Sunday
Jan292012
Shout Out: Best Food Town in Fairfield County?
Tired of talking politics? Let's talk food. It's time to cast your vote in THE CT FOOD PRIMARY.
Throw down the top candidates for BEST FOOD TOWN in FAIRFIELD CT.
Is it Westport with its recent culinary renaissance? Or New Canaan, a small town that boasts a big and exciting restaurant scene? Maybe Stamford, offering culinary diversity like no other city in Fairfield County. Ridgefield? Norwalk-Sono? Fairfield?
Which town would you nominate for best foodie town? Why?
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CTbites Shout Out
CTbites Shout Out
Reader Comments (24)
Sweet Basil in Fairfield has some of the best appetizers anywhere. Creative, beautiful to look at, and unbelievably tasty.
I nominate Fairfield.
Norwalk has a great variety. Great BBQ at Jeff's Cuisine, great Arepas/Empenadas at Valencia's, pizza at Jordan's pizza, dinner food at Post Dinner,great bagels at Village bagel and burgers at Beach burger or Five guys.
I'm pretty partial to Stamford for its variety of excellent food choices at price points to satisfy pretty much every budget and craving.
Oh, and maybe my eyes are failing me, but I think your map misspells Bethel, which deserves some attention for the throwback experience and signature burgers & beer at Sycamore Drive-In.
@UnsatisfiedMind- We can't claim responsibility for the map and its spelling failure, but we apologize on the creator's behalf. Amy Kundrat is a Bethel resident so this is particularly unsavory.
Where do you hang in Stamford?
I believe it's Westport! Pane E Bene is just AWESOME, no need to go anywhere else....they will always make whatever you desire, and the food is great. For lunch, ( or breakfast ) swing by Golds deli and grab some fresh bagels & lox or a bowl of homemade matzah ball soup ( or others ), always fresh and fantastic. Don't forget about Grey Goose with their great salads/burgers & Artisan so homey and charming! I could go on & on but enough right?....P.S. ( The Whelk is opening on Tuesday, & you know it will be great...fresh seafood on the water, check out the website! >WESTPORT WINS!!! ENJOY.
I second Stamford. From El Charrito to Napa to Tawa to colony the diversity of food choices and the quantity out does any town in FFDC. Also tops for lunch because of all the business traffic On a per capita basis New Canaan is remarkable. Nd Wesyport coming on strong. Biggest disappointment is Greenwich
Stamford - so many different cuisines: from Thai to Indian, pizza galore, Italian, Mexican, Peruvian to steaks. Whatever you're craving, you're bound to find it in Stamford.
I live in Stamford and do appreciate all of the variety - whatever you want, we've got it. Some favorites are Tawa, Fez, Lola's, and Zaza's. However, when I'm looking to get something really tasty and a nice dining experience, I always find myself heading to Westport. I'm a huge fan of Bobby Q's and Matsu, but have also recently had a really nice dinner at Tavern on Main.
So my vote has to go to Westport.
Westport, hands down.
Stamford! Casa Villa, El Charrito, Fiesta, slidders at Seaside, Remos, colony, coromandel, brunch at tigins (w bloody)....
Velencia in Norwalk has really impressed me. Match is amazing as well. Velencia's Paella is top notch.
Without a doubt it's Fairfield! This town has the most incredible variety and the best food around! My favorite is the Old Post Tavern on the Post Road - Tuesday nights they have 1/2 price bottles of wine to accompany their incredible menu (my favorite: the award-winning New England Clam Choweder and the cedar plank salmon!) - even my children eat like kings from their kids' menu (skirt steak is their fave!) Not to mention Fairfield's pizza selection: Pepe's, Colony, Nauti Dolphin! Love sushi? Fin is consistently incredible and fresh! A new favorite is Bon Appetite - the creperie on Black Rock Turnpike! Fairfield = YUM!
im not sure which town is best- westport is pretty good but i do know which one is the worst-RIDGEFIELD- habds down-not a decent place in sight
I'm going to have to go with Westport on this one, actually. I was debating about Fairfield being nominated. But there are some sub par restaurants in Fairfield. I think the quality in Westport is better. Oscar's, Gold's, Swanky Franks (or is it Woody's) now?, Jordan's Pizza, LeFarm, Pane e Bene, Tarantino, Aqua and The Whelk. On second thought, Fairfield has Colony. Ooooooooo... That might be a deal breaker.
Ahhh! I have to stick with Westport.
Stamford. Period. Final.
I would like to offer two head to head competitions.
The first of the two pairings is Stamford and Norwalk. The former has some great ethnic choices, Brasitas, El Charito, Bartaco, Eos, while the latter has some of my favorites including Valencia, Los Molcajetes, Jeff's Cuisine. For top tier the choices include Napa and Match, while the pizza throwdown has Colony versus Pizzeria Rosso and Strada 18. In addition, you throw in Mike's, Nicholas Roberts, Beach Burger, The Lime and Chocopologie and my vote goes to Norwalk.
The other pairing would include Westport and New Canaan. New Canaan has home court advantage at Casa Jfood, and now includes Carpe Diem, Bistro Bonne Nuit, Kouzina, Roger Sherman, Farmer's Table, Chef Luis, and Cava. Losing Dan Kardos at Harvest Supper 18 months ago and the closing of Aloi are both blemishes (we need to wait for elm and Boulevard 18). These stack up to Westport's entries of LeFarm, Whelk, Boathouse, Dressing Room and DaPietro. Burgers we have a good contest with Cherry Street and Farmer's Table versus Black Duck and LeFarm. Pizza is Joe's versus Julian's and ice cream and candy are locks with Gelatissimo and Belgique. Westport has the edge with top-tier but I have to give a slight nod to New Canaan at this time and with two in the works, this should add to the choice.
Westport by a wide margin. LeFarm, Boathouse, Da Pietro's, Dressing Room, Matsu and no one has even mentioned Tarry Lodge or Shake Shack! Norwalk and Stamford have more diversity, Greenwich and Fairfield might have more total choices but for sheer quality, it's Westport without question.
I agree about Ridgefield being the worst, also New Canaan is pretty bad; it might have one or two decent places but also has way too many places that are very overpriced and mediocre.
Not that we have a lot of great restaurants here, but Brookfield IS in Fairfield County.
Redding is also misspelled, ironically as "Reading".
I like Norwalk for it's diversity and relative affordability, but you can not beat Westport with all the heavy hitters practicing their craft here.
Also, agree that losing Dan Kardos was a blow to New Canaan except the poster above was only off by about 15 months. Kardos was at Harvest Supper as recently as November. I know this for a fact! I was there!
Bridgeport. Anybody got a problem with that?!
Like most of the above posters, I would say the top 3 would be Stamford, Norwalk and Westport. However, I'm leaning towards Norwalk for the top spot due to its diversity and affordability like "Westport Wrecker" states.
Some of my favs are:
Ethnic: Valenica, Tacos Mexico (authentic) Quechua (peruvian) Brasitas.
Pizza: Fat Cat Pie, Strada 18, Letizias (no delivery, but delicious thin pies)
Cafes: Chocopologie, Sono Caffeine.
Mediterranean/American/Bistro: Basso Cafe (ranked #1 in Norwalk according to zagats and a byob), Nicholas Roberts, Match.
Bakery: SoNo Baking Co (a bit pricey, but a nice spot for a splurge bfst), Michele's Pies (Westport location too, best banana cream pie EVER!!)
Oh I cant forget: Blue Cactus Grill...delicious and innovative burgers!!! Wow!
What Norwalk is lacking IS great Italian and a Steakhouse. I havent been to Blackstone's, so I would like some feedback there and as for Italian....Pasta Nostra??? Ehhh...What else is there? Anyone?.
Also, has anyone tried Sugar and Olives?
BRIDGEPORT! Bridgeport has terrific ethnic restaurants. Some favorites are Saigon on Wood Avenue for
authentic Vietnamese; Ralph N Riches for fantastic Italian in a great downtown space at amazing prices; Capitol
Avenue Pizza (off of Park Avenue) for top notch pizza; and a host of Mexican places all over the City. Bijou
Square now has a number of new restaurants and very cool apartments and the Bijou Theater. There's a lot happening in Bridgeport - both on the foodie and art scene.
Stamford. No question
Ok; living in redding I don't have any choice but to travel for food.
Here are my (obvious but I think deserving) picks town by town;
Ridgefield; yes it sucks, but please try CELLO...new and really good (and of course Luc's for classic bistro )
Wilton; Schoolhouse
New Cannan; Harvest Supper and Tequila Mockingbird (when you order one of their specials)
Westport; Bill Bill Bill (le farm and whelk) and tarry lodge
Greenwich; Rebecca's and jean louis
Norwalk; match, pasta nostra, strada, fat cat, valencia, blackstones
Southport: artisan & pacci
Rowayton; Rowayton Seafood
Darien; they are lacking, need just one dynamite spot...trying the Darien Social tonight
Stamford; believe it or not Capital Grille (and of course Napa but then bill left and haven't been back since)
Newtown: Figs Wood Fire
Fairfield; Pepe's, Fin, osianna must be forgetting another
Would love to see someone open up a beautiful farm to table in Easton, Redding,Wilton Weston or Newtown in an old antique house with great gardens!!
I would say Norwalk, for Basso Cafe Restaurant, the best food in Fairfield County, and also is B.Y.O.