650170 Sat Sep 05 05:43:53 -0700 2009 65 20 Tristate Region 0 5006888 Hello all! My family and I just moved to Fairfield, CT from Manhattan and now we're on the hunt to find our new favorite spots. We're dying for a good burger - a good slice of pizza - and good Chinese food (to name a few!). It seems that all of the Asian food we've found so far has been just that... Asian - not Chinese/Thai/Japanese, etc. That concept bothers me as I feel that quality is lost when the menu broadens. I would love to hear what some of your favorite restaurants are - in town... in the area... we have a three year old that we like to bring with us to restaurants, but there are always special occasions when we'll leave her at home. What should we try first? Thank you for your suggestions! Sat Sep 05 05:43:53 -0700 2009 118144 MBrad 1 5008679 Go to Bethel (probably sans 3 year old) and try La Zingarra - great Italian, but not red sauce - authentic. Good Italian wines too and excellent, knowledgeable wait staff. http://www.lazingararistorante.com/ Sun Sep 06 05:04:58 -0700 2009 5006888 228219 wincountrygirl 1 5008737 There are a ton of places in and around Fairfield. I would recommend searching this board, you will find many recommendations for specific types of places, about 1000 threads on local pizza and many on burgers. In Fairfield we like Osianna for a nice mediteranean style, small plates are the best. Paci is excellent italian (actually in Southport). Beach House Cafe is nice for casual fried cod sandwiches, fish tacos, salads, etc. Archie Moore's has the best buffalo chicken wings. 55 Wine Bar is pretty decent italian. I've heard good things about Wild Ginger, but I'm not sure what type of asian it is. Martel Bistro is a fairly new french bistro type place, very varied menu, no reservations, I know lots of people who love it. Barcelona is spanish tapas, very good and they have sister restaurants all around. In Westport, Le Farm is the newly anticipated place, soon to open by a well respected local chef. Aqua is pretty nice, we go for lunch, too loud at dinner. Cafe Manolo is a recent opening, spanish food, tapas, very good. Again, tons of places in Westport, depends what you are looking for, but I find the best food to be elsewhere (other than Le Farm I hope!) The Schoolhouse at Cannondale in Wilton is one of our favorites, farm to fork style of cooking, incredible food. Very small menu but very delicious. Harvest Supper in New Canaan, also a favorite with a much longer varied menu. South Norwalk (SONO) has lots of great places, Match, Wasabi Chi, Barcelona, Pasta Nostra. I could go on, but you should really do some reading here and you'll start to get a feel for the places you might be interested in and then be able to ask any specific questions you might have! As for the 3 year old, obviously it depends on her, but we see well behaved children at all of these places, even the nicer ones. Sun Sep 06 06:06:57 -0700 2009 5006888 142362 sibeats 1 5013500 Within Fairfield itself - Tuckers for the burger, Pepes for Pizza, nothing good for chinese (though Wild Rice is pretty good fusian). Branching to nearby towns, Burger Bar in South Norwalk has great burgers, and my current favorite Italian is Via Sforza in Westport. Tue Sep 08 09:58:44 -0700 2009 5006888 128251 Ima Foodie 1 5013816 Ching's Table in New Canaan has what lots of people consider the best Chinese in the area. For straight Japanese, there's Kazu in Norwalk, or, for about three time the price there's Nuage in Greenwich; for Thai, there's Wild Ginger in Ridgefield; for Korean, try Edo (yes, I know it's a japanese name) in Norwalk. Don't write off the "pan-asian," though: some of the best restaurants in the county, including Tengda in Westport and Koo in Ridgefield, go that route. Tue Sep 08 11:49:24 -0700 2009 5006888 1105891 apforz 2 5013995 Wild Ginger had MAJOR health department issues this past year - was temporarily closed (don't even ask) - so I'm not sure I'd send you racing to Ridgefield for their food (which is fine but won't stack up against what you are probably used to in Manhattan). As for Koo in Ridgefield, it hasn't been Koo for several months...now called Jun-Mei (or something similar) and I don't recall anyone on CH reporting back since the change. No one ever suggests heading in the OTHER direction...you'll find lots of good ethnic food in New Haven, as befits a university town. Search the New England board as well as this one for detailed suggestions. Tue Sep 08 13:03:31 -0700 2009 5013816 276107 hungrykids 1 5014874 you are lucky fairfield now has frank pepe for pizza-pies only, no slices and at times a wait to get in but excellent, also super duper weenie is nearbye ,good dogs,fries and burgers Tue Sep 08 18:15:04 -0700 2009 5006888 71745 rich51 1 5017276 Though I haven't concentrated much on Fairfield, I have a few good places listed on my map and quite a few nearby. I'm not big on pizza and burgers so others will have to help there. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ptab=2&ie=UTF8&view=map&oe=UTF8&start=200&num=200&msa=0&msid=106324921966915789140.00044a96c7a994f455333&ll=41.124366,-73.236923&spn=0.305687,0.615234&t=h&z=11 Wed Sep 09 14:17:04 -0700 2009 5006888 137946 Scargod 1 5056778 Sorry to burst your bubble, but Fairfield, and Fairfield County in general, is not foodie heaven by any means. That said, there are some real gems, but you should be willing to travel to other towns. Westport has almost no good food, surprisingly. Pho Mekong is very decent for Vietnamese. However, in Darien, there is an outstanding tiny Thai place called Little Thai Kitchen. They have a sister restaurant in Norwalk that is decent but not as good. Coromandel, also in Darien, is excellent for delicious Indian food...our Indian friends swear by it. There's also one in South Norwalk and Stamford, but I like the Darien interior best, if you can get past the fact that it's in a strip malled called Goodwives Shopping Center!!. The best lunch food around, for high quality organic salads and inventive and flavorful ingredients is a little hole in the wall called Nicholas Roberts. Not high on ambience, but the owner is a young chef who puts out some of the best food around. He also does dinners on some nights, BYOB. I'd say he's the most skilled chef around, although you'd never know it from the exterior, or the interior, although he's improving it bit by bit.There's no good Chinese around except for the excellent Wild Ginger in Ridgefield (southeast asian), and Penang Grill in Greenwich, which I believe is it's sister restaurant. The Wild Ginger in Fairfield is mediocre at best, and Ching's Kitchen in Darien is awful. Mediterranean Grill in Wilton has good food.In Fairfield, I hear good things about Martel, haven't been yet, and Quattro Piazzi is a great little Italian place, my son's favorite. Barcelona is good for tapas, the one in South Norwalk has better atmosphere but the one in Fairfield is fine once you get past the weird motel setting. Kazu is the best Japanese around, in Sono. Matsu Sushi is also good, in Westport. Pasta Nostra is good in Sono but way, way overpriced for what it is. Fat Cat Pizza is a fantastic pizza and wine place, very thin crust and high quality ingredients, nice wines, a simple and simultaneously sophisticated and down-home place, great for both kids and adults. Crew, in Greenwhich, has excellent tapas and larger plates. In Sono, Match is excellent, Chocopologie is a quirky little joint for breakfast/lunch. The Italian food at Paci is very good, and the space is great. But, the really good food is up in New HAven...there you'll find tons of great restaurants of all ethnicities. Thu Sep 24 20:17:02 -0700 2009 5006888 178574 clyde10 1 5057186 Tough transition Good luck. Lots of places to eat.....but favorites are a challenge. Fairfield Fave: Oceana: mediterranean well priced, fresh, great service, killer desserts my first choice when I don't know where to go. Pepe Pizza closest to NY Style, crowds a pain. SBC has a thin crust "pizza" Margherit I add goat cheese to. Fin for Sushi is fine but Tendga, Wesport more lively (several locations and all good). Difficult to mess up Sushi haven't found bad sushi in all of CT. Still looking for decent Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese (now cook myself at home) I have a couple of stand buys all others i choose to travel to surrounding towns. Wild Ginger: sushi(hidden Greenwich/NY line)...sad about health department it was a fav...creative sushi :-( will miss. Not here but near: Agree Coromandel: Indian(Darien) ++. Elm Street Oyster House: Oyster/wine pairing(Greenwich). Penang : Malaysian(Greenwich)++BYOB&Takeout, fresh tasty ingredients. Will post the rest later when I have more time... Fri Sep 25 05:19:29 -0700 2009 5006888 1091668 Lov2eet 1 5057205 Welcome to the hood. Jfood does not normally head as far as Fairfield so if you are willing to expand the drive southbound, here are his thoughts. Top of Class - Wilton - Schoolhouse; New Canaan - Bistro Bonne Nuit, Sole, Roger Sherman Inn; Sushi - Duo in Stamford does some neat things; Kazu in SONO Spanish / Mexican - Big Yellow Truck in Stm on West Main. Yes it is a truck, it is yellow and it has the best Mexican up here. That should reming you of NYC, Wait for Adamclyde to answer, he is the maestro of that cuisine up here Vietnamese - forget about it....none Thai...Ibid Japanese - Let's try Asian fusion and suggest two places in New Canaan, owned by the same family - Chings Table and Sushi 25. Jfood likes the latter better Indian - Jfood likes Thali in New Canaan better than the Caromandel chains that people have mentioned. There is a sister branch in Wilton in a dingy hotel which is so unappealing, not going there. Pizza - Stamford - Colony is your best choice; New Canaan - Jfood likes Joe's but it is a schlep for a good take-away; Wilton - Leitizias is good but sloppy; SONO - Strada 18 and Match (this place holds itself out as high end but the only thing jfood likes there is the pizza), Fat Cat. Try Pepes if you want but jfood went there once and it was mediocre at best, the reputation far exceeds the pie. Chinese - Wasabi Chi in SONO Seafood - On the Water - FISH in Portchester, Rowayton Seafood in Roawayton, possibly Splash in Westport. Not on the water seafood - Elm Street Seafood in Greenwich Hot Dogs - Super Duper Weenie - exit 24 of 95 in Fairfield is the best, followed by Swanky Franks in Westport and Norwalk (same name different owners) Tapas - Barcelona - Locations in Fairfield (in the Hi-Ho hotel, jfood kids you not), SONO and Stamford. Italian - Pasta Nostra in SONO but real hard for a reservation; a little place in Norwalk called Mikes is also nice and run by an elderly couple. Some people have recommended Sforza in Westport but jfood has no first hand knowledge. Give us more info and we will help. Welcome to the 'hood. Fri Sep 25 05:37:20 -0700 2009 5006888 11290 jfood 2 5057323 Could there be a restaurant that is more over-rated and more inconsistent that Rowayton Seafood? Place is as pricey as they get and for the kings ransom that they charge you would expect some sort of consistent food, yet it continually disappoints. Fri Sep 25 06:33:56 -0700 2009 5057205 13556 LVI 3 5057357 From digging around on the internet, I would say it is FISH. jfood or others: can you elaborate on these and why such mixed reviews? Fri Sep 25 06:47:37 -0700 2009 5057323 137946 Scargod 4 5057475 Got jfood, S, but you have to ask the people who do not like it. Jfood has been there on 3 occassions and enjoyed everything each time. The drive in to the restaurant is a bit, let's say, interesting, the location is not downtown greenwich or portchester, but once inside jfood likes the decor, the service and the food. The last time mrs jfood liked the goat cheese raviloi so much that she insisted jfood figure out the recipe and make at home. Heck, jfood can't figure out why people like and dislike some of the restaurants jfood dislikes and likes, respectively. Different strokes for different folks. Take a look at the 400+ posts that Tarry Lodge garnered last year. Ouch. Fri Sep 25 07:31:43 -0700 2009 5057357 11290 jfood 5 5057551 Thanks jfood. I was wondering how many times you had been. Complaints seemed to be service based, mostly. Fri Sep 25 07:57:37 -0700 2009 5057475 137946 Scargod 6 5062765 deb and i are "frequent fliers" at rowayton seafood. i docked my boat on the five mile river for a few years so i was a fixture at the bar after the days' maintenance was finished. the bar is pretty blue collar for lunch. service is friendly and the talk is pleasant. lots of folk like to show up on weekends. some make use of the silly valet parking and seem to develop a hearing problem shortly after they sit down. pity, the place is best enjoyed as a neighborhood joint. regulars can walk in wearing their foulies and get a good table near the fireplace if that's what they want. in short, rowayton seafood respects its regulars and tolerates a lot of gasbags. on a good day/night, the food can be exceptional. as a rule, the place is a safe harbor, albeit a pricey harbor. Sun Sep 27 18:31:07 -0700 2009 5057551 10627 steve h. 7 5065382 for the record, barcelona is average at best. it ain't no tia pol. Mon Sep 28 17:59:45 -0700 2009 5062765 10627 steve h. 3 5057463 The last two times jfood was at RS tere were very different feelings: First trip - jfood w only mrs jfood. A party of 8 at the next table. the jfoods were ignored, their food was an afterthought in the kitchen and it was very pricey. jfood decided to place on the DNR list. Second trip (three weeks later) - friends realy wanted to go. As jfood looked at the menu it felt they had reduced their prices (maybe just wishful thinking). the service, food and cost was much better. So yes the jfood have experienced consistency issues, were upset with the price, but the second trip was very different and for the positive. Fri Sep 25 07:27:50 -0700 2009 5057323 11290 jfood 2 5057714 We went to Pasta Nostra a couple of weeks ago and were pretty unimpressed. We have been there a bunch of times in the past, but hated the service and ambiance, so even though we did love the food, we hadn't been back in years. We decided that since the food had been so good, we should really go back. We were able to get a reservation for a friday night at 7:00 the same day, so perhaps the difficulties of getting a table are a thing of the past? In any case, the ambiance was actually a little nicer than we remembered, unfortunately the food was just okay. Antipasti plate was alright, nothing special. I had a poached shrimp app with a fennel salad. The shrimp were cooked well, but the fennel salad had absolutely no flavor. The stuffed zucchini blossoms were pretty good. Tasted better than they looked, but very light on the filling. The tomato sauce was tasty. We all had pastas for entrees. The gnocchi over meat sauce had a decent flavor, but the meat sauce seemed to be pureed, a very strange texture. Baked pasta with meat sauce and eggplant was dried out and somewhat bland. Spring pasta was okay, lots of veggies with romano and there was supposed to be pancetta which would have helped greatly but I couldn't find any. We shared a couple of desserts, they looked and tasted like packaged food. All in all disappointing, don't think we'll go back. Fri Sep 25 08:52:40 -0700 2009 5057205 142362 sibeats 2 5138689 I can help!!! Westport - Splash, Dressing Room. Acqua for a shopping lunch. I used to go to DaPietro's -- not sure if still there, etc Southport - PACI!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Fairfield - used to drive their for Centro WAAAAAY back when from New Canaan. I still think it's the best branch of the chain. Oh, and Firehouse Deli.... Otherwise, agree with the above...plus, I DO love Bertucci's pizza. Carmelized onion, roasted zucchini, and fresh mozz? With pesto? YUM! www.earthlyepicurean.blogspot.com Wed Oct 28 16:33:14 -0700 2009 5057205 30114 allieb2031 1 5057996 I'll recommend a spot that is largely neglected on this board, Chez Jean-Pierre, a little bistro with a Latin flair (the manager's Brazillian) and excellent unpretentious fare, consistently very, very good. Additionally, lunch is very reasonable and the beautiful back room is open for dancing one night a week or so, A thoroughly enjoyable place, though not NYC, thankfully in this case. As for pizza, the Colony is heartily touted on this board and elsewhere, and is a local favorite, but why I have no idea. My experience has been not so sharp (a paucity of ingredients, canned toppings instead of fresh) but, admittedly, I have not had the hot oil, which is its claim to local pizza fame. Bradford's on Bedford offers decent bar fare in a friendly "Cheers-like" atmosphere, though they lost their top cook, who was a chef of some renown, and the food has become fairly ordinary. I'm told the chef is back on Sundays, and he makes the best soups. Fri Sep 25 10:21:49 -0700 2009 5006888 170797 dinerfan 2 5062569 chez jean-pierre... is that the place in Stamford on the corner of spring and bedford? I thought it was straight french, no? (I haven't been, so really don't know). Or am I thinking of a different place. Sun Sep 27 16:49:52 -0700 2009 5057996 11120 adamclyde 3 5062741 It is absolutely straight French, it just struck me and a friend that the atmosphere and decor has a dash of Latin color, but that could have been the wine talking. Sun Sep 27 18:18:22 -0700 2009 5062569 170797 dinerfan 2 5063837 Judging Colony without having tried the Hot Oil & Sausage pie is like judging Peter Luger without having tried the Porterhouse. Mon Sep 28 08:55:04 -0700 2009 5057996 230608 CTburgerlover 3 5063953 Not that I have fish to fry in this, but if Peter Luger only had one good steak I don 't think I'd go very often. How many other steaks would you try before finding the porterhouse? BTW, I can't find this place! What is its real name/where is it? Does Colony use canned toppings? Mon Sep 28 09:22:00 -0700 2009 5063837 137946 Scargod 4 5064091 Colony is on Myrtle Ave. in Stamford...I don't know about their toppings other than the sausage, which is made right across the street. The answer to your Luger question is...None. No reason to get anything other that the "Steak for Two" (or Four, depending on how many you're going with). Mon Sep 28 10:04:36 -0700 2009 5063953 230608 CTburgerlover 4 5065023 Funny enough, the only steak Lugers sells IS porterhouse. Porterhouse for 1, for 2, for 3 or for 4. That's it. Gotta love em for that. They have other stuff on their menu, but when it comes to steak. It's porterhouse. Mon Sep 28 15:20:20 -0700 2009 5063953 11120 adamclyde 5 5065054 Oops! I've never been! I usually don't go out and pay for a high-dollar steak. I'd rather it be fish or duck... Mon Sep 28 15:33:56 -0700 2009 5065023 137946 Scargod 5 5065069 peter luger serves more than porterhouse. here's a link to the menu. http://www.peterluger.com/menu-bklyn.cfm Mon Sep 28 15:38:27 -0700 2009 5065023 10627 steve h. 4 5068988 What put me off about the Colony pie is their paucity of ingredients, and the use of canned, rubbery mushrooms on the one and only Colony pie I ordered (mushroom & sausage). But I was told that only putzs put mushrooms on pizzas, so that's that, I guess. Wed Sep 30 06:48:02 -0700 2009 5063953 170797 dinerfan 3 5064199 OK, and thanks for putting up the link to Colony Grill. It's impossible to find unless you know exactly how to search for it. A ways from Fairfield... There seems to be very mixed feelings about their thin crust-hot oil topped pizza. What I was getting at is, if you didn't know that the "sausage with hot oil" was the only good thing they do how many tries would you give them if you didn't know what to order? How many tries before you stumble upon the magic combo? Helps to be on Chowhound! Mon Sep 28 10:47:23 -0700 2009 5063837 137946 Scargod 4 5064462 It took me a while to find the right combo. I used to order just the hot oil. Then I would order the hot oil with cherry peppers. then I noticed the DeYulio's Sausage factory across the street, and tried a hot oil, cherry pepper, stingers, and sausage. After I got out of the hospital, I dropped the cherry peppers and stingers and settled on Hot Oil and Sausage. Others, including the late William F. Buckley, Jr., swear by the Hot Oil and Pepperoni. Mon Sep 28 12:04:55 -0700 2009 5064199 230608 CTburgerlover 5 5065160 hot oil with pepperoni is my goto dish. that, a sam adams and the financial times round out my typical lunch at the bar. a full napkin dispenser is required. cash only. i miss buckley, he was an accomplished sailor. Mon Sep 28 16:18:01 -0700 2009 5064462 10627 steve h. 5 5138802 Personally, sausage/light onion is the only way to go. On the good china, that is... Wed Oct 28 17:11:38 -0700 2009 5064462 1117210 scapegrace 1 5069192 I moved about a month ago, but have been commuting back and forth for about a year. Here are some of the places worth checking out: Frank Pepe's pizza is outstanding. Truly, mouth-wateringly outstanding. I think it's around Exit 22 off 95. Try the white clam pie and a traditional with fresh garlic and any other toppings - the edges of their pies are irregular (rather than being perfectly round) and nicely charred, and they slice the pies randomly, so you can grab big or little slices as your appetite demands. Sakura of Japan in Westport on Post Road is excellent, though pricey. Pho Mekong, a tiny hole in the wall on the right side of the Post Road as you're driving from Fairfield to Westport is outstanding and very cute - I really want to support them more. Vietnamese/Thai food. Westfair seafood - also on the Post Road - someone called this place a "divey little gem," and I absolutely concur. Fantastic fried seafood, good steamers. The Black Duck in Westport - best steamers and Clams Casino I've ever had in a restaurant. Lobster roll looks fantastic, all in this fun, very casual spot on the water in Westport. The place was reviewed on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Quattro Pazzi - very solid Italian, great wine list, not too expensive by Fairfield standards. Thanks for posting this question - I can't wait to try others' suggestions! Wed Sep 30 07:55:21 -0700 2009 5006888 162256 Travels4Food 1 5069226 A couple Fairfield places I don't think were mentioned... Cafe Lola - really cute french bistro near train station Nauti Dolphin - take out/delivery pizza located at train station. I personally like this better than pepe's. Coppia - italian - easy to miss, right past Bob's Store on Post Rd Liana's - off the beaten path, good italian and Liana is always around talking to the patrons. Cafe Madeline - we take our 3 and 5 yr olds. small plates, paninis etc. Madeline is always there and is really sweet to the kids. will make pasta with butter for my daughter and pepperoni pizza for my son. Chef's Table - good soup, wraps, panini and also make stuff for the kids and serves beer and wine. Firehouse deli - we like to go for breakfast and sit outside before going to the beach. too bad summer is over!! Wed Sep 30 08:08:01 -0700 2009 5006888 105353 foleyd7 2 5069244 I mentioned Firehouse too, among others...don't know what happened to my post. Also, for great b'fast sandwiches...Try Country Cow on Black Rock T'pike. Best Bacon, Egg, & Cheese around. 2505 Black Rock Turnpike Fairfield, CT Also, do not forget about Rawley's...great deep-fried dogs, try it with Bacon, Kraut, and their hot relish. Wed Sep 30 08:14:33 -0700 2009 5069226 230608 CTburgerlover 3 5069622 love country cow! Wed Sep 30 09:56:49 -0700 2009 5069244 105353 foleyd7 2 5070098 i'll second liana's only been once but was very impressed. and it never hurts having the boss go from table to table. Wed Sep 30 12:08:42 -0700 2009 5069226 1095577 poppy 2 5079972 Firehouse Deli is a favorite quick time lunch stop for me. Great salad bar and decent selection of sandwiches - all pretty quick. Avoid the 1 PM summer lunch crowd! Mon Oct 05 09:28:09 -0700 2009 5069226 121483 ipo 1 5069271 My favorites... Fin - Great place for sushi - I eat here at least twice per week (usually for lunch). The decor inside leaves a lot to be desired but the fish is ALWAYS good and the pricing is very affordable - esp. for the quality of fish (I'm a bit of a sushi snob). The place is small and tight but typically doesn't get too busy. Fin also has some great specials that change daily. I once had the live scallops which were different but definitely a good choice. Pizzeria Molto Wine Bar - This place is brand new to Fairfield (opened I think on Friday) but I've already been here 3 times (only ate twice). It's definitely a unique take on a "pizzeria" but offers a killer wine list and probably the biggest bar I have seen in the area. Wait times were long and the bar has been PACKED. I don't think I'd recommend bringing the child as it's nearly an ALL adult crowd - my wife and I have had a blast so far - try the pizza. Centro - Probably the best bet for a kid friendly, well priced and good place to eat. Good food, cozy atmosphere and a decent menu. Don't order the tuscan beans as they always come out as mush, however, the bolognese ragu sauce and their salads are very good. Vino - I'd recommend Vino for lunch only. The food and service is sub-par for sure but the $7 lunch specials are a deal to be had. I typically get the chicken parm special becuase of the sheer amount of food. Again - not the best food but one of the best deals in Fairfield for sure. Flipside - Also a new place, right next to Molto (above) but a great spot if you're looking for a burger. Again this is another kid friendly place but it also has a nice bar for us "big kids" to spend some time at. Great menu, great pricing and great food. My wife and I can be found once a week at the bar enjoying a burger and beer. Great options for the little ones too. Wed Sep 30 08:23:12 -0700 2009 5006888 121483 ipo 2 5069636 I've been waiting for Pizzeria Molto to open - they still haven't updated their website. Can you give a little info on the food... I was hoping it would be a place to bring the kids that had good food for the adults... oh well. Wed Sep 30 10:02:30 -0700 2009 5069271 105353 foleyd7 3 5071696 just went last night and it was great - tried pizza, pasta, and salad and was impressed with all. I'd concur that it's not a kid place. Thu Oct 01 06:29:09 -0700 2009 5069636 128251 Ima Foodie 2 5069969 Roma beans are one of my favorite dishes at Centro!!! At least the one in Darien. They are so friggin' delicious! Wed Sep 30 11:31:09 -0700 2009 5069271 13556 LVI 2 5082562 It's probably time for Pizzeria Molto go get their own thread! Anyway, we made it there on Sat night around 6:30 and stayed for at least an hour at the bar to have a drink and share a mozzerella appetizer. A few pros, cons, and other notes: At 6:30 the restaurant was packed and it got more crowded heading up to 8 pm. In fact, we drove back past it around 10 pm and it still looked very crowded. That's a good sign so far. As for the "adult crowd" comment above, I do agree that it became that way towards 8pm but when we first arrived at 6:30 nearly 1/2 the tables had families with kids eating. I will definitely bring my kids here for pizza and dinner - - though more likely on a weekday and/or before 6 pm. They make 2 style pizzas: brick oven and what they call "NY style". The brick oven looks very rustic even in it's shape and is thin and charred. They looked awesome. The "NY style" was not from the brick overn and was pretty traditional - - like the pies you see at good places where you can "get a slice". I think this lends itself well to foodies and families alike, especially for many kids that probably won't go for the charred brick oven style. The burrata mozzerella appetizer we shared was very good in texture and taste. I can't wait to try that on a pizza. The non-pizza dishes coming out of the kitchen looked very nice, too. All in all, my only slight let down stemmed from the wine. The wine list was pretty decent with several choices by the glass. Most bottles were 2.5 times retail; I really apprecaite places that keep their markups 2x retail or less - - - though there are a growing number of restaurants going 3x retail so this isn't all that bad. Also, the whites were too cold (kept in a normal refrigerator) and the reds were too warm (simply kept on the counter pretty close to the kitchen). For a place that has "wine bar" in it's namesake, I'd expect a bit more effort in properly storing and serving their wine. And maybe this is a bit too nit-picky, but I didn't like that fact that Santa Margherita pinot grigio was on this list; again, with "wine bar" in the title of the restaurant I'd expect a better effort populating interesting, good choices rather than poor, popular choices. These wine "cons" are not reasons to keep me away by any means, so I will be back again soon to enjoy the pizza, the appetizers, and the wine (just not the Santa Margherita!). Tue Oct 06 08:29:15 -0700 2009 5069271 105353 foleyd7 1 5080196 Pretty decent burgers to be had at Flipside on Boston Post Road, though I have not yet decided if the poor management, interminable waits, and horrendous service are worth it. Might have to return during off-peak hours or a night other than Saturday. Mon Oct 05 10:46:49 -0700 2009 5006888 230608 CTburgerlover 2 5090921 Flipside is in a tough position right now in my opinion. They're new to the area, they have a great new design and some great burgers. Fairfield seems to be flooding them at the typical lunch/dinner times. I usually eat there around 8:30 PM and am yet to have any issues. Fri Oct 09 08:34:45 -0700 2009 5080196 121483 ipo 3 5191524 Went back to Flipside after the New Canaan-Central football debacle, and had a much better experience. Seated promptly, nice server, terrific burger (Velveeta, bacon, grilled onion), excellent fries, and a $2 PBR. Will definitely be back. Wed Nov 18 09:24:22 -0800 2009 5090921 230608 CTburgerlover 1 5089984 Since you have a three year old child get familiar with Timothy's just over the border from Fairfield in Bridgeport. They have great ice cream. Also check out Captain's Cove in BPT. Kids love the mini-stores they have. I wouldn't go to Stamford for pizza if you live in FFD. Head up to Roseland Apizza in Derby or Zuppardis in West Haven. Thu Oct 08 19:46:51 -0700 2009 5006888 41446 JohnnyCT 2 5098659 For a casual/semi-casual"Hey, let's go out" kind of meal: Pepe's - Fairfield/pizza Thai House - Orange/Thai Bangalore - Fairfield/ Indian And of course, Isabella & Vincent's French Bakery in Fairfield for something sweet! Mon Oct 12 20:36:38 -0700 2009 5089984 1115636 susant 3 5099810 Have you been to Bangalore recently and liked it? We used to go all the time but thought it went downhill with the new owners. Now we prefer trekking to Kolam in Monroe or Coromandel in Orange, Tue Oct 13 10:24:42 -0700 2009 5098659 128251 Ima Foodie 4 5102634 I went the other day, for lunch, and it was pretty good. BUT, not as good as the draw dropping deliciousness I experienced when I went there for lunch on a Sunday a couple of years ago. I've been to Kolam - excellent!!! Wow, I'd forgotten about Kolam. Haven't tried Coromandel, but I will now. :-) Wed Oct 14 10:38:32 -0700 2009 5099810 1115636 susant 1 5103178 Welcome to town! For burgers, I've heard good things about Tucker's but have never had a burger there. Otherwise, head down the coast to: Black Duck in Westport (though sometimes they over char it), Burger Bar in SoNo, Rory's in Darien (dependable, solid burger), and Burger's Shakes and Fries in Greenwich (on grilled white bread(!) but very, very good). Pizza: Pepe's, end of story. I also do Luigi's if I don't want to deal with a line or a wait, or if Pepe's is just too busy to do takeout that day. Chinese: There's really no good Chinese in town. I guess Panda Pavilion or Lilac House if you're really jones-ing for Chinese, but pretty much all Asian in Fairfield County boils down to either suburban take-out quality, or Asian fusion bistro of varying price levels. Favorites: Quattro Pazzi has always been good for us, Paci a little bit more upscale Italian with interesting atmosphere in an old train station. Centro is good with the kids. Osianna for Mediterranean. St. Tropez for French. Chef's Table is good for a quick bite or for soups, but Liquid Lunch in Shelton and Milford are where I would go for truly standout soups and sandwiches. Firehouse Deli also has great sandwiches. Senor Salsa for excellent fast food, take-out, Mexican. Parking is impossible, so sometimes you have to just bite the bullet and park on Route 1, or in the lots for Doughnut Inn or McD's. Super Duper Weenie - for the specialty dogs and their condiments, and their fries. It's all about the homemade condiments at SDW. The dog/bun itself is merely ok. Dogs are split and then grilled. The New Englander and the Chicagoan tie for top honors in my book. N.B.: SDW's Chicagoan is not a true Chicago dog, but has similar flavor profiles. Rawley's - for the classic hot dog joint vibe; their dogs are deep fried and finished on the grill. Bun is buttered and grilled. I get the mustard, kraut and bacon. Isabelle et Vincent for their baguettes and chocolate croissants. Pho Mekong (just over the line in Westport) is serviceable for pho/Vietnamese/Thai. Wed Oct 14 13:38:36 -0700 2009 5006888 1116334 plien69 1 5136233 I'm a native Chinese who's been living in Fairfield county for 10+ years (in the town of Fairfield for the last 5 years). I've always been looking for authentic Chinese restaurants, but sadly I found nothing in Fairfield or nearby towns. There are, however, 3 authentic Chinese Szechuan style restaurants in CT, if you're willing to drive a bit further: Lao Szechuan, in Milford (30 min drive from Fairfield): fish in hot spicy oil is the best! Taste of China, in Clinton (1 hr drive from Fairfield): you'd never imagine an authentic Chinese restaurant in a quiet small town with antique stores, bingo, etc. Szechuan/Tokyp, in West Hartford (1 hr drive from Fairfield): don't be fooled by their Japanese/AsianFusion menu/deco, ask for their Szechuan menu (yes they have a whole menu for that!), they're super authentic, IMHO it's even better than Flushing! Tue Oct 27 19:48:47 -0700 2009 5006888 1119675 shensh 1 5137401 I haven't seen much mentioned about Liana's, but if you haven't found your favorite Italian restaurant yet, try this. Most of her food is home made, she's usually around and might stop by to see how you meal is. We've been enough times that we've worked out way through the menu and have never been disappointed. Her gnocci is light as a cloud and our favorite. We've taken our kids, but you'll notice there aren't many there! They aren't open for lunch and definitely make a reservation or you can just show up and eat at the bar. Welcome to the neighborhood! Wed Oct 28 10:01:15 -0700 2009 5006888 1119860 goodgrief 1 5137650 Interesting in that jfood almost forgot to post about one of his Fairfield Faves. He just left Super Duper Weenie and with a kid this place would be a hoot for you to take the little one. One of the best hot dogs around (forget about that overhyped Papaya crappo in the City). The owner is a CIA grad, came up with his own recipe for dogs, makes his own toppings and then plays around on the side with his specials, like beef stew last week. Gotta try with the kiddie. Wed Oct 28 11:09:29 -0700 2009 5006888 11290 jfood 2 5137724 Have you tried Rawley's? Good stuff there too... Wed Oct 28 11:35:15 -0700 2009 5137650 230608 CTburgerlover 3 5138091 jfood always forgets about this place. he gotta tryit at some point. thanks CT Wed Oct 28 13:18:04 -0700 2009 5137724 11290 jfood 3 5151572 Agreed Rawley's is great for a dog...also don't forget Swanky Franks down in Westport...I love their classic fried hot dog Tue Nov 03 06:34:04 -0800 2009 5137724 121483 ipo 4 5151644 where is rawley's? Tue Nov 03 07:03:26 -0800 2009 5151572 1095577 poppy 5 5151770 1886 Post Rd, Fairfield, CT West of the town center, next to a Dairy Queen. Tue Nov 03 07:47:22 -0800 2009 5151644 1116334 plien69 6 5154827 I posted somewhere before regarding SDW vs Rawleys. Rawleys has the superior hot dog if you eat it 100% plain (no toppings, no condiments). SDW excels in every other facet - - - fries, other offerings (like their cheesesteak), and especially their toppings. I'm a guy that doesn't eat a naked hotdog, so I don't go back to Rawleys. Wed Nov 04 08:05:11 -0800 2009 5151770 105353 foleyd7 7 5155722 Have to agree with you on that, though I do like the Works Dog at Rawley's...bacon, mustard, relish, & kraut. They also do a great hot sauce. Milkshakes are better at Rawley's. Fries better at SDW. Wed Nov 04 11:59:24 -0800 2009 5154827 230608 CTburgerlover 1 5153543 I can't believe no one on this board ever mentions Bond Grill on the Post Rd. in Norwalk. I'm not even from your area and we've been several times. Excellent sushi, great setting, what is not to like? Would go more frequently if we still had to drive all the way to Norwalk for Penzey's (now we can just drive to West Hartford). http://www.takeouttonight.com/menus/connecticut/norwalk/06851/bond%20grill_2038468500/lunch-dinner/index.html Tue Nov 03 16:47:09 -0800 2009 5006888 249664 kattyeyes 1 5190726 Odd, there are very few Norwalk restaurants listed. Expensive, with a great view and excellent fish Harborlights, If you want greek pizza East Avenue Pizza on Ft Point St, Italian pizza, no argument its Pepe's without exception. Need an excellent meal for a huge crowd? Norwalk Inn, I have had excellent luncheons and banquet style dinners there...I know I know, I was surprised too. The Chef (and he is an CIA trained chef) really takes pride in his stuff. Also just had an excellent meal at the Ischoda Club, yes its a club but yes your can come and eat, just sign in. Really great prices too. Also, Ambrosia gives you alot of bang for the buck...if you need to take the kids and Grandma out, you will not be disappointed. Someone above said that Mike's is run by an elderly couple...I think Mike would be depressed at that description...He can't be older than 55. But you will need reservations there, food is excellent but they only cook for reservations. Also if you are looking for a great bakery NY Bakery on Main St (next to Mikes) is the place for rye bread, hard rolls etc. Wed Nov 18 03:34:54 -0800 2009 5006888 243716 jillcooks 2 5190744 Hey Jill and welcome back. Harbor Lights has been mentioned favorably on the boards and thanks fro the refresher. That would be jfood who mentioned the age of the Mike's owners and jfood has a 5 in his age no no slight intended (BTW - they participate in Coupon.com, great deal). A couple of years ago NY Bakery was mentioned. And if you are referring to Pepes in Fairfield, best not to start that war. Many, including jfood, are not fans of the place at all. In your town you have 3 places that are better that jfood knows of...Fatcat, Leitizia and Strada 18. Others have mentioned the Johns location on 123 (jfood has never been). Keep posting and welcom back to the FFD sub-board Wed Nov 18 04:04:21 -0800 2009 5190726 11290 jfood