choreboy

Anyone else been to the Fountainhead Wines guys new restaurant on Wall Street in downtown Norwalk, CT? A huge, open space with a large bar, many wines by the glass and inexpensive bottles to quaff, as well as the more boutique-y stuff. Lots of high end liquors as well. But the pizza's the thing - not sure if I have ever had a thinner, chewier crust on such creations as the "Westport" pizza (eggplant, sausage, and garlic). Raw milk cheeses and charcuterie, and salad too. Saturdays are jam-packed, so try another night. Word is spreading fast - check it out before reviews hit the papers.

I hear ya; people do complain about the prices at PN. But if one considers what other local restaurants charge for VASTLY inferior food, then Pasta Nostra's not so crazy after all. And yes, Gary (the Weenie Man) Zemola is a PN alum; he worked in the kitchen and waited on us many times years ago before he rocked the Weenie world with his creations. Superb! His soups make me wish it was wintertime all year long......

A close second to Pasta Nostra at the Italian restaurant summit would be Liana's Trattoria in Fairfield. An unassuming "neighborhood" style place, with a very talented young chef in the kitchen, and Liana's awesome desserts. Not to be missed!

Without a doubt, the very best restaurant, Italian or otherwise, in Fairfield County, is Pasta Nostra in South Norwalk. If you have eaten in Italy, have relatives "off the boat" who cooked for you, or even had a parent of any ethnicity who made food for you with love and skill, you will agree that the food at PN is simply superlative. The enitirely Italian wine list at Pasta Nostra is stunning in its depth and breadth. For a restaurant, the mark-up is very fair, when you consider the "boutique" nature of most of the wines on this list. If you live in the area, claim to know and love fine food, and haven't been there, what's keeping you?

New Haven, Connecticut - home to superlative pizzas (Sally's, Modern, Bar) and home of the hamburger (Louis Lunch). Who would've guessed Middletown (my wife's birthplace) would have places to rival these New Haven legends? We must spend more time there (without visiting her relatives, natch')

While in Middletown, stop by Eli Cannon's for an excellent selection of beers and ales on draught, and some well-above-average bar food. The wings are stellar.

in response to: Same applies to Japanese restaurants in the US, they all insist on serving Suntory or Kirin which are some of the worst Japanese beers that can be had. Maybe I'm spoiled working in NYC and living in the metropolitan area, but most good to great Japanese restaurants around here have Sapporo, Yebisu, various Asahis, and other Japanese brews, both large and small. I would agree that Suntory and Kirin are pretty lame.

The taxes are unbelievable in Norway, but so is the level of social services (Moms get 80% of their salary for a year as maternity leave, AND are guaranteed their jobs back. Dads get 6 months - I'll take it!).