Restaurants in Middletown

Robin and Steve Andrikis can attest that sometimes a wrong turn can send you in the right direction. Just 28 days after accidentally stumbling upon 81 Whiting Street—the future site of Big Steve's Grill—the pair began planning a business that would change their lives forever. After operating their own grocery store for 18 years, Robin and Steve opened Big Steve's Grill in August 2009, and have been satiating stomachs with fresh, made-to-order casual eats, from hand-pressed Angus burgers and bowls of house-made chili to deep-fried Twinkies drizzled in chocolate, ever since. Vivid orange and yellow walls ensconce guests in the dining room, which offers views of the patio dotted with picnic tables, where diners can enjoy an idyllic dinner beneath the bright blue sky and looming Godzilla shadows.

Across from the train station, Center Station Pub & Grill’s sizzling sandwiches, burgers, and wings call to the hungry stomachs of travelers and locals alike. Berlin’s Biggest Burger weighs down the menu with its melted american cheese, sautéed onions, and two half-pound patties that, when smacked together, have led many a lifeguard to close the pool due to thunder. The cooks also ladle nine different sauces over signature wings, sling chicken-parm grinders, and bedeck homemade tortilla chips in nacho cheese. Under new management since November 2010, the classic pub fare pairs nicely with the 15 microbrews on tap, poured in a restaurant that serves as an exciting gathering place for Berlin residents. Center Station schedules karaoke on Fridays and bands to perform on weekends, filling the gaps in live entertainment with an in-house pool table, video games, and dartboards.

Dedicated to bringing the culinary traditions of Peru to Hartford’s diners, Piolin Restaurant II has been serving the signature sizzling meats and sautéed veggies of the region since 1998. Within the bustling kitchen, chefs architect dishes such as Peruvian yellow potatoes, sweet plantains, and fried yucca in addition to hearty meats ranging from grilled chicken to fried red snapper. Along with the re-creation of time-honored recipes, the brightly hued walls and cheery decor of Piolin’s dining room grant guests the feeling that they’ve escaped to Peru without the hassles of answering a TSA officer’s riddles.