The Manhattan is nearly ready to conclude the longest winter break ever! Though the restaurant has not yet announced an opening date for its new spot at 56 Center St., fresh exterior signage was recently installed and word is that renovation work is almost completed. The restaurant, closed since January, is relocating after five years at 16 Eden Ave. The crew has kept up with social media, offering teases of food and drink as work at the Center Street location continued through the winter. The menu and updates can be found at www.manhattansouthington.com.

Renovation work continues as El Sombrero - Southington Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, Renaldo's Apizza and Three Cs prepare to relocate to 75 Center St. Owner Shawn Daigle recently received a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals for new exterior signage. El Sombrero will leave the Oak Hill Mall at 151 Queen St. after 29 years. Daigle told the ZBA he has sold the lease and location to the Mexican restaurant Senor Pancho's, the former occupant of the site. The chain confirmed last month it would be returning to Southington. Renaldo’s has been at 350 Queen St. since a fire destroyed its longtime home on North Main Street in 2016. Daigle, of Glastonbury, purchased 75 Center St. in January through Downtown 75 Center LLC for $490,000.
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The new Spelunkers bar and restaurant continues to find a following at 25 Center St. General manager Leslie Cortes-Matias tells the Scoop that the concept caters to customers “nostalgic for those high school summer nights (and) the feeling of hanging out in your best friend's basement, without a care in the world…a space for you to eat, drink, and chill, packed to the brim with neon lights, custom graffiti, games, TV (and) music.” The spot features 90’s-style arcade games, a photo booth, pool table, a rotating roster of local DJs, dance parties and karaoke nights. The food menu developed by owner and chef Mike Truss celebrates the dive bar atmosphere with a strong hint of his Craft Kitchen. The menu and more information can be found at www.spelunkersct.com.

Renovation work continues at the newest location of the Couch Potato fast food restaurant on Eden Avenue!

Billed as “the future of baked potatoes,” the franchise operator has been navigating the approval process since last summer to convert 1 Eden Ave. into a take-out only eatery. An opening date has not yet been announced.

This will be the second Couch Potato location in the state, in addition to the original at 130 Scott Rd. in Waterbury. Another site at the Holiday Cinemas in Wallingford closed last year after only a few months in business.

The menu includes baked potatoes with an array of toppings, “loaded hot dogs” and “loaded mac” options including Alfredo Ravioli, Chicken Fajita, and Spicy Cajun. The full menu can be found here: https://food.orders.co/couchpotato
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The Eden Avenue building was constructed in 1941 for the former Southington News weekly newspaper. It was later the longtime home of Dominic’s Men’s Shop and has been vacant since Fighting Force Airsoft closed.

Something Wicked has come to Connecticut!

Cava Restaurant has transformed their dining room into a Wicked-inspired world! The dining room is complete with a yellow brick road, Glinda figures (complete with a bubble transport), a mechanical Oz head, and immersive set pieces that transport you into the World of Oz.

The cocktail menu is themed with the Wicked including Glinda's Bubble (Vodka, Lemon Juice, Agave, Strawberry Puree, Green Tea, Dry Ice), Green Elixir (Vodka, Lemonade, Peach, Vanilla Bitters, Dry Ice), and other favorites like Strawberry Cucumber Margarita, Espresso Martini, Sangria, Guava Mule, and Coconut Tiki.

The menu feautres traditional Italian cuisine and seafood including calamari, whipped ricotta, escargot, Gnocchi, Penna Alla Vodka, Cacio E Pepe, Bolognese, Zuppa Di Pescem Lobster Ravioli, Chicen Scarpariello, Chicken Marsala, and much more. Find their full menu here: https://www.cavact.com/menus

Take a trip to the Emerald City and visit the Wizard of Oz at 1615 West Street in Southington!
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Make sure you follow them on social media (tagged above) for the Spring opening of the rooftop patio!

Barb's Pizza is NOW OPEN in Southington!

The new pizza place is located at Factory Square, Southington; 168 Center Street. The pizza place marks the return of the Barb's Pizza brand; they previously operated restaurants in Cromwell and West Hartford.

The new pizza shop sells slices, full pizzas, salads, grinders, and much more. The shop has slices available with flavors like: cheese, pepperoni, riccota and spinach, white pie, and others.

The pizza shop joins the variety of tenants in the complex including (but not limited too): The Lab, Montana Nights Axe Throwing, GameCraft Arcade, Hardcore Sweet Bakery, Perkatory Coffee Roasters, and others.
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Barb’s will soon open their new Cromwell location, replacing Wooster Street Pizza at 77 Berlin Road. They expect to open in a few short weeks! Stay tuned!

The Art of Yum restaurant no longer has a physical location.

Chef Michone Denae Arrington has pivoted to offering customers a full-service personal chef, catering and meal preparation at www.theartofyum.com. Arrington with culinary partners Dontae Jones and James Thompson opened the first Art of Yum in 2018 in downtown Waterbury, featuring a menu of Asian-fusion, Southern-homestyle, seafood, barbecue and other specialties.

The Art of Yum opened a second location in the Plantsville section of Southington in February 2021 and later that year moved in Waterbury from Grand Street to the nearby Mattatuck Museum. The Plantsville restaurant relocated in 2023 to the Hawk’s Landing Country Club at 201 Pattonwood Dr. and closed last year.
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Both former Art of Yum locations have been succeeded by established eateries. Bunkers Bar & Grill has returned to Hawk’s Landing, offering salads, sandwiches and more, seven days a week. Sweet Bella's meanwhile has brought its “signature Italian deli classics with Latin influences” to the Mattatuck Museum. It’s had a presence in Waterbury since 2013.

Poke Bros is coming soon to Southington!

The national Poke bowl chain will open their second Connecticut location in Southington! The brand has leased the former Luen Hop in Shoprite Plaza.

The shop sells Hawaiian poke bowls, like sushi in a bowl. Poké Bros has rapidly expanded into multiple states across the Midwest and East Coast, offering the same fresh and authentic cuisine to a wider range of customers. Find a menu here: https://eatpokebros.com/menu/

The chain's lone Connecticut location is in Avon at 25 Climax Road.
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No timeline has been announced for their opening. Stay tuned!

Lots of stuff going on at Factory Square, Southington!

-Barb's Pizza plans to open their door next week! The newest location of Barb's Pizza plans to open in the middle of next week according to the owner. The shop is just waiting for their food delivery from their supplier.

-GameCraft Arcade will open their newly expanded arcade at Factory Square! The first floor arcade has expanded to the second level with a new floor of fun including arcade games and a new bar area. The downstairs space is currently undergoing a renovation and will reopen this Thursday alongside their new second floor!
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-Curioporium is now open at Factory Square! The shop is your home for all things strange and unusual. Curioporium is located on the lower level of the building; selling many unique and curious items. It is difficult to describe their item assortment; You will just need to check them out instead!

Factory Square is located at 168 Center Street in Southington. The complex is home to a great lineup of tenants including Perkatory Coffee Roasters, Leaps & Bones, Montana Nights Axe Throwing, Witchdoctor Brewing Company, The Lab, Hardcore Sweet Bakery, Rosie's Royal Chocolates, and many more!

Pig Rig BBQ & Catering opens today at 1843 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike after a three-year wait!

Pig Rig BBQ bills itself as an “outrageous hickory-smoked bbq joint and hot rod food truck,” featuring pulled pork, hot dogs, chicken, bbq platters, baby back ribs, its signature sides and more.

Owner Daniel Lanigan has been in the industry since 2006, when he began operating a hot dog food truck. Seven years later he pivoted to the Pig Rig BBQ food truck, followed in 2014 with the opening of a restaurant at 950 Yale Ave. in Wallingford.
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Pig Rig first anticipated the buildout of the former Dunkin,’ adjacent to the Econo Lodge motel, would be completed by early 2022. Their website is www.pigrigbbq.com.

El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant & Cantina is gearing up for a move from Queen Street to downtown Southington!

The restaurant plans to relocate after 29 years in the Oak Hill Mall plaza at 151 Queen St. to 75 Center St. The previous occupant, the 75 Center bar, closed in July after eight years. It had reopened three months earlier after a stabbing and brawl led to its liquor license being suspended.

El Sombrero owner Shawn Daigle of Glastonbury purchased the site in January through Downtown 75 Center LLC for $490,000. Interior construction work continues this week.

There is no confirmed opening date for the Center Street location. The public has until April 14 to weigh in on the liquor permit application.
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The restaurant has undergone numerous ownership changes since it opened in 1996. It was once known as Eddie’s Sombrero in honor of former owner Eddie Adames, who died in 2014.

The PolishPlate will live on!

The future of the restaurant at 1095 West St. was uncertain when owner Margaret Kopacz announced last month she would be selling the business to accept a position with the state Department of Revenue Services.

She didn’t need to look far. Family members Ewa and Chris Wirkowski will continue offering the authentic Polish cuisine that has been on the menu since its opening in 2019. The Wirkowskis are Southington residents who immigrated from Poland as children. They said all current employees will remain with them and the only adjustment to the menu will be the eventual introduction of seasonal specials.
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The Wirkowskis told The Southington Scoop that the transition should be completed in the next month or so. In the meantime, they are hopeful customers will “continue to share the same kindness and loyalty that makes this restaurant so special.”