Hartford Area Hidden Lunch Gems? | Page 5 | The Boneyard

Hartford Area Hidden Lunch Gems?

8893 said:
One thing I have yet to find is good Middle Eastern food in the Hartford area. I usually do Middle Eastern for lunch at least once a week, frequently twice. Anyone got any good recs in the Hartford area?
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Having married into a large Lebanese family from the Fall River area I can safely say “no”. Sultan’s in Waterbury is decent.

*Edit — forgot about Zohara in West Hartford center. Also decent.
 
Excalibur said:
Having married into a large Lebanese family from the Fall River area I can safely say “no”. Sultan’s in Waterbury is decent.
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I am in Waterbury often. Will check them out, thanks.

My favorites in New Haven area are Mediterranea downtown on Orange Street and Bab Al Salam in Orange. I believe both are Syrian, which appears to be my preference as among different takes on Middle Eastern cuisine. Although they are both quite different from each other.
 
I liked Zaytoon's on Park Rd. Not as greasy as some places, like my Lebanese girlfriend used to cook, but that was in the late 70s.

Owned by Jordanians with at least 2 very attractive young women working there.
 
8893 said:
I am in Waterbury often. Will check them out, thanks.

My favorites in New Haven area are Mediterranea downtown on Orange Street and Bab Al Salam in Orange. I believe both are Syrian, which appears to be my preference as among different takes on Middle Eastern cuisine. Although they are both quite different from each other.
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Syrian and Lebanese are closest to each other. I do like Mediterranea but have never tried Bab Al Salam. Next door to Sultans is Dunya, a market and falafel shop if you’re just passing through. Good falafel, but their bread and zhatar are just ok.


My in-laws own Sam’s Bakery in Fall River. Highly recommend if you are passing through there. Meat pies, spinach/broccoli with feta, grape leaves, the best hummus in the northeast, and amazing bread.
 
Caronimo said:
Mickey’s - east hartford
Hot oven panini - West Hartford
Cornerstone - Hartford
Franklin Giant Grinder- Hartford
Shady Glen- Manchester if feel like driving that far
Augie n Rays - East Hartford
Harry’s Pizza -West Hartford bishops corner
Black Bamboo- West Hartford
Carl’s- East Hartford

Honestly we’ll need a bears stop in there despite not being hidden.
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Wow shadey glen! That place has been there as long as I have been alive, which is a few months shy of 70 years. Used to go there with my mom as a little tot. Franklin Giant has been around forever as well. I try explaining to people here in Europe what a real sandwich is by describing the grinders at Franklin giant. Over here it’s ridiculous the puny sandwiches they make.
 
Just went on my first of many trips to all of the hidden gems listed above. Tried the italian style chicken cutlet grinder at Wethersfield Pizza. Thanks to whoever said it was cash only, I almost forgot! Grinder lived up to the hype, solid 8.5/10. Very filling and the sauce was very good. The couple that owns it was very friendly as well. Overall will definitely be out there again.
 
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Mokum said:
Wow shadey glen! That place has been there as long as I have been alive, which is a few months shy of 70 years. Used to go there with my mom as a little tot. Franklin Giant has been around forever as well. I try explaining to people here in Europe what a real sandwich is by describing the grinders at Franklin giant. Over here it’s ridiculous the puny sandwiches they make.
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Do Europeans find it confusing when you tell them “if you want a real Italian sandwhich, you gotta go to the South End of Hartford, Connecticut”
 
dannyHAM said:
Just went on my first of many trips to all of the hidden gems listed above. Tried the italian style chicken cutlet grinder at Wethersfield Pizza. Thanks to whoever said it was cash only, I almost forgot! Grinder lived up to the hype, solid 8.5/10. Very filling and the sauce was very good. The couple that owns it was very friendly as well. Overall will definitely be out there again.
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Interesting thing I’ve always found about CT Italian food (and I was reminded of this with this thread and the pizza thread): I believe the New Haven area has better pizza, but I believe greater Hartford has the better grinders.
 
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dannyHAM said:
Just went on my first of many trips to all of the hidden gems listed above. Tried the italian style chicken cutlet grinder at Wethersfield Pizza. Thanks to whoever said it was cash only, I almost forgot! Grinder lived up to the hype, solid 8.5/10. Very filling and the sauce was very good. The couple that owns it was very friendly as well. Overall will definitely be out there again.
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Nice. Agree on all; but you must get back there for the minestrone now that it is in season. Even if you get a grinder, get the soup to bring home. She only sells it in fall and winter and it is always slightly different, but always excellent. Hands down the best minestrone I've ever had from a restaurant, because it tastes like the best homemade soup. I think even @Hans Sprungfeld would approve.
 
8893 said:
Nice. Agree on all; but you must get back there for the minestrone now that it is in season. Even if you get a grinder, get the soup to bring home. She only sells it in fall and winter and it is always slightly different, but always excellent. Hands down the best minestrone I've ever had from a restaurant, because it tastes like the best homemade soup. I think even @Hans Sprungfeld would approve.
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I saw a sign for it when I was there today. The grinder was huge so I didn't even consider getting the minestrone, but ill check it out next time. Thanks for the heads up!
 
Guapo said:
Do Europeans find it confusing when you tell them “if you want a real Italian sandwhich, you gotta go to the South End of Hartford, Connecticut”
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I wonder what a European thinks a “Franklin Giant Grinder” is.
 
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Shady Glen is definitely an old school joint. Cheese hat is original, but frozen burgers?
Nice ice cream.
 
8893 said:
Nice. Agree on all; but you must get back there for the minestrone now that it is in season. Even if you get a grinder, get the soup to bring home. She only sells it in fall and winter and it is always slightly different, but always excellent. Hands down the best minestrone I've ever had from a restaurant, because it tastes like the best homemade soup. I think even @Hans Sprungfeld would approve.
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Back to the Chicken Cutlet Grinder, sauce and cheese or the American style? Both sound great. Also, do any of their salads stand out?
 
Huskybass said:
Back to the Chicken Cutlet Grinder, sauce and cheese or the American style? Both sound great. Also, do any of their salads stand out?
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They both look fire but sounds like the sauce and cheese is their famous one. I plan on trying both!
 
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Huskybass said:
Back to the Chicken Cutlet Grinder, sauce and cheese or the American style? Both sound great. Also, do any of their salads stand out?
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I have only had it with sauce, and salad is not on my agenda when I go there so I can't speak to that.
 
TerryBoyz said:
I haven't seen any recommendations for Sushi. Probably validating what I have thought for quite some time...nothing good around Hartford area. It's been awhile but I did like Toshi in Avon but a good drive from Hartford.
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I like Ginza in Bloomfield and Wethersfield. Same ownership as Feng.
 
Huskybass said:
Back to the Chicken Cutlet Grinder, sauce and cheese or the American style? Both sound great. Also, do any of their salads stand out?
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tenor.gif
 
Was going to try Wethersfield Pizza House today but ended up at Hot Table in Glastonbury. Wow those were some good Sandwich/ Panini's. Doesn't fit the mold of a "hidden gem" but it's definitely in the 8-9/10 range for a Panini type sandwich.
 
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Caronimo said:
Was going to try Wethersfield Pizza House today but ended up at Hot Table in Glastonbury. Wow those were some good Sandwich/ Panini's. Doesn't fit the mold of a "hidden gem" but it's definitely in the 8-9/10 range for a Panini type sandwich.
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Agree 100%
 
Caronimo said:
Was going to try Wethersfield Pizza House today but ended up at Hot Table in Glastonbury. Wow those were some good Sandwich/ Panini's. Doesn't fit the mold of a "hidden gem" but it's definitely in the 8-9/10 range for a Panini type sandwich.
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They are a quick, satisfying lunch. Hard to do better for fast casual.
 
Caronimo said:
Was going to try Wethersfield Pizza House today but ended up at Hot Table in Glastonbury. Wow those were some good Sandwich/ Panini's. Doesn't fit the mold of a "hidden gem" but it's definitely in the 8-9/10 range for a Panini type sandwich.
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Thanks for pointing out something right under my nose. is it in the same plaza as Bertucci's ?
 
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Huskybass said:
Thanks for pointing out something right under my nose. is it in the same plaza as Bertucci's ?
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Yea it is. MexiPho right next door isn't too bad either.
 
Forgot to mention I also went to Tangiers this week. Excellent falafel wrap. I’m not even sure what the heck I ordered exactly but it was good.

Another spot I hit up was Cheshire pizza (outside of the Hartford criteria) but I’m goving the buffalo chicken pizza an 8.8.... not sure how the cheese one is (probably a 7) but I was told buffalo chicken only. It’s a Greek style and change of pace from all the thin crust.
 
Caronimo said:
Forgot to mention I also went to Tangiers this week. Excellent falafel wrap. I’m not even sure what the heck I ordered exactly but it was good.

Another spot I hit up was Cheshire pizza (outside of the Hartford criteria) but I’m goving the buffalo chicken pizza an 8.8.... not sure how the cheese one is (probably a 7) but I was told buffalo chicken only. It’s a Greek style and change of pace from all the thin crust.
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Can we get a pic?
 
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