Restaurant L’Ostal Debuts New Bar-Only L’apero Menu Features Interview Restaurant Darien Happy Hour Cocktails Burger French Homepage Andrew Dominick July 21, 2023 Evolution is part of the progression of any restaurant, even one as damn good as Restaurant L’Ostal in Darien.Should you need a crash course in L’Ostal’s Provençal cuisine and on chef-owner and 2022 CRAZies “Chef of the Year” nominee, Jared Sippel, we covered all of that HERE a little more than a few years ago. Read More
See More of Seamore’s! The NYC Based Seafood Joint Opens in Darien Features Restaurant Seasonal Seamore's Darien Seamore's Seafood Darien Homepage Sustainable Openings Andrew Dominick June 26, 2023
Name L’Ostal’s Boozy Happy Hour “Milkshake” and Win Their Limited Burger + Shake Combo Restaurant Contest Happy Hour Milkshake Cocktails Burger Darien Andrew Dominick June 26, 2023 Hey, readers! We’ve got a fun, tasty treat for you if you win this one!We’ve teamed up with one of our favorites, Restaurant L’Ostal in Darien, as they’ve just launched their Tuesday through Friday L’apero menu that’s only available for an hour each of those weekdays. Read More
NYC's Fast Casual NAYA Middle Eastern Counter & Grill Brings Middle Eastern Cuisine to Darien Restaurant Darien Fast Casual Opening Middle Eastern CTbites Team June 12, 2023 In just a few short weeks, the Fairfield County dining scene will welcome NAYA Middle Eastern Counter & Grill opens its doors on June 23rd in Darien, CT. Originating from the heart of New York City, NAYA has gained widespread acclaim for its Middle Eastern flavors. Renowned for drawing long lines during the bustling lunch hour in NYC, NAYA is now set to captivate the vibrant community of Darien, nestled within the lively Darien Commons at 146 Heights Road, Darien, CT 06820. With a commitment to delivering an unparalleled fast casual dining experience, perfected in the Big Apple, NAYA is poised to serve the Fairfield County community. Read More
Seamore's, Sustainable Seafood Restaurant from NYC Opening in Darien June 9 Features Restaurant Opening Darien Sustainable Seafood Fish American Homepage CTbites Team June 04, 2023 Seamore's, the sustainable seafood restaurant group based in New York City, will expand into Connecticut with the launch of a location in Darien. Their mission is to make sustainable, local fish more accessible to everyone, with their entire menu featuring sustainably caught or farmed fish. Restaurateur Jay Wainwright has partnered with local chef Shannon Sturz to curate a menu that reflects local flavors and supports the local fisheries. Executive Chef Shannon Sturz, who grew up in the area, was previously Sous Chef at The Inn at Pound Ridge by Jean-Georges. Seamore’s will make its debut at Darien Commons on Friday, June 9. Read More
Q&A: CRAZIES Nominee "Best Chef of the Year" Jared Sippel of Restaurant L’Ostal Features Q & A Interview Celebrity Chef Awards Darien Christopher Hodson November 09, 2022 Each year, the CT Restaurant Association recognizes the exceptional ability and talent of Connecticut’s restaurant community in the prestigious CRAzies awards. We are excited to showcase the nominees for 2022’s CRAZIES AWARDS “BEST CHEF OF THE YEAR” in this 5 part series. All the candidates worked incredibly hard to receive this nomination, and while many of you may know some of them, you probably don’t know all of them. We sat down with each of these talented chefs to learn a little bit more about what makes them do what they do. This week, we feature Jared Sippel of Restaurant L’Ostal in Darien, CT. Read More
Flour Water Salt X Karla's Kreamery Bomboloni Ice Cream Sandwich Pop-Up Sept 24th Features Events Dessert Ice Cream Doughnuts Darien Pop-Up Stephanie Webster August 30, 2022 Big news for doughnut ice cream sandwich lovers everywhere. On September 24th, starting at 11:30 AM (and I’d get there nice and early as these will sell out quickly), Karla Sorrentino of Karla’s Kreamery and Rob Vankeuren of Flour Water Salt Bread will come together for a few hours to create some cream sandwich magic. The uniquely delicious Flour Water Salt bomboloni (Italian style doughnut) will have a chance to get intimate with Chef Karla’s new micro batch ice cream. These are two “best in class” desserts so get excited.This unique culinary opportunity will go down at Flour Water Salt located at 20 Grove Street in Darien. While the shop will hold normal hours that day, the ice cream sandwiches won’t get started until 11:30 AM. While both businesses generally take pre-orders, there will be no ordering in advance for this collaboration. Karla and Rob will be assembling sandwiches to order, and expect to simply wait in line for your sweet reward. Read More
Más Tacos Por Favor! La Taqueria Expands to Darien Features Interview Restaurant Tacos Margaritas Mexican Fast Casual Openings Darien Homepage Andrew Dominick August 28, 2022 A little more than two years ago, Dennis Lake opened his fast casual, but gourmet approach to a taqueria right at the top of Greenwich Avenue. Now he’s taken his homemade blue corn tortilla tacos, Mexican side dishes, and margaritas to Darien’s The Corbin District with a second location of La Taqueria.But don’t call it a franchise. Maybe don’t even ask him if that’s the plan, even if it does lend extremely well to damn near every city and town. Instead, Lake would likely prefer you call it a well thought out expansion. Read More
Pier 131: Dine and Drink on the River in Shelton this Summer Restaurant Shelton Comfort Food Waterfront Patio Outdoor Dining Burgers Italian American Pasta Lunch Brunch Openings CTbites Team May 03, 2022 Pier 131 Restaurant and Bar is poised to be one of CT’s “it” destinations this summer. Nestled along the newly renovated Shelton Riverfront with stunning views of the Housatonic River and the historic Old Shelton Railroad Bridge, Pier131 is located in one of the most stunning spots in Fairfield County.Although very much a neighborhood restaurant, this high-energy gathering place and urban retreat opened its doors late last summer and quickly became a popular destination drawing diners and photographers from all over Fairfield and New Haven Counties – even on the coldest winter days.The setting immediately draws you in and the tasty something for everyone menu will keep you coming back. Pier 131 has also done a great job giving diners an entertaining experience with live music several nights a week, a DJ every Sunday afternoon, as well as Trivia Night, a daily Happy Hour, $5 Margarita Tuesday, Pasta Sunday (with half off select bottles of wine). More events will be added to the line-up as the weather starts to warm. Read More
Pho Fans Opens In Darien with Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine Restaurant Vietnamese Darien Take Out Lunch Kid Friendly Asian Noodle Soup Pho Sandwich Homepage Jessica Ryan March 30, 2022 Pho Fans, Darien’s newest eatery is a family-run Vietnamese restaurant which opened just a couple of months ago and has already created quite the reputation for itself. The name suits this restaurant well – as those who enter will all quickly become fans! The Connecticut location is the second of the same name; the first is located in Huntington, NY. Vietnamese food is known to be one of the healthiest cuisines with minimal use of oils and dairy. As a result, flavors are light, fresh and balanced. Pho Fan relies on generations-old family recipes that translate well to the modern, health-inspired American palate. Their focus is on health and nutrition while delivering delicious food. You won’t find anything artificial or any additives whatsoever in their food. Read More
The Boathouse at Saugatuck Has a New Chef & Vibrant New (Waterfront) Menu Restaurant Outdoor Dining Waterfront Lunch Patio Cocktails American Lobster Roll Burgers Westport Jessica Ryan September 03, 2021 From beaches to boathouses we’ve been thoroughly enjoying our local waterside dining venues. We recently had the opportunity to dine at The Boathouse at Saugatuck. If you haven’t been in quite a while it’s time to come back, and you’ll be in for a pleasant treat. Located upstairs at the Saugatuck Rowing Club, the restaurant has seen a couple of transformations over the past few years. The newly renovated interior boasts a coastal yet elegant setting along the river - the vibe here is upscale yet relaxed. Another noticeable change is the food. The menu has gotten a whole new wardrobe and wears it well.We sat down to talk with Scott Greene. The Boathouse’s General Manager joined the team just months before the pandemic gripped our local businesses. His vision, creativity and forward thinking has elevated the restaurant to new heights. He’s responsible for the arrival of Chef Jason Milanese and his newly invigorated menu where his inspiration and presentation is reflected in the flavors. Chef brings his experiences from Tarry Lodge as well as Relais Chateaux’s Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod. Read More
Experience Restaurant L’Ostal's Spectacular Summer Menu Restaurant Darien French Menu Update Fine Dining Wine Bar Homepage Jessica Ryan August 03, 2021 Last month Restaurant L’Ostal’s Chef Jared invited us back to sample the new summer flavors. His menu changes regularly to keep things interesting but remains concise, keeping options to a minimum. There’s enough of a selection to please the palate yet not too much as to overwhelm. This of course is intentional; there’s just one chef in the kitchen and he wants perfection. And perfection is what you will get.I’d like to say that L’Ostal is for the adventurous, inquisitive, and those familiar with the flavors from the Pyrenees to Provence, or would like to become so. So if Steak Frîtes or French Onion Soup is what you're after, you’ll have to look elsewhere – at least during the warmer months which beckon flavors that are vibrant, green and fresh. What you will find here, at L’Ostal, are some of the best damned Escargots and Oeuf Mayonnaise made with Provencal mustard, pickles, onion and croutons. (I wrote about those from our last visit here.) Read More
Introducing The Charles Underground: Darien Butcher Shop's After Hours French Alter Ego Features Restaurant Darien Darien Butcher Shop Underground Dinner French Homepage Andrew Dominick August 01, 2021 It’s past 6 p.m. The Darien Butcher Shop is closed. You cruise by and you see people inside. Some are standing, others are sitting at community tables, and they’re all probably enjoying a glass of vino while they chat, laugh, and catch up.You can’t walk in for a slab of bacon or a thick, bone-in ribeye, so what’s actually happening?Four days per week, Peter Crawford transforms his business into The Charles Underground, a French-inspired eatery, and the shop’s after-hours alter ego.The Charles is where Crawford, a former New England Culinary Institute graduate who has worked with Charlie Palmer, Jean-Georges, Neil Gallagher, and Terrence Brennen, gets to step back into his passion as a classically trained French chef.Foie gras and dry-aged steak? Sure. Homemade boudin blanc sausage with Robuchon potatoes, and morel mushroom sauce? They have done that, too.Lending a helping hand in the front of the house is someone you might recognize from his time at Kawa Ni. Anthony Rinaldi acts as a restaurant jack-of-all-trades at The Charles, whether he’s waiting and bussing tables or assisting in the kitchen with cooking and occasionally washing dishes. Read More
Tim LaBant’s Parlor Sequel Opens in Darien Features Restaurant Pizza Darien Cocktails WIne Salads Openings Homepage Andrew Dominick May 17, 2021 After opening his first Neapolitan inspired pizza parlor in Wilton at the tail end of 2018, Tim LaBant has a Parlor part two in Darien’s Corbin District.That particular section of town, according to LaBant, was primed for his style of pizza because it wasn’t represented anywhere else nearby. “I eyed the Corbin District initially and even thought about waiting a few years,” he says. “I didn’t because I figured someone would beat me to it with a similar concept. We wanted to be here first.”LaBant and his Parlor squad officially started firing up pies in the Forza Forni Pavesi on April 16.As far as what you can expect from the Darien location, it’s much of what they do well in Wilton. Think pizza, veggies, wine, cocktails, and beer, at least for now. “We might add to the menu,” hints LaBant. “I know people are still doing lots of takeout. No one wants asparagus in a box.”But that’s not to say there isn’t anything new going down.Aside from Parlor’s classic margherita, plain cheese, or a pepperoni pizza, there’s a nod to a New Haven tomato pie and an ode to Roberta’s Bee Sting in the “Soppressata” with red sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, garlic, basil, chili flakes, and homemade hot honey. Read More
Restaurant L'Ostal Opens in Darien with Beautiful Provençal Cuisine Restaurant Darien Openings French Italian Spanish Provencal Fine Dining Tapas Homepage Jessica Ryan April 18, 2021 Darien finally gets a serious contender in upscale dining, bringing New York City excellence to the area without the city prices. Rooted in history and steeped in tradition, Restaurant L’Ostal celebrates the cuisines of Southern France and its neighboring communities from Catalonia, the Languedoc, Provence and the Alps of the Piemonte region of Italy with precision and accuracy.Before I share my own culinary experience, you must meet Chef Jared Sippel and General Manager and Sommelier Joe Cracco. Read More
Chef Stephen Lewandowski Is Back, Cooking Exceptional Fare at Townhouse in Greenwich Restaurant Openings Greenwich American Lunch Take Out Fine Dining Homepage Seafood Pasta Private Party Outdoor Dining Patio Jessica Ryan September 22, 2020 At Townhouse, contemporary meets traditional not only in décor, but in cuisine as well, where color and layers are just as prevalent in each carefully prepared dish. The menu takes simple fare and elevates it to the next level, layering flavors, colors and textures from around the world, delivering dishes that are nothing short of superb.This should really come as no surprise and one would expect nothing less with the trifecta of excellence at the restaurant’s helm. Chef Stephen Lewandowski (formerly of the Harlan restaurants, Tribeca Grill and Gotham Bar & Grill) has teamed up with longtime friend Drew (Nierport of Tribeca, Nobu & Batard), and Director of Operations Dana Cifone (formerly of Duoro, Starr and One Group) to create an experience of distinction that is multifaceted. Read More
Connecticut Restaurants Reopening on 5/20 with Outdoor Dining Features Restaurant Outdoor Dining Patio Best of CT COVID-19 Homepage Emma Jane-Doody Stetson May 17, 2020 “Opening a restaurant demands a fervent love of the business… and because of that love restaurants have historically proven far more resilient than many other small businesses,” writes John Mariani in a recent article for Forbes. We are overjoyed that on Wednesday May 20, Connecticut restaurants can begin opening their doors per the governor and the state’s reopening plan. Things may look a little different at first- outdoor dining only, reduced capacity, spread out tables, and in some cases limited hours- but we are thrilled to return to our favorite local eateries. Here is a guide to restaurants reopening on May 20. Please let us know if you know of anyone not on the list. Please note that we are trying to keep up with updates, but these details are subject to change. Please call your favorite restaurants ahead of time to confirm. Read More
SoNo Seaport Seafood Reopens: Iconic Waterside Seafood is BACK! Restaurant South Norwalk SONO Norwalk Seafood Comfort Food Kid Friendly Waterfront Patio Outdoor Dining Openings Homepage Andrew Dominick August 01, 2019 After a two-and-a-half-month hiatus, SoNo Seaport Seafood is open once again, serving up the ocean’s bounty with a few exciting changes. In mid-April, the 35-year-old South Norwalk mainstay announced they would shut down shop while the restaurant, outdoor bar, and patio all underwent renovations. To oversee it all, SoNo Seaport’s owners, the Bloom Family, brought in a legit Fairfield County chef to consult on the project. That’s where Matt Storch enters the fray. But make no mistake, the chef/owner of Match and Match Burger Lobster wasn’t merely brought in to make decisions on what furniture to buy and what color paint should go on the walls. One of Storch’s focal points at SoNo Seaport was to give an outdated menu a much-needed refresh. Read More
High George Rooftop Bar Opens At The Blake Hotel in New Haven from Chef Tyler Anderson Restaurant Openings New Haven Cocktails Bar RoofTop Patio American Celebrity Chef Homepage James Gribbon July 21, 2019 "I've just always wanted to be a part of it," Chef Tyler Anderson tells me as we talk about New Haven and he hands me an everything bagel spiced cracker topped with a mound of bluefish tartare. "The culinary scene is so impressive here, and you have the city culture, the music. I had to do it some day." The "it" is where we're standing, six or so stories above a corner in the southwest of downtown, on the roof of the new Blake Hotel. High George (named for the intersecting streets) is Anderson's kitchen pied-à-terre in the Elm City - open air views open now.Chef Anderson is a familiar face at his restaurants: Millwright's, The Cook & The Bear, and Porron&Piña, and to a national audience thanks to appearances on Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay. He is also well known to the James Beard Foundation, who have nominated him as Best Chef Northeast every year since 2013. His idea for the menu at High George is to present small plate versions of New England summer food - clams, fish, coal-fired skewers - inexpensively, adding culinary interest through twists on flavors and presentation. Fried whole belly clams? Absolutely, and served wrapped in soft bao, the easier to knock back in a few bites while holding a cocktail in the other hand. Anderson and A.J. Aurrichio have brought on Tim Cabral as the third partner, using his experience at Ordinary to create cocktails in keeping with the light menu because this is, after all, a rooftop bar. Read More
CT Guide to Outdoor Dining (2019): 100 + Restaurants for Summer Features Restaurant Best of CT Outdoor Dining Summer Patio RoofTop Emma Jane-Doody Stetson July 01, 2019 Summer lasts for about six weeks, and I want to soak up every glorious morsel of sunshine that I can while it is here! I also want to partake in the delicious food the season has to offer. Connecticut restaurants are making sure that we don’t have to choose between those two options. Places across the state are opening up their patios, decks, and rooftop bars. Here is a lift of over 130 restaurants where you can fine al fresco this summer.Tavern on State, New Haven: Tavern on State, owned by Chef Emily Mingrone, is one of the latest to join the dozens of exceptional restaurants in the New Haven area. There are 45 seats outdoors.Birdman Juke Joint, Bridgeport: The much-anticipated restaurant from Chef Chris Scott will have some outdoor seating in Bridgeport’s Black Rock neighborhood.High George, New Haven: High George, located at The Blake Hotel in New Haven, is a new three-season rooftop restaurant that features a full food and beverage menu inspired by Summers in New England. James Beard-nominated Chef Tyler Anderson, along with partners A.J. Aurrichio and Tim Cabral, is overseeing its operations. Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill, Fairfield & New Haven: The Fairfield location of Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill has a large patio for al fresco dining with firepits for cold evenings. In New Haven, enjoy their heated patio that is enclosed for year-round dining. Shell and Bones Oyster Bar, New Haven: Shell & Bones Oyster Bar in New Haven has a fabulous view of the water with floor to ceiling doors that are open in summer and a deck directly on the water complete with fire pits and patio heaters for chilly nights. Dive into their Harbor Sampler or the Tower of Shells, with lobsters, clams, oysters, and shrimp. Read More
