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South End in New Canaan Returns as South End Bar

Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant New Canaan South End New Canaan New American Opening Interview

Andrew Dominick March 31, 2026

One of the spots that’s synonymous with New Canaan’s dining scene from 2012 well into 2023 was South End. “Was?” Hmm…How about “is?” And that’s because South End is back, in a smaller space, down the same alleyway as Uncorked, in what was the Mexican-inspired The Back End, as South End Bar. If you’re one of the many who remembers South End, and all it’s modern tavern fare fondly, you’re not alone. Chef-owner Nick Martschenko does, too.

TICKETS ON SALE: Join Us To Celebrate CT's Women in Culinary April 27th

Features Events EVENT It's A Woman's World Homepage

Stephanie Webster March 30, 2026

On April 27th, CTbites will host “It’s A Woman’s World: An Evening To Inspire, Connect & Celebrate CT's Women in Culinary“ honoring the many inspiring and trailblazing females in Connecticut’s culinary industry. TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW.

The evening will include great food, signature cocktails created by Banfi Wine & Sprits, tastings from Fifth State Distillery, awards, and of course, plenty of time to mingle and meet the women in our community at the beautiful Hotel Marcel in New Haven.

Award winners will be announced at the event in 11 categories, and we NEED YOU to VOTE for the women whose work and influence have shaped the industry in meaningful ways.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE WOMEN IN CULINARY-from chefs & restaurateurs to farmers and winemakers, artisans, bartenders, cheesemongers, and influencers. PUBLIC VOTING IS NOW LIVE HERE

The Blind Rhino: Past, Present, and Future

Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Norwalk Black Rock Bridgeport Milford Chicken Wings Burgers Beer Food Truck

Andrew Dominick March 25, 2026

In 2015, three longtime friends and lifers in the hospitality industry decided to open a sports bar in South Norwalk. Over 10 years later, The Blind Rhino, and co-owners Casey Dohme, Matt Bacco, and Jamie Pantanella have seen one location in SoNo grow into another in Black Rock, another in Milford, and two food trucks. And that’s not all. They’re present at events all over Connecticut and beyond and they do a lot for charity—including hosting their own golf tournaments to raise funds for local organizations. Still…not done.

Hotaru Opens in Southport Featuring an Affordable, Intimate Omakase Experience

Features Interview Ingredients Restaurant Omakase Sushi Japanese Opening Interview Southport Homepage

Andrew Dominick March 24, 2026

3363 Post Road in Southport is no longer the home of the $5 footlong, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a deal to be had. In the bones of a former Subway franchise, right next to Dunkin’, is Hotaru, a predominantly Japanese restaurant where the star of their show is a very affordable omakase experience. Hotaru opened very quietly to friends, family, and random curious customer walk-ins on March 16 with an abbreviated menu that’ll soon expand. The team behind Hotaru is Yingying Yan, who owns Gingko Sichuan Cuisine in Fairfield, her chef at Ginkgo, Jerry, and Ken Piao, the owner of Yuki Kitchen in Westport.

CT Easter Dining & Catering Guide (2026 Edition)

Features Easter Holiday Highlight

Carly Terzigni March 21, 2026

The Easter Bunny is hopping into town a little earlier this year, with Easter taking place on Sunday, April 5. Don’t let the holiday sneak up on you! Now is the time to book brunch and dinner reservations, or place those catering orders if you’re enjoying an Easter feast at home. No matter what you decide, there are restaurants around the state ready to help you celebrate with family and friends.

This guide has been organized by county to help you locate a restaurant nearest you. Scroll to your home county to see what businesses offer Easter specials this year.

CT Passover Dining & Catering Guide (2026 Edition)

Features Passover Holiday Jewish Holidays Catering

Carly Terzigni March 17, 2026

Pass the matzoh ball soup, because Passover is here once again! This holiday is celebrated by gathering with friends and family around the table to share a special meal, which means it’s time to think about all things food! Businesses across Connecticut have catering menus ready for advance ordering to take the guesswork out of planning your delicious Passover Seder. Make sure to note any order deadlines so you don’t miss out!

Masa Taco Bar + Chicho's Cocina in Stamford: Rooted in Family Tradition and Travels

Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Tacos Stamford Masa Taco Bar Chicho's Cocina Interview Homepage Mexican

Andrew Dominick March 17, 2026

Almost 10 years to the day, CTbites found itself covering La Esquina Latin Grill in Stamford, where chef-owner Robert Monegro served up classic Latin American dishes. In the present, the Stamford-raised Monegro is still pretty busy. La Esquina is well behind him, though, and you’ll see him bouncing back and forth between his two popular taqueria’s, Chico’s Cocina, and as of 2024, Masa Taco Bar. For Monegro, his culinary journey didn’t start 10 years ago at his first restaurant. It actually began in 1995 at his father’s Dominican restaurant, Flamboyant Chico Cocina.

The Bedford by Martha Stewart Opens at Foxwoods Casino March 14

Restaurant Features Celebrity Chef Martha Stewart Foxwoods Opening

CTbites Team March 11, 2026

The Bedford by Martha Stewart at Foxwoods Casino will officially open to the public on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The Bedford is Martha Stewart’s second restaurant and her first restaurant on the East Coast, bringing her celebrated style and hospitality to Foxwoods.

Located within the Grand Pequot Tower, The Bedford is inspired by Martha’s historic 1925 farmhouse in Bedford, New York, offering a warm, residential-inspired setting that reflects her personal style and passion for entertaining, paired with a menu of her most beloved dishes and seasonal favorites.

Guests can expect signature menu items from the flagship Bedford at Paris Las Vegas, including the famed bread basket, Big Martha’s Pierogies, and Honey Mustard Salmon, alongside new dishes created exclusively for the Foxwoods location such as Martha’s Giant Turkey Meatball, Pasta Limone, and Crispy Chicken Milanese. The restaurant will also feature a robust breakfast offering, including highlights like Breakfast Biscuits, Eggs Benedict, Grand Marnier French Toast, Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes, Donn’s Waffles with Pequot Maple Syrup, and Martha’s Fresh Pressed Green Juice. Signature cocktails—including the Martha-tini and frozen pomegranate Martha-rita—are crafted with freshly squeezed juices and premium spirits, reflecting Martha’s commitment to quality ingredients. The culinary program will emphasize locally sourced ingredients, celebrating Martha Stewart’s dedication to quality and sustainability while delivering a memorable dining experience for guests.

Guide to Kids Cooking Camps & Classes (2026 Edition)

Features Kids Cooking Camp kids activity kids cooking party Cooking Classes Summer Camp Education Homepage

Carly Terzigni March 11, 2026

It may be hard to believe, but we’re weeks away from spring, which means warmer weather is right around the corner. That also means it’s time to start planning your summer camp schedule, and if you have budding home chefs in the family, a cooking camp may be the perfect option! In addition, we have provided a list of businesses across the state that are offering kids' cooking classes this spring. These classes and camps range from one-day classes to week-long (sometimes longer!) camps for kids of all ages. You’ll find several private chef-led cooking parties here as well.

Some of the following classes are offered as early as this month, with others not kicking off until later this summer, but, as with any summer camp, slots fill up quickly! Don’t delay in signing your kids up for the following programs.

60+ CT Spots to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day 2026

Features Restaurant Events St. Patrick's Day Guide Homepage Events

Carly Terzigni March 06, 2026

Could this long, cold, and snowy winter finally be coming to a close? It looks like things are heating up fast! Not only do I detect warmer days on the horizon, but St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. I, for one, am ready to swap the cold gray for some bright green! Restaurants across the state are feeling the same and are ready to celebrate. With towns hosting parades over the next couple of weeks, there are multiple opportunities to gather with friends and family and spread some Irish cheer. This guide is organized by county to help you easily find a restaurant near you celebrating. Simply scroll to your local county and see where you can enjoy some corned beef and a Guinness this March!

Via Emilia: An Italian Love Letter Written in Mystic

Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Italian Interview Espresso Martini Fresh Pasta Mystic Homepage

Andrew Dominick March 03, 2026

Love letters aren’t always inked on parchment, sometimes they’re cooked in a kitchen and served to hungry customers. That’s the case at Mystic’s Via Emilia where co-owners Shaun Golan and Jakub Andros are dishing out Italian comfort food that’s uncomplicated and pays respect to Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region since it opened in 2020. On the brink of celebrating six years at the very end of Coastal Connecticut, how Via Emilia came to be, what they’re cooking and why they’re cooking it, and the tale behind their popular espresso martini is a story that should be told.

Vyne Restaurant & Bar: Fine Dining Meets Comfort Classics in Middlebury

Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Middlebury Mediterranean Italian Interview Cocktails Fine Dining Homepage

Andrew Dominick February 24, 2026

Unless you live near or in Middlebury, there’s a very real chance you’ve never dined there. Ask a few guys who now work in Middlebury at Vyne Restaurant & Bar and they’ll tell you that before they got there, they hadn’t either. “I had never even heard of Middlebury and I spent a lot of my life in Hartford,” says Vyne’s general manager Justin Morales. What Morales, an industry veteran both behind the bar and as a GM (and most recently of Fire by Forge), and executive chef James Piccolo are doing in this part of Connecticut is putting their stamp on a restaurant idea that began many years ago as a small cafe inside of a furniture store, Middlebury Consignment.

First Look: Norwalk's Valencia Luncheria Reopens as Valencia Cocina

Features Ingredients Interview Restaurant Valencia Norwalk Valencia Luncheria Venezuelan Latin American Reopening Interview Homepage

Andrew Dominick February 18, 2026

After a little over three weeks closed for menu changes and renovations, Valencia Luncheria is back in action! Only now you have to call it by its changed name, Valencia Cocina, representing it’s new chapter that we teased you about at the beginning of the year. Now reopened with a sexier, but still chill vibe, a brand-new bar, and a reimagined menu, founder Michael Young, co-owner Luis Chavez, and executive chef Marv Bryce are ready to welcome you back in.

Guide To The Best Cheesemongers in Connecticut

Features Cheese Cheese Shop Cheesemonger Best of CT Highlight Homepage

Amy S. White February 12, 2026

Connecticut’s best cheesemongers are more than just retailers—they are conveyors of craft, both local and beyond. With their displays of cave-aged wheels from Italian mountain cellars, butter-yellow wedges from snowy Switzerland, delicate soft cheeses from the fields of France, or even fresh curds still warm from their own vats, they connect pasture to plate, guiding customers through the stories of the dairy farmers and their herds, terroir, and traditions that give each cheese its nuanced flavor, texture, and character. This alphabetical list celebrates the destination cheese farms, shops, and creameries from across the state where the counters are classrooms, and the owners’ devotion keeps the culture of good cheese alive, one wedge at a time. At these counters, tasting is encouraged, questions are welcomed, and discovery is part of the experience. Those who work in them are experts in knowing not only what to cut, but when, and why. Whether you’re seeking something for a special occasion or a new favorite for a weeknight snack, these shops invite you in to ask, taste, and support the makers far and wide who keep this ancient foodstuff thriving.

Buzzed: Connecticut Distillery SoNo 1420 + Local Breweries Get in the THC Seltzer Game

Brewery Features Ingredients Interview THC Seltzer THC Seltzer Cannabis Beverage Cannabis SoNo 1420 Two Roads Brewing Company Thomas Hooker Brewery Interview Non Alcoholic

Andrew Dominick February 12, 2026

If you ask Ted Dumbauld, the owner of the Norwalk-based distillery SoNo 1420, about pivots he’s had to make as a result of alcohol consumption being in a major decline, he has a lot to say. “They used to tell you, if you have a beer or a wine, that it’s healthy for you, but studies have shifted showing that alcohol use is linked to causing cancer,” he says. “If you’re prediabetic or you’re older, you’re probably told to stop drinking, and younger generations aren’t consuming as much alcohol.” And he’s not just saying that. A Gallup Poll from August 2025, a survey that has tracked our drinking behavior since 1939, says that only 54% of Americans reported drinking alcohol, a record-low.

2026 Mardi Gras Guide: 15 CT Spots To Let The Good Times Roll

Features Mardi Gras

Carly Terzigni February 09, 2026

It’s time for music, Hurricanes, and plenty of King Cake. Mardi Gras is right around the corner, with restaurants across Connecticut ready to throw some of the biggest parties of the season. While many of these one-night-only events are being held on Fat Tuesday, February 17, you’ll also find a number of restaurants with parties and menu specials that last a little longer throughout February. And don’t forget about those bakery orders, so you can enjoy your own King Cake at home!

The Haven Opens in Norwalk Featuring a Speakeasy, Rooftop, Cafe, and Event Space

Features Interview Restaurant Speakeasy Cocktails Pizza Late Night Norwalk Interview Rooftop Opening

Andrew Dominick February 06, 2026

The restaurant space on the corner of Washington and N Main has seen its share of flips. Evarito’s had an over five-year run, then it was The Pompano for a blink. Drive or walk by it now and you’ll notice the dining room is empty-ish, but more like a clearing, and that the lights are on. And the lettering on the glass door reads, “The Haven.” Behind all of those previous concepts, and behind The Haven, is Christian Burns, who you’re familiar with as the brains behind The Ginger Man and The Cask Republic locations. With The Haven, Burns and his landlords, Joe and Aldo Criscuolo, are teaming up on all four aspects of what this is and what it’s going to be when it’s whole.

100+ Valentine’s & Galentine's Dinners and Events in Connecticut (2026 Edition)

Features Valentine's Day Holiday Guide Homepage

Carly Terzigni February 01, 2026

This winter has been especially cold and snowy, so why not heat things up this Valentine’s Day with a special date night at your favorite Connecticut restaurant? Businesses across the state are ready to help create a memorable evening with menu specials. Looking to stay in? You’ll find businesses offering everything from entrees to plenty of desserts available for pre-order. And if you’re keen on celebrating Galentine’s Day with your closest friends, there are tons of fun activities and menu specials, too!

Don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year, so you may spot a few brunch specials along with menu specials that last all weekend long! This guide is organized by county so you can easily find a restaurant nearest you that will have Valentine’s Day specials this year.

Local Celebrity Chefs Cook For A Cause: Taste of Wishes Tix On Sale Now!

Features Fundraiser Celebrity Chef

CTbites Team January 29, 2026

Taste of Wishes, Make-A-Wish Connecticut’s annual signature event, returns with an unforgettable evening celebrating inspired cuisine and the power of a wish. On Thursday, March 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., guests are invited to Aitoro Appliance, 401 Westport Avenue, Norwalk, where local celebrity chefs will cook side-by-side with Connecticut wish kids to raise critical funds that help make life-changing wishes come true.

This one-of-a-kind culinary experience brings together the region’s most talented chefs to create everything from savory appetizers to decadent desserts. As attendees enjoy tastings throughout the evening, they’ll also meet wish kids and families whose lives have been impacted by Make-A-Wish Connecticut—offering a powerful reminder of how generosity helps turn hope into reality.

Guests will sample exquisite dishes prepared by the following local celebrity chefs:

Robin Selden, Managing Partner & Executive Chef, Marcia Selden Catering and Naked Fig Catering
Matt Storch, Chopped winner and Chef/Owner, Match (Norwalk) and Match Burger Lobster (Westport)
Jes Bengtson, Executive Chef, Terrain Garden Café (Westport)
Dan Kardos, Chef/Owner, Café Melba (Stratford)
Anthony Kostelis, Greenwich Country Club
Chris Gonzalez, Kawa Ni
Prasad Chirnomula, Chef/Owner, Chef Prasad (Indian Cuisine)
John Nealon, Crust Issues

75+ Sports Bars, Restaurants, Caterers, BBQ Joints & Pizzerias for Super Bowl LX

Features Super Bowl Catering Sports Bar Homepage

Hannah Goodman January 28, 2026

While it felt like just yesterday that week one of football season kicked off, we are already a couple weeks away from Super Bowl LX. Two teams will battle it out for a chance to win the highest honor in football, to get that ring, and to show everyone why they deserve to be the champions. Maybe the New England Patriots will earn another, yes another, ring. Or maybe the Seattle Seahawks will cap off a remarkable season with a Super Bowl win, though I have yet to encounter a single Seahawks fan my entire life…they must be out there somewhere, right? Unfortunately, the Eagles are out of the running and won’t get the chance to two-peat…you’re welcome, Pats fans.

Whether you are in it for the touchdowns, missed extra points, and bad calls or you’re just there for the halftime show, commercials, and beer, we can all agree on one thing: Game Day food must be on point. In this guide we have listed many wonderful restaurants and bars throughout Connecticut that are doing it up for Super Bowl LX. Get your SB Sunday catered or take your friends & fam out to your local bar. You can even enjoy this great food without the game…in the dark…staring into the abyss, thinking about how and why your favorite team is not playing another game until September – truly anything goes! Yay sports! Yay wings! Let’s go.

Super Bowl LX: Sunday, February 8th, kickoff @ 6:30 p.m. ET.