Three Great Casual Restaurants in Newtown, Connecticut

The Villa
4 Riverside Drive; Sandy Hook, Connecitcut 06482
(203) 426-4740 - (203) 426-1710

The Villa Restaurant, located in the center of Sandy Hook, has great food, good service and a nice atmosphere.

Upon entering you first see the small reception desk. There is almost always someone standing there waiting to help you and there is seldom any wait. The Villa service is top notch. Staff members are friendly and knowledgeable. It may seem formal when you enter, but once seated it feels very comfortable and homelike.

It is housed in a nice stone building with a covered outdoor patio that's great for summer eating. Inside, most tables are located in the main dining area, but there is also a separate room available for private parties (it's also sometimes used for regular dining as well). If you are in the Sandy Hook area, this is a good location for private birthday parties, wedding rehearsal dinners and anniversary parties.

Diners at The Villa are treated to soft rolls and foccacia bread with a tray of dipping oil, olives and hummus.

The Villa's mid-week Prix Fixe menu is a great way to get a lot of food for not a lot of money, and they allow you to take some home. The cost (generally $16-$20) includes an appetizer, salad, entrée and dessert from a special menu. Appetizers are about half the size of a full one, if you were to order it separately. The entrée is always large.

Some of their best entrees include the melt-in-your mouth Steak Gorganzola, which is topped with whispy fried onion strips and served on a bed of mashed potatoes with a side of seasonal vegetables. The Lobster Ravioli is also a chart topper, with a delicious cream sauce. Their Chicken Parmesan is one of the best in the Sandy Hook area, with tender, juicy chicken breasts and a full-bodied marinara sauce.

If a sandwich is more your speed, try their burgers which are big and juicy. Their fries are delicious, crispy with just enough salt and pepper.

Their pizza is good, but can tend to be a little overdone. Ask for it to be lightly cooked. The varieties are good and it's not greasy at all.

If you go, go on an empty stomach as you will leave very full with leftovers.

Take out is also available from this Sandy Hook restaurant.

Mexicali Rose
71 South Main Street (Rt 25/Ricky's Plaza); Newtown, Connecticut
(203) 270-7003

Mexicali Rose in Newtown doesn't look like much from the outside - just another storefront eatery with a clever sign. Located on Route 25 in the Ricci's Plaza, you can't let the location fool you though. This isn't just some hole in the wall.

When you walk in, you are met with a cute assortment of vintage tables and vinyl chairs and interesting decorations on the walls. You order from a small counter at the rear of Mexicali Rose, where a wall menu, chalkboard with specials and a rack with fresh tortilla chips are crammed together.

The authentic Mexican food from the Yucatan Peninsula is freshly prepared and masterfully seasoned at this Newtown restaurant. If you like your food authentically hot, then let them know. Mexicali Rose offers simple but delicious dishes served up fast.

The beef fajitas contain well-seasoned and tender meat and crisp-tender peppers and onions. The very fresh salsa is slightly sweet (from the tomatoes) and just a little spicy. And the homemade tortillas practically melt in your mouth. All the flavors come together in a glorious harmony. Mexicali Rose also offers fajitas with chicken or pork.

Mexicali Rose's guacamole is awesome, definitely get a small container of it to go with whatever you choose.

The soft tacos come on homemade corn tortillas, which aren't my favorite in general. However Mexicali Rose does their corn tortillas well, so even I liked them. The shredded chicken is moist, which is always a plus.

If you are a cheese lover like me, pay close attention to what you order. Many things on the Mexicali Rose menu come sans cheese including the fajitas and soft tacos. Hard tacos feature cheese though, as do some of the burritos and all of the quesadillas (well, that should go without saying...it is a QUESAdilla, after all).

The prices at Mexicali Rose are average - Most items are around $6. Tacos are the exception, coming in at an inexpensive $1.95. Portions are a good size too, you'll definitely be full after eating.

If you are planning on take out, they prepare things pretty quickly (our order took about 8 minutes) so it's okay to just drop in. Tables are available for eating there as well. Next time I'll be calling ahead though, since there really isn't much room to wait in this Newtown eatery.

Mexicali Rose in Newtown is family owned and operated, which is always nice in these days of fast, fast, faster and the ever growing chain restaurant. They are closed Mondays.

My Place
8 Queen Street; Newtown, Connecticut
(203)270-7061

Located in the former Newtown Post Office, My Place has been a Newtown fixture since 1979. They moved into their current location in 1998, having previously been located in what is now the Big Y Plaza.

The atmosphere at My Place in Newtown is usually quiet and comfortable. It's a good place to go for a deep, intimate conversation but it's also a great place to get together with a group of friends.. Regulars eat their often and in large groups but there is almost always a seat available.

Breakfast at My Place is great. Prices are affordable - most under $4 though most omelets are $5.95. Everything is always fresh. Every so often, the corned beef hash isn't quite cooked enough, but if that's the case just send it back for a little additional cooking.

Their lunch is usually good too, though I was disappointed to find that the chicken in the Chicken Fortinato a little dry. But the flavorful pesto did make up for it. Their burgers are large and juicy. Great eat fries too.

For an appetizer, try the fried ravioli. They are just the right taste, texture and have a great marinara with them.

I suggest trying their pizza. It's one of the best in the area. The Margherita is my personal favorite, though be warned: it is sauceless.

Prices are average. expect to spend about $40 on dinner for two.