Southern New York/New England Dining

[Ian]

Hey all,

This may not be a real road question per se, so mods, if you feel like you need to move this to the Off-Topic board, feel free.

Anyway, in about a month, our family is doing our annual pilgrimage up to New Hampshire and Maine for 2 weeks. Since we plan on taking separate cars (my dad and brother in my dad's truck, and my mom and I in my car FWIW), I'd like to take my time heading up there rather than rush up there like we always end up doing. So my question is, what are some decent places that would be worth stopping off the road to eat lunch? Usually when we're with my dad, we always stop somewhere fast like McDonald's or Burger King, and I want to look for something better this time.

The route we plan on taking up is NJ Turnpike -> GWB -> NY 9A/Henry Hudson -> Saw Mill -> Cross County -> Hutchinson River into Connecticut -> CT 15/Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways -> I-91 -> I-84 up into Massachusetts -> I-90/Mass Pike -> I-290 around Worcester -> I-495 -> I-93 into New Hampshire and so on...

My route back from Maine is going to be the same, with I-95 through NH/ME plus I-495 north of Lawrence added (unless you have other suggestions). Seeing as we plan on leaving around 8-8:30 AM, I'd like to try and get to at least around White Plains before we stop for lunch. What places would you recommend that are around/near my route? Any places around somewhere like Hartford or Worcester? I'm not looking for anything fancy, just a simple sit-down and eat kind of place (a nice diner would be acceptable).

Any help appreciated! 
-Ian

[PHLBOS]

Since I've driven the Delaware Valley to/from New England trek for nearly 22 years, I have to ask: unless one is making a stop in NYC, why would anyone use the GWB?  Its toll is significantly higher ($12 cash, $7.50-$9.50 EZPass) and one is definitely more prone to traffic jams than the Tappan Zee.

What I've usually done is (from Delco to Sturbridge) I-95N -> I-76E (Walt Whitman) -> I-295N -> I-195E -> NJT (I-95)N -> GSP N -> I-87S/287E (Tappan Zee $5 cash toll, $4.75 EZPass) -> I-287E -> I-684N -> I-84E.

Return is reverse except I exit off the NJ Turnpike at Exit 6 and head into PA, exit off at Exit 358 (1st exit of the PA Turnpike/I-276).  Follow US 13S -> PA 413N -> I-95S.

As far as eateries, there's a couple of diners off I-84 in CT: one at Exit 10 (near Sandy Hook) the other off Exit 28 (near Meriden).  Further up I-84 in Sturbridge just before I-90, there's a Cracker Barrel along US 20 (east of 84).

I'm not sure if it's still there, but up in Seabrook, NH; there is (or was) a diner called the "Roadkill Cafe" near US 1 & NH 107.  I never ate there but it would definitely be an interesting photo op.    

[iwishiwascanadian]

If you do choose to the route that PHLBOS suggests (which I would second, I take that route when going from Hartford to Baltimore) there's a diner off of Exit 44 off of I-84 in West Hartford, CT called Goldroc, it's great! I've been going there since as long as I can remember.

[Ian]

Since I've driven the Delaware Valley to/from New England trek for nearly 22 years, I have to ask: unless one is making a stop in NYC, why would anyone use the GWB?  Its toll is significantly higher ($12 cash, $7.50-$9.50 EZPass) and one is definitely more prone to traffic jams than the Tappan Zee.

What I've usually done is (from Delco to Sturbridge) I-95N -> I-76E (Walt Whitman) -> I-295N -> I-195E -> NJT (I-95)N -> GSP N -> I-87S/287E (Tappan Zee $5 cash toll, $4.75 EZPass) -> I-287E -> I-684N -> I-84E.

Actually, our normal route takes us up the Jersey Turnpike to about the very end, then hop up onto US 9W and then over the Tappan Zee and onto the Hutchinson/Merritt Parkway via I-287. It's just what our family has done for years. This trip, I wanted to take the GWB and NY 9A so I could get a photo of this sign, as well as some of the remaining button copy on the Henry Hudson and Cross County (I'll be having my mom drive my car during that short stretch so I can take pics).

Is there any real time difference between taking I-684 to I-84 versus taking CT 15 to I-91 to I-84? I've done both ways plenty of times, but never really noticed a huge difference in time and mileage. I guess I could just hop onto I-684 when I head up the Hutchinson...

I'm not sure if it's still there, but up in Seabrook, NH; there is (or was) a diner called the "Roadkill Cafe" near US 1 & NH 107.  I never ate there but it would definitely be an interesting photo op.

Hmm, if I do pass through on I-95 near Seabrook around the time we'd like to eat lunch, I might have to check this out. Thanks for the suggestion!

If you do choose to the route that PHLBOS suggests (which I would second, I take that route when going from Hartford to Baltimore) there's a diner off of Exit 44 off of I-84 in West Hartford, CT called Goldroc, it's great! I've been going there since as long as I can remember.

Hmm, doesn't look like it's far at all off I-84. I'll keep this in mind!

[PHLBOS]

This trip, I wanted to take the GWB and NY 9A so I could get a photo of this sign, as well as some of the remaining button copy on the Henry Hudson and Cross County (I'll be having my mom drive my car during that short stretch so I can take pics).

Fair enough.  That's a reason although a very expensive one IMHO.

Is there any real time difference between taking I-684 to I-84 versus taking CT 15 to I-91 to I-84? I've done both ways plenty of times, but never really noticed a huge difference in time and mileage. I guess I could just hop onto I-684 when I head up the Hutchinson...

The main advantage w/I-684 is that it's wide open and less likely to be prone to traffic jams.  It also has a higher posted speed limit (65) than CT 15/Merritt Parkway. 

The only downside of using 684 isn't so much that road as much as one needing to use I-84 East through Waterbury.  Unless one knows that back roads, 84 through Waterbury can congested and be tough to bypass during certain times of the day.

[Alps]

Is there any real time difference between taking I-684 to I-84 versus taking CT 15 to I-91 to I-84? I've done both ways plenty of times, but never really noticed a huge difference in time and mileage. I guess I could just hop onto I-684 when I head up the Hutchinson...

No real time difference, nothing that would affect your trip plans. My favorite way up during college was I-95 or Merritt to CT 8 to I-84. Now that's about 15 minutes longer, but it's also considerably more scenic - and has a ton of button copy in both directions that may interest you, unlike 684 or much of 91. Finally, if it's near rush hour or even maybe the 12-1 PM lunch hour, you may want to take 84-691-91 rather than stay on 84, but during other hours 84 is generally fine. GENERALLY - and I don't know which station does regular traffic up there. If a VMS tells you there's congestion, trust it and bail. CT is very reliable on those.

Added note for 91-84: The main NB-EB movement is accomplished via ramp to CT 15, which can back up, sometimes considerably (talking half a mile or more). You can take left exits 29 or 32, and follow the ramp to Market St. to get to 84 East, but at that point you're probably better off just sitting in the line at 15. I've used the "A" detour (CT 3 NB to CT 2 WB to I-84 EB) a few times, and it may or may not be faster but at least it's something different than the norm. Again, expect button copy.

[Ian]

No real time difference, nothing that would affect your trip plans. My favorite way up during college was I-95 or Merritt to CT 8 to I-84. Now that's about 15 minutes longer, but it's also considerably more scenic - and has a ton of button copy in both directions that may interest you, unlike 684 or much of 91.

This I might want to check out! Would be a nice opportunity to check out a freeway I've never been on before.

Finally, if it's near rush hour or even maybe the 12-1 PM lunch hour, you may want to take 84-691-91 rather than stay on 84, but during other hours 84 is generally fine. GENERALLY - and I don't know which station does regular traffic up there. If a VMS tells you there's congestion, trust it and bail. CT is very reliable on those.

I've never done the 84-691-91 movement before, so I might want to try it in combination with taking the CT 8 route. However, if the VMS tells me otherwise, I'll likely do as you say and follow it.

Added note for 91-84: The main NB-EB movement is accomplished via ramp to CT 15, which can back up, sometimes considerably (talking half a mile or more). You can take left exits 29 or 32, and follow the ramp to Market St. to get to 84 East, but at that point you're probably better off just sitting in the line at 15. I've used the "A" detour (CT 3 NB to CT 2 WB to I-84 EB) a few times, and it may or may not be faster but at least it's something different than the norm. Again, expect button copy.

Yeah, we've gotten stuck numerous times at the base of the Charter Oak Bridge on I-91. We actually now do the route A detour every time we travel through Hartford, and find it very useful. Thanks for all the help/info!

[Duke87]

How much of a hole in the wall are you willing to go for? If you're thinking White Plains, there's the Star Diner. Great old railroad-car style place.

The Parkway Diner in Stamford is less of a hole in the wall, also good, but a tad pricey.

Then there's Orem's Diner in Wilton. Historic place that goes back a century although they modified the facade a few years ago so the exterior visual charm is gone.

If you're up in Hamden by the time you stop for lunch, you can go to SBC, where we had lunch at the New Haven road meet last year.
It's actually a small chain and there are several of them further south (Stamford and the original in Southport), but they're all down by I-95.

[Ian]

How much of a hole in the wall are you willing to go for? If you're thinking White Plains, there's the Star Diner. Great old railroad-car style place.

The Parkway Diner in Stamford is less of a hole in the wall, also good, but a tad pricey.

I'll throw Tavern on 7 out there as something else along your route in that area which is decent as well.

If you're up in Hamden by the time you stop for lunch, you can go to SBC, where we had lunch at the New Haven road meet last year.
It's actually a small chain and there are several of them further south (Stamford and the original in Southport), but they're all down by I-95.

The Star Diner looks like a nice little place, even if it is in the middle of a downtown area. I'll definitely look into Parkway Diner or Tavern on 7 if I'm through that area during lunch, because both also look like nice places to eat. The SBC also looks like a nice restaurant, but I may by-pass it if I take CT 8 (will keep it in mind though when I take CT 15 through Hamden next time though). Thanks for the suggestions!

[SignBridge]

Hey PennDOTFan, (sorry to be off topic here) what do you mean "always sunny Philadelphia "? I spent a few days in the Phila-Bucks County area early last week and the weather was overcast and drizzly. I understand it's that way this week too....... As one Ian to another, time for a reality check here guy! (chuckle!)

[Ian]

Hey PennDOTFan, (sorry to be off topic here) what do you mean "always sunny Philadelphia "? I spent a few days in the Phila-Bucks County area early last week and the weather was overcast and drizzly. I understand it's that way this week too....... As one Ian to another, time for a reality check here guy! (chuckle!)

Oh, I was just referencing one of my favorite shows It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

[KEVIN_224]

Outside of the morning and PM rush times, you can get occasional traffic updates near the top and bottom of the hour on WTIC-AM 1080 of Hartford.

The GoldRoc Diner is open 24 hours. It's directly off of the westbound ramp of I-84 at Exit 44 (West Hartford/Hartford line). Eastbound, you'd merge into a side street (Caya Avenue). Take a left onto Prospect Street, go over I-84 and then take a left onto Kane Street.

And while it's fast food, I've stopped at Roy Rogers before. The only one remaining in New England is off of Exit 1 in Sturbridge, MA.

Rein's Deli is a change of pace on CT Route 30 in Vernon (Exit 65 off I-84). The access is more direct from I-84 West.

P.S. I-84's Exit 28 is in Southington, CT by a few feet, near the Cheshire town line.

[PHLBOS]

I've never done the 84-691-91 movement before, so I might want to try it in combination with taking the CT 8 route.

I've done the 84-691-91 a few times before, it's not too bad and it is quicker than staying on 84 through Hartford during rush hour despite the routing being about 7 miles longer.  There's also a few more restaurants just off that leg of I-91 (between 691 and CT 15/TO I-84 East).  I think there's even still a Red Lobster at I-91 & CT 99 in Rocky Hill.  It's probably the only one located in New England that I'm aware of.

[KEVIN_224]

According to Red Lobster's website, they're in North Haven, Wethersfield, Danbury and  Bridgeport. Even I only knew of their Wethersfield location on CT Route 99 (Silas Deane Highway).

[MrDisco99]

Why would you go to a Red Lobster in New England?  That's like going to Tuscany and eating at Olive Garden.  Just sayin...

[Ian]

Outside of the morning and PM rush times, you can get occasional traffic updates near the top and bottom of the hour on WTIC-AM 1080 of Hartford.

Good to know, I'll be sure to keep this in mind when I'm traveling through!

The GoldRoc Diner is open 24 hours. It's directly off of the westbound ramp of I-84 at Exit 44 (West Hartford/Hartford line). Eastbound, you'd merge into a side street (Caya Avenue). Take a left onto Prospect Street, go over I-84 and then take a left onto Kane Street.

Yeah, I can see that now. Street view doesn't really do any justice here, but I'm sure I'll find it if we decide to stop here.

And while it's fast food, I've stopped at Roy Rogers before. The only one remaining in New England is off of Exit 1 in Sturbridge, MA.

Interesting. I don't think I've ever seen a Roy Rogers before that wasn't at a Turnpike/Thruway service area.

Rein's Deli is a change of pace on CT Route 30 in Vernon (Exit 65 off I-84). The access is more direct from I-84 West.

I'm guessing it's in that strip mall just to the east of the I-84 westbound on/off ramps along CT 30? Just checked out their website, and it looks to be a nice place! I'll definitely be keeping this place in mind.

I've done the 84-691-91 a few times before, it's not too bad and it is quicker than staying on 84 through Hartford during rush hour despite the routing being about 7 miles longer.

Like Steve said, I'll basically do whatever the VMS signs tell me to do. I definitely wouldn't mind taking the 691/91 route, because it could give me the chance to clinch I-691 (even though I'm not too crazy about clinching highways).

There's also a few more restaurants just off that leg of I-91 (between 691 and CT 15/TO I-84 East).  I think there's even still a Red Lobster at I-91 & CT 99 in Rocky Hill.  It's probably the only one located in New England that I'm aware of.

I will do some looking on some restaurants along I-91 between I-691 and CT 15, but I'm trying to stay away from chain restaurants like Red Lobster, since I can go to chain restaurants anywhere (there is even a Red Lobster about a mile away from my house).

[Alps]

Rein's Deli is a change of pace on CT Route 30 in Vernon (Exit 65 off I-84). The access is more direct from I-84 West.

Rein's is absolute crap. If you want deli, eat in northern NJ or NYC.

it is quicker than staying on 84 through Hartford during rush hour despite the routing being about 7 miles longer.

False. It's less than 3 miles longer.


Final note: VMS may not tell you about Hartford before you're past I-691. They might, they might not. If you take I-84 and the VMS says delays, make sure you have a local enough map on you to get through the city another way. Or just take 691. I'd note that delays tend to happen more EB than WB, but that's only in my experience.

[wytout]

Traveling on I-84 in the Western part of CT and looking for awesome grinders... Nardelli's is the place to go. locations in Danbury or Waterbury (but don't go on Sundays, because the door will be locked and you'll go away hungry).

[SidS1045]

Rein's Deli is a change of pace on CT Route 30 in Vernon (Exit 65 off I-84). The access is more direct from I-84 West.

Rein's is absolute crap. If you want deli, eat in northern NJ or NYC.

I guess all those dozens of people who wait in line every lunch hour are wrong.  (Don't be put off by the line, though.  It moves quickly.)  Rein's is just as good as Carnegie and is the best you'll find outside the NYC metro.

[PHLBOS]

Why would you go to a Red Lobster in New England?  That's like going to Tuscany and eating at Olive Garden.  Just sayin...

I was actually pointing out an irony.

it is quicker than staying on 84 through Hartford during rush hour despite the routing being about 7 miles longer.

False. It's less than 3 miles longer.

For what it's worth, according to Wiki:


I-84 from I-691 to CT 15 (23.19 miles) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_84_in_Connecticut

vs.

I-691 end-to-end (8.38 miles) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-691
I-91 from I-691 to CT 15 North (17.95 miles) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_91_in_Connecticut
CT 15 from I-91 to I-84 East (2.2 miles) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilbur_Cross_Highway

Total of 691/91/15 alternate: 28.53 miles which is, according to the above-links 5.34 miles longer.

[KEVIN_224]

The exact measurement of I-691 is a bit tricky. The ramp from I-691 West to I-84 West is much longer than the one to I-84 East. Also, it's assumed that I-691 East changes to CT Route 66 East once you're east of I-91 (I haven't been at that interchange on the I-691 level in quite a while).

Anyways...another place I've stopped at before in Maine was The Bull & Claw, along US Route 1/ME Route 9 in Wells. Obviously, it's a steak and seafood place. Good stuff!

Look up BULLNCLAW as one word and it should come up! 

[PHLBOS]

The exact measurement of I-691 is a bit tricky. The ramp from I-691 West to I-84 West is much longer than the one to I-84 East. Also, it's assumed that I-691 East changes to CT Route 66 East once you're east of I-91 (I haven't been at that interchange on the I-691 level in quite a while).

I-691 does indeed end at I-91 but the road continues as CT 66.  The exit ramp to I-91 North is a left lane exit.

As far as the mileage goes, while there are some differences in distances depending on which ramps one uses; the earlier point I was trying to make is that the 691-91-15 alternate route vs. 84 through Hartford is clearly longer than 3 miles.

[Alps]

The exact measurement of I-691 is a bit tricky. The ramp from I-691 West to I-84 West is much longer than the one to I-84 East. Also, it's assumed that I-691 East changes to CT Route 66 East once you're east of I-91 (I haven't been at that interchange on the I-691 level in quite a while).

I-691 does indeed end at I-91 but the road continues as CT 66.  The exit ramp to I-91 North is a left lane exit.

As far as the mileage goes, while there are some differences in distances depending on which ramps one uses; the earlier point I was trying to make is that the 691-91-15 alternate route vs. 84 through Hartford is clearly longer than 3 miles.

Check Google Maps' routing along both highways, which accounts for ramps instead of being point-to-point mileages (which very often are measured by centerlines). That and my experience both tell me that it's not more than a 3 mile difference.

I guess all those dozens of people who wait in line every lunch hour are wrong.  (Don't be put off by the line, though.  It moves quickly.)  Rein's is just as good as Carnegie and is the best you'll find outside the NYC metro.

Look, we're each entitled to our opinions. I grew up Jewish and ate the best of NY delis, so I'm biased. But please, best outside NYC metro? Try Florida, unless you want to call that "NYC south." (: I went to Rein's once and only once and left without even ordering. I know Carnegie has gone downhill, but there are other standout delis in this area that far exceed anything CT has to offer.

In short - if you want deli, just stop in the NYC metro, rather than bother with Rein's. If only because your route takes you that way.

[empirestate]

Since I've driven the Delaware Valley to/from New England trek for nearly 22 years, I have to ask: unless one is making a stop in NYC, why would anyone use the GWB?  Its toll is significantly higher ($12 cash, $7.50-$9.50 EZPass) and one is definitely more prone to traffic jams than the Tappan Zee.

Why? I'm surprised to see that question asked on a road geek forum! The interchange at the east end is reason enough, if the bridge itself doesn't thrill you.

(And I do understand toll avoision...I live in the Bronx and I never use the Henry Hudson Bridge to get to Inwood, because I can almost always tolerate the extra traffic on the Broadway or University Heights Bridges in lieu of paying a toll to get across the measly Harlem River. Or take the 1 train.)

[Dougtone]

Traveling on I-84 in the Western part of CT and looking for awesome grinders... Nardelli's is the place to go. locations in Danbury or Waterbury (but don't go on Sundays, because the door will be locked and you'll go away hungry).

I can recommend Valenti's Giant Grinders in East Hartford.