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