Jasmine Thai

470 Bank St., New London

(860) 442-999

jasminethainewlondon.com

Even if we wanted to forget Jasmine Thai — which we don’t — both my wife Eileen and I pass it at least twice a day en route to or from our respective jobs. Firmly entrenched at the corner of Bank and Howard streets in New London, Jasmine Thai is a reliable, frequent and consistently enjoyable source of nutrition for the Kosters.

It’s a quietly lovely restaurant, with white tablecloths, a bright but yet soothing color scheme and an always-at-your-service wait staff. The menu is expansive and extends beyond Thai cuisine to include delicacies from the adjacent sushi/sashimi bar forking off from the main dining room. I particularly love the curries and frequently just pick a random one ($13.95 plus extra for your protein of choice) to enjoy. The noodles section also boasts Pad See Ew ($13.95, etc. with protein), which is a broccoli-based stir fry intertwined with broad, chewy noodles and a strong soy/vinegar presence to round out the flavors.

On a recent stop, knowing I’d be writing this and aware at my own conservative choices, I boldly tried a two-piece helping of octopus sushi ($5.95). It, ah, looked like octopus and tasted ... like chewy nothing.

— Rick Koster

Water Street Cafe

143 Water St, Stonington

(860) 535-2122

waterstcafe.com

In Stonington borough, the Water Street Café has been a local favorite for decades, serving Asian and French inspired dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.

The restaurant is cozy and inviting, with many seasoned and knowledgeable staff members who keep the place running smoothly.

On the menu, diners will find dishes such as Stonington Scallops Udon, $38, with ramps, pak choy, ginger, and miso; Braised Salmon, $32, with a mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes, and spinach; the Cafe Burger, $13, on a seeded soft roll with lettuce, tomato, and fries, or the Warm Duck Breast Salad, $21, on a bed of greens, with asparagus and a sesame orange dressing.

The menu is varied in selections and price points, with choices such as oysters, littlenecks, an escargot pot pie, a monkfish sweet potato chowder, and yellowfin tuna tartare.

The bar is a popular gathering spot for locals, but tourists and visitors are always made to feel welcome.

Over the decades, owners Walter and Stephanie Hayes Houlihan have won accolades for their restaurant, and the good news is, Water Street now accepts reservations.

– Ann Baldelli

Sal's Pizza & Pasta

29 Spencer Plain Road, Old Saybrook

(860) 399-8331

salspizzaandpasta.com

The holidays are over, so that means it’s back to basics for dinner. In a word: Pizza. In a few more: Sal’s Pizza and Pasta in Old Saybrook — if you enjoy outstanding ingredients; a thick-thin crust; and plenty of leftovers, that is.

In fact, you needn’t get too fancy with your toppings to taste the difference between a Sal’s pizza and many others. Our simple green pepper and mozzarella pizza ($18.25 for a large) delivered a medley of flavor — grilled peppers, tangy tomato sauce, excellent cheese — atop a chewy with just-enough-crispiness crust.

For the pizza-d out, options abound, with a menu full of grinders and pasta dishes. We can recommend several, but we’ll share two top recent picks starting with the always perfectly toasted meatball grinder ($12.50 with mozzarella added), piled high with tender, tasty meatballs. In you’re in comfort food mode after a wintry weekend, we recommend the Cheese Tortellini Pasta ($19.95), a huge serving of excellent (actually flavorful!) tortellini in a light tomato-basil cream sauce. It’ll feed two people with at least one more serving to spare.

Pizza and pasta are, of course, very available in our neck of the woods, but the standouts are always a special treat. Sal’s is one of them, and we hope to see this longtime institution remain in our neighborhood for years to come.

— Marisa Nadolny