Pond House Café [CT]

Brunch at the Pond House Café today before Hartford Stage's production of 'Antony and Cleopatra'.

Kitchen was being slammed for their Halloween Brunch; reservations @11:30 and meal served @12:30. But everyone was in costume so it was fun and our curtain wasn't until 2:00.

Cute menu for Halloween [actually their usual brunch menu with funny names].

We each ordered an omelet:

Bella Lugusi Transvananya [$7.75] three eye omelet with apple wood smoked bacon, spinach, tomato and pepper jack cheese topped with guacamole and my Dr. Frankenstein's Monster [$7.25] three eye omelet with granny smith apples, brie cheese and spinach. Both omelets were served with children of the cornbread and rotten potatoes. Excellent offerings; quality and price! Coffee [$1.95] was strong and plentiful.

bloginfo: Sunday brunch is usually very crowded. Saturday brunch is available along with the lunch menu and easier to get a reservation.

blognote: Watch for some great happenings in Glastonbury in the near future!!!

Akropolis Deli [CT]

UNFORTUNATELY CLOSED FOR GOOD!!!

In my quest for the ultimate Gyros; EUREKA! It is here at the Akropolis Deli.

Won't even try to describe it as it is just what the gyros is supposed to be. Fresh and toasty, rich and zesty and for $5.95 quite the deal. I finished mine [not unusual, say what] and she took half home for later. I may sneak down there later and break in if I have a gyro attack.

bloginfo: 137 Sisson Ave Hartford, CT 06105-4009 - (860) 233-1933 Open Weekdays 9am-3pm; Sat 10am-3pm [and that is really not Sisson Avenue behind Mr. Tuxedo; it's the Boulevard!]

bloginfo: The hours are different on different websites, so get there for lunch and don't be disappointed.
blognote: See the art reviews for our 'artful afternoon' here.

Luce [CT]

Was a guest tonight for dinner at Luce in Middletown. This has always been one of my favorite restaurants in town and they did not disappoint us this evening.

Salads: Bufalo mozzarella and tomato with balsamic drizzle and my Heritage yellow beets with goat cheese, roasted pears and walnuts with balsamic drizzle. Wheat bread and oil for dipping.

Entrees: [both specials of the evening] Baked Halibut over risotto and my Short Ribs over fresh pasta with great gravy. Had a glass of Petite Syrah and I really enjoyed the match with the rich meat.

Dessert: We split a Creme Brulée.

Excellent service. Full house on a Tuesday evening shows that they are really doing things right.

blognote: Free parking in their lot which is certainly a help on Middletown's restaurant row.

Le Pain Quotidien [CT]

After visiting the Philip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan today we had lunch at LPQ at 81 Elm just up from the Visitor Center.

I had eaten in a LPQ in London and this was the same thing: French farmhouse feel with a long communal table down the middle and a pastry shop up front. It does mean 'our daily bread.'

We had a Paris Ham and Cheese Croissant [$6.95] from the breakfast menu and my special of Roasted Corn Caesar Salad [$10.95] with two types of bread. Both were very good. For dessert, a Mixed Berry Tart [$6.50] and my Belgian Waffle [$4.95] with berries and acacia honey on the side. Both desserts made up for the rather dietetic lunch selections.

Good strong coffe was served, French farmhouse style, in individual pots and bowls [$3.10]

bloginfo: Several reviews have mentioned the noise level. The place was packed and the noise level WAS quite high. The service was slow as our waitperson was new or distracted or maybe just slow.

blognote: Coffee in bowls is cute but it doesn't stay hot for long.

O'Porto [CT]

Birthday dinner tonight [no, not mine] at O'Porto in Hartford.
                                  

Started with two apps: Batata Frita with the accompanying sauces and Chouriço Asado.

Wanted a Paelha Marinheiro for four but got two for two which worked out even better. They were delicious paellas filled with huge prawns, shrimp, clams, mussels and scallops over the ever present saffron rice.

This was helped with a great bottle of Clemen Reserva Vinho Verde.

Two desserts to share: Almond Tart and the  Chocolate Overload Torte.

bloginfo: O'Porto website here
blognote: Great server: Thais

Royal Buffet [CT]

After a soccer game on this beautiful day, we ate dinner at the Royal Buffet in Willimantic. Advertised as an American and Chinese Buffet, Sushi, Salad & Fruit Bar, it lived up to and exceeded all expectations!

There is literally something for everyone and everyone was there. Families of all sizes, shapes and cultures; languages swirling and everyone having the best of time.

My favorites were the sushi [shrimp and vegetarian], pancit noodles, General Tso's chicken, shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp. The green beans were the two helping variety, the sweet and sour soup was more sweet than sour; the crab rangoon was smooth and the 10 flavors of ice cream made the day.

Crab legs were deemed special [too complicated for me] and the chicken satay was powerful. Can I say more? Yes, but I won't.

bloginfo: Located at 1228 Main Street in Willimantic in a non-descript strip mall with plenty of parking.
blognote: Prices vary by day/hour: we paid $9.99 for Sunday Dinner Buffet. Drinks are extra.

The Village Restaurant [CT]

On a foliage tour through and Litchfield and before our stop at the Haight-Brown Vineyard, we had lunch at The Village Restaurant on the Green.

Both of us had the Spinach Salad [$9.50] which was a 'true' rendering of the classic luncheon dish. It had just the right amounts of gorgonzola cheese, carmelized onions, pimento, hard boiled egg and bacon over baby spinach leaves and dressed perfectly. We requested a side of bread and received [without charge] a basket of fresh slices of delicious of white chewy bread.

Service was polite and efficient. We sat in the bar with many locals. Great experience.