A look back at recent Day food reviews
Amanda's Pantry
37 Beach St., Westerly
(401) 596-7180
@amandaspantrywesterly
Since you're driving right past it, this is the place to stop on a summer weekend morning when you're on your way to Misquamicut or Napatree.
A hearty breakfast at Amanda's will provide the fuel you need for bodysurfing and skimboarding or just the right sustenance for a lazy day of beach reading underneath an umbrella.
Aline's Special — an English muffin topped with corned beef hash, eggs, cheese and served with home fries and coffee – will keep you full for a good part of the day. Or for those on a Keto diet, the choice might be Kim's Carb Counter — scrambled eggs with veggies or meat.
At Amanda's, breakfast is served until closing at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and 1:30 p.m. Sundays, and their menu offers plenty to choose from, including lunch options.
In a new location on Beach Street for more than a year now, Amanda's still attracts a steady stream of regular customers who enjoy the hot food, prompt service, and reasonable prices. Most dishes cost $5 to $9 and the portions are good and the service fast.
The Italian Hash is made with hot Italian sausage, onions and peppers and comes with eggs, home fries and toast. The Sausage Gravy is served over biscuits with a choice of eggs and home fries.
For lunch, there are burgers, club sandwiches, salads, wraps, and house specials like the Meatball and Cheese Grinder. Everyone can find something to their liking at Amanda's.
— Ann Baldelli
NoRA Cupcake Company
60 Bank St., New London
(860) 574-5860
www.noracupcake.com
Dessert is that much easier now that NoRA Cupcake Company has added another shop to its thriving fleet of cupcakeries in New London. Anyone who shows up at a dinner party with a boxful of creatively crafted cupcakes is sure to win a return invite.
We aren't just talking high-end Hostess-style cupcakes. NoRA's cupcakes condense the best parts of classic desserts into one delicious, petite package. Consider some recent flavors on the menu: Cookie Dough Cheesecake; Dulce de Leche; Blackberry Margarita ($4.95 each). OK fine, Blackberry Margaritas aren't typical dessert fare in some households, but you get the idea.
If you can get past the cupcake selection, consider a sample or two of some of NoRA's other baked treats, including the wonderful whoopee pie ($4.25), which appears to be a menu staple. NO matter what the rotation might be that month (some flavors are specials of the month), those with sweet teeth will find much to love at NoRA Cupcake Company.
— Marisa Nadolny
Dog Watch Mystic
20 Old Stonington Road, Mystic
(860) 245-4911, dogwatchcafe.com
It's their fault they're so popular over there at the Dog Watch Cafe in Stonington — which is why we almost always have a short wait. So it's good the Dog Watch Mystic is up and running with a new menu. Now I don't have to drive as far and, because of the expansive outdoor seating, it's normal to get seated immediately.
You can't lose either way, but we focused on the Mystic location over a few recent visits and loved the place — the atmosphere (family friendly or adults out for an evening), service, and food.
We enjoyed selection at all phases of the meal. Signature mac 'n cheese balls ($8), with a crusted shell and a chewy, delicious mac/cheese interior, was a great start. The roasted cod ($19) was the perfect realization of New England comfort food with a subtle garlic wine sauce, fresh white fish and parmesan panko.
And I'd fight to the death for a plate of the caramel brownie with pretzel crust and topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream ($8). I hate to quote ME, but here's what I wrote in my review: "In a deluxe afterlife, heaven's physicians would prescribe this dessert as essential to a healthy eternity."
— Rick Koster
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