This Restaurant Is The Most Fascinating In Connecticut, Food Site Says

CONNECTICUT — Diners who want both good food and a restaurant that tells a story can choose between two intriguing eateries in Connecticut, according to a food site’s inventory of “The Most Fascinating Restaurant In Every State.”

Food Love, whose content includes recipes, food news, and opinion pieces, ranked the selections. The editors chose one from each state, except where some states had an abundance of quirky dining establishments. Illinois had three, and Arizona, Maine, California, New York, and Connecticut each had two on the list.

Gather55 in Hartford ranked No. 57 among the 58 restaurants on the list, and Food Love editors were most intrigued by the restaurant's "unique philosophy:"

"This ‘pay what you can’ concept is run by nonprofit Hands On Hartford, which partners with guest chefs to provide meals in an inclusive way. For breakfast and lunch, diners can pay full price or a minimum amount of a few dollars, as well as choosing to volunteer in return for their food. ‘On the house’ meal vouchers are also provided for those who aren’t able to either pay or volunteer."

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But the state's most fascinating restaurant — and the 5th most fascinating place to east in the U.S., according to Food Love — is The Griswold Inn in Essex. "Steeped in history," this classic New England inn dates back to 1776, when it was founded to house the shipyard workers who put together the Revolution's first warship. It was also the site of protests in the mid-19th century by the women of the Temperance Movement.

The selections were based on user reviews, awards and accolades, and first-hand experience by members of the Food Love team.

One OpenTable reviewer called Gather55, "A hidden gem. Excellent food from a rotating menu created by a variety of local chefs," praising its "very warm and personal service."

An OpenTable visitor to The Griswold Inn "Enjoyed being in the cozy taproom on a chilly day," when "the carrot and ginger soup along with a cranberry chicken salad sandwich 'hit the spot.' Can’t beat the atmosphere!"

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“There are countless restaurants in America that tell a story – whether it's because they were beloved by presidents or film stars, because they reflect the state’s own fascinating history, or because they were the birthplace of a dish that went on to become iconic,” Food Love wrote.

Tennessee’s Prince’s Hot Chicken in Nashville topped the ranking. As the story goes, its spicy fried chicken “was invented after Thornton Prince’s scorned lover tried to take revenge on him by adding a significant amount of chili and spice to his favorite fried chicken,” the site said. “Far from hating it, he loved it – and he spent his time perfecting the recipe before opening his own restaurant.”

Rounding out the top five were:

No. 2 Gianni’s at the Villa, in Miami, Florida, housed in the mansion where fashion designer Gianni Versace lived – and died;

No. 3 Katz’s Delicatessen in New York City, founded in 1888 and featured in films and television shows, including the famous Meg Ryan scene in “When Harry Met Sally”; and

No. 4 Golden Steer Steakhouse in Las Vegas, Nevada, whose famous diners have included Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio and Natalie Wood.

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