Here’s a look at some spots that joined the Connecticut dining scene recently, including new locations of established favorites, two places with celebrity ties and a cookie shop that’s all over TikTok.
Ruby & Bella’s, a restaurant located within the SaksWorks coworking space in Greenwich.
Ruby & Bella’s, Greenwich
This new spot within the SaksWorks Greenwich social club in the former Ralph Lauren storefront on “the Avenue” provides “elevated amenities for work, life and wellness.” The menu, led by executive chef Jason Leckey, features contemporary American cuisine, with dishes like tuna tartare, jumbo lump crab cake, bone-in filet mignon, chicken paillard and a lobster club with jalapeño mayo and avocado. Ruby & Bella’s offers dinner Tuesday through Saturday, starting at 5:30 p.m. and coffee with light bites all day Monday through Saturday. 265 Greenwich Ave., 475-272-8680, saksworks.com/ruby-and-bellas, @rubyandbellas
Hartford Baking Co., Farmington
The third location of the bakery and cafe opened in mid-December, taking the former Truffles Bakery space in the Farmington Village. Like its sister locations in West Hartford Center and Glastonbury, the newest HBC offers artisan breads, pastries, sandwiches and a full coffee program with specialty lattes and espresso drinks. 767 Farmington Ave., hartfordbaking.com, @hartfordbaking
Zac Young of Sprinkletown
Sprinkletown, Foxwoods Resort Casino (Mashantucket)
If you’ve ever wanted to try the “Piecaken,” a dessert version of the turducken, it’s now available at Foxwoods. The Sprinkletown bakery features celeb pastry chef Zac Young’s viral multi-layered dessert with assorted flavors of pie, cake and fillings. Young, known for his top-four finish on Bravo’s Top Chef: Just Desserts, is the face of the new sweet shop in the Great Cedar Casino. Sprinkletown offers ice cream sundae cones, stuffed cookies, “Zacarons” and cakes available whole or by the slice, including a layered strawberry rainbow number. 350 Trolley Line Blvd., sprinkletown.com/foxwoodspopup, @sprinkletownbakes
The Essex, Old Saybrook
For three years, The Essex in Centerbrook shared a large Tudor-style building with its sibling restaurant Los Charros Cantina, and owner Colt Taylor tried to balance the fine-dining concept with the lively Mexican restaurant in neighboring dining rooms. But in early December, Taylor moved The Essex to Old Saybrook’s Main Street, launching its next chapter in an intimate, 42-seat Main Street space with an open kitchen and chef’s counter. The “modern American” menu features dishes like octopus a la plancha, toffee-braised short rib with local Seacoast mushroom cannelloni and red crab agnolotti with fermented Calabrian chile pesto. Guests can order a la carte or indulge in five- or seven-course tasting menus, starting at $85. 247 Main St., 860-237-4189, theessex.com, @theessexrestaurant
Crumbl Cookies, Manchester
Crumbl Cookies, a cookie brand that’s enjoyed viral fame, opened its first Connecticut store in December. The cookie company has more than 3 million followers on TikTok, where it showcases its weekly gourmet flavors like churro with cinnamon and sugar, red velvet white chip, salted caramel cheesecake, key lime pie and dulce de leche. Crumbl has takeout, delivery and curbside pickup options, with cookies served in its signature oblong pink box. 1540 Pleasant Valley Road (Suite E), 860-281-2131, crumblcookies.com/ctbucklandhills, @crumblcookies
The Breakroom, Norwalk
Opened in November in South Norwalk,The Breakroom is the new venture from the owners of New Canaan’s Dolce Italian Cafe, and features a full coffee program with espresso beverages and a variety of salads, wraps, Italian pressed panini and sweet and savory crepes. All-day breakfast is available, with options like egg sandwiches, oatmeal, avocado toast and “American breakfasts” with eggs, hash browns and choice of meat. The cafe also specializes in CBD-infused coffee drinks. 14 N. Main St., 203-354-2518, dolceitaliancafenc.com, @thebreakroomsono
The cheesecake factor: Co-owner Daniela Kavourakis’ decadent desserts elevate the diner to “Epik” proportions.
Epik Diner, New Haven
The Kavourakis family “will bring you to Flavortown,” lending decades of industry experience to their new restaurant and bake shop. (Potato-crusted salmon, a signature entrée by family patriarch George Kavourakis, caught the attention of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives host Guy Fieri when the TV star visited his Baltimore diner in 2009.) It’s on the colossal menu at the new restaurant, which opened in November, joining a dizzying variety of classic and specialty dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kavourakis’ wife, Daniela, is the “in-house executive pastry chef” who handles desserts, including 25 kinds of cheesecake, and she crafts the restaurant’s “Epik Shakes,” crowned with toppings like whole slices of cake, cotton candy, cookies and ice cream sandwiches. 1426 Whalley Ave., 203-397-1556, epikdiner.com, @epikdiner