Restaurants in New London

Liberty Elm's menu unites breakfast and lunch options in culinary harmony unseen since the California Raisins dominated the airwaves. Breakfast boasts a crowd of breakfast crowd-pleasers, including coffee ($1.85), fresh-baked muffins ($1.95), scones ($2.50), omelettes made with local cage-free eggs ($8.95), stacks of buttermilk pancakes ($6 for three or $4.50 for two), and unlimited bacon aromas (free). The Liberty Elm serves lunch classics such as burgers ($6.75–$9.95), salads ($3.75–$6.95), and a house-roasted turkey-breast sandwich ($6.95), among others. Multiple vegetarian options are also offered, including roasted tofu veggie, a concoction of spiced tofu w/ roasted sweet potato, grilled onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms ($6.75), and the marshmallowy, peanut-buttery grilled fluffer nutter sandwich ($3.50, add $0.50 for banana).

Cattails City Grill impresses patrons with a menu of fine fare that's served without the nose-in-the-air pretension generally accompanying all things cattail. Begin your belly's beguine with one of Cattails' signature pizzas, such as the margherita ($10), the mushroom and salami ($10.50), or the arugula and prosciutto ($11); or opt for a seafood starter such as the garlic shrimp ($10) or Narragansett Bay littlenecks with chorizo, onions, and garlic in a pomodoro sauce ($10). Noodle-craving neurologists can strike a happy nerve with pasta dishes such as lobster ravioli in a pink vodka sauce ($22.50), and baked shrimp and shells ($21) punched up with tomato cream sauce, spinach, and roasted red peppers. Cattails' carnivore-catering entrees steal away potential attendees of chicken, pig, and cow family reunions with dishes such as sautéed gorgonzola chicken "under a brick" ($18), served over potatoes and spinach and topped with tomatoes and a creamy cheese sauce; pork chops and littleneck clams ($23) with olives and roasted potatoes in a spicy garlic and wine sauce; or the veal tenderloin ($19.50), also served over potatoes and spinach and topped with prosciutto and vinaigrette. Fish options include salmon ($21) and pan-seared tilapia ($16.50). Cap off your Cattails culinary caper with the restaurant's acclaimed Portuguese sweet bread pudding, recently found to be the solar system's true center, relegating the sun to nothing more than a minor answer on an obscure episode of Jeopardy.

The menu offers seafood, veal, pasta, and chicken prepared from time-tested family recipes. Rev an appetite engine with coconut shrimp ($11) or homemade fennel-sausage antipasti ($9) and a glass of wine, such as Beringer Pinot Grigio ($6.50) or Trivento Pinot Noir ($7). Traditional Italian entrees include lobster, shrimp, and scallop cannelloni gratineé ($16); chicken campagnolo (egg-battered medallions with prosciutto, mozzarella, sherry, and mushroom demi-glace, $19); and veal bella Napoli (sautéed veal, shrimp, asparagus, portobello, tomatoes, and buffalo mozzarella, $23). Point Judith clams with shrimp and your choice of white, red, or fiery fra diavolo sauce over linguine ($22) and shrimp and scallop della casa ($22) will make any fisherman fondly remember his finest seafood- or mermaid-catching sprees. The trattoria experience would be incomplete without dessert, so sweeten endings with crème-brûlée cheesecake, tiramisu, or spumoni (all desserts are $7).

If your diet of boiled cauliflower and dry-curd cottage cheese has left you hungry for habanero-inspired anything, plunge a warm tortilla chip into the depths of the seven-layer dip ($8.99), or try the spicy shrimp "snake bite" poppers ($8.99), crisp fried jalapeño poppers stuffed with shrimp and cheese. Cactus Grille's extensive entree selection includes bejazzled burgers and other hand-held delights, such as the chipotle bacon cheeseburger ($8.49), smothered with chipotle mayo sauce, or the salmon chimichanga ($14.99) with poblano molé sauce. Other enticing options include Cactus's house-specialty barbecue ribs ($13.99 for a half rack), slow-cooked and doused with the house Mayan barbecue sauce, or the DIY filet dinner ($18.99), wherein sliced portions of filet pre-cooked rare arrives at your table along with a sizzling cast-iron platter that allows you to sear the meat to your desired degree of doneness. Mexican-dining traditionalists will enjoy the selection of burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas, while dessert-inclined diners will find solace from the fiery fare in the southern plantation key lime pie ($4.95) or cheesecake chimichanga ($4.95).

Head chef Casey D'Arconte, educated in the culinary arts by chefs in Holland, France, and the New England Culinary Institute, elevates morning fare to new heights with his distinctive take on diner classics. Nine renditions of the traditional eggs Benedict strut across tables, including the All American, which arrives topped with sausage patties and tomato hollandaise, much like a young chef's letterman jacket. Banana-split embellishments, including grilled banana, sweetened strawberries, and whipped cream, adorn a stack of specialty pancakes. The USDA Choice steak Bomb sandwich, served on a torpedo roll, creates flavor explosions inside mouths at lunchtime, which kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with a ceremonial burning of the least-ordered breakfast item.

Bebop Burrito's cuisine offers build-your-own meals, five varieties of salsas ranging from mild to seriously hot, and deliciously edible burrito casings. Step right up and start your order by choosing a giant flour burrito or quesadilla tortilla, three soft or crispy taco shells, or a Bebop bowl lined with Romaine or cilantro brown rice. Fill the delicious receptacle with shredded beef ($6.45), chipotle-marinated grilled chicken ($6.25), braised pork ($6.35), a fresh seasonal vegetable ($6.25), or veggie-friendly rice, beans, and cheese ($4.25). Shots of salsa, such as fresh corn or tomato, green tomatillo, and hot tomato and roasted chilies ($1 each), breathe fiery life into any creation. Add an extra garnish such as sour cream ($0.55), guacamole ($1.65), or crunchy citrus slaw ($0.75).