The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
State restaurants make it to Yelp’s ‘Top 100 In New England’ list
Connecticut restaurants are well represented on Yelp’s recently released list of the Top 100 Places to Eat in New England, including two in the top 10 and four in the top 20.
Zeneli in New Haven, a traditional Neapolitan-style pizzeria on Wooster Street, landed at No. 2, with Yelp reviewers praising its thin-crust pizzas, “excellent” ingredients and toppings and freshly made cheeses like ricotta and mozzarella di bufala.
Another Italian eatery, Salute in Hartford, landed at No. 6 as Yelpers noted its signature rose pasta (cheese tortellini and sweet sausage in a light cream sauce) and cheesy garlic bread.
The Tasty Yolk, with food trucks and brick and mortar locations in Bridgeport, Fairfield and Stratford, came in at No. 15 as reviewers raved about its creative and elevated breakfast sandwiches.
At No. 20, Norwalk’s Dilly Duck Shop got the nod for its signature sandwiches: “handheld beauties” with “perfectly combined ingredients.”
The No. 1 restaurant on Yelp’s list is Jayd Bun of South Kingstown, R.I., specializing in the Chinese comfort food that chef Annie Parisi grew up with in Tianjin, China: pan-fried bao buns, dumplings, wontons and noodle dishes.
To compile the list, Yelp identified businesses in the restaurants category, then ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews between Jan. 1, 2017, and July 27, 2022. This list looked at businesses in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
2. Zeneli Pizzeria
The four Zeneli brothers — Aleko, Jetmir, Jashar and Gazmir — originally from Albania, learned the pizza business in Naples, falling in love with “the city of a thousand colors.”
They opened Zeneli Pizzeria e cucina Napoletana in 2019, adding authentic Neapolitan-style pizza to the street that already boasted heavyweights Sally’s and Pepe’s.
138 Wooster St., New Haven, 203745-4194, @zeneli_pizzeria.
6. Salute
Salute, a downtown Hartford mainstay, expanded to Rocky Hill in October 2021 and brought along many of its signature dishes (yes, including the “already famous” garlic cheese bread, the sweet potato ravioli appetizer and the rose pasta with sausage and mushroom).
Pastas, fish and beef dishes round out the dinner menu, including a variety of grilled steaks and sides.
100 Trumbull St. in Hartford, 860-899-1350, @salutehartford.
377 Cromwell Ave. in Rocky Hill, 860-372-4545, @saluterockyhill.
15. The Tasty Yolk
Eric Felitto and Michael Bertanza co-founded the first The Tasty Yolk cart in 2016, and a year later the business was named one of the top 100 food trucks in the country by msn.com.
Felitto, a career chef whose resume includes experience at Barteca Restaurant Group, Artisan in Southport, L’Escale in Greenwich and The Chelsea in Fairfield, won an episode of “Chopped” in late 2018, which helped further raise the business’s profile.
The Tasty Yolk has since grown to include four food carts and two storefronts, in Black Rock and Stratford. The menu offers over-the-top egg sandwiches, like the Tasty with craft chorizo and cheddar, the Banker with brisket, Swiss and spicy aioli; and hefty breakfast burritos.
Bertanza said the Pig, a classic construction with bacon, egg and American cheese, is the biggest seller.
Information: thetastyyolk.com; @thetastyyolk.
20. The Dilly Duck Shop
Russ Zappala and his mother, Phyllis, run the Dilly Duck Shop in Norwalk, featuring sandwiches (including house-roasted rotisserie beef and pork), pastas, hearty entrees like a daily quiche and pork chops with fries, and soups, like its tomato cheddar bisque.
666 Main Ave., Norwalk, 203-9560040, @thedillyduckshop.
28. Layla’s Falafel
Family-owned and operated since 2000, Layla’s has locations in Fairfield, Stamford and Westport and features Middle Eastern specialties like falafel, schwarma, kabobs, and sides like grape leaves, tabouli, baba ghanoush and classic hummus.
Information: laylasfalafel.com; @laylas_falafel.
46. Norm’s Diner
This is a classic, old-school diner with comforting fare like pancakes, omelets, burgers and sandwiches.
171 Bridge St., Groton, 860-4058383, facebook.com/normsdiner.
47. Los Garcia Mexican Fusion
The popular Waterbury food truck features tacos with al pastor, carne asada, chicken, shrimp and chorizo; tacos de birria, burritos, tamales, tortas and other flavorful dishes.
836 E. Main St., Waterbury, 203910-9432, facebook.com/losgarciamexicanfusion.
48. Mama Chow
Mama Chow’s menu is inspired by Asian street hawker fare, with menu items like bao, crispy Vietnamese rolls, dumplings, pho, ramen and laksa.
3381 Post Road, Southport, 203292-3696, @mamachowct.
55. Tangiers International
Tangiers, a family-owned Mediterranean food market in Hartford’s West End, serves meals from its counter, including falafel, gyros, kebabs, chicken curry and stews.
550 Farmington Ave., Hartford 860-233-8168, @tangiersmarket.
58. Teff Eritrean & Ethiopian Cuisine
Chef Hadas Mengesha opened Teff in 2015, featuring traditional Eritrean and Ethiopian plates: stewed and sauteed meat and chicken dishes and an extensive vegan menu, served with gluten-free injera flatbread or rice.
113 W. Main St., Stamford, 203998-7474, @teffstamford.
60. Andes International Gourmet Deli
At Andes International Gourmet Deli, the food created by Monica and Wilson Ramones “derives from a culture of true traditional Andes cuisine, dating back to their childhood in South America,” according to its website.
The menu features Venezuelan arepas, Peruvian dishes like lomo saltado and ceviche mixto, quesadillas, burritos, mofongos, burgers, sandwiches and empanadas.
148 Amity Road, New Haven, 475-209-9385, @andes_deli.
70. Chicho’s Cocina
Chef/owner Robert Monegro named Chicho’s Cocina after his father. “He would spend his afternoons and evenings at his father’s side in the kitchen, observing how he cooked, learning his recipes, and witnessing his love of serving others through the food he made,” Chicho’s website notes.
“Everyday, Robert grew more and more passionate about food as his father was.”
At the Mexican kitchen on Shippan Avenue, the menu features tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, bowls and plates, with proteins and toppings like al pastor pork, carnitas, barbacoa, cilantro lime chicken and cauliflower.
351 Shippan Ave., Stamford, 203276-1557, @chichos.cocina.
72. Pataka Vegetarian Indian Cuisine
Harry and Romy Singh opened Pataka, a vegetarian-focused Indian restaurant in New Haven, in the fall of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Note: Pataka announced the Howe Avenue brick-and-mortar restaurant would be closed as of Oct. 9.
“Don’t worry, we will be back to serve our signature vegetarian meals in the near future!” the post read. “We appreciate all the love and support we got from the community and truly enjoyed serving everyone that walked through our doors.”
73. Himalaya Cafe
The Indian restaurant, which opened in January 2017, was noted as a recent “hidden gem” by Connecticut Magazine.
Note: Himalaya Cafe’s Yelp page says the restaurant is temporarily closed, and will reopen in April 2023.
1456 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, 860-577-5300, @the_himalaya_cafe.
77. Twisted Italian Cafe
Twisted Italian Cafe, an Italian eatery within Hartford’s Parkville Market food hall, has earned a following for its “crazy good food” including pastas, grinders and meatballs. Connecticut Magazine named it one of the 25 best restaurants of 2021.
1400 Park St., Hartford, 860-4706988, @twisteditalianct.
80. YiaYia’s Greek Kitchen
At this traditional Greek taverna, YiaYia’s owners Yanni and Kaitlyn Gogo honor Yanni’s grandmother with the dishes Yanni grew up with: dips like tzatziki, hummus and tirokafteri; mezze like grape leaves and loukaniko; souvlaki, gyros and pikilia platters with assorted meats.
1057 E. Main St., Torrington, 860618-3076, @yiayias_greek_kitchen.
86. Mosaico Cuisine
Mosaico is a “pocket-sized” Venezuelan restaurant on Main Street in Branford, offering specialties like arepas, tostones, cachapas and soups.
539 Main St., Branford, 475-2080380, @mosaico.cuisine.
89. RAWA
RAWA, a Mediterranean fusion restaurant, features assorted dips like baba ghanouj, muhammara and labne; soups and salads, assorted pita pizzas, and specialty entrees like falafel, biryani, merguez sausage, moussaka and kebabs.
838 Whalley Ave., New Haven, 203-298-1508, @rawa.restaurant.
90. Crazy Greek
Crazy Greek promises “fresh, fast, tasty” Greek food, with menu items like hummus, spanakopita, grape leaves, salads, souvlaki, gyros and falafel.
1143 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, Plantsville, 860-426-3778, facebook.com/CrazyGreekSouthington.
91. Yalla Organic Hummus & Grill
Yalla’s fast-casual, all-organic Mediterranean menu features pitas, bowls, wraps and salads customizable with choice of hummus, protein, salad toppings and sauces. The restaurant also offers cold-pressed juices.
222 Post Road, Fairfield, 203-8440113, @yallaorganicfood.
92. Domenick & Pia Downtown Pizzeria
Domenick & Pia is a Waterbury classic, known for its house-specialty cheese pie. Connecticut Magazine called it a “simple masterpiece” in 2017.
“The crispy crust looks thick, but has a light, airy taste and the red marinara sauce shines with a subtle sweetness that powers the pie,” Erik Ofgang wrote. “Mozzarella completes the holy trinity of pizza ingredients.”
3 Brook St., Waterbury, 203-7533401, facebook.com/domenickandpiadowntownpizzeria.