The Waterbury Times| Community | July 28, 2026
WATERBURY, CT — Sometimes a simple question can bring back a flood of memories.
After The Waterbury Times jokingly asked residents where they would want to eat in Waterbury if they could bring back a restaurant that no longer exists, the response was overwhelming.
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More than 200 comments poured in from residents sharing memories, favorite meals, and the places they still miss.
The question was simple:
“Where in Waterbury do you wish you could still eat today?”
The answers brought back memories of family dinners, childhood favorites, late-night meals, and restaurants that became part of the fabric of the city.
After sorting through the comments, here are the top 10 restaurants Waterbury residents wish were still around.
10. Espresso Pizza ( Valley Mall )
A longtime favorite for many residents, Espresso Pizza earned a spot on the list as people remembered the food, the atmosphere, and the memories connected to stopping in for a slice.
9. Roy Rogers
For many Waterbury residents, Roy Rogers was a nostalgic reminder of a different era of fast food — a place people still remember fondly.
8. Lee’s Famous Recipe
Known for its fried chicken, Lee’s Famous Recipe remains a Waterbury restaurant many residents still talk about years after it closed.
7.Me Mas
The restaurant that inspired the original question.
While Me Ma’s is no longer open, residents clearly still remember the food and experience enough to bring it into the conversation.
6. Zachary’s Pizza
The Big 3- Dom & Pia/Louies/Zachary’s Pizza. Another name that brought back memories for longtime Waterbury residents, Zachary’s remains one of the pizza places people still mention when talking about restaurants from the past.
5. Nino’s
A favorite remembered by many, Nino’s continues to hold a place in the memories of Waterbury diners as one of the most classic Waterbury locations for decades.
4. Howard Johnson’s
The iconic orange-roofed restaurant chain was a symbol of an earlier generation, and many residents remember their visits with family and a generation of party goers and club nights ended here.
3. Ponderosa
For many, Ponderosa brings back memories of family dinners, buffets, and a restaurant experience that defined a certain era.
2. The Ground Round
The Ground Round was another restaurant that residents immediately recognized, with many sharing memories of meals, family outings, and good times.
1. The Pie Plate
Taking the top spot was The Pie Plate.
The beloved restaurant was the clear favorite among commenters, with residents remembering the food, the atmosphere, and the memories created there.
The response showed something bigger than just a list of closed restaurants.
Food is history.
Restaurants become landmarks. They become part of family traditions, first dates, celebrations, and everyday life.
While these locations may no longer be serving meals, the memories they created are still very much alive in Waterbury.
And if you know, you know.
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