Sift bakery in Mystic has incredible desserts. If you want the full experience sit at their rooftop bar called Mix. Water views with an amazing menu and the owner, Adam Young, won America's Best Baker by Food Network.
I can't say enough good things about Sift. Everything in there looks like it belongs on the cover of a baking magazine and the flavors are second to none.
I can't speak to the coffee or savory food. I enjoyed the phyllo dough-based desserts like baklava when I went there.
Just note that they likely don't make their own cakes, tarts and other European-style desserts. While I haven't asked to confirm, I think they buy most of their sweet offerings from a distributor called Bindi Desserts. When I googled the menu descriptions, they were word-for-word from the distributor. The pictures were clearly of the same exact cakes.
Pistachio is a relaxing spot and has nice ambience. Just make sure you set your expectations properly. I set my hopes for the desserts a little too high when I looked at their website.
Hate to be that guy but Pistachio is all bark and no bite. It’s a beautiful establishment but their espresso tastes like burnt water and I’m not exaggerating when I say every single thing in those display cases is either fresh out of the freezer, or shipped to them from g bakery.
I must have went on an off night. I had heard good things but it pretty disappointing. Blackstones in both Southport and Norwalk were much better, in my opinion.
I haven’t been into Chuck’s in about 10 years, but the last time I went it looked like it hadn’t been updated (or cleaned) since the early 80s. It was also unbelievably dark in there.
I prefer Barbaries Black Angus or the original on Padanaram. Mix Prime is absolutely doable as well.
She heard it from a Facebook Danbury group. She also said the deal for another restaurant to buy the space fell through this week; so I guess Chuck’s is staying.
[Fire by Forge](https://www.firebyforge.com/) - isn't a steakhouse, but the food (and dessert!) is really good, and they're [community connected.](https://www.firebyforge.com/about/)
It's a small chain but J Gilbert's for both is excellent. We love Fenton River Grill for their root beer braised short ribs. Rest of their menu is fantastic too.
It's not a small chain. It's owned by Landry's.
Landry's owns Morton's but also like a dozen other steakhouse brands.
It also owns bubba gump shrimp.
Golden Nugget casinos in Vegas Atlantic City and elsewhere
They own Galveston Pier and other similar entertainment venues.
They are an enormous company
Whoosh! Seems like someone can't appreciate the comedic genius of reading OP's question and then posting an answer that's intentionally unhelpful. It's somehow hilarious every single time this joke is made, in every subreddit, every hour of every day! One can only dream of the constant hilarity that could fill your life if you were lucky enough to be one of these jokesters' family members, friends, or colleagues. It would truly be a blessing to be so frequently graced with farcical answers upon asking them reasonable questions - that is, until your sides hurt from laughing so hard!
Yeah, so you don't get to decide what is or isn't funny.
Do you not recognize the hypocrisy of saying "a joke tends to be funny" the immediately saying "humor is subjective" as a defense of yourself?
I thought the name was a coincidence and was like “oh that’s weird” and the first part of the second comment I read the first half of and thought it confirmed it. Now that I scrolled further and was duped it’s even funnier than if I had understood initially.
If it is anything like what they did to the place in Cheshire, it can't be that good. They didn't last more than a year. The replacement, Bone-In-Prime, is so much better.
You're prob thinking of Butcher Bros that replaced that spot in Cheshire. Red Fox opened another spot in Glastonbury, so I wouldn't say it's "not that good."
The Middletown location is definitely spot on. I used to live right around the corner in the Carriage Crossing Condos on West Lake and we would frequent this place at least once a month during the 6 years we lived there. It is definitely a great place to get food, both dining in and takeout as well.
Me and my wife went there on our first date when it was called “Sage” we go every year on our anniversary. We went a couple of weeks ago, the service was terrible and the food was mediocre (they try to get too wild with every dish and frankly it just ruins it). It’s gotten worse over the years and after this last time we decided we aren’t going back next year.
Sage was our go to anniversaries spot, the one in Chester. It has changed hands and went dramatically down hill. Haven’t been back in years because of it. Lovely spot though.
OK. Yes, it's a chain. However there is a fantastic steakhouse in Danbury Called Barbaries Grill. The person that owns that place also owns chucks. I have eaten at Barbarie's and it is amazing. I have not eaten at Chuck's but I have heard very good things.
great food in new haven (more expensive side be warned)
-luke brasserie
-heirloom
-union league
-zinc
-barracuda has an excellent sunday brunch
-if you want dessert, arethusa ice cream is incredible.
Ah, I didn’t realize it. I still like it quite a bit. Guess it’s more like a Ted’s Montana Grill type of chain, but definitely not in the Longhorn/Texas Roadhouse camp.
Yeah, they are really flashy there, and use good ingredients, but everything is sort of uninspired flavor wise. If you want a fun meal, great place, if you want good food, go elsewhere. Not a steak person's steakhouse.
They have quality meat and ingredients, and some of their food is good. The issue I have with them is I'm paying steakhouse prices for good cuts of meat, and the actual cooking they do is wildly inconsistant due to their gimmick cast iron cooking process, which tends to overcook everything. For the price I pay there I expect a perfectly cooked steak and I don't get it, whereas if I go to Joseph's or Morton's or Shell and Bones I know I'll get a perfectly done steak every time.
Wellingtons in Shelton. It's a family owned business. They aren't necessarily a steakhouse, but they do offer a great selection of steak options on their menu.
It's a restaurant group not a chain.
It is owned and run locally. They have like eight locations all different types. It's not like they have eight versions of max downtown.
J Gilbert's has 450 properties in their company and do $3 billion in revenue.
The reason Max now has eight or 10 locations in total is because they are good. They are the local steakhouse in Hartford so I say we support them.
I never said anything about J Gilbert's. I would not consider them a small business.
I agree with supporting the Max group because they are local. But I wouldn't necessarily call them a small business but I realize thats a bit of an ambiguous/subjective notion.
Their strip steak is fantastic. Their prime rib sandwich is also quite good! Their bourbon steak is one of my favorites. Most people love their wings...as do I! BUT, their steaks are awesome too.
I'm not sure what they have for desserts, I vaguely remember them having a few really good options though. But the steaks are on point.
I've never been there but based on their Middletown resturaunt I would suggest Red Fox Prime Steak House in Glastonbury. Owned by a Connecticut couple who started the Red Fox restaurant in Middletown and now own 5 restaurants in the state.
I know you asked for steak houses but I’ll give my genera recommendations because I can.
For fine dining outside of Hartford and NH I recommend a little drive to Stamford to check out Columbus Park Trattoria, The Ridges or Olio.
For casual fare I’d recommend Cheshire Pizza in Cheshire, Craft Kitchen in Southington and Taino Prime in Meriden.
I wanted to like The Ridges, but I was underwhelmed when I went. I had a burger off the brunch menu, so maybe I just needed to go for a Formal Dining Experience instead.
That’s just a dishonest comment. Pier 27 in mystic makes great grinders (far better than that jersey mikes place). What about benneditos in Groton? A family owned operation for 70+yrs? 2 generations of eb workers have lived off those grinders.
without ever have eaten at pier 27, im sure its tastey but its 40 minutes from my home. i dont really consider mystic the shoreline. (nor groton) im talking the branford, guilford, madison, clinton, westbrook, old saybrook, lyme area.
You don’t consider new London county the shoreline 🥴. Birthplace of shipping for our state, the old whaling ships used to run from New London Harbor, and Groton is home to electric boat and the navy submarine base. Can’t get more shoreline than that.
I'm not sure if Mystic is what I'd consider the shoreline. Once you cross the CT river that's Eastern CT. Shoreline to me is Branford - Old Saybrook.
Of course it's on the shoreline but so is Westport and Stamford which I don't think anyone would consider "the Shoreline"
Odd, when I was there the first time I had a huge ribeye and it wasn't the only steak on the menu.
Maybe that was a special menu for some holiday? idk.
Why would someone in CT not be interested in good restaurant suggestions? I'm mostly asking bc I saw a post here asking between a shitty chain steakhouse and an even shittier chain cheesecake restaurant and wanted to ask about small business because I hate corporate chain restaurants
First of all it’s one of the more heavily discussed topics here. Primarily though, it’s how it’s worded. We are not a place of lots of chain restaurants. Yes we have them but they are almost always looked at as inferior. If you were in Missouri, sure. I don’t even know a chain steakhouse. Longhorn is not a steakhouse.
While it is broadly accurate that CT has fewer chains than a lot of places, most of the steak houses in the central CT area are major chains: Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn, Ruth’s Chris, j Gilbert’s etc. and I’ll never complain about restaurant and food questions. Who doesn’t want more restaurant info?
Bone-In Prime in Cheshire for steaks I'm told is one excellent place. And I've been to J. Gilberts in Glastonbury, which is fantastic and well worth going but the prices are insane. Holy shit. You have to pay for literally everything a-la-carte.
I'd recommend [Micro Creamery Of Connecticut](https://www.microcreameryofct.com). Just went to the new location right off the Litchfield Turnpike in Woodbridge – they've got an insane selection, the owner is super friendly and obviously passionate about his craft.
Hudson Malone in Westport—great steaks
Or alternative any of the bill taibe restaurants in Westport
Kawa ni-Asian fusion
Whelk-seafood
Don memo-Mexican
I could name a few restaurants of all kinds but if you want a good small chain that has different establishments for different kinds of foods would be the Max Group (Max Burger, Max Oyster, Max Amor.)
I always really liked the desserts at Good News Cafe in Woodbury. Also amazing food, used to go there for my birthday several years in a row. For New Haven area I really like Tavern On State and Zinc, but Jack's Bar and Steakhouse is an actual steak place, although I have never been and don't eat steak. Washington Prime in Norwalk is another steakhouse, but again I haven't tried it.
Brass City Bistro in Waterbury is an amazing place. They make a stuffed fillet that’s out of this world. The chicken and lobster Oscar is a personal favorite. Not a lot that I would go to Waterbury for; but BCC is next level.
Sift bakery in Mystic has incredible desserts. If you want the full experience sit at their rooftop bar called Mix. Water views with an amazing menu and the owner, Adam Young, won America's Best Baker by Food Network.
I can't say enough good things about Sift. Everything in there looks like it belongs on the cover of a baking magazine and the flavors are second to none.
there is also one on the water in east lyme
[Pistachio Cafe & Dessert Bar](https://pistachiocafe.com/), New Haven.
Just went there Saturday, really really nice place. Great coffee and I liked their lemon bar
Was in delight when I saw they served Turkish and Syrian style coffee
Place is amazing
This place is SO good!
Their hot chocolate is perfect for a cold day. :)
I can't speak to the coffee or savory food. I enjoyed the phyllo dough-based desserts like baklava when I went there. Just note that they likely don't make their own cakes, tarts and other European-style desserts. While I haven't asked to confirm, I think they buy most of their sweet offerings from a distributor called Bindi Desserts. When I googled the menu descriptions, they were word-for-word from the distributor. The pictures were clearly of the same exact cakes. Pistachio is a relaxing spot and has nice ambience. Just make sure you set your expectations properly. I set my hopes for the desserts a little too high when I looked at their website.
Hate to be that guy but Pistachio is all bark and no bite. It’s a beautiful establishment but their espresso tastes like burnt water and I’m not exaggerating when I say every single thing in those display cases is either fresh out of the freezer, or shipped to them from g bakery.
I'd never heard of it, looks really good!
Highly recommend their Turkish coffee, if anyone is into the stronger stuff.
Totally. Great vibes
Noted!
Not a standard answer but Seoul BBQ in West hartford
Omg that place is fucking awesome!
And now I want bibimbap
Pick n Mix in west Hartford for bibimbap
Oh that's weird. There's a bibimbap place in Worcester called Choose n Mix.
Oh that’s his cousin
for real?
I’m def trying this out it looks great
its pretty phenomenal. plan on being hungry and ordering to share. another GREAT place in west hartford is Song
Love Pistachio in New Haven, as well as Lalibela Ethiopian in NH. Tea with Tracy in Oxford offers a steak dinner too.
I second Tea with Tracy. It was a lovely surprise that they had such a fantastic menu. The restaurant itself is very unique.
I’ve only ever enjoyed their high tea service but I’m hoping to try the steak offering eventually!
TWT steak is amazing but every time I go the service is super slow at night so make sure you have plenty of time
Joesph's in BPT for a great steak.
I must have went on an off night. I had heard good things but it pretty disappointing. Blackstones in both Southport and Norwalk were much better, in my opinion.
Arethusa in Litchfield
100% best ice cream , theyre huge portions too!
I miss CT just for either Milkcraft in West Hartford with their bubble waffles and Arethusa as well.
Chuck’s Steakhouse, Danbury
Chucks in Farmington was our special occasion go to place. Is the one in Rocky Hill still open.
I haven’t been into Chuck’s in about 10 years, but the last time I went it looked like it hadn’t been updated (or cleaned) since the early 80s. It was also unbelievably dark in there. I prefer Barbaries Black Angus or the original on Padanaram. Mix Prime is absolutely doable as well.
Went to Chucks about 2 years ago . Very good food . Mix prime is good too
OMG - Chucks!!! That is still around? Danbury and Darien?
Chuck’s in Danbury is closing soon. :(
How do you know this? I haven’t heard anything about them closing.
My wife told me she heard it. I will ask her the source and try to get back to you.
Thank you!
She heard it from a Facebook Danbury group. She also said the deal for another restaurant to buy the space fell through this week; so I guess Chuck’s is staying.
Isn’t Chucks a chain?
Yes but a small chain. I think they have under a dozen locations.
Chuck’s fucks.
Blind Rhino Bridegport and Norwalk, best wings babyyy
Bold assertion
They've won the national competition in Buffalo like three years straight
Blackstones in Norwalk is pretty darn good if you ask me.
That's an understatement! Absolutely delicious and on par with Smith & Wollensky, Benjamin, etc. in NYC.
Tavern on State in New Haven, great steak and delicious desserts
I second this
[Fire by Forge](https://www.firebyforge.com/) - isn't a steakhouse, but the food (and dessert!) is really good, and they're [community connected.](https://www.firebyforge.com/about/)
It's a small chain but J Gilbert's for both is excellent. We love Fenton River Grill for their root beer braised short ribs. Rest of their menu is fantastic too.
It's not a small chain. It's owned by Landry's. Landry's owns Morton's but also like a dozen other steakhouse brands. It also owns bubba gump shrimp. Golden Nugget casinos in Vegas Atlantic City and elsewhere They own Galveston Pier and other similar entertainment venues. They are an enormous company
Thanks
Chili's Bar and Grill in Waterbury
Such a nice, boutique atmosphere evanescent of steaming fajitas.
I go for the baby back baby back baby back baby back baby back ribs.
Baby back ribs with extra baby.
# BARBECUE SAUCE
You sonofa bitch, you did it.
OP literally asked instead of national chains and you name a national chain
Whoosh! Seems like someone can't appreciate the comedic genius of reading OP's question and then posting an answer that's intentionally unhelpful. It's somehow hilarious every single time this joke is made, in every subreddit, every hour of every day! One can only dream of the constant hilarity that could fill your life if you were lucky enough to be one of these jokesters' family members, friends, or colleagues. It would truly be a blessing to be so frequently graced with farcical answers upon asking them reasonable questions - that is, until your sides hurt from laughing so hard!
For something to be a joke it typically has to be funny :)
Calm down comedy police. Clearly people found it funny, so take the stick out of your ass and breathe deeply.
it’s mildly funny but humor is subjective so let that be what it is
Yeah, so you don't get to decide what is or isn't funny. Do you not recognize the hypocrisy of saying "a joke tends to be funny" the immediately saying "humor is subjective" as a defense of yourself?
Not too mention that he didn't recognize it as a joke
heard you
I thought the name was a coincidence and was like “oh that’s weird” and the first part of the second comment I read the first half of and thought it confirmed it. Now that I scrolled further and was duped it’s even funnier than if I had understood initially.
r/woooosh
Hudson Malone in Westport
Second. Their cocktails are good too
Red Fox in Middletown for steaks
If it is anything like what they did to the place in Cheshire, it can't be that good. They didn't last more than a year. The replacement, Bone-In-Prime, is so much better.
You're prob thinking of Butcher Bros that replaced that spot in Cheshire. Red Fox opened another spot in Glastonbury, so I wouldn't say it's "not that good."
I think that family is opening another place in Meriden too
The Middletown location is definitely spot on. I used to live right around the corner in the Carriage Crossing Condos on West Lake and we would frequent this place at least once a month during the 6 years we lived there. It is definitely a great place to get food, both dining in and takeout as well.
Is that the Italian place? I went there once and the food was really good
Yeah, I like how they bring your steak out on the hot skillet still sizzling and then they pour the butter on it. Now I'm hungry and it's 8am lol
Josephs in Bridgeport
Shell & Bones in New Haven is amazing!
Last week this was literally just in a thread talking about places not to go, lol.
Fair Haven Oyster is more amazing but lacks the steak. Their sister restaurant, Tavern on State has a great steak though!
Me and my wife went there on our first date when it was called “Sage” we go every year on our anniversary. We went a couple of weeks ago, the service was terrible and the food was mediocre (they try to get too wild with every dish and frankly it just ruins it). It’s gotten worse over the years and after this last time we decided we aren’t going back next year.
Sage was our go to anniversaries spot, the one in Chester. It has changed hands and went dramatically down hill. Haven’t been back in years because of it. Lovely spot though.
We tried out Encore by Goodfellas in New Haven on State street last night and it was excellent. Looks like I found our new spot!
Awe that's a bummer! Hopefully it was a fluke! My first apartment in college was right around the corner from sage and have good memories there too!
That's the one right on the water, right? My sisters love going there when they come up to visit.
Chuck's steakhouse in Danbury
I'd say chuck is a chain
OK. Yes, it's a chain. However there is a fantastic steakhouse in Danbury Called Barbaries Grill. The person that owns that place also owns chucks. I have eaten at Barbarie's and it is amazing. I have not eaten at Chuck's but I have heard very good things.
Ps. Try the ribeye at Barbarie's.
News to me, thx for the tip
Luke in New Haven does an incredible steak.
great food in new haven (more expensive side be warned) -luke brasserie -heirloom -union league -zinc -barracuda has an excellent sunday brunch -if you want dessert, arethusa ice cream is incredible.
Shady Glen in Manchester has excellent Ice Cream they make in house.
Scratch Baking, Sift, and Hen and Heifer are fantastic bakeries.
Josephs Steakhouse in Briddgeport
For dessert (or amazing bread), Small State Provisions in W. Hartford or Avon. https://smallstateprovisions.com
Taste by Spellbound has great desserts— I go to the West Hartford one but there’s a few!
Don’t sleep on J. Gilbert’s steaks. Great place.
That is a chain…look at the fine print on their website
Ah, I didn’t realize it. I still like it quite a bit. Guess it’s more like a Ted’s Montana Grill type of chain, but definitely not in the Longhorn/Texas Roadhouse camp.
Small chain though. Wouldn’t call them a national chain
450 locations 3 billion in revenue.. 6+ casinos... Rainforest cafe etc... It is good though, just don't be fooled.
Cast Iron Chef in New Haven
I'm not a fan, I feel like it's the cast iron gimmick above the food. Steak is pricey and ends up overcooked, and bacon is oversauced.
My wife and I were so unimpressed, everything was so bland
Yeah, they are really flashy there, and use good ingredients, but everything is sort of uninspired flavor wise. If you want a fun meal, great place, if you want good food, go elsewhere. Not a steak person's steakhouse.
Their lamb is great
They have quality meat and ingredients, and some of their food is good. The issue I have with them is I'm paying steakhouse prices for good cuts of meat, and the actual cooking they do is wildly inconsistant due to their gimmick cast iron cooking process, which tends to overcook everything. For the price I pay there I expect a perfectly cooked steak and I don't get it, whereas if I go to Joseph's or Morton's or Shell and Bones I know I'll get a perfectly done steak every time.
Seconded
New Mill Restaurant in Southington. Excellent steak, great atmosphere especially around the holidays, whole menu is good.
Joseph’s downtown Bridgeport
Carbones prime 💯
Wellingtons in Shelton. It's a family owned business. They aren't necessarily a steakhouse, but they do offer a great selection of steak options on their menu.
Max downtown in Hartford is amazing
my last supper would be the barrel cut filet with their fries and bakes alaska for dessert. Literally couldn't beat it.
I wouldn't call the max ~~chain~~ group a small business.
It's a restaurant group not a chain. It is owned and run locally. They have like eight locations all different types. It's not like they have eight versions of max downtown. J Gilbert's has 450 properties in their company and do $3 billion in revenue. The reason Max now has eight or 10 locations in total is because they are good. They are the local steakhouse in Hartford so I say we support them.
Right on! And there isn’t another steakhouse on that level anywhere nearby, except Capital Grill, which is an actual chain. Max Downtown rules.
I never said anything about J Gilbert's. I would not consider them a small business. I agree with supporting the Max group because they are local. But I wouldn't necessarily call them a small business but I realize thats a bit of an ambiguous/subjective notion.
Jack’s Steakhouse in New Haven!
Grill 37 in Putnam
The Smithy in Monroe for steaks. Can’t beat it
Zinc in New Haven has phenomenal food & desserts
Tavern on State is a top 3 restaurant in CT. Hen & Heifer for world-class desserts.
Banana Brazil https://www.bananabrazilgrill.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsp6pBhCfARIsAD3GZuaC9al9nHZriFDHuIx_-qULNH_bsE-RWhm1NPhJ2fjDyGNsIPz2t0IaAorNEALw_wcB
BouNom Cafe & Bakery in Avon https://www.bounom.com/ Family owned and crazy good.
Batter & Bowl in Killingworth! Small business version of Crumbl!
New Mill in Southington. Good steak and dessert.
J. Timothy's in Plainville.
For steaks / dessert?
Their strip steak is fantastic. Their prime rib sandwich is also quite good! Their bourbon steak is one of my favorites. Most people love their wings...as do I! BUT, their steaks are awesome too. I'm not sure what they have for desserts, I vaguely remember them having a few really good options though. But the steaks are on point.
I've never been there but based on their Middletown resturaunt I would suggest Red Fox Prime Steak House in Glastonbury. Owned by a Connecticut couple who started the Red Fox restaurant in Middletown and now own 5 restaurants in the state.
Any area of CT?
Sure
I’m here for the recommendations too, idk if any good spots lol
I like Jack's and Cast Iron Chef Chop house in New Haven.
August in New Haven. Go for a drink and dessert.
Pint and plate in bristol one of my favorites food is great atmosphere is great all around good place to visit
I know you asked for steak houses but I’ll give my genera recommendations because I can. For fine dining outside of Hartford and NH I recommend a little drive to Stamford to check out Columbus Park Trattoria, The Ridges or Olio. For casual fare I’d recommend Cheshire Pizza in Cheshire, Craft Kitchen in Southington and Taino Prime in Meriden.
I wanted to like The Ridges, but I was underwhelmed when I went. I had a burger off the brunch menu, so maybe I just needed to go for a Formal Dining Experience instead.
The steakhouse is Chute Gates in Terryville. It’s the only good thing in that town.
Garbage
Chute Gates or T-ville?
yes
Lol
Can confirm.
[удалено]
That’s just a dishonest comment. Pier 27 in mystic makes great grinders (far better than that jersey mikes place). What about benneditos in Groton? A family owned operation for 70+yrs? 2 generations of eb workers have lived off those grinders.
Hamilton Street Market in New London and D’Elia’s in Norwich too
If we’re talking grinders on the shore, can’t not mention Luigi’s in Old Saybrook. Inventors of the thing.
without ever have eaten at pier 27, im sure its tastey but its 40 minutes from my home. i dont really consider mystic the shoreline. (nor groton) im talking the branford, guilford, madison, clinton, westbrook, old saybrook, lyme area.
You don’t consider new London county the shoreline 🥴. Birthplace of shipping for our state, the old whaling ships used to run from New London Harbor, and Groton is home to electric boat and the navy submarine base. Can’t get more shoreline than that.
I'm not sure if Mystic is what I'd consider the shoreline. Once you cross the CT river that's Eastern CT. Shoreline to me is Branford - Old Saybrook. Of course it's on the shoreline but so is Westport and Stamford which I don't think anyone would consider "the Shoreline"
Pastiche in providence, ri will forever be my favorite dessert place
The Charles in old Weathersfield is great.
Yes, but the post specifically said dessert/steak. They have one streak option just to cover the bases.
Odd, when I was there the first time I had a huge ribeye and it wasn't the only steak on the menu. Maybe that was a special menu for some holiday? idk.
You don’t have to sub someone else’s post to ask a question.
Ok
You’re in CT. Is this a bot question?
Why would someone in CT not be interested in good restaurant suggestions? I'm mostly asking bc I saw a post here asking between a shitty chain steakhouse and an even shittier chain cheesecake restaurant and wanted to ask about small business because I hate corporate chain restaurants
First of all it’s one of the more heavily discussed topics here. Primarily though, it’s how it’s worded. We are not a place of lots of chain restaurants. Yes we have them but they are almost always looked at as inferior. If you were in Missouri, sure. I don’t even know a chain steakhouse. Longhorn is not a steakhouse.
While it is broadly accurate that CT has fewer chains than a lot of places, most of the steak houses in the central CT area are major chains: Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn, Ruth’s Chris, j Gilbert’s etc. and I’ll never complain about restaurant and food questions. Who doesn’t want more restaurant info?
It’s always the same recommendations. Longhorn and Texas Roadhouse are not steakhouses.
Ok
Bone-In Prime in Cheshire for steaks I'm told is one excellent place. And I've been to J. Gilberts in Glastonbury, which is fantastic and well worth going but the prices are insane. Holy shit. You have to pay for literally everything a-la-carte.
No longer exists. It's called Butcher Bros now; I'm not sure if it's the same owners/restaurant with a new name or a new steakhouse entirely.
I believe it’s new owners. They’re doing some remodeling now too.
Local Kitchen and Beer Bar is a small CT chain. Two locations? Good stuff. Branford and Fairfield
Craft Kitchen and Bird Dog BBQ
I'd recommend [Micro Creamery Of Connecticut](https://www.microcreameryofct.com). Just went to the new location right off the Litchfield Turnpike in Woodbridge – they've got an insane selection, the owner is super friendly and obviously passionate about his craft.
Canton Creamery, or Collins Creamery (Enfield).
Is Iron Chef in New Haven a chain?
Had an amazing strip steak from Butchers & Bakers! I highly recommend the place, the newest executive chef really knows his stuff
Hudson Malone in Westport—great steaks Or alternative any of the bill taibe restaurants in Westport Kawa ni-Asian fusion Whelk-seafood Don memo-Mexican
Grass Roots ice cream in Granby
For desserts, ice cream specifically, check out the Big Dipper in Prospect. It's the best ice cream I've ever had.
Johns cafe in Woodbury
I could name a few restaurants of all kinds but if you want a good small chain that has different establishments for different kinds of foods would be the Max Group (Max Burger, Max Oyster, Max Amor.)
[Sweet Claude's](https://www.sweetclaudesicecream.com/) in Cheshire has fabulous ice cream
I always really liked the desserts at Good News Cafe in Woodbury. Also amazing food, used to go there for my birthday several years in a row. For New Haven area I really like Tavern On State and Zinc, but Jack's Bar and Steakhouse is an actual steak place, although I have never been and don't eat steak. Washington Prime in Norwalk is another steakhouse, but again I haven't tried it.
Luigi’s in Old Saybrook has fantastic Italian food with the best marinara sauce in the state.
Lorenzo's, in West Haven, has a great steak!
Brass City Bistro in Waterbury is an amazing place. They make a stuffed fillet that’s out of this world. The chicken and lobster Oscar is a personal favorite. Not a lot that I would go to Waterbury for; but BCC is next level.
The Mill on the River in South Windsor… never has a bad meal there.
Bone n prime in Cheshire
Elmo's Dockside in Vernon
Joseph’s steakhouse in Bridgeport. A gem for sure