Litchfield Dining News: Award Nominations & New Restaurants
Materia Ristorante in Bantam is nominated for Litchfield County Restaurant of the Year, and Christopher Hodson of Materia is nominated for CT Server of the Year, in the Connecticut Restaurant Association 2024 CRAZies Awards.
The Litchfield County Restaurant of the Year nomination also puts Materia in the running for overall Connecticut Restaurant of the year.
Materia Chef David DiStasi was named Connecticut Chef of the Year in the 2023 CRAZIES Awards and Materia 
Ristorante won Restaurant of the Year Award for Litchfield County. In 2022, Materia won the Restaurant Newcomer award. See the Materia menu.
The public can vote through the end of November to help their favorite Connecticut restaurants and restaurant professionals win awards. Vote here.
Winners will be announced Dec. 9, when hospitality owners, operators, chefs, servers, and vendors from across the state gather for the CRAzies gala at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
~
Olivia Olson of ATC South St. in Litchfield is nominated for Bartender of the Year in the 2024 CRAzies. See the drinks menu.
Lost Fox Tavern at the Lost Fox Inn
The Lost Fox Inn opened in July after a painstaking renovation of the former Tollgate Hill Inn property off Route 202 between Litchfield center and Torrington.
The Tavern features a bar, a main dining area, and The Garden Room with the original paneling, wide chestnut floorboards, and a fireplace for autumn, winter and spring warmth.
Chef CJ Barroso’s menu features starters like Prince Edward Island mussels, Spanish octopus, and Niman Ranch pork belly, and entrees like olive-poached halibut, loin of lamb, grass-fed steak and Cornish game hen. See the dinner menu
The Tavern is open for dinner and drinks Friday through Monday from 4 p.m. 571 Torrington Rd. | 860-222-0855 | lostfoxinn.com | [email protected]
The Courtroom Restaurant & Verdict: Rooftop Bar at The Abner Hotel
The Abner Hotel
in the former Litchfield County Courthouse made its debut Sept. 12, and the 20-room boutique hotel includes The Courtroom restaurant, a modern tavern, and the rooftop bar called Verdict:
The Courtroom is in the historic main courtroom and Chef Michael Alfeld’s menu features modern tavern-style dishes infused with continental flavors, made from locally sourced ingredients. See the dinner menu.
Dining hours are 5 to 10 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
Verdict: is open from 3 to 10 p.m., weather permitting. Learn more and see the drinks menu.
15 West St. | 860-567-4137 | theabnerhotel.com | Send a message
La Catrina of Bantam
A new restaurant serving authentic Mexican cuisine opened in Bantam in early September.
La Catrina is in the former home of Mockingbird Kitchen & Bar and is serving lunch, dinner & Sunday brunch.
According to the Republican American, owners Enrique and Consuelo Estrava opened La Catrina of Westchester in Croton on Hudson, N.Y., in 2021 and a customer there, who has a house in Litchfield, recommended Bantam for another location.
Enrique Estrava, who’s also a chef, told the Rep-Am that the menu will feature traditional homemade Mexican food with French and Asian influences. See the menu.
810 Bantam Rd. | (860) 361-6401 | lacatrinabantam.com
All photos from restaurant websites/social media accounts.