Recently Tasted Favorite Foods & New Restaurants: The Day’s Kristina Dorsey and Rick Koster showcase some of their culinary discoveries and preferences for 2021.
Tao
Mohegan Sun
Even if you didn’t have real food, just seeing the inside of Tao would be worth the trip. The design is wonderfully imaginative, from the walls of the waterfall on either side of a small bridge that brings you into the dining room, where you see a 16 foot tall statue of the Buddhist goddess Quan Yin, with her many arms extending around it. And then, yes, the food is amazing too.
– Kristina Dorsey
Rico chow
Williams Street, New London
This small storefront is fast becoming the heart of the Hodges Square district. It’s a dream concept for two old buddies with culinary aspirations, and their visionary idea of mixing Asian and Puerto Rican cuisine is a non-stop dance competition of flavors on the tongue. The dishes are all good; the smart strategy is to navigate your way through the menu.
– Rick Koster
Small bites
Dev’s on Main
Main street, Niantic
Dev’s moved from New London to Niantic this year, and the new location cleverly reinvents the space that used to be a Dunkin ‘Donuts. A small terrace at the front is perfect for temperate summer days. As always, the food is delicious; I tend to have a few ‘small bites’ and was very happy with the Surf & Turf, Lobster Bombe, Seared Salmon and the Vegetable Pot Stickers.
– Kristina Dorsey
Special meatloaf
Mr. G’s
Williams Street, New London
There is a lot about Mr. G’s – from the food to the family service and the atmosphere – that defines “comfort”. But on those occasions when Meatloaf Dinner appears on today’s special sheet, take the experience to the next level and jump on it! (Well, not literally, although the thick slab of grandeur seems like a mattress, now that I think about it.) While you enjoy the sublime meatloaf of it all, pause a moment to remember from restaurant co-founder George Gianakos, who passed away earlier this year.
– Rick Koster
Miss Florence’s teas
Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme
One of the benefits of the pandemic is that we have all tried activities that we didn’t have before. I finally had time to go to one of Miss Florence’s teas at the end of 2020 and thought, “I should have come here sooner!” It’s such a pretty and fancy setting – inside the exquisite Flo Gris building, overlooking the Lieutenant River – and the range of tea and candy sandwiches (cured by Gourmet Galley) are absolutely delicious. Even though I’m not a big fan of tea, I enjoyed the cup of tea I sipped here. A word of warning: these Christmas teas are extremely popular, so the earlier you book the better. They sell out quickly.
– Kristina Dorsey
Taquerio
Broadway Avenue, Mystique
Located in an old gas station with an extremely trendy art deco makeover, Taquerio specializes in artisanal Mexican-style street tacos. Pork, barbacoa, fish, and plantains are all wise selections, and each comes with a particular sauce or condiments that highlight the strengths of the particular recipe. And do NOT leave without indulging in the cinnamon / caramel glories of their churros.
– Rick Koster
Huarache
La Llorona
13 Hope Street, Niantic
You knew that this new place was a success from the moment it opened; the lines to enter were a constant feature. Of course, if the offers weren’t tasty, those crowds would have dissipated very quickly. La Llorona has remained popular, and for good reason. My favorite there: the Huarache, which is a flatbread dish made with refried beans, ep Nitrogen pesto, Oaxacan cheese, grated lettuce and crème fraîche.
– Kristina Dorsey
Breakfast burrito
When pigs fly
Rope Ferry Route, Waterford
The joys of being a reporter! I had breakfast at When Pigs Fly so I could write about it for The Day’s “Best Breakfast” contest. I had been there before, but this time I discovered the beauty of the place’s breakfast burrito. It’s mammoth, which I always appreciate in my dishes. And it’s so tasty. It mixes eggs, sausage, black beans, salsa and cheddar inside the wrap, with a side of house fries.
– Kristina Dorsey
Hamburger and Black Olives Pizza
College Pizza
Pequot Avenue, New London
This is the part of the world where pizza was invented. There are dozens if not hundreds of practitioners in our area who make wonderful pizzas. On any given day, arguments can be made convincingly that one or the other is better. Time and time again, however, I find myself ordering the burger and black olive pie from this little place wedged between Sell Fish and Fred’s Shanty. Thin crust, excellent sauce-to-cheese ratio and lots of toppings. Do I eat other pizzas from other restaurants? Hell, yeah! Do you think I’m crazy? Corn …
– Rick Koster
Draft choice
State Street, New London
This welcoming bar, with its splendid menu of local craft beers and a terrific beer garden in the back, is one such COVID success story. Husband and wife co-owners Beto Zuniga and Anne Bernhard opened Draft Choice shortly before the first wave of the pandemic hit, and then held on. We’re all better at it. There is a small menu of well-prepared bar fare – definitely try the homemade chipoltle salsa – and it’s a good place to meet up before or after the show given that La Garde is across the street. the street.
– Rick Koster
