Filtering by Tag: Stamford,Sushi

Chef Driven 'DIG' To Open In Stamford with Mindfully Sourced Veg Forward Menu (via The Patch)

Features Restaurant Openings Vegetarian Vegan Special Dietary Needs Stamford Lunch healthy Homepage

Richard Kaufman via The Patch

The old Bull's Head Diner which closed in 2021 has been transformed into a new, unique eatery that has something for everyone. DIG, a chef-centric restaurant based in New York City, will open up at 43 High Ridge Road the week of April 17.

DIG has locations in Boston and Cambridge, Mass., Bridgewater Township, N.J., New York City, Philadelphia, Pa., Rye Brook, N.Y., and soon-to-be in Washington, D.C.

The Stamford location will be the restaurant's first stand-alone location.

DIG's seasonal menu is scratch-cooked and features fresh salads and market plates curated by their in-house chefs. The menu is rotated regularly, highlighting the freshest vegetables of the season.

Patrons can expect various salad and grain bowls. Current offerings include the beet & goat cheese bowl: farm greens, roasted red beets with clementines, preserved orange vinaigrette, with crumbled goat cheese, super-seed crunch with balsamic dressing on the side;

Or the kale caesar bowl: cashew kale caesar, farm greens with mint, tomatoes and cucumbers, and avocado, with cashew caesar dressing and toasted breadcrumbs on the side — among many other options.

You can also build our own bowl, add an a la carte side like roasted sweet potatoes or the Jasper Hill mac and cheese: Jasper Hill three-cheese blend, Ithaca milk, whole-wheat pasta with crispy panko breadcrumbs.

Read the complete article on The Patch.


Winfield Street Coffee Introduces New Culinary + Coffee Directors and Expanded Lunch Menu

Interview Restaurant Winfield Street Coffee Stamford Westport Westchester New York New York City Coffee Lunch

Andrew Dominick

reno Donatti recalls being in the Bronx and trying to get back to Stamford’s branch of Winfield Street Coffee. “I punched in Winfield Street Coffee in Google Maps, and for the time, it gave me the ‘see locations’ option,” he says. “I thought, Oh! This is awesome!”


Fiesta! Peruvian Cuisine Opens New Location in Stamford’s West Side

Restaurant Peruvian Stamford Openings South American Lunch Delivery Seafood Homepage

Jessica Ryan

Fiesta! is now open in Stamford’s West side neighborhood (conveniently located in the Shop Rite shopping center.) The Rojas family opened this location, their fifth restaurant, this past November, continuing in their dedication to share authentic Peruvian cuisine and culture with the Fairfield County community.  

Alberto Rojas’ opened the first Fiesta! location nearly 30 years ago. The Peruvian businessman and entrepreneur came to the States in the 1980s and has owned numerous local businesses over the years including those in the dry cleaning, travel and marketing industries. Rojas, a youthful 76, welcomed us warmly, and with pride, to his newest eatery. 


The Taco Project Introduces Former Alinea Chef as Culinary Director—Stamford Location Launches Brunch

Interview Restaurant The Taco Project Stamford Westchester Brunch Interview Chef Talk tacos Mexican Fast Casual Homepage

Andrew Dominick

Less than a year ago, we introduced readers to Stamford branch of The Taco Project, a fast casual Mexican restaurant whose roots began in Tarrytown in 2014.

Since April of 2022, The Taco Project and its brand grew even more outside of its existing Westchester locations (Tarrytown, Yonkers, Pleasantville, Bronxville) and its High Ridge Road spot in Stamford, as they’ve set their sights on the Florida market and opened up shop in Coral Springs.

But with growth comes some additions.


Terra Gaucha Brazilian Churrascaria Opening in Stamford October 22

Restaurant Brazilian Steakhouse Churrascaria Stamford Openings

CTbites Team

This just in from the PR team at Terra Gaucha…

Terra Gaucha, Connecticut’s only authentic Churrascaria or Brazilian Steakhouse located at Stamford Town Center, 280 Tresser Blvd. in Stamford has announced a Grand Opening on Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The new restaurant will occupy the former space of the Cheesecake Factory in the heart of downtown Stamford. This prime location is easily accessible with plenty of parking. A special introductory price for lunch and dinner will run through the end of October.


The Whale Tea: Go For The Brown Sugar Boba & Asian Baked Good Coming Soon

Restaurant Norwalk Fairfield Stamford Boba Tea Tea Asian Desserts Dessert Kid Friendly

Camille Vynerib

Originating in Nanjing China, The Whale Tea has over 300 stores around the world due to their success and popularity. In only a couple of years, the store expanded to a variety of locations including Australia, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, London, and the United States. May Lin, in an interview, explained that she brought the franchise to the US and has already opened nearly 15 shops. In Connecticut alone, 10 locations are up and running.

Lin explained that her and countless customers' favorite drink is the Brown Sugar Boba. Although the drink originated in the United States, and not in China, its look and flavor are bold enough to turn heads. The boba is cooked with the brown sugar in the shop, so when you receive your drink it’s hot. The boba, Lin explains, is “soft and tasty,” similar to the original boba from Taiwan. Fortunately, the store, if you aren't a brown sugar enthusiast, has countless additional options to choose from. Whale Crystal is the most popular special, but every drink has a unique and creative aesthetic that makes your drink delicious (and perfect for an Instagram post).


ÇKA KA QËLLU Albanian Restaurant Opens in Stamford

Restaurant Features Stamford Lunch Albananian Homepage

Jessica Ryan

A few weeks ago we headed to Stamford where it was rumored that a new Albanian restaurant had opened to rave reviews by Eater as well as the New York Times. Stamford, CT is the third ÇKA KA QËLLU location – the first was in the Bronx and the second in the Murray Hill section of New York City.

Why Stamford, I wondered? I then learned that Stamford has a large Albanian population. ÇKA KA QËLLU serves a modern selection of the most popular and well-loved dishes of Albania and Kosovo, including unique, mouth-watering desserts, according to their website. They also claim to proudly serve authentic dishes that are sumptuous and healthy at the same time. We were more than eager to check out this new-to-us cuisine.

Tucked away in a quiet street, the restaurant’s exterior automatically draws you in. As soon as you enter the building you feel as though you’ve stepped into another time and era that’s part castle and part museum filled with all sorts of wonderful and unique authentic 18th and 19th century artifacts, all imported from Albania.


Layla’s Falafel Introduces 'Layla’s Create Your Own' Bowls

Restaurant fairf Stamford Westport Middle Eastern Healthy Eats Lunch Take Out Meals To Go

Jessica Ryan

It’s hard to fathom there might be someone in Fairfield County not yet familiar with Layla’s Falafel. With locations in Stamford, Westport, and Fairfield, Layla’s is bustling with activity – and with good reason, their food is delicious. Layla’s offers something for everyone, satisfying a variety of palates and diet preferences, with options for vegans and vegetarians as well as those with celiac/gluten issues. This Middle Eastern fare is wonderful, fresh, and not to mention healthy.

And with that we are happy to share the great news that Layla’s Custom Bowls have been added to the menu. They’re healthy, incredibly satisfying and delicious. And just like the other menu options the bowls can be made vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.


Taco Daddy Owners John and Morgan Nealon Open Cugine’s Italian in Harbor Point, Stamford

Features Restaurant Openings Stamford Harbor Point Italian Homepage

Andrew Dominick

Recently, news broke that Taco Daddy owners John and Morgan Nealon would completely switch their next door concept in The Lila Rose to Cugine’s Italian, focusing on a sit-down, upscale Italian experience.

If The Lila Rose—which closed for good on May 8—was Taco Daddy’s only slight alter ego, Cugine’s is its polar opposite. Think NYC speakeasy vibes—when you walk in, there’s a mini flower shop “front”—complete with dim lighting, antique chandeliers, and a nice touch in a tribute wall of notable area chefs the Nealon’s are friends with and inspired by before you hit the restroom.

For John, it’s not only the Sinatra you’ll likely hear through the speakers that’s meant to bring you a bit back in time, but also the overall experience, including the food and Cugine’s focus on classic cocktails, even if there are a few small liberties taken. “Fortina (where John was one of the founders) ushered the way for casual Italian in this area, and Roberta’s really sort of originated it way back when, and that’s great,” John says. “I wanna bring back the sit down upscale Italian restaurant.”


Shiro Dessert Opens in Stamford: East Asian Sweets & Drinks

Restaurant Openings Stamford Asian TEA Homepage

Oliver Clachko

Downtown Stamford appears to be a Connecticut diner’s dreamland: dozens of bustling streets dotted with happening restaurants, bars, gastropubs, and more. Yet, amid this buzz, nineteen-year-old Sabrina Wang noticed a problem. “The [area] has a lack of good dessert places,” opines the UConn business management student. Daringly, Wang set out to fix this dearth, opening Shiro Dessert with the help of investors on May 14th.

The bistro serves up a handful of East Asian inspired drinks and desserts, from honey toasts to milk teas to fruit ades. In curating the menu, Wang “made sure to cater to the trends” of similar beverage shops throughout the state. This influence is most evident in the mango popping bobas that customers can add to any drink. But the impact of East Asian cuisines goes much further. Shiro’s menu is filled with ingredients popular in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese dishes — Matcha, Yuzu, Lychee, Jasmine, and more. Even Yakult, a sweetened milk product popular throughout Japan, takes a front-and-center position on the menu.


Cugine's Italian Opening in Stamford From Restaurateurs John & Morgan Nealon

Restaurant Features Stamford Openings Italian Cocktails Pasta Fine Dining Homepage

Stephanie Webster

Stamford restaurateurs John and Morgan Nealon today announced the opening of Cugine’s Italian in Stamford’s Harbor Point community at 121 Towne Street. The restaurant, expected to open later this Spring, will feature alluring, well-plated Italian cuisine, coupled with refined cocktails and a robust wine list.

“Our goal with Cugine’s is to offer not only Harbor Point, but Fairfield County as a whole, an entirely new Italian dining experience,” said John Nealon. “This sophisticated restaurant will invite our guests to take a step back in time and dine in the era of Frank Sinatra, with dark interiors and furniture, beautiful soft mood lighting, a period playlist and classic Italian cuisine.”


The Taco Project Opens in Stamford with Vibrant Mexican Fast Casual Fare

Restaurant The Taco Project Tacos Mexican Fast Casual Cocktails Stamford Openings To-Go Lunch Homepage

Andrew Dominick

Tarrytown, Yonkers, Bronxville, Pleasantville, and now Stamford.

Since opening in 2014 in Tarrytown, The Taco Project’s popularity kept growing in Westchester, and now they’ve brought their brand of Mexican-inspired fast casualness across the state border to the busy High Ridge Shopping Center.

Co-owner Carmelo Milio—who’s one of The Taco Project’s head honchos with partners Sebastian Aliberti and Nicholas Mesce—mentioned that opening their fifth location in Stamford was a natural progression for their brand.

“Being that we’re all Westchester residents (Sebastian is in Pleasantville, I’m in Armonk, and Nick’s in Dobbs Ferry), we come to Stamford to hang out often,” he says. “We’ve always thought about opening here, but we didn’t necessarily want it to be Downtown, so we can cater to our fans in Pound Ridge and Bedford as well. We like to be in these type of neighborhoods where it’s a little more laid back, more families, but still keep a fun ambiance while getting your food to you quickly, like within 15 minutes or so.”


Todd English Announces Opening of Food Hall at Stamford Town Center

Features open Stamford Food Hall Celebrity Chef

CTbites Team

Renowned Celebrity Chef Todd English and global entrepreneur Keith Burkard recently announced the formation of their newest joint venture, EHG, The English Hospitality Group. Featuring dozens of restaurants, hotels, nightlife venues and ghost kitchens, both domestically and internationally, EHG has positioned itself as a leading global operator, owner and developer by identifying opportunities that think beyond the traditional hospitality business model.

As part of this new initiative, English has announced that In Stamford, CT, EHG will debut a 80,000-s.f. immersive, discovery destination Todd English food hall and global art exhibition that will encompass a web 3.0 era consumer experience to wow the masses. It is destined to be a focal point for all to visit in the tri-state area and East Coast.


Fortina Stamford Launches New Brunch Menu...And It's Damn Tasty

Features Interview Restaurant Italian brunch Homepage Stamford Westchester Fortina

Andrew Dominick

Paul Failla uses the word “afterthought” when describing the brunch that was previously offered at all four Fortina locations in Stamford, Armonk, Rye Brook, and Yonkers.

“The old menu was like five items,” he says. “People didn’t come here for brunch. They’d always get pizza. Brunch was always an afterthought here.”

One of Failla’s first orders of business as the restaurant’s sole culinary director was to all but scrap the former “barely a brunch” format and make Fortina a place you’d seek out for daytime drinks, yolky goodness, breakfast sandwiches, sweets, and more.

Failla joked that the only thing that would stay on the brunch menu are the bottomless mimosas, and while that’s true, the only other holdover will be a tweaked version of eggs in purgatory, but with a spicier marinara sauce.

The rest of the menu is a switch-up entirely.


East Rock Market Opens in New Haven With 5 Exciting Food Concepts

Restaurant Features Marketplace Food Court Sushi Gelato Dessert New Haven Pasta Italian Openings Homepage Japanese Juice Bar Pizza Take Out

James Gribbon

Sometimes where you live is just where you sleep. Maybe the area has a bit of feel, or maybe some real estate conglomerate slapped it together like processed-cheese-food, named it The Crossing At The Shops At The Superfund Site, and well, at least the commute is short and everyone can understand the urge to show I-95 your personal taillights.

In Connecticut’s old – let's be kind and call them historic – cities, there are still to be found that most nostalgic living situation: The Actual Neighborhood. New Haven’s East Rock is one of the latter, and lately, what’s old is new again.

East Rock Market opened this November in a space which rubs shoulders with East Rock Brewing Company, and close enough to the in-building gym to borrow a neighborly cup of protein powder. By Thanksgiving of 2021, the Market’s large, bright space housed five concepts: RAW Bowls & Juice, Panciale pasta and pizza, Nicoll Street Gelato, Rick’s Bar, and Rockfish sushi. Developer Rishi Narang has named the former WWI-era Marlin Arms factory East Rock Center, and market, brewery, and gym are all contained within the massive footprint in a sort of indulgence/repentance love triangle.


The Wheel Debuts Sunday Jazz Brunch at The Village in Stamford

Features Restaurant The Village Stamford Stamford brunch Homepage Breakfast Lunch

Andrew Dominick

When we introduced our readers to The Village in the summer of 2021, we knew we’d be back relatively soon thereafter. No, it’s not to talk about beer and smash burgers at Cisco Brewers. It has nothing to do with the special pop-up dinners you may have peeped on Instagram.

This brief sequel takes us back to The Wheel where they’ve just begun wheeling out Sunday brunch service. Brunch here is short, only from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., with a small, breakfasty menu. Some of it is salty, some is sweet, and there’s lots of yolky goodness to be had.

But who hits up brunch without booze? And in the case of The Wheel…tunes. Drink beer, or wine, and they’ll allow you to order a cocktail from their afternoon menu (I had a Sazerac after my White Russian), but the focus here is light and bubbly or bloody. Refreshing mimosas and bellinis are available by the glass but where’s the fun in that? The Wheel has an option where brunchers can choose their sparkling wine, then fresh squeezed fruit juice mixers, and even ginger, crème de menthe, or Aperol. It arrives at your table in a wooden serving tray, DIY style. Mix and drink.

Bloodies—in Mary form (with vodka) or the tequila-based Maria—are also a brunch staple at The Wheel, as are Cisco beers, other local craft selections, and a boozy milkshake-like White Russian, blended in part with Stamford-based Rise Oat Milk Vanilla Coffee.

While you sip, enjoy the tunes. This is a jazz brunch after all. Most often you’ll catch local musicians or bands that are brought in by Greenwich resident Pete Francis of Dispatch fame. On the off chance that Pete is hanging out, expect him to join in on a few sets.

By now you should have figured out what you’re brunching on besides alcohol.

Like I mentioned earlier, The Wheel’s Sunday Funday menu is succinct. If you’ve been before, you’ll notice a trio of the restaurant’s dinnertime staples offered at brunch, namely the locally sourced Lioni burrata with strawberries and basil, tuna tartare, their big, beefy burger, and a lobster roll.

More morning appropriate fare appears like a shareable buttermilk banana bread—seriously, try it. I don’t even get down with banana bread like that. This one isn’t dry, the banana isn’t too…banana-y. It’s made with love, and whipped butter to spread all over it doesn’t hurt either. Other starters are fire bread with hot honey and whipped ricotta, a lox plate with bagel chips and proper accompaniments, and a not so shareable yogurt parfait.


Sally’s Apizza Opens in Stamford: A Pictorial First Look

Restaurant Features Sally's Apizza Stamford New Haven New Haven Pizza Pizza Cocktails Homepage

Andrew Dominick

Let’s just get right to it.

The legendary Sally’s Apizza expanding outside of Wooster Street is a pretty big freaking deal.

Yeah, yeah. We know. You like (INSERT YOUR FAVORITE NEW HAVEN PIZZA JOINT HERE) better. Or you’ll have a snarky comment to leave that’s along the lines of “Sally’s New Haven is better!” or “I’m done because they sold out!”

Don’t care.

We don’t even need to dive into the history of Sally’s. Chances are you probably know it already anyway.

But either way you slice it—yeah that’s a pizza pun—you’re intrigued by what the inside looks like and a few tidbits about what’s new at Sally’s first shot at a modern version of their growing ‘za business. And a couple visuals of their famous pies won’t hurt you either!

Sally’s. Stamford. Go crazy!