9 Must-Try Restaurants in Waterbury, CT: Where the Waterbury Locals Eat

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Updated on March 27th, 2024

Reading Time: 3 minutes

With the Naugatuck River running through the city, Waterbury, CT, is a picturesque town located in the heart of the Northeast. And living in Waterbury means you get a charming downtown, lush and green parks, and stellar restaurants. But if you’re new to the city or recently rented an apartment in Waterbury you might be curious where the locals go for a bite to eat. To help you out, Redfin has collected a list of 9 must-try restaurants in Waterbury, CT. Let’s take a look at them.

downtown waterbury connecticut at night_getty

#1: San Marino Ristorante Italiano

Cuisine: Italian restaurant
Address: 111 Thomaston Ave Ste A, Waterbury, CT 06702
San Marino Ristorante Italiano’s Website

Situated in the heart of Waterbury, San Marino Ristorante Italiano is an awesome place to have an authentic Italian meal. Whether you’re looking for eggplant rollatini, freshly made pasta dishes, veal osso bucco, grilled swordfish, or risotto, they’ve got it all.

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#2: Ami’s Hot Bagels

Cuisine: Bagel shop
Address: 111 Thomaston Ave Ste B, Waterbury, CT 06702
Ami’s Hot Bagels’ Website

Serving fresh bagels in a variety of flavors – everything, poppy, cinnamon raisin, blueberry, egg, and more, Ami’s Hot Bagels’ Waterbury location is another option to add to your list of must-visit restaurants.

#3: Domenick & Pia Downtown Pizzeria

Cuisine: Pizzeria
Address: 3 Brook St, Waterbury, CT 06702
Domenick & Pia Downtown Pizzeria’s Website

A pizzeria with classics like cheese, pepperoni, and sausage, or grinders with pepperoni and sausage, Domenick & Pia Downtown Pizzeria has a lot of options for anyone looking for a new place to eat.

#4: Signatures Restaurant

Cuisine: American and modern European restaurant
Address: 29 Leavenworth St, Waterbury, CT 06702
Signatures Restaurant’s Website

Situated just blocks from Waterbury Green and City Hall, you can find a variety of dishes at Signatures Restaurant – anything from potato pierogis, chicken St. Ginsburg, and penne alla vodka to French onion soup, shrimp scampi, and crème brulee.

#5: Frankie’s Hot Dog

Cuisine: Fast food restaurant
Address: 700 Watertown Ave, Waterbury, CT 06708
Frankie’s Hot Dog’s Website 

Are you on the search for a new locally-owned fast food spot serving chicken strips, famous hot dogs, cheeseburgers, fried clam strips, and milkshakes? If so, head to the Bunker Hill neighborhood, home to Frankie’s Hot Dog.

orange chicken with broccoli and rice

#6: New Moon

Cuisine: Chinese restaurant
Address: 437 Watertown Ave Frnt 1, Waterbury, CT 06708
New Moon’s Website

New Moon has some awesome options for those looking for a Chinese restaurant in Waterbury, CT, with dishes like egg rolls, dumplings, wonton soup, fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, pork, or beef, and countless other options.

#7: Nardelli’s Grinder Shoppe

Cuisine: Sandwich restaurant
Address: 515 Watertown Ave, Waterbury, CT 06708
Nardelli’s Grinder Shoppe’s Website

A Connecticut staple serving the community for 100 years, Nardelli’s has plenty of options for those looking for a specialty grinder with prosciutto and hot peppers, classic roasted turkey, eggplant parmesan, cannolis, and cookies.

#8: La Tavola Ristorante

Cuisine: Italian restaurant
Address: 702 Highland Ave Apt 1, Waterbury, CT 06708
La Tavola Ristorante’s Website

If you’ve recently moved to Waterbury and are searching for an Italian restaurant serving hand-made gnocchi and ravioli, beef carpaccio, wild mushroom garganelli, baked cod, and brick chicken, you can find that at La Tavola Ristorante.

#9: Stonehouse Pizza

Cuisine: Pizzeria
Address: 175 Highland Ave, Waterbury, CT 06708
Stonehouse Pizza’s Website

A pizzeria with toppings like veggies, buffalo chicken, Hawaiian, as well as calzones, grinders, and garlic bread, Stonehouse Pizza is the perfect place to grab a bite in Waterbury. 

If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines here.
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Alison Bentley

Alison is part of the content marketing team and enjoys writing about housing affordability and home interior design ideas. Her dream home is a cottage-style house with a chef’s kitchen and a cozy room to store and play vinyl records.

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