READERS’ PICKS
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raving comfort food, a bit of heat, the bite of spice or a wild fusion flavor to snap your taste buds to attention? Fairfield County is for foodies who have a taste for both high cuisine and street eats. The chefs at new restaurants and favorite eateries prepped fresh ingredients and fired up the burners to win over Gold Coasters’ appetite for the best. Furong chicken hot pot, a mild option for the heat averse
RESTAURANTS
203-817-0700; restaurantprime.com
New Restaurant Brick Walk Tavern 1275 Post Rd., Fairfield, 475-888-9966; brickwalktavern.com
490 Summer St., Stamford, 203-569-6250; eosgreekcuisine.com
REGIONAL SPECIALTIES
Best Service Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s Darien 2748 Boston Post Rd., Darien, 203-325-9979; watersedgeatgiovannis.com
American Milestone 2 Georgetown Rd., Redding, 203-587-1700; milestonect.com
Indian Coromandel Cuisine of India 68 Broad St., Stamford, 203-964-1010 | 25 Old Kings Hwy. N., Darien, 203-6621213 | 17 Pease Ave., Southport, 203-259-1213; see all locations at coromandelcuisine.com
Creative Menu The Perfect Provenance 47 Arch St., Greenwich, 203-900-1131; theperfectprovenance.com
Asian Fusion Mecha Noodle Bar 116 Washington St., S. Norwalk, 203-295-8718; 1215 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-292-8222; mechanoodlebar.com
Hotel Restaurant Artisan Southport 275 Old Post Rd., Southport, 203-307-4222; artisansouthport.com
BRICK WALK TAVERN BY NOAH FECKS; PETER CHANG BY KYLE NORTON
Outdoor Dining Washington Prime 141 Washington St., Norwalk, 203-857-1314; washingtonprimect.com Special Occasion/Date Night Prime Restaurant 78 Southfield Ave., Stamford,
Italian Café Silvium 371 Shippan Ave., Stamford, 203-324-1651; cafesilviumct.com Japanese Kawa Ni 19 Bridge Square, Westport, 203-557-8775; kawaniwestport.com
Chinese Peter Chang 230 Tresser Blvd., Stamford, 203-323-7117; peterchangct.com
Latin American Brasitas 954 East Main St., Stamford, 203-323-3176 | 430 Main Ave., Norwalk, 203-354-7329; brasitas.com
French Le Penguin 61 Lewis St., Greenwich, 203-717-1200 | 7 Sconset Sq., Westport, 203-557-6432; lepenguinbistro.com
Mediterranean Mediterraneo 366 Greenwich Ave.,
Greek EOS Greek Cuisine
BRICK WALK TAVERN
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GOLDEN ADVICE
Peter Chang, winner of best Chinese cuisine, picks Szechuan dishes to sample now.
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THE REAL DEAL For authentic fare, start with spicy lamb buns or the milder Furong chicken hot pot. Follow with shredded pork with bean curd and bamboo shoots, a traditional milder dish.
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FIRST TIME? NO PROBLEM Try the Bamboo Style Fish, lightly breaded flounder seasoned with cumin and Szechuan spices. Vegetarians should try the Mapo Tofu, a traditional spicy dish that pairs well with rice.
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SOME LIKE IT HOT
WINNER OF NEW RESTAURANT
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avern food gets a boastful upgrade at Brick Walk Tavern. This new restaurant offers all of the necessary hospitality of a classic tavern and serves as a hub of the community (it’s a prime spot for meet-ups, family dinners, first dates and business meetings), but its food is beyond standard tavern fare. Consider the Maine lobster, shrimp and bay scallops with English peas, potatoes, leeks and tomatoes in a puff-pastry shell. MAY/JUNE 2019 STAMFORD
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You can’t go wrong with prawns with vermicelli, three pepper chicken or cumin lamb chop. For those feeling brave, the beef with vermicelli hot pot features flank steak served with bok choy in a steaming, spicy broth.