I'm not usually in the West Hartford area of CT, but I found myself at Vietnam Restaurant (1131B New Britain Ave) recently and loved it. I'm always a sucker for different food, so we stopped for some pho.
Vietnam Restaurant is a very no-frills atmosphere with a few tables and apparently a back dining room (I didn't see one.) Decor is a bit cliche and honestly I wasn't expecting too much, but the food was incredible. I got the Beef Rice Stick Noodle soup and Madison tried the Wonton with Yellow Noodle soup and we split some Fried Wontons. The Fried Wontons were perfect and the peanut sauce was great. Our soups were giant and delicious. I have no complaints at all. We saw another table try the Chicken Pancakes and they looked amazing too. Stop in and order anything, it all sounds great.
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Nestled in Newington, CT, is Olympia Diner, a very traditional diner with all your greasy favorites. Apparently, it's a Newington favorite, and the diner was packed for brunch on a Sunday.
I got Eggs Benedict and Madison got an Omelette with spinach, mushrooms, and American cheese. My eggs were cooked perfectly and Madison loved her omelette. The hash browns were decent, not as crunchy as I expected, but still yummy. We shared a side of corned beef hash which was delicious. They added red and green peppers which made it more interesting that usual. The service was good and we ate in the dining room, as the first section was filled. I'm probably highly biased, as I love diner food, but Olympia was great. In the heart of New Haven, a few blocks from Toad's Place lies Thai Taste (1151 Chapel St.) It came highly recommended by Lauren, my roommate, so we stopped by for some quick Thai before seeing a show at Toad's. The atmosphere was nice, very laid back with a variety of customers. With quick, attentive service, we ordered and were served before we expected.
I ordered the Pad Thai with chicken, Lauren got the Vegetable Tofu Pad Thai, and I can't remember the other two dishes (yeah, I'm terrible, I know.) Mine was amazing, but huge. Lauren's was great, but the tofu was a strange texture. Her Thai beer, Singha, was really nice too. Everyone loved what they got, and though the server wouldn't split the check, the service was still quite good. Overall, I'd highly recommend Thai Taste, whether you're eating alone or with a group, it's a great place for good service and outstanding food. When I’m back home in Concord, NH, my favorite restaurant to visit is The Barley House. Located on the bustling Main Street, The Barley House offers amazing foods for a very reasonable price.
I found it last year when I came home from school on one of our breaks, and I’ve been visiting the restaurant frequently ever since. In addition to its food, The Barley House offers many local, state, and national beers and wines for of-age customers. When I visited with my parents at the end of October, I ordered the mac n’ cheese (one of my staple foods), and I loved it. I usually stick to the salads and the black bean burger (a favorite of mine), but being the pasta lover that I am, I felt i needed to try it. My parents both ordered the black bean burger, which they enjoyed. You can read their full menu here. While the lighting for the restaurant was not optimal for photographs, it is very welcoming in person. The dimmed-space gives the illusion that you’re at a bar in the middle of Europe, as opposed to downtown Concord. You can read more about The Barley House at their website. You can also check them out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates and upcoming events. I definitely suggest checking them out if you’re in the area! Pie in the Sky is one of the most beloved local Oneonta businesses. Located in an old barn south of the border of Otego, Pie in the Sky is located 10 minutes south of Oneonta. It offers homemade Polar Bear ice cream, locally grown and organic fruits, and a variety of locally hand-crafted honeys and syrups to customers.
But what makes Pie in the Sky truly unique is that is caters to all customers, offering delicious dairy-free and vegan options for those with different dietary needs. It’s hard to beat Pie in the Sky, especially with no other ice cream place like it in the area. There is rumor that this will be Pie in the Sky’s last year serving Polar Bear ice cream in Oneonta, and will be relocating after it closes for the winter. This is especially heartbreaking, since Pie in the Sky/Polar Bear has become such an integral part of the community. I’ve only visited the actual location twice, but it’s such a pleasant experience. The workers are very friendly, and the ice cream is delicious. I've had their ice cream a few more times, through catered events. I personally enjoy the pumpkin flavor, which tastes exactly like pumpkin pie. However, they serve a variety of flavors, from traditional chocolate and vanilla to unique flavors involving mint and peanut butter. Regardless of Polar Bear leaving, check Pie in the Sky out on Facebook, as they may be relocating closer to you! The Plaza Diner just opened in downtown Oneonta, NY. The diner offers both breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, all with Greek influences. I thoroughly enjoyed the bright blue walls on the interior of the restaurant, with pictures from Greece lining the walls. It creates a very warm and inviting atmosphere. The wait staff were all very pleasant and friendly, which certainly added to the happy vibe.
As of now, the Diner serves breakfast all day. I recently went for breakfast and ordered a Belgian waffle with ice cream and strawberries, and it was amazing! I have yet to try their eggs (or any other food on the menu), but I know I’ll be back many more times. The sandwiches also look very promising. The full menu is available to view here. Their hot chocolate was also pretty good, especially with the whipped cream. What better way to usher in fall than with a hot drink? Check out and like the Plaza Diner on Facebook, and definitely stop by if you’re in the area. They also sell their own pastries on a little table toward the back, which I will definitely have to try when I return. Affectionately dubbed WilliBrew, Willimantic Brewing Company came as one of the highest recommended spots when I first moved here. I was familiar with Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY and hoped WilliBrew would be similar, but it took me about a semester and a half to stop by. At 967 Main St., Willimantic Brewing Company looms above the rest of Main Street. It's a renovated post office, but with all the architectural glory you'd expect. I tagged along to an early dinner with my roommate, her mother, and her sister. We ate down in the bar area, as the dining room wasn't open yet. We sat at a high table across from the bar and were welcomed with quick, professional service. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer, and it was lovely, but it was gone before I could get a picture. The bread also came with a cinnamon spice whipped butter which was delicious. As you'll notice in the photos of the menu, each option was labeled with a city or town in CT and the corresponding zip code. I liked that they carried through the postal theme but didn't go overboard, I ordered the Post Office Penne as an entrée, and so did Madison's sister. She ordered the Prospect Primavera (06712) and her mother tried the Hampton Vegetarian Taco Salad (06247). All the portions were giant and we didn't come close to finishing our meals. Everything was delicious, as I had been promised, and I was excited to be taking a full to-go box back to my apartment too. I loved the floors, they looked like they were the original post office floors, and here's what the website has to say: Our original Main Street Café was founded in 1991, and began operations as a small deli in the old Capitol Theatre building on Main Street in Willimantic, CT. Occupying both the lobby and concession area of the theatre, seating was limited to 50 people. After 3 years we were bursting at the seams and made the move to 877 Main Street, another historic building. There we expanded to a full service restaurant and featured American craft-brewed beers and an extensive menu. Willimantic Brewing Company is a great spot for those looking for a nice dinner in a beautiful building who are willing to spend a little more on a great meal. Plus local beer!
Latte Lounge is a popular coffee shop (196 Main St.) in Oneonta, NY. It offers a variety of coffees, teas, lattes, and smoothies, as well as sandwiches, truffles, soups and salads, bagels, and more. You can view a full list of their drinks and food on their website.
According to their website, Latte Lounge was founded in 2000. Throughout the past 15 years, the shop has offered some of its own delicious food and beverages, as well as treats from other local shops. There are almost always an abundance of chocolate truffles from by Moonstruck Chocolatiers. Moonstruck Chocolatiers offers a variety of truffle flavors, and some adorable seasonal ones (they have little pumpkins right now for fall). While I have yet to try them, as they're on the pricier side, but I also have yet to hear any complaints. Occasionally Latte Lounge offers products from the Holiday Farm Biscuit Company, a small baking goods company from Worchester, NY. Although I have not seen these products in a while, I’ve heard that they’re incredible. Latte Lounge is not a traditional sit down eatery. It does offer a decent array of chairs and tables, and it is very possible to stay and eat, especially with the welcoming atmosphere. The space is fairly small, and tables and chairs are a bit crammed in, but this only adds to the atmosphere. When Anna and I visited Latte Lounge for dinner, we were once again blown away with our meals. I ordered a hot chocolate and a garden burger, and I was very impressed. Anna ordered a hot cider and bagel with a honey nut spread, which is one of her favorites. Our friends have also had good luck with the breakfast wraps and sandwiches, chicken sandwiches and their wide array of coffee flavors. I suggest visiting Latte Lounge anytime you’re in the area. It’s conveniently located right on Main Street, and has some of the best food of any coffee shop in the area. To make it even better, it has an adjoining door to the Green Toad Bookstore and patrons are welcome to pop by the bookstore with their coffee and sit in an armchair with a book. Certainly stop by for a drink or food. Check out their website and Facebook for more information.
The Juicery has locations in Portsmouth and Boston. It's a destination for healthy eaters looking for a treat. According to the website:
The Juicery is dedicated to bringing the best all-natural smoothies and organic juices to the Seacoast. We offer vegan wraps, salads, wheatgrass shots, and whole food supplements for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We want you to feel nourished and rejuvenated after every one of our meals. Everything we offer is made fresh right in front of your eyes. We make all of our dressings from scratch and pride ourselves on using organic and local produce whenever possible. If you believe the age-old adage, “you are what you eat,” then you’ve come to the right place. There are no processed sugars, artificial flavors or fruit syrups in our products.
I visited the Boston location and tried the Blueberry Mint smoothie which consisted exclusively of blueberries, banana, mint, and apple juice. It was one of the best smoothies I've ever had, the fresh mint punctuating the flavors perfectly. My roommates loved theirs, and we instantly wished for a location closer to us.
The menu isn't very long, but everything is amazing.
Classic Smoothies Very Berry -banana, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, apple juice Blueberry Mint -banana, blueberry, mint, apple juice Peanut Butter Bliss -banana, peanut butter, chocolate almond milk Bermuda Bliss -banana, mango, pineapple, strawberry, orange juice Kali Mango -mango, yogurt, agave, coconut, orange juice, almond milk Woah nellie -banana, strawberry, raspberry, yogurt, coconut, apple juice, almond milk Specialty Smoothies Acai Energy -banana, strawberry, acai, apple juice, almond milk Prana -banana, strawberry, almond butter, dates Pine Ango Beet Tango -strawberry, mango, pineapple, beet juice, orange juice Kale Storm -banana, mango, spinach, kale, lemon juice, apple juice Green Light -pineapple, mango, spinach, kale, dates, orange juice, ginger/carrot juice Faster Than Light -banana, almond butter, spinach, dates, sunflower seeds, almond milk, ginger/carrot Organic Juices Citrus Sunshine -orange, lemon Tangy Tonic -grapefruit, apple, ginger Lemon Zinger -lemon, apple Life Blood -beet, apple, carrot, ginger, lemon Triple A -beet, parsley, apple, carrot, celery Sunrise Squeeze -beet, orange, carrot, ginger Organic Super Juices Green Juice -kale, parsley, cucumber, celery Spring Splash -mint, apple, orange, carrot, ginger Jungle -spinach, parsley, cucumber, celery, apple Liquid Sunshine -spinach, kale, apple, cucumber, carrot, ginger Additives Whey Protein Powder, Hemp Protein Powder, Matcha Green Tea, Flaxseed, Cacao, Maca Powder, Chia Seeds, Spirulina, Cayenne Pepper, Espresso, Acai, Moringa Powder, Ginger shot, Cayenne shot Classic Acai Bowls -acai, fresh banana, peanut butter, granola, coconut, cacao, almond milk The smoothies/juices/additives available vary location to location, and though not officially listed on the website, the Boston location did have fresh vegan food available similar to what is listed for the Portsmouth location.
Above is The Juicery's official Instagram feed for you to lust after.
Emerald City Smoothie is a chain of healthy destinations across the US with more than 40 locations. Primarily based on the west coast, Emerald City Smoothie has locations in Washington, Utah, California, Colorado, Oregon and Connecticut.
The menu is not for those afraid of fruit. All options are incredibly healthy. The bases include: Acai, Almonds, Apple, Banana, Blueberry, Chocolate, Coconut, Cranberry, Grape, Guava, Ice Cream, Kiwi, Lemon, Mango, Marion berry, Mocha Mix, Nonfat Milk, Orange, Orange Juice, Papaya, Peach, Peanut Butter, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Raspberry, Soy Milk, Strawberry, and Wheat Germ. There are a lot of fun options, including Nutty Banana, Just Peachy, Pacific Splash, Pineapple Bliss (a personal favorite), Cranberry Delight, Blueberry Blast, Guava Sunrise, Island Breeze, and loads more. You can add a variety of supplements to their options, or build your own. Some of the available supplements include Amino-Acids, Anti-Oxidants, Bee Sure, Calcium, Egg Protein, Energy, Essential Minerals, Fat Burner, Fiber Blend, Flax Oil, Multi-Vitamin, Peanut Butter, Soy Protein, Vitamin C, Whey Protein, Creatine, and Glutamine. They come in 3 sizes, small, medium, and large, in unmarked styrofoam cups, and contrary to how that sounds, they're not sketchy at all. Along the walls, various nutrient bars and supplement powders are for sale, but I'm not that ambitious, so I stick to the smoothies. Emerald City Smoothie is a great destination for those looking for a healthy snack, people watching their weight or looking to eat healthier, or even someone looking for a pick me up, |
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January 2017
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