Along Came Carol Catering & The Nook

Thank you so much Carol for making my 60th birthday celebration at the Nook something to remember! The food was perfection--delicious and served artfully. The space was delightfully different and creative and I couldn't have chosen a more perfect setting for my party. Our server did a great job making sure everyone had what they needed and they were warm and friendly. All in all, it was a fantastic event!!!

On Friday night August 1st my wife and I along with two of our dearest friends were among twelve lucky guests who reserved seats for an exclusive Taste of Ischia Italian country dinner at The Nook in the Black Rock section of Brideport, CT. Hosted by the amazingly talented Chef Carol, the nook is the dining room area for her commercial kitchen and business called Along Came Carol. The long communal table brought us together with new faces, perfect for catching up and sharing stories, with everyone passing family-style dishes and sipping our own beverages. The meal kicked off with Carol's farmer's market white bean spread-cannellini beans, garlic, olive oil, rosemary, and red pepper flakes-paired with homemade crostinis, alongside her phenomenal focaccia bread that kept coming all night. Next, an antipasto skewer with artichoke hearts, grape tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, sopressata, and balsamic drizzle delighted us. Next, the salad course, shaved fresh escarole with grilled lemon shrimp, borlotti beans, radishes, cucumbers, olive oil, lemon, and mint was a standout. Everything tasted so fresh and new to everyone. The first course, Ischia-style mussels steamed in fennel, leek, tomato, basil, garlic, shallots, white wine, and seafood broth, was divine. Dipping our focaccia into that savory seafood broth was a highlight of the meal. Then came the pasta course, homemade trofie ligure pasta with traditional basil pesto, potatoes, green beans, and shaved parmesan-a true taste of Italy. This is a hand rolled pasta thats dense and chewy and perfect for grabbing all that delicious pesto and cheese, quite unique. The entrées followed, pan-seared swordfish with parsley, garlic, anchovies, olive oil, lemon, and diced tomatoes, and an herb-marinated grilled chicken paillard with Roma tomatoes, capers, green onions, and olive oil. Both of these dishes were flawless. Fresh organic zucchini and yellow squash with cipollini onions, garlic, basil, lemon, and parmesan rounded it out beautifully. The tastes of summer in every course; a little citrus, a little sweet, a little acidic; perfect balance. Each course was perfectly paced based on reading the guests, what was scheduled 7-10PM spilled well into the late night as we finished well after 11. This allowed us to savor every moment, every flavor. What a night! Dessert was a heavenly Neapolitan-style sfogliatelle our taste buds required us to devour. Carol’s stories while cooking in front of us, in between courses, and post-meal of her Italian travels and culinary inspirations made the night unforgettable, and her attentive, cordial and social staff was second to none. This was hands-down one of the greatest home-cooked meals we've had in years. I'm already dreaming of the next one! 5 stars…no way…how about the universe of stars!!

Tim Taddei

From the moment I arrived at The Nook, I was swept into a magical setting—soft candlelight, beautifully set tables, and an ambiance that felt both intimate and enchanting. What began as a dinner among 20 strangers quickly became a shared experience with newfound friends, all brought together by the charm of the space. The six-course meal was a masterpiece—each dish thoughtfully crafted, visually stunning, and absolutely delicious. The entire evening was filled with warmth, connection, and so much fun. I left already looking forward to my next visit!

Long overdue review. Had my husband's 65th birthday there a few years ago. When it came my turn, I couldn't think of any place better than the Nook. The entire event, both times, were exactly as we hoped, intimate and private.
I absolutely can not say enough about Carol, her food or her staff. I worked with Carol to come up with a menu that was talked about for weeks after the event. My advise to anyone, listen to her. She knows her way around a kitchen. My only regret is that the night couldn't have lasted longer.

I’m so glad that I saw your facebook post about your Friday night dinner party.Thanks so much for fitting me in at the last minute! Even though I went by myself I had the best time! All the people I met were so nice and welcoming. Not only was the company great, but the food and service were just fabulous! Thank you Carol for a wonderful evening … I will definitely be back!

Carol created the most beautiful bountiful table for my husband's birthday party! Perfect large group appetizer!

Carol's corned beef and cabbage, plus the braised carrots and potatoes, accompanied by her own Irish soda bread, were a treat beyond desription. She is a gifted Chef-par-excellance. Linda G

We had an incredible experience at the Nook, celebrating our son’s wedding reception. The food was superb, the decor charming and the service exceptional. Carol and her lovely team went out of their ways to accommodate us.We can not thank you enough.

Along Came Carol catered our November backyard wedding - we could not have been happier with the delicious food and the wonderful staff! We received compliments from our guests for weeks after. The staff was very professional and easy to work with. We look forward to working with Along Came Carol for our future catering needs!

I am shocked by how unprofessional and rude Carol was to us and to her staff. She made our dinner so horribly uncomfortable for everyone. The food was not good at all so many of us left a lot of food on our plates. She asked us what was wrong and we politely told her we just didn’t enjoy it and she was absolutely livid. She made snarky remarks like we “didn’t understand fine food” and we “couldn’t appreciate” her culinary skills and talent. Like who says that to a guest?! It was all so unbelievable. I didn’t understand the glowing reviews on here until I read through them. Looks like all of those glowing reviews are from her personal friends who know her well. There is no reason to deal with anyone this rude.

Read the negative reviews carefully. I’ve noticed that all the ones that rave about her are from people who acknowledged they know her personally. The food is not great and the service was surly. Disappointed by the lack of authentic reviews.

Delicious food and wonderful staff.They catered my daughter's bridal shower. Food and service was beyond exceptional.

Had a wonderful experience!

The event we attended over the weekend was fabulous! The food was absolutely delicious and the staff was very attentive to the guests. I have been to other parties catered by Carol and she never fails to delite guests with her wonderful creative food. You'll never be disappointed when Carol caters for you. She will ensure that everyone has a fantastic culinary experience.

We recently went to an event catered by Along Came Carol. It was clear there were logistical issues and both the caterer and host were frazzled. The food was mediocre and we felt bad for the host because she was really stressed about this even which was supposed to be happy and celebratory. With graduation and Father’s Day coming up, we suggest you look elsewhere if you want your event to go smoothly. I’ve never seen so many plates left untouched. Sad waste of food.