Connecticut BURGERS , & BEEF hot dogs, etc !!

Hi all Roadfooders,
I'm probably going to do a long weekend in Connecticut this coming Saturday the 19th. Would love to hear your OWN current opinions on places, besides just doing my usual Internet navigating...
(if there are any great CT food review Websites I should know about, please tell me, though)

Would love an updated list of your favorite burger joints, and places with all beef hot dogs. (I know Hummel brand is big in CT , but I'm not a pork dog gal)
I love charbroiled , but a good old fashioned burger can be good, as well. I plan to hit that burger & shake place in Greenwich that Michael Stern just reviewed.

Norwalk, Stamford, (hot oil pizza pie with Doggiedaddy!) New Haven, Bethel (Dr. Mikes for ice cream and hot fudge!)
Plus any other towns nearby, who knows what this trip will bring?!?
I'm very spontaneous!!

Also would love some good recs. for car rentals in Norwalk or New Haven , OR? Places that offer rentals on Sat. and/or Sun..
I may take the train from NYC.

Any good charred crusty BEEF RIBS, by any slight chance?
Or am I getting a little too carried away?

Hertz has an outlet in New Haven ... but it can be a scary walk from the train station.

You might consider getting off in Stamford, where a Hertz is right a cross the street ... that would give you the chance to drive to from New Haven area and enjoy the plethora of great places along the way.

quote:

Originally posted by wheregreggeats.com

Hertz has an outlet in New Haven ... but it can be a scary walk from the train station.

You might consider getting off in Stamford, where a Hertz is right a cross the street ... that would give you the chance to drive to from New Haven area and enjoy the plethora of great places along the way.

That's gregg, very useful info..

Where is everybody?!? I guess most of you are on the BB, WJ, and TTM Baseball Saga thread!!

I better go over to Chowhound for a little bit ...

However, the personal e-mails you've been sending me, Doggydaddy, (Mark) make up for the other 20 Roadfooders I thought I would hear from on here!
(your Roadfood insight and ideas are THAT good!)

ellen, as much as you travel, you may want to look at www.zipcar.com
I know of a few people in Boston that use it and are very pleased.
Chow Jim

Ellen,
My favorite BBQ joint that serves Beef Ribs in CT is Woods Pit BBQ in Bantam. It's a little place in Litchfield County on Route 109 just north of Bantam Lake. Sometimes, however, the beef ribs can be anorexic - my experience has been hit or miss with them. Sometimes they are meaty and delicious while at other times they were little more than smoked bones. If you do decide to give it a try I highly recommend the honey hot wings. They have been delicious every time I have had them.

Route 25 has quite a few roadfood stops along it - Swanky Franks, Botsford Drive in, Mr Mac Canteen, etc. All have been reviewed here.

Plan B in West Hartford, Simsbury, & now Glastonbury features high end handpacked burgers with many fixing options. The fries and onion rings are also recommended. I've had very good salads, too.

Ted's in Meriden for the one and only steamed cheese burger. Dogs: Doogies in Canton, Blackies & Frankies in Waterbury area.

Are you making it a one, or two day trip?

When do you think you are arriving? Leaving?

What part of the state do you expect to be centered in?

I know that its a chain... But I am fast becoming a fan of Five Guys Burgers and Fries. There are a few in the state, including Milford, Farmington and Avon.

Since you will be on the train, and I read above that there is a car rental place in Stamford, you have to try Colony Grill for pizza. My girlfriend just moved to Stamford, and we cannot get enough of their pizza. It's the only thing on their menu. I would absolutely suggest the sausage and hot oil. And there is a review on this website.

Hope that helps.

quote:

Originally posted by braunsteinm

I know that its a chain... But I am fast becoming a fan of Five Guys Burgers and Fries. There are a few in the state, including Milford, Farmington and Avon.

Since you will be on the train, and I read above that there is a car rental place in Stamford, you have to try Colony Grill for pizza. My girlfriend just moved to Stamford, and we cannot get enough of their pizza. It's the only thing on their menu. I would absolutely suggest the sausage and hot oil. And there is a review on this website.

Hope that helps.

Or, Letizia's Pizza in Norwalk.

If you are hitting Dr Mikes in Bethel you should probably stop in at the Sycamore Drive in (also reviewed here). There is something about those thin smashed burgers that is addicting. Also, their home made root beer is very good. Saturdays are cruise nights (weather permitting) so expect to see antique cars in the parking lot. You can then cruise over to Marcus Dairy in Danbury for their Saturday cruise night (weather permitting) for more classic cars and some coconut almond bar ice cream. YUM! The Dairy is slated for demolition this summer so it's worth it to go check it out before its gone.

Ellen, are you going to be in NYC for any length of time, or just passing through?

Ted's is definitely worth the trip. So is Blackie's for their hot dogs with spicy green pepper relish (not sure though if they are beef or pork hot dogs). If you're near Dottie's @ Philips Diner in Woodbury, the chicken pies and donuts are in sanely good!!

Wow, my thread really came alive! Thanks Roadfooders! So much good stuff to ponder now...

GREGG, I'll probably do a Sat. night arrival, and leaving Tuesday...
still in the planning stages, but I'll probably be aiming for western and southern CT, plus New Haven.... (won't make it up to the casinos this time)

BRAUNSTENM: Yours is the SECOND vote I heard for Colony Pizza in Stamford! Connecticut Roadfooder "Doggydaddy", made a nice e-mail gesture to meet me in CT and do the Colony, and maybe a few other places together... We already met up in NYC once, so I know he's a great guy already!

Dr. Mikes, Sycamore, Plan B, Woods Pit BBQ : YES, YES, YES!

I'll just pass on the Five Guys, as there is one about 5 miles or so away from where I live... but I appreciate the suggestion..

and to JIMEATS, that ZIPCAR is a very useful mention...(one that I ordinarily would'nt think of, as ZIPCAR is just starting to get on my radar screen. (cause I saw a "Zipcar" in Philly last week). And with the price of gas, it's a great bonus that gas in INCLUDED!
I've heard good stuff, too

Probably just passing thru NYC, BILLYBOY (changing from my bus to my train) ... but I may call you to see if you're around for a quick "meat-up", either Sat. or Tues.

Now's the time for me to start printing up stuff from Mapquest and getting the magic marker highligher out!

Frankly, even thinking about beef ribs in Connecticut seems mighty silly to me. It's like going to Central Texas to get Eastern Carolina pulled pork.

Think apizza, clams, lobster rolls, hotdogs.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Frankly, even thinking about beef ribs in Connecticut seems mighty silly to me. It's like going to Central Texas to get Eastern Carolina pulled pork.

Think apizza, clams, lobster rolls, hotdogs.

You've got the right idea, Michael...
guess I'm just doing some wishful thinking, hoping that maybe a Texas guy moved to Connecticut to bring their delicious beef ribs closer to me!!!

(like the case with the Austin inspired Hill Country BBQ in NYC)

quote:

Originally posted by ellen4641

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Frankly, even thinking about beef ribs in Connecticut seems mighty silly to me. It's like going to Central Texas to get Eastern Carolina pulled pork.

Think apizza, clams, lobster rolls, hotdogs.

You've got the right idea, Michael...
guess I'm just doing some wishful thinking, hoping that maybe a Texas guy moved to Connecticut to bring their delicious beef ribs closer to me!!!

(like the case with the Austin inspired Hill Country BBQ in NYC)

Well, she eats burgers in L.A. and wings in Florida
So why not Ribs in Connecticut??

SAME THING

Ellen,

I think Zipcar is something you have to sign up for ahead of time, rather than call up and rent on the spot, fyi.

Have you checked out pigtrip.net? Gary has a lot of CT BBQ places that he has reviewed.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Frankly, even thinking about beef ribs in Connecticut seems mighty silly to me. It's like going to Central Texas to get Eastern Carolina pulled pork.

Think apizza, clams, lobster rolls, hotdogs.

Ellen does not care for seafood, pork, or veal, so that limits some of the choices.

Ellen, good choice of trips! I'm actually planning a similar trip for probably early October, and have done some research also.

I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't know, but since The Sterns are from CT, there are quite a few CT eateries featured in the "Restaurants" section of this website.

Also, there was a Hot Dog Tour of CT a few years ago, here is the thread from then, note especially the writeup by John Fox:

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5048&SearchTerms=ct+hot+dog+tour

FWIW, here's some tenative stops I'm planning, based on various sources of information. I've alreasdy been to many of the apizza & seafood places on trips to Boston over the years, so this time I wanted to concentrate on Hot Dogs and burgers.

Day One:
Fairfield - Rawley's Hot Dogs
Fairfield - Superduper weenie
Stratford - Dannys (Hot Dogs)
Stratford - Windmill (Old bar w/Hot Dogs & Birch Beer)
Monroe - Mr. Mac's Canteen (Hot Dogs)
Hamden - Glenwood Drive In (Hot Dogs, Burgers)

Then several brewpubs, after 7 or 8 hot dogs I should be good for 3 or 4 beers over 3 or 4 hours.

Day Two:
Torrington - Sheik's ( Hot Roast Beef)
New Britain -Capitol Lucnch (Hot Dogs)
Meriden- Ted's (Steamed Cheeseburgers, I've had these before at O'Rourke's, they are a treat even if you usually like them charbroiled)
Cheshire - Blackie's (Hot Dogs)
Newtown - Carminuccio's (Pizza, Buffalo Chicken)
Bethel - Roadside Chili House (Chili and Chili Dogs).

In between, a couple of stops at musuems and parks to walk off the food.

Hope this helps, have fun and report back (as I'm sure you will!)

PS: The Colony does have great pizza, stopped there on the way to Boston last year.

quote:

Originally posted by MiamiDon

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman
Think apizza, clams, lobster rolls, hotdogs.

Ellen does not care for seafood, pork, or veal, so that limits some of the choices.

Even though we have'nt met (yet), you know me well, Miami Don!

Thanks,Ken for all those good ideas! (you gave me a good mouthful!)
I'll probably hit Super Duper Wienie. And Rawley's in Fairfield.. Is Swanky Franks still open?

There are two different Swanky Frank's, sort of a Hatfields & McCoys situation. I forget the particulars, but the guy who used to run the Norwalk location now runs the Newtown (Route 25) store, and the nephew (?) of the Norwalk landlord runs that location -- Clarification/corrections welcome.

And if you're in Newtown, I also recommend Burgerittoville, reviewed in these pages.

quote:

Originally posted by flattop5

There are two different Swanky Frank's, sort of a Hatfields & McCoys situation. I forget the particulars, but the guy who used to run the Norwalk location now runs the Newtown (Route 25) store, and the nephew (?) of the Norwalk landlord runs that location -- Clarification/corrections welcome.

And if you're in Newtown, I also recommend Burgerittoville, reviewed in these pages.

Thanks Flattop! I've got to google both these locations, plus that Burgerittoville.

So hot dog joints have family feuds, too, huh?!?
I know during our Roadfood trip in Austin , Jane and Michael described some of the BBQ places that "branched off" cause of feuds.

And BILLYBOY, I love Pignet.com!

Ellen ... I am writing this from upstairs bar at Captain's Cove in Bridgeport.

Aside from nice fried fish, the mussels in garlic butter were awesome!

And yes, free WiFi.



Oh. I guess if you don't like seafood, this is moot.

quote:

Originally posted by wanderingjew

quote:

Originally posted by ellen4641

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Frankly, even thinking about beef ribs in Connecticut seems mighty silly to me. It's like going to Central Texas to get Eastern Carolina pulled pork.

Think apizza, clams, lobster rolls, hotdogs.

You've got the right idea, Michael...
guess I'm just doing some wishful thinking, hoping that maybe a Texas guy moved to Connecticut to bring their delicious beef ribs closer to me!!!

(like the case with the Austin inspired Hill Country BBQ in NYC)

Well, she eats burgers in L.A. and wings in Florida
So why not Ribs in Connecticut??

SAME THING

WJ- You're the diva of roadfood.

quote:

Originally posted by saps

quote:

Originally posted by wanderingjew

quote:

Originally posted by ellen4641

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Frankly, even thinking about beef ribs in Connecticut seems mighty silly to me. It's like going to Central Texas to get Eastern Carolina pulled pork.

Think apizza, clams, lobster rolls, hotdogs.

You've got the right idea, Michael...
guess I'm just doing some wishful thinking, hoping that maybe a Texas guy moved to Connecticut to bring their delicious beef ribs closer to me!!!

(like the case with the Austin inspired Hill Country BBQ in NYC)

Well, she eats burgers in L.A. and wings in Florida
So why not Ribs in Connecticut??

SAME THING

WJ- You're the diva of roadfood.

I always thought it was Hoffman

Can't wait to hear your take on Louis Lunch. Will you be doing pizza on Wooster Street?

quote:

Originally posted by signman

Can't wait to hear your take on Louis Lunch. Will you be doing pizza on Wooster Street?

Yes, cause I was told I MUST try Pepe's and/or Sally's!

http://www.wheregreggeats.com/ct.htm

quote:

Originally posted by ellen4641


Yes, cause I was told I MUST try Pepe's and/or Sally's!

Careful....there's a good chance you won't like the charred crust.