First Selectman Welcomes The Spice is Right to Woodbridge

Ken Maratea opened The Spice is Right, a new catering company and sandwich shop in late February.

First Selectman Ellen Scalettar recently visited and welcomed The Spice is Right to learn more about the restaurant on Selden Street. The First Selectman has been visiting local businesses to highlight them as part of the “Shop Woodbridge, Dine Woodbridge, Try Woodbridge” campaign. The visits are designed to highlight Town businesses and to foster economic development in Woodbridge. Additionally, the Town’s Economic Development Commission has been inviting businesses to its monthly meetings in order to learn about those businesses.

“Welcome to Woodbridge,” Scalettar told Maratea. “We’re so glad you’re here.”

“This is a great spot, and I’ve already made friends here,” said Maratea, who lives in Hamden.

Maratea’s restaurant is in the old Dine-1-1 location in the Selden Plaza.

“I got a call from a friend of Mary Jean’s [Goodman] who told me she wanted to sell the business because she was moving,” Maratea told Scalettar. “My focus is on catering and I do lunch and sandwiches. Her clientele still comes in so I’m trying to serve them also.”

Maratea specializes in corporate catering, but also does parties, weddings and other events. He previously owned a restaurant in North Haven, Ken and Jerry’s, and the West Main Grille in Cheshire. Both were sit-down restaurants and he’s happy to focus on catering now.

There are a few tables and seats inside the small restaurant, but most of his business is to-go orders, Maratea told Scalettar. As he was saying that his business neighbor, Cynthia Miller of Today’s Clothing, came in to order a sandwich to go.

“It’s great,” Miller says. “His food is so good and I can get a quick bite to eat without having to close my shop.”

The Spice is Right’s menu is extensive and includes cold deli sandwiches, hot sandwiches, specialty sandwiches, burgers hot dogs, quesadillas and salads. He also makes deli sides, stuffed breads, a variety of homemade soups and chilis, plus breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos.

The Spice is Right is open from 7 am – 3 pm Monday through Friday and Saturdays 8 am – 2 pm.

For more information, or to see the full menu, visit thespiceisrightct.wix.com/main. Daily specials are announced on the restaurant’s Facebook page: facebook.com/thespiceisrightct/.

If you know of a new or expanding business in Town, or if you would like the First Selectman to tour your business, please contact Assistant Administrative Officer Betsy Yagla at byagla@woodbridgect.org or 203-389-3403. To stay up to date on Woodbridge business news and events, sign up for the Town's business email newsletter.