With the downsizing of Friendly's, TGI Fridays, and Olive Garden locations across Connecticut, there's a new top casual dining destination, not just in our state, but across the US.

Texas Roadhouse is the new champion of cheaper eats across the United States, and there are only 5 of them in Connecticut. According to restaurantbusinessonline.com, Texas Roadhouse has just reached 664 locations in the US, and recently blew past Olive Garden in sales. Here's an interesting fact about Texas Roadhouse - The company headquarters is in Louisville, Kentucky. Texas Roadhouse's popularity is simple, meat and potatoes are the way to a man's heart, where we welcome the artery-clogging biscuits and salty meats. Ribs, hand-cut steaks, seafood options, and a kid's menu, Texas Roadhouse features a simple menu right from your grandparent's time on this earth, and everyone loves it.

Here's Where America's Top Casual Dining Chain is in Connecticut

Breaking news: Texas Roadhouse has just surpassed Olive Garden as the top casual dining chain in America for 2025. There are five locations across Connecticut, instead of following your nose, here's where they are located

Gallery Credit: Google

The Culinary Highlights Along Route 44 Through Litchfield County

I love exploring Litchfield County since I made the move to Torrington, there are so many underrated restaurants, cafes, and bakeries that don't get the attention of someplace in Hartford, New Haven, or Danbury. Route 44 is a major roadway that cuts across Northern Litchfield County east to west from Lakeville to New Hartford, if you're hungry, here are some great places to stop.

Gallery Credit: Google

A Worst to First Ranking of Connecticut's Major Concert Venues

Do you like seeing live music in an intimate setting, or in front of 17,000 other fans? Connecticut has over a dozen major concert venues with seating capacities of 100-25,000. I've been to all of these, and there are some that I will never go to again. I've ranked a dozen of our industry leaders from worst to first.

Gallery Credit: Google

 

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