People love freedom of choice, and that's exactly what a top wine list provides. Some restaurants offer weighty tomes of their offerings which span the globe, include verticals, and make for interesting reading even for teetotalers. Others focus specifically on one country or region. Enjoy the excellent wine lists at these fine Greenwich restaurants, presented in alphabetical order.
People love freedom of choice, and that's exactly what a top wine list provides. Some restaurants offer weighty tomes of their offerings which span the globe... more
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Created 09/04/08
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1
Baang Café & Bar
1191 E. Putnam Ave., Riverside, CT 06878 / 203-637-2114
Well-traveled locals may have flashbacks to Santa Monica’s Chinois on Main when they enter the lively, hip, sometimes deafeningly noisy space occupied by Baang Café & Bar. French accents---cream, gratins and so forth---dot the Asian menu, which we prefer to tackle family-style, sharing very good starters like the Szechuan lobster crêpes and firecracker spring rolls with peanut chicken and honey mustard. Among our favorite entrées are the grilled beef in hot oil with cilantro, shallots and soy and the wok-fired whole fish spiced with ginger and red chili.
2
Bennett's Steak & Fish House
24 Spring St., #26, Stamford, CT 06901 / 203-978-7995
There is no shortage of steak and seafood houses in Connecticut and the competition is stiff. While Bennett’s is not cutting edge---there are no inventive twists on the cuisine and no trend-setting décor---the restaurant does offer well-prepared steak and fish in a tastefully appointed and comfortable setting. This makes it a reliable choice among locals and, because its proprietor Bennett Salvatore happens to be a retired NBA referee, a draw for sports fans.
3
Il Falco
59 Broad St., Stamford, CT 06901 / 203-327-0002
An oasis of calm for the corporate crowd at lunch, and a favorite for couples in the evening, Il Falco exudes an ambience that is at once both casual and sophisticated. The menu is extensive, the drinks large, and the service impeccable. Veal is what Il Falco is all about, though the daily pasta specials are generally good. And if it's not on the menu but you have a craving for it, chances are they'll oblige you.
4
La Bretagne
2010 W. Main St., Stamford, CT 06902 / 203-324-9539
are offered at this longtime, consistently good restaurant. Cuisine * French Features * Private room(s) * Full bar * Reservations required (weekends) * Parking lot Open Lunch & Dinner Mon.-Sat. Attire Casual Payment Credit Cards Wine Great Wine List This is one of those places that knowledgeable locals always remember after they've had a so-so meal someplace else. We should have gone to La Bretagne, is the lament heard so often. Maybe it's because the restaurant has been around so long, many people overlook it. That's a shame, as it has probably been consistently good longer than most other local eateries have been in business. Neither fancy nor trendy, this reliable old-timer is the place to go when you're in the mood for a good bottle of wine, vichyssoise like they serve in France, Dover sole and duck à l'orange.
5
Le Figaro Bistro
372 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830 / 203-622-0018
One would be hard pressed to find a more authentic re-creation of an upscale Parisian bistro than this 92-seat gem complete with a noise level and attitude that would make any true Francophile proud. But hey, isn't it supposed to be Paris in the burbs, albeit on toney Greenwich Avenue, a far cry from the Left Bank? Somehow, they've pulled it off---and with panache, even to folding doors which expose the front lounge area to the street in warm weather, and a cozy courtyard-dining terrace to the rear of the main dining room with its impressive circular pedestal in the center. The tables are close, and swathed in sparkling, crisp white tablecloths. The waiters, all with heavy French accents, wear typical French black tuxedos and black bow ties. And yes, there's the omnipresent escargots, steak frites and onion soup on the menu along with other traditional French favorites, the big difference being that the meat and poultry comes from the good old U.S. of A. You'll find an enticing selection of fine French wine by the glass. If you can't get to Paris this weekend, or into New York to Balthazar, head for Le Figaro.
6
L'Escale
Delamar, 500 Steamboat Rd., Greenwich, CT 06830 / 203-661-4600
Remember the old adage One if by land, two if by sea? Well add three if by train as a way to reach L'Escale, the tres Provençal restaurant located in Greenwich's waterfront Delamar hotel. Regardless of how you arrive, you'll immediately be transported to the pseudo-shores of Southern France ensconced in a setting that actually originated across the ocean and was meticulously reassembled stateside. Obviously restaurateurs Rick Wahlstedt and Jean Denoyer, creators of Manhattan's popular Le Colonial, knew what they were doing in putting together L'Escale, which literally means stopover. Suffice it to say that the locale and décor have become catnip for true Francophiles from near and far. Add to this an eclectic and well-conceived menu of such Provençal specialties as bouillabaisse, beef tartare, or crispy duckling with roasted pineapple. Certainly not your typical French cuisine, but then again, you're paying dearly for the experience, and it's a lot cheaper than a plane ticket to Nice. Having said that, splurge and spend the night at the Delamar after a romantic evening.
7
Rebeccas Restaurant & Bar
265 Glenville Rd., Greenwich, CT 06831 / 203-532-9270
For those who think a suburban restaurant has to be dull, or its cuisine mundane, we suggest they make a reservation at Rebeccas tout de suite. The fare is an innovative cuisine rapide interpretation of contemporary American favorites fused with the re-creation of classical French and Asian dishes. Everything about this spot is well done, from the talented hands-on husband-and-wife owners to the cuisine and simplistically striking décor. He, Swiss-born chef Reza Khorshidi, was formerly the executive chef at NYC's La Goulue. She, Rebecca Kirhoffer, was a chef at the '21' Club. Dishes include starters such as a sashimi of hamachi with an Asian salad and wasabi dressing; a trio of lobster, shrimp and crab meat ravioli with a lobster sauce; and a duck foie gras with caramelized mango and ginger. And, of course, the corn blinis with sour cream and sevruga caviar. Signature entrées include lobster with lemon risotto, asparagus tips and green peas and a grilled filet of Dover sole with spinach, wild mushrooms and a lemon sauce. Desserts are topnotch, and the wine list is a winner as well.
8
Restaurant Jean-Louis
61 Lewis St., Greenwich, CT 06830 / 203-622-8450
The aura of France exists in this tiny spot on a side street just steps from Greenwich Avenue, and a simple sign is the only clue there is a restaurant in the all-but-unnoticeable building. The room exudes the warmth and calm one feels as a guest of a private residence, rather than as a patron of one of Connecticut's finest dining establishments. Since it opened in 1985, chef-owner Jean-Louis Gerin, together with his wife, Linda, have developed a cuisine that they refer to as being la nouvelle classique, an apt description for the unique ambience and superior quality of the cuisine, with a daily tasting menu, weekly dinner specials, and a regular menu which is changed on a seasonal basis. Gerin offers such specialties as soft-shell crab with roasted garlic and parsley over arugula and baby spinach, and braised medallions of day-boat monkfish with layers of baby arugula, potatoes Maxime's and a red wine-lobster sauce. Dessert includes a super thin warm green apple tart with green apple sorbet. The acclaimed wine list is comprehensive and suitable for all dishes. Restaurant Jean-Louis dictates no dress code except for collared shirts and trousers, yet an evening here invites us to dress for the occasion, just as one might if dining at Guy Savoy in Paris, to which it bears a striking resemblance.
9
Thomas Henkelmann
Homestead Inn, 420 Field Point Rd., Greenwich, CT 06830 / 203-869-7500
Experience dining at its best at Thomas Henkelmann in Greenwich's posh Belle Haven. The fruit of Thomas and Theresa Henkelmann's labor, this charming, completely renovated eighteenth-century farmhouse boasts eighteen luxurious suites and rooms in three separate buildings. Incorporating some of the farmhouse’s original design, the dining room is as rustic as it is opulent. From the setting to the cuisine, not one minute detail goes overlooked. Enter via the front porch and proceed to the intimate bar-lounge for a cocktail before dinner. The dining room itself, with its half-timbered ceilings and fireplace, is divided into cozy booths and private rooms, all situated around the main tables. Service is invariably attentive, yet unobtrusive. And as for the cuisine---Henkelmann’s training under some of Europe's pre-eminent chefs (Paul Haeberlin, Eckart Witzigmann, etc.) ensures this German-born chef can deliver. His classic French cuisine is flawless. Examples include the cannelloni of Maryland crab meat in a tarragon-scented broth and the trio of Hudson Valley duck foie gras, followed by the almost-too-luscious poached Dover sole filled with saffron mousse and accompanied by lobster medallions in Champagne sauce. Henkelmann himself coordinates the comprehensive wine list dominated by fine French vintages. If all this somehow doesn’t impress, the desserts certainly will, being one of the kitchen’s specialties. And if you happen to stay the night, one taste of the croissants the next morning will make you a believer all over again.
10
Valbella
1309 E. Putnam Ave., Old Greenwich, CT 06870 / 203-637-1155
Valbella's reputation as the Greenwich area's premier Italian restaurant is well-deserved. Since 1992, this has been the place to head for on special occasions. But do bring lira, and lots of it, as its unexcelled ambience, service, outstanding northern Italian cuisine and mind-boggling wine list all warrant a hefty price. And while there's an extensive menu offering a wide selection of fish, poultry and meat dishes, regulars know to ask for such signature selections as sea bass wrapped in a potato crust or a thick and juicy veal chop stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella. However, even many of the legion of loyal devotees to this emporium dedicated to feasting à la the Caesars don't know about the wine cellar, a cavernous room lined with some 11,000 bottles of vino, where private parties can dine around a radiantly heated, massive granite table, retiring to the nearby fireplace for an after dinner drink.
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