Three New Restaurants to Open in Farmington Area
The Farmington, Connecticut, area will soon have several new dining options. A Ramen & Bao restaurant is coming to the Shops at Farmington Valley, while an Italian restaurant called Cafe Pesto will open at 1274 Farmington Ave. In nearby Collinsville, The Lunette Bar and Kitchen is also slated to open, offering food and craft beer.
The Ramen & Bao restaurant is the third location for the ownership, with existing eateries in Oxford and a planned location in Cheshire. The menu is described as a blend of Japanese, Taiwanese, and other Asian influences, featuring items like handmade soup dumplings, scallion pancake wraps, and Taiwanese fried chicken. This new restaurant joins a slate of other recent openings at the Shops at Farmington Valley, including Sweetgreen, Warby Parker, and a forthcoming Shake Shack. Cafe Pesto is owned by Paulo DaRocha of DaRocha Enterprises, who also operates Elizabeth's Bar & Restaurant in Rocky Hill and East Windsor. DeRocha, who has Brazilian and Portuguese roots, plans to blend these influences with Italian cuisine. The 1274 Farmington Ave. location has a history of housing restaurants, including Sugo Trattoria, Toro Loco, Wood-n-Tap, and The Keg. The Lunette Bar and Kitchen in Collinsville was opened by Chris and Christina Sayer, who also own Brewery Legitimus in New Hartford. The restaurant's name was inspired by the half-moon-shaped lunette windows at its 41 Bridge St. location, which overlooks the Farmington River. The menu was designed to feature "upscale pub food" that pairs well with their craft beers, but the restaurant is a separate concept from the brewery. However, The Lunette Bar and Kitchen announced its permanent closure in May 2025, just a few months after opening. The owners cited insurmountable challenges in maintaining adequate kitchen staffing and rising operational costs as the reasons for shutting down. Gift cards for The Lunette are being honored at their other establishment, Brewery Legitimus.
