Connecticut diners lost several familiar restaurants this month, and the closures touched different parts of the state.
The losses come after other recent Connecticut goodbyes, including a longtime waterfront restaurant that closed after nearly 50 years.
Here are four beloved Connecticut restaurants that closed this month.
Union Kitchen in West Hartford
Union Kitchen in West Hartford closed after dinner on June 6, 2026, ending a nearly eight-year run at 43 LaSalle Road in West Hartford Center.
The restaurant, which opened in December 2018 under Massachusetts-based Bean Restaurant Group, was one of the most decorated in the area. It won Wine Spectator’s best wine list recognition for three consecutive years (2022, 2023 and 2024), was twice named a finalist for the Connecticut Restaurant Association’s Restaurant of the Year for Hartford County, and built a reputation for chef-driven but approachable seasonal American cuisine alongside a wine program elevated under sommelier and director Vish Badami.
The owners cited “rising costs in West Hartford Center’s real estate” as the reason for not renewing the lease. It is the second Bean Restaurant Group closure on LaSalle Road in under a year — the company also chose not to renew the lease next door at 37 LaSalle Road, where Crush Wine Bar (formerly McLadden’s) had operated. After Union Kitchen closes, all Bean Restaurant Group locations will be back in Massachusetts.
For West Hartford customers, Union Kitchen was a familiar choice for dinner, drinks and neighborhood meals — and a genuinely acclaimed one. Its closing leaves another opening in one of Connecticut’s most visible restaurant corridors.
Plan B Burger Bar in Milford
Plan B Burger Bar in Milford closed in June 2026 after 15 years in business.
The burger restaurant and bar at 1638 Boston Post Road originally opened in 2011, giving Milford diners a casual spot for burgers, drinks and group meals under the Plan B brand, which founder Allie J. Gamble built at its peak to 11 locations across four states.
Plan B began contracting in 2025 when its Hartford and West Hartford locations closed, leaving Milford as one of three remaining locations alongside Glastonbury and Simsbury. Now Milford is closing too, leaving Plan B with just two Connecticut restaurants. “This isn’t just about restaurants closing, it’s about honoring what those places meant to people,” Gamble said when the earlier closures were announced. The Milford closure follows in the same spirit — a brand that is still alive, but smaller than it once was.
For regulars, the loss is simple: one more longtime burger-and-beer option is gone.
One Bar + Kitchen in Hartford
One Bar + Kitchen in Hartford also closed this month.
The restaurant at 70 Union Place, located near Union Station, was known for dishes like lobster fries and lobster cheeseburgers. It had not been open for decades, but it still built a following as a downtown spot with a strong identity.
Chef and co-owner Corey T. Smith announced the closure and thanked the Hartford community for its support.
Some restaurants become beloved quickly because they give a neighborhood something memorable. One Bar + Kitchen had that kind of presence.
Plaza Azteca in Newington
Plaza Azteca closed its Newington location on June 27, 2026, after 15 years as the chain’s only Connecticut outpost.
The restaurant was part of a small national chain with locations in 11 states, primarily in the eastern United States. After 15 years, the Newington location had built its own customer base in the local dining scene. In their farewell message, the owners expressed deep gratitude for the loyalty and friendships built over a decade and a half: “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for 15 incredible years.”
The announcement did not give a specific reason for the closure. The owners said they plan to pursue new restaurant ventures, and directed guests to the nearest remaining Plaza Azteca — now across state lines, in Methuen, Massachusetts.
After 15 years, the Newington location had its own customer base and its own memories. For Connecticut fans of the chain, there is no longer an in-state option.
Connecticut keeps losing familiar places
These four closures show how broad restaurant losses can be.
One was an acclaimed eight-year neighborhood bistro caught by rising real estate costs. One was a shrinking burger-bar brand losing its last Milford foothold. One was a newer downtown restaurant with personality. One was the state’s only location of a familiar Mexican chain, closing after 15 years with no in-state successor.
Together, they show how quickly a state’s dining map can change.
For Connecticut diners, June brought four more goodbyes.
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