Taquerio

30 Broadway Ave., Mystic

(860) 245-4420,

www.taquerio-mystic.com

Located in an old service station just off the roundabout in downtown Mystic, Taquerio is a casual and winning place to enjoy a creative take on Mexcan street tacos. The redesign is hip but not too hip, with plenty of color and indoor/outdoor seating possibilities. Servers are quick and friendly.

It's a small menu, and the individual single servings are ideally priced and sized so the diner can sample three or four on a visit. Pork, barbacoa, fish and plantains are typical selections — each paired with various sauces and fixings to maximize the flavor possibilities. Tip: the oyster po-boy taco is well worth your time.

Oh, and don't miss the guacamole appetizer, and definitely don't miss the churros for dessert. The former contains fresh chunks of avocado and tomato and seasonings; the latter are deep fried, cinnamon/sugar rolls of dough afloat on a heavenly sea of warm caramel sauce.

— Rick Koster

Mystic Royal

35 Williams Ave., Mystic CT 06355

(860) 980-3227

We are blessed with a multitude of restaurant options in southeastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island — so many that we can opt for gourmet-fancy, intriguing fast-food, all-American hearty, fusion, bistro, ethic — the list and choices of cuisines is almost endless — and one recent addition is Mystic Royal.

Chef Sheuli Solaiman brings her native dishes from Bangledesh and serves plates with an Asian flair and a variety of herbs and spices. The place is tiny and the service can be slow, but call ahead if you want to eat in or opt for take-out. And as long as the weather is seasonable, there’s outdoor seating.

There are kabobs ($7.49), spring rolls ($6.99), wontons ($5.99) and combination bowls with rice, a protein, vegetables, and salad, like the Shahi Bowl ($14.99), with Polaw rice, chicken korma, chicken kabob, and salad.

There are a lot of options on the menu, including wraps, salads, soups, and the signature dishes, like the Native Style Bangkok Shrimp ($20.99 for the dinner portion). That dish is shrimp cooked with garlic, ginger, house-made chili oil, cilantro, and butter. Or the Moong Dal with Lamb Curry, marinated lamb with moong dal, which is like a yellow lentil.

Every dish is made to order, and the chef is passionate about her food.

— Ann Baldelli 

Hadlyme Country Market

1 Ferry Road, Hadlyme

(860) 526-3188; https://hadlymecountrymarket.com

If Hadlyme Country Market was simply just that — a market offering groceries and sundries — it would get good marks for its eclectic inventory. Cold beer? Check. Novelty candy? Stocked. Frozen meals for an easy dinner? Available.

Where HCM departs from the usual is in the evolution of its deli counter. Beyond the basic cold-cut sandwiches (many meats, cheeses, topping, and breads available), the staff has curated a menu of delectable signature sandwiches that come hot off a panini press.

For example, the L.L. Brockway, ($8.75), a pumpernickel panini loaded with bacon, avocado, chipotle pesto, roasted red peppers, and smoked Gouda. Major savory flavor from an original combination of ingredients.

But what really sets the country market apart are the fresh and delicious pizzas that come steaming out of the pizza oven in about 5 minutes. We recommend the Four Corners ($15.95), a red pizza topped with sausage and roasted red peppers, and the Into the Woods ($14.95), a white pesto, mozzarella, and fresh tomato pie.

The grand finale? A lovely selection of sweet treats — scones, cookies, pastries and more — and a beverage from the coffee bar. (Straight up drip coffee is available, too, with Ashlawn Farms beans.) Ready to head to market? You won’t be disappointed.

— Marisa Nadolny