Finalists and honorees were revealed for the 2026 Crazies Awards, highlighting the best restaurants, hotels and hospitality icons in the Connecticut hospitality industry.
The announcement was made at a kickoff event at The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station by representatives of the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association, which hosts the awards. The Crazies awards will be presented Dec. 7 at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
The annual event recognizes “the exceptional ability and talent of Connecticut’s hospitality community,” a CRHA spokesperson said.
A panel of industry experts chose finalists and now it’s up to the public to vote through the Crazies website.
Sean Fowler/Sean Patrick Fowler
The former Pirelli Tire Building in New Haven, designed by modernist architect Marcel Breuer in the 1960s, is now a hotel.
The honorees in 2026 are The Vanilla Bean Cafe’ for the Hospitality Hall of Fame, Putnam; Restaurateur of the Year goes to Yuta Kamori of Hachiroku Hospitality Group; Hotelier of the Year is Charles Mallory of Greenwich Hospitality Group, which owns and operates the Delamar group of hotels; and the Friend of the Industry award goes to Senator Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader.
This year’s finalists for the Crazies award are:
Vendor of the Year:
Bold Wood Interiors, New Haven; City Fish Market, Wethersfield; Mattress Concierge, Hartford; Omaha Beef Company, Danbury; Westport Farmers’ Market, Westport.
Caterer of the Year
Ani’s Table & Marketplace, Rocky Hill; A Thyme to Cook, North Stonington; Cat’s Kitchen, Stratford; Herbaceous Catering, Milford; ONTHEMARC, Norwalk
Bar and Beverage Team of the Year:
Conspiracy, Middletown; Flinders Lane Kitchen & Bar, Stamford; MŌLÌ, Greenwich; Sherkaan, New Haven; Vaughan’s Public House, Hartford.
Service Team of the Year:
Casadoro Ristorante & Bar, Newington; Luigi’s Restaurant, Old Saybrook; Millwright’s Restaurant, Simsbury; Union League, New Haven; Washington Prime, Norwalk.
A plaque is displayed on the front of Union League Cafe in New Haven on Monday, June 15, 2026. The site was the homestead of Roger Sherman, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and New Haven’s first mayor. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Pastry Chef of the Year
Arlene Cardenas, Marjolaine Pastry Shop; Andrea Corazzini, G Café Bakery; Stacy D’Angelo, Arethusa al tavolo; Whang Suh, Hen & Heifer; Seleste Tan, La Bistro
Chef of the Year
Ryan Carbone, Ore Hill; Valice Francis, Bar Naan; Danielle Hartog, Newbrook Kitchen; Roland Olah, ROLi; Shilimat Tessema, Lalibela
Restaurant Newcomer
The Bedford, Foxwoods Resort Casino; Dandelion, Westport; Little Lotus, New Haven; Mozz & Co., West Hartford; tacobarn, Sandy Hook
Hotel of the Year
Hotel Marcel, New Haven; Lost Fox Inn, Litchfield; Mayflower Inn & Spa, Washington; Madison Beach Hotel, Madison; The Whaler’s Inn, Mystic
Peoples Choice
Crust Issues, Norwalk; Echo Craft Kitchen, Watertown; Fresh Salt, Old Saybrook; George’s Pizza & Restaurant; Unionville; Máncora Restobar, Hartford
Restaurant of the Year Litchfield County
Belden House & Mews, Litchfield; Ore Hill, Kent; The Pink House, West Cornwall; The Restaurant at Winvian, Morris
Restaurant of the Year Fairfield County
29 Markle Ct, Bridgeport; Casa Me, Westport; Happy Monkey, Greenwich; Rowayton Seafood, Norwalk
Restaurant of the Year Hartford County
The Foundry, Hartford; The Laurel, West Hartford; Gveenah, West Hartford; Max A Mia, Avon
Restaurant of the Year New Haven County
Bufalina, Guilford; The Luke Brasserie & Bar, New Haven; Vyne Restaurant & Bar, Middlebury; ROLi | New Haven
Restaurant of the Year Tolland County
Bidwell Tavern, Coventry; The Flour Girl Cafe, Hebron; Lakeview Restaurant & Bar, Coventry; Little Mark’s BBQ & Grill, Vernon
Restaurant of the Year Middlesex County
The Essex, Old Saybrook; Liv’s Oyster Bar, Old Saybrook; Marker 37, Chester; The Village Bistro. Chester
Restaurant of the Year Windham County
Black Dog Bar & Grille, Putnam; The Hare & The Hound, Putnam; The Main Moose , Columbia, The Mansion at Bald Hill, Woodstock.
Restaurant of the Year New London County
Barbary Coast, Mystic; Haring’s, Noank; The Farm Italy, Mohegan Sun; Whitecrest Eatery, Stonington.
You can vote here: https://craziesawards.com/.
Dining and Cooking