5 CT Restaurants Among North America's Best: New Report

AAA has released its exclusive five-diamond list of restaurants and one restaurant in Connecticut made the cut. The list, released this month, includes just 67 restaurants in North America and only three new restaurants were added this year. In other words, just 0.2 percent of the nearly 32,000 AAA-inspected and approved restaurants were included on the list, AAA said in a release.

Here is the one restaurant that received a five-diamond rating in Connecticut:

• Restaurant at Winvian Farm — Morris

According to the restaurant's website, "The Restaurant at Winvian Farm’s Executive Chef Chris Eddy is leading a culinary revolution with his uniquely Winvian Farm seed-to-table philosophy. The freshest, most natural non-GMO ingredients are harvested daily to create exceptional seasonal menus, for a truly luxurious fine dining experience.

"Almost everything served in Winvian Farm’s revered restaurant is grown on our private estate in three greenhouses, and three acres of organic gardens. Honey from our apiary, a henhouse, root cellar, and luscious fruit trees round out Winvian Farm’s artfully open-ended menus. Even the dining room bouquets come from Winvian Farm’s heady flower and herb beds.

"It’s a small, beautiful circle from seed to table, one that creates extraordinary cuisine and points toward a more prosperous, healthy future for everyone. Winvian Farm offers garden education and cooking classes for our guests, all to keep spreading the good word of truly remarkable seed-to-table food," according to the Winvian Farms website.

The organization noted that more restaurants have embraced a casual environment, as patrons are continually looking for a more relaxed experience. This means high-end restaurants have shifted toward simple and streamlined décor, and others now have lively open kitchen designs so diners can watch chefs work their magic.

“To be considered leading edge, chefs must incorporate a laser-focused approach using innovative concepts and menus featuring the finest ingredients,” Michael Petrone, director of inspections and diamond ratings, said. “Diners want to be wowed on multiple levels, so exceptional service is also important, but they’re not necessarily looking for all the formalities that were once synonymous with fine dining.”

Newcomers on the list include Altera in New York City, COAST in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, and Oriole in Chicago.

Meanwhile, More than 650 restaurants earned a four-diamond rating, equating to roughly 2 percent of restaurants inspected and approved by AAA. And these restaurants are by no means slouches — they, too, offer a distinctive fine-dining experience and utilize creative food-prep techniques.

Here are the four diamond rated restaurants in Connecticut:

• Rebeccas — Greenwich
• Thomas Henkelmann — Greenwich
• ON20 — Hartford
• Restaurant at Spicer Mansion - Mystic

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Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.