This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Eggplant rollatini at Fornarelli's in Colchester

Poutine fries and twisted fries at Jefferson Fry Co., with four Connecticut locations.

Pastrami dumplings from Brooklyn Dumpling Shop.

Aroma Joe's opened its first location in Bristol in early April. 

Check out these noteworthy Hartford-area restaurants that have opened so far in 2022, from a Mexican mezcal and tequila bar in the center of West Hartford to the newest location of an eatery known for its creative loaded fries.

This new Mexican restaurant and bar in West Hartford Center specializes in tequila and mezcal, with a menu inspired by the dishes of Mexico City. Diners will find tacos filled with ribeye, al pastor, birria, fish and shrimp, along with entrees like enchiladas, fajitas and cochinita pibil. A particular emphasis on seafood dishes spotlights ceviche and aguachile, arroz con mariscos and pescado zarandeado (grilled whole fish.) Cocktails include a mezcal-based Negroni and a smoked Paloma, as well as six specialty flavored margaritas.

970 Farmington Ave., 860-206-4698, @elsantoct.

Eggplant rollatini at Fornarelli's in Colchester

Father and son John and Vito Fornarelli recently opened a second outpost of their downtown Hartford Italian restaurant in Colchester. The menu features appetizers like eggplant rollatini, Sicilian calamari and braciole; pastas, including ravioli and spaghetti with meatballs, and entrees like veal marsala, chicken parmesan with vodka sauce and Fornarelli’s lemon chicken over polenta.

112 Halls Hill Road, 860-531-9160, @fornarellis

Aroma Joe's opened its first location in Bristol in early April. 

Maine-based beverage chain Aroma Joe's is now open in Bristol, bringing an extensive menu of coffee, tea, smoothies and energy drinks to Connecticut.

The 800-square-foot coffee shop, which opened April 4, is the first in the state. Aroma Joe’s offers drive-through and walk-up window service, with hot and iced coffee, specialty teas, hot chocolate, cold brew, espresso beverages and signature AJs RUSH energy drinks. All-day food options include breakfast sandwiches, bagels, muffins, pastries and soft pretzels. 1235 Farmington Ave., aromajoes.com, @aromajoescoffee.

Fusion fries from Jefferson Fry Co. with grilled chicken, hoisin, sriracha, crushed peanuts and cilantro.?

Four years after opening the first Jefferson Fry Co. in Cromwell, Emmet Moore and business partner Travis Dillon recently debuted a fourth location of the fast-casual restaurant specializing in loaded fries. The Vernon storefront, which opened in April in the town’s Tri-City Plaza, joins another at the Shops at Farmington Valley in Canton and a satellite stall at Hartford’s Parkville Market food hall.

The menu of loaded fry options follows an international theme, with flavors from around the globe: a Canadian-style poutine with gravy and cheese curds, taco fries with spicy beef, diced tomato, onion, jalapeños and cheddar; and Greek fries with gyro meat, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, feta cheese and a tzatziki-style sauce. The menu also features burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and milkshakes.

A fifth location is coming to Storrs near the UConn campus in late June, and Moore and Dillon are working on franchising, with hopes to expand the brand outside of New England.

35 Talcottville Road, 860-454-8362, @jeffersonfryco.

A post shared by Four Dads Pub - Hartford (@fourdadspub_hartford)

Four Dads Pub, an "old school neighborhood joint" that got its start in Granby, (and is indeed owned by four Connecticut dads) recently opened its second location in downtown Hartford. The casual restaurant and bar focuses on pizza, sold by the slice or whole pie, and comfort fare like wings, nachos, sandwiches, burgers, subs and chicken and waffles.

114 Asylum Street, 860-969-6128, @fourdadspub_hartford.

A post shared by Toasted OAT Cafe Canton (@toastedoatcafe)

Toasted Oat Cafe, a popular Canton breakfast and lunch spot, just opened its second location in Newington Center with build-your-own breakfast options, salads and sandwiches. Specialties include burritos, scrambles and breakfast bowls; a “Canton Cuban” on an inverted Portuguese muffin and a “Collins Bleu” crispy chicken sandwich with ham, Swiss and spinach on a Kaiser roll.

1110 Main St.,  860-665-7848, @toastedoatcafe.

Bacon, egg and cheese breakfast dumplings from Brooklyn Dumpling Shop.

The New York-based dumpling restaurant with automated service opens its first Connecticut location Feb. 22 near the UConn campus. Menus feature more than 30 types of dumplings, with creative flavors bundled into each wrapper: Reuben, Philly cheesesteak, pastrami, lamb gyro, mac and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, “breakfast” dumplings with egg and cheese and even dessert options.

When a guest’s order is ready, the customer will receive a text notification to pick it up from a marked, temperature-controlled locker, which opens automatically once the customer scans a provided barcode.

Berkins on Main, in Hartford’s Wadsworth Atheneum, celebrated its grand opening Jan. 21. It’s the third location for owners Doug Barber and Andréa Hawkins, who also own and operate Berkins Blend Cafe in Glastonbury and Berkins on Oak in Hartford. The menu features coffee, tea and espresso beverages, and will expand to offer sweets from local baker Disheveled Diva, sandwiches with coco bread from Nyam Bakery and Berkins’ own salads and pastries. 

600 Main St.,  860-838-4134, @berkinsblend.

A post shared by 湘渝轩 (@chef_jiang)

Chef Jiang opened in November in a shopping plaza near the Westfarms mall, with Szechuan and Hunan delicacies like chongqing style fried chicken, dry pot dishes, dan dan noodles, whole fish preparations and xiaolongbao (soup dumplings.) 

1600 South East Road, 860-352-5353, @chef_jiang.

A post shared by PHOGOCT (@phogoct)

The Vietnamese restaurant, which got its start at Hartford’s Parkville Market food hall, opened a second location in Avon Feb. 1. The menu offers several types of pho with beef, chicken and shrimp; banh mi sandwiches, rice and noodle bowls and Vietnamese salads with assorted proteins; and meals featuring grilled marinated pork chops and lemongrass chicken thighs. Other items include fresh spring rolls and fried egg rolls, wings, dumplings and tacos.

41 East Main St., 860-321-7693, PHOGO of AVON | Facebook

The new British-style tea room opened Jan. 1 and offers two-hour, reservation-only tea seatings, with a prix-fixe menu offering tea sandwiches, canapes, scones, breads and small desserts. Take Tea serves tea selections from Harney & Sons, and guests may BYOB while the tea room waits on its beer and wine permit. 

Take Tea has instituted COVID precautions: the tea room is operating on reduced (50 percent) capacity and welcomes fully vaccinated (boosted) guests who are 12 and over.

19 East Main St. (Old Avon Village), 860-404-2538, Take Tea on Facebook.

Leeanne is the food and consumer reporter for Hearst Connecticut, handling coverage of restaurant openings and closings, trends, events and general news about CT food and beverage businesses.

She's been working in Connecticut news for more than 15 years, most recently as the food and dining reporter for the Hartford Courant. A native of Worcester, Mass., she holds a master's degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University.