Mystic Restaurant Has One Of America's Best Dishes, NY Times Says

MYSTIC, CT — A heralded Mystic restaurant can add another feather to the cap as one of its offerings has been named among the New York Times' "26 Best Dishes We Ate Across the U.S. In 2024."

The Times gives the nod to the beef empanadas at Port of Call at 15 Water St. in Mystic. The restaurant has a "wildly eclectic menu" with each dish hailing from a different port, from Casablanca to Shanghai.

"But the unlikeliest source it lists is the landlocked city of Torrington, Conn.," Patrick Farrell writes. "That’s where the chef, Renee Touponce, grew up making empanadas with her Italian American mother and her stepfather, who was born in Puerto Rico."

Farrell writes that her beef renditions "are at once definitive and idiosyncratic — from the tender homemade crust to the ground beef from nearby Beriah Lewis Farm, juicy with sofrito, olives and American cheese."

Other dishes on the Times' list include the ham sandwich at Mike's Famous Ham Place in Detroit and the foieberry at Lazy Betty in Atlanta. Check out the full list here.

Earlier this year, Touponce was nominated for a prestigious James Beard Award in the outstanding chef category. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay stopped by at sister restaurant the Oyster Club and was impressed with the offerings.

Touponce has also earned accolades from the Connecticut Restaurant Association.

See related: 3 CT Restaurants, Chefs Named 2024 James Beard Semifinalists

Restaurant Association Honors CT's Top Eateries And Chefs At Gala