Café on the Green in Danbury

Written by Fran Sikorski
Thursday, 25 June 2009 09:53

After 17 years as owner of Café on the Green, Chef Tracey Kydes, with his highly efficient staff, continues to design attractive menus that complement the restaurant’s surroundings overlooking the greens at Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury, one of the top 25 public courses in the United States. I always look forward to dining there.

Breakfast is available starting at 6 a.m., when you can watch the bakers carry trays of hot pastry just out of the oven into the breakfast room, or see the sun burning off the dew on the grass. In addition to a lunch menu at the Café, there is The Grill Room, more typical of a 19th-hole type eatery, which accommodates up to 70 people. During warm weather, the Café offers dining on the patio where on summer weekend nights the sounds of Musicals at Richter productions can be heard.

A graduate of Johnson and Wales Culinary School, Chef Kydes was a chef at Le Chamboard and Silvermine Tavern before he took on the Café, attracted to the site by the golf course and its beautiful surroundings.

Executive chef is Alex Hernandes, assisted by sous chef Leo Cando. Luis Lopez is manager and Kate Johnson is event coordinator.

Early bird golfers and hikers will find a full breakfast menu, with items ranging from $2 to $4.75. Signature items on the Grill Room and deck menus ($7 to $9.25) are calamari fritti with a spicy tomato sauce, quesadillas, nachos grande, and sweet potato fries.

Soups are $6; Café salads ($9 to $10.25) are chicken with walnuts, dried cranberries, apples, and balsamic vinaigrette and steak-gorgonzola salad.

In addition to burgers ($4 to $6.75), sandwiches include portobello and eggplant, turkey club, and chicken parmesan, each served with a bag of potato chips and a pickle.

My companion and I enjoyed a very leisurely lunch starting with house favorite lobster ravioli ($10, $12 at dinner) in a rich creamy sauce; our entrees, both excellent, were braised French cut rack of lamb with a rosemary-merlot sauce ($23.50); and filet of red snapper ($19.50). Other popular lunch entrees are Tuscan spaghetti Siciliano alla pollo; salmon ala griglia; veal scaloppini; and an eight-ounce filet mignon steak in a light gorgonzola-brandy sauce. All entrees ($14.50 to $23), are served with a generous mixed salad, housemade bread and intermezzo.

More outstanding dinner entrees are grilled veal chop, swordfish and prawns and salmon Siciliano. Carefully chosen wine selections by our waiter, Carlos, were based on the unique styles and compatibility of each dish.

Recommended for first timers to Café on the Green is Chef Kydes’ Bananas Foster flambé for two ($13) prepared tableside. Other selections ($7 to $10) are tiramisu, crème brûlée, chocolate mousse and lava cake.

Open every day, serving breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Grill room; lunch 11:30 to 5; light menu served every day on the deck from 11 a.m. to sunset; dinner from 5 to 10; four-course prix fixe dinner Monday to Thursday for $35.

Reservations recommended; handicap accessible, major credit cards; child friendly menu; full bar, extensive wine collection, $6.75 to $9 by the glass; starting at $22 by the bottle; Northern Italian & Mediterranean cuisine; vegetarian dishes; dietary restrictions observed; take-out; off-premises catering; casual smart dress; wine dinners; piano and singer Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 to 9; large free parking area.

Side dishes

Starting at 10 p.m. every Friday, “Bollywood” nights with DJ Aman and the Boys will be featured at Thali Too Restaurant, 65 Broadway in New Haven, Reservations, 203-776-1600. Specially priced drinks are featured and there is no cover charge. Prasad Chiromula, owner of Thali restaurants in Ridgefield and New Canaan, is chef de cuisine...A Bastille Day wine tasting and French-style barbecue will take place July 12 in the garden at Bernard’s, 20 West Lane in Ridgefield. The cost is $75 per person, tax and tip not included. Reservations, 203-438-8282.

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