Best Restaurants 2013: Experts' Picks

Our dining experts pick their favorite places to dine out in 26 categories.

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	BEST BRUNCH: Bernard's, Ridgefield Firebox, Hartford Fresh Salt, Old Saybrook Heirloom, New Haven The Restaurant at Water's Edge, Westbrook HONORABLE MENTION: Greenleaf Organic Bakery & Café, Wilton Dressing Room, Westport Thali, New Haven Apricots, Farmington The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, Wilton Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro, Wilton
FIREBOX, HARTFORD: "Short rib eggs Benedict, roasted beets with fried pork belly and brioche French toast are some of the innovative offerings you'll find on Firebox's farm-to-table brunch menu, along with your choice of fresh-squeezed mimosas. Try your bubbles with grapefruit juice." - Leeanne Griffin

MOST ROMANTIC: Brasserie Pip, Ivoryton Mayflower Inn, Washington ON20, Hartford Thomas Henkelmann, Greenwich Union League Café, New Haven HONORABLE MENTION: Le Petit Café, Branford; Artisan, Westport; Fresh Salt, Old Saybrook; Bee & Thistle Inn, Old Lyme; John Davenport's, New Haven; Paragon, Mashantucket; Winvian, Morris
BRASSERIE PIP, IVORYTON: "A hand-holding ride to the shore, a beautiful old inn, a cozy tavern and Noel Jones fabulous menu--who could ask for more when it's dinner for two?" - MaryEllen Fillo, columnist, Hartford Courant

BEST BREAFAST: City Limits Diner, Stamford Kitchen Little, Mystic Home on the Range, Bridgeport Patty's, Litchfield Zinc, New Haven HONORABLE MENTION: Sugar & Olives, Norwalk; Bella's Café, New Haven; King's Breakfast & Lunch, Newtown; Noah's, Stonington; Chip's, Orange
HOME ON THE RANGE, BRIDGEPORT: "This is a little mom-and-pop place in Black Rock section of Bridgeport that makes the best bacon-and-egg sandwiches (and I'm very particular about bacon-and-egg sandwiches!)" - Elizabeth Keyser

BEST APPETIZERS: Barcelona, New Haven & other locations The Fez, Stamford Good News Cafe, Woodbury Molto, Fairfield Zinc, New Haven HONORABLE MENTION: Ibiza Tapas, Hamden; Bricco, West Hartford; Luce, Middletown; Bistro Latino, Greenwich; Paragon, Mashantucket; Brasitas, Stamford; The Spread, Norwalk
THE FEZ, STAMFORD: "You can make a meal on the appetizers alone in this brilliant Moroccan spot. Carmelized cauiiflower with raisins and toasted pine nuts; crisped chick peas and okra, homemade hummus you'll want to dunk your face in." - Beth Levine, freelance writer

BEST DESSERTS:
Brasserie Pip, Ivoryton
David Burke Prime, Mashantucket
Grants, West Hartford
Ibiza, New Haven
Union League Café, New Haven

HONORABLE MENTION:
Thomas Henkelmann, Greenwich; Zinc, New Haven; Café Routier, Old Saybrook;
The Whelk, Westport; Claire's Corner Copia, New Haven; Liana's Trattoria, Fairfield;
Elm Restaurant, New Canaan

IBIZA, NEW HAVEN: "Semi-frozen quince paste, passion fruit, cream cheese cake, cinnamon-rice pudding, orange reduction. Mere words on a page? No, the heavenly membrillo at Ibiza." - Andrew Brady, freelance food writer

	BEST FOR FAMILIES: City Limits Diner, Stamford Joey Garlic's, Farmington & Newington Rizzuto's, Westport & West Hartford Ten Clams, Mystic Wood-n-Tap, West Hartford & other locations HONORABLE MENTION: Tacos Mexico, Norwalk J. Timothy's, Plainville Recovery Room, New London Filomena's, Waterford
WOOD-N-TAP, WEST HARTFORD: "From mini-burgers to New York strip, there's something for everyone at these pubs." - Leeanne Griffin