|
If you are trying Billy's for the first time, this is a great time of year, it is almost Pumpkin Ice Cream season! Just the right blend to make a tasty homemade ice cream with a sweet taste that is...
If you are trying Billy's for the first time, this is a great time of year, it is almost Pumpkin Ice Cream season! Just the right blend to make a tasty homemade ice cream with a sweet taste that is not too tart like some ice creams and not so bland like some pumpkins - you actually recognize it by smell and flavor.
They make up several kinds of ice cream and they had cookie dough ice cream and oreo ice cream and snicker ice cream before anybody else marketed them in the stores.
They have expanded into other types of snacks, but their ice cream is very creamy and tasty and reasonably priced for the taste.
Hide
|
|
Far more than just chocolate, Munsons smells wonderful when you walk in the door. Filled with varieties of fudge, rock candy, truffles, dipped fruit, marizpan, and a full assortment of items ranging...
Far more than just chocolate, Munsons smells wonderful when you walk in the door. Filled with varieties of fudge, rock candy, truffles, dipped fruit, marizpan, and a full assortment of items ranging from dime store "penny candies" to gourmet treats, you can find something for any sweet tooth, including a diabetics with sugar free goodies. A friendly staff, occasionally there are samples, but they are kept behind the counter. Located next to Barnes and Noble, it makes for a nice treat after book shopping.
Hide
|
|
A central room, antique floor boards, arched doorways and leaded glass windows, a giant fireplace all from numerous New England mansions all complemented by lighting, wall coverings and window...
A central room, antique floor boards, arched doorways and leaded glass windows, a giant fireplace all from numerous New England mansions all complemented by lighting, wall coverings and window treatments of the period create a warm atmosphere.
Meats are tender and juicy, several themed items are available, as well as general excellent food and drink.
There is live entertainment every Friday and Saturday. There is a brunch on Sunday. An extensive martini and drink menu, and wine menu
Hide
|
|
500 Blake Street is known as a reception facility for weddings - sort of Victorian and Italian decor with nice woodwork for inside photos on the staircase. They have a happy hour that is popular...
500 Blake Street is known as a reception facility for weddings - sort of Victorian and Italian decor with nice woodwork for inside photos on the staircase. They have a happy hour that is popular with both SCSU college students and professionals. The best feature of Blake Street is their amazing brunches on Sundays.
A bargain for a brunch in the area, it includes fresh fruit, antipast, seafoods including smoked salmon, shrimp, poached salmon, cold salads such as portbello mushroom, bagels, scones, croissants, hot buffet items such as carving station with beef, turkey, ham, or porketta. Home fries, pasta, chicken entrées, bacon, fresh fish of the day, and other entrées.
Belgian waffles and omelettes made to order.
Ice cream bar, strudel, various desserts, key lime pie, bread pudding with rum sauce, mousses, cakes.
Champagne comes with the buffet. Reservations are needed.
Hide
|
|
I went in once just looking for cat food, but really this shop has way more. Some of the most unusual amphibians and lizards, and the manager is great about offering to let you pet the animals,...
I went in once just looking for cat food, but really this shop has way more. Some of the most unusual amphibians and lizards, and the manager is great about offering to let you pet the animals, tells you all about where they come from. As long as a child is respectful and gentle with the animals and an adult is with them, he also lets children pet the animals, which is a fun experience. I was surprised to see a scally looking lizard that had bumps on its back like a dragon actually had skin that felt soft and smooth and sort of did the equvilent of purring when petted. Prices are higher than the chain stores, but the selection of unusual pets and equipment is not your standard pet store type items you could find just anywhere. Nice and clean, no funny animal smell.
Hide
|
|
If you ever drive by route 63 early in the morning, you will see an interesting thing - tons of people streaming into Blue Check to pick up a sub for lunch and willing to stand in line in the tiny...
If you ever drive by route 63 early in the morning, you will see an interesting thing - tons of people streaming into Blue Check to pick up a sub for lunch and willing to stand in line in the tiny store a long time to get it.
Blue Check has been in Woodbridge longer than any other establishment I can remember, and has a great deli section and homemade Italian foods and sauces. They also have the standard deli - quick stop sort of items such as milk, eggs, etc.
They also do some simple catering and have picnic benches for having your lunch outside.
Hide
|
|
Once when I was in Martha's Vineyard with friends, we came across a store with the most beautiful greeting cards. We bought a few, but I thought I could locate the line at home and not have to take...
Once when I was in Martha's Vineyard with friends, we came across a store with the most beautiful greeting cards. We bought a few, but I thought I could locate the line at home and not have to take that many home. I could never find the cards again in Connecticut.
My friend who also only bought a few went looking around for them at various tea shop sort of boutiques for years, and one day, I got a card in the mail from her - and it was one of the specialty cards. I asked her where she found them, and she said about 20 minutes from your house - they were at the Red Barn store that had been there for years.
A mix of collectibles, antiques, glassware, greeting cards, stationary, jewelry, candles and the like, Red Barn is best suited for finding gifts. Things are pretty packed in, so be careful as you walk around, there are lots of breakables, it is not really a place for children. Items are also a bit on the pricey side, unless you are looking for something specific, you might find a general gift cheaper at one of the many stores around such as Rudi's in Orange. BUT if you are looking for something specific - Red Barn is definitely worth checking out.
Hide
|
|
I first stumbled across Chen's while in college. I was in the computer lab and someone ordered in Chinese and apparently thought no one would notice the Chinese food smell. It smelled really good...
I first stumbled across Chen's while in college. I was in the computer lab and someone ordered in Chinese and apparently thought no one would notice the Chinese food smell. It smelled really good and I asked where they got it, and it was Chen's. I was impressed that the chicken entrées were made of large chunks of chicken breast , not tiny pieces of guess what part of the chicken this might have been stringy pieces. The sauces are not all the same for the different entrées, each is a tasty sauce appropriate for that entrée.
Especially impressive is the specials, such as the great lunch special for about $4 that is very generous and runs until late in the afternoon. (College students at SCSU can order at lunch prices all day) The specialties include 21 fried baby shrimp, which are usually large shrimp, and very fresh and tasty. Wonton soup for $2 comes with about 6 -7 large wonton in it, the small $1 comes with at least 4 wonton. The platters are generous, they have delivery, they include a free eggroll or soda with a $12 order.
There are two or three small tables, but it is primarily take-out. Everything is cooked to order.
Hide
|
|
In the Trumbull Shopping Park is a Godiva Chocolatier with a particularly friendly manager. She will chat with you about her favorite chocolates, she is not high pressure on any purchase, she is...
In the Trumbull Shopping Park is a Godiva Chocolatier with a particularly friendly manager. She will chat with you about her favorite chocolates, she is not high pressure on any purchase, she is generous with the featured sample (see the godiva website for the sample calender - sometimes its coffee, sometimes hot cocoa, sometimes the new truffle for the season). Once when she heard I liked the Godiva ice cream, she told me to wait a minute and went in the back and got a coupon for the ice cream out of her own purse - one she clipped from the newspaper - and gave it to me. I was impressed with that because I am not a frequent customer and only made a nominal purchase that day, and she still did something extra nice for me.
The quality is fresh. It is a nice treat to stop in Godiva and get something special instead of eating something average for a treat in the food court.
Hide
|
|
Located atop the green rolling hills of a golf course, the Orange Country Club has an extensive selection of menu choices for weddings, proms, social and corporate events.
At a recent wedding I...
Located atop the green rolling hills of a golf course, the Orange Country Club has an extensive selection of menu choices for weddings, proms, social and corporate events.
At a recent wedding I attended there, hors doerves were passed butler style and there was a light serving of fruits/veggies/crudite with cheese display, then the buffet was open with several buffet stations and carving stations, and a very authentic italian antipasto display with ingredients that rivaled dean & deluca quality antipasto. While the guests waited for their turn at the buffet, hors doerves were still served, and they were generous enough and came to each table often enough, that at first I thought perhaps it was to be an entire meal of hors doerves.
I never noticed this before at a wedding, it could be common place, but I observed a nice touch when the staff took the orders of each elderly person who would not be comfortable standing in line and went and got them their plates. Once I noticed them doing it, I took note of what they did, and they described each item on the buffet, with all of the choices (such as for the pasta station, they named the two kinds of pasta choices and three kinds of sauce choices) and then went and got it for all elderly and infirmed. I thought that was a nice touch so that the elderly family could devote their energies to socializing, and maybe even a dance with a grandchild.
Coffee fiend that I am, I was impressed with their coffee and cake set up. Cake was cut and then made available on a side table, and their were numerous flavored coffees and creams.
The lighting was a very flattering light for the group photo we took that evening, those wearing black or white were not washed out, and colors such as lilac, periwinkle and navy really stood out nicely in photos. There is a nice area in the lobby for group family shots.
The bartenders were knowledgable and generous.
Hide
|