Max Fish - 110 Glastonbury Blvd, Glastonbury
The best Max yet. The food, staff, design, layout and attitude raise the bar for the competition, even the Max brothers and sisters. A seafood-chic spot with a staff of vintage servers and eager young crowd pleasers. 860-652-3474
Char Koon - 882 Main St., Glastonbury
A tiny Asian fusion hideaway that’s earned a well-deserved reputation for surprisingly good food at low prices. 860-657-3656
2 Hopewell - 2 Hopewell Rd., Glastonbury
A very cute new country bistro that serves foods with a very creative, contemporary-American flair. The energetic owners are on top of every detail in the crisply decorated dining areas and schedule live music in the downstairs bar. 860-633-9600
J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks - 185 Glastonbury Blvd., Glastonbury
A well-disguised, local-acting, small chain operation where absolutely everything is top of the line including the signature mesquite grilled steaks and just-perfect fresh fish. Add fireplaces and a happening bar and, as they claim, “food and place come together.” As it does in most restaurants, I suppose. It’s just a much more perfect union here. 860-659-0409
Pazzo Italian Cafe - 60 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury
This is a down-to-earth family-operated place that serves big portions of straightforward Italian dishes and Panini with bracing flavors, fresh ingredients at affordable prices and has a b.y.o.b. policy. Isn’t it amazing that all of these things are such a rarity these days? 860-657-3447
top
O’Rourke’s - 728 Main St., Middletown
One of the most famous diners in the U.S. and a much-loved local treasure where you often stand in line outside to get a seat for your gourmet breakfast hash or their famous steamed burger. 860-346-6101
Eli Cannon‘s Tap Room - 695 Main St., Middletown
An “old-school NYC-style pub” with the best selection of beers in CT plus burgers wings and pub grub that draws applause from fans that include bikers, the blue collared, white collared and soiled-collar college kids. 860-347-3547
Mikado Japanese Restaurant - 3 Melilli Plaza, Middletown
An eclectic menu that smoothly segues from top-notch sushi to a list of entrees offering choices from China to Tibet. You can go there any day and they have exactly what you were thinking about having. 860-346-6655
Luce - 98 Washington St., Middletown
A luscious raw bar styled by the NYC-transplant owner with a menu ranging from a variety of Tuscan takes on ravioli and pasta standards to huge killer steaks. You know if you can make it anywhere why not Middletown. 860-344-0222
Firehouse - 412 Main St., Middletown
An Impressive conversion of a landmark retail building with a great sports bar upstairs and a casual restaurant below. So it separates the men from the boys, women from the girls and sandwiches from comfort food. 860-347-4440
It’s Only Natural - 386 Main St., Middletown
Most veggivores consider this the best vegan restaurant in New England. Converts, critics and explorers enjoy the colorful, flavor-filled plates virtuoso vegan chef Mark Shadle creates in his kitchen everyday. 860-346-9210
Forbidden City - 335 Main St., Middletown
A big Asian fusion operation that exudes poise and confidence, as well as white linen and a far ranging in-tune menu — that’s a cut above the wanabees. 860-343-8288
First and Last - 220 Main St., Middletown
A splendid rendition of the Hartford classic. They stick to what they do well which is basically Italian comfort, pizza and salads, along with tasty chowders and a big raw bar selection. 860-347-2220
Harry’s Place - 104 Broadway, Colchester
Starting in 1920, Shoreline day-trippers have flocked to the “Hall of Fame” — Ruby Cohen’s eatery Harry’s Place on Broadway — with “Summer Wind” and “Surfin’ Safari” blaring. It’s so retro, it’s still hip. Burgers squeezed into compact beef baseballs, slammed on the grill and mashed. Juice soaks your paper plate that’s already curled by curly fries and, with lobster bisque in the other hand you slide into a picnic table. Home run!! 860-537-2410
top
River Tavern - 23 Main St., Chester
Only a few choices, but all right. The right steak, right fish, the right new global influence (Malaysian) the right spices, the right sauces and sides. Can’t go wrong here. The wine bar offers a little more latitude, but retains the same penchant for precision. 860-526-9417
Pilot House (Haddam) - 1364 Saybrook Rd., Haddam
An authentic, seasonal drive-in hot dog stand where you can eat your dog and fries on the distressed picnic tables or in your car, where dogs always taste better.
860-345-2945
Lupo - 189 Middlesex Ave., Glastonbury
A surprising spot in an out-of the way little shopping plaza that gives us lip-smacking Big Bites, Little Bites and Baby Bites. The neat little bar up front regularly draws sophisticated grown-ups, with apparently no bites. 860-526-4400
Gelston House - 8 Main St., East Haddam
Come by land, river, or sea, the stately Victorian Gelston House, set above the River in East Haddam village, is a must visit. The menu is a European potpourri complemented by river sunsets, handsome bar and sink-in sofas. Life is still good! 860-873-1441
top
Copper Beech Inn and Pip Brasserie - 46 Main St., Ivoryton
Crisp linens, a rose on each table, and marvelous French cuisine for those special occasions when you want to feel like a better person. At the brasserie, can you imagine drinks with chutney, compotes or complex reductions from the cocktail chef? 860-767-0330
The Griswold Inn - 36 Main St., Essex
“The Gris” is one of only few New England restaurants of this old colonial genre that has been able to transcend its time and stay relevant (and stay in business) decades after most have shut their doors and become museums and Chart Houses. 860-767-0330
The Black Seal - 15 Main St., Essex
It looks a little like an old ship that’s battled rough seas but without fail offers up jolly good chowders, fresh fish salads and sandwiches with the steady hand you’d expect from an experienced captain; and a steady flow of jolly good cheer from a bar that’s home port for boaters and their mates. 860-767-0233
Gabrielle’s - 78 Main St., Centerbrook
What’s not to like? Fried oysters, stuffed quail, casual Italian, friendly, casual, consistent, great drinks and reasonable prices. Gabrielle’s has a big crowd of avid fans who refuse to go almost anywhere else. Tough habit to break. 860-767-2440
top
|
