Fairfield County Food

[Mfood]

Hello members of chowhound, I'm a first time poster and was wondering if anyone could recommend me your favorite places to eat in this area. I will be moving out of Fairfield county in a month and wanted to visit some new places before I leave. I'm not looking for anything specific just tasty. They don't have to be up-scale restaurants just your local favorites.

Thanks
Mfood

[steve h.]

Napa & Company in Stamford continues to impress. Last night, Deb and I shared three small plates that were new to the menu: grilled octopus, veal sweetbreads and roasted, head-on shrimp. All three plates were outstanding, equalling what I would expect from top-notch restaurants in Manhattan and San Francisco. We washed it all down with a bottle of the house pinot noir. A very serviceable espresso finished a most enjoyable meal. Service was attentive, prices fair. Noise level is a bit high but that's the price of poker there.

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Napa & Company
75 Broad St, Stamford, CT 06901

[louuuuu]

You should narrow this down a bit. Way too openended.

First to know what's "new" for you, it would be helpul to know what are some of your past faves. That would avoild recommending somewhere you've already been and provide hints what new to suggest.

If you're moving far away, I'd try some of the uniquely CT food you can't get there, seafood including CT lobster roll, NewHaven style pizza or Colony, only in CT burgers and franks, etc.

You might also check the board for the best places in cities like New Canaan, Stamford, Sono, Westport.

A good researching of this board using keywords is the proactive way to go.

Guess this is hello goodbye.

[Mfood]

Yes I will be moving cross country actually, where would you recommend for uniquely CT food? I've heard good things about Knapp's Landing Lobster roll's where else would you recommend for lobster rolls, pizza and burgers/dogs?

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Knapp's Landing Restaurant
520 Sniffens Ln, Stratford, CT 06615

[lsnhc]

Knapp's Landing is another one of those on-the-water restaurants that offers far better views than food. While I have never had their lobster roll, the couple of times I have eaten there have produced nothing particularly noteworthy in the gastronomy dept. I can tell you that the crab cakes are downright awful...

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Knapp's Landing Restaurant
520 Sniffens Ln, Stratford, CT 06615

[Mfood]

Where would you recommend for great seafood/lobster rolls?

[louuuuu]

Alas, Knapps Landing is not a go to place for anything BUT lobster rolls, with the posible exception of mussels in a warm gorganzola sauce. But score a table on their terrace at the mouth of the Housatanic and Long Island sound. Gulls wheeling overhead, fishboats plying the waters, and a warm buttery Lobster Roll in your hands ... a Connecticut picture postcard.

Two great FFD cty seafooders are Rowayton Seafood and Harbor Lights in Norwalk. Also consider the Boathouse in Westrport. There's a shack attached to Rowayton where you can get a lobster roll on the fly.

For clam chowder and fied bellies on the go, give Westfair in Westport a try.

Do yourself a favor and stop in to Fjord Fisheries in Cos Cob or Westport and bring home a 1/2 lb of smoked Marlin dip and jalopena peppers, spread on a ritz cracker, and make an unforgettable Ct taste memory.

Hotdogs, SuperDuper Weenie in FFD or Swanky Franks in Westport.

Hamburgers Cherry St East in NC or Black Duck in Westport. Napa's hamburger draws raves, but there are even better entries on their menu.

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Harbor Lights
84 Seaview Ave, Norwalk, CT 06855

Rowayton Seafood
87 Rowayton Ave, Rowayton, CT 06853

Swanky Frank's
1050 Post Rd E, Westport, CT 06880

Black Duck Cafe
605 Riverside Ave, Westport, CT 06880

[wreckers00]

I find Swanky Franks in Westport to be average at best.

My favorite dogs are Super Duper Weenie, as mentioned, and Rawley's in Fairfield.
For burgers, I think Black Duck is decent, but the best burgers are done in the upscale restaurants (obviously more expensive)..but I think Napa and Co and Dressing Room have good burgers. For "fast food" I like Flipside Burgers in FFld and Shake Shack is coming later this year to Westport

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Super Duper Weenie
306 Black Rock Tpke, Fairfield, CT 06825

Dressing Room
27 Powers Court, Westport, CT 06880

Swanky Frank's
1050 Post Rd E, Westport, CT 06880

Black Duck Cafe
605 Riverside Ave, Westport, CT 06880

[JenJeninCT]

Love burgers at the Duck(also great steamers, and a decent lobster roll), but don't care for their rings- fries are ok. I despise everything except the shakes at Swanky Franks- they are the closest to where I work to get lunch, but I NEVER go there- if I want a dog, Rawley's is my 1st pick, then Super Duper (like Super's fries better, though). Although Flipside is good, in 6+ visits, I have yet had a burger cooked to med- rare as I order- have never been less than med/med-well. Better than average rings and fries, though.

Decent fried seafood (and very reasonable) at Westfair in Westport- and the raw oysters are a local steal at $13/doz. If you don't mind venturing a little into New Haven County, 7 Seas in Milford has excellent seafood, including lobster rolls. Also really like Stowe's right on the water in West Haven. Knapp's is ok for what it is, although I think the food is a little better at Dolphin's Cove in Bridgeport- similar atmosphere, with a Portuguese twist (that said, I did have 1 of the best duck meals of my life at Knapp's but don't go there often and have never seen it on the menu again).

You have to experience a hot oil (and whatever toppings you want, I usually just get hot oil and pepperoni) pizza at Colony in Fairfield, and a white clam pie (I get mine with bacon and mozz) at Pepe's(although some disagree, I find the Fairfield location perfectly acceptable) before you leave. I personally would not leave the area without 1 last hot roast beef with gravy and grilled mashed potatoes at S&S Dugout in Southport.

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Swanky Frank's
1050 Post Rd E, Westport, CT 06880

[jfood]

I agree with the great recommendations here with certain exceptions:

- Harbor lights - i think the quality has gone down over the last 5 years. I was an early lover of this place, but it sorta fell off the go-to places. Another entry to great fish dishes is Bistro Bonne Nuit in New Canaan, the daily specials are out of sight.

- I've also been disappointed by the dogs at Rawley's, not my cup of tea

- Likewise with all the really good burgers in FFD county, Flipside does not even make my top-10 list. Much better choices down county.

- A sleeper burger can be found at Farmer's Table in New Canaan. Meat from John Boy's in Cambridge NY and it is fantastic.

- For pastas I would also add Cava in New Canaan and its sister restaurant Scena, in Darien. Ten of us ate at Cava last night last night and everyone raved over their dishes.

- Never been to the Fairfield version of Colony but the original in Stamford is an experience, that should be, well, experienced.

Ciao and enjoy

www.ctbites.com

[Mfood]

Thanks for all the responses, it looks like i will have a lot of options to choose from before i head out. I will definitely give your recommendations a try.

[TrishUntrapped]

Nicholas Roberts in Norwalk, a bit short on atmosphere, but has great food and it's BYOB so you can save some $$$.
http://www.nicholasrobertsbistro.com/

[LW1]

I'm a fan of the Schoolhouse and Swanky Franks myself. Bonne Nuit in New Canaan for French food.

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Swanky Frank's
1050 Post Rd E, Westport, CT 06880