Stop in for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or dinner. They do it all - plus more - at the Mystic Market at 375 Noank Road. If you stand long enough at any of the counters trying to make a decision about what to order, don’t be surprised if you hear an unsolicited testimonial, such as “Just pick anything. It’s all good.”

This is the store that started it all - long before the Route 1 store in Mystic, and even longer before Mystic Market Catering at 769 Stonington Road, Stonington. It was in this small structure where the reputation for fine foods first took hold and helped pave the way for the dramatic growth that resulted with catering and large parties among services. Significantly, this original store still has it all.

For breakfast, there are rolls of every description with lemon and poppy seed reputed to among the best. No matter what the name, the size is the same: extra large. Two can easily share one of these muffins. Danish in a variety of flavors is also popular. Fresh baked bagels can be topped with everything from butter to sliced smoked Scottish salmon, cream cheese, red onion and tomato. Cost ranges from a low of $1.59 to a high of $7.95 for the salmon topping.

While doing the breakfast run, it may also be practical to get lunch-to-go at the same time. The array of choices is impressive. French baguette, rolls, pumpernickle, rye, wheat, spinach, sundried tomato and white tortilla are bread options.  As for fillings, there’s almost nothing that is impossible to find. Small and large grinders are also offered.

Soups at the market gained a wide following. Made fresh daily, they range from a hearty beef vegetable to a delicate carrot-ginger blend. Enjoy a salad with the soup and feast on such items as Grilled Chicken Caesar, Antipasto, Greek, Gorgonzola or Garden Salads.

Dinner menu items in a recent week listed Sauteed Chicken with Boursin Cheese and Spinach, Veal Creole, Grilled Red Snapper with Mango Salsa, Vegetarian Brown Rice Pie, and Grilled Fillet with Wild Mushroom Jalapeno Demi-Glaze.

A Mystic Market cookie is a must. One of the largest can be relished any time of day or night. It’s true by many accounts: “They’re all good.”

Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. To learn about specials of the day, telephone calls  may be made to 860.536.1500.

Universal Food Store of Noank serves Southeastern CT and Western Rhode Island since 1947. Proprietor, Frank Quaratella, Jr. said “We specialize in Premium Gold Certified Angus Beef, especially prime ribs, crown roasts of pork, veal sliced to perfection and other premium meats. We have Bell & Evans Chickens and free-range turkeys by Gozzi Farm, Guilford, for the holidays. A full line of groceries is available, including fresh produce daily. Our authentic Italian pizza is baked fresh, and we prepare grinders, calzones, strombolis and party platters to order. Our choice, freshly cut, hanging meats include everything that you would like to serve your family and friends and we will cut, bone it and season it, so that it is oven-ready for you. It’s really like an old-fashioned Italian market.”

MGM Grand at Foxwoods offers everything from restaurants by celebrity chefs to theme dining pavilions, catapulting the destination to the forefront of the region’s culinary scene. From tantalizing Italian cuisine to gourmet-on-the-go, every appetite is satisfied within these enticing new venues.

At Alta Strada acclaimed Chef Michael Schlow oversees the kitchen at the 225-seat restaurant that blends traditional Italian flair with modern elegance featuring favorites such as Homemade Ricotta with Sage, Hot Pepper and Crostini, and Chittara with Spicy Lobster and Fresh Peas and Grilled Lamb Chops with Asparagus.

Famous for celebrating the flavors of seasonal ingredients sourced from small family farms and artisanal producers, celebrity chef Tom Colicchio’s 150-seat Craftsteak features an extensive array of steaks, including several cuts of Wagyu beef, and an assortment of corn- and grass-fed beef. Complementing the menu is a wide selection of fish and shellfish, and seasonal side dishes.

From its state-of-the-art and energetic sound to its authentic Asian design and décor, Shrine’s menu presents a modern interpretation of Asian cuisine with a predominately Chinese feel, while also incorporating Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Cambodian and Thai flavors and spices into the mix. With two private dining rooms accommodating 20 and 40 people, a 12-person kitchen and sushi counter and a 225-seat dining room, Shrine has no trouble satisfying any appetite.

Guests looking for a more casual meal with enjoy The Gelato Café, Junior’s Restaurant and The Food Market. The Gelato Café tempts guests with more than 20 flavors of tantalizing Italian ice cream in addition to Italian drinks, pastries, specialty sandwiches and salads.

Junior’s Restaurant, famous for its legendary cheesecake, accommodates guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A full bar, take-out counter and bakery are also available.

The Food Market offers an exciting culinary journey through six distinct dining experiences including hand-tossed wood oven pizza, classic New York-style deli specialties, an American burger bar, Asian fare and scrumptious New England favorites from the Durgin Park Oyster & Chowder Bar.

Americans always had a love affair with diners. Since the late 1800’s these railroad-car-shaped restaurants served the workingman quick and tasty meals. The growth of suburbs and fast food in the 1950’s threatened the diner’s existence, but the need for a hot meal and homespun charm never ended.

Fast forward to the 21st century on Gold Star Highway (Rt. 184 across from Wal-Mart and Hilton Garden Inn) in Groton, where area diners can enjoy a taste of nostalgia and the great tasting food of the Oh Boy! Diner.

The large menu is stocked with classic diner fare, from a full turkey dinner to pot roast, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, pork chops, and more.

Along with classic dinners, the menu has a large variety of salads, soups, deli and club sandwiches, burgers, fabulous desserts and more. If you don’t see something on the voluminous menu, look again. And you can’t leave without tasting the homemade potato chips. Beer and wine are served to accompany your dinner from noon until 10 pm.

But it is not the food alone that brings people back to the Oh Boy! Diner. Much thought went into the design. Tables are spaced adequately for a restaurant of its size. A mirrored tile ceiling reflects the cool retro blue and orange vinyl seats and stainless steel trimmed Formica tabletops. Brightly colored lighting and wall posters add to the enjoyment.

For late sleepers, breakfast is served all day. And what a breakfast it is. Items range from the standard two eggs with the usual bacon, to specials to suit every taste, a variety of pancakes, waffles, and French toast, and a build-your-own omelette. Senior discounts are available everyday and they offer a 15% early bird discount from 4 -6pm!

Oh Boy! Diner also has curbside pick up. Simply call ahead (860.448.1000), place your order, and then park in one of the special parking spaces where an Oh Boy! server will deliver food to you in your car.

So, for a wonderful meal in a nostalgic setting, visit the Oh Boy! Diner at 143 Gold Star Highway (Rt. 184) in Groton.

If you’re in the mood for total relaxation and some wonderful food, Yankee Magazine has a great recommendation for you. It named The Spa at Norwich Inn as the Best Destination Spa in New England. New England Travel & Life agrees; it named The Spa at Norwich Inn “Best Resort in Connecticut” in its 2006 issue. Many local residents visit The Spa at Norwich Inn to enjoy its world class spa treatments, to shop at the sophisticated Boutique or to attend a wedding, but they believe the property’s award-winning restaurant, Kensington’s, is reserved only for overnight guests.

Nothing is further from the truth. Executive Chef Daniel Chong-Jimenez is always delighted when he finds local people when he leaves the kitchen to chat tableside with dinner guests.

Kensington’s features sophisticated cuisine in an elegant atmosphere. While all of the food is healthfully prepared and beautifully presented, the menu offers a wide range of choices. The cliché of spa food as a boiled carrot and a plain white filet of fish is nowhere to be found at Kensington’s. If you want a fine red wine (Kensington’s wine cellar won awards from Wine Spectator magazine), a great steak and a decadent chocolate dessert, you can find them at Kensington’s.

Chong-Jimenez, a native Californian who worked at two famous West Coast spas before coming to Norwich, was a guest on Connecticut Public Radio’s Food Schmooze program with Faith Middleton and has been praised by Connecticut Magazine’s restaurant critic, Elise Maclay. What better re-commendations in the Nutmeg State?

For additional information or to make online reservations, visit www.thespaatnorwichinn.com or call 860-425-3630.