The Brass City aka WATERBURY, has a sense of charm that might not be known to those outside of its hold. “Waterbury people stick together,” a phrase we encountered many times during our visit. A town once known for its industrial ties is also a tight knit multi-cultural foodie haven. From Indian, to Brazilian, Pan Asian to Mediterranean, Portuguese and Greek…. There is an endless amount of culture here and ethnic cuisine to choose from. No matter your pretenses, people have settled in Waterbury for a reason.

When you’re a foodie, you go where the locals go. That’s what led us to our first stop - slightly north of Waterbury, right in Oakville… ROMA RISTORANTE ITALIANO.

The minute you walk into ROMA, you brush by a bar full of locals, and you immediately feel like you are in the restaurant scene of Goodfellas when Henry takes Karen through the rear entrance of The Copacabana Club in New York. Get invited into their private back dining room, adorned with old world chandeliers, a fireplace, and closets that appear to be confessionals... <the secret lies with the owners> you will know, that you are about to embark on a journey to the heart of Italy through their authentic Italian cuisine and warm hospitality.

We were lucky enough to sit and have a family style meal with the owners, Tommy and Ralph. When talking about their restaurant, you could see and feel the love they have for what they do. “We are in the business of making people happy” — and it truly shows.

From sourcing the very best chicken, to finding the biggest and freshest gulf shrimp (you must try their Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail), to taking those extra steps to make their own homemade veal stock… everything they do is intentional and everything they serve is fresh - never frozen, never canned. They are not serving “guests”, but rather serving an extended family.

Let’s get down to the brass tacks: the FOOD. This is Authentic Italian — like your Italian grandmother used to make. The giant meatball <Polpette: Housemade pork, veal, and beef meatball smothered in marinara topped with mozzarella> must have some kind of magical ingredient because it was truly one of the best we have ever tasted. The Mozzarella D’Angelo <Mozzarella sandwiched between egg dipped bread, pan fried, finished with lemon, white wine and butter> was like a glorified fried cheese sandwich of goodness… The Chicken Milanese <a ROMA Specialty - is buttery smooth with the perfect hint of lemon and white wine butter sauce>, the Homemade Cavatelli <served with Roma’s fresh pomodoro sauce> was excellent, the Sausage Fra’ Diavolo <sautéed La Molisana Italian sausage in Fra’Diavolo sauce served over creamy polenta> was - as we kept saying, phenomenal (we may have had seconds… OK, maybe thirds…) — and everything we ate paired perfectly with a Bertani Valpolicella Ripasso red. Did we mention their wine cellar? With nearly 1500 bottles you can be sure to find the perfect vino for every meal. And let’s not forget to mention dessert… house-made strawberry shortcake AND rice pudding… oh my! And wait! Ask for the “Sinatro special” - a heaping tray full of family favorites that will send you straight to Italy.

Rather than saying “goodbye” after we sipped our cappuccinos “Roma Style,” we instead said, “We will see you again very soon” - and we can’t wait.

Click on the pictures below for an INside peek from our visit.

Next stop on our EatINerary, THE ART OF YUM on Grand Street in Waterbury, where we were immediately greeted by another family matriarch - the father of former talent chef at ESPN, Michone Arrington. From the warm hospitality to the entertainment (his father can sing and dance), you will immediately feel joyous. There is quite a bit to see within this quasi art studio/food haven. As their website says, “Your Plate, Our Canvas”, each dish is a work of art! Executive Chef and co-owner, Donte Jones, helps explain the restaurant’s name describing it as “chefs coming together being very artsy - not only are they cooking in the kitchen they are bringing out the art in the food as well.”

The cuisine takes an “American Fusion” approach, bringing different ethnic cuisines to the mix, up-leveling each and every dish with a new experience.

And did we mention that they serve breakfast all day? Among the many beautiful dishes we enjoyed were the Bananas Foster Pancakes, the Bayou Bomb, the ESPN favorite — The Sushiritto <3 eggs crusted in spiced panko, stuffed with your choice of meat & cheese, topped with avocado creme and Michi sauce>, as well as many chef specials like a Chef’s board with seared shrimp in Tahini Sauce, special rice and marinated steak. There are many vegan and vegetarian options available as well, ensuring that everyone will find something on the menu to enjoy. They also serve excellent drinks, so be sure to save room for a yummy martini. And don’t miss out on visiting their second location, The Art of Yum in Southington, which just celebrated their grand opening! Click the pics below is see more.

Did we mention that supporting local is our JAM? Based on a (thousand) recommendations, we decided to take a quick stop at the Brooklyn Baking company on our way home. Picture this: the fluffiest, pillow-soft donuts you have ever tasted north, south, east, or west of Waterbury. At first we scoffed at eating yet another thing - but with distant chimes of “YOU MUST GO!” ringing in our ears - we succumbed. Now we are eating our words (caked with tons of powdered sugar). Click the pics below to see more.

Waterbury CT