In Connecticut’s New Haven County, Milford is a quaint seaside town with a burgeoning culinary industry. Everything from upscale eateries with views of the port to quaint cafes with freshly baked products are available for everyone to enjoy. The top 12 eateries in Milford that are not to be missed are included in this article.
There are both modern restaurants serving cutting-edge food and long-standing establishments serving New England classics in this eclectic mix of dining options. The emphasis on fresh, locally produced ingredients on many menus will be especially appealing to foodies. Make sure to check out these must-try Milford eateries the next time you’re in the area, whether you live there or are just visiting.
13 Best Restaurants in Milford, Connecticut
Homespun Food & Drink
Check out Homespun Food & Drink, which is conveniently located near downtown Milford, for sophisticated comfort food in rustic-chic surroundings. This quaint restaurant, housed in two connected historic buildings, serves inventive takes on childhood classics along with handcrafted cocktails.
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Excellent traditional and contemporary cocktails are provided at the bar, along with sharing appetizers including house pickles, spicy nuts, and dips with crispy pita chips. Comfort food with a cosmopolitan flair can be found on small plates such as Mexican street corn dip, Korean pork buns, shakshuka flatbread, and creole shrimp toast.
Favorites like meatloaf, chicken pot pie, beer cheese mac, and barbecue brisket sandwiches are among the most decadent main courses. Mom’s sweets are a must-try; their seasonal cobblers, lemon ricotta cheesecake, and chocolate bourbon pecan pie are the ideal way to cap off a dinner. Homespun makes an impression with its expertly cooked, scratch-made regional comfort food served by experienced staff.
Good News Cafe
Visit the relaxed Good News Cafe for freshly produced salads, grain bowls, sandwiches, and baked goods created with natural ingredients. Nestled near the heart of Milford, this quaint restaurant prioritizes comfort food in a positive atmosphere.
Their abundant bakery case is brimming with freshly baked breads, scones, muffins, cookies, and bars, all of which are ideal for savoring on their quaint terrace while sipping locally roasted coffee. Large, elegantly arranged salads offer a healthy option for lunch, in addition to daily soups, quiches, and sandwiches.
Breakfast favorites like yogurt parfaits and breakfast sandwiches are joined by hearty dishes like nut butter toasts, avocado toast, acai bowls, and steel-cut oats. Additionally, they provide a variety of smoothies, tea lattes, matcha lattes, and juices made with real ingredients devoid of artificial coloring or preservatives. happy News Cafe is a dependable place to feel happy because of its kind staff and tranquil atmosphere.
Corner Cafe
Get freshly made breakfast and lunch meals at Corner Cafe, just off of downtown Milford, in comfortable surroundings. In an attractive location, this light-filled corner cafe serves up New England staples from early morning until mid-afternoon.
Perfectly coupled with locally roasted coffee, fluffy piles of pancakes, golden Belgian waffles, and hearty breakfast sandwiches set the tone for a great day. Snackle on delectable, sharing appetizers from their pastry case, such as pastries, scones, quiches, and freshly made muffins.
Seasonal ingredients and homemade condiments are highlighted in made-to-order sandwiches, creating sophisticated takes on beloved sandwiches like BLTs, turkey clubs, artisan paninis, and Reubens. Daily soups frequently feature local favorites including butternut squash, chicken noodle, and clam chowder. Dessert should never be skipped; chocolate cake or slices of fruit and cream pies make the ideal end to a meal. This renowned downtown corner cafe offers quick service and a classic corner cafe experience.
City Fish Market
City Fish Market is located downtown close to the port and offers the freshest seafood in the area as well as the most knowledgeable fishmongers. Beautiful catches from New England and beyond are available for purchase at this mainstay fish market. Their busy kitchen can prepare meals to order.
Their smoked fish selections and abundant raw bar also demand to be taken home. Diners have the option to take their food to go or eat along the vibrant bar-anchored little cafe. Highlights of the menu include shrimp po boys heaped with crispy fried shrimp and lobster rolls stuffed to the brim with knuckle and claw flesh.
Fresh oyster types, crab cakes, fish and chips, and chowders are always in prime condition, as are local littlenecks.What’s freshest is highlighted in the inesisDaily blackboard specials, which could include steamed mussels, pan-seared fish, or seared tuna. Bring prepared seafood salads, caviar, pre-packaged lobster dinners, or smoked bluefish pâté home. Their chewy cookies and fudgy brownies are the ideal way to cap off dinners, so don’t skip dessert.
Rooster Company
At Rooster Company in downtown Milford, you can experience the best of both worlds—Southern friendliness and freshly prepared regional food. Located by the river in a 19th-century building, this rustic restaurant specializes in wood-fire-grilled delicacies inspired by the Smoky Mountains.
Carnivores swarm this place for slow-cooked barbecue, which is matched exquisitely with local sides like baked beans, coleslaw, mac & cheese, and cornbread. The barbecue ranges from soft dry-rub ribs to smokey pulled pig and melt-in-your-mouth brisket. Shareable Southern mainstays like fried okra, collard greens, and jalapeño hushpuppies are accompanied by dishes like chicken tenders, fried green tomatoes, and pimento cheese dip.
In large servings, hot sandwiches, po’boys, and burgers are also well-received. Egg-centric hashes, Benedicts, pancakes, and chicken + waffles are all served during brunch. Drink some local whiskey or beer to go with it. Friendly staff in a relaxed atmosphere has residents coming back time and time again.
Sandbar Seafood Grill and Raw Bar
Nestled along picturesque Milford Harbor, Sandbar Seafood Grill and Raw Bar serves you some of the best raw bar options and seafood around. This breezy eatery with a nautical motif is excellent for both small and large plates featuring seafood influences from across the world and meals straight from Long Island Sound.
Shrimp cocktail, tuna tartare, littleneck clams, and oysters on the half shell are some of the standout items from their outstanding raw bar. Making a decision is challenging with appetizers like savory crab cakes, grilled sea scallops, and peel-and-eat shrimp. Mainstays of the menu include lobster rolls, haddock sandwiches, rainbow trout, and salmon are joined by occasionally available fresh catches.
For those who don’t like seafood, there is also additional variety offered by steaks, ribs, chicken, and pasta. Their rich sweets, which include warm chocolate lava cake and key lime pie, are the ideal way to cap off dinners. Sandbar is a local favorite because it offers courteous service, pleasant indoor or outdoor bay views, and affordable prices.
The Corner Restaurant
The Corner Restaurant has been a beloved downtown diner since the 1950s and is still a favorite among the community for delicious breakfasts and lunches at reasonable prices. This casual restaurant serves you meaty omelets, crispy bacon, golden waffles, and fluffy pancakes that never let you down.
Lunchtime favorites like crunchy BLTs, burger melts, and tuna melts highlight freshness with seasonal ingredients and homemade condiments. With dependable delicacies like pot roast, meatloaf, and roasted turkey served with homemade sides, daily blue plate specials satisfy regulars.
Dessert should not be missed; their fruit and cream pies are delicious. The Corner Restaurant offers quick service and comfortable booths that make you feel like you’re eating in your own kitchen. It’s still a favorite for classic home cooking in a casual atmosphere.
Orange Ale House
For good reason, Orange Ale House has remained a beloved Milford institution; the food is excellent. This laid-back brewpub on the main drag offers upgraded pub cuisine that emphasizes handcrafted goods and is matched with a large selection of beers.
Although hearty fare like burgers, sandwiches, and flatbreads draw in large crowds, the menu also offers more subdued surprises in the form of a variety of small and large plates. The steamed mussels in white wine, the gigantic pretzels, and the pastrami pot stickers are among the highlights. Precision in cooking is evident in hearty main courses such as maple salmon, beer can chicken, and baby back ribs.
To keep things interesting, daily specials frequently feature unusual foods like lamb lollipops, Korean pig belly tacos, and duck confit poutine. The real attraction here is, of course, the more than 100 beers on tap, with a focus on regional craft breweries. Orange Ale House is a beloved local institution among beer enthusiasts and families alike because of its affordable rates and freshly prepared food.
Bistro Basque
Nestled in an intimate setting off the main drag in downtown Milford, Bistro Basque transports customers to Europe with its rustic French-inspired meals. This neighborhood café, run by a husband and wife team, crafts generations-perfected Basque-country favorites using ingredients sourced from nearby farms.
To begin, start with pintxos like as cheese boards, charcuterie, and pâté, which go well with wines from their choice of wines from France and Spain. Delicious main courses include pan-seared fish, braised short ribs, duck confit, and traditional steak frites.
Salads, open-faced sandwiches on crusty bread, and croque monsieurs are lighter options that are equally satisfying. Orange almond cake or crème caramel custard for dessert will complete the meal. Bistro Basque is a dependable local treasure thanks to its unique atmosphere and affordable prices.
Stonebridge Restaurant
Reserve a seat at Stonebridge Restaurant, which is located beside the picturesque Miford Harbor, for a special night out. Diners are impressed by the sophisticated yet laid-back waterfront restaurant’s modern American cuisine, which emphasizes locally produced New England ingredients.
Hearty mains like herb crusted rack of lamb, seared Georges Bank sea scallops, and center cut filet mignon please heartier appetites, while appetizers like peekytoe crab cakes and pan seared scallops whet the appetite.
The skillful preparation methods used in the kitchen additionally highlight the fresh fish and seafood options. Across the large dining room, bar, and summer harborfront patio, service is refined and responsive. Although it’s undoubtedly an indulgence for the majority of residents, Stonebridge provides outstanding quality, making it one of Milford’s best restaurants for special events or celebratory meals.
The Workshop Kitchen + Bar
The Workshop Kitchen + Bar, nestled along the picturesque Milford Harbor, entices travelers with its modern American cuisine emphasizing shared plates. The dining area and bar are bathed in natural light thanks to the spacious, industrial space that is flanked with wide windows.
Crisp ingredients and inventive presentation elevate small appetizers like burrata, shrimp toast, and tuna tartare tacos to exceptional levels. More substantial main courses like pan-roasted chicken over celery root puree, short rib cavatelli, and seared scallops also satisfy.
With its excellent raw bar and seafood selections that include whole roasted fish and lobster rolls, the restaurant makes the most of its coastal setting. Craft beer made locally and creative cocktails highlight the “bar” aspect of this trendy hangout. The Workshop is a popular spot for happy hour because of its affordable costs. In warmer months, al fresco dining is possible on the harborfront patio.
Peachpit BBQ and Smokehouse
Peachpit BBQ and Smokehouse is the best barbecue place around. This laid-back restaurant, which is tucked away near Milford Harbor, specializes in slow-smoked meats served with substantial sides like cornbread, coleslaw, and baked beans.
A dry rub of sugar and lemon always makes the baby back ribs fall off the bone tender. Succulent, smoky pulled pork strands that demand to be heaped high on a bun are produced by simmering the meat for more than 12 hours.
Peachpit even treats steaks; the cast iron-seared hanger steak with a coffee crust is one of the menu’s highlights. Don’t overlook the delectable jalapeño corn fritters and tater tots made with duck fat. With an amazing view, the harbor-front patio is the ideal spot for al fresco eating. Peachpit is a local favorite due to its affordable costs.