New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
‘GHOST KITCHENS’
8 ‘HAUNTED’ RESTAURANTS BOAST SPOOKY SIGHTINGS AND GHOSTLY HISTORY
With several of these Connecticut restaurants and bars located in historical, centuries-old buildings, employees and guests say they’ve experienced spooky happenings: unexplained movements, sounds and even sightings of apparitions. But even if you don’t leave with your own personal ghost story, you’ll still enjoy the food and drink.
1754 House Inn & Restaurant
The building, commonly known as “Connecticut’s oldest inn,” was previously the Curtis House, featured on a 2014 episode of “Hotel Hell” with Gordon Ramsay. Employees shared stories of plates flying off restaurant tables and bedspreads appearing rumpled just minutes after rooms were cleaned. A spirit named Betty haunted room 16, the front desk clerk told Ramsay, “raising havoc” with guests who stay there.
Now under new ownership as the 1754 House, the Woodbury restaurant features a modern menu of share plates like duck fat fries, fire-roasted shishito peppers and artisanal cheese and charcuterie, along with sandwiches, burgers and “substantial plates” including spicy shrimp scampi, bistro steak frites and heirloom tomato risotto.
506 Main Street South, 203-4053735, @1754house.
Harrie’s Jailhouse
In March 2021, Carrie Carella and Heather Kelly opened Harrie’s in the historic former Pameacha Jail building, which dates back to the 1850s. The Middltown building was featured on an episode of “Ghost Hunters” more than a decade ago, Kelly said.
Kelly said she was told the building is haunted by a young girl from the 1800s named Sarah, who’s between eight and 10 years old. She hasn’t personally seen the apparition, but she’s noticed flickering lights, drafts and other weird occurrences.
“Any time things start dropping, if we don’t know what’s happening or it just feels like a weird vibe, we put a mocktail out for her so she feels included,” she said. Harrie’s offers “housemade bar snacks, signature sandwiches, and classic cocktails in the coziest jail you’ll ever dine in,” its website notes. The menu provides all the comfort and familiarity of a favorite local sub shop, but with its own twists.
51 Warwick St., 860-788-2450, @harries_jailhouse.
Twisted Vine
The Derby restaurant, housed in the former Birmingham National Bank building built in 1892, is a hotbed of paranormal activity: flickering lights, unexplained moving furniture, the shadowy figure of a child. Norwalkbased Ghost Storm investigated the venue in 2019, and Twisted Vine was named one of Food Network’s “Most Haunted Restaurants in Every State.” The restaurant also appeared on a 2020 episode of Travel Channel’s
“Kindred Spirits.”
Twisted Vine’s American/Continental fare leans heavy on Italian and pasta dishes, with some Asian and Pacific Rim influences. The restaurant hosts a full slate of “paranormal” events.
285 Main St., 203-734-2462, Twisted Vine on Facebook
J. Timothy’s Taverne
Most diners know J. Timothy’s as a destination for “dirt wings” (their signature chicken wings served fried, sauced, then fried a second time.) But some believe its building, which dates back to 1789, may be haunted.
Manager Rino Ouellet, who’s worked at the Plainville restaurant for more than 30 years, said he’s had a few spooky experiences over that time period: things like unexplained noises or doors or windows shutting. Some of that activity has disappeared since those doors and windows have been upgraded recently, he said.
One thing he can’t explain easily is the orbs he and the staff will often see
“WE CAN ASSURE YOU THAT ONE SPIRIT IS VERY MUCH ALIVE AND WELL: OUR SPIRIT OF COMMITMENT TO EXEMPLARY SERVICE, DELICIOUS FARE, AND YOUR FULLEST ENJOYMENT.”
Roberto’s Real American Tavern
late at night in The Forge, the restaurant’s downstairs dining room. They’ll often see orbs in a pitch-dark spot where there isn’t any other interior or exterior light, he said.
Some believe the spirit of original owner John Cooke’s wife is still around the building. Ouellet says he hasn’t personally seen the apparition, but he’s heard stories. Late at night, when he’s getting ready to close the restaurant, he’ll say, tongue-incheek, “Hey, Mrs. Cooke, I’m just doing my walkthrough, leave me alone.”
143 New Britain Ave., 860-747-6813, @jtimothys.
Abigail’s Grille & Wine Bar
Abigail’s Simsbury building dates back to 1780, built to serve as the first stagecoach stop outside of Hartford on the Boston to Albany Turnpike. Abigail’s website notes that the tavern was constructed for Jonathon Pettibone Jr. (the son of a patriot killed in the fighting around New York in 1776) during the revolution, and it became a meeting place to exchange news of the war.The former Pettibone Tavern became Abigail’s in 2008, named for the rumored spirit who haunts the building: Mrs. Abigail Pettibone. Legend has it that she would have affairs when her husband, a whaling captain, was out of town, and he’s said to have murdered her when discovering her in bed with another man. The restaurant now serves “creative continental cuisine,” featuring housemade pastas, a wide variety of fish and seafood entrees and steaks and chops.
4 Hartford Road, 860-264-1580, @AbigailsGrilleandBar.
Roberto’s Real American Tavern
Roberto’s Real American Tavern is situated in the former Jonathan Pasco House, an 1784-era landmark in East Windsor. It was believed to be haunted in its previous iteration, an eatery named for the home of the American Army captain. Some believe Pasco himself haunts the building.
“Some believe these premises to be haunted by spirits,” Roberto’s notes on its website. “However and regardless of what you may believe, we can assure you that one spirit is very much alive and well: our spirit of commitment to exemplary service, delicious fare, and your fullest enjoyment.” Roberto’s, which replaced Jonathan Pasco’s in late 2015, bills its approach to food and drink as “real American,” building its offerings with influences from a diverse range of cultures. The menu is colossal, with something for virtually every palate or craving: pierogi, street tacos, Thai chicken skewers, Italian pastas and Mediterranean grain bowls, in addition to classic burgers, sandwiches and pizzas.
31 South Main St., 860-370-9888, @robertos_ct.
Lighthouse Inn
Once featured on a 2004 episode of “Ghost Hunters,” the New London landmark is said to be home to a spirit — a bride who apparently fell down a winding staircase and broke her neck, dying at her husband’s feet. Some believe she’s haunted the venue ever since, with reports of sights of a figure in a white gown.
The Lighthouse Inn reopened under new ownership in April, but suffered a fire a short time later in May. While renovations are still ongoing, the Inn’s 1902 Tavern is open for service, offering sandwiches and burgers, soups, salads and entrees like fish and chips, NY strip steak and barbecue chicken.
6 West Guthrie Place, 860-709-7883, @lighthouseinnct.
Daniel Packer Inne
The 18th-century tavern, built by sea captain Daniel Packer, is rumored to be haunted by Packer’s great-great-niece, Aida, who died of scarlet fever while living at the inn. Daniel Packer Inne has been part of Seaside Shadows’ downtown Mystic ghost tours, hosting guests for dinner and dessert and chats about paranormal activity once the walking tours conclude.
The restaurant and pub offers classic New England fare like clam chowder, lobster rolls and lemon peppered chicken, listed as a “DPI original,” but also features Asian-inspired dishes like banh mi salmon and gochujang-braised short ribs. Champagne lobster risotto features blackened scallops and avocado cream.
32 Water St., 860-536-3555, facebook.com/ captdpi.