In Danbury: Mad Hatter Restaurant & Tap Room

Written by Fran Sikorski
Friday, 06 January 2012 10:25

The Mad Hatter Restaurant in Danbury. —Photo by Scott MullinIt was a big business change for restaurateurs Roger and Alice Manter, owners of an Italian restaurant, Del Franco, in Sorrento, Fla., who moved back to Danbury to "launch their culinary dream" in their hometown. They recently opened the Mad Hatter Restaurant & Tap Room in downtown Danbury, offering more diversity in the city's dining district.

The Manters' son, Michael, a chef, continues to operate the Florida restaurant.

The official grand opening of The Mad Hatter & Tap Room took place Oct. 22 with tastings of the large and reasonably priced menu.

In Ridgefield: Plate is now Cello

Written by Fran Sikorski
Thursday, 30 June 2011 10:55

Opening a new restaurant is not as easy as it looks, according to Paul Desiano and his Japanese-born wife, Ai, who established their first restaurant, Plate, in Ridgefield, on Sept. 14, 2010, and recently changed the name to Cello after being notified another restaurant had copyrighted the same name. Ownership and staff remain intact. An  enhancement with the new name is housemade limoncello that will be followed by other flavors served singularly or by flights (tasting size).

In Rowayton: Sails American Grill

Written by Fran Sikorski
Thursday, 10 February 2011 11:41

Reservations accepted; handicapped accessible; major credit cards; children’s menu; full bar, bottle and draft beers; wines $8 to $14 by the glass, starting at $28 by the bottle; modern American menu; take-out; upscale casual dress; private functions; music on weekends. seasonal outdoor patio; street parking.

Some favorite, and not-so-favorite restaurants have disappeared during the past year, to be quickly replaced by new restaurants with menus and prices designed, hopefully, for success.

Enter Sails American Grill that opened in December on the Five Mile River in Rowayton and has been having phenomenal business since then. The space was formerly occupied by the popular River Cat Grill and you will be greeted by some of the same smiling and friendly staff.

One of the reasons for the instant success of Sails is that it is owned by the Ceruzzi Group, which operates successful restaurants in New York City, including Botte del Vino at 7 East 50th Street Kenmare at 98 Kenmare Street and Sfoglia at 135 East 92nd Street and Lexington Avenue; there’s also a Sfoglia on Nantucket.

Also good news is that classically trained chef Nathan Kramer is in charge of the kitchen. A graduate of Johnson and Wales, Chef Kramer, who lives in Greenwich, said during an interview that his first mentor was Glenn Thomas of the Avon Old Farms Hotel in Connecticut. He has worked with many celebrated chefs, including Larry Forgione, David Burke, and Nancy Oakes, all experiences enabling him to understand how marrying wholesome foods with the most flavorful ingredients results in the perfect dish. He also worked at Centro in Greenwich before becoming River Cat Grill chef four years ago.

Chef Kramer uses grass fed beef and organic produce from regional purveyors, and looks forward to selecting produce from local farms during the summer.

Keeping with Rowayton’s rich history of sailing, the decor of Sails is inspired by the beauty and craft of sailing, with a gray, white and deep blue interior. The walls feature photography by artist Michael Kahn, demonstrating his fascination with the ocean and classic sailing yachts.

Popular signature items at Sails are braised short rib sliders; house-made gnocchi (it isn’t real gnocchi unless it’s house-made); truffle and mushroom pizza topped with pancetta and truffle oil; house-made lobster ravioli; and cedar-planked wild Atlantic salmon.

Two hearty meal-size salads are warm herb-crusted goat cheese and beets with baby arugula, mache, candied pecans, sliced pears, and a cracked pepper dressing and roasted Amish chicken breast with baby arugula, romaine, parsnips, butternut squash, haricots verts, pears, Stilton cheese with a cream sherry dressing. The menu also includes pizza and burgers. There is something for everyone’s taste at Sails American Grill.

The children’s menu offers an organic all-beef hot dog, pasta with butter and marinara sauce, and sides of french fries, grilled asparagus, sweet corn and noodles.

Who can resist finishing a meal with a choice of a brûlée banana split or a warm chocolate ooze cake, but if you must try something new in a dessert (all $8), there is the Salty Turtle, made with Longford’s vanilla ice cream with chocolate and caramel sauces and salt cashews, and the Sails root beer float served with house biscuits.

Sails American Grill

148 Rowayton Avenue

Rowayton, 203-853-SAIL (7245)

Serving lunch from 11:30 to 2:30; dinner from 5:30 to 10:30; Sunday brunch 11:30 to 3; closed Monday.

Reservations accepted; handicapped accessible; major credit cards; children’s menu; full bar, bottle and draft beers; wines $8 to $14 by the glass, starting at $28 by the bottle; modern American menu; take-out; upscale casual dress; private functions; music on weekends. seasonal outdoor patio; street parking.

In Fairfield: Vinny’s Grill & Grotto

Written by Fran Sikorski
Thursday, 16 December 2010 13:14

Restaurant partners Jack Hekker, Ernst Buggisch and John Lastrati have opened a fifth restaurant together, Vinny’s Grill & Grotto, a family-style restaurant in the Grasmere section of Fairfield. They suggest you prepare yourself for an evening of fun and relaxation  and enjoy favorite Italian entrées ($11 to ($18),  pub food ($6 to $15) and innovative 12-inch style thin crust pizzas (all $11) including an original salad pizza with a parmesan coated crust, chopped field greens, diced tomatoes and a house balsamic “Vinny-grette.” Vinny’s Grill & Grotto menu is designed and executed by chef Robert Carrillo.

In Georgetown: Pearl Restaurant & Lounge

Written by Fran Sikorski
Friday, 05 November 2010 12:59

Longtime friends Michael and Andrea DiBari and Philip and Maureen Roux of Wilton, who enjoy traveling and dining out together, have combined talents to open Pearl Restaurant & Lounge in Georgetown Center.

Michael DiBari, who maintained his own dental practice for 25 years in Stamford, was also a personal chef and had his own catering business for five years before joining his friends in opening Pearl. He designed the modern American menu and is assisted in the kitchen by Daniel Eleftheriades as head chef.

Philip Roux is a practicing intellectual property attorney in Wilton. Maureen Roux, a speech therapist at Villa Maria Education Center in Stamford, and Andrea DiBari, are assisting at the new restaurant, which opened Aug. 25.

Burger Bar & Bistro in Norwalk

Written by Fran Sikorski
Thursday, 23 September 2010 12:56

When Nick and Dana Bilello of Redding made plans to open their first restaurant, Tenero, in South Norwalk in 2006, the concept called for a space with old world charm inside and a seasonal patio for lunch, afternoon glass of wine and antipasti or dinner, and menu options were northern and southern regional Italian dishes with a variety of flavors and textures.

I enjoyed Tenero for its creative menu, and it was successful and conveniently located next to the Bow Tie Cinemas and large municipal parking lot. Thus, I was surprised when, in 2009 the Bilellos changed their concept and expanded the restaurant to appeal to a larger audience and changed the name to Burger Bar & Bistro. The restaurant space was expanded 1200 square feet, the bar extended, and a friendly family dining room added with banquette seating and paper-covered tables.

A visit reveals there’s more to Burger Bar & Bistro than hamburgers. I’ve tried the hamburgers ($6 to $15), and enjoyed my first sliders (minis) there, and also several variations of mac and cheese.

Cafe Manolo in Westport

Written by Fran Sikorski
Thursday, 09 September 2010 13:00

It isn’t easy to find Manolo on the first visit. The large commercial building in Westport center housed retail stores and a former bank, and the restaurant is located below ground level across from the Westport “Y” on a narrow street that translates to “no parking.” A large municipal lot and street parking nearby solve this problem.

Reaching your destination, you will be happy to find a low price point menu designed by chef-owner Pedro Garzon, satisfying every taste and wallet size.

In Bethel: Greenwood’s Grille & Ale House

Written by Fran Sikorski
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:24

Past restaurants at the Bethel Opera House have offered a variety of finely tuned menus and the current occupant, Greenwood’s Grille and Ale House, appears to have the magic formula for success, especially on weekends when the waiting line goes out the door.

Greenwood’s Grille & Ale House owner is Matt Stein, executive chef/general manager at the historic Silvermine Tavern in Norwalk before it closed this year. His culinary talents and management skills were also displayed in the development of restaurants in New York City. Greenwood’s Grille and Ale House, Chef Stein’s first restaurant, features a variety of favorites, including a great crab cake with tomato-rosemary stew, lobster macaroni and cheese, roasted organic chicken and mashed potatoes, and fish and chips.

In Westport: Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Kitchen & Bar

Written by Fran Sikorski
Thursday, 15 July 2010 10:13

Guests at the new Rizzuto’s Wood-Fired Kitchen & Bar in Westport, third restaurant opened by Chef Bill Rizzuto in six years, will find some new dining treats.

The 6,000-square-foot restaurant, a space occupied by Manero’s Steak House for many years, seats 100 in the main dining room, 30 for private parties, and has high-top seating at the bar. There is a large raw bar and an exhibition kitchen  with a wood-fired oven, a fresh pasta pantry displaying the day’s freshly made choices, an antipasto station, and mini-market where products made on the premises — sauces, pasta, meatballs and bread — are sold.

Stanziato’s Wood Fired Pizza in Danbury

Written by Fran Sikorski
Thursday, 17 June 2010 10:46

Before opening his first restaurant, Matt Stanczak, chef/owner of the new Stanziato’s Wood Fired Pizza in Danbury, attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. He toured Europe in 2006 observing wood fired brick oven pizzaiolo experts at work in Italy, collected recipes, and worked as a personal chef for a Greenwich family.

The name of the restaurant, “Stanziato” is a blend of the young chef’s name, Stanczak and of his fiancée, Lisa Annunziato.