1. Wood’S Pit Bbq
City: Bantam, CT
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (860) 567-9869
Address: 123 Bantam Lake Rd. (Route 209)
Description: The rusted pig on the old-fashioned sign will guide you to this unique eatery. Their Mexican food, especially the chimichanga, is good, and they serve chips and salsa instead of bread. But people usually come here for the blackened catfish, jerk chicken, brisket, and beef and pork ribs. The toasted rolls hold up to the pulled pork and beef, and don’t be shy adding extra barbecue sauce, a sweet and spicy version whose recipe is a secret. Owner “Woodie” traveled around the US with a motorcycle and tent to learn his craft, and he has perfected it. Decades later Woodie is still at it 7 days a week, a man who cares about authenticity. The restaurant has a surprising mix of patrons: fishermen and families, motorcycles and minivans. They actually have a vegan and vegetarian page on the menu, so this is a perfect place for a family that can’t agree on their feelings about meat. Beer lovers should try the local Farmington River Brown Ale on draft. Right next door is the Bantam Cinema, a red barnlike building that shows independent films. You won’t believe such a place still exists.
2. Bantam Tileworks
City: Bantam, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 361-9306
Address: 931 Bantam Rd. (Route 202)
Description: The old World War II switch factory on the side of Route 202 by the Bantam River has been mostly converted into shops for various artists and artisans. The most significant of these is the Bantam Tileworks, where you will find co-owners Travis and Darren in their smocks, working hard on the latest job. On the bottom floor of the factory, underneath heavy wood beams, they create beautiful plates and platters, tiled tables, fronts for fireplaces, and tiles for kitchens, baths, and other floors. Just the samples scattered on the walls seem like decorative Roman mosaics, pieces of art worthy of hanging in your own house. This small workshop is the premier place in the state to find tiling. Don’t forget to stop upstairs at White Room Antiques on your way out.