Like its aromatic “Nutmeg State” nickname, America’s third-smallest state punches up the flavor for group dining.
“Connecticut is home to hundreds of extraordinary restaurants, meeting venues and hotels that can serve up a wide variety of cuisines and dining environments,” said H. Scott Phelps, president of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau. “With many attractions doubling as unique off-site venues, the possibilities for themed dining are endless. In addition, many eateries can offer special food-and-beverage-related activities to enhance a group’s experience. Culinary teambuilding, cooking classes and even tasting events and food festivals can make any meeting or convention memorable.”
Exemplifying this banquet of options is the concentration of group venues in centrally located Hartford and the southeastern Mystic region, which includes the celebrity chef-driven worlds of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Hungry for Hartford
Connecticut’s capital has national culinary cachet in American Cookery, the first true homegrown American cookbook. Published here in 1796, this 17-page volume significantly includes the makings for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
While some scholars suspect that author Amelia Simmons may have been using a pseudonym, the cookbook, named one of the 88 “Books That Shaped America” by the Library of Congress, had undeniable influence.
Today, the 540,000-square-foot Connecticut Convention Center, the largest convention facility between New York City and Boston, is among area venues practicing the use of “fresh ingredients” and “fine techniques” described in American Cookery. With the uncommon advantage of an entirely in-house catering team—not often found in convention centers—the venue works directly with clients to create unique and memorable dining experiences.
“Whether suspending tables for floating chef stations or challenging the palate with unique flavors to offer culinary diversity, our award-winning culinary team is second to none, and we have the client satisfaction and reputation to prove it,” said Michele Hughes, director of sales and marketing for the Connecticut Convention Center. “For over 10 years, the top client comment describing the food and the service has been ‘incredible,’ and that’s entirely due to our commitment to culinary excellence.”
Overlooking the Connecticut River, the Center is backed by downtown’s Front Street District, an expanding dining and entertainment hub where group venues include Infinity Music Hall & Bistro. The live-music venue incorporates a four-star contemporary American-style bistro and hosts intimate to large-scale private events. Its sister location in Norfolk, Conn., is home of the nationally televised PBS music series Infinity Hall Live.
Sweeping river and downtown vistas, paired with cutting-edge cuisine, make luxurious ON20 an exquisite choice for private and corporate events. Located on the 20th floor of the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Company building, a short stroll from the convention center, the restaurant turns 35 in 2018.
Housed in the former home of Connecticut’s largest department store, Brown Thomson and Company, event-capable City Steam Brewery Cafe & Restaurant, which pairs live comedy with food and beer, turns 20 this year. Designed by legendary architect H.H. Richardson, the 1877 building, a Romanesque-style masterpiece, provides evocative ambience, while the Hartford Steam Company provides the brewery with its steam—and its name.
Recently opened in a historic building where the first pay telephones were made, Hartford Flavor Company hosts tours and offers tastings of its all-natural, botanically flavored liqueurs. Just south of the city in New Britain, it’s Oktoberfest year-round at historic Bavarian-style East Side Restaurant, offering banquet space and event catering.
Mystic Menus
Salted with 300-plus years of maritime history, Mystic Seaport and its environs are well-seasoned destinations for coastal New England fare.
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Settled around 1654, Mystic’s shipbuilding dominance faded in the advent of the Industrial Age. In 1929, one of its shipyards was repurposed as the Marine Historical Association. Later named Mystic Seaport, this 17-acre living heritage and educational institution today is among America’s leading maritime museums.
Exclusively served by Mystic-based Coastal Gourmet Catering, group dining venues include year-round Latitude 41 Restaurant, with space for 200 in the River Room plus tented events on the North Lawn, and the Boat Shed at Lighthouse Point, hosting up to 200 for clambake receptions and buffets.
Small groups can also participate in specialized culinary programs such as interactive open-hearth cooking classes.
The 60-room Inn at Mystic, accommodating 300 guests at its on-site 1904-era Haley Mansion, also offers two intimate private dining rooms at the waterfront Harbour House Restaurant & Raw Bar.
In close-by Noank, legendary seafood restaurant Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough, open seasonally and turning 70 this year, hosts private groups of 25 to 200 people.
Gaming Gastronomy
In January 2017, Mohegan Sun’s Sun Wine & Food Fest marked its 14th year with food from 20-plus celebrity chefs and around 1,000 New England wines, craft beers and spirits. Attracting some 8,000 attendees this year, the three-day event will have more room to flourish following the anticipated June 2018 debut of the $80 million Mohegan Sun Exposition Center. At 132,000 square feet, the high-tech venue is set to become the largest expo space along the New York-Boston I-95 corridor.
Meanwhile, the award-winning gaming resort, north of Mystic in Uncasville, showcases its culinary prowess with 50-plus restaurants and bars—and top-notch hospitality to match.
“We place two of our most important core values, providing excellent guest service and continuously striving for perfection, at the top of our F&B philosophy,” said Richard Zazzaro, vice president of food and beverage. “Surrounding ourselves with world-renowned chefs and diverse offerings while offering an experienced, award-winning in-house catering team, Mohegan Sun has nearly every base covered when it comes to F&B.”
From fine dining at Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain and Michael Jordan’s Steak House to more casual eateries like Tom’s Urban and The Lansdowne Irish Pub & Music House, there are options for nearly every group palate. Private dining spaces include Todd English’s Tuscany and Ballo Italian Restaurant, and locations such as VISTA Lounge at Wombi Rock and cantina-style SolToro Tequila Grill. Plus, catered events can take place throughout the convention and ballroom space, outdoors at the new Earth Tower hotel and at the Mohegan Sun Golf Club.
Turning 25 this year, Foxwoods Resort Casino in nearby Mashantucket also wows groups by constantly evolving its richly diverse F&B program.
“We are determined to create new, exhilarating experiences that are completely unique to the region and exceed all expectations,” said Jason Guyot, vice president of resort operations and development. “This is one of numerous initiatives at Foxwoods as we solidify ourselves as the premier meetings destination in the Northeast.”
Offering 40-plus dining experiences, Foxwoods’ palate-pleasing parade includes David Burke Prime. Opened in 2008, this 280-seat classic steakhouse includes a 28-seat bar and 1,700-square-foot private banquet area. Overseen by Executive Chef Pedro Avila, the restaurant, featuring a 35-foot tall wine tower, is distinguished by its dry-aging room, which recently won a U.S. patent for its pink Himalayan salt-tiled walls.
Serving innovative fare and featuring two full-service bars, the retro-chic High Rollers Luxury Lanes & Lounge offers three private rooms for 20 to 100 guests, plus function space for 800 attendees.
Globally renowned for its celebrity-endorsed Couture Pops, confectionary-themed Sugar Factory American Brasserie opened a new 212-seat eatery at Foxwoods this February, while Iron Chef star Cat Cora will soon debut a tapas and wine bar concept at the resort.
