Tavern on State in New Haven

Emily Mingrone founded Tavern on State at 969 State St. in New Haven three years ago with partner Shane Mcgowan.

Her victory as South Region Restaurant of the Year is the third Crazie award, after Chef of the Year (last year) and Newcomer of the Year.

Mingrone founded Tavern because she saw a void in the dining scene of the city she loves.

“A lot of restaurants here, there was not really much inventiveness,” she said. She founded a haven for New American Cuisine, where the menu changes with the seasons.

“Our popular dishes are grilled octopus, and corzetti with rock shrimp, but the specialty changes depending on the month,” she said.

Her secret weapon is the butcher shop two doors down. “We cut it, cure it, smoke it. So we have access to more unusual cuts of meat,” she said.

Other menu items are beef, chicken and lamb burgers, roasted steak and chicken, pork Milanese, halibut and some creative cocktails. See tavernonstate.com.

Kawa Ni in Westport

Bill Taibe is no stranger to the Crazies. Last year, he won restaurateur of the year. A few years before that, his Jesup Hall (now defunct) won newcomer of the year.

He now owns Don Memo, The Whelk and he operates Norwalk Art Space. Kawa Ni, at 19A Bridge Square in Westport, was founded in 2014 when Taibe wanted to stretch into new territory.

“We wanted to challenge ourselves to learn a new culture and cuisine,” he said. “I went to Japan and was introduced to the izakaya concept.” That concept, a bar that also serves small plates, inspired Kawa Ni.

Taibe, Will Friedman and Anthony Kostelis man the kitchen, serving up cold, hot and raw dishes of ramen, buns, dumplings, rolls, sandwiches and rice dishes.

Kawa Ni, which has 80 seats and a large bar, also prides itself on its whiskey selection.

“Whiskey is big in Japanese culture and it’s big in our culture. It’s a celebration of two cultures,” he said. See kawaniwestport.com.