Every town deserves a restaurant like Char & Lemon. Bright and cheery with towering lemon trees and yellow upholstered booths, this new Italian restaurant was hopping at 4 pm on a Saturday. Families, dates, and girl groups were slurping down fresh pizza pies, dipping homemade pita into pistachio hummus, sipping cocktails, and everyone was having a good time. 

We loved the sweet-and-spicy baked chicken wings, a lemony, briny, bacon-clam pizza with a delightfully chewy crust, silky bucatini tossed in lemon sauce and toasted breadcrumbs, and, always one of my favorites, a perfectly crispy Chicken Milanese, served with a mountain of freshly dressed arugula. Kids (and their parents) will love watching the pie-throwing antics in the open kitchen.

The prices are great, the portions hefty, and the menu has lots to offer, from snacks and pizzas to pastas to main dishes (next time, chicken parm and the short rib-sauced gnocchi). If there’s a wait, the bar is a lively spot to hang out and sip all manner of creative cocktails. We tried and loved Shake This, a slightly spicy and refreshing elixir of tequila, Aperol, jalapeño agave, and fresh lime juice.

Needless to say, we had lots of leftovers, which our charming waitress, Michele, thoughtfully bagged and held for us. For a snack, a pizza, or full-on dinner, this spot is spot-on. 

2 Water Street, Guilford
charandlemon.com/guilford
Hours: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday, Saturday: 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm