CT Hospitality Industry Names Top Restaurants And Chefs Of 2024

CONNECTICUT — The Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) hosted a sold-out crowd of 1,500 guests Monday night at Foxwoods Resort Casino to celebrate the restaurant and hospitality industry.

The 21 CRAZIES winners were determined with the help of an expert media panel and over 25,000 online public votes.

Bar Rosina's in Greenwich, representing Fairfield County, won top honors as 2024 Connecticut Restaurant of the Year, presented by Sysco. The Italian eatery edged out the other seven county winners and twenty-four total nominees.

The other contenders for top restaurant were Materia Ristorante in Bantam (Litchfield County); Restaurant Bricco in West Hartford (Hartford County); Hachiroku Shokudo & Sake Bar in New Haven (New Haven County); Monet’s Table in Tolland (Tolland County); The Essex in Old Saybrook (Middlesex County); Trigo Wood Fired Pizza in Willimantic (Windham County); and The Port of Call in Mystic (New London County).

The Chef of the Year presented by Performance Foodservice went to David Standridge from The Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic. Standridge took home the top chef award over Vincent Chirico, The Luke Brasserie (New Haven); Michelle Greenfield, Allium Eatery (Westport); Gen Hashimoto, Hachiroku Shakudo & Sake Bar (New Haven); and Damon Sawyer, 29 Markle Ct (Bridgeport).

The Restaurant Newcomer Award presented by Opici went to Gioia Café & Bar (New Haven) and the Caterer of the Year presented by Powerstation Events was Chef Prasad (New Canaan). The Server of the Year presented by Eder Bros, Allan S. Goodman and Slocum & Sons went to Christopher Hodson from Materia (Bantam), and the Bartender of the Year presented by Connecticut Distributors, Inc. went to Suzie Johnson from Fire by Forge (Hartford). The Pastry Chef of the Year went to Jessica Spivey from Oyster Club (Mystic) and People’s Choice presented by Foxwoods Resort Casino went to Sandra’s Next Generation (New Haven). The Vendor of the Year went to Copps Island Oysters.

In addition to the voted award winners, the Connecticut Restaurant Association recognized Eli Hawli & Sam DeVellis of Market Hospitality Group as the 2024 Restaurateurs of the Year presented by US Foods. Eli & Sam own and operate six different restaurant concepts throughout Connecticut, New York and Florida, which currently totals 16 different locations. (Market Place Kitchen & Bar; Mercato Italian Kitchen & Bar; Market Place Tavern; Blu Pointe; Beso Taco Bar; The Wheel; and Key Largo Fisheries)

Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough (Noank) and Red Rock Tavern (Hartford) were both inducted into the Connecticut Hospitality Hall of Fame presented by GoNation. Connecticut’s State House Representative Kerry Wood was presented with the Friend of the Industry Award for her dedication and partnership to the Connecticut’s restaurant and hospitality industry. In addition, Edward ‘Bud’ F. O’Donnell, Jr., Esq. was recognized by the association with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to the Connecticut Restaurant Association and hospitality industry over the years.

"The 6th Anniversary of the CRAZIES Awards Gala was a huge success for our association, for our industry, and for the tens of thousands of Connecticut residents we employ," said Connecticut Restaurant Association president & CEO Scott Dolch. "The energy and enthusiasm of 1,500 industry professionals coming together demonstrated that Connecticut’s restaurant and hospitality industry continues to be a powerful economic engine, accounting for nearly 10 percent of all jobs in our state."

The event was attended by Governor Ned Lamont, who addressed the guests and offered words of support and encouragement to the industry.