By Chris Edge, Economic Development Director – Town of Berlin
Since I came on board in January of 2015, Berlin has seen small but not always visible changes. The ones you can see, such as the construction of the new Acura dealership across from the new PetSmart, are very noticeable due to their locations on the Berlin Turnpike. But, there are other happenings that are not as obvious. Just in the past 9 months, three new restaurants have opened their doors on Farmington Avenue alone.
Sarah Tigrett opened Ramen Ya, a restaurant which offers customers a modern take on traditional Japanese comfort food. From Tori Paitan Ramen to Age-Dofu to Ebi-Ten with a side of Miso soup, there are choices for the taste buds of meat eaters, vegetarians, as well as soup and noodle lovers alike. Ramen Ya can be found online at www.gimmeramen.com and at 1128 Farmington Avenue in Berlin.
Bhim Bashyal, a New Britain resident opened the Himalaya Restaurant in the Spring of 2016 where a pizza restaurant and Quiznos once called home. A mix of Indian and Nepalese food, their menu provides sensation for your palette and your nose. Though most people think Indian and Nepalese food to be spicy, but the unification of herbs and seasoning gives the food a unique flavor. As all dishes are prepared individually, if you want it hot, it can be seasoned that way. The Himalaya Restaurant can be found online at www.thehimalayarestaurant.com and at 1211 Farmington Avenue in Berlin.
Arti Bomova, himself a newcomer to running his own restaurant, is part of a family that has a rich history of providing great food in Connecticut. He recently opened The Avenue Family Restaurant. The Avenue is a family friendly restaurant serving a wide variety of hearty, homemade food using some of the freshest ingredients. It provides a comfortable, rustic, cozy environment for your dining experience. The Avenue can be found online at www.theaverestaurant.com or at 960 Farmington Avenue in Berlin. Arti reminds everyone that there is plenty of parking in the rear of the restaurant.
In addition to these three, two new options are coming soon too – coffee and beer ! Café Busy Bean is set to open in late March/early April. Tigran Hovhannisyan, a Berlin resident, is opening this great and different coffee shop. He has a history with running a successful business in another town in the area. He will be offering a diverse menu of coffee, cappuccino, expresso, pastries, ice cream and more. After opening, he is hoping to have outside seating for customers. Café Busy Bean can be found online at www.cafebusybean.com or 355 Main Street.
Concentric Brewing Company, locally owned brewery, is working diligently to achieve their opening in the second half of 2017. This project involves a significant renovation of the location by the train station at 817 Farmington Ave. Once open, customers should expect to experience a wide array of beer styles in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere in an industrial tap room space with an outdoor patio. Their progress can be tracked by following them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ConcentricBrewing/
As you can see, the Farmington Avenue/Kensington Village area is seeing a resurgence of food and “out and about” options. Next time you are hungry, stop by one of these wonderful locally owned establishments and enjoy a great meal!