Savor Authentic Indian Fare Flavors at Coromandel Cuisine of India

Savor the flavors of India with a visit to Coromandel Cuisine of India. This Darien restaurant is a favorite among locals, and for good reason: its many slow simmered sauces and braised meats are well-spiced and tender. To sample them all, try the lunch buffet, where it's easy to try new dishes—and then to go back for more when you find something you like. Try the chicken madras, which gets its distinctive flavor from a hot curry sauce made with red chilis and mustard seeds, or dig into a plate of beef vepudu with its onions, herbs, coconut, and peanut masala sauce.

Don't forget to order some naan to wipe any last bits of sauce from your plate (both regular and garlic naan are favorites at Coromandel) and consider getting some spiced vegetable samosas, too, to round out your meal. Wash it all down with a refreshing mango lassi or stick with a large glass of water if you want to focus solely on the flavors of the food.

Coromandel Cuisine of India
25 Old Kings Highway North
Darien, CT 06820
(203) 662-1213
coromandelcuisine.com/darien.html
www.yelp.com/biz/coromandel-cuisine-of-india-darien

Station Eats: Burgers, Fries and Shakes Done Right

Once you visit Station Eats you just might find yourself with a new favorite burger joint. This New Canaan restaurant specializes in hand-shaped burgers, fries, and shakes, all made with fresh, local, organic ingredients.

Try the classic Station Burger garnished with American cheese, lettuce, and tomato, or build a custom burger that will really hit the spot. Try starting with a grass fed beef patty and adding grilled onions and mushrooms, Swiss cheese, thick cut bacon, and a dollop of garlic aioli for a rich, hearty meal. Or for something lighter, choose a turkey burger topped with kale, red curry mayo, and Asian-style coleslaw.

As a burger joint, this place is definitely kid-friendly (and it’s often packed with kids), but Station Eats also offers wine and beer for adults to enjoy while the kids slurp on their milkshakes.

Station Eats
19 South Avenue
New Canaan, CT 06840
(203) 966-4445
stationeats.com
www.yelp.com/biz/station-eats-new-canaan

Papaya Thai: Luscious Thai Cuisine

The fragrant, flavorful cuisine of Thailand served in an upscale setting is what’s up at Papaya Thai. Ordering some small plates to share at the table is always a great way to start off your meal. Options include Chicken Satay Skewers with peanut sauce, Barbeque Pork Chop with sweet & spicy chili dip, Crispy Tofu with peanuts, Poa Pia – crispy mini spring rolls with vegetables, and Crispy Crab Wontons served with mango sauce. A Dumpling Sampler with three types of steamed dumplings is also a tasty option. Entrees feature traditional favorites like Pad Thai and Panang Curry, along with Golden Coconut Shrimp, Royal Beef & Chicken, Nutty Tofu & Veggies and Massaman Curry Stew. Beer, wine and cocktails are served.

Papaya Thai
24 Marshall Street
Norwalk, CT 06854
(203) 866-8424
http://www.yelp.com/biz/papaya-thai-and-asian-bbq-norwalk

Patrizia’s: Classic Italian Food in a Warm Atmosphere

There’s a certain feeling you get at a really good Italian restaurant, like you’re part of a family. It’s that feeling that makes Patrizia’s in Stamford such a popular eatery. When you step through the doors of this place, you’ll immediately feel welcomed whether it's your first time or your twentieth time.

Patrizia’s is an outpost of a legendary Italian joint on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, and the menu is virtually identical. Start off with the savory baked crabs with seasoned breadcrumbs, or the eight-spice chicken wings with gorgonzola. Some entrees that win raves include the skirt steak with broccoli rabe in a balsamic reduction and the eggplant Parmigiana. When it comes to pasta, you can’t go wrong with the fettuccine carbonara with applewood smoked bacon or the spaghetti a la Frank Sinatra, made with clams, shrimp, and olives. Or you can just go “family-style" and let the chef send out dishes he thinks your party will like the best.

Patrizia's
249 Main Street
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 348-8000
www.stamfordpatrizias.com
www.yelp.com/biz/patrizias-stamford-2

Bridge Street Wienery: Make Any Day a Dog Day

After a visit to Bridge Street Wienery in Stamford, it might be hard to imagine going back to those plain old frankfurters served at family reunions and baseball games. The guys behind the Wienery are crafting some of the most inventive hot dog creations you'll find anywhere near Stamford, according to regular diners.

Regulars recommend the Squealer (pulled pork and sauerkraut), the Aly (bacon and chipotle mayo), and the Kardashian (gorgonzola and onion rings). You can even design your own custom dog using the Wienery's selection of 18 different toppings that range from barbecue sauce to coleslaw and sauteed peppers. If you want something familiar, you can’t go wrong with a standard chili dog or one of the non-dog options, like a cheeseburger with tater tots on the side. And if you're looking for a friendly place to enjoy your lunch break without breaking the bank, Bridge Street Wienery is a must-try.

Bridge Street Wienery
17 Bridge Street
Stamford, CT 06905
(203) 569-4990
www.thewienery.com
www.yelp.com/biz/bridge-st-wienery-stamford

ZAZA: Fresh Pasta, Steak and Seafood

Indoor and patio seating; a chic, casual ambiance; and an impressive menu of food and drink have won ZAZA in Stamford a bevy of fans. Go there to relax with a glass of wine from the expansive selection and a flavorful starter like roasted truffle sprouts with honey truffle, pancetta, and almonds; the lobster polenta with burrata mozzarella; crab cakes with arugula and house-made tartar sauce; or lamb sliders with polenta and Barolo wine sauce.

Paninis, salads, and pizzas are also on the menu, along with pasta dishes like lobster ravioli with pink sauce, penne ala vodka with chicken, fettuccine di mare with seafood and pink sauce, and penne puttanesca with shrimp, olives, garlic, tomato, and capers. Non-pasta items include Tuscan grilled steak with potatoes and mixed vegetables and the seafood stew with clams, shrimp, scallops, mussels, and calamari.

ZAZA
122 Broad Street
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 348-2300
www.zazagastrobar.com
www.yelp.com/biz/zaza-italian-gastrobar-and-pizzeria-stamford

Elm: A Relaxed Fine Dining Experience in New Canaan

At Elm, chef Brian Lewis is committed to serving elegant meals that utilize seasonal, traditional ingredients. Consequently, the menu at this New Canaan restaurant features dishes like Maine halibut served with cauliflower, fennel marmalade, and vaudavan curry and duck breast roasted with juniper berries and accompanied by pine nut crumble and chanterelles. If everything on the menu looks good, you might try ordering the chef's seven-course tasting menu, which will allow you to try smaller portions of many different flavors and preparations.

Keep in mind that the timing of your visit matters: with separate menus for lunch, bar dining, brunch, and dinner, Elm offers a number of different culinary experiences from which to choose. Across all the menus, however, the restaurant's combination of rusticity and elegance has earned Elm quite a bit of local buzz, so expect the restaurant to be full when you visit.

Elm
73 Elm Street
New Canaan, CT 06840
203) 920-4994
www.elmrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/elm-new-canaan

Experience Classic French Cuisine at La Bretange

The cuisine of France stands head and shoulders above most of Europe, and for good reason. France is the cradle of so many different cooking techniques that later spread throughout the world, and its chefs have been constantly refining and developing them over the last few centuries.

So Stamford residents are lucky to have a French restaurant of the caliber of La Bretange at their disposal. Start your meal off with the the chef’s country pate, which is rich and flavorful, or the smoked Scottish salmon. For entrees, regulars recommend the tender frog’s legs sautéed in garlic butter, the sweetbreads in tarragon sauce, and the rack of lamb for two. As you may have noticed, the food here is deeply traditional—so if you’re looking for fusion cuisine, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Make sure to leave room for dessert, as it’s delicious. The Grand-Marnier-soaked berries are decadent and delicious.

La Bretange
2010 W. Main Street
Stamford, CT 06902
(203) 324-9539
www.yelp.com/biz/la-bretagne-stamford

Stamford’s Chic Bar Rosso Has Style to Spare

Stamford has no shortage of visually striking restaurants, but the space at Bar Rosso is impressive by even the highest standards. The bi-level space has a wraparound mezzanine with open-air seating, giving the environment a combination of lots of space and surprising intimacy.

The bar is located just across the street from the Avon Film Center, drawing a diverse crowd of Stamford’s youngest and hippest people. A wood-fired oven is the cornerstone of the kitchen, and it churns out exceptional Neapolitan-style pizzas with a distinctly smoky flavor. The small plates menu is second to none, so get a group together and nosh on truffle fries, grilled octopus with couscous and chickpeas, or tuna tartare with capers and lemon. The rest of the menu is fairly short, with a half-dozen pasta dishes (try the spaghetti chittara) coupled with a few larger plates. The grilled lamb chops with fresh mint and sautéed broccoli rabe are highly regarded by customers.

Bar Rosso
30 Spring Street
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 388-8640
www.barrossoct.com
www.yelp.com/biz/bar-rosso-stamford

Mario the Baker: The Best Pizzas in Stamford

Ask any pizza aficionado and they’ll tell you that a true pie is nothing without the perfect dough. That’s why Mario the Baker has been Stamford’s go-to choice for exceptional pizzas since it first opened in 1970. With almost a half a century under their belts, the chefs have developed a devoted clientele of locals.

The first thing you need to do upon entering the restaurant is order some garlic bread for the table. It’s made from a fresh loaf of Italian bread slathered in garlic and butter, and it’ll disappear quickly after it arrives. Other appetizers that win raves include the clams and mussels Posillipo and the cold antipasto.

Moving on to pizza, Mario the Baker offers a number of popular combinations, including the popular Mario’s Special of sausage, meatballs, mushrooms, green peppers, pepperoni, and onions. The Scarpariello with chicken, sausage, and hot peppers is also very good. Pasta dishes also win raves from regulars, as do the wedge sandwiches. Prices are fair and portions are enormous.

Mario the Baker
864 High Ridge Road
Stamford, CT 06905
(203) 329-0440
www.mariothebakerstamford.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mario-the-baker-stamford

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