A Middle Eastern Treasure
Noujaim's Specialty Foods, 281 Winsted Road, Torrington, 860-618-5733
Michael McAndrews, July 10, 2007
FALAFEL at Noujaim's Specialty Foods, in
Torrington. It is a popular takeout dish.
Recently, when I heard that a Middle Eastern restaurant had opened up on Torrington's Winsted Road and was regularly jammed with hungry throngs of shawarma- and kafta-loving hordes from as far away as Cornwall Bridge and Canaan, I began to wonder. There's admittedly not a whole lot way up in that part of Torrington. But I had it on good authority from food-loving colleagues that Winsted Road was now actually a culinary destination thanks to this new establishment, and miraculously, it is.
Noujaim's Specialty Foods is really a very well-priced takeout shop with a small cluster of tables outside. Any quibbling that this might not rate as an actual "restaurant" is completely beside the point.
The Noujaims prepare the most exquisite traditional Lebanese fare this food writer has ever enjoyed this side of the Levant. They have turned a small storefront on this humble road into a gastronomic landmark.
By ELISSA ALTMAN | Special to The Courant
July 19, 2007
Noujaim's Specialty Foods
281 WINSTED ROAD, TORRINGTON,
860-618-5733
The hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. MasterCard, Visa and cash accepted.
The look: Located in a small strip mall in Winsted, Noujaim's is both a packaged-goods store and counter-style takeaway. Take your time choosing between the packaged refrigerated case in the middle of the room, check the specials board, place your order, and then wander around while your meal is being prepared. When your package is ready, grab some utensils, head outside to one of the tables, and enjoy. Very humble, Noujaim's is not what one would call a formal dining room; for that, go elsewhere. It'll be your loss.
The vibe: A great leveler. Torrington locals, Cornwall weekenders, family members and extended family members all shoulder up to the counter to gape and drool over the goods. I know I did.
The eats: If you must have a burger or a hot dog (all beef here: no pork allowed), a Philly Cheese Steak or a slice of quiche, pressed panini or a tuna salad platter, you can get it. But don't: Head straight for the real thing, from the astonishingly good kafta to supple beef kibbeh, and the most remarkable lamb shawarma I've had on this side of the Mediterranean. If you have room after a slice of baklava so good that it will make you cry, head next door to the Noujaim's Dairy Cone. The bill: Very inexpensive: salads: $2.95-$7.95; baked savory pies: $1.99-$3.50; pita wraps: $5.95-$6.95; deli: $2.99-$9.99 per pound; baklava: $11.99 per pound.
The verdict: Friendly, warm, inviting, and far and away the best Lebanese food I've ever had, anywhere. An absolute keeper.
The bill: Very inexpensive: salads: $2.95-$7.95; baked savory pies: $1.99-$3.50; pita wraps: $5.95-$6.95; deli: $2.99-$9.99 per pound; baklava: $11.99 per pound.
The verdict: Friendly, warm, inviting, and far and away the best Lebanese food I've ever had, anywhere. An absolute keeper.