Connecticut Foodnotes » Restaurant Reviews

Review: 4 stars “Special,” Backstage, Torrington

Philip Innes — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:34:20 +0000

I have a real weakness for upscale comfort food. The increased popularity of this kind of food just might be the only good thing that came out of 9-11. The term can refer to old standards reimagined, or just executed really well. What are possible hallmarks of an upscale comfort food menu?[...]

Review: 4½ stars “Special,” Treva, West Hartford

Jonathan Braverman — Sat, 21 May 2011 14:32:56 +0000

Our grapevine reaches into every nook and cranny of Connecticut. We’re always scouring the state for what’s new and good. Recently, the name Treva has come tripping off the tongues of chefs and foodies whose opinions we respect.[...]

Bar Americain, Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino, Uncasville

Frank Cohen — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:31:07 +0000

Used in equal measure, words and photographs rarely work well together. They tend to vie for the attention of [...]

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, West Hartford

Jonathan Braverman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:32:53 +0000

I have held Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in West Hartford in high esteem even longer than it has been open. How, you may ask, is that possible? [...]

Avon Old Farms Inn, Avon

Jonathan Braverman — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:49:19 +0000

4 Stars... Special

Something New Is Afoot At Avon Old Farms Inn

There has been a tendency in some of Connecticut’s most storied inns to serve less than spectacular food. A couple of these, in towns like Wilton and Wallingford, have recently closed, one a presumed casualty of a constricting economy or a failure to maintain its connection with the dining public, the other due to a fire. Others, like the Spinning Wheel Inn in Redding Ridge, have been retooling, making an effort to elevate their game. I visited Avon Old Farms Inn, without doubt one of Connecticut’s most appealing dining venues, to determine [...]

Ibiza Restaurant, New Haven

Philip Innes — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:24:10 +0000

5 Stars... Extraordinary

Ibiza Restaurant In New Haven—A Personal Favorite

Restaurant critics aren’t supposed to play favorites... But at some point, as every possible critical plaudit or testimonial of adulation is accrued by Ibiza Restaurant in New Haven, I don’t feel as if I’m revealing a bias in stating that it’s my favorite Connecticut restaurant; rather, I’m joining the groundswell of approval.

Still River Café, Eastford

Jonathan Braverman — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:09:36 +0000

5 Stars... Extraordinary

Still River Café Runs Deep

One of Connecticut’s most intriguing, and cutting-edge, restaurants is Still River Café, located improbably in the town of Eastford. Frankly, I sometimes wonder how this restaurant survives its isolated location. From any significant city, it’s a substantial trip (it’s just 15 minutes from Storrs). But the fact that Still River Café not only survives but thrives is a tribute to the extraordinary dining experience it provides. Although I live more than an hour away from the restaurant, I have made the trek three times, and undoubtedly will do so again.

Le Petit Café, Branford

Philip Innes — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:48:14 +0000

Le Petit Cafe cuisine: Contemporary French four course prix-fixe: $48.50 address: 225 Montowese Street, Branford phone: (203) 483-9791 credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express 5 Stars… Extraordinary Good things come in small packages As foreseen by Alvin Toffler of Future Shock in 1970, the modern trend has been toward miniaturization. Calculators, cameras, computers and other [...]

Winvian, Morris

Philip Innes — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:29:52 +0000

Winvian cuisine:Contemporary French prix-fixe dinner: $85 address: 155 Alain White Road, Morris phone: (860) 393-3004 credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express 5 Stars… Extraordinary Away from it all A faithful reader of my reviews for RestaurantsCT.com might draw the conclusion that I tend to like every restaurant I visit. Nothing could be further from the [...]

Craftsteak, MGM Grand At Foxwoods, Mashantucket

Philippe Montblanc — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:47:02 +0000

Craftsteak MGM Grand at Foxwoods cuisine: Steakhouse entrées: $20 – $110 address: 240 MGM Grand Drive, Mashantucket phone: 860-312-7272 credit cards: all major 5 Stars… Extraordinary I’m endlessly amazed at the gains made each year by Connecticut’s restaurant scene. Of course, most new eateries go into existing restaurant spaces. Consequently, the total number of restaurants [...]

Harry’s Bishop’s Corner, West Hartford

Jonathan Braverman — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:36:54 +0000

Harry’s Bishop’s Corner cuisine: New Haven-style Pizza pizzas: $9.25 – $23 address: 732 North Main Street, West Hartford phone: (860) 236-0400 credit cards: All major 4 1/2 Stars… Special When Harry’s Met Sally’s: A Paean to New Haven-Style Pizza One of the best relationship movies ever made was When Harry Met Sally, which featured Billy [...]

Grants, West Hartford

Jonathan Braverman — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:41:00 +0000

Grants cuisine: Contemporary American entrées: $18 – $32 address: 977 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford phone: (860) 236-1930 credit cards: All major 5 Stars… Extraordinary Publisher’s Forward Bob DeZinno bob@restaurantsct.com This is the first time I have piped in before one of our site’s expertly written restaurant reviews; I might again, I might not. RestaurantsCT.com is [...]

Bocca, East Haven

Philip Innes — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:57:28 +0000

Restaurant Bocca cuisine: Italian entrées: $15.95-$23.95 address: 190 Main Street, East Haven phone: (203) 467-9498 credit cards: All major 4 Stars… Special As a restaurant critic of fourteen years, I have consistently refrained from criticizing restaurants for their high prices. I have always considered meal prices a self-limiting problem. A restaurant that charges excessive prices [...]

SolToro Tequila Grill, Uncasville

Philippe Montblanc — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:02:29 +0000

SolToro Tequila Grill cuisine: Contemporary Mexican entrées: $11.95 – $24.95 address: 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville phone: (860) 862-4800 credit cards: All major 4 Stars… Special Connecticut’s once-dismal Mexican food scene has made tremendous strides in the new millennium. It may still fall far short of a Mexican restaurant paradise like Chicago, but the improvement [...]

Dominican Chimi, Groton

Philippe Montblanc — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:07:17 +0000

Dominican Chimi cuisine: Dominican entrées: $7.99 – $13.99 address: 110 Poquonock Road, Groton phone: (860) 449-8551 credit cards: All major 3 1/2 Stars… Recommended I have just as great a passion for authentic, home-style, ethnic food as I do for the high-falutin’ creations of our state’s top chefs. Of course, much of what passes for [...]

Coco Bongo’s, Ridgefield (Closed)

Philip Innes — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:09:58 +0000

Coco Bongo’s (Closed) cuisine: Nuevo Latino entrées: $19 – $29 address: 37 Ethan Allen Highway, Ridgefield phone: (203) 544-0059 credit cards: All major 4 Stars… Special Few restaurant names give one a clearer idea what sort of food one might encounter than Coco Bongo’s in Ridgefield. The name sounds festive, tropical, even silly. It also [...]

Abalone, Stratford (Closed)

Philip Innes — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:12:18 +0000

Abalone (Closed) cuisine: French entrées: $11.75 – $24 address: 595 Main Street, Stratford phone: (203) 375-7400 credit cards: All major 4 Stars… Special These are increasingly difficult times for restaurants. The economy seems clearly headed to recession (if it’s not there already), restaurant advertising has fallen off, there have been a number of unexpected closings [...]

Jack’s Saybrook Steak, Old Saybrook (Closed)

Philippe Montblanc — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:14:34 +0000

Jack’s Saybrook Steak (Closed) cuisine: Steakhouse entrées: $18.50 – $40 address: 286 Main Street, Old Saybrook phone: (860) 395-1230 credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express 4 1/2 Stars… Special With little fanfare but growing legions of fans, Jack Flaws has established himself as one of the most respected chefs on Connecticut’s eastern shoreline. That shouldn’t [...]

Dish Bar & Grill, Hartford

Jonathan Braverman — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:18:22 +0000

Dish Bar & Grill cuisine: Contemporary American entrées: $18 – $40 address: 900 Main Street, Hartford phone: (860) 249-3474 (249-DISH) credit cards: All major 4 1/2 stars… Special It’s an exciting time to be around Hartford these days. Our capital city has made great strides of late, and with a little more work on parking [...]

Bistro Du Glace, Deep River (Closed)

Philippe Montblanc — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:20:57 +0000

Bistro du Glace (Closed) cuisine: French bistro entrées: $16 – $29 address: 158 Main Street, Deep River phone: (860) 526-2200 credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express 4 1/2 stars… Special Food writers wax poetic about the classic French bistro, but in recent years, that beloved institution has been on the wane in Connecticut. Some have [...]