Middletown, CT and environs ...

Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM Nntp-Posting-Host: wgros2.watson.ibm.com

Christopher P. wrote:
> Next week, I'll be travelling to Middletown, Connecticut for a week
> of fun and frivolity.  Does anyone have any recommendations for
> restaurants (of any kind) in the area, or any truly exceptional
> restaurants worth a special trip?

A bit south on Route 9 is the Ivoryton/Chester area (exits 3-4).  There are some really great restaurants in this neighborhood.  My favorite is Fine Bouche (in Westbrook, I believe), they have a great dinner for $37 or so, 5 courses.  There is also the Restaurant du Village in Chester, it is somewhat more expensive.  There is also the Copper Beech Inn in Ivoryton, which used to be great and then not so great and I'm not sure how it is now.

-- Bill [email removed]

Christopher P. wrote:
>Next week, I'll be travelling to Middletown, Connecticut for a week
>of fun and frivolity.  Does anyone have any recommendations for
>restaurants (of any kind) in the area, or any truly exceptional
>restaurants worth a special trip?

     I have visited Middletwon several times, and never found much.
It may be there--I did not find it.

     However, within easy driving distance is New Haven.  New Haven
has the best pizza I've ever tasted, it also has the two first pizza places in the United States.  Pepe's and Sally's.  Undeniably first-rate pizza.

     There are several other excellent eateries in New Haven.  The first
hamburgers in the USA were served at Louis Lunch, they are also terrific. Although lollipops and submarine sandwiches were also introduced in New Haven, there is no special place to eat there.

     A very good Thai restaurant is on State Street--Thai Orchid, 3 stars
in the NY Times.

     Across the street from Thai Orchid is Azteca, a pricey but tasty
mexican food place.

     For pasta, Hot Tomatoes is pretty good, although I think they've
changed their name.  They're on Chapel Street.

     There's plenty more, too.  BTW, the pizza places are really worth
the trip.

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Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM Nntp-Posting-Host: wgros2.watson.ibm.com Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

Chris C. wrote:
>      However, within easy driving distance is New Haven.  New Haven
> has the best pizza I've ever tasted, it also has the two first pizza
> places in the United States.  Pepe's and Sally's.  Undeniably first-rate
> pizza.

Hmm..  I forgot about that.  Interestingly, I was looking at the Zagat "books" on Prodigy last night, trying to find the highest rated restaurants, and both of the places you mentioned were in the "extraordinary" category, with food ratings around 27.  Probably the cheapest places with such ratings (~$15).  The highest rating I have seen is for Mark's Place, in North Miami Beach, with an incredible 29.  Maybe the NY survey recipients are more demanding, but the highest I was able to find in the NYC survey was 27.  I did eat at Mark's Place last fall, and it was great.

-- Bill [email removed]