Italian Take 2- Procaccini’s Italian Family Restaurant in East Hartford

January 7, 2013January 4, 2015 ~ ctsnapshot ~ 1 Comment

We dared to try Italian cuisine via Groupon again to kick off the new year. Groupon provided us with a few Italian cuisine options, but Procaccini’s stood out the most due to its unique chef logo and welcoming name. Since 1969, Procaccini’s has serviced the East Hartford area. This fact intrigued us. We expected a family-run restaurant with old fashioned service and traditional values. We were a little surprised by the mixed reviews on Urbanspoon. One user wrote, “We are originally from East Hartford – and have never been able to find a better pizza anywhere!” Another user complained that “…the Waitress did not attend to us being in her section and would not bring us additional seasoned bread after sitting 20 minutes.” With the opposing reviews in mind, it was time to put Procaccini’s to the test!

Procaccini’s Italian Family Restaurant

Grade: B-

Location: 46 Main Street, East Hartford

Facebook Menu Groupon

Atmosphere: 9/10- When we walked into Procaccini’s,we noticed the eye-catching decor on the walls. We enjoyed seeing a painted cutout of the Procaccini’s chef on the wall and a beautiful painting of Venice near the kitchen. Christina commented that the chef reminded her of Little Caesar’s “Pizza, Pizza” mascot that sports the same name because of its cuteness and likability. Procaccini’s has the necessary eye candy to elate its customers before seating. We were also intrigued by the number of customers in the restaurant. By 6 pm, Procaccini’s was filled with hungry families.

Service: 7/10-We found our host and waitress friendly. They tried their best to bring food out in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, Procaccini’s is understaffed on a busy night and barely able to handle the pressure. We didn’t wait long for our appetizers, but when the restaurant started to fill, we waited quite awhile for entrees, dessert and check. Procaccini’s needs more employees.

Price/Selection: 8/10-From burgers to pizza, Procaccini’s has a diverse selection of menu items. You’ll find plenty of soups, salads, pastas, pizzas and desserts. If you’re looking to order burgers or grinders, you’ll spend on average $10-13. Pasta averages $12-17 and pizza ranges from $7-26 depending on the size. You might spend more than you expect, but the prices match the portion size. You will receive plenty to eat and plenty to take home. If you’re reading this in early January 2013, take advantage of the Groupon deal we provided in the link at the top of the page. If you spend $15, you’ll receive $30 worth of food. This is a standard Groupon Deal.

Taste/Composition: 8/10-We added composition to this category because how a dish looks will influence the way the customers reflects on his or her experience. Procaccini’s composition differs from traditional Italian cuisine. Most notably, they layer their pizza toppings and serve spumoni without a shell. We weren’t sure what to make of it, but enjoyed our savory dishes.

In a nutshell: 32/40-Procaccini’s Italian Family Restaurant is a restaurant with history and potential to make even more history. We largely enjoyed the atmosphere and the diverse selection. Procaccini’s has the makings of a solid Italian restaurant and people see this potential. We cannot stress enough that this restaurant needs more employees. A larger staff would help speed up service on those busy weekend nights.

Why you might want to check out Procaccini’s:

1. The onion soup-Procaccini’s offers a delicious onion soup topped with mozzarella cheese.

2. The layered pizza-We found the style a bit unusual, but you might enjoy the toppings layered inside the pizza.

3. The atmosphere-Procaccini’s unique logo and beautiful painting will catch your eye when you walk in.

Coming up next-Blackies Hotdog Stand exists as a time warp and treasured restaurant in Cheshire. Will it live up to its reputation? Stay tuned!

Did you know? We also tutor. Click here to check out NimbleFox, our tutoring website!

Hiking in Connecticut: Sleeping Giant in Hamden

July 27, 2012January 4, 2015 ~ ctsnapshot ~ Leave a comment

If you’re looking to take advantage of Connecticut’s wonderful weather this summer, why not go for hike! There are hundreds of hiking trails in our state and many of them lead to great views. Whether you’re an experienced climber or you’ve only gazed at mountains from afar, Connecticut has hikes for all levels and ages. I’ve hiked across the country since the age of twelve as a member of the Highpointers Club. Christina, a city girl at heart, is fairly new to the hiking scene. Regardless of our differences, we enjoy what Connecticut has to offer in terms of hiking. On Sunday, we climbed Sleeping Giant in Hamden. Here is how our afternoon panned out-

Sleeping Giant

Overall Grade: B

Address: Sleeping Giant State Park, 200 Mount Carmel Avenue, Hamden, CT

Website

Parking Fee: 8/10-The parking fee is $10. If you’re planning on camping overnight, this is not a bad fee. If you’re only planning on a day hike, however, it might seem kind of steep.

Atmosphere: 9/10-Sleeping Giant lies in Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden. The park is across the street from Quinnipiac University, a private institution with an enrollment of approximately 5900 students. A large fraction of those students hiked Sleeping Giant on Sunday. Most of the other hikers included families with small children and teenagers. The park offers hiking, picnicking, camping and fishing. The mountain offers a lookout tower, a modest nature trail and a scenic view. You’ll find plenty to do if you decide to spend the day.

Trail: 8.5/10-The trail is only 1.5 miles long. The park’s website calls it “scenic” but the mountain is cloaked by trees until you get to the top. We enjoyed the historical trail markers we found along the way. You’ll also notice a modest amount of wild life.

The view: 9/10-When you reach the top, you’ll find a nice view of Long Island Sound and the New Haven area from the stone observation tower!

In a nutshell: 34.5/40-If you’re looking for a nice quick hike with a great view, Sleeping Giant delivers. We recommend you take advantage of the park’s fishing and camping opportunities to make the most of your parking fee.

Pop’s Burgers and a Movie at Southington Drive-In

July 8, 2012January 4, 2015 ~ ctsnapshot ~ 5 Comments

After a very long break, we’re back! We last left off with a dinner + movie review at Gilson Cafe Cinema in Winsted. We liked the movie prices but weren’t too impressed with the food. We decided to try this experience again at the Southington Drive-In. The Southington Drive-In served the town of Southington from 1955 until 2002. The town decided to reopen the drive-in 2010 as a community run theater. Nostalgia was reborn! The drive-in drew a large crowd of both newcomers and movie-going veterans who longed to relive their drive-in memories. We visited Southington Drive-In last summer and loved our experience. When we learned Pop’s Burgers (also of Southington) serviced the Drive-in, we decided to review the drive-in as a dinner-and-a-movie package. This is how our night panned out-

Southington Drive-In

Overall Grade: A

Location: 935 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, Southington, CT

Website Facebook Pop’s Burgers Menu

Atmosphere: 10/10-We felt as if we were reliving a piece of history. We were in awe seeing the many cars lined up toward the drive-in screen. We recalled our experience at the Hartford Drive-In before the town abandoned it and the Toll Brothers built mundane looking houses on the land. We knew the importance of this drive-in from the moment we parked. There are only three drive-ins left in the state of Connecticut. By the 1980s, drive-ins rapidly disappeared from the state. The town of Southington cared enough to keep their drive-in alive and the community cared enough to show up in large quantities. The power of nostalgia is something we cannot word eloquently but we can say that we were moved, truly and deeply moved.

We are also moved by Southington Drive-In’s choice to play classic movies and old fashioned commercials. The drive-in plays a wonderful selection of movies. They range from kid friendly like Shrek to scary movies like Friday the 13th. We enjoyed watching Shrek on the big screen again. We caught all of the “adult jokes” this time around! If you visit the website, you’ll find a wide selection of movies that play throughout the summer. When you visit the drive-in, you’ll notice commercials like the one below. See if you recognize this gem!

Service: 10/10-We appreciated the hard work and personalities of the staff at the Southington Drive-In and Pop’s Burgers. They greeted you with smiles and provided quick, quality service. Be sure to thank a staff member on your visit. They put A LOT of effort into making your experience enjoyable so remember to reciprocate Also, show some respect for the park. We saw a couple rude customers waiting in line for food and two women (with children) who smoked in front of them and threw their cigarette butts on the grass. We shouldn’t have to tell you why this is rude, disrespectful and downright stupid. You are NOT entitled to disrespecting the property or the employees.

Price of food: 4/5-The prices are decent compared to other theaters. You’ll pay less for any of the items on Pop’s menu than you would at a regular movie theater. You’ll also A LOT pay less for Popcorn and Candy. For example, a large bag of popcorn costs $3. You can’t even get a box of candy for that price at most movie theaters! Many people sneak in food to movie theaters because its so expensive. At Southington Drive-In, you can pay for dinner and a snack and not feel broke.

Taste: 8.5/10– We also liked the taste of our food better than we do at most movie theaters. Pop’s burgers and fries are made fresh on a grill. We found the bun to be the most appealing part of our burger because it tasted like freshly cooked bread from a bakery. We especially loved our savory fries. The staff serves them in large quantities (like Five Guys Burgers & Fries) but they taste better than Five Guys’ fries.

Price of movie: 5/5 $10 a car for Southington residents. $13 a car for non-residents. Pack a car full of friends (or family) and take advantage of the awesome price!

In a nutshell: 37.5/40-Southington Drive-In earns an A because they deliver great nostalgia, great food and great customer service. The summer is young. Check out their website and visit them this summer!

Dinner and a Movie at Gilson Cafe Cinema in Winsted

March 18, 2012January 4, 2015 ~ ctsnapshot ~ 2 Comments

EVERYTHING about Gilson Cafe Cinema in Winsted excited us. When we learned a dinner and movie cinema existed in Connecticut, we felt elated. We thought once we visited old fashioned theaters and drive-ins, we were entrepreneurs of the “classic” movie-going experience. Boy were we naive! This cafe cinema has existed in the heart of Winsted for the past twenty-five years. Twenty-five years ago, Alan Nero, a former firefighter, converted this abandoned vaudeville theatre into a movie house complete with two screens and a built-in restaurant. Our hopes were high for Gilson Cafe Cinema. This is how our night panned out-

Gilson Cafe Cinema

Overall Grade: B

Location: 345 Main Street, Winsted, CT

Website Menu

Type of movies: Occasionally current

Atmosphere: 9/10-When we arrived in Winsted, we were immediately reminded of Northampton. No, Winsted center is not as big or flashy but it comes equipped with plenty of quaint shops, hole in the wall restaurants and historic buildings that somehow age with grace. Gilson scheduled a jazz band to perform after the movie but canceled at the last minute. This band might have echoed the building’s vaudeville days. The movie house provides a retro vibe with its retro wall colors, comfy seats and old fashioned movie screens. Our tables, however, stood no taller than a standard footstool. We had to hunch over to eat our food.

Service: 9/10-Service was fast. The waitress provided our meal within the first fifteen minutes of the movie. She also brought us our check before the movie ended. It was kind of distracting to see waiters/waitresses walking around the theatre during the movie. We thought this protocol make might work better if the servers brought the food BEFORE the movie started and left a large pitcher of water on the tables. Come to think of it, we would have liked it if our tables stood taller than foot stools.

Price of Food: 3.5/5 Don’t be fooled by the seemingly cheap prices on the menu! You don’t get a lot for your money. Our $6.50 meals came with small sandwiches and a handful of chips. If our meals came with larger portions, the price would match. Unfortunately, our meals were no more filling than a snack off the dollar menu at a fast food restaurant. We recommend you eat at one of the nearby hole in the walls before you are seated for your movie.

Taste: 7/10-The taste of our meals left much to be desired. By that phrase, we mean we took a bite out of mediocrity-it wasn’t particularly good or bad. The taste lacked complexity and failed to differentiate from a typical movie theatre snack. We failed to see why we shouldn’t be eating popcorn or candy. Perhaps we ordered the wrong items or caught the chefs on a rushed day. We are open to broadening our horizons and re-evaluating this category.

Price Of Movie: 5/5-Gilson Cinema Cafe charges $7.50 per movie ticket! Most movie theaters charge upwards of $10+ dollars. AMC Loews charges around that amount for college students… but only on Thursdays. Bowtie Cinemas charges $8.50 for students with a college ID. Gilson’s charges never waiver. You pay for great sound quality and a large screen with Cinema-quality graphics.

In a nutshell: 33.5/40-Gilson Cafe Cinema left us with mixed emotions. We valued Gilson’s historical significance, great movie ticket prices and fine staff. However, we strongly believe that if Gilson adds variety to its menu and larger portions for the price, it will find more success as a dinner + movie venue. We recommend you visit for the low ticket price, great sound quality and the historical experience. You might also want to check out the jazz band (and other musical performances) if you stop by on a Saturday night.

Did you know? We also tutor. Click here to check out NimbleFox, our tutoring website!

CT Snapshot Plus-Alive in Northampton Center

March 17, 2012January 4, 2015 ~ ctsnapshot ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes you want to get away from Connecticut but you don’t want to travel far. We totally understand. We love Connecticut. We love discovering new places. BUT it’s nice go on a road trip every once in awhile. Our CT Snapshot Plus reviews will take you just beyond Connecticut for some weekend fun. We recommend you experience Northampton, MA, a college town that never sleeps! Northampton Center is full of many restaurants, stores, museums, clubs, ect. You’ll never run out of things to do! While you’re there, you might want to check out Amanouz Cafe and The Roost.

Amanouz Cafe

Grade: A

Location: 44 Main Street, North Hampton, MA

Website, menu

Atmosphere: 9/10- Amanouz Cafe serves Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine (you probably deduced that from picture above). This cafe stands out because it rests in the sea of many Mexican and Asian hole in the walls on the strip. Don’t get us wrong, those places look amazing but we like taking chances with new, authentic foods. Amanouz’ interior looks cute on the inside with a few Moroccan paintings/sculptures mounted to the walls. But seating is limited and we were stuck in a table for two next to a fridge. Amanouz would benefit from more Moroccan decorations and another table or two outside.

Service: 9/10-Amanouz is partially self-serve and partially traditional. You pay for your food upfront so you are not required to tip (if you love your meals, however, we recommend you do so!). You also handle your own silverware and can refill water via a dispenser. The tap water does not taste that great. The cooks will serve you your meals in wooden pots and tinfoil wrappers. We didn’t have to wait long for our meals!

Price/Selection: 10/10-Amanouz Cafe offers large portions at an incredibly affordable price. We’re not messing around here. The highest price on the menu is 11.95! The menu provides a wide variety of Moroccan and Mediterranean dishes.

Taste: 9.5/10- Three words: delicious, authentic, savory. You will likely enjoy both the quantity and the quality of your dishes. Your meals are filling, so filling in fact that you’ll have to walk a few blocks to work off those satisfying calories. Your taste buds will thank you for complimenting them with a diversity of spices and juices. We recommend you try the tagine, a traditional Moroccan dish and the honey battered crepes. “A tajine, or tagine (Berber: tajin), is a Berber dish from North Africa, that is named after the special earthenware pot in which it is cooked. A similar dish, known as tavvas, is found in the cuisine of Cyprus. The traditional tajine pot is formed entirely of a heavy clay, which is sometimes painted or glazed. It consists of two parts: a base unit that is flat and circular with low sides, and a large cone or dome-shaped cover that sits on the base during cooking. The cover is so designed to promote the return of all condensation to the bottom. With the cover removed, the base can be taken to the table for serving” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tagine).

In a nutshell-37.5/40-Overall, Amanouz scores a 94% for its incredible price and bold taste. There aren’t too many Moroccan restaurants in New England so Amanouz also scores high for daring to be different in a town immersed by Asian and Mexican cuisine.

The Roost

Grade: A

Location: 1 Market, Northampton, MA

Facebook

The Roost is a very unique cafe and deserves a unique rating scale. Check our top four reasons why you should visit The Roost in Northampton, MA!

4. The Price/selection-9/10

The Roost boasts a competitive price compared to cafes in Connecticut like Starbucks and Gloria Jeans. We wouldn’t call it cheap, but it’s “cheaper” than its competitors. You get your money’s worth in proportion size. You can also choose from soups, salads and sandwiches. We didn’t get a chance to try those but you might want to if you stop by for lunch or an early dinner. From a glance, the prices appear to rival Panera Bread and Atlanta Bread in those categories.

Good for dates/friends-9.5/10

Whether you’re with friends or lover(s), The Roost is a great place to hang. The wooden interior projected a log cabin vibe that many stores in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont do. You never feel like you’re in an establishment restaurant. You can lose track of time sitting down, conversing or playing board games and still leave before it closes. Yes, unlike cafes Connecticut, the Roost stays open well into the night!

2. All nat-ural-9/10

The Roost offers an all-nat-ural feel to its cafe drinks. Our drinks tasted freshly brewed, blended with mouth watering mocha, vanilla or chocolate. These specialty drinks prove superior to the the powdery mixes you’ll overpay for at Dunkin Donuts.

1. The Games!-10/10

The Roost offers a variety of board games! You can pick one off the shelf and play for as long as you’d like. We played Scategories and noticed that the board and the game pieces, though slightly aged, were still in great shape! If you plan on staying for awhile, you might want to play a few. We recommend leaving your names on the scorecards…for historical purposes. Also, we think it’s part of the traveler’s code.

In a nutshell-37.5/40-The Roost scores an A for its great taste…in drinks, food and board games! If you’re looking for a place to lose track of time and not pay any attention to your weeknight schedule, we highly recommend you check this place out. Once you enter The Roost…you’re bound to stay for a drink…maybe two drinks…some food…a conversation…and a plethora of board games!

Did you know? We also tutor. Click here to check out NimbleFox, our tutoring website!

Jerry Springer, Maury And Steve Wilkos in Stamford, CT!

March 13, 2012January 19, 2013 ~ ctsnapshot ~ 2 Comments

Chances are, you’ve seen Jerry Springer, Maury or Steve Wilkos on TV when you were channel surfing one weekday afternoon. Maybe you watched a few minutes or the full show. We know- every episode has the same concept. But it could be fun to see live. Speaking of which…these shows film in Stamford, CT! Better yet, they’ll send you tickets for free. We plan to visit these shows sometime in the near future.. If you want to check out these shows before we do, check out the links below.

The Jerry Springer Show

Tickets: http://www.jerryspringertv.com/get_tickets.php

Location: Rich Forum Theater, 307 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT

Maury Show

Tickets: http://www.mauryshow.com/get_tickets.php

307 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT

Steve Wilkos Show

Location: 307 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT

Tickets: http://www.stevewilkos.com/tickets

Did you know? We also tutor. Click here to check out NimbleFox, our tutoring website!

Farmington Mini Golf & Icecream Parlor

March 6, 2012January 4, 2015 ~ ctsnapshot ~ Leave a comment

The warmer weather reminds us that spring is right around the corner. This means it’s time to get organized, start exercising and have fun outside! But let’s be honest. You probably get organized for about a day, join the gym for about a week and claim you’re having “fun” by following the same routine you did during the winter. Or maybe, just maybe, you decide to go mini golfing with your friends, family or significant other. Over the course of spring and summer, CT will review Connecticut’s best and worst miniature golf courses.

Farmington Mini Golf & Ice Cream Parlor

Overall Grade: A-

Location: 1048 Farmington Ave. Farmington, CT

Open: late March, early April

Course: 10/10- Since 1962, Connecticutians have flocked to this establishment for traditional miniature golf and an old time ice cream parlor in a “beautiful park like setting.” The course spans through a windmill, a castle, a well, a church, a small pond and several winding holes. This fifty-year-old course has aged well, as the Guglielmo family and their staff spend a considerable amount of time maintaining it. Although the course boasts a challenging par of 48, you’ll have a lot of fun trying to conquer it. If you master this course, you might want to sign up for their tournament in late August. The top five finishers win a cash price of $15-$100. If you have children under the age of 10, you can visit their annual Easter tournament. During the month of October, customers of all ages can enjoy Haunted Mini Golf. The staff revamps the course with spooky decorations.

Service: 10/10-I worked at Farmington Mini Golf from 2009-2010 so I know how dedicated the staff are to their customers. To work at this establishment, you must be fast and efficient. I worked as a server in the ice cream parlor and the place was always buzzing with customers. I couldn’t keep up with the weekend crowd so I decided my time was better suited a customer. The current employees are fast and dependable.

Price of Course: 9/10 $6 before 6 PM, $8 after 6 PM. $3.00 repeat games before 6 PM. We recommend you play before 6 PM so you can take advantage of the $9 for two game deal. Think about it. That’s only a dollar more than you would pay for a night game.

Price of Ice Cream Parlor: 2.5/5- The ice cream parlor loses points on price because the price you have to pay for a scoop of ice cream is dependent on the amount it weighs. Generally, a small cup of ice cream (one tennis ball sized scoop) costs around $3.25! An two additional scoops are the size of golf balls (they’re added to the tennis ball scoop) and run from $4-$5! To give you an idea of how ridiculous this is, you can buy a pint of Haagen-Dazs ice cream for $4.75 at your local price chopper. Haagen-Dazs price ranks up there with Ben & Jerry’s. Yet, you will find more than one tennis ball sized scoop inside! If you want toppings, you’ll have to spend an additional $0.25 to $0.50. At Friendly’s, you can have a dinner, and medium sized Sunday for drink $9.99. If ordered ice cream with toppings for just you and a friend, you would actually spend more than that amount.

Selection/Taste: 4.5/5- If you happen to have a considerable amount of money and you’re really craving ice cream, you can choose from a wide selection of ice cream that actually tastes pretty delicious. Our top five flavors include: Kahlua chocolate chunk, cherry moose tracks, cowabunga crunch, extreme chocolate and black raspberry. If you win Farmington Mini Golf’s August tournament, you can afford to buy the ice cream for all of your friends!

In a nutshell: 36/40- We recommend you visit Farmington Mini Golf & Ice Cream Parlor for their traditional style mini golf, great service and fun special events. Since 1962, Farmington Mini Golf & Ice Cream has provided the residents of Farmington, and the Greater Hartford area, with enough Spring and Summer fun to keep you coming back again and again. We recommend you visit this establishment during the day to take advantage of their $9 deal for two games and only buy their ice cream if you have a surplus of money.

Cook It Yourself!-Asian edition. Chef Chris Prosperi’s Pad Thai recipe

March 4, 2012January 4, 2015 ~ ctsnapshot ~ Leave a comment

You don’t feel like going out to eat but you still want to try something delicious and exotic. We’ve been there before and we recommend you cook it yourself! If you’re one for experimentation, we recommend you visit A Dong supermarket on 160 Shield Street in West Hartford. This is Connecticut’s best Asian supermarket. But what should you buy? In November 2008, Chef Chris Prosperi of Metro Bis in Simsbury visited Newington’s Lucy Robbins Welles library and shared some of his tastiest recipes. His Pad Thai recipe proved to be the tastiest. You can buy all of these ingredients at A Dong Supermarket.

Pad Thai by Chef Chris Prosperi (makes 2 servings)

Pad Thai Sauce

Pad Thai by Chef Chris Prosperi (makes 2 servings)

Pad Thai Sauce

1 bottle Mae Ploy chili sauce for chicken
2 ½ cups sugar
3 cups water
½ cup fish sauce
3 cups white vinegar

Combine all ingredients in a saucepot over medium heat and bring to a simmer for two minutes. Let cool and store in the refrigerator.

Pad Thai

1 package medium rice noodles
1 pound chicken thinly sliced
4 eggs
1 cup Pad Thai Sauce
1 12-ounce package mung bean sprouts
1-bunch scallions chopped
½ cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
1 lime cut into quarters

How to Cook it: Soak the noodles in warm water for 30 minutes and then drain. Heat the oil in a wok or large sauté pan and then add chicken and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes. Crack the eggs into the pan and stir-fry until they are cooked and scrambled. Add 6 ounces of pad Thai sauce and bring it to a vigorous boil. Add a good hand full of noodles and cook until the pant starts to dry. Fold in the bean sprouts and scallions. Serve with sliced lime and toasted chopped peanuts.

A. Combine all ingredients in a saucepot over medium heat

B. bring to a simmer for two minutes.

C. Let cool and store in the refrigerator.

Pad Thai

Pad Thai by Chef Chris Prosperi (makes 2 servings)

Pad Thai Sauce

1 bottle Mae Ploy chili sauce for chicken
2 ½ cups sugar
3 cups water
½ cup fish sauce
3 cups white vinegar

Combine all ingredients in a saucepot over medium heat and bring to a simmer for two minutes. Let cool and store in the refrigerator.

Pad Thai

How to Cook it:

A. Soak the noodles in warm water for 30 minutes and then drain.

B. Heat the oil in a wok or large sauté pan and then add chicken and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.

C. Crack the eggs into the pan and stir-fry until they are cooked and scrambled.

D. Add 6 ounces of pad Thai sauce and bring it to a vigorous boil.

E. Add a good hand full of noodles and cook until the pant starts to dry.

F. Fold in the bean sprouts and scallions.

G. Serve with sliced lime and toasted chopped peanuts.

Look for our review of Metro Bis in the near future. If you want to beat us to it, Chef Prosperi’s restaurant is located at 928 Hopmeadow St. #7B in Simsbury, CT.

Once you get familiar with the Pad Thai recipe, you can change it up and make your own rendition. Check out my version-Lemon Berry Pad Thai. I kept the noodles, the sauce and the eggs and supplemented the other portions with tilapia, strawberries, raspberries, and lemons.

Dinner And Dessert in the Middle of Nowhere: Haveli India Restaurant and Vida Doce Cafe & Pastry Shop

March 3, 2012January 4, 2015 ~ ctsnapshot ~ Leave a comment

Think about your last dinner date. How did you go about selecting the restaurant? Did a friend or family member recommend it? Did you choose based on the plethora of good reviews? Or did you choose a restaurant based on familiarity? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you fell victim to the dinner date routine! We can sympathize. We’ve been there before and while routine is not necessarily a bad thing, it can get a little boring after awhile. Tonight, we ventured into an Indian restaurant that masquerades as a small hotel and quaint little bakery/cafe that hides across from a Citco gas station on the Berlin Turnpike.

Haveli India Restaurant

Overall Grade: B+

Links: Website, Menu

Location: 1300 South Main St., Middletown, CT

Atmosphere: 8.5/10-Haveli India Restaurant rests just off the highway in the middle of nowhere. There are no other restaurants nearby. This is why Haveli India Restaurant qualifies as a M.O.N.E (Middle of Nowhere Establishment) instead of a hole in the wall. This intrigued and confused us. If we hadn’t been looking for Haveli, we would have dismissed it as a modest hotel. When we first entered Haveli, we were reminded of the Stanley Hotel from the 1980 horror flick The Shining. We noticed the same, creepy rug pattern and to add to horror-esq vibe, were the only ones there! Fortunately, an older couple and a family arrived shortly after us and the creepiness wore off. We found the Indian paintings pleasing and dug the authentic music as well. The track repeated after 15 minutes or so. Authentic music enhances any restaurant environment. We would have loved more variety.

Service: 9/10- Service is a “make it or break it” deal for restaurants. Bella Anthony’s cracked under pressure with only four small groups of people. Haveli’s served about the same amount with ease. They handed out the menus as soon as we sat down, delivered the food in a short amount of time (while it was still hot and fresh) and constantly refilled the drinks at every table. We never needed to ask for “more” of anything and we didn’t have to wait long for a check. The waiters weren’t too personable but they compensated with their dependability.

Price/Selection: 8/10- The price is fair but it is somewhat disproportionate to the amount of food you receive. We expected larger portions but that can be a petty American bias. Haveli’s offers a wide selection in terms of hot/cold appetizers, vegetarians specialties, seafood specialties, chicken and lamb specialties, Indian bread, Kebab’s, rice, and desserts. Haveli only offers a small amount of Indian drinks such as Lassi, a salted or unsalted yogurt drink that is flavored with sugar, rose water, or crushed cumin seeds. The American/Euro-centric amount of drinks could pertain to general pickiness.

Taste: 9.5/10- We ate “seafood” that tasted like a TV dinner at Red Lobster earlier today so we welcomed the savory taste of Haveli’s dishes. Highlights include- the extra doughy bread that soaked up flavor residue like a sponge, the coconut flavored white rice and the curry that complimented our taste buds and cleared our sinuses. We strongly recommend the chicken or vegetarian curry if you are losing your Indian-cuisine virginity or if you long to revisit your first taste of Indian cuisine with an enlightened perspective.

In a nutshell-35/40- Haveli India Restaurant scores a solid B+ in total and an A in taste. We cannot emphasize this enough. This is one of the more authentic Indian restaurants in Connecticut. We recommend you stop by for the exquisite taste, the fast service, and of course, the Shining vibe.

Vida Doce Cafe & Pastry Shop

Overall Grade: B

Links: Facebook, Website

Location: 262 Brockett Street, Newington, CT

Disclaimer: We base this grade off of only the dessert/cafe experience. Vida Doce Cafe & Pastry Shop also offers a wide variety of specialty cakes. If you’re looking for potential catering, we strongly recommend you contact Vida Doce and schedule an appointment. You should also look for personal reviews from previous customers who used Vida Doce’s catering services. We can say that the cakes look creative and simply stunning.

Atmosphere: 9/10-Vida Doce’s interior looks adorable. It has plenty of tables for two, which is an unspoken welcoming for couples to sit, sip some cafe drinks and socialize. I secretly longed for some mellow music for my girlfriend and I to chill out to. There was something special about sitting right next to window while the snow fell (even though I normally hate snow after December). The vibe is inherently New England and somewhat reminiscent of the cafes I visited in Paris. I longed to share that experience with her so it was nice finding a place that hinted of French tranquility.

Service 10/10: Vida Doce’s staff is very personable and very organized. We appreciated their pleasant demeanor and the fact that they refrigerated our take-home food while we ate and talked. The staff also keeps the place very clean without a single crumbs in sight! If you’ve visit enough cafes, you’ll notice that is not always the case. Finding a cafe in which the staff doesn’t need to wipe down the tables before you sit is a rarity. The length of time the customers spent in Vida Doce also speaks to their excellent service.

Price/Selection: 7/10 Vida Doce loses a few points on its price and selection. The pastries average $3-5 per portion. This wouldn’t be a problem if Vida Doce provided larger portions. We finished our pastries in very little time and we were already pretty stuffed from Haveli. The pastry selection lacks some variety. The desserts on display looked appetizing but they left us wanting more to choose from. One can probably attribute the lack of variety to the fact that Vida Doce specializes in its special event cakes. We surveyed plenty of variety in this category! Vida Doce is also a fairly new establishment. You’ll notice that the pastry portion of their website is “under construction.” They do not list their pastry at the counter so you need to ask. They are probably still in the experimental phase with these categories.

Taste: 8/10-We felt satisfied with the taste of our pastries. We could easily differentiate these pastries from the pre-made imitations that other restaurants attempt to market as gourmet food. Their cafe selection wins in the taste category, however. We recommend you try the cappuccino or some mocha. The succulent flavor rivals that of Starbucks or Dunkin Doughnuts. Best of all, they serve it in a large cup and fill it to the top. Chain restaurants that supposedly specialize in cafe drinks will often fill it only three-quarters full. *Cough McDonalds*

In a nutshell-34/40– Vida Doce Cafe & Pastry Shop scores a high B in our book. They are new and promising so this grade is definitely subject to change for the better. We recommend you visit for the cafe, the friendly service, the adorable tables for two and make your own judgement on the size-portion ratio of the pastries. If you’re interested in specialty cakes, please visit their social network sites or stop in for a visit.

More Hole In The Walls

February 28, 2012January 9, 2015 ~ ctsnapshot ~ Leave a comment

Imagine that you’re with your friends, family or significant other on a weekend afternoon or night. You’re looking for place to eat where you don’t have to wait long. You’re starving and.want instant gratification. You can opt for fast food. Most people do. But why settle for greasy mediocrity when you can have great local taste? This week, we’ll take a look at two Newington Hole In The Walls that offer just that.

GoldBurgers

Overall Grade: A

Links: Website, Facebook, Menu

Location: 1096 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111

Atmosphere: 9/10- When you enter this brightly colored restaurant, you’ll be immersed by creativity. You might first notice some local faces hanging in picture frames on the wall. These are the winners of GoldBurgers’ food challenges. The “Big Dog” and “Trinity” challenges require contestants to finish a large amount of food in less than 45 minutes. You will also notice a specials board and a suggestion box. If you have a creative idea for a new menu item, you can submit it to the suggestion box. The GoldBurgers staff considers new items all the time. They could choose your idea and add it to the specials board!

Service: 10/10- We’ve visited GoldBurgers several times since its opening in 2009 and we’ve always encountered friendly and fast service. The staff tries their best to make you feel at home and will often inquire about your day, local events and how your food tastes. This “hometown personality” cannot be replicated by a chain restaurant or some fast food joint.

Price: 4/5- Revision 12/28/12: We did an inventory of burger places in Connecticut and discovered that GoldBurgers prices DO NOT border on the high side. In fact, Goldburger’s prices are pretty competitive. This is why we changed the score to 4/5. You can buy a solid meal (a burger, fries and a drink) for around $10.

If you’re looking for an economical route, we suggest the “Build Your Own Burger” option. For $3.49 you can build a single patty burger with choice of a number of free toppings. You can even choose potato chips and banana peppers! For $4.99, you can build a double patty burger.

Selection: 5/5-GoldBurgers oozes with creativity and variety! In addition to the menu, the specials board features even more creative items that were brainstormed by the staff and customers. Check out our five picks for GoldBurger’s most creative items. For more information, check out the menu:

1. The GoldBurger: 2 beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, onions, GoldBurger sauce topped off with potato chips. $5.99

2. The “Boss” Burger: 2 beef patties layered with cheddar cheese sauce and jalapenos topped with pepper jack cheese and spicy mustard. $5.99

3. Chicken Hummus Burger: Chicken burger topped with grilled onions, lettuce, tomato and roasted red pepper hummus. $5.39

4. Build Your Own Burger: See menu. $3.49- $4.99 +

5. Fully Loaded Fries: Your choice of fresh cut fries or waffle fries topped with nacho cheese sauce, crumbled bacon, sour cream & jalapenos. $5.99. Add Chili for $1.00.

Taste 9/10: Yes, GoldBurgers’ menu items taste as delicious as they sound. They’re juicy, freshly made and packed with plenty of flavor.

In a nutshell: 37/40-GoldBurgers stands as one of the best burger joints in Connecticut because of its creative atmosphere, diverse menu and dishes that drip with flavor. We strongly recommend you stop by for a bite if you live in Hartford county or if you’re willing to make the trip.

Tokyo Café

Overall Grade: B+

Links: Facebook, Menu

Location: 451 New Britain Avenue, Newington, CT 06111

Atmosphere: 9/10- Located on the border of Newington and New Britain, Tokyo Café exists as an anomaly in this part of town. When Tokyo Café opened in the Summer of 2010, we thought it would be doomed to close early, knowing the history of several ill-fated restaurants that attempted to survive the slow business of New Britain Ave. Tokyo Café has since beaten the odds (knock on wood) and we can’t be surprised. The restaurant seats only a handful of people but one will overlook this because of the charming Japanese decorations and relaxing music. Tokyo Café omits an aroma of authenticity, one that is hard to come by in other Japanese restaurants. Few things about Tokyo Café scream “Americanized.”

Service: 9/10– You’ll find humble and pleasant service at Tokyo Café. The staff greets and serves you with a quiet kindness. You won’t need to wait long for your meals or for a check. You can also order take-out style.

Selection/price: 8/10- Tokyo Café has a diverse selection of items. When you scan the menu, you will find a unique selection of items that don’t exist at other local Japanese restaurants (i.e. Philadelphia Roll, Peanut Avocado Roll, Sweet Potato Roll). You can also order a select number of hibachi items. Tokyo Café is fairly priced for a sushi and hibachi restaurant. It could, however, benefit from an “all you can eat-sushi” option. Check out our five picks for Tokyo Café’s most creative menu items. For more information, check out the entire menu.

1. Philadelphia Roll: smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese. $4.50

2. French Dragon Roll: Spicy crunch shrimp and avocado inside topped with crab meat and finished with eel sauce, spicy mayo and boney wasabi sauce. $8.95

3. Dinosaur Roll: Salmon tempura inside topped with salmon and avocado. $9.95

4. Bento Box Lunch: Your choice of vegetable, shrimp, chicken, beef, salmon, chicken or steak teriyaki, tempura or negimaki with California rolls, Shumai, White Rice, Miso Soup & Salad. $7.50-8.50

5. Authentic Japanese sodas: Flavors include-strawberry, orange, kiwi and mango.

Taste: 9/10-Tokyo Café serves a fresh and delicious taste. Tokyo Café’s sushi dishes are not all together filling. If you are looking for a filling meal, we suggest you order one of the bento box options or the hibachi dishes.

In a nutshell: 35/40-Tokyo Café scores a solid B+ in our books. You can expect authenticity and quality when you visit this restaurant. We recommend you stop by with a couple of friends or a significant other. Tokyo Café is not big enough to hold a large group of people. We hope it stays this way =)