The best in Connecticut’s restaurant industry have been honored by the CRAZIES awards by the Connecticut Restaurant Association.
Each year, the CRAZIES recognizes the ability and talent of Connecticut’s hospitality community at the awards gala.
Chef of the year went to Ashley Flagg of The Laurel in West Hartford and overall Restaurant of the Year went to Community Table in New Preston.
Aside from the winners announced Monday night, the 2025 honorees included Spartan Restaurant & Bar Waterbury of Waterbury and Willimantic Brewing Company of Willimantic, inducted into the Hospitality Hall of Fame; Restauranter of the Year went to Esaul Rodriguez of Puerto Vallarta Restaurants; Friend of the Industry went to Anthony Anthony, Connecticut’s chief marketing officer.
Jacob Rodriguez, left and his father Esul Rodriguez at Puerto Vallarta in Avon on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
The 2025 winners named Monday are: Vendor of the Year, Athletic Brewing Company, Milford; Caterer of the Year, Riverhouse Catering of Haddam; Service Team of the Year to The Wharf Restaurant at Madison Beach Hotel, Madison; Bar and Beverage Team of the Year to I Know You Know in New Britain; Pastry Chef of the Year to Julien Tessier of Julien’s Farm Store, Granby.
The Peoples Choice Award went to Dew Drop Inn, Derby.
The restaurant of the year award in each county went to Community Table in Litchfield County; Restaurant L’Ostal Darien in Fairfield County; Le Mazet West Hartford in Hartford County; Gioia Cafe & Bar, New Haven in New Haven County; Camille’s Wood Fired Pizza in Tolland County; Grano Arso, Chester in Middlesex County; ANYA, Thompson in Windham county; Whitecrest Eatery, Stonington in New London County.
Le Mazet, a restaurant in West Hartford that serves French comfort food. File photo by Aaron Flaum
The Restaurant Newcomer Award went to Bar Bushido in Norwalk.
