I forgot about Capri. Bethel is just a drag to get to. I had some bad experiences with Empire. You’re dead on with Barnwood.
Mrs. Cato digs The Foundry in Sandy Hook, but I thought it was meh. And overpriced.
Other than that forget it.
There's also a more or less decent pizza place on Greenwood Ave., in Bethel...a bit down form the first big Carraluzzi's.
Really..you had a bad experience at Empire Schezhuan? The one in Bethel or the one in Southbury?
Not impressed by The Foundry; I'm with you.
And forget about the Italian restaurants north of Newtown; they ALL stink on ice!
There were a few decent places, when we first moved here, not great, but pretty good; however, those have all closed and either NOT replaced at all, or replaced by one lousy restaurant after another.
Oh...and the old Opera House, on Gredenwood Ave, in Bethel, isn't any good anymore and the new restaurant, up the hill from there, never was any good AND very over priced to boot!