Flashing back on recent dining reviews
Bogue’s Alley
From breakfast pizza ($3 slice; $17 pie) to the “Big Bill” with “BuffaQue” sauce (standard $6.95 panini price), there is no shortage of unique and tasty options at Bogue’s Alley in Pawcatuck. There are several stick-to-theribs breakfast options, including the “El Jefe breakfast burrito” with eggs, sausage, onion, salsa, black beans, cheddar cheese and sour cream ($5.95), as well the “Wayne-O” egg sandwich on Kaiser roll with roasted red peppers, sausage and cheese ($5.25).
The lunch menu also boasts some impressive items: the “Rachel” with meatballs, roasted red peppers and provolone cheese; “Cowboy” with roast beef, cheddar, red onion, horseradish sauce and lettuce and tomato; and the vegetarian “Paulette,” with sprouts, cucumber slices, tomato, red onion and mayo-mustard hybrid “sunshine sauce.” The comfortable, unpretentious atmosphere and fully stocked newspaper stand at the front are also big pluses. — Alex Nunes
M/Bar
M/Bar in Mystic has so much going for it that I neglected to investigate its extensive wine list, which will be Task 1 next time I dine there (and there will be a next time). Loaded with local vino — including options from M/Bar’s sister operation, Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington — and many other carefully curated vintages courtesy of the house wine director, I will forever remember that M/Bar is very much a wine bar as much as it is a: breakfast nook; lunch spot; intimate small-plates dinner destination; and very cool, successful renovation project. This is an ideal spot for date night or girls’ night or any old night when you’d like to feel a little special. When an old gas station can become a popular, chic space for locavore eats and clever cocktails, you know you’ve cracked the code of the fickle restaurant business. — Marisa Nadolny
THREE MYSTIC BAKERIES Li’s Bake Shop Bleu Squid
Mystic has no shortage of stellar options on the baked goods front. This past week I sampled three of them: Li’s, Sift and Bleu Squid. Li’s, with a laid back, shabby chic vibe, offers a wide variety of sweets: strawberry supreme cupcakes ($3.95), pumpkin whoopie pies ($2.50), and Mystic cookies ($2.25) with Kahluha, Frangelico, walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts and chocolate chips, to name a few.
Sift puts the class in “one-heckof-a-classy bakery.” Sandwiches made fresh daily make this an excellent spot for any meal. I tried the prosciutto arugula sandwich served on baguette with goat cheese and balsamic reduction ($9.50), as well as the roasted turkey on croissant, with brie cheese, spinach and cranberry aioli ($9.95). I also enjoyed a soft but chewy rose water macaron ($1.95) and tasty chocolate, walnut, sea salt cookie ($2.50).
Each Mystic bakery has its own vibe, and Bleu Squid is no different. It’s a casual, homey place where you can grab a cupcake or brownie to go, or sit and have a grilled cheese sandwich. There’s also a small cheese shop, too. Try the lobster grilled cheese ($11.25); it’s a smothering of four different cheeses mixed with lobster meat shreds and served over buttered and grilled thick cut, white bread. The salted caramel cupcake ($3.25) is my favorite dessert. But also be sure to try any of the wide variety of cookies or the Bleu Squid signature cupcake ($3.50) with buttermilk cake, whipped chocolate ganache filling, and purple vanilla buttercream frosting. — Alex Nunes