If you find yourself peckish after shopping one of our charming villages, here are a few favorite spots that serve up yummy snacks!

Pearl Wine Bar, Branford (Pictured Above)
Every time we set foot at Pearl, we lament how we don’t get there enough. The snacks are sublime! We go for the Hot Honey Chicken (grown-up chicken fingers), Roasted Asparagus with Honey Truffle Vinaigrette, Gluten-Free Calamari, and Balsamic Burrata, yum!
Kitchen hours: Tuesday – Thursday 4 PM – 9 PM
Friday – Saturday 2 PM- 10 PM
Sunday 1 PM – 8 PM

Liv’s Oyster Bar, Old Saybrook
Happy hour here is on our regular rotation, mainly due to the 1/2 price oysters and clams, but we don’t stop there. The truffle fries, fried oysters, fish cake sliders, and calamari are irresistible, so we throw in a Caesar to compensate for our overindulgent selves.
Happy hour Tuesday – Friday from 4 – 5:30pm.

Drift, Essex
Drunken Pineapple Fish Tacos, Truffle Honey Chicken Sandwich, Double Smashburgers, and Autumn Crab Fried Rice are some of our go-to’s at this summer seafood joint turned year-round restaurant. Open straight through lunch and dinner except Monday. Creative cocktails go with the anything-but-basic menu.

Whitecrest Eatery, Stonington
If you’re in the mood for burgers and wings on a Wednesday afternoon, head to Whitecrest in the Velvet Mill for Burgers, Buckets, and Beer. We recommend the Baby Blue: a 4 oz local patty, blue cheese, bacon jam, lettuce, and tomato on a homemade bun. Get a half bucket of the crispy wings (choose your sauce and dip) or a fantastic pizza from the Back Door, Whitecrest’s new pizzeria. Burgers & Buckets on Wednesdays from 4:30 – 9pm.

The Brushmill by the Waterfall, Chester
This place is a steal for happy hour and we like to enjoy it in the Library upstairs overlooking the waterfall. A Soetl farm cheeseburger with bacon is only eight bucks, the prosciutto and brie flatbread makes an excellent share, and don’t sleep on the chicken wings, either super spicy Dry Rub Togarashi or sweet Korean Barbecue. Signature cocktails (and wines by the glass) are $3 off. We’re partial to the Tequila Manhattan.

Goia, New Haven
Three of us shared plates of fragrant and chewy homemade lemon bucatini, a square-cut margarita pizza, fried fingerlings topped with arrabbiata, and a wedge salad at this modern Italian spot. Drinks were gorgeous and delish, especially the Rossini Spritz: Aperol, Prosecco, Fever Tree Club Soda, and a hefty dollop of strawberry foam. The rooftop is heated and all dolled up for the holidays (open for lunch and dinner), and the Cafe & Bar opens at 4 for us

Sayulita, Centerbrook
New to Centerbrook (by way of Glastonbury)this year, Sayulita has quickly become the area’s favorite go-to for creative Mexican snacks, cocktails and tacos. We never pass up the queso/guac/salsa and chips to start, paired with their signature cocktails made with their very own tequila. Relax over quick and tasty tacos, fajitas and enchiladas. They open at 4pm Tuesdays – Fridays and 1pm on weekends. Closed Mondays.

Surfridge Brewing Company, Centerbrook
We flock here for “girl dinner” as often as we can. The skinny, crispy-crusted pizza here is not be missed and while we keep it simple, you’ll find tasty variations like short rib and exotic mushrooms. The wings here aren’t fried but slow-cooked in duck fat, wood-fired, and irresistible. Great for a group of gals to gather or for a quick bite between shopping. Open Wed-Fri 4-10 pm. Sat 12-10pm & Sun 12-9pm