Connecticut's rooftop dining options are limited at best, and now they're going to be even worse in my hometown of Torrington. One of the newer restaurants in town has just called it quits.

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Casa Valijo at 131 Water Street in Torrington has just announced on their social media that their last day of operation will be next Friday, October 31, 2025. According to the statement this is not the end for Casa Valijo, it's just time to say goodbye to this particular location in Torrington. An act of vandalism, what appears to be a smashed-out window, was one of the final straws according to the statement.

The last time I wrote the words 'The Downtown Torrington Dining Scene Lost Another One today' I elicited groans from the crowd. "What 'Downtown Torrington Dining Scene?!" "Salt 2.0 was overpriced and overrated' and 'Bring back Bachi's!' were among the comments. Well, get ready to say these things again.

My wife and I gave Casa Valijo a couple of tries over the past year and found that the restaurant had been beautifully renovated, the staff was friendly, and the food was really good, but we felt it was overpriced. It was in a unique second-floor location above Wasteland, right next to the Torrington Fire Department HQ and Bad Dog Brewing Company, and we were distracted by the food trucks outside of Bad Dog on our way to Casa Viejo quite a few times.

I know rooftop dining from November to March is virtually non-existent in Connecticut, but it does exist. Litchfield's Rooftop Bar at the Abner Hotel is a great alternative.

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