Middleton, Connecticut, was founded in 1650 and is home to Wesleyan University, which has drawn citizens to Middleton from around the world. Middleton has a number of bars and restaurants in its border, many of which combine both.
Eli Cannon's Tap Room has been around since 1994, dispensing food and drinks to the Middleton population. Eli Cannon's calls its atmosphere Irish/ English Pub/ American trailer park fusion. with seating hn the form of barber chairs, leather couches, and theater seats. The bar is stocked with liquor, wine, 14 varieties of tequila, 33 varieties of beer on tap and 41 in the bottle. The menu features wings as an appetizer with 10 sauces, burgers, quesadillas, soups, salads, and sandwiches and "real meals," such as ribs, meatloaf, and shepherd's pie. Vegetarian choices are available.
Eli Cannon's Tap Room
695 Main St
Middletown, CT 06457
860-347-3547
elicannons.com
Esca is an Italian restaurant and wine bar that offers over 100 wines by the bottle and the glass. A number of wine flights can be chosen, which offer tastes of three to four wines. The bar also has a list of house martinis. The food menu features Italian classics. Antipasti includes beef carpaccio, calamari fritti, lobster ravioli, and oyster di parma. Main courses include lamb osso bucco, grilled swordfish, braised beef short ribs and spinach and ricotta ravioli.
Esca
437 Main St.
Middletown, CT 06457
860-316-2552
escact.com
Nikita's Bar and Bistro is a neighborhood establishment with happy hours and live music on the weekends. The bar offers more than 100 beers -- 12 on tap -- and 50 wines. Rare and local finds like Pete's Strawberry Blonde and Cottrel Old Yankee Ale can be found alongside favorites like Magic Hat and Sierra Nevada varieties. Appetizers include loaded nachos, jalapeno boats, hand pounded chicken tenders, and buffalo shrimp. Entrees include flat iron steaks, pulled pork towers, and sesame encrusted mahi mahi. There are also burgers, such as the pesto burger, sandwiches, and plenty of salads to choose from.
Nikita's Bar and Bistro
484 Main St.
Middletown, CT 06457
860-344-9378
nikitasbarandbistro.com
