13 Best Restaurants in Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut has a great food scene, with places that use ingredients from the area. There is a wide range of restaurants, from casual ones that serve tasty pizza to fancy ones that serve modern American food. Waterbury has a very diverse population, which has led to a lot of international restaurants that serve food from around the world.
Baci Grill – Best Seafood Restaurant
Baci Grill is a high-end modern restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows and crystal chandeliers that serves fresh fish and prime steaks. It is only minutes from downtown. Their varied menu is great for seafood, with a focus on both local Atlantic catches and exotic imported types.
Start with their Fruits de Mer tower, which is made of oysters, lobster claws, mussels, and crab layered over ice. Next, try meals that are expertly grilled with salmon, swordfish, or whole Branzino that is cooked crisp with herbs from the Mediterranean. Not feeling like fish? You can use their 16-ounce dry-aged ribeye or center-cut filet mignon instead. And don’t forget to save room for their famous Chocolate Souffle, which is filled to the brim with melting dark chocolate. Baci Grill is still the best place in Waterbury to get great fish and steaks in a classy but cozy atmosphere.
Samy’s La Cocina De Mexico ll – Best Tacos
Looking for delicious tacos in a laid-back cantina? Samy’s La Cocina De Mexico is the place to go. You can get great genuine Mexican street food at this lively taqueria. Their tacos are filled with carne asada, chorizo, chicken tinga, or carnitas that have been slow-cooked in citrus juice and spices.
Their strong salsa bar is the real star. It has tomatillo, mango, and Chile de árbol types, so you can add more heat and zing to every bite. They still focus on specialty tacos, but they also serve standard dishes like enchiladas smothered in tangy mole sauce or chili verde, as well as nachos stuffed full of toppings. And what goes better with tacos than a cold beer or margarita? In a busy cantina setting, Samy’s is the place to go for flavorful tacos.
Black Rock Tavern – Best Gastropub
The best way to describe Black Rock Tavern, a modern gastropub serving creative dishes and craft cocktails in a lively nightlife environment, is as stylish yet cozy. The high ceilings, exposed brick, and leather furniture make this place, which used to be a firehouse, a great place to meet up with friends or grab a bite to eat before going to a show downtown.
They serve doughy pretzel bites with beer cheese fondue and a Yardbird sandwich with crispy buttermilk fried chicken and sharp cheddar. It’s a play on classic bar food. Some of the heartier dishes are the confit duck leg and the wild mushroom rice with parmesan on top. They have twenty beers on tap, including local IPAs, stouts, and cider. The drink menu is just as good as the food. If you want high-quality gastropub food that is still cheap and a lively bar scene, Black Rock Tavern is the place to go.
The Olive Tree – Best Lebanese Restaurant
The Olive Tree is one of Waterbury’s many ethnic restaurants that stands out because the owners, Annabelle and George Chami, make real Lebanese food every day. The food at their cozy restaurant, which is decorated with elaborate wood carvings and textiles, takes customers to the Middle East.
Begin with soups like hummus, baba ghanoush, and tabbouleh. Then, try mixed grills with juicy kafta kebabs and shish taouk chicken skewers on top of fluffy rice pilaf. There are hearty stews without meat, like okra bamia cooked with tomatoes and lamb, and stuffed grape leaves. And for dessert, try baklava or Arabic coffee that smells like cardamom and clove. The Olive Tree is the best place to go to get a taste of Lebanon without leaving Connecticut.
Hashani Mediterranean Restaurant – Best Turkish Restaurant
Hashani Mediterranean Restaurant, which serves modern Turkish food with a focus on colorful vegetables and spices, gets another tasty passport stamp. Hanging lanterns and bright fabrics give them a laid-back vibe that makes them perfect for a relaxing lunch or dinner with friends.
Adding chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppery arugula to a bright salad with a lemony sumac dressing makes your taste buds wake up. On their heartier plates, you can get their famous Adana kebab, which is made with hand-ground spiced lamb and chicken and baked in a clay oven. It is served over nutty bulgur rice. Don’t forget to save room for homemade baklava and apple, clove, and orange-scented Turkish tea at the end of the meal. Hashani is the place to go for modern Turkish food in a stylish but casual setting.
Roma Ristorante – Best Italian Restaurant
Roma Ristorante has been a Waterbury favorite for more than 30 years. Their classic Italian meals, made from old family recipes, will take you to Italy. This diner is owned by third-generation Italian Americans, and they are proud of the handcrafted meals that are full of real Italian flavors.
Their chicken parmesan is breaded until it’s golden brown and topped with melted cheese and their own rich marinara sauce. Their seafood linguine has big shrimp and soft calamari rings tossed with garlic, white wine, and herbs over pasta that is just al dente. Roma Ristorante is the place to go if you want to try authentic Italian food that is cooked very well.
Portofinos – Most Romantic Restaurant
Portofinos is a great place for a romantic dinner because it has soft lighting, white tables, and fresh flowers on each table. On their modern Italian menu, you can find things like grilled fish with bruschetta on top of sautéed spinach and scallops wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon. Each plate of food always looks like a work of art because of how well it is presented.
Make reservations for their highly sought-after tables by the fire, which offer more private and stunning views of their terrace. Allow their expert to help you navigate their lengthy wine list and choose the ideal wine to complement your evening. Portofinos is a great place for a romantic date night.
The Palace Theater Poli Club – Best Fine Dining Restaurant
It’s a lovely spot for a romantic dinner because the lighting is soft and there are fresh flowers on each table. On their modern Italian menu, you can find grilled fish with bruschetta on top of spinach that has been sautéed and scallops that have been wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon. Because of how well they are put together, every plate of food always looks like a work of art.
You should make a reservation for one of their highly sought-after tables by the fire, which has a view of their deck and is more private. Let their knowledgeable staff help you sort through their long wine list and pick out the perfect wine for your evening. On a date night, Portofinos is a great place to go.
Baingan – Best Indian Restaurant
Baingan is the only place you need to go for real Indian food that is packed with complex tastes. Their menu is very varied, with a lot of different regional meals that show how varied Indian food is. There are options for both vegetarians and meat eaters.
Try their famous lamb vindaloo, which has soft lamb pieces swimming in a sour gravy full of spices like chili pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom. If you don’t want to eat meat, you can also make baingan bharta with mashed roasted eggplant. The vegetable biryani is a delicious rice dish full of beans, carrots, peas, and more. It’s great for big groups, so don’t forget to order it. There’s no doubt that Baingan’s delicious food will take you right back to India, whether you eat inside or on the patio outside.
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Tacuba Urban Taqueria – Best Mexican Restaurant
Tacuba Urban Taqueria connects the heart of Mexico to Waterbury by making fresh, street-style Mexican food that’s great for a quick meal. Their menu is very varied, so there is something on it for everyone. They serve delicious tacos with carne asada, carnitas, or chorizo meat.
Start with a refreshing watermelon cocktail and then try some antojitos, which are small plates of food, like the stuffed poblano chiles with a cheese filling that melts in your mouth. Next, try filling plates with dishes from all over Mexico, like Oaxacan chicken mole or red snapper cooked in the style of Veracruz. After that, save room for churros drenched in chocolate and caramel sauce. The lively and fun setting at Tacuba makes it easy to enjoy a cheap and tasty meal in the south of the border style.
Zafra Kitchen & Rum Bar – Best Caribbean Fusion Restaurant
Zafra Kitchen & Rum Bar serves creative dishes that are meant to be shared in a lively social setting. The food combines Latin and Caribbean tastes. The bright teals and coral pinks inside really stand out, especially against the uncovered brick walls that were inspired by Old San Juan.
Start your dinner with arepas, which are corn cakes filled with shredded chicken or beef and paired with a cool cilantro crema. Next, try fusion-style dishes like the Dominican-style rice with shrimp stewed in a coconut curry soup or the Cuban-style chopped steak cooked in a red wine sauce. And no night is complete without a tasty rum-based drink. You can have a mojito, a mai tai, or even sangria. The bold and creative meals at Zafra, along with the great service, make this a great place to eat for a fun night out.
Zavala – Best Peruvian Restaurant
Zavala is an authentic Peruvian restaurant in Waterbury that serves dishes that honor centuries of Andean customs while also incorporating Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese flavors. The inside is full of handmade textiles, terracotta jugs, and carvings made from exotic woods that bring Peruvian culture to life.
First, share some causas, which are colored mashed potato terrines filled with chicken, tuna, or vegetables. As the meal goes on, serve major dishes that are typical of Peru, such as ají de gallina, a fragrant chicken stew topped with pecans and queso fresco. It’s made with beef, onions, tomatoes, and butter, and it’s served over buttered potatoes and rice. From tasty chicha morada juice to refreshing Inca Kola sodas, Zavala is the right place for a full-on Peruvian dining experience with a big group.
Conclusion
This city is still a secret gem in Connecticut’s food culture, and its restaurants show why. From traditional Italian dishes at Roma Ristorante to delicious Peruvian food at Zavala, skilled chefs bring together flavors from around the world with new American dishes. When you’re next in Waterbury, be sure to check out these 12 restaurants. They reflect the city’s wide range of cuisines with great food, drinks, and service that’s fit for any occasion.