Top 100 Restaurants in CT for 2018
From Granby to Madison, Kent to Killingly, good eats abound in our beautiful Nutmeg State. It was our task for Hearst Publishing this year to determine the top of the heap, the creme de la creme and the cherries on top of this statewide sundae. So, after an abundance of hours honing in on the gems, we now offer to you our Top 100 restaurants in Connecticut! This list was created for our co-branded Top 100 Dining & Drinks guide we create for Hearst Media. The establishments on this list are not necessarily new, but they do happen to represent the very best CT has to offer for 2018. Our hope is that you enjoy exploring new flavors, maybe discover a new corner of the state that you haven’t visited before, and make memories with new culinary experiences. And hey, please add your favorites in the comment section if they don’t happen to appear on this list. Connecticut is truly brimming with deliciousness.
Note: Limiting this list to 100 was challenging for the team. We lacked the bandwidth to include all of our favorite “delicious dives: and “hidden gems,” but you can find those on CTbites.com.
American
Photo: Arethusa Al Tavolo
Arethusa Al Tavolo, Bantam
Artisan-Southport, West Hartford
Bailey’s Backyard, Ridgefield
Community Table, Washington
The Cook & Bear/Bear’s Smokehouse, West Hartford
The Cottage, Westport
Elm, New Canaan
Harlan Social, Stamford
Hoodoo Brown BBQ, Ridgefield
Jesup Hall, Westport
Match, Norwalk
Max’s Oyster Bar, West Hartford
Millwright’s, Simsbury
ON20, Hartford
OSA, Middletown
Oyster Club, Mystic
Present Company, Tariffville
The Essex, Centerbrook
The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, Wilton
South End, New Canaan
Spicer Mansion, Mystic
The Spread, Norwalk and Greenwich
Taproot, Bethel
Terrain, Westport
The Whelk, Westport
The White Hart, Salisbury
Winvian, Morris
Zinc, New Haven
Asian
Photo: Takumi
Kawa Ni, Westport
Lao Sze Chuan, Milford
Mecha Noodle Bar-Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford
Miya Sushi, New Haven
OKO, Westport
SHU-Fairfield, West Hartford
Takumi Sushi, Ramen & Lounge, Branford
Wasabi Japanese, Orange
Bar / Pub
Photo: Harlan Haus
Broken Symmetry Gastro Brewery, Bethel
Dere Street, Newtown
El Segundo, Norwalk
Engine Room, Mystic
Harlan Haus, Bridgeport
Liberty Rock Tavern, Milford
SE Uncorked, New Canaan
White Horse Country Pub, Marbledale
Burgers
Photo: Prime Burger
Artisanal Burger Company, Manchester
Hapa Food Truck, Stamford
Louis Lunch, New Haven
Match Burger Lobster, Westport
Max Burger, West Hartford
Prime 16-New Haven, Orange
Republic At The Linden, Hartford
French
Photo: A’vert Brasserie
A’vert Brasserie, West Hartford
Bar Bouchee, Madison
Le Fat Poodle, Old Greenwich
Le Petite Cafe, Branford
Luc’s Cafe, Ridgefield
Thomas Henkelmann, Greenwich
Hidden Gems
Photo: Hen and Heifer
Clam Castle, Madison
Corner Restaurant, Milford
Hen & Heifer, Guilford
Hidden Valley Eatery, Washington
Layla’s Falafel-Stamford, Westport and Fairfield
Lebanese Cuisine, Bethel
Mamies Roxbury, Roxbury
Rincon Taqueria, Norwalk
Indian
Coromandel-Darien, Southport, Stamford
INDIA, West Hartford
Italian/Mediterranean
Photo: Olea
Aranci 67, Wilton
Bar Sugo, Norwalk
Cafe Silvium, Stamford
Fortina, Stamford
Grano Arso, Chester
La Zingara, Bethel
Olea, New Haven
Restaurant Bricco, West Hartford
Treva Restaurant & Bar, West Hartford
Zohara, West Hartford
Latin American
Photo: Barcelona Wine Bar
Barcelona Wine Bar-Fairfield, New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, West Hartford
Basso Café, Norwalk
Bodega Taco Bar-Darien, Fairfield
Brasitas-Stamford, Norwalk
Chango Rosa, Hartford
Costa Del Sol, Hartford
Kala Bistro, North Haven
Sayulita, South Glastonbury
Pizza
Bar, New Haven
Brick & Wood, Fairfield
Bufalina, Guilford
Colony Grill-Stamford, Fairfield, Norwalk, Milford
Locali Pizza Bar + Kitchen, New Canaan
Modern APizza, New Haven
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, New Haven
Sally’s APizza, New Haven
SWYFT, Kent
Tarry Lodge, Westport, New Haven
Vegetarian
Bloodroot, Bridgeport
Catch A Healthy Habit Cafe, Fairfield
Claire’s Corner Copia, New Haven
Flora, West Hartford
G Zen, Branford
ION Restaurant, Middletown
