13 Best Restaurants in New Britain, Connecticut

The CFC Fritas Express

Visit the CFC Fritas Express food truck in New Britain for affordable, real, and delicious Portuguese food. Owner Christina Fontes Correia is cooking up classic family dishes from her parents and grandparents back on the warm shores of Portugal, so don’t let the portable digs fool you.

Her Prego Steak Sandwich is highly recommended by the locals. It is served on freshly baked Portuguese bread from Hartford’s Native Breads bakery and is stuffed with succulent, smoky, and garlicky steak slices. The renown of her Portuguese Fried Dough balls is well-deserved. For these warm, melt-in-your-mouth pieces of fried bliss, people travel across Connecticut. They are crispy, puffy, and coated with cinnamon sugar.

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Naturally, you have to sample the fritas when you visit a food truck called Fritas! Your taste senses will dance when you bite into these crispy fried cubed steak bits served with fries and rice and topped with garlic sauce. CFC Fritas Express is a hidden gem in New Britain, serving hearty, inexpensive meals prepared the old-fashioned, homemade style.

Standout Dishes: Fritas, Chourico & Peppers Sub, Portuguese Fried Dough

Ramunto’s Brick Oven Pizza

Nothing beats Ramunto’s pizza in the area for perfectly formed, boiling hot slices. For more than 56 years, families in New Britain have been enjoying freshly baked brick oven pizza from this family-run neighborhood icon. Tony and Vinnie Ramunto, who currently own and operate the business, have continued their family’s long-standing heritage of pizza-loving.

Ramunto’s offers every kind of pizza covered, from cheesy deep dish to their specialty, paper-thin tomato pie, which is available for takeout or dining in. The Gouda Mac Pizza, which combines mac & cheese, bacon, jalapenos, and poblano peppers for a spicy, cheesy, crispy combination you didn’t know your taste buds needed, is our particular favorite.

In addition to pizza, Ramunto’s offers crowd-pleasing dishes such pasta Bolognese, calzones, and Aegean chicken. Not to mention, they freshly prepare their sauce and dough for pizza every day. Three varieties of aged mozzarella, an abundance of toppings, and a recipe for a secret brick oven round out this delicious and cheesy dish.

Standout Pies: Tomato Pie, Philly Cheese Steak Pizza, Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Taste of Poland – Euro Deli

Visit the well-liked sample of Poland deli and market in New Britain for a genuine sample of Eastern European cuisine. Owned by a family since 1998, this little slice of Poland consistently receives great reviews for its hearty Polish favorites, such as borscht soup, kielbasa sausage, and pierogies.

Pierogies have developed a very devoted fan base. These soft dumplings are created by hand every day and can be filled with fruit sweet cheese, farmers cheese, mashed potatoes, or sauerkraut. They are the epitome of authentic Polish comfort cuisine, boiled and then pan-fried with butter, onions, and bacon bits.

The deli case is brimming with delicacies other than pierogies, such as fluffy Polish cheesecake, stuffed cabbage rolls (golabki), potato pancakes (placki ziemniaczane), and Hunter’s stew (bigos). To help you fill up, there’s a market up front with a wide variety of Polish pantry essentials, sweets, beers, and more. Taste of Poland has some of the greatest pierogies this side of Warsaw, along with other delicious Polish treats. Only cash accepted, so be ready.

Standout Dishes: Pierogies (especially potato and onion), Roast Pork Loin, Pączki (Polish Donuts)

Jim’s Hamburg

A small burger joint in New Britain has been serving some of the most renowned greasy burgers and hot dogs in the state for over 70 years. Jim’s son Phil is currently in charge of Jim’s Hamburg, which was founded in 1954 using his grandfather’s Depression-era recipe. Phil obediently serves up these classic smashed double burgers to a younger crowd.

These burgers are straightforward but incredibly delicious. They are served on a plain steamed bun with grilled onions, American cheese, and Jim’s special tart “comeback sauce.” We dare you to try just one! The flavor of the sizzled griddle, the audible crunch when you bite into it, and the juicy, simple delight!

Try the Triple Threat, which has three patties, or the unusual Steak Bomb burger, which is topped with shaved steak, peppers, onions, and sauce, in addition to the original double burger. The traditional menu is completed with hot dogs, curly fries, milkshakes, and breakfast sandwiches. There is no interior sitting, so take your dog or burger to go and enjoy dining outside like countless happy patrons who came before you. an establishment in New Britain.

Standout menu items: Double Cheeseburger, Hot Dog with The Works, Steak Bomb

Fire and Spice Vegan Restaurant

The plant-based Fire and Spice Vegan Restaurant is leading the way in New Britain’s transition to a more compassionate and sustainable dining experience. The worldwide fusion menu at this quaint café, which was opened in 2020 by Earl and Cassie Ingram, will impress even the most devoted carnivores.

Foods abound in fascinating textures, rich hues, and nuanced flavors.free of all animal products. Start your dinner with Trinidadian Doubles, which are soft fried flatbread pockets filled with curried chickpeas, or Samosas topped with sweet tamarind sauce. Just as inventive and delicious are entrees like the Indonesian Rendang prepared with jackfruit and oyster mushrooms or the Rasta Pasta with zucchini noodles.

Don’t miss the amazing Pav Bhaji, an Indian street food delicacy that resembles a sloppy joe and consists of a chickpea and veggie mix served on buttery toasted buns. The chocolate cake with molten lava for dessert is incredibly delicious. For New Britain food enthusiasts, Fire and Spice offers a refreshing shift in viewpoint. It is also incredibly savory, affordable, sustainable, and family-friendly. Arrive famished and depart content (maybe even with a newfound veganism!).

Standout Dishes: Samosas, Pav Bhaji, Rasta Pasta, Lava Molten Cake

Pleasant Valley Drive-In Restaurant

Take the short drive to Pleasant Valley Drive-In during the warmer months for a classic 1950s-style drive-in dining experience. This seasonal walk-up burger stand opened in 1948 and still draws crowds today for its delicious greasy griddle food in a nostalgic setting.

Order classics like Footlong Hot Dogs, Cheeseburgers, and hearty Grilled Cheese sandwiches made just like they were made generations ago. Pair your all-American meal with crispy golden Onion Rings, Chicken Tenders, and old-fashioned fountain drinks like Lime Rickeys.

Once you’ve picked out your food, find a bright red picnic table on the expansive grass field full of flowers and tall trees and enjoy your meal while taking in the fresh country air. Pleasant Valley Drive-In is a must-see icon. Cash only, so be ready to think about simpler times while you eat simple food.

Standout menu items: Footlong Hot Dog, Cheeseburger, Crispy Onion Rings, Lime Rickey

Little Poland

Like every other small town in New Britain, ours has not one but two great Polish places. When it first opened in 1996, Little Poland served Polish comfort food that people in the area love. This small restaurant with 40 seats is run by Agata and Greg Stochmal, who are both Polish refugees. It serves food from the Old World in a cozy setting.

Of course, you can’t have a Polish meal without some steaming hot pierogies. The potato and cheese-filled dumplings at Little Poland are made by hand and then fried until golden. On top, sautéed onions and bacon bits make them taste even better.

The famous Bigos Hunter’s Stew, the breaded Pork Cutlet, the Potato Pancakes with sour cream, and the rich Polish Platter with kielbasa, pierogies, stuffed cabbage rolls, and more are some of their other favorites. A cold bottle of Lech Beer and a slice of their light Polish cheesecake will finish off your meal. Little Poland always has great home-style Polish food at a price that’s just right. Only cash, so be ready.

Standout Dishes: Pierogies, Bigos Stew, Pork Cutlet

Nandi’s Thai & Sushi

Nandi’s Thai & Sushi is always the first place that comes to mind when someone asks around about the best eateries in New Britain. When Chef Nandawan Paengnoy, a native of Thailand, opened Nandi’s in 2012, the standard for Asian food in the area was almost immediately elevated.

Nandi’s Pan-Asian menu features creative sushi and other Japanese cuisine mixed with real Thai favorites to create something striking and appealing for any palate. Start with a bowl of steaming Vietnamese Pho Soup or crispy Imperial Rolls loaded with vegetables, then indulge in Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, or a fragrant Massaman Curry full of soft chicken and potatoes.

Their sushi menu is equally impressive, including everything from sophisticated Nigiri plates to whimsical specialty rolls like the Pink Lady, which are stuffed with mango and crab. Additionally, don’t miss their inventive cocktail menu, which includes a sweet Honey Thai Chili Margarita and a Thai Iced Tea with bourbon. Nandi’s is a must-visit location for Asian cuisine because of its chic décor with exotic embellishments, creative taste combinations, and skillful implementation of both Thai and Japanese techniques

Standout Dishes: Pad Thai, Imperial Rolls, Red Curry, Volcano Roll

Success Vegetarian Restaurant

Vietnamese food is widely available across the town, which is not surprising given the small but mighty Vietnamese population in New Britain. Popular family-owned Success Vegetarian is a must-try for fresh, genuine Vietnamese dishes with a healthy plant-based touch.

Under the direction of Lien Tran, a native of Vietnam, Success turns traditional Vietnamese cuisine into colorful meatless feasts made with premium vegetables, tofu, and seitan. Intensely fragrant curries and noodle broths, herbs, spicy chilies, and bright, crisp pickles lend a delectable Southeast Asian character to the menu.

Bun Bo Xao Xa Ot (rice noodles and lemongrass seitan), Com Tam Suon Chua Ngot (claypot tofu), Canh Chua Ca (sour and sweet soup), and Goi Cuon (fresh summer rolls) are all time favorites. The perfect combination is Vietnamese iced coffee and coconut milk. Success Vegetarian offers hearty, tasty Vietnamese food without the meat and without breaking the bank for entrées that cost less than $15. Try something delectably unique by going to Success! Only cash.

Standout dishes: Bun Bo Xao Xa Ot, Summer Rolls, Claypot Tofu

Costas Restaurant & Wine Bar

Costas Restaurant & Wine Bar is a great spot to start our list because it has the highest TripAdvisor rating of any restaurant in New Britain. Having been family-run since 2005, Costas offers New Englanders a taste of the Greek Isles. The fresh seafood served at this little, well-lit eatery is known for being flown in from the Mediterranean every day.

Superb freshness and flavor are guaranteed as swordfish, salmon, sea bass, and other seafood arrive mere hours after leaving the crystal-clear blue oceans halfway around the globe. Costas is known for its fish, but landlubbers will also find enough to eat, including Moussaka, Pastitsio baked with béchamel, and Keftedes (Greek meatballs).

Make sure to pair your order, whatever it may be, with one of the more than 100 carefully chosen wines from their cellar. Costas takes you to a Greek coastal taverna for a few blissful hours with its elegant vibes, unique atmosphere, excellent service, and delicious food.

Standout Dishes: Seafood Casserole, Stuffed Calamari, Rack of Lamb

Coral Castle

Coral Castle is the only place in New Britain to have an elegant dining experience. Using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, Chef de Cuisine Riyaad Mohammed has been offering progressive American cuisine since 2018.

The menu is constantly changing due to what local farms have to offer, but some of the best dishes are the line-caught fluke crudo with grapefruit, breakfast radish, cucumber, and preserved lemon; foie gras de canard with sour cherry and toasted brioche; and rabbit osso buco served with parsnip silk, carrot emulsion, and pickled mustard seeds.

With its magnificent marble bar, white tablecloths, and black leather booths, the dining area exudes a sophisticated yet laid-back atmosphere. Fine cocktails and a sizable wine list properly balance the gastronomic offerings. Coral Castle is a great option for a special occasion or a night out.

Standout Dishes: Seared Duck Breast, 1855 Bone-In Ribeye, Flourless Chocolate Torte

Prime 82 Steakhouse & Bar

Prime 82 Steakhouse & Bar, situated on the busy Main Street of New Britain, sets the standard for upscale dining in the area. At this modern chophouse, steaks are the main course, as their name suggests. Expert butchers chop the only USDA Prime corn and grass-fed beef on site to guarantee the highest quality of freshness and flavor.

In addition to several steak cuts, you may choose from dishes like Alaskan King Crab Legs, Australian Cold Water Lobster Tail, Berkshire Pork Chop, and more. If you’re willing to go all out, Wagyu beef is also an option. Sophisticated appetizers, decadent desserts, and inventive sides complete an amazing dining experience.

An award-winning wine list and creative handcrafted cocktails like the Lilikoi Passionfruit Martini and Smoked Old Fashioned will further enhance the evening. With its luxurious settings, attentive service, and strictly controlled dry-aging chamber, Prime 82 offers upscale steakhouse dining in New Britain.

Standout Dishes: 22 oz Bone-In Ribeye, Au Poivre Steak, Twice Baked Potato

Conclusion

For such a small community, New Britain’s food scene pulls far above its weight. Locally owned restaurants offering real world flavors from Portugal to Poland to Southeast Asia, sometimes within blocks of one another, are fueled by a dynamic and diverse immigrant population.

Every day, seafood from the Mediterranean is delivered, dumplings are filled into historic Polish bakeries, and Texas-style BBQ is served alongside Thai curries. Such is New Britain, a fascinating mixing pot of many tastes.

We hope that our list of the Top 12 Restaurants in New Britain has encouraged you to experience the regional cuisine, which includes places like Costas, Coral Castle, Jim’s Hamburg, and Nandi’s Thai & Sushi. Here in Central Connecticut, we have a delectable microcosm of changing demographics, cultural diffusion, and good ol’ Connecticut chow.

Explore a different cuisine, go back to a long-time favorite restaurant, or keep looking for the greatest slice in town. There’s always a new and intriguing flavor to try when dining out in small-town New Britain thanks to its diverse restaurant options!