OT: Great Restaurant Dishes Throughout CT | Page 3 | The Boneyard

OT: Great Restaurant Dishes Throughout CT

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I've actually bought 12 to 15 subs from Franklin giant for $300, froze them, put them in a carry on and took them home with me . I usually have 8 yo 10 family members waiting for me (their waiting for the subs) when I get back from CT.
 
Franklin Giants Meatball & oven baked Chicken Cutlet are my two favorite grinders in CT.

Mine is the Capacola at Italian Kitchen in Manchester. I was a bit worried when I heard that the original owner retired, but the new owner made the transition as well as KO made his.
 
Lamb meatballs at Gusto in Milford. The San marzano tomatoes in the sauce make the dish.

Also love the lobster roll at Glenwood in Hamden.
 
My absolute favorite dish is Frutti Di Mare. Any time it's on the menu I order it. The best one by far is served at Testo's down in Bridgeport. They have a great sauce and I have them make it Fra diavolo. This dish can literally feed 3 grown men. It's great the next day.

Testo's has always been my favorite!
 
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YEP. My parents' house is about 5 minutes from the Shady Glenn in Manchester (I feel like there are two?), and I used to go there all the time in high school.



I went there for the first time a few years ago and found absolutely nothing notable about the burger. It's a cool place to go for the history, but it's nothing special. My dad is from upstate NY (Rochester), and the best burger I've ever had is from Bill Gray's in Irondequoit. Man alive, was that delicious.
I'm from Rochester and Bill Gray's is good. What's even better is the burger at Orbaker's right down Rt. 104 in Sodus.

I agree on Louis' burgers. Supposedly invented there, though that's up for debate, and ridiculously overrated.
 
I went there for the first time a few years ago and found absolutely nothing notable about the burger. It's a cool place to go for the history, but it's nothing special. My dad is from upstate NY (Rochester), and the best burger I've ever had is from Bill Gray's in Irondequoit. Man alive, was that delicious.[/quote]

Yeah I didn't think Louis' lunch was any big deal either
 
I'm going with the Hot and Spicy Chicken from Saigon Kitchen in downtown Hartford.

It's a different sauce than a General Tso's. It's a dumpy little place. It's cheap. But there's a line out the door and 9 out of 10 people in line are getting it. Used to destroy an order a couple times a week when I worked downtown.
 
I admit I'm a bit of a New Haven foodie so that's where I'll concentrate but I have a few others...

Shredded duck quesadillas at Pacifico in New Haven
Any burger at Prime 16 in New Haven or Orange
Anything at Caseus in New Haven -- especially their daily specials
The ridiculously huge nachos at Willimantic Brewing Company (the one thing I miss about living in northeastern CT)
Pulled pork nachos at Eli Cannon's in Middletown
Any mole dish at Mezcal in New Haven
Others have mentioned it, but I agree with the chicken tikkala marsala at Haveli in Middletown
Chicken (or anything) rendant at Bentara in New Haven
Anything at Cora Cora in Hartford -- really good Peruvian food
The sampler at Tata's in Wallingford - Amazing Puerto Rican sampler
Anything at Tikkaway Grill in New Haven -- not a usual "dish" but more of a take-out place like Chipotle but for Indian. THIS PLACE IS AMAZING.
Imperial Haddock at Burton's Grill in South Windsor
Shrimp vindaloo at India Palace in New Haven -- though it will melt your face off
Lamb chops at Adriana's in New haven

I think that's about all I have right now.
 
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I admit I'm a bit of a New Haven foodie so that's where I'll concentrate but I have a few others...

Shredded duck quesadillas at Pacifico in New Haven
Any burger at Prime 16 in New Haven or Orange
Anything at Caseus in New Haven -- especially their daily specials
The ridiculously huge nachos at Willimantic Brewing Company (the one thing I miss about living in northeastern CT)
Pulled pork nachos at Eli Cannon's in Middletown
Any mole dish at Mezcal in New Haven
Others have mentioned it, but I agree with the chicken tikkala marsala at Haveli in Middletown
Chicken (or anything) rendant at Bentara in New Haven
Anything at Cora Cora in Hartford -- really good Peruvian food
The sampler at Tata's in Wallingford - Amazing Puerto Rican sampler
Anything at Tikkaway Grill in New Haven -- not a usual "dish" but more of a take-out place like Chipotle but for Indian. THIS PLACE IS AMAZING.
Imperial Haddock at Burton's Grill in South Windsor
Shrimp vindaloo at India Palace in New Haven -- though it will melt your face off
Lamb chops at Adriana's in New haven

I think that's about all I have right now.


New Haven is just a fantastic small city from a culinary standpoint.
 
I'm going with the Hot and Spicy Chicken from Saigon Kitchen in downtown Hartford.

It's a different sauce than a General Tso's. It's a dumpy little place. It's cheap. But there's a line out the door and 9 out of 10 people in line are getting it. Used to destroy an order a couple times a week when I worked downtown.
Oh, that reminds me...the gyro platter from the Turkish place next door to Saigon Kitchen is fantastic...and cheap.
 
Another gem: Chicken Scarpariello Sub at Little Italy in Wallingford.
 
The chicken cutlet at Wethersfield Pizza is incredibly good. The give you so much chicken you can easily make two or three grinders out of it.
I forgot about them, they will ship to florida for an extra charge, my second favorite after franklin giant.
 
The best sub in New haven used to be at Forbes Market. Line would form out the door

For a hot dog, fried clams experience, Jimmy's of Savin Rock (pre-franchise) in West Haven was amazing. It wasn't just food, it was an event. I think you have to be on the north side of 55 to remember it.
 
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Jeez. That is like the 5th great review on that place I've seen. My office in Centerbrook is exactly one mile from there. (and I also do the IT and ticketing system for Ivoryton Playhouse in my "spare" time which is pretty much across the street) I have not been there yet! Might take family there tomorrow night since I don't have a gig until Toads on Saturday. Love the southern cooking!

Hey A-West...Norm is my boss. If you don't get to the Cookery, I have been twice and leave happy. Matt, the owner, opened in November. Started out as BYOB and since got permission to serve liquor tho I think he is just doing beer and wine. Could be wrong. If you don't get there I need to try the chicken so PM me. We'll meet up.
 
Anybody ever try The Place, outdoor fire-pits, in Guilford? Heard it's a local treasure. Unique.
 
Dove said:
Hey A-West...Norm is my boss. If you don't get to the Cookery, I have been twice and leave happy. Matt, the owner, opened in November. Started out as BYOB and since got permission to serve liquor tho I think he is just doing beer and wine. Could be wrong. If you don't get there I need to try the chicken so PM me. We'll meet up.

Norm is my boss too ( if you are speaking aboutthe first selectman :-) Only one guy in Essex who can go by just a first name. I work for his private company ( IT)
 
Anybody ever try The Place, outdoor fire-pits, in Guilford? Heard it's a local treasure. Unique.
We used to go a few times a season as a summer ritual when we lived in New Haven, and even after moving to the shoreline we still went every now and again. Now we go maybe once a summer, if that.

The food is very good and the atmosphere is fun and very rustic, to put it mildly. You sit on tree stumps, it's BYOB and bug spray is often required. IMO is a good deal more expensive than it should be, and when you're fighting off bugs, sitting on a hard stump, and looking at a Walmart across Route 1 traffic, it can become a lot less of a treasure and seem more like a tourist trap.

That said, with the right attitude and the right people, it can be a blast, and the fire roasting does a good job of imparting a unique taste. The BBQ roasted littleneck clams are a must--very addictive and very fresh. The roasted corn and roasted 1 1/2 pound lobster round out my order. I get the same thing every time because it's what I think they do best, but they have steak and chicken, too, and both are very good. Again, none of it is cheap though.
 
GemParty said:
Anybody ever try The Place, outdoor fire-pits, in Guilford? Heard it's a local treasure. Unique.

We've been a few times. Great spot but the food isn't anything to write home about. Not that it's bad -- they do what they do really well -- but it's nothing you couldn't do at home. Its just like having a big cookout. It's good for a large group where you byob and socialize.
 
Anything at Tikkaway Grill in New Haven -- not a usual "dish" but more of a take-out place like Chipotle but for Indian. THIS PLACE IS AMAZING.

I like Tikkaway and think it's a great concept. I haven't eaten there enough yet (only twice) to nominate it to the great restaurant dish list, but the Mulligatawny I had on my first visit was excellent.

Today I was reminded of one of my favorites across the street from Tikkaway, at Mediterranea. Although the place is most famous for its evening hookah business, and most of the lunch crowd seems to get their pizza slices, my favorite dish is their Foul Muddamas, a very simple, flavorful and filling dish comprised of fava beans, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice. I go there just for that, at least twice a month.
 
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Chicken Parm at Abate's on Wooster Street was the best chicken parm I've ever had. I went on a chicken parm kick for about two years trying to find the best in CT.

Spicy Rice at El Sombereo's in Southington. My town, love that place. Put anything on top of spicy rice and it's the best dish they have.
Chicken Parm at Lo Monico's in Branford is stellar… Pounded very thin (always a must) & a delicious sauce… Great side salad (also a must)… Many other great italian dished there, as well
 
After ll this marginal food chat, we need a thread describing the crappers in these restaurants. Some of them are shall we say primitive. That's something worthwhile to hilite!
 
After all this marginal food chat, we need a thread describing the crappers in these restaurants. Some of them are shall we say primitive. That's something worthwhile to hilite!
Lord help any guy who needs to use the crapper at Eli Cannon's.
 
The paella at Costa del Sol, south end of Hartford.
I had it on a Valentine's Day evening in 1995. I still think of that dish to this day. The other dish, not so much.
 
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