French comfort food, Sicilian classics, Spanish tapas and more on CT restaurant menus

There’s plenty of comfort food to choose from when dining out in Connecticut during the winter months, some fancy, some casual. Here are 10 area favorites with unique vibes, settings and cuisines.

That “Sicilian grandmother”

At Sugo Trattoria in Farmington, executive chef/owner Tony Camilleri channels his Sicilian grandmother to “cook from the heart.”

The eatery can’t be missed from Route 4, as there is a mural of Sophia Loren on the front of the building. Inside the family-friendly eatery are the aromas of modern Italian and Sicilian classics.

The menu includes: mushroom ragu over a soft polenta with goat cheese, a traditional arancini, baked gnocchi, several pastas, and entrees that include marinated, roasted salmon; ribeye  pizzaiola; chicken Marsala.

“Chill vibe”

The chicken-centric Birdie Lounge in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square has replaced the plant-based restaurant, Flora, but the owners are the same so some favorite Flora dishes will remain.

Owners K.C. Ward and his wife, Jamie, are going for a “chill vibe” and a “rustic, eclectic” atmosphere.

Specialty drinks will feature year-round fresh produce and a menu similar to that of the couple’s Roosting Co. in Newington, where chicken is cooked in many ways. They also offer beef, and salmon with unique twists.

Warm glow of a fireplace

Le Mazet serves French comfort food in a setting and welcoming atmosphere that complements their cuisine.

In the pots of stew or “Le Ragout” category of the menu, in addition to bourguignon or beef stew — slow cooked in red wine — there is ratatouille, a stew of vegetables and basil pesto, and also a chicken stew made with white wine and mushrooms.

As if in the warm glow of a fireplace, customers can watch rotisserie chicken cooking and chat with the chef while sitting at five-person chef’s station.

Another category at Le Mazet is fish in parchment, including salmon, bacon, lentils, asparagus and halibut with potatoes, asparagus, olives, onion and lemon.

Then there’s a vast, specially chosen wine list, made affordable by special pricing.

A sweet spot

Wood-n-Tap’s “scratch kitchen” is now offering an autumn menu that “features every taste of the season.”

The autumn menu includes fall corn chowder with locally grown corn, pear apple salad with fresh fruit, dried cranberries and house-made maple vinaigrette. Also on the special menu are short rib tacos, Philly cheese steak egg rolls featuring shaved prime rib, pan-seared tuna with a sesame crust, and candied bacon BLT with heirloom tomatoes.

When co-founders/co-owners Phil Barnett and Mike Hamlin opened the American pub 21 years ago they aimed for a place where one could get a burger and a beer at an affordable price, and apparently they hit a consumer sweet spot.

Now there are 10 Wood-n-Taps, nine in Connecticut, one in Massachusetts and in fall of 2024, an eleventh is slated to open in Rhode Island.

Food ‘magic’

Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington, Conn. has a new executive chef said to work “magic” with vegetables. Chef Jose Ramírez-Ruiz told the Courant he grew up in Puerto Rico among family members who are great cooks and emphasized fresh produce.

While his dishes aren’t vegetarian. they are known as “vegetable forward,” meaning they are heavy on vegetables. Ramírez-Ruiz said the freshness of produce makes all the difference and he loves working directly with farmers.

Simple fare

Boqueria, the new Spanish tapas restaurant in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square, the ambiance is “intimate,” the food as “simple yet delicious,” classic fare, the restaurant’s spokesperson says.

Food choices

Convos Bar & Grill owner Teekaram “TJ” Persaud believes the early food success at his new place in Hartford is because he offers both Spanish and Jamaican food, intended to reflect the neighborhood population.

Among the menu items are: jerk chicken, curry goat, oxtail, empanadas, pork chops, rice and beans, fried chicken, fried shrimp, and pastas, including Rasta pasta. Persuad says he’s bringing in a new chef to add Puerto Rican flair.

Chef’s creativity

Mercato Italian Kitchen and Bar at the Shops at Farmington Valley has soared in just a few months, drawing customers from all over the state.

Guests at Mercato say the food is “spot on” and management says that’s because of the chef’s creativity and locally sourced produce and meats when available.

Food her way

Dena Franks always dreamed of opening a restaurant and doing it “My way,” including making every customer feel seen. She finally fulfilled that when her fiancé, Rodger Mort, bought her The Store Bar and Grill in Torrington.

They hired culinary experts and Franks carefully chose the menu of her favorite dishes to include: grilled 12 ounce New York strip steak; potato crusted salmon with blackberry cream sauce; Penne a la vodka chicken in a creamy pink sauce; pork Marsala with mushrooms, bacon, scallions, and a hint of cream; and chicken cutlet bruschetta, breaded chicken topped with chopped sweet and juicy tomatoes and basil.

Affordable and fun

Guests at Mohegan Sun attending shows, concerts and other events have lots of great restaurants to choose from, but increasingly the restaurant at Mohegan Sun FanDuel Sportsbook — where sports betting takes place – is becoming a go to spot for guests in general.

It’s affordable, quick and recently expanded the menu so there’s something for everyone.

Some new favorites are: a pulled pork sandwich with bourbon BBQ sauce, jalapenos, mac and cheese and served with tater tots, as well as Po Boy fried shrimp sandwich with lemon, Old Bay aioli, lettuce, tomato and pickles.

They also added a jumbo hot dog with ketchup, mustard and relish on a New England roll with optional chili and cheese, salmon sliders and quesadilla pretzels.