Roadfood’s “Eat Before You Die” List

Shortened from the 500 across the nation, this is Connecticut’s 62 Things to Eat Before it’s too Late (with some overlap elsewhere on CTMQ). Michael and Jane Stern are noted foodies and in their latest book, they list the best, relatively affordable stuff people may not know about – what they deem “Roadfood.” WAY too many hot dogs, but other than that, it’s right up my alley.

Left: Damian enjoying ice cream from the Big Dipper in Prospect



Note: Pulling this list together from the book was rather difficult. The ordering doesn’t mean anything, but the * means it’s one of the “National Best” and *** means it’s the best in the US according to the book.

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Breakfasty Items

Doughnuts:

1. Tastease, Hartford
2. Dottie’s Diner, Woodbury
3. Neil’s Donut and Bake Shop, Yalesville
4. Coffee An’, Westport

Pancakes:

*Gail’s on the Common, Ridgefield

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Burgers and Fries

Cheeseburgers:

*1. Louis’ Lunch, New Haven
2. Shady Glen, Manchester
3. Harry’s Place, Colchester
4. Clamp’s, New Milford

Louis’ Lunch burger

Steamed Cheeseburgers: (It’s a Connecticut thing.)

1. Ted’s, Meriden
2. O’Rourke’s Diner, Middletown
3. Rosco’s Big Dog, Hartford – CLOSED

French Fries:

*1. Super Duper Weenie, Fairfield
*2. Swanky Franks, Norwalk

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Hot Dogs

The Sterns love their hotdogs and have even broken them down into three categories.

Deep-Fried Dogs:

1. Blackie’s, Cheshire
2. Rawley’s, Fairfield
3. Super Duper Weenie, Fairfield
4. Shiek’s, Torrington

“Other Worthy” Hot Dogs:

1. Capitol Lunch, New Britain (”for the sauce”)
2. Doogies, Newington (”home of the 16-incher”)
3. Guida’s, Middlefield (”10 inches”)
4. JK’s, Danbury (”Texas hots”)
5. Lake Zoar Drive-In, Stevenson (”foot-longs”)
6. Mr. Mac’s Canteen, Monroe (”fire-breathing chili dogs”)
7. Rosco’s Big Dog, Hartford (”for condiments and toppings beyond the call”) CLOSED
8. Windmill Restaurant, Stratford (”for brats and kielbasa too”)

Hot Dog Wagon: A THIRD hot dog category? Wow.

1. Chez Lenard, Main Street in Ridgefield
2. Big Ed’s, Danbury (Chuck’s parking lot)
3. Top Dog on Route 66 in Portland
4. Carolyn’s Weenie Wagon, 109 River Street in Seymour

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Pizza

(Some of the best in the US.)

***1. Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana, New Haven (Best in the US)
*2. Modern Apizza, New Haven
*3. Sally’s, New Haven
4. Carminuccio’s, Newtown
5. Colony Grill, Stamford
6. Pizzeria Laurentano, Bethel

White clam pizza, Pepe’s

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Seafood

Clam Chowder:

1. Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough, Noank
2. Flanders Fish Market, East Lyme (I’ve had this, but I guess I’ll have to go again!)

Fried Clams:

1. Lennie & Joe’s Fish Tale, Madison
2. Sea Swirl, Mystic

LobsterMania!

Custy’s, North Stonington (Gorge on all you can eat for 70 bucks!)

Lobster Roll:

1. Westbrook Lobster House, Clinton
2. Johnny Ad’s, Old Saybrook

Shore Dinner:

Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough, Noank

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Other Stuff

Chicken Pie:

Dottie’s Diner, Woodbury

Pain de Campagne:

Wave Hill Breads, Wilton

Pierogies, Globacki & Other Polish Foods:

1. Polish National Home, Hartford
2. Staropolska, New Britain
3. Beth and Her Alley Deli, Danbury

Summer Sausage Sandwich:

Karl Ehmer Quality Meat Products, Danbury

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Sweets and Ice Cream

***Chocolate Truffle:

Bridgewater Chocolate, Bridgewater & West Hartford (Best in the US)

Crumb Top Apple Pie:

Beardsley Cider Mill, Shelton

Dirt Bomb:

Bantam Bread Company, Bantam/Litchfield

***Donut Bread Pudding:

Dottie’s Diner, Woodbury

Fried Dough/Doughboy:

Doogie’s, Newington

Ice Cream:

1. Ridgefield Ice Cream Shop, Ridgefield
2. Shady Glen Dairy Store, Manchester
3. We-Li-Kit, Pomfret
4. Big Dipper Ice Cream Factory, Prospect
5. Timothy’s, Bridgeport
6a. Dr. Mike’s, Monroe & 6b, Bethel

7. Buttonwood Farm, Griswold

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Enjoying We-Li-Kit in the Abington section of Pomfret