50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #46

Creole shrimp at Sharpe Hill Vineyard, Pomfret. This is really all about the experience of dining outdoors in a charming space looking out on a Connecticut vineyard. The shrimp are marinated in a hot sauce and then wood-grilled, served with lemon thyme rice and fresh mango chutney. A bottle of Sharpe Hill's Ballet of Angels makes a nice accompaniment.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #45

Roasted littleneck clams at The Place, Guilford. The littlenecks at this classic outdoor grillery are roasted over wood, split open, splashed with hot sauce and then put back on the fire until the sauce and clam juice meld perfectly. Enjoy them with the roasted-in-the-husk corn on the cob.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #44

Penne peppered vodka at La Tavola Ristorante, Waterbury. Sometimes a well-known favorite perfectly prepared can be just what you most want and need. Penne with vodka sauce, combining fresh pasta, plum tomatoes, prosciutto, cream and Grana Padano cheese, gets a memorable treatment from La Tavola's talented kitchen.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #43

Two soups in one bowl at Rebeccas, Greenwich. A striking presentation of delicious, luxurious soups - in warm weather it's yellow and red gazpacho surrounding a pinch of crab meat in the bowl; in cold weather, it's butternut and acorn squash with roasted chestnuts.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #42

Steak au poivre and the prix fixe dinner at Le Petit Cafe, Branford. Another French fling, this time for the whole meal rather than just one dish. Since 1997, chef Ip at Le Petit has offered a changing prix fixe menu in this charming little spot. The steak, with its lucious brandy-black peppercorn sauce, is a very good way to go.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #41

Backhendl with lingonberries at Hopkins Inn, New Preston. As you dig into the fried-chicken-cutlet dish while gazing out at Lake Waramaug and the surrounding hills, you may, for a moment, think you're overlooking a lake in Austria. You're not, but it's a nice thought.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #40

Lithuanian coffee cake at Claire's CornerCopia, New Haven. Just really good coffee cake whose ingredients include, among other things, coffee, vanilla, brown sugar, walnuts, cinnamon, ginger and raisins.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #39

White mashed-potato pizza at BAR, New Haven. Unusual and delicious, all the elements come together here: the crust, the cheese, the potatoes, the garlic, the bacon. This dish has found its way to prominence even in pizza-saturated New Haven.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #38

Dagwood Burger at Sycamore Drive-In, Bethel. A big burger with all the trimmings served in the unbeatable atmosphere of a must-visit drive-in from another era. Go on a scheduled Cruise Night for the full effect. Try the homemade root beer, too.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #37

Avocado Salad . . . Deconstructed at Shrine, MGM Grand, Mashantucket. This marvelously unique and creative concoction includes avocado, spicy mayo, two types of crab, tobiko (flying fish roe) and lemon. And it's so beautiful on the plate you may be tempted not to eat it.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #36

Mesquite-grilled Montana buffalo rib-eye steak at Palomino, Greenwich. A terrific dish at one of the state's best new restaurants. This steak is served with a potato, and onion and cheese gratin.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #35

Ceviches at Sabor and Bespoke, New Haven. At last look, this meant citrus-cured shrimp and scallops with onion, chipotle, cilantro and tomato. While the ingredients change, the quality and pizzazz of Arturo Franco-Camacho's ceviches never do.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #34

Caneton roti sauce bigarade for two at La Bretagne, Stamford. Crispy duck with orange sauce, but far from the sickly sweet sauce you may be thinking of. This is the best way to immerse yourself in La Bretagne's classic French cuisine and atmosphere.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #33

The fried-flounder sandwich at Cove Fish Market, Stonington. Simplicity itself, as a fresh piece of flounder is lightly battered, fried and served on a hot-dog roll. There are only a handful of Connecticut shoreline classics, and this is one of them.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #32

The Hudson Valley foie gras trio at Bernard's, Ridgefield. This lavish appetizer includes foie gras smoked with apple ginger chutney, sauteed with apple cider reducation and "torchon" style with Concord grape gelee.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #31

Amaretto shrimp at Kensington's, The Spa at Norwich Inn, Norwich. Even though you're at a spa, you'll feel like you're splurging on this heavenly appetizer featuring crispy shrimp tossed in a sweet and spicy almond emulsion, with walnut crumbs and microgreens.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #30

A steamed cheeseburger at Ted's, Meriden. this is a central Connecticut specialty that everyone needs to try at least once. The beef and cheddar cheese are steamed in little metal boxes and served on a bulkie roll. At Ted's, the process is on view in its purest form.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #29

Orecchiette Juventine at Trattoria Finalmente, Westport. There's lots of great pasta in Connecticut, but this one's a must: fresh orecchiette sauteed with artichoke hearts, fresh plum tomatoes, prosciutto, wild mushrooms, black truffle paste with garlic and extra virgin olive oil finished with shaved Parmiggiano Reggiano.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #28

Confit de canard at Union League Cafe, New Haven. In the mood for French? Don't miss this classic appetizer featuring boneless duck leg confit, crisp potato galette, Granny Smith apple, walnuts and a watercress salad.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #27

The garlic bread at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville. This is no ordinary garlic bread, oh no, no, no - not even close. This toasty, creamy, transcendent appetizer is made with a Maytag bleu cheese fondue that might make you forget all about the main course.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #26

Apple, walnut and cranberry pancakes at Patty's Restaurant, Litchfield. This is one of those places where it can be incredibly hard to choose what to have for breakfast from the extensive menu (not to mention the specials), but when in doubt, go with the pancakes.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #25

Dover sole at Thomas Henkelmann, Greenwich. The four-star menu changes from time to time, but Dover sole seems to be something you can always count on here. Not long ago, it was poached and filled with saffron mousse and accompanied by lobster medallions in Champagne sauce. More recently, it was Dover sole and sea scallops with fresh pea puree, red wine, shallots and lobster sauce.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #24

Beef brisket on rye at Rein's, Vernon. There never have been very many old-fashioned Jewish delis in Yankee Connecticut, but Rein's has been in Vernon since 1972 (a good sign) and its sandwiches, and other specialty dishes, meet and exceed every possible test.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #23

French toast at O'Rourke's Diner, Middletown. One morning, early, make the trip to the legendary O'Rourke's for a big breakfast of French toast - and be sure it's prepared with the diner's justly famous Irish soda bread.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #22

Tomato salad at West Street Grill. Among the many treasures to be had at West Street are these locally grown heirloom tomatoes served on a plate sprinkled with fleur de sel, drizzled with the best virgin olive oil, topped with fresh basil leaves and accompanied by a thick slice of homemade peasant bread. A gift of the season.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #21

Caesar salad at Carbone's, Hartford. For those who crave the old-school presentation, this is it: laboriously prepared tableside, with fork-mashed fresh garlic, olive oil, assiduously emulsified anchovies, Tabasco, mustard, a squeeze of lemon, Parmesan cheese, romaine, croutons and, yes, a raw egg.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #20

Paella negra at Ibiza, New Haven. Tuesday night is paella night at Ibiza, with a special menu served only then. This spectacular dish (which needs to be ordered by at least two at your table) includes squid ink rice, Spanish prawns, shrimp, mussels, squid, clams, day-market fish and herbs.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #19

Italian combo grinder at Nardelli's, Waterbury and Naugatuck. Get back to the roots of the whole grinder thing with this original beauty, circa 1922: prosciuttini, cappicola, salami and provolone, with lettuce, tomato, olives and hot sauce.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #18

Hot oil pizza at Colony Grill, Stamford. The crust on these pies is so thin that it's actually brittle, creating a delicious crunch unlike any pizza you've ever had. Some find it very hard to go back to pizza-as-usual after experiencing the Colony's version.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #17

Cheeseburger at Shady Glen, Manchester. A cheeseburger is just a cheeseburger? Not at Shady Glen, where several slices of cheese are allowed to extend beyond the edges of the burger as it cooks; the cheese melts onto the grill and turns crisp and chewy before being folded back onto the burger just before it's served. Hard to picture? Guess you'll have to go.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #16

The "hi-rise" of shellfish at Max's Oyster Bar, West Hartford. A wonderful thing to behold, the mountain of shaved ice is embedded with an assortment of fresh shellfish, oysters, clams, mussels, snow crab claws, jumbo shrimp and other market crustaceans.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #15

Meat loaf at Dressing Room, Westport. The grass-fed beef for this delicious, comforting dish is from nearby Stonebroke Farm, and it's served with mixed seasonal vegetables, home-style mashed potatoes, caramelized onions and garden herbs.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #14

Porterhouse for two at Joseph's Steakhouse, Bridgeport. At about $75, this is a beef lover's blowout. Hot dinner plates are set down seconds before a steak platter arrives bearing pieces of beef that were presliced in the kitchen, then put back in place along the bone so you can see exactly which section of steak you are eating. A delicious steakhouse classic.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #13

Rabbit "Olivier" at Still River Cafe, Eastford. Good things come in threes at this superb locavore restaurant; for example, this dish consisting of poached saddle-of-rabbit medallions, roasted stuffed rabbit leg and chilled rillette of rabbit served with farm onions and a leek-filled crepe. It's so worth the drive.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #12

The fried whole-belly clams at Sea Swirl, Mystic. This converted Carvel is closed for the season right now, but one of the rites of spring is grabbing a half-pint of these hand-battered beauties and savoring the taste of the sea.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #11

A crab cake at Carmen Anthony Steakhouse or Fishhouse, Waterbury, New Haven, Woodbury, Avon or Wethersfield. This generous and spectacular take on a ubiquitous dish consists of Maryland lump crab that's potato-encrusted, pan-fried and served golden brown with a remoulade sauce.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #10

The hot lobster roll at Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale, Westbrook and Madison. This is a Connecticut invention (born at a long-gone place in Milford called Perry's) that was, is and always will be blissfully simple: hot chunks of lobster meat and melted butter served on a sturdy split-top roll. There are lots of places that serve a very good lobster roll, but Lenny & Joe's does a particularly nice job of it.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #9

Ebibaba at Miya's, New Haven. One of the many unique treats to be found at this remarkably creative sushi restaurant, this sensual dish consists of tempura shrimp wrapped in a potato skin and topped with torch-toasted Havarti cheese and lemon-dill sauce.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #8

The New Englander with fries at Super Duper Weenie, Fairfield. There are quite a few really good hot dog spots in Connecticut, but Super Duper Weenie stands out for the freshness of its homemade toppings, the creativity of its offerings and the sublime nature of its french fries. The New Englander, topped with sauerkraut, bacon, mustard, sweet relish and raw onion, is top dog.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #7

Seared wasabi and sesame-rubbed tuna at Match, South Norwalk. This memorable and very popular opener includes coconut sticky-rice cake, sweet soy, avocado crema, watercress and spicy saracha, a Thai hot sauce.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #6

Potage Billi Bi at Ondine, Danbury. This venerable. romantic French restaurant makes the most of the cream-of-mussels soup with saffron. The curious name come from tin magnate William B. Leeds (Billy B.), who often sang the soup's praises at Maxim's in Paris.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #5

The Kobe beef appetizer at Feng Asian Bistro, Hartford. The beef is brought to the table raw in thin strips, along with a flat volcanic rock heated by a small burner. It is up to you to place the beef on the rock and cook it to your own taste. At $10 an ounce, this dish isn't cheap, but it is fun and delicious.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #4

The wok shrimp at Carole Peck's Good News Cafe, Woodbury. Described as "Always Good" on the menu, this is the go-to dish at one of the state's top restaurants. It's an inspired mix of wok-seared Gulf shrimp, green beans, peas, olives, roast potatoes and aioli.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #3

The hamburger at Louis' Lunch, New Haven. Was the hamburger invented here? That's the claim, and it'll seem that way when you step inside. The burgers are made with fresh-ground beef, then broiled vertically in the original cast-iron grill and served between two slices of toast. Cheese, tomato and onion are the only garnishes available - no mustard or ketchup.

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #2

The Seafood Feast at Abbott's Lobster in the Rough, Noank. This is one very good version of the New England shore dinner. The meal begins with clam chowder and shrimp in the rough followed by a heaping bowl of steamers and mussels, topped off with an Abbott's steamed lobster - accompanied by potato chips, coleslaw and drawn butter. All with a water view, too!

50 Dishes to Try Before You Die - #1

The white clam pie at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, New Haven. This is a delicious Connecticut invention served at a genuine world-class dining destination (Pepe's now has branches in Fairfield, Manchester and at Mohegan Sun, but New Haven remains the mothership. The white clam pie is fresh littlenecks, olive oil, oregano, grated Parmesan cheese and chopped garlic - all sitting atop one of Pepe's crunchy, chewy, blistery thin crusts.

Connecticut Specialties to Try Before You Die

In conjunction with an upcoming article in our May issue, we're running a survey to find Connecticut specialties you should try before you die. We're looking for dishes from Connecticut restaurants that you feel everyone should try at least once -- from the white clam pizza at Pepe's in New Haven to the steamed cheeseburgers at Ted's to the clam hash at Pat's Kountry Kitchen.

Have any suggestions? Please click here and share what local dish you think everyone should try.