Favorite Takeout
Posted On : July 13, 2026
We rely on take-out for everything from lazy week-night meals to last-minute dinner parties these days.
Here are a few of our favorite dishes.
Papi’s Tacos, Old Lyme
I’m a big fan of Papi’s Taqueria in Old Lyme. Tucked away on Halls Road, this unassuming storefront dishes out authentic tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and a whole array of Mexican favorites. The best part? You can mix and match a variety of taco fillings and throw together a super- easy, budget-friendly taco party for a crowd. Just call ahead to ask for your fillings and tortillas packed separately, and make sure to grab all the fixings: homemade sauces, chopped onions, sliced radishes, and flan for dessert!
Star Gourmet, Guilford
Chef Andrea Dante of Star Gourmet IS a star in my opinion, and the to-go shop tucked away on Water Street is a find. Owned by the masterminds behind Star Fish Market, there’s lots to choose from here, and you can be absolutely sure the fish is fresh. This gorgeous plate of seared tuna was bright and tasty, and I cannot resist a crunchy summer roll. If the truffled leek & cauliflower bisque is on special, do NOT pass it up.
Lobster Bisque Pot Pie at Edd’s Place, Westbrook
Everything Liz whips up in her cozy kitchen at Edd’s is a delight, but the lobster bisque pot pie, with chunks of fresh lobster in a velvety sauce and a biscuit crust, is over the top! Grab a few for an intimate dinner party and dazzle your guests!
Doro Market, Old Saybrook
Brought to you by the team behind the excellent West Hartford-based restaurants Treva, A’vert Brasserie, and Zohara (& more!), this Mediterranean-inspired market and cafe has been on heavy rotation for us. We order a half-bird rotisserie chicken with two sides on the regular. Top picks are truffled roasted potatoes and a Caesar Salad (the macaroni and cheese is also DELISH). Pinsas, sourdough loaves, croissants, pastries and so much more.
Pasta Vita, Old Saybrook
Everyone has their favorites at Pasta Vita, but a friend introduced me to the Thai Shrimp and Chicken Curry, and I’m hooked. It’s fresh, full of flavor, perfectly balanced with just the right amount of spice, and paired with fragrant jasmine rice. Order ahead and you can get a pan big enough to feed a party.
Check the website for availability: pastavita.com
Mystic Market, Mystic, Old Saybrook, and now in East Lyme
I was gluten-free for a while, and years ago, I discovered the gluten-free Eggplant Parmesan at Mystic Market. If you ask me, it’s better than gluten-full! If you’re itching for Italian comfort food, this is it: gooey cheese, crispy layers, and a lively tomato sauce. It’s an all-year-round favorite, and the hefty portion easily feeds 3.
Cooked Marketplace, Centerbrook
We are regulars at Cooked for some very good reasons: the clam chowder is out
of this world, as is the tuna salad (believe us on this one), and we always have their excellent chilaquiles stashed in our freezers but a crowd-pleasing, healthy-ish dinner is this platter of skewered grilled chicken and tasty shrimp fried rice. Delish!
GG at Home, Niantic
There’s lots to choose from here at this bayside café brought to us by the team behind Gourmet Galley catering. A standout for us is the Grilled Salmon on a Kale Caeser Salad. THE perfect dressing and crunchy garlic croutons tossed with fresh greens a healthy piece of salmon.
Thai Riverside, Chester
This trusty Pad Thai (with chicken) has been our go-to since they opened their doors pre-pandemic. They are heavy-handed on the spice so we get our chilis on the side.
Three Girls Vegan Creamery, Guilford
The vegans among us are lucky to have Three Girls Vegan in Guilford. Vegetable- based versions of Italian comfort food are their specialty, and I happily devoured a vegan sausage sandwich on slim rounds of fried dough, slathered with fresh pesto. I’m not vegan, so I’m always a little suspect of plant-based meats, but this sando is yummy and can easily feed two.
