La Belle Aurore

75 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic

(860) 739-6767

http://www.labelleaurorect.com

To all those who technically like to cook but never have the time, take note: La Belle Aurore in Niantic can help!

Necessity bred invention during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many eateries quickly shifted to take-out and curbside operations. La Belle Aurore — a regional favorite among many foodies — joined the fray, offering takeout of the day’s menu, take-home prepared dishes and frozen house specialties.

So now, customers can plan a meal around what’s available at LBA and bring it home to heat and plate up. We paired a mini shepherd’s pie ($12) with corn, bacon, and potato pierogies ($10 for six) on one delicious evening and heartily recommend both items. The shepherd’s pie is made with local ground lamb. Need I say more? As for the pierogis, the bacon brings it all together — promise.

You also can’t go wrong with the herbaceous and delectable chicken pot pie ($20, full size).

Another huge standout? The house made bagels. The price is a little much ($9 for three large bagels), but if you want to craft the greatest breakfast sandwich of your lifetime, give them a shot. Save room for a post-breakfast apple cider doughnut ($2), because paired with a cup of coffee, it doesn’t get much better on a brisk fall morning.

— Marisa Nadolny

Pasta Fresca & Piadina

2 Lincoln Ave., Mystic

(860) 572-1245

Visit their website at pastafrescamystic.com

Everything is good at Pasta Fresca & Piadina, but the specials are always over the top. Peruse the daily menu on their website, and you will find daily additions like the Muffuletta Sandwich, Cheesy Chorizo Chili Macaroni Soup, the Italian Sloppy Joe grinder, Supreme Pizza Soup, and Shepherd’s Pie Soup – yes! That’s a shepherd’s pie soup.

The grinders always get rave reviews – stuffed to oblivion with fillings like tuna salad, capicola, pastrami, egg salad, roast beef, or mortadella, and piled high with provolone, lettuce, tomatoes and if you’d like – onions, olives, jalapenos, cucumbers, sweet peppers, and more. These sandwiches are loaded and come small, large, mini or as a sandwich or wrap. Prices vary and range depending on the size from about $8.50 to $14.

Pasta Fresca has been in business 35 years, and the current owner, Tia Bettencourt, has been at the helm since 2016. She’s expanded the space and the offerings, and her creative soup additions are gaining local fame. Tucked into a side street on the Stonington side of downtown Mystic, Pasta Fresca is a shining star in the long list of places to grab a bite for lunch in the busy tourist center.

— Ann Baldelli

The Vanilla Bean

450 Deerfield Road, Pomfret

(860) 928-1562, www.thevanillabeancafe.com

While there are dozens of very nice dining options in this area, most of us have a few of those “destination” restaurants that are worth the occasion road trip.

For us, Pomfret’s Vanilla Bean is one. Regardless of the season, the drive is lovely. It’s also not so far away that distance becomes an issue. The Bean is very casual with a neo-hippie/naturalist aura and comfy indoor/outdoor settings (weather permitting, of course).

Sandwiches, breakfast staples and an excellent chili ($6.50 cup, $8 bowl) are of consistently high quality. The Spinach & Caramelized Onion Quesadilla ($12) mixes a smoky quality with the bitter snap of the spinach and house-made salsa, and the Bean’s Bean Burrito ($14), with a large flour tortilla beautifully overstuffed with black beans and rice, corn, broccoli, carrots and red and green pepper, is similarly special.

Service is folksy and efficient. Well worth the trip, whether you live three blocks away or all the way to Stonington Borough.

— Rick Koster