New American Restaurants near Middlebury, CT

“For years I thought that the focus of this place was selling dessert pies and pint size beverages (shakes, etc) for families. More like a version of Pie Plate, if you remember them from Waterbury. Then a friend talked about going there and was shocked that I never had been. Once he mentioned the beer selection, I knew that I had to check it out. Unfortunately, I am now moving from the area but I have been going once every week or two for the past year. They really do have a great selection of craft beers on tap and in cans/bottles. A lot of rare beers, as well. I usually grab a small pepperoni & mushroom pizza, have two beers and save the rest for lunch the following day. The staff is amazing and the clientele is a mixed bag. Some chill people but also a lot of cocky people who either are rich or pretend to be rich. This is really odd because there is nothing pretentious about this place. But outside of that, this is my favorite place that I unfortunately only found out isn't a place for desserts, this past year.Parking: The only thing that I would say about parking is to slow down to a creep as soon as your GPS tells you that it is coming up. Very easy to miss because it sits well below street level. And if it is icy, don't even bother trying to make it out that steeper entrance/exit.“

“My family and I decided to eat here for my daughter’s birthday lunch. We had Jake as our server and he was fantastic! So personable and always had a smile on his face. My mom has some dietary restrictions and he was quick to suggest something from the menu that she ended up loving. We usually visit the Southbury location but will be coming to the Middlebury location from now on and asking for Jake every time. The food is always good and with such an extensive menu, there is something for everyone! We will be back!“

“This is a gem of a spot in Seymour!! Their food is top notch excellent and they have utterly delicious vegan options! Prices are incredibly reasonable and the portions are just right. My partner said it’s the best breakfast burrito he’s ever had in Ct. I got a vegan soyrizo sandwich and was also blown away. Can’t WAIT to go back and try more of their dishes - everything that came out of the kitchen looked bangin! The owners are friendly and outgoing. I’d just be aware the space is quite small so seating is limited - more of an issue if you’re wanting to bring a group on a weekend.Vegetarian options: Vegetarian but more importantly VEGAN options.“

“First time and the food was great. Good choices for apps, meals, in hand, and desserts. Specials too! Their beef brisket is nice and tender. So much to try next time we go. It filled up fast so might consider reservations. Recommend this place for the food, service and atmosphere.“

“This is my favorite restaurant in town. I’ve been here several times for both dine-in and takeout. The food is fresh and delicious. I love that they use local ingredients and I love that the takeout does not include plastic containers, plastic cutlery, or plastic bags. I also like that the menu changes up from time to time. Staff are always friendly and professional. Thank you for providing such a great dining option in Watertown.“

“We recently had the pleasure of getting a bite to eat at the Country Corner and it became more than just lunch. I was up in Bethany before COVID and had a wonderful meal then but upon walking in this time I was reminded that when you come here you will be welcomed like family. Between Cassie, Sandy and Moe they run a wonderful place. The place is beautiful and the food really does stand out. I had a Chef Salad which I was able to eat all of it. It was very big and very fresh. I truly enjoyed it. My wife ordered a Pistachio cake for dessert. ( I don't care for Pistachio) Well I ate half of hers. It was AMAZING! I was told it was made by Mom. She is so incredibly talented! You really could taste the love. I was told that Sam (dad) passed away a few years ago. You can clearly see and feel that his spirit lives on through their love and pride for this place. I look forward to returning and seeing especially what Mom has baked. ❤️??“

“I will start by saying that 4 stars is being just a tiny bit generous. My meal was more like a 3.5. First - it's cash only so keep that in mind prior to stopping in. I went in alone - I was shopping in the area but not from town. Rachel's had pretty great reviews and I was really excited about it. Even though it was lunchtime - I decided on the Irish Benny. I looked at the menu for a while. There was nothing truly inspiring on it. I was tossing and turning trying to decide - I was a bit nervous ordering the hash because it didn't say 'homemade' on the menu. I finally asked and was sold on the Irish Benny when I found out the hash wasn't coming out of the can (not that I don't love that from time to time). It was served with a rather small (but fine for me!) serving of home fries. I did ask for them well done but many of them can out burnt. The bread that the Benny was served on was too thick. It was super tough to cut through. I believe it was grilled on the griddle and was overcharrred leaving it with an odd taste. The eggs on top may have been poached but there was barely a runny yolk so it was hard to tell. There was too little hollandaise. Overall - it was all just a bit flat for me. The do squeeze their own lemonade which was refreshing and delicious! The vibe is cute - rustic and cozy. My waiter was nice - attentive and engaging without over doing it.“

“Today was our first time dining here. Very clean and very friendly. We had breakfast. French toast, Omelet, Blueberry Pancakes. Home fries,Bacon. Everything was very well presented and very very delicious. We highly recommend this place and we will most definitely be back. Definitely getting 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“I have been to Philadelphia and back. I like to rate food sometimes. And by gosh this is one of the best steak and cheeses I’ve ever freaking had. So much steak great prices. Friendly, friendly owners, and staff highly highly recommend. Hidden gem. Hope you will read this :-) I also want to mention Ana… she should be running the place. Top freaking amazing service, so polite and so thoughtful.“

“Excellent service and great food! We came on a Sunday for a private party, the service was awesome! Everything came out together and the servers did a great job handling 20+ people in the party. A great cocktail menu as well. The Kobe beef burger was excellent!“

“2nd time here for dinner, and did not disappoint. Swordfish entree was delicious, and calamari & tuna tartare appetizers as well. The special Manhattan cocktail (“Night at the Roxbury”) was absolutely excellent. Great overall experience & very good service“

“We stopped in for late lunch/early dinner after scoring a walk in at the Smash Room across the street. We did not have reservations, but it wasn’t very busy when we arrived. The hostess was extremely pleasant and helpful. We thought the atmosphere was very inviting, casual and a bit of a throwback.Our server, Scout, was excellent. He provided specialty drink, beer, and food suggestions for those in our party needing some help deciding.The menu is basically tavern fare. The lunch menu is an eclectic mix of pizza, handhelds, salads, and a few entrees. The dinner menu adds more entree choices. Our group had the cauliflower app, drinks, handhelds and salads, which we found all to be very good.Parking: At busier times I can see that the size of the parking can become problematic. Street parking is extremely limited due to the odd intersection location and number of nearby commercial businesses.“

“The food is always good, the staff is attentive without hovering, always pleasant and nice. Good menu with house specials, always perfectly cooked with great presentatio, not pretensious but not boring. The crowd has always been relaxed whenever I have been there. They have a nice patio. Plenty of parking. Prices are on par for what you would expect and the quality is always high.“

“Every plate of food is Good News.Vegetarian options: Burritos, Thai red curry, pasta, salads and more seasonal offerings.Dietary restrictions: Very helpful and willing to do salt restrictions. Gluten-free and vegan and vegetarian options are clearly labeled on the menu.Parking: Right on the Main Street adjacent to a plaza, there is always parking available.Kid-friendliness: Patient staff, flexible menu and lots of yummy desserts for good boys and girls.Wheelchair accessibility: Ramps are permanently constructed at entrance.“

“The lodge reminds me a lot of cheers! You walk in, and everyone starts to know your name… The weight staff is always very friendly and often strike up a conversation which I find something special these days. The food options are always great, and there are always a few specials on the list that catch someone’s eye. The draft beer choices are always rotating and changing which is great; often locally sourced. The bar area is always bustling, and offers a free pool table for patrons. There is also a large covered outdoor dining area for fair weather eating.“

“I recently attended a private party there. The staff was extremely accommodating to my gluten intolerance issues and made me a separate gluten free meal which was very tasty and included gluten free bread and ice cream for dessert. I highly recommend them.“

“Been here several times , food is always good . The menu has some nice selections and I always enjoy what I get . It can be crowded so be prepared to wait during busy dinner hours .Vegetarian options: Salads , cauliflower also gluten free options as well . French fries are really good“

“A friend recommended it and although it’s 35 minutes away, we tried it. Well, all I can say is tonight we were back there for the fourth time in seven weeks. The prices are absolutely fair, the Menu is very extensive plus specials we’ve had the Waitress (Melanie) Who is absolutely fantastic and is afraid to say stop don’t order that. It’s not that good tonight however, this is fantastic. And the food is excellent. Every time we’ve been there, we’ve taken food home for a second meal. Considering how many portions are under $24 with most of them under $20 that says a lot. How do you recommend a clam chowder, fantastic. So far I have had several pasta dishes of which both were so large. I took some home and I am a big eater. I also had a special sandwich tonight that came with aus jus similar to a French Dip but very very nice. My wife was upset because I ate it all. On Saturday evening, it can be a little bit noisy and we recommend sitting in the main dining room. However, we love sitting in the pub area in the table next to the electric fireplace, which is further away from the bar and it’s just very comfortable. The only negative we can come up with is because we like to eat leisurely and we tell Melanie to keep our food coming slowly we’re there for a while and the hard chairs make our butts sore. We wish we had pads on the chairs.If you’ve never been there, you have to try it.Parking: There are plenty of parking spaces with a good number of them for handicap and the in the four times we’ve been there, we have never had a problem. During golf season some golfers may park in the restaurant parking lot, which could be a problem but so far we’ve had none.Wheelchair accessibility: They have both stairs and easy wheelchair ramp with handrails on both sides“

“Amazing service is an understatement. The new painted pony restaurant is an amazing place for people of all Ages with events all through the week such as trivia on Tuesdays and bands every Saturday this place has it all. The amazing menu is only beat by the amazing food options. The fries are amazing and while there are many pasta dishes the chicken parm in particular is amazing don’t listen to what the haters say the painted pony is an amazing place for you and the whole family. I will be coming back.Parking: Parking in the front and back no trouble getting in and out.“

“Found this place one day while driving to work, it is definitely one of those hidden gems in Connecticut. It is so nice if you looking for a nice quiet place to have lunch. I tried the truffle fries, which were absolutely delicious. As well as a side of mac n cheese, which wasn’t bad. Definitely would try something else next time I go. Our waitress was great, very attentive and so polite. She definitely went above and beyond.“

“I loved my food and experience this evening. You could almost touch the train as it went by. We had a wonderful server, Sergio. Fast, attentive and got everything right! My swordfish was fabulous, it came with veggies even though I requested pasta with extra marinara. It was delicious. Garlicky marinara , yum. I need to try more food here and will be back!“

“Sunset Grille hosted our baby shower of around 60 guests and they did an amazing job. The food was fantastic, the venue was beautiful, and Kathy did a wonderful job planning the event. I would definitely have another event there in the future. Thank you Sunset Grille for doing such a wonderful job!!“

“The bartender there was really nice she actually made a point of coming to talk to us just thought that was great. The burgers we had were delicious. The drinks were also very good. Prices were about normal to a bit high but all in all my wife and I had a very nice meal and a couple of drinks. I would highly recommend you check the place out I'll for sure will be going back.“