4 CT 'Hole In The Wall' Restaurants Best In Country: Daily Meal

CONNECTICUT — With world-famous pizzerias and award-winning world class dining experiences available all over the state, Connecticut is certainly is not hurting when it comes to places with great food. If you're looking to get your meal somewhere off the beaten path however, you may want to give one of these places a try.

The Daily Meal has released a list of the top 75 "hole-in-the-wall" restaurants in the country, and four of them are in Connecticut. Louis Lunch in New Haven, Danny's Drive-In in Stratford, Ted's Restaurant in Meriden and Dottie's Diner in Woodbury all earned a spot on the list of hidden gems across the nation.

The inclusion of Louis Lunch should not be too surprising, given that it has been recognized by the Library of Congress as the "Birthplace of the Hamburger Sandwich." Family-owned and operated since 1895, Louis Lunch is currently run by its 4th generation of owners and is one of the oldest family-run businesses in the country, according to their website.

"You can practically taste the nostalgia at the diminutive Louis’ Lunch," Daily Meal editor Dan Myers writes. "The burger is indeed delicious, but this tiny restaurant, with its handful of well-worn tables and huge dose of history, is worth the visit alone."

The New Haven favorite is widely known for serving its burgers on slices of bread as opposed to buns, and for it's original cast-iron grills, dating back to 1898, on which those burgers are cooked.

"The Lassen family hold firm on their desire not to offer any condiments. The Louis Lunch experience is about the taste and simplicity of a fresh burger grilled to perfection. Cheese, tomato, and onion are the only acceptable garnish," the restaurant's website reads.

For Danny's Drive-In, Meyers highlighted their deep-fried hot dogs, which are Hummel Bros. franks cooked on a griddle and then crisped up with hot oil.

Danny's is located on Ferry Boulevard and is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Dottie's earned a place on the list due to their "no-frills menu of simple New England diner classics," including including donuts, clam chowder and pot pies, Meyers noted.

According to the Main Street S. diner's website, owner Dorie Sperry and her family purchased the former Phillips Diner in 2006. Established in 1934, Phillips Diner was a landmark restaurant in Woodbury, acclaimed for their famous fresh donuts and savory chicken pot pies.

Under it's new name and ownership, Dottie's is continuing that tradition of serving the old favorites customers have always loved and a number of new creations as well.

This isn't the first time Ted's in Meriden has been recognized for their unique steamed cheeseburgers, however Meyers noted the uniqueness of these steamed hams (it's a an Albany expression), which are "cooked in custom-designed steam boxes" and "served on kaiser-like rolls."

"The burgers...lose very little bulk while cooking and hence stay very moist," Meyers wrote.

Ted's has been family-owned and operated since opening at in Meriden in 1959, according to their website. Located on Broad Street, Ted’s Restaurant has attracted widespread attention with its appearance in the 2004 documentary "Hamburger America," as well as national publications.

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See the full Daily Meal list here.