Aurora Diner Restaurants

Locally owned & operated

Full bar

I had the short ribs they were amazing They were lean and meaty so tender and good. I was only…read moreable to eat half of the meal. My friend had the burger and she said it was great. She went back the next day with a friend and had chili and her friend had wings. They liked them. We will definitely be back. The waiter noticed I forgot my leftovers and chased after me to get them to me.

The Uncommon Grill knows what it's doing. The Bee's Knees was clean and smooth, the Brussels…read moresprouts hit that sweet, smoky balance, and the PB&J burger had no business working as well as it did. Peanut butter, fig jam, jalepeno heat: it all came together. The All American was juicy, the fries were somewhere between chips and steak fries and completely addictive, and the huge strawberry lemonade cake finished it off right. Great service, sharp presentation, and a place that clearly pays attention to the details.

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Unfashioned

The Middle

4.1(27 reviews)

2.8 mi

Every time I come here we have an amazing time, excellent drinks and a phenomenal meal!…read more Every person who works at this gorgeous restaurant is very nice and accommodating. The menu is creative as well as inclusive. Many different protein options, veg options and gluten free options. I order something different every time I go because of this! The owner really did a hit of a job opening this dream restaurant in a beautiful town that needed something like this to bring new life!! If you haven't gone here yet you must!

Loved our meals. The food was well-balanced in flavor. The presentation was appealing, the textures…read moreare just right. The environment was fun, not over bearing. The waitress was polite. The triple cheese sauce is smooth and velvety, coating the pasta with a warm, indulgent layer. The added short rib I got topped it off. I liked every dish we got. Definitely would go again and try even more.

Chicken sandwich

Honey Sriracha chicken burger

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Espresso martini N.A.

Vyne Restaurant & Bar

3.9(245 reviews)

5.2 mi

Stopped in to Vyne with my father on the way to see some family. Located in a classic New England…read morebuilding, but with a modern interior, they offer a good ambiance for a night out with friends, family, or a date. The outdoor seating was perfect on a mild summer night. They offer a solid cocktail list - I had the smoked Manhattan. The menu had a variety of tasty options, many with Italian influences. I went with the diver scallops & risotto, and Dad went with the pork chop scarpariello - both were quite good. Service was timely and friendly.

I would not be able to recommend this restaurant after our one and only experience dining there…read morelast night. My husband and I are in the area for a weekend getaway and wanted to find a nice place for a date night. We chose Vyne after looking at their menu, which appeared elevated and unique. Pros and Cons below but the spark notes are: Nice atmosphere, good service, bad (and expensive) food. Pros: *The atmosphere is nice. Slightly elevated, beautiful decor, very nice bar area, and the outdoor area is a vibe. *Service was good. Our waitress was kind, efficient and helpful. *Our cocktails were great. Delicious, not wildly overpriced, and fresh. Cons and the reason why I could not recommend going to this restaurant: Overall the food was wildly disappointing, especially at this price point. We paid (with tip and 2 cocktails each) $250 for food we couldn't finish it was so poorly cooked and prepared. * Surf & Turf appetizer (24) - interesting and fresh spring flavor but the shrimp (a main component of the dish) was overcooked. * Scallop entree($44)- Scallops were not cooked well. They were very rubbery, chewy and bouncy. I left two on the plate. The flavor profile was also heavily oil. * Side of Mac&Cheese - now, I have NEVER not finished mac&cheese, it's my absolute favorite food and a treat for me to order. This mac&cheese was so bad that we had 2 bites and didn't finish. For a $9.50 side I would expect something interesting. Maybe a baked dish? Or three cheeses? Anything than what we got - which was shell pasta (undercooked) and a cheese sauce (similar to a Velveeta). There was also a strange aftertaste, almost like a spoiled milk. Besides that aftertaste there was absolutely no flavor. * The Filet Mignon ($52) - maybe the most disappointing of all our dishes with a theme of badly cooked and no flavor. Asked for it cooked medium rare and closer to the rare side - it came to us as a solid medium. The steak didn't seem to be seasoned at all. No flavor. The potatoes had no crisp and absolutely no flavor. There was a generic BBQ sauce on the plate. With no salt and pepper on the table (on purpose with the expectation that everything would be flavored perfectly) it made absolutely no sense to finish a dish that we could make better at home. A truly disappointing meal that we couldn't finish, paid $$$$ for and had to stop at fast food on the way home from because we were still so hungry. I don't review often but I needed to because this is an expensive restaurant for what it is, and I want to make sure people know what they're getting into. Maybe we just went on a bad night, but we won't be going back to find out.

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The Local Sixty-Three

4.5(44 reviews)

3.7 mi

Went there last minute for some appetizers and drinks, not sure if we were able to get a seat…read morebecause place was busy. Lucky to get a table. Had some great cocktails and some apps and some of us had dinners. Very good food and service was spot on. Place was clean and not loud. Comfortable. Will go back again.

I went here for a party, and it comfortably held our group of eight. Our waitress was very patient…read moreand accommodating, and they had facilities of two per gender to be used. Everything was very clean. Parking was a bit of a struggle - there was street parking above, below, and across, and a huge lot in the back. Supposedly there's a backdoor from the lower lot - those who tried found it to be locked. The food was delicious - my local burger was cooked medium, and the fries were little circles! They were well cooked but some had much more salt then others

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Cesar salad

Brass Works Brewing Company

4.1(32 reviews)

1.3 mi

Brass Works Brewing Company is a craft brewery that opened in Waterbury, Connecticut in December…read more2015. It was founded by brothers Michael and David Ieronimo and their partners Christopher Urban and Kyle Ondrush. The two brothers started out as homebrewers in their mother's kitchen in the late 1980s. By 2004, David's brother-in-law Christopher and Michael's co-worker Kyle had also come into the fold. The four formed a homebrew club and brewed together out of a garage. The homebrew club evolved into a homebrewing obsession and the next logical step was starting their own brewery. They chose the name "Brass Works" as a reference to "The Brass City": the official nickname of the city of Waterbury. Kyle retired from the brewery in 2021, but the other three partners still continue to share their passion for good beer. I first visited Brass Works in June 2016. I was driving around the state visiting some breweries that were new to me. The interior of the taproom was really nice; lots of neat decorations. During my stay, I ordered a sampler flight of five beers which included: "Wee Windy English Bitter Ale", "Sweaty Sisters Blonde Ale", "Abel Porter", "Uncle Zac's Stout", and "Double Bird IPA". The latter was my favorite of the bunch; great notes of Amarillo hops! I ended up purchasing a growler of that one to bring home. Keep up the good work gentlemen!

I am camping in the area and I tried to come here at least three times now. Couldn't get in due to…read moreprivate parties. When I finally found it opened I was set out in the patio and 30 minutes later nobody kept checked on me or took an order. I don't understand how these company can make money. This is a beautiful place in a good setting. I went in and got a beer myself and wanted some dinner but food truck I guess is next-door in the parking lot. My recommendation would definitely improve service and be transparent of what to expect. Last try for me.

Sour beer

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Ordinary Joes

4.3(84 reviews)

1.8 mi

Great service. Everyones always smiling! The owners love to chat with the customers and make them…read morefeel welcomed. Food is a good price! The staff and customers have great banter. Always an entertaining experience. As they say come for the wings stay for the show!

If I have a function this is my go to...great flavor good people & everyone loves it.. I did an…read moreorder for the super bowl & it killed!!! My favorite Wings spot

Inside

Buffalo Cheddar

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Outside

Signatures Restaurant

4.1(95 reviews)

1.7 mi

Food is very good. Love that they bring out bread and garlic. Drinks are also very good. We love…read moregoing here. Just dont go when there is a show at the palace- they have a different menu....

10.24.25 I've been here a handful of times and have enjoyed…read moredining here each time. I've had a couple so so servers but I don't usually critique a place so harsh for that. The majority of times the servers have been great. Most of them I've encountered seem to be experienced & seasoned servers who have been in the business for a while. The restaurant is stuck on a side street where you can almost walk right by unless you were looking for it. They have a small patio out front with a few tables to enjoy during the summer. It's nicely decorated and simple. Very clean always. They have had a special that they have been running for a few years now, if not longer that's a prix fixe menu that's a very good deal. We usually take advantage of that and it comes with a salad or soup with an app, entree & dessert. Great deal for a reasonable price. The food is always delicious. I've tried pasta dishes to lamb chops to a steak. Always cooked properly. My absolute go to that you must try is this amazing fries mozzarella. It is the best lightest, fluffiest most pillowy fried mozz I've ever had in my life. It's true mouth gasm. Don't know how it's always so light and fluffy for fried mozz. It's mind blowing good. Yes that good. Really :-) They're a fairly quiet place and a lot of the locals meet up. Always starts off slow when they open for dinner by it's pretty lovely and busier when I leave. Great secret tucked on a side street just off the green in Waterbury. Cheers :-)

I love this

Pierogi

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Ambiance

Echo Craft Kitchen

4.4(97 reviews)

3.4 mi

From the moment we walked in, everything was en pointe. A Friday afternoon 2pm, not busy which was…read moreperfect for us since we were hungry and didn't have a lot of time to spare. Ordered and food delivered within 10 minutes, granted it was off hours, but we were pleased. My partner & I ordered some things to share. Buffalo wings were exceptional-crispy and a nice spice that had just the right amount of bite. Figgy Piggy with a burger. Insanely tasty. Burger cooked to perfection, fig jam gave it a nice sweetness, the bacon was really crispy, and the sourdough was perfect. Served with house made fries/chips that were a great accompaniment. Meatballs, where do I begin? First, we had to take them to go because we were already too full. 3 large meatballs in a cute cast iron skillet with a generous amount of marinara sauce and melted mozzarella. Served with 3 giant wedges of pizza to sop up that sauce or make a lil sandwich. Delicious, every last morsel. Highly recommend. Not a large menu which is refreshing and what they've chosen to serve is done with care from the kitchen. Cute bar area for cocktails too. Oh and the other great thing.... Kenny our server was a joy AND they have really nice and clean bathrooms.

The restaurant is in a corner slot with limited parking in the parking lot so keep that in mind if…read moreyou have physical limitations you may need to park on the street further away. The inside is large ! They accept reservations which is great. The restaurant is lit nicely and dining room is clean. In this past visit the waitress did not introduce herself, ask if we need help on the menu or welcome us to the restaurant. I would say the waitress was the only disappointment that night, especially getting our check before asking if we wanted anything else. Moving onto the food- claps for the chef !!! The appetizer of crispy Brussels sprouts was the best choice! Perfectly crisp but not burnt. Hot honey, soft/mild goat cheese, crispy bacon.. you just can't stop eating it. I went with the lemon shrimp pasta and it did not disappoint!! Just enough cream with a hint of lemon that wasn't overpowering. The shrimp were large and succulent. Plus the fresh pasta-ahhh so good I was saying mhmmm every bite!! My friend got the sweet heat pizza on a cauliflower crust. She enjoyed it but criticized that the crust was not evenly crunchy and there was a lot of flop. The spice level was on point though. We both had cheesecakes which were good. Not the best I had but good to finish with a nice dessert. The drinks were worth every penny!! I gave it 4 stars because of the service that night between dirty dishes not being removed from our table, to not being checked upon to finally getting a check without being asked if we want anything else. Had service gone better I would definitely give them 5 stars. The food really is high quality!

Back dining area

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Outside

Al’s Pizza & Deli

5.0(1 review)

2.1 mi

The pizza is the healthiest around town they have a good variety of drinks and food. The people…read morethat work there very lovely feels like home.

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Menu parts

Lasting Brass

4.5(17 reviews)

1.5 mi

Lasting Brass is a great brewery in a great space. We visited in the colder months, so we didn't…read moreget to experience the patio, but it has a very cool looking spot for that in the summer. It's dog friendly, (at the time of this review, rules are subject to change, so ask before you go!) and the bartenders are very friendly and helpful. The inside is mostly high-top tables, my only nitpick is that I wish they had a few regular height tables, I can never feel fully relaxed at a high top. The beer is top notch - lots of variety, and not just a lineup of hazebois. They had a really delicious peanut butter porter that we ended up taking a growler of home with us. We will be back!

We stopped in for St. Patty's Day festivities and food, but unfortunately by the time we arrived…read morethey had sold out. While there the staff was friendly and it was pretty quiet and mellow.

Old Leather Man - imperial stout aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels featuring Waterbury's mysterious leather man

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Herbert D.

2 years ago

I've never eaten there but sounds good! Will give it a try! Hopefully it will be as good as it sounds!

Luis R.

13 years ago

Good food, good prices. Clean place with quick, friendly service. One of our favorite spots!

Stephanie C.

7 years ago

good diner breakfast. everything is good. coffees good. u pretty much get what u expect.

Aurora Diner Restaurants - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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Signatures Restaurant

4.1

(95 reviews)

Food is very good. Love that they bring out bread and garlic. Drinks are also very good. We love…read moregoing here. Just dont go when there is a show at the palace- they have a different menu....

Big Daddy's Take-Out

3.5

(30 reviews)

•$

So despite the name, Big Daddys does have eat-in service, and also appears to be part of a gas…read morestation? The location is a bit off the beaten path, but plenty of parking. I found a certificate on Restaurants.com for the pizzeria, and it was a good deal. Lunch and dinner at a discount! The burgers were pretty large, as were the fries if you ordered them as a side. The pizza had more of a tomato-acidy sauce than sweet, but a good amount of cheese. You could order by the slice inside. There is also ice cream, onion rings in the hot food area, and baked goods wrapped for desserts. There's both Coke and Pepsi in the coolers, and chips behind the window side booths. They also have a bar area and sell on Slice! Big Daddys also does local delivery on certain days in the evening. Goodness, there's a lot going on. Plus, a good flow of pick up orders. The gentlemen at the register seemed to have a good handle on things though.

Cook during the day not so much food is over cooked. Hard fries every time..Cook at night is…read moreexcellent he knows his stuff. Huge portions and friendly service

Brass City Bistro

3.6

(153 reviews)

Started out with the most amazing and kind waitress, Lisa. My friend is vision impaired and Lisa…read moreunderstood the assignment. Kudos to her. Known for their French Onion Soup, i had to order it. Loved the crispy onions on top. While delicious, it was a bit too salty for my taste. The meatball appetizer was very delicious. When they say extra-large, they weren't kidding. Would definitely order again. I would visit again

If you are going to brass city bistro you must, MUST get the French onion soup. The picture speaks…read morefor itself. They have the absolute best cocktails, try one of their seasonal drinks! We had excellent service in the bar, I didn't catch her name but owner's daughter. If you're going for dinner it's a small place make a reservation! Only critique I have is the French onion soup crocks could use replacing, every time I get a bowl it is chipped. Doesn't stop me from eating there obviously but some people are more germ cautious.

Rachel's Kitchen

4.4

(62 reviews)

•$

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner you can't go wrong. Cute country feel, warm friendly staff.... Food is…read moreoutstanding. The many times I've come I can't believe I never posted a rating. Today I treated myself to a lobster roll. Not a rubbery end to 1 piece of meat and so delicious. The people rating lobster rolls in CT are overlooking maybe the best out there. Too focus on the shoreline options.

We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at Rachel's Kitchen. The…read moreservice was so personable, made us feel welcome and at home. Our meal was a total treat. They surely didn't short us on the Lobster, and the bread was toasted to perfection. This restaurant only accepts cash and personal checks. Luckily there's a bank in the same shopping center. It wasn't a make it or break it for us, the rest of our party agrees that they would have liked to be reminded of the fact at the beginning of their interaction with the serve staff.

La Tavola Ristorante

3.8

(244 reviews)

Ordered lunch for pick up. 3 of us ordered the meatball panini with "award winning" meatballs. What…read morewe got was a meatball wedge with a side salad. We were disappointed, bread was soggy, and it definitely was not a PANINI.

Home of homes for Italian food in Connecticut. Great menu, great service, great atmosphere, for…read moregreat cost. Servers are all very polite and informative. Will always go back there when in Connecticut.

Giovanni's Pizza Ristorante, And Bar

3.4

(53 reviews)

I had to stay in Waterbury for a night and as I took a stroll by the local park I noticed this…read moreplace. I was hungry so decided to walk in. The place screams "Northeast Coast", a very lovely setting. The wooden interior is inviting and warm. I was greeted by a fellow who was also the bartender, he also seemed to have the Northeastern character down. Did not exude a slight smirk but was incredibly respectful and courteous without having to pretend to be a jolly clown like some places would force him to be, I much rather be served by someone who is real and treats you well. I had to make changes to the entreé due to dietary restrictions and I was not looked down upon like a lot of places will do and make you feel bad for asking for a slight modification. The food was very good. I had pasta and fries, the portion was rather large. The sauce was great and the pasta was tender, simple and yet incredibly tasty. I had coffee, very large portion of pasta and fries for less than the price of a sandwich in most places due to the fact it was a Lunch Special so I was extremely happy about that. I would definitely be a regular if I lived here. Best of luck to the business.

I ordered to go, but the inside of this place is dimly lit and clean. The servers were nice. The…read morefettuccine Alfredo wasn't all that, at all. It needed a lot more flavor so I'd never get that again. The pizza however blew me away, some of the best I've had in awhile and I'd DEFINITELY go back to hit that again.

D'Amelio's Italian Eatery

4.1

(116 reviews)

So good! Everything was fabulous. We brought our family and friends here to celebrate a special…read moreoccasion. They just never disappoint. When you need to pay babysitters to go out to dinner that matters a lot. It's a sure bet here! They know how to make Italian food like Mom!

Superb sacchetini pasta ( waiter recommended) for daycation lunch on their deck. Delicious! Split…read morea Caesar salad. Also wonderful. Italian bread.. This eatery is the " real deal" Italian restaurant in Waterbury. Highly recommend .

Monteiro's Restaurant

3.2

(19 reviews)

•$

The breakfast I had was fabulous. For $8.15 I had a Spanish and Cheese omelette with a bottomless…read morecup of coffee. The omelette was filled with spinach and you could taste the freshness. The potatoes had a noticeable garlic flavor that was pleasantly different than the usual home fries I've had elsewhere. The toast wasn't loaded with butter which I personally liked. I hate having to re-spread the butter. The coffee is not bitter which is just the way I like it. Lastly the owner is a Yankees fan. See photo. I'm a fan, so I appreciate him even more. He also named his business after his last name which means he takes pride in his business.... Enough to put his reputation on the line. You don't have to worry about anything when you seek for excellence in everything you do. With that last thought in mind, I believe this business will be here for a very long time, which is good for the world, and good for me. Call me selfish.

This place feels like a little country diner. Cute decor. Prompt service and a home cooked meal…read more I liked the sausage egg and cheese special served on French toast and I hope they keep it on the menu. The owner is the cook and he always greets you with a big happy hello when you walk in.

Verdi

3.8

(88 reviews)

We met our friends from Torrington for lunch on Sat. as they love the atmosphere and tasty food,…read moreespecially the dessert-bomba. Tony greeted us by name as I told him more patrons will come after the restaurant was closed for five days during the main break. We sat outside having a wonderful time as always with the best service by Isandra too!

I have to say WOW . We stop by Verdi on a Friday afternoon to sit outdoors and overlook the…read moregorgeous golf course. The food was outstanding. For appetizer, we had the fried oysters they were tenter and flavorful. For the entrée, I had the slow roasted beef short rib with ravioli, delicious done to perfection . My husband had the ribeye it was smothered with fried onion rings. We asked for no mashed potatoes and extra vegetables. The vegetables were seasoned perfectly. What a great meal. We both had a garden salad that came with the meal which is a nice touch. It was a very busy afternoon, but our server kept up without a problem . The staff all seem to be happy if you haven't tried it, I'd highly recommend it . It's my new go to.

Roma Ristorante

4.2

(252 reviews)