We recently shared that five towns in Connecticut were voted into the Top 25 New England Food Towns list from GoLocal. One of the ways that GoLocal figured out these towns was by looking at AAA Diamond ratings. Growing up, our families used AAA guides to help us plan vacations, find great hotels, and discover great restaurants in unfamiliar places. Plus, they might have helped Dan out before like, say, when he locked his keys in his trunk or Kristien when she blew a tire after hitting a curb. Might have, just sayin’ Well, we’re very excited to share the winners of 4 and 5 Diamond Restaurants in Connecticut. Before we can share, let’s go through the ratings and what they mean according to AAA:
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| Simple, familiar specialty food at an economical price. Often self-service, basic surroundings. |
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| Familiar, family-oriented experience. Home-style foods and family favorites, often cooked to order, modestly enhanced and reasonably priced. Relaxed service, casual surroundings. |
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| Fine dining, often adult-oriented. Latest cooking trends and/or traditional cuisine, expanded beverage offerings. Professional service staff and comfortable, well-coordinated ambience. |
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| Distinctive fine-dining, typically expensive. Highly creative chefs, imaginative presentations and fresh, top-quality ingredients. Proficient service staff, upscale surroundings. Wine steward may offer menu-specific knowledge. |
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| Luxurious and consistently world-class. Highly acclaimed chefs, artistic and imaginative menu selections using the finest ingredients. Maitre d’ and unobtrusive, expert service staff. |
GREENWICH
- Rebeccas (Since 2010)
- Thomas Henkelmann (Since 2004)
GROTON
- Octagon (Since 2003)
MASHANTUCKET (Foxwoods)
- Craftsteak (Since 2008)
- Paragon (Since 2004)
OLD SAYBROOK
- Fresh Salt (Since 2012)
RIDGEFIELD
- Stonehenge Inn and Restaurant (Since 1992)
WASHINGTON
- The Mayflower Inn Dining Room (Since 1996)
MORRIS
- Winvian (Since 2010)
Dan and Kristien Del Ferraro
Rebeccas: superbly disappointing including being overcharged and argued with about it by the manager
Thomas Henkelmann: consistently excellent
Craftsteak: Great steaks, great sides, wonderful service, very overpriced wine list
The Mayflower Inn Dining Room: elegant and relaxed at the same time
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Kevin, thanks for sharing. We’ve heard similar things about Rebeccas, but still feel that we–as food lovers–need to try it out. Just seeing this list makes us feel like we need to get out more and explore our state. :) Thanks for the input, we’ll definitely need to check out the spots you liked specifically. Take care!
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