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Restaurant review: You don't have to be a fat cat to dine at the Fat Cat

 June 13, 2013; Updated: 12:16 am

In a strip mall in Norwich is a very fine restaurant - Fat Cat Grill & Bar - and the food is not only really good, it's just a pleasant, clean, nicely designed place to hang out.

These two brothers understand recipe for success

 June 6, 2013; Updated: 12:58 pm

About 4,000 people live in Salem, and I think I met most of them on a recent Friday night visit to 2 Brothers Restaurant & Pub.
Before sitting at a booth, however, I had to navigate the confusing...

The redoubtable 84 High Street has morphed into 84 Tavern on Canal

 May 30, 2013; Updated: 7:03 pm

The Westerly dining staple 84 High Street Café has moved around the corner and become 84 Tavern on Canal, and along the way, it seems to have lost a bit of its identity.
With its small dining...

Tuck in at Oliver's Taverne

 May 23, 2013; Updated: 12:14 am

Know what's better than a tavern? A taverne. There's something about that extra "e" that says "beer, grog, stew, warmth, repeat."

Norm's: Diner fare for the long-term fan

 May 16, 2013; Updated: 5:07 pm

In 1983 I was sitting in a diner in Odessa, Texas. It was about 3 a.m. or so, and I was buying Carlos Cavazo breakfast. Even though he was the guitarist for Quiet Riot, who were on their first national tour behind the "Mental as...

Restaurant review: A superior experience at the Weekapaug Inn

 May 9, 2013; Updated: 1:39 pm

The public is welcomed heartily, not only to enjoy a cocktail or a meal, but to wander around the inn's common spaces, sit a spell by the fireplace, or take in the sweeping view from the second floor deck.

Illiano’s makes it easy to grab good pizza

 May 2, 2013; Updated: 1:28 pm

For some, like me, it isn't home until I find Ye Ole Reliable Pizza Place - the sort of institution that makes the same tasty pie over and over again, and it never changes, no matter who makes it. That's right: Aside from proximity to a...

Golf course food on par with fine dining

 April 25, 2013; Updated: 11:56 am

The first hint that the Wood River Golf Course is full of surprises is the name of the restaurant: 11th Green Restaurant and Pub.
Aren't the pubs at golf courses called the 19th hole?

Rustic Cafe, where small is beautiful

 April 18, 2013; Updated: 1:52 pm

You've been in shoe boxes larger than the Rustic Cafe in East Lyme. That's okay; the folks there like it that way.
Yes, with its cheery blonde wood paneling and ceiling beams, a crowd of reliably...

Indulge in Irish fare at Landsdowne pub

 April 11, 2013; Updated: 1:44 pm

It's one of the all-time great sayings, up there with "Cogito ergo sum" and as rote as the lyrics to "Jingle Bells."
"Gee, restaurant prices always seem higher in a casino."

Restaurant review: A true roadside attraction in Mystic

 April 4, 2013; Updated: 2:04 pm

If you're feeling peckish while traveling through the area on I-95 but you want to stick close to the highway, you'll likely be glad to find the Mystic Diner.
The big, brightly lit restaurant attached...

Tuck in Tuscan-style at La Luna

 March 28, 2013; Updated: 3:09 pm

Just when we all thought hibernation season was over, more snow and frigid weather settles in throughout the region. No problem: if you still crave hearty, body-warming, winter-time comfort foods, consider a trip out to La Luna in...

Twisted Vine: Another winner in Westerly

 March 21, 2013; Updated: 2:24 pm

Westerly has long established itself as one of the top dining destinations in the region. But the scene is far from stagnant, and lately there's been a kind of musical chairs going on.
One of the real...

Chinese comfort food: The conservative glories at Golden Chopstix

 March 14, 2013; Updated: 12:01 pm

Even the pre-packaged fortune cookies were good!
Seriously: they were fresh, crisp and flavorful. And, if the extracted slips of fortune-y paper were more aphoristic than actual assurances about the...

Tasty Thai treats, with a smile, in Groton

 March 7, 2013; Updated: 1:22 pm

Tucked next to the Metal Trades Council office and nearly in the shadow of the big green General Dynamics shed, Friendly Thai Bar and Restaurant casts a warm yet exotic glow on this hardscrabble stretch of Poquonnock Road in Groton.

Before you Go Go, pace yourself

 February 28, 2013; Updated: 2:41 pm

Contrary to Hash House a Go Go's fantastic name, you probably won't be "go-"ing anywhere too soon after your meal. Giant portions of carb- and bacon-rich dishes will do that to a body. So be warned: if you go out to eat at Hash House,...

Do drop in to North Stonington's Buon Appetito

 February 21, 2013; Updated: 3:43 pm

When deciding where to go out to dinner, we often start with location. We'll pick a town, maybe Westerly, Mystic or New London, and run through a list of our favorite restaurants.
Which is why, I'm...

Restaurant review: Serving up barbecue and Cajun at Bayou Smokehouse

 February 14, 2013; Updated: 12:19 am

It's a rare occasion when a new restauranteur in the area opens something that isn't a pizza joint. It's even more obscure when the focus of a new restaurant ventures into the realm of barbecue or Cajun. Or both.

Restaurant review: Somewhere in Time is somewhere wonderful

 February 7, 2013; Updated: 12:03 am

If you haven't been to Somewhere in Time Café, then you are in for a treat.
This Old Mystic diner-esque café would fit right in on Guy Fieri's popular Food Network show, "Diners,...

Take off to Trapiche, by way of Chester

 January 31, 2013; Updated: 3:17 pm

At the height of winter in New England, warm exotic climes offer tantalizing escape or, at least, the stuff of great reverie.
Take Trapiche, a city and winery in Argentina, land of the tango, the...

A big time to be had at Hartford Giant Grinder

 January 24, 2013; Updated: 3:09 pm

It's not often a 57-year-old man walks into the Book Barn Mid-Town location in Niantic and asks to borrow 12 Hardy Boys books. That's what happened, though. No point in trying to explain why, but I'll say this: I'd forgotten what a...

Yes, soup for you ... at The Original SoupMan

 January 17, 2013; Updated: 5:10 pm

One of the most famous episodes of "Seinfeld" is about some misanthrope who makes really good soup. As everyone now knows, the dude - known on the show as "the Soup Nazi" - is actually real and so are his soups.

Have a culinary epiphany at Washington Street Coffee House

 January 10, 2013; Updated: 11:23 am

Surely everyone has a short list of unforgettable, life-changing moments.
Etched in time, we carry these memories in a virtual lock box, close to the heart: the awkward first kiss, the nervous...

Follow the crowd to TJ's in Old Saybrook

 January 3, 2013; Updated: 11:48 am

It's possible I'm the last person on the shoreline to sample the goods at TJ's Restaurant and Pizza in Old Saybrook.
At my mother and stepfather's recommendation, I headed to TJ's - situated in Old...

Traditional Italian dishes, wonderfully made, at Trattoria Longo

 December 27, 2012; Updated: 3:23 pm

One could argue that bringing an Italian-American restaurant to Westerly is like bringing sand to a post-Sandy Misquamicut Beach. Interestingly enough, though, the offerings at Trattoria Longo Meatballs & Martinis, which opened in...

Three cool things he’s eaten lately

 December 20, 2012; Updated: 1:34 pm

One of the greatest thrillers ever written is "The First Deadly Sin" by Lawrence Sanders, notable for many things including that the policeman/hero, Captain Edward X. Delaney, loved sandwiches.
I...

Eat like a local in 'America's Favorite' culinary city

 December 13, 2012; Updated: 2:27 pm

H.P. Lovecraft, the cult-favorite horror/sci-fi author and native of Rhode Island's capital city, is said to have once written to a friend, "I am Providence." In the spirit of modesty and humility, I like to borrow this saying for myself...

Sampling suggests it’s all good at Groton eatery

 December 6, 2012; Updated: 1:32 pm

The clever name first drew me to Good to Go, a prepared foods market and lunch counter in Groton. Maybe it drew you there, too. If not, consider this additional writing on the wall and go there.
The...

Restaurant review: Ten Sandwiches is first-rate

 November 29, 2012; Updated: 12:19 am

Tucked in an old brick storefront on Commerce Street, nestled between the Pawcatuck River and the Washington Trust Community Skating Rink, Ten Sandwiches executes a simple concept brilliantly: 10 sandwiches, local ingredients, funky...

The Spice Club earns its place as a public fave

 November 22, 2012; Updated: 1:46 pm

Go ahead and make your reservations now. And get used to it.
Yes, typically, dining-out minutiae such as whether one should make reservations is relegated to the bullet-point go-box that accompanies a...

Kate’s Café serves marvelous vegetarian cuisine

 November 15, 2012; Updated: 2:36 pm

When I first began reviewing restaurants, I received an email from a reader encouraging me to try out some of the vegetarian-friendly spots in the area.
The writer lamented the closing of a Norwich...

Safe haven from Sandy at Hally Jo’s

 November 8, 2012; Updated: 1:41 pm

On most days, a diner is a haven on the modern landscape, where certain luxuries are guaranteed: hot coffee, breakfast all day, chummy tableside service. Place that haven in a region thoroughly thwacked by a natural disaster and add...

Ella's: A culinary adventure, a labor of love

 November 1, 2012; Updated: 2:15 pm

There's an energy that exists inside Ella's Fine Food and Drink in Westerly, and it's kind of contagious.
You feel it when you enter the dining room, a masculine, "Mad Men" kind of space, where golden...

Healthy dishes that don't sacrifice flavor

 October 25, 2012; Updated: 11:23 am

When I was in high school, my friends and I spoke in our own specific language - Immature 16-year-old Male American English you could call it.
A large, greasy sandwich or another indulgent menu item...

Your tastebuds might go Haywire here

 October 18, 2012; Updated: 11:17 am

It's a good sign when, after two visits to the same new restaurant, you've got a list of things you want to try next time - things you would've gladly tried during those first two visits, but were simply impossible to fit into a full...

Markos Restaurant is a truly welcome addition to Westerly

 October 11, 2012; Updated: 12:37 pm

On a recent rainy, Tuesday afternoon, I happily basked in the rays of sunshine that streamed from my steaming bowl of Avgolemono Soup at Markos Restaurant in Westerly’s Merchant Square shopping center.

Marvelous food and stunning views at the Gelston House

 October 4, 2012; Updated: 11:43 am

The environs of the Gelston House range from picturesque to breathtaking: the handsome, eccentric old Goodspeed Opera House, the Main Street of the village of East Haddam and the sweep of the Connecticut River and its swing bridge.

And may we recommend ... these three dishes

 September 27, 2012; Updated: 4:23 pm

Remember when there was an Arby's at the Crystal Mall in Waterford? It was a magical time to be in southeastern Connecticut. Sadly, though, just like the stranger in Roy Buchanan's "The Messiah Will Come Again," the Arby's went away.

Seafood to savor at Fresh Salt

 September 20, 2012; Updated: 2:33 pm

When it comes to seafood, my summers always seem to take a predictable path. Having been relatively deprived of the classics over the wintertime, I dive right into the whole belly clams, lobster rolls and clam cakes when May and June...

Food, fresh from the (Monkey) Farm

 September 13, 2012; Updated: 5:20 pm

Say "The Monkey Farm" to any given group of people, and most of them will know exactly what you're talking about. Its reputation tends to precede it. Some know the cafe as a historic tavern; some say it's a biker bar; others know it as a...

Farmers' markets offer local foodstuffs you can't get just anywhere

 September 6, 2012; Updated: 1:51 pm

In the springtime of the year that her family pledged to eat only the produce of their own Virginia farm and that of her neighbors, Barbara Kingsolver faced the dilemma of how to get fresh fruit. No pineapples, no Florida grapefruit, no...

Soothing setting, soothing fare at Niantic's Main Street Grille

 August 30, 2012; Updated: 1:22 pm

It would be sort of fun to have a Quaint Thoroughfare bracket like you fill-out before March Madness.

A little bit of vegan nirvana at Six Main in Chester

 August 23, 2012; Updated: 8:18 am

Like any good college student at the time, I went through a somewhat experimental phase in which I tried out veganism, an organic food diet and a few other now embarrassing "lifestyle choices." But it was fairly short lived, as the lure...

Feasts fit for the frugal foodie at Pasta Vita

 August 16, 2012; Updated: 9:26 am

There was much rejoicing at the homestead when I recently rescued us from impending starvation with a huge haul from Pasta Vita in Old Saybrook. (Ironically, we discovered a pack of PV's frozen ravioli after we'd eaten ourselves silly.) I'd stocked...

Break the chain and give Jessie’s a chance

 August 9, 2012; Updated: 11:01 am

It's always a mystery to me that the parking lots of big chain restaurants overflow while locally owned places struggle.

Seek out these sandwiches

 August 2, 2012; Updated: 12:50 pm

Three sandwiches worth sampling.

Wonderful Matunuck Oyster Bar lives up to high expectations

 July 26, 2012; Updated: 1:11 pm

The best dining experiences come when you're traveling or passing through an unfamiliar place and you serendipitously stumble upon a true gem. But a close second is getting a chance to try out a new place that others are raving about.

A Moroccan feast demands ice cream for dessert

 July 19, 2012; Updated: 12:15 pm

Poke your head into Tissa's Cafe at the historic James Pharmacy building in Old Saybrook, and the aromas emanating from it conjure images of a bustling marketplace in a warm, warm place. It gets better when you see the Moroccan foods and...

Sampling seafood at Skippers

 July 12, 2012; Updated: 2:10 pm

Once upon a time - and, we devoutly hope, sometime again - "Niantic Bay" and "scallops" would go together like "fish" and "chips" or "clam" and "chowder."

Review: Moe's Southwest Grill specializes in 'fast casual' Tex-Mex

 July 5, 2012; Updated: 11:17 pm

At Moe's Southwest Grill, there is definitely a method to the madness - to wit, reasonably tasty "fast casual" Tex-Mex cuisine - but, on first or even second visit, it's not easy to figure out all the elements and motifs that assault you...

2011 reviews

• Our favorite restaurants we reviewed in 2011
• Restaurant review: On the Rocks at Fox Hopyard Golf Course in East Haddam
• Mini reviews: Rasoi, Johnny Pastrami, Green Onion II
• Restaurant review: Oyster Club in Mystic
• Restaurant review: It's Only Natural Restaurant in Middletown
• Restaurant review: The Rice Box in Groton
• Restaurant review: Ivy's Simply Homemade in Waterford
• Restaurant review: Kit Kat's Smoked BBQ in Pawcatuck
• Restaurant review: Saybrook Soup & Sandwich Co. in Old Saybrook
• Restaurant review: Big Bubba's BBQ at Mohegan Sun
• Restaurant review: Tio Rodrigo's Mexican Grill in New London - CLOSED
• Restaurant review: Neon Chicken in New London
• Restaurant review: Seahorse Restaurant in Noank
• Restaurant review: Gabrielle's in Centerbrook
• Restaurant review: Best of Everything Country Gourmet in Niantic
• Restaurant review: Mr. G's Restaurant in New London
• Restaurant review: The Malted Barley in Westerly
• Restaurant review: River Tavern in Chester
• Restaurant review: Taste of China in Clinton
• Restaurant review: Maria's Seaside Cafe in Misquamicut Beach
• Restaurant review: Octagon Steakhouse in Groton
• Restaurant review: Mangetout in New London
• Restaurant review: Cristy's Restaurnat in Westbrook
• Restaurant review: Brasserie Pip in Ivoryton
• Restaurant review: Hell Fire Grill in New London
• Restaurant review: Bar Bouchée in Madison
• Mini reviews: Friendly Pizza, Chili's, Hub's Clam Shack
• Restaurant review: O'Rourke's Diner in Middletown
• Restaurant review: Goldy's Restaurant in New London
• Restaurant review: Jack Rabbit's and the Rabbit Hole in Old Saybrook
• Restaurant review: Singapore's Grill and Sushi Bar in New London
• Restaurant review: Fireside Brick Oven Creations in Gales Ferry
• Restaurant review: Stash's Cafe in New London
• Restaurant review: Alforno Trattoria in Old Saybrook
• Restaurant review: Ibiza in New Haven
• Restaurant review: Kong Foo Vegetarian Restaurant in Norwich
• Mini reviews: Panda Buffet, Northern India, McQuade's Marketplace
• Restaurant review: Fay Da Bakery at Foxwoods
• Restaurant review: Liv's Oyster Bar in Old Saybrook
• Restaurant review: The Flood Tide Restaurant in Mystic
• Mini reviews: Louie's Bar & Grille, Chili's, Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen
• Restaurant review: Porky Pete's BBQ in Essex
• Restaurant review: Penny Lane Pub in Old Saybrook
• Restaurant review: The Mermaid Cafe in Westerly
• Restaurant review: La Cantina in New London - CLOSED
• Restaurant review: The Suburban in Branford
• Restaurant review: Voodoo Grill in Mystic
• Restaurant review: Copperwood Grill in New London
• Restaurant review: Me & Ma's in New London

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