Restaurant

CTbites Staff Picks for TOP EATS OF 2012

Stephanie Webster December 31, 2012

It's that time again...time to reflect on the year that has passed, and look forward to what is yet to come. For the food obsessed in Fairfield County, 2012 was a stellar year. The restaurant scene literally exploded with some very notable openings, and 2013 promises to continue the trend.

As we say good bye to 2012, we asked the CTbites Team to list the restaurants at which they spent the most time eating throughout the year. What you see below are the STAFF PICKS for TOP EATS OF 2012.

Let us know your favorite spots as well.

Happy New Year from CTbites.

Amy Kundrat: Top Eats 2012

The Whelk, Westport

Heirloom, New Haven

Community Table, Washington

Six Main, Chester

Stanziato's Wood Fired Pizza, Danbury

Jeff "Jfood" Schlesinger: Top Openings 2012

Bar Sugo, Norwalk

Boulevard 18, New Canaan

The Chelsea, Fairfield

Elm, New Canaan

Olio, Stamford

Picador, New Canaan

South End, New Canaan

The Spread, Norwalk

Stephanie Webster: Top Eats 2012

The Whelk, Westport

The Spread, Norwalk

Bodega, Fairfield & Darien

Elm, New Canaan

Coromandel, Multiple locations

The Chelsea, Fairfield

Barcelona Stamford

Valencia Luncheria, Norwalk

Lou Gorfain: Top Eats 2012

Elm, New Canaan

Bar Sugo, Norwalk

Napa & Co., Stamford

l'Escale, Greenwich

Bernard's, Ridgefield

leFarm, Westport

Columbus Park, Stamford

Rowayton Seafood, Norwalk

Fairfield County Foodie: Top Eats 2012

Bobby Q’s, Westport

Coromandel, multiple locations

Valencia Luncharia, Norwalk

Bon Appetit Café, Wilton

Barcelona, SONO

Barcelona Stamford

Tawa, Stamford

Thai Spice, Norwalk

Ellen Bowen, Events Curator: Top Eats 2012

New for 2012

Terrain, Westport

bartaco, Stamford & Portchester locations (Westport...coming soon)

The Spread, Norwalk

The Whelk, Westport

The Chelsea, Fairfield

Artisan, Southport

Oldies but goodies

Barcelona, multiple locations

Brasitas, Norwalk & Stamford

Nicholas Roberts, Norwalk

Tacos Mexico, Norwalk

Napa & Co., Stamford

Chris Grimm: Top Eats 2012

New in 2012

The Whelk (Westport) – high-quality seafood is no longer an inexplicably unfilled niche in lower Fairfield County, as Bill Taibe’s latest offers great food, creative drinks, and flawless service in a friendly setting. The Whelk shares that casual all-about-the-food vibe with some of my favorite restaurants, like NYC’s Momofuku Ssam Bar, Montreal’s Au Pied du Cochon, and Nashville’s City House.

Elm Restaurant (New Canaan) – Brian Lewis is serving the most refined food that I have eaten in Connecticut. Kudos.

The Spread (South Norwalk) – like the Whelk, the emphasis is on food over formality.