Well, I finally made it through the brush to the Desert! I've been wanting to visit for a while, and even passed the news of this magical place on to friends, who've made it there before I did.  They had nothing but great things to say about this jewel on the
outskirts of town.

Gotta say....the Desert lives up to its name, if you get it, I mean . As soon as I walked up the stairs alongside a covered ramp, onto a sweet porch where you can smoke, eat, or just hang, and I walked through the door, I was warmly greeted by Jan, who was the interim *waitress* of the moment. Jan welcomed me and gave me a quick synopsis of the place. Between serving the bar and attending to the handful of customers at this early hour, Jan joined me at my table for some friendly conversation. I felt like I had entered a place in time where friends, old and new, would gather for a good time, no hassles, no pressure, no head games. Real. Very nice.

The menu is like a buzz through time with crazy cool item names in this eclectic, yummy selection of delectables. Hard to choose. I wanted to try everything! Good for me I only selected two of the dozens of choices because the servings are so ample I had to leave something on my plate. I'd venture to say that many of the items could be shared with a friend and still leave you satisfied. The sweetpotato fries with maple mustard and the stuffed mushrooms with asparagus sauce were tasty and unique. The food here is special.  You won't find these selections at another restaurant, at least not that I've seen.

If you grew up through the 1960's, or lean toward the cartoon channel, the Desert will suit your pangs of nostalgia. It's funky and fun without being overwhelming or kitchy. There is entertainment nearly every nite, the listening/watching kind, as well as participatory adventures such as trivia contests. The ambiance is social and open, yet if you prefer to just hang back and watch the show, no one's going to shake your tree.

What a great place! I so enjoyed the Desert there's no doubt that I'll return again and again. I plan to spread the word, too, and hope all who've enjoyed this cozy, fun, funky little gem will shout it out and encourage others to come down to experience it all for yourself!

Thanks Jan, and all, for making me feel so welcome, for the fantastic food, and for keeping the Desert an oasis in Northeast Connecticut!

Bright Blessings,

Babciaboop (a.k.a. Daria)