In
On the search for the best hot dog in CT brings us to Glenwood Drive-In in Hamden. This little plaza here is amazing. Possibly the best hot dogs in CT. Some great ice cream in the same building; solid donuts…
Chili Dog & Curly Fries; JK’s Restaurant
It’s summertime. Time for hot dogs, and curly fries, and all things good. So we are trying to find the best in Connecticut. Next stop, JK’s Restaurant in Danbury. This place is a proper old-school diner. The menu looks straight…
Pizza Worth Traveling For; 2022
Here we highlight the best pizza in Connecticut. 2022 edition! We’ve traveled the state; North, South, East, West. Tried as many as we can. Put in the miles. Put on the pounds. It’s time for the best pizza in Connecticut!…
Ice Cream; Farmer’ Cow Calfe & Creamery
You know those carton’s of milk in CT with a cow on the front called ‘Farmer’s Cow’? That’s a dairy place in CT! And they make ice cream, out in Mansfield Center. We asked for their very best ice cream,…
Pastor Taco; Taco Bachi
Super active on social media, especially their nearly daily instagram updates about specials, I had to try Taco Bachi in Brookfield on the search for the best tacos in Connecticut. There is a serious issue here. You cannot buy one…
Ribs; Hen House BBQ
I’m always willing to travel for good fried chicken. And not knowing anything about hen house BBQ in Southington, I was expecting…I don’t know, but not what I found. First, this is a former dirty Chinese food restaurant. In the…
Chocolate Chip Cookie; Sift Bake Shop
I’m a skeptical person by nature. Nothing makes me more skeptical of a restaurant than being run by any version of a ‘celebrity chef’. Sift bake shop in Mystic was started by someone who was a contestant on some show.…
Hot Dogs; Riley’s Gourmet
It’s summertime! That means it’s time to start eating hot dogs and hamburgers in mass quantities before we get sick of them. One place I’ve been told to try is Riley’s Gourmet in New Britain. There are over 20 different…
Pizza; Colony Grill
On the search for the best pizza in Connecticut brings us to Colony Grill in Stamford. This pizza place is a staple of working-class Stamford. The pizza’s are bar-style pizza. A bar-style pizza has a chewy thin crust with toppings…
Espresso; Turning Point Coffee Roasters
Connecticut has lots of espresso roasters, let’s try them all! Today’s is Turning Point Coffee Roasters in Stamford. This little coffee shop in a very busy strip mall in Stamford has a lot to offer, but we are just here…
Pizza; Little City Pizza
On the search for the best pizza in Connecticut brings us to Little City Pizza in Avon. New Haven is (rightfully) dominating the CT pizza scene. There is a burning need for excellent pizza places north of the shore. We…
Ice Cream; UCONN Dairy Bar
One of the many Ice Cream Parlors that make their own ice cream, UCONN Dairy Bar in Storrs is a Connecticut staple. We’ve tried a few different flavors here a few different times. Everything is good, but nothing is truly…
Pizza; Da Legna
On the search for the best pizza in Connecticut brings us to Da Legna in New Haven. Pizza If you want New Haven-style pizza it seems you may need to go to New Haven. The crust here is the thickest…
Pizza; Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza
Hearing a lot about Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza in Manchester, we have to try it. If nothing else to see if there is a New-Haven-style pizza in the north of the state worth the drive. With many options here, we…
Burger; Flipside Burger
I both love and hate the rise of the $15-20 burger. It has given us some excellent examples of how burgers could be. It has inflated prices of okay burgers. Let’s see which Flipside is. Glazed Calamari Fried Calamari with…
Al Pastor Taco; Toro Loco Mezcaloteca
On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to Toro Loco in Farmington. Concerned that this place would try to be fancy with the tacos, one is pleasantly surprised. Almost all the tacos are single shelled and…
Dark Chocolate Truffles; Melt Chocolatier
If you are following the 30 day hot chocolate rule, which you should, today is the last day for hot chocolate. But the real thing to get here are the chocolate truffles, which are a year-round food. Hot ChocolateThe hot…
Chicken Tikka Masala; Indigo Indian Bistro
On the search for the best Indian food in Connecticut brings us to Indigo Indian Bistro in Manchester. While much of the food here is very good, the Chicken Tikka Masala is an amazing standout. Chicken samosa The chicken filling…
Cochinita Taco; Tacos Mi Nacho
Trying all the tacos we can in Connecticut brings us to Tacos Mi Nacho in Meriden. This taco restaurant feels like a relic. A taco restaurant that feels like it was ‘authentic’ in the 90s or early 2000s and hasn’t…
Espresso; GIV Coffee
Trying every espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to GIV Coffee in Canton. On top of roasting their own espresso and coffee, they also bake their own goods. So why not try a waffle? Liege Waffle These waffles have lots…
Pepperoni Pizza; Nana’s Bakery & Pizza
Nana’s Bakery & Pizza. What a place. Nana’s seems to be first and foremost a bakery. So the bread they use is all sourdough and all homemade, but they use it in everything. Pizza crust? sourdough. Donuts? sourdough. It’s a…
Espresso; Redding Roasters
Trying to find the best espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to Redding Roasters in Bethel. Espresso This place is very cool. When I walked in they asked if we were here for something specific. Telling them no, we got…
Croque Madame; Avert Brasserie
Classic French bistro in CT? Absolutely. Also home to a truly excellent sandwich. Croque Madame This French sandwich is a ham and cheese sandwich, topped with cheese, then baked. What changes it from a Croque Monsieur to a Croque Madame…
Espresso; Social Cafe and Coffee Roastery
Trying every espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to Social Cafe and Coffee Roastery in Groton. Espresso The espresso here is super dark and concentrated. Almost too much. It’s lacking a dominant flavor you typically get in espresso, outside of…
Espresso; Sacred Grounds Coffee Roasters
Trying to find the best espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to Sacred Grounds Coffee Roasters in Sherman. I don’t care where in the state you live, this place is a haul to get to. Espresso Full bodied. The smell…
Espresso; Drumroll Coffee Roasters
Trying every espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to Drumroll Coffee Roasters in Wethersfield. Espresso Not a cafe but still an espresso roaster in downtown Wethersfield. Bringing this home and brewing a cup… This tastes just like char. Burned bread,…
Mac & Cheese; Thomas Smokey Pit Stop
Trying all the BBQ in Connecticut brings us to Thomas Smokey’s Pit Stop in Manchester. From the outside this place looks like an absolute crap shoot. It could be terrible, it could be a true hidden gem. In this kind…
Espresso; Moodus Mud Coffee Roasters
Trying every espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to Moodus Mud Coffee Roasters in Moodus, also available at Higher Grounds at 32 main in East Haddam. EspressoThis is basically a dense coffee. Coffee that has a little bit of bread…
Pork Carnitas Arepa; Somos Handcrafted Arepas
I don’t know what we are going to do with Arepas. Are there enough in CT to get a ranking going? Should we try to find the best Arepas in Connecticut? Maybe, but even if there aren’t enough, it will…
Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee
Trying every espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee in New Canaan. The first thing you notice when you walk in here is how amazing it smells. Even through a mask (still pandemic), the smell of coffee…
Espresso; Birdhouse Coffee
Trying every espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to Birdhouse Coffee Co. in South Windsor. Espresso This espresso is so incredibly sour. Like a warhead. It’s so sour, it dries out your mouth and puckers your lips. Maybe some people…
Espresso; Saccuzzo Coffee Co.
Trying every espresso roaster in Connecticut to find the best espresso brings us to Saccuzzo Coffee Co. in Newington. Quite possibly the best espresso in Connecticut. This roastery does not have a cafe attached, so you need to buy the…
Espresso; Chubby Dog Coffee Co.
Trying every espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to Chubby Dog Coffee Co. in Putnam. Okay. I’ve tried this place a couple of times now, because I was shocked at the first experience. Shocked, because the espresso tastes like…nothing. Literally…
Espresso; Neat Coffee
Trying every espresso roaster in Connecticut to find the best espresso brings us to Neat Coffee in Darien. Espresso Very nice flavor. The espresso is a little sour at first. Then, there is a warm taste in it like the…
Espresso; BonJo Coffee Roaster
Trying every espresso roaster in CT brings us to BonJo Coffee Roaster in Stamford. EspressoYuck. It’s honestly the 1st thing you experience with the espresso. It tastes like black drip coffee that is both gritty and been burned. I was…
Soup Dumplings; Good Hope Dumpling and Ramen House
On the search for the best dumplings in Connecticut brings us to Good Hope Dumpling & Ramen House in Norwalk. If a place is going to put their name on a dish, its worth trying, right? Good Hope Wontons in…
Sushi; Oriental Bar & Grill
What is an authentic Dim Sum restaurant doing out in the middle of Uncasville? And why are we recommending the sushi and not the dim sum? Mysteries to be solved as we talk about Oriental Bar & Grill. The reason…
Falafel; Noujaim’s Bistro
You know why I do this? Because most other food reviewers in Connecticut just can’t be trusted. They review restaurants they haven’t been to. They have employees send in nominations to “reader’s polls”. And everyone seems to rate any restaurant…
Ham & Cheese Croissant; Ashlawn Farm Coffee
We’ve been trying every coffee roaster in Connecticut to see who roasts espresso the best. This search brings us to Ashlawn Farm Coffee in Old Saybrook. Espresso, in Cortado formI am fairly sure they do not brew espresso here. That’s…
Egg and Cheese (Georgia Hot, Double Egg); Sahadi’s Hotties
In the mood for a quick breakfast sandwich? Sahadi’s Hotties in New Britain has you covered. The breakfast sandwiches are as customizable as you wish. Since one single egg on a a breakfast sandwich is a shame, we got a…
Wontons in Spicy Oil; Sichuan Pepper
On the search for the best dumplings in Connecticut brings us to Sichuan Pepper in Vernon. Kung pao chicken This classic Sichuan dish is just weird. The celery is very odd, and make an off contract with its crispness and…
Hot Chocolate; Kent Coffee & Chocolate Co.
With hot chocolate season in full swing, we are going to try all the notable hot chocolates we can in Connecticut. Today, we try the hot chocolate from Kent Coffee & Chocoalte Co. in Kent. Honestly, this place was mostly…
Top 5 Buffalo Wings in CT (So Far)
Here just in time for football playoffs, we highlight the top 5 best wings in Connecticut. #5 Bomb Wings & Rice Bar, Hamden Buffalo wing 7.5/10 Huge and meaty, these run on the meat here. The sauce is thin and…
Espresso; Tusk & Cup Fine Coffee
We are trying every coffee roaster in Connecticut. This next stop is Tusk & Cup Fine Coffee in Ridgefield and Wilton. Espresso Lots of flavor here. The dominant flavor in the espresso is sour cherry. But like, sour, sour, cherry.…
Burnt Ends; Pig Rig BBQ
On the search for the best BBQ in Connecticut brings us to Pig Rig BBQ in Wallingford. Smoked Mac & Cheese This has a weird flavor. It’s heavy on smoke flavor and despite a good amount of cheese has no…
Chicken Dum Kabab; Nina’s Desi Kitchen
Serving Pakistani street food, Nina’s Desi Kitchen in Southington is excellent. Everything you get here isn’t just cooked fresh. The flavors are so pronounced, so intense, even the spices are ground fresh before added to each dish. Since it is…
French Fries; Kumar’s Connecticut
We are trying to do a highlight reel of Indian restaurants in Connecticut, and the next stop is Kumar’s in Manchester. The great irony of this attempt is that at a restaurant, you never know what you’re gonna get. This…
Chicken Pakora; Taste of India
Taste of India in West Hartford. Classic North Indian cuisine. Let’s see what they have: Tandoori Tit Pit Snickering at the name aside, this is a collection of Tandoori kebab appetizers. Overall, they aren’t bad. The Chicken Tikka is very…
Chicken Lollipop; Guntur Mirchi
Trying to hunt down some serious Indian food in Connecticut, is going to bring us all over the state. Especially since at least 2018, people from India are the largest immigrant population in Connecticut. So soon enough, we may actually…
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie; Sweet Maria’s
On the search for the best cookies in Connecticut brings us to Sweet Maria’s in Waterbury. This little bakery has lots to offer, from cakes to cupcakes to pastries. But they are known for their cookies. So we tried a…
Bratwurst; Jealous Monk
Hunting down bratwursts in Connecticut brings us to Jealous Monk in Mystic Village. It’s a nice time of year to visit this restaurant as they have outdoor private igloos. The Brat here is nice and meaty. The skin doesn’t really…
Dolce e Piccante Pizza; Rizzuto’s
Trying all the igloo restaurants in CT brought us to Rizzuto’s in West Hartford. Pane all’aglio Garlic bread. You have to like Gorgonzola to like this. The cheese topping is nice, but there is far too much dough. It’s a…
Espresso; Krafted Brew Lab
Trying all of CT’s espresso roasters is the only way to find the best. Today we visit Krafted Brew Lab in Bantam. Krafted Brew Lab has multiple types of coffees and espressos. The Bantam Blend is their standard for all…
Hot Links; Chesters Barbecue
Chesters in Groton is controversial as a BBQ place. Some people swear by it, thinking its wonderful. Other people seem to think its trash. I’m going to go down the middle. As a BBQ place, it’s meh. As we’ll see,…
Download a map of CT Restaurants with Igloos
For those who have children too young to vaccinate, or those who just like the outdoor igloo dining, here is a map and details of Connecticut restaurants with igloos, greenhouses, and other private outdoor dining. https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1r2La8o2igbXHkYxzDAKFtpXGpCYtxeNJ&usp=sharing
Beef Barbacoa Taco; Toro Mexican Street Food
On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to Toro Mexican Street Food in West Hartford. From the Toro Restaurant Group, this new street food shop is looking to expand their Hispanic-focused empire in the Greater Hartford…
Homemade Sausages; Noacks Meat Products
With the closing of Adolph’s in Hartford, where can one go to for homemade sausages and Kielbasas? Let’s try Noacks Meat products in Meriden. Since stopping here on a whim, we didn’t have a cold storage container so had to…
Buffalo Wings; Archie Moore’s
On the search for the best buffalo wings in Connecticut brings us to Archie Moore’s in Wallingford (and New Haven and Milford). This place is commercialized to hell, with the wing sauce being sold in grocery stores all over the…
Rolls (Pork, Vegetable Spring); Kayumangi
I’ve been looking long and hard for some good Filipino food in Connecticut. Can it be found at Kayumangi? The food at this grocery store is buffet-style, with the people there serving your food. To be honest, none of what…
KFC Bao; Anaya Sushi & Ramen
Searching for Japanese street food? Anaya Sushi & Ramen in New Haven may have you covered. We originally came here for the sushi, with its inventive rolls. But then we came across some of the other offerings here, where we…
CBH wings; Cambridge House Brew Pub
This Brewery and Pub in Granby serves lots of food options, including…wings! Okay, we’ve been here twice now, and there is an unfortunate consistent theme. The wings are overcooked. Every time. So while the sauces are fun and inventive (as…
Cider Donut; Applebrook Farm
On the search for the best Cider Donuts in Connecticut brings us to Applebrook Farm in Broad Brook. The cider donuts here have a great flavor. But they are dry. So dry. The coating is heavier on the cinnamon than…
Espresso; Winfield Street Coffee
On the search for the best coffee roaster and best espresso roaster in Connecticut brings us to Winfield Street Coffee in Stamford and Westport. I was at first concerned because the smells here are all very mild. The shop doesn’t…
Spicy Dr. Pepper Wings; The Blind Rhino
On the search for the best wing in Connecticut brings us to The Blind Rhino in South Norwalk. The Blind Rhino frequently pops up on ‘best wings’ lists running through Connecticut. So of course, we have to try them. We…
Brisket; Wire Mill Saloon & Barbecue
On the search for the best BBQ in Connecticut brings us to Wire Mill Saloon & Barbecue in Redding. I admit, I was skeptical to check this place out. I was pretty sure I understood the best BBQ in CT.…
Grass Fed Burger; Engine Room
What brought us to The Engine Room in Mystic? No idea. It has all the makings of a classic hipster-esque restaurant from 2014. The food is not bad, with pretentious (but good) ingredients and high prices. They even seem to…
On the Chocolates at Tschudin Chocolates & Confections
Trying to find the best chocolates in Connecticut brings us to Tschudin Chocolates & Confections in Middletown. Here’s the thing… I really want to love this place. The owner really knows what he’s doing. The truffles are inventive and imaginative.…
Dirty Buffalo Wings; J. Timothy’s Taverne
On the search for the best buffalo wings in Connecticut brings us to J. Timothy’s Taverne in Plainville. You don’t want to see them win. Like the early 2000s Yankees, or the 2000s Patriots. You’re pretty sure it’s gonna happen,…
Meatballs; Spiga
I can’t for the life of me figure out why I came to Spiga, in New Canaan, so intent on getting the meatballs. I didn’t find myself at Spiga. I went there. Intent on meatballs. Maybe I saw someone else…
Cider Donut; Belltown Hill Orchards
On the search for the best cider donuts in Connecticut brings us to Belltown Hill Orchards in Glastonbury. I’ve been to this place a couple of times now. The first time I wasn’t overly impressed, but learned that I hadn’t…
Espresso; The Bean Coffee Roaster’s
Trying all the espresso roasters in Connecticut brings us to The Bean Coffee Roaster’s in Cheshire. A cozy little place with your standard neo-hippie from the 90s smoothie bar, this place also makes breakfast sandwiches and roasts their own coffee.…
Buffalo Wings; Bomb Wings & Rice Bar
On the search for the best wings in Connecticut brings us to Bomb Wings & Rice Bar in Hamden. This place. All of their wings are very good. I feel like each, however, is missing something. Its different for each…
Pork Ribs; The Portly Pig BBQ
On the search for the best BBQ in Connecticut brings us to The Portly Pig in Hartford. This place, located in the Parkville Market, fancies itself as bringing ‘New England Style’ BBQ to us. Yet, all their meats and styles…
Espresso; PROOF Coffee Roasters
We are trying to taste every espresso roaster in Connecticut. This brings us to PROOF Coffee Roasters in Stamford. This little outpost is located in a charming green in Stamford. When you get the espresso, you are treated to the…
Cider Donut; Lapsley Orchard
On the search for the best cider donut in CT brings us to Lapsley Orchard in Pomfret Center. Wow. These donuts are really good. First, they are super light. They break apart by thinking about them too hard. They mostly…
Firecracker Burger; The Rabbit Hole
Along with top-notch wings, The Rabbit Hole in Old Saybrook has also won awards for the burgers. Let’s put that to the test. But first, the wings. In a previous post, we saw how the XX buffalo wings were excellent.…
Top 5 BBQ Meats in CT (so far)
These tail end days of summer, when school starts but fall hasn’t really hit yet are the perfect time for eating BBQ. I’d love to write about the best BBQ in Connecticut. But the problem is, our BBQ joints are…
Espresso; One World Roasters
There are lots of coffee roasters in Connecticut, let’s try them all. Now we are off to One World Coffee Roasters in East Haven. The espresso here has a mild taste, like unsweetened chocolate. There is a little bit of…
Bratwurst; Wurst Haus
End September is (amusingly from the name) Oktoberfest time. Time to search for the best Bratwurst in Connecticut. This Brings us to Wurst Haus in West Hartford. Belgian Fires Solid. The fries are well cooked. Not overcooked or undercooked. Lots…
Baked Beans; Zach and Lou’s Barbecue
Why highlight the baked beans at a BBQ place? Because of how disappointing the meat was. What really made Zach and Lou’s disappointing is the lead up. When you get to the restaurant in Torrington you are met with the…
On Connecticut’s Imported BBQ
CT is in the north. We don’t have a long bbq tradition (clam bakes aside, depending on how loose of a definition you want to use for a barbecue). Most of our bbq places are imported. Texas seems to be…
Don’t Confuse The Number of Sauces With the Quality of a Wings Place
I’ve heard nonstop about how good Bidwell Taverns Cafe wings are. And after trying, I couldn’t figure out why people would believe this. The wings are small, with minimal meat, and they are overcooked. I’ve tried a couple times, overcooked…
Whiskey Distilleries in Connecticut
Looking for a local Whiskey Distillery in CT? Let’s try these: AppStrawBrandies Distillery Bourbon-style whiskey made with 51% corn. Also known as Branford Distillery. Website Address: 11 Sycamore Way, Branford, CT 06405 Hours listed as Monday – Thursday 9am-6pm Friday…
Rogan Josh; Utsav Indian Cuisine
I wish I knew Utsav, in Vernon, in a better time. The reviews of Utsav all seem to revolve around how great the service is. How the atmosphere is wonderful. But during a pandemic, you don’t really get that. But…
Agave Street tacos; Agave Grill
On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to Agave Grill in Hartford. I’ve got to be honest. When I heard that Agave supposedly has some of the best tacos in CT, I was skeptical. And then…
Root Beer Float; Sycamore Drive-In
Sycamore Drive-In in Bethel. Previously reviewed for their oddly tasty yet weird cheeseburger. But now we go for the root beer float. Why review a root beer float here? Because it’s homemade root beer. Fancier than an A&W, Sycamore Drive-In…
Spicy Tuna Roll (and others); Sushi Red
Sushi Red in Plainville is supposedly home to some great sushi. So, naturally, we have to verify that. Eel Avocado Spring Roll This place has a section of their menu dedicated to ‘Spring Rolls’, which don’t mean what you think…
Bobby Burger; Lake Zoar Drive-In
Lake Zoar Drive-In in Stevenson is “home of the Zoar burger”, as they say all over the place. But here I’m going to describe why you should completely ignore that and go for the Bobby burger instead. The reason, in…
Steak Burrito; Three Amigos Mexican Taqueria
I’ve been hearing a lot about Three Amigos in Manchester. So we have to try it, right? The burrito is supposedly the thing to get, but taqueria is in the name. Trying this place a couple times, you learn something:…
Top 5 Breakfast Sandwiches in CT (So far)
Here we highlight the top 5 breakfast sandwiches in Connecticut. We say (so far) because things change. Places go out of business. Restaurants change recipes. And some places are still gems, waiting to be found. But for breakfast sandwiches, we…
Breakfast Sandwich (with Homemade Sausage); Washington Street Coffee House
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in Connecticut, as well as the best espresso, brings us to Washington Street Coffee House in New London. Espresso I don’t know what happened here. The first time I discovered Washington Street…
Espresso; Cheshire Coffee
There are a lot of coffee roasters in Connecticut. Let’s try them all. Now, Cheshire Coffee in…Cheshire. Espresso As a reminder, to find a great coffee roaster, you need to try their espresso. That’s the test of their skill, because…
Cookie Monster Ice Cream; Kelly’s Cone Connection
On the search for the best ice cream in Connecticut brings us to Kelly’s Cone Connection in Hamden. Here, we tried two of the craziest flavors we could find. Twinkie, and Cookie Monster. Twinkie Ice Cream If you asked me…
Haywire Burger; Haywire Burger Bar
Warning: No pictures here. These were some of the first things I reviewed and I didn’t save the pictures (except posted them to instagram, here https://www.instagram.com/p/CE360zXjmCy/ On the search for the best burger in Connecticut, as well as a spicy…
Chocolate Ice Cream; Capital Ice Cream
On the search for the best ice cream in Connecticut brings us to Capital ice Cream in Hartford. We’ve tried quite a few ice creams at this shop in Hartford. Many are good (shoutout to the very good and very…
Beef Burger; Bin228 Gastropub
On the search for the best burger in Connecticut brings us to Bin228 Gastropub in Glastonbury, where we may have found it. I have no idea what drew me to Bin 228 Gastropub as being a home for potentially the…
Espresso; Klekolo World Coffee
Again, Lots of places in Connecticut brew dozens of types of coffee. But they tend to only brew one espresso. So if you want to know how well a place roasts and brews? Try the espresso. So we are doing…
Lemon Lavender Bombolini; Cambera Farm Bakery
Technically, this bakery doesn’t sell donuts. They sell bombolini; which are fried soughdough donut-holes on a large scale. The thing to know about them is that they are tougher and denser than donuts. But Cambera Farms Bakery in Willimantic does…
Barbacoa Taco with Salsa Verde; Taqueria Cinco
We came here for the Barbacoa taco, which is even better if you add the salsa verde to it. But herein lies the problem: But when reviewing a food, we take the food as is. I can make lots of…
Prime Rib; Sans-Souci Restaurant
Trying to find great prime rib in Connecticut can be tough. Some places don’t make it everyday, being only a weekend special. Even steakhouses don’t necessarily make it everyday. But Sans-Souci Restaurant in Meriden is known for it. But we…
Mud; We-Li-Kit Ice Cream
There are lots of places that could have the best ice cream in Connecticut…let’s try them all. We-Li-Kit Ice Cream is in Pomfret Center, could be one of them. We had four different flavors here. All were pretty good. Chipmunk…
Hot Dog; Blackie’s Hot Dog Stand
This one, I do not get. Everyone I know keeps recommending Blackie’s Hot Dog Stand in Cheshire. So of course, we tried the Hot Dog with Pepper Relish The hot dog has a wonderful snap to it and is full…
Chocolate Frosted Donut; Dottie’s
Everyone will tell you to get the Cinnamon Sugar Donut at Dottie’s in Woodbury. You can, it’s pretty good. The donut has a slight yeasty-flavor to it, like you are eating it in a brewery. The cinnamon and sugar on…
Espresso; CFCF Coffee Bar
Trying all the coffee roasters in CT brings us to CFCF Coffee Bar in Greenwich. The Espresso here has a very strong taste of spice. Maybe its cumin? The espresso is also a little bit sour and a little bit…
Croissant Donut Holes; Isabelle et Vincent
This place. This French bakery in Connecticut, this patisserie in Fairfield. I was so excited about this place. So excited. But everything we tried here was mostly disappointing. Except for the Croissant Donut holes. I know what you’re thinking: Cronut?…
Crispy Tuna Salad Hand Roll; Hana Sushi
I can’t tell if it’s getting older, or sushi places are the type of restaurant where you find the one you like and you are unwilling to try other ones. But I’m trying to branch out, and had heard good…
Where Was Greek-Style Pizza Invented, Really?
Greek-style pizza is not pizza with feta and olives on it; it’s a pan-style pizza that was invented here in Connecticut… Instead of the dough being spread out on a peel (that wooden thing they put pizza in and pull…
Egg Sandwich with Ham & cheese on Jalapeno Cheddar Bagel; Lox Stock & Bagels
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in Connecticut, as well as the best bagels in Connecticut, brings us to Lox Stock & Bagels in West Hartford and Granby and Bloomfield. This is going to sound weird, but this…
Marocchino; Cafe Busy Bean
I can’t explain what brought me to Cafe Busy Bean. They don’t roast their own coffee, so it’s not part of my effort to find the best espresso. As far as I can tell, they haven’t won any major awards…
Coffee Oreo Ice Cream; Wentworth Homemade Ice Cream
On the search for the best ice cream in Connecticut brings us to Wentworth Homemade Ice Cream in Hamden. The Coffee Oreo is supposedly the one to get. Whoever said it, is right. There is a strong bitter flavor from…
Pizza; Park Lane Pizza
On the search for the best pizza in Connecticut brings us to Park Lane Pizza in West Hartford. Everyone is all about apizza-style pizza in Connecticut. Which is wonderful, and I love it. But Connecticut invented Greek-style pizza (investigation underway),…
Duck Wraps, Tea Leaf Salad; September in Bangkok
I’m super skeptical about Yelp. Something always seems off about it’s reviews. Mostly it’s because while places that are great tend to have high reviews on yelp, so do a lot of places that are just meh. Part of the…
Crispy Sweet Chili Shrimp taco; Sayulita
On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to Sayulita in South Glastonbury. This place gets super busy super fast. Even on weekdays, there can often be a line at 3:25 waiting for the place to open.…
Espresso; Common Grounds
Trying all the coffee roasters in Connecticut brings us to Common Grounds in Hamden (and Branford and Shelton). The drinks they give you here with milk have a dusting of cocoa and cinnamon. Oddly nice, but hiding a dark secret……
Traditional Breakfast Sandwich (with sausage) on a waffle; The Sloppy Waffle
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in Connecticut brings us to The Sloppy Waffle in Newington. A breakfast sandwich with a waffle for bread seems both very kitschy as well as a bit too much. I mean, what…
Cherry Donut; Beach Donut Shop
On the search for the best donuts in Connecticut brings us to Beach Donut Shop in Clinton. Now the thing you are supposed to get at Beach Donut Shop is the sour cream donut. And it is excellent, no doubt.…
Espresso; Perkatory Coffee Roasters
Connecticut has a whole bunch of coffee roasters. We’re gonna try em all. This time, Perkatory Coffee Roasters in Middletown and Southington. The espresso here has a distinct butterscotch smell to it, which is very nice. The taste is a…
Rellenos de Papa; Latin Cravings
On the search for Latin American street food in Connecticut brings us to Latin Cravings in Bristol. First off, everything we tried here was good. But two dishes especially stood out. The rellenos de papa (the reason for coming here),…
Pollo Burrito; Green Grunion
On the search for the best burrito in Connecticut brings us to the Connecticut Mexican food truck Green Grunion in Danbury. Since moving to CT from Southern California, we’ve been looking for some top-quality tacos and burritos. Rumor has it…
Breakfast Bagel (Bacon); Bagelman
Bagelman, a local mini-chain of bagels in CT, supposedly serves up some pretty good bagels. So let’s try the Danbury location. First, the bagels are extremely tough. It wasn’t just the egg bagel pictured here, but all the bagels we…
Charcoal Mocha; Dom’s Coffee
Dom’s coffee in Avon is supposed to be among the best coffee shops in Connecticut. Yet, they use beans roasted by the nearby (West Hartford) J. Renee Coffee Roaster. So what could make Dom’s a place for good coffee if…
Breakfast Sandwich + Espresso; Candlewood Market
Here we’ve got a 2-for-1, because both are unimpressive and we can strike them off the list. At Candlewood Market in Fairfield, we can try the breakfast sandwich, and the espresso. The breakfast sandwich, gotten on a croissant, was thoroughly…
Fried Mac N Cheese Bites; Artisanal Burger Company
ABC has some pretty decent burgers, and I’ve suggested the Triple B burger may be among the best of them. But their best menu item isn’t a burger at all. They have possibly the best fried mac and cheese in…
Espresso; Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea
On the search for the best coffee roasters in Connecticut, as well as the best espresso in Connecticut, brings us to Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea in New Haven. It seems like all of a sudden Connecticut has dozens and dozens…
Jalapeno roll; Feng Chophouse
On the search for the best sushi in CT brings us to Feng Chophouse in Hartford. Feng is part of the Ginza group (see review of Ginza here), and is often listed as among the best sushi in CT. While…
The Villager; The Villager
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in Connecticut brings us to The Villager in Chester. A little confusing that the name of the sandwich is the name of the restaurant. The Villager (sandwich) is the standard breakfast sandwich…
Duck Pancake; Fujiya Ramen
I came to Fujiya Ramen in Middletown for Japanese street food. One was great, one was really great. Takoyaki Takoyaki are essentially the Japanese version of arancini. Some minced meat in a creamy rice that are deep fried and drizzles…
Corned Beef Eggrolls; Bears Smokehouse
This one is a March, 2021 item only. But I hope not, because theses are real tasty. Truthfully, I don’t like Bear’s corned beef. Luckily, these aren’t tooo heavy on the corned beef. In fact, the dominant flavor is cabbage…
Thick Cut French Toast; The Corner Brunch
On the search for the best french toast in Connecticut brings us to The Corner Brunch in Milford. It is difficult to figure out the name of this place. The Corner? The Corner Restaurant? The Corner Brunch (only on weekends)?…
Mac Daddy; Fowl Play
On the search for the best Nashville hot chicken sandwich in Connecticut brings us to Fowl Play in Hartford. Inside the Parkville market (THE definition of gentrification), lies Fowl Play, a restaurant specializing in hot chicken. It comes in 5…
Chocolate Frosted Donut, Faddy’s Donuts
On the search for the best donuts in Connecticut brings us to Faddy’s Donuts in East Hartford. Faddy’s, as you can see from the photo, is a little cart. To find it, you need to go to the front of…
Steak, Egg, & Cheese; Ray & Mike’s Deli
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in CT brings us to Ray & Mike’s Deli in Hamden. We originally came to Ray & Mike’s Deli to get the “Egg Bomb” Sandwich, a monstrosity of a breakfast sandwich that…
Breakfast Sandwich; scratch baking
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in Connecticut brings us to scratch baking in Milford. This bakery. Everything we tasted here was wonderful. So good there will have to be not only additional posts about their brownies (salted…
Eel Avocado Roll, Ginza Japanese Cuisine
On the search for the best sushi in Connecticut brings us to Ginza Japanese Cuisine in Bloomfield (and Wethersfield). We tried a lot of options here, and surprisingly the ones that won out were the sauce based sushi rolls. I’ll…
Churros, Lorca
On the search for the best hot chocolate in Connecticut brought us to Lorca (Coffee Bar) in Stamford. We didn’t find it, but we did find some strangely addictive churros. First, the hot chocolate here was just not good. Hot…
Head to Head: Steamed Burgers
Steamed Burgers. What an odd concept. Why would anyone choose to steam a cheeseburger? It seems like the reason is historical. Restauranteurs need a way to cook burgers quickly and cheaply. Steam is an efficient way to cook. So sure,…
Falafel (Sandwich), Tangiers International Market
On the search for the best falafel in Connecticut brings us to Tangiers International Market in Hartford. We actually tried 3 things from Tangiers, the Lamb Gyro (which was solid), the baba ganoush (which may even merit it’s own post),…
The Hot Mozz, Deja Brew Cafe
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in Connecticut brings us to Deja Brew Cafe in New Haven. This sandwich, which is not advertised on the website but is advertised in store, is a standard breakfast sandwich with everything…
Seven Flavor Wontons, Shu Restaurant
On the search for the best dumplings in Connecticut brings us to Shu Restaurant in West Hartford. These dumplings. I’ve gotta say, these dumplings are amazing. But you can’t get a good picture of them at all, especially not in…
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Ganache, Castle Hill Chocolate
On the search for the best chocolates in Connecticut brings us to Castle Hill Chocolate in Newton. Big review coming, a bunch of chocolates at this place. But here’s the thing, they turnover varieties super quick. So you’d have to…
Wings (Insane, Smoked Garlic Sriracha), The Hidden Still
On the search for the best wings in Connecticut brings us to The Hidden Still in Ellington. Ah the Hidden Still. That’s what I have to say. Any serious list of the best wings in CT would have to include…
Michelada Taco, Lucky Taco
On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to Lucky Taco in Manchester. This inventive place has unique tacos of different varieties. We tried the Nashville Hot, Kung Pao Chicken, and Michelada. Nashville Hot Taco Maybe I’m…
XX Wings, The Rabbit Hole Tavern
On the search for the best wings in Connecticut brings us to The Rabbit Hole Tavern in Old Saybrook. Something weird about this place is that everywhere you see references to it it is called the Rabbit Hole Tavern…but when…
Hot Chocolate, Rebel Dog Coffee Company
On the search for the best hot chocolate in Connecticut brings us to Rebel Dog Coffe Co. in Plainville (and Farmington). I had planned on reviewing this place for their coffee, which is solid, but since today (Jan 31) is…
Breakfast Sandwich (sausage egg cheese on croissant), Harvest Cafe & Bakery
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in Connecticut brings us to Harvest Cafe & Bakery in Simsbury. This bakery is home to some wildly inconsistent breakfast sandwiches. We will see two options, one, a sad version, and a…
Chicken Taco, Milagro Cafe
On the search for the best taco in Connecticut brings us to Milagro Cafe in Stonington. There are a lot of warning signs to this place. First, the sign calls itself a ‘Modern Mexican’ restaurant. That could mean nothing, it…
Wings (Honey X-hot & Charlie), TK’s American Cafe
On the search for the best wings in Connecticut brings us to TK’s American Cafe in Danbury. The bar is a heavily influenced soccer bar. Even an official haunt of both the American Outlaws and the home of FC BAYERN…
Espresso (cortado), The Coffee Pedaler
On the search for the best espresso in Connecticut brings us to The Coffee Pedaler in New Haven. This little hole in the wall has odd hours, and it took a couple of trips to get here because some days…
Black Duck Burger, Black Duck Cafe
On the search for the best burger in Connecticut brings us to Black Duck Cafe in Westport. This waterside cafe is home to what some have called among the best burgers in CT, so I had to try it. This…
Donut, Lakeside Diner
On the search for the best donut in Connecticut brings us to Lakeside Diner in Stamford. This diner out on the far northern edge of Stamford is home to a very surprising donut. The Donut itself has a nice crispness…
Wings (Hot Buffalo), The Groggy Frogg
On the search for the best wings in Connecticut brings us to the Groggy Frogg in Southington. This proper-looking dive bar is very proud of their wings. and they have a bunch of flavors. 60-ish different flavors. Now granted some…
Meat, Egg, & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich, Goldberg’s Bagels
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in CT, as well as the best bagel in CT, brings us to Goldberg’s Bagels in Elmwood. The first thing I’ll say about the bagels are that they are weird. Normally, you…
Pizza (pepperoni), Modern Apizza
On the search for the best pizza in Connecticut brings us to Modern Apizza in New Haven. Pizza in Connecticut is top tier. It’s not until you leave the northeast and the few pockets around the U.S. (Chicago…) or some…
Bacon, Egg, & Cheese, Mr. Mac’s Canteen
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in Connecticut brings us to Mr. Mac’s Canteen in Milford and Monroe. The breakfast sandwich here is an extraordinarily standard breakfast sandwich. No special sauces, no special cooking techniques. So why is…
Triple B Burger, Artisanal Burger Co
On the search for the best burger in Connecticut brings us to Artisanal Burger Co in Manchester. This burger restaurant has a nice outdoor heated (standup space heaters) open-air patio, perfect for outdoor dining even when it gets cold. Also,…
Shrimp Taco, Tacos El Azteca
On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to Tacos el Azteca in Norwalk. This unassuming taco truck located in the parking lot of an auto body shop helps brings tacos to CT. The best of the…
Hot Chocolate, Taste by Spellbound
On the search for the best hot chocolate in Connecticut brings us to Taste by Spellbound in Elmwood (and Avon and South Windsor). So I have an issue with hot cocoa. It’s garbage. Cocoa is literally what’s leftover when you…
Hot Dog (with Sauce), Capitol Lunch
On the search for the best hot dog in Connecticut brings us to Capitol Lunch in New Britain. If you haven’t had the hot dog with sauce (sauce is mandatory) from Capitol Lunch you are missing out. It’s wonderful. Keep…
Chef Arepa (with Green Sauce), Valencia Luncheria
On the search for the best arepas in Connecticut brings us to Valencia Luncheria in Norwalk. I don’t like arepas. It’s mostly a problem with the cornmeal cake. Whenever I’ve had an arepa the cornmeal is mealy, breaking apart, and…
Shake Fries, BIRDCODE
On the search for the best french fries in Connecticut brings (back) to BIRDCODE in West Hartford. I think one thing we all as civilized people can agree on is that crinkle cut fries are garbage. The crisp on the…
Don’t Get the Hottest Wing Sauce
I used to be a cook. I’ve cooked at a few restaurants, and have close friends still in the restaurant world. Here’s something I’ve learned: Don’t get the hottest hot sauce. There are obviously some caveats here, but I will…
Buttercrunch (Milk Chocolate) & English Toffee (Milk Chocolate), Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe
On the search for the best chocolates in Connecticut brings us to Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe in Ridgefield. I asked for a collection of their absolute best chocolates that they made in the store. Some chocolate shops supplement their store-made…
Wings (Carolina Reaper), Cheek’s Chicken & Waffles
On the search for the best wings in Connecticut brings us to Cheek’s Chicken & Waffled in Manchester (and Wallingford). With a place called …Chicken & Waffles, I of course had to get the chicken & waffles. So all will…
Breakfast Sandwich (Egg, Ham, & Cheese, with hot sauce), Zoi’s
On the search for the best breakfast sandwich in Connecticut brings us to Zoi’s (pronounced Zoey’s) in New Haven. This yonic looking breakfast sandwich comes on a roll that at first seems too big for the sandwich. So when you…
Pork Belly Burnt Ends, Bears Smokehouse BBQ
I’ve already reviewed what I maintain is the best dish at Bear’s, the brisket from the fatty half. And while there are other dishes at Bear’s I could review, although I am less excited about them, there is one I…
Detroit Style Pizza, Christos Restaurant & Bar
On the search for the best pizza in Connecticut, in this case the best Detroit style pizza in CT, brings us to Christos Restaurant & Bar in Wallingford. So here’s the thing. I grew up in Detroit. Where I thought…
Black Bottom Cupcake, Sugar Bakery
On the search for the best cupcake in Connecticut brings us to Sugar Bakery in East Haven. I came for the Cannoli cupcake, which is their ‘signature’ cupcake and it seems what they are known for. Don’t get me wrong,…
Brisket (from the fatty half), Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ
On the search for the best BBQ in Connecticut brings us to Bears Smokehouse BBQ in Hartford. So there is a lot of food choices at Bear’s, and I’ve eaten almost all of it. But this post right here is…
Glazed Donut & Jelly Donut, Brooklyn Baking Co
On the search for the best donuts in Connecticut brings us to Brooklyn Baking Co in Waterbury. Embarrassingly, I can’t find the photos I took of the 2 donuts, so we’ll have to settle for a stock-ish photo from the…
Brisket, Taino Smokehouse
On the search for the best BBQ in Connecticut brings us to Taino Smokehouse in Middletown. This small store on the corner of a hardware store plaza is unassuming. But inside lies some of the best brisket in Connecticut. Brisket…
Pork Taco (an others), El Camion
On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to El Camion in Woodbury. First thing about these tacos is that all of them are covered in coleslaw. Not some lime-infused jalapeno coleslaw. But bring to your friends…
Pastor Taco (and others), Taqueria Mexico
On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to Taqueria Mexico in Wallingford. All of the tacos at this drive-up restaurant were on doubled-up corn tortillas. This is nice as it allows you to eat one shell,…
Pizza, BAR
On the search for the best pizza in Connecticut brings us to BAR in New Haven. BAR, it turns out, is actually a nightclub of sorts. They have a kitchen, and use their space to make pizza. Supposedly, this is…
The 30-day hot chocolate rule
Can you drink hot chocolate in the middle of August on a 100°F day? Of course you can, if you are a psychopath. This tells us something important: there is a time and place for hot chocolate. So now having…
Guava chili mango chocolates, Le Rouge Handmade Chocolates & Cakes by Aarti
On the search for the best chocolates in Connecticut brings us to Le Rouge Handmade Chocolates & Cakes by Aarti in Westport. So I love chocolates. Especially fancy chocolates. It’s not about being pretentious, plenty of chocolatey grocery store candy…
Pretzel Bites, Dew Drop Inn
On the search for the best wings in Connecticut brought us to Dew Drop Inn in Derby where we interestingly found maybe the best pretzels in Connecticut completely by accident. Dew Drop Inn, in Derby, sits right at the intersection…
On Coffee Shops and Fast Casual Restaurants
As I’ve been trying to locate the best coffee shops in Connecticut, I’ve come across a few that roast their own beans (e.g. J. Rene), some that use the roasted beans from other coffee shops (e.g. Dom’s coffee; using beans…
Pulled Pork & Wings, When Pigs Fly South
On the search for the best BBQ in Connecticut brings us to When Pigs Fly South (way) out in Sharon. This unassuming small storefront in Sharon is home to a blend of BBQ styles, given the owner’s Georgia heritage (chopped…
French Toast, Ken’s Corner Breakfast & Lunch
On the search for the best French toast in Connecticut brings us to Ken’s Corner Breakfast & Lunch in Glastonbury. This place is a proper diner, with a large flatgrill in the back responsible for cooking almost everything. Enough people…
Drinking Chocolate, Mystic River Chocolate Cafe
On The search for the best hot chocolate in Connecticut brings us to Mystic River Chocolate Cafe in Mystic. This cute little place nestled in an alcove seeps of class and elegance. The drinking chocolate is kept in a warm…
The Sando (hot), BIRDCODE
On the search for the best spicy chicken sandwich in Connecticut brings us to BIRDCODE in West Hartford. This sandwich comes in five levels of spiciness, country (just fried chicken), mild, medium, hot, and Code Breaker. Having been disappointed with…
Cider Donut, Lyman Orchards
On the search for the best donuts in Connecticut, and the best cider donuts in Connecticut, brings us to Lyman Orchards in Middlefield. Probably the most recognizable name for farm-related activities in CT, Lyman Orchards in 2020’s pandemic was much…
Support Black–Owned CT Restaurants
As we celebrate the diversity in Connecticut, one thing we can focus on is also supporting Black–owned Restaurants. Instead of providing just a comprehensive list here, it has already been done in a more comprehensive way by the folks at…
Al Pastor Taco, El Charrito
On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to El Charrito in Stamford. There were 3 tacos I tasted here, but the al Pastor taco was by far the star of the show. I’ll start by reviewing…
Cider Donut, Brown’s Harvest
On the search for the best donut in Connecticut, and the best cider donut in Connecticut, brings us to Brown’s Harvest in Windsor. These bite-sized donuts come in bags of a dozen or so, which is not good for any…
The Nashville Hot, The Tasty Yolk
On the search for the best spicy chicken sandwich in Connecticut brings us to The Tasty Yolk in Bridgeport. This spicy chicken sandwich, called the Nashville Hot, is huge. Its size comes entirely from the chicken, which is the fattest…
Cider Donut, Rogers Orchards
On the search for the best donut in Connecticut, as well as the best cider donut in Connecticut, brings us to Rogers Orchards in Southington. This donut is quite dry, with the cake being a little lite on flavor. Which…
BEC Taco, Taco Daddy
Taco Daddy is Now Out of Business On the search for the best tacos in Connecticut brings us to Taco Daddy in Stamford. The tacos here are good, nothing great, however. I’ll include a little mini-review of all of them…
Cider Donut, Beardsley’s Cider Mill & Orchard
On the search for the best donut in Connecticut, and the best cider donut in CT, brings us to Beardsley’s Cider Mill & Orchard in Shelton. The cake here is super moist (yeah, I said it) and dusted in cinnamon…
Cheeseburger, Sycamore Drive-In
On the search for the best burger in Connecticut brings us to Sycamore Drive-In in Bethel. It is hard to describe this place. You pull up, and flash your headlights. Then, maybe someone comes out to you, maybe you go…
Cider donut, Clyde’s Cider Mill
On the search for the best donut in Connecticut, and the best cider donut, brings us to Clyde’s Cider Mill in Mystic. This place is amazing, with an authentic old-timey cider press that is in constant operation. They use the…
Cider Donut, Blue Jay Orchards
On the search for the best donut in Connecticut, as well as the best cider donut in Connecticut brings us to Blue Jay Orchards in Bethel. The first thing you notice about these Donuts are they are heavy. They literally…
The Ratings – Explained
For all foods we will be rating them on a 1-10 scale. Here is how to interpret the ratings. 1-1.5: Dangerous and/or unsafe (bone app the teeth!) 2-2.5: Disgusting, it is getting spat out. 3-3.5: Horrible, can not finish. 4-4.5:…
Eat This CT is Live!
Welcome to Eat This CT! This website is dedicated to finding and sharing the best foods in Connecticut. When I moved here last year, I went on the search for a food reviewer I could trust to find the best…