Hard to believe that the brownstone is still there. My Grandfather used to take us there for breakfast when we visited some fifty years ago. Great diner food, probably the same family owns it all these years later. Hope they got new vinyl on the seats and took the tape off!

Good news. My one visit there was not so satisfying. Confirmed my judgement on Napa.

People, please... It's a great local tapas joint, even if they don't warm their whites, or cool their reds..
This is Stamford, people. This is a downtown venue and a good addition to the not-so-stellar local scene.. For the love of god, we're not Manhattan here.

Jeebus, people, this is a tapas joint, not a fine dining venue. If you want stars from Michelin, Manhattan is a short drive. Nobody on the local scene chills their red wine, or has the time to warm their whites. Cut slack for an exceptional additional to a very anemic local scene. I am continually warmed by their food, from the very reasonable and very tasty baby lamb chops to the really good gnocci and polenta offerings. This is, after all, Stamford, so temper your foodie chops just a tad in judging new entries to the local scene.
It is absolutely several serious cuts above the local bar Boathouse, whose food and wine taboo approved of, and who definitely do not chill their reds or warm their whites.

Confused about the address at the bottom of your post- are you reviewing zaza Stamford or an apparently unaffiliated place in Massachussetts?

Zaza, a relatively new local entry (a changing menu of partners owns a few other local venues, including Pizzaria Molto in Fairfield, the sister restaurant to Zaza). Very casual, extra special good tapas menu, very friendly service. Many rave about Napa, but imho it is a tad overrated. Eos is good, upscale Mediterranean (Greek). But Zaza is a fun, stylish venue in the heart of downtown, with ample parking in back.

I made the trip today from Stamford after hearing raves from a friend and was somewhat disappointed. Expensive ($3 for what was essentially a jelly doughnut, sugared fried dough, sliced, with raspberry or strawberry jelly in the middle). $3 for an okay macaroon, $5 for a decent, but not standout baguette. Their stock in trade, thought, appears to be handmade chocolates and very attractive pastries. I was too late for the telltale croissant, they had sold out of this bellweather, labor intensive item.

For a hot moment the kitchen was run by Jimmy of Jimmy's Seaside fame, but that partnership[ soured and he walked with his staff. I've found the fare forgettable every time I've been back (but haven't been in a couple of months).

I concur in full, stukin, carry on, my wayward son.

So you work for BLT?
Fabulous, another mediocre, overpriced chain store. Not familiar with Harlan, but the one time I went to Le Pain in New Canaan for a cup of coffee and a roll I received a bill for $7.50. There is, apparently, no such thing as a "roll" at le pain. They have "an order of three"

Preliminary architectural drawings? Are these publicly available?

I second brasitas and zaza, both are consistently good and excellent of service. Fiesta is a great bargain (a half chicken with trimmings for $9!) but not a fabulous venue, more a nice neighborhood joint. And I'd avoid Colony, though many swear by it, I don't, and a friend who worked there confirmed my misgivings in spades.

very good to know. I'd heard hot and cold on Cafe Sylvium, I'll have to go there and give it a shot.

i mean in the neighborhood of Fairway, plenty of downtown spots.

Oh, Brasitas is dandy, no argument there. And about Rico's, only saying that if you like that sort of thing, then that's probably the sort of thing you'd like. Thinking that this is a respite from business.
I like the shwarma at Layla's on high ridge, haven't tried the downtown venue for a nice casual lunch sandwich/wrap. No ambiance, however. Can't think of a decent lunch spot downtown, with quality food and decent ambiance.

Love Brasitas, but never thought the exterior rough. I grew up in this town, and can remember when that building was a truly gritty little diner (the shell is the original rounded roofed structure, the rest is added). I used to go there, but not for the food. It had grease stained walls, a cook in a strappy t-shirt and oodles of flypaper all over the place.
The verdict on Colony is not unanimous, there are a wide array of dissenters, in which group I count myself. It is extreme thin pizza, so thin that it occasionally has holes in it, covered with a veneer of sauce and a little cheese. One of its attractions is that one person can devour a pizza, because there is hardly anything there at all. The one pizza I had there had rubbery canned mushrooms, uncooked (the thin pizza can be flash baked) instead of fresh. Horror stories from a former employee confirmed my opinion. A former cook opened Rico's, on Selleck St.. with a similar product and the reports seem to be good.

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Brasitas
954 E Main St, Stamford, CT 06902

Hey, good to hear from you. Your sage food wisdom is much missed. Best wishes!

oops, outdated link, these work for now:

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Angela-Carella-Waterfront-not-all-about-the-2138286.php

http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/art...

In which case Stamford will eat it up, especially if it's on High Ridge. I mean, why is Crumbs still alive?

And pebbles! Ah, Candy Manor.

But do stop at the Squire for lunch one day. Good chowder and fried clams, and great t-shirts and local color, right there on main street, next to the Mayflower where you can get the nyc and boston papers and all the touristy kitch you want (lobster egg bubble gum, anyone?)

oh, a long, long time. Haven't spent summers in Chatham for five or years ago, and probably five years before that. Not so good now?
What about the Barleyneck Inn in Orleans? I remember as being decent tourist fare.

I spent nearly every summer for thirty years in Chatham, and have fond memories of the Christopher Ryder House, now gone, and Christian's, which is right downtown on Main Street, and only open weekends. A little more formal than the others mentioned.
Also Chillingsworth in Brewster is (or was) excellent.

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Chillingsworth
2449 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631

The Chatham Squire on Main street is a local landmark that is worth a trip, and it has always proudly been open year 'round. There are two separate venues, a bar and a restaurant with table service, connected by a door. The bar is a hangout for locals and is very informal. Packed on summer nights, a lot less busy in winter. The restaurant is good, serving typical Cape bar fare (chowder, fried clams, flounder, cod, etc.). Pretty good food and lots of local flavor.

Okay, I tried that which I have been touting and it was not as good as I thought it would be. Second string cook, but still the meat was not trimmed, and the mushroom sauce had an a-1 tang to it. Nice steamed veggies, mashed potatoes, and garlic bread. Still better than bar food, but not stellar steak.

I saw a thread for the Cape, which was transposed to Hartford with this title and thought, let's get a list going for Stamford places with unrealized potential. Places with fabulous ambiance, or decor, or location, that fall down in the taste department.

What's on your list?

Ribeye, mushroom port sauce, mashed, grilled veggies, garlic bread.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/busin...

Haven't been to Morton's since I lived in Denver years ago, but I m found it formulaic and chainish.
I may have to try again as they seem to be running a sale: three courses for two: $109. I'm sure that they find some way to a la carte you into serious money, and at some locations, as they say, prices may vary.
But still tempting.

Best budget steak- I'm not kidding, their kitchen is headed by a former chef at eclisse- is Bradford's. I know, it's a bar, and it has a blue collar bias, but their soups and steak specials are fabulous, and fabulously cheap. Currently I think they are featuring a porterhouse (angus), with vegetable and potatoes for $16 (lunch and dinner).
In Stamford, downtown on Bedford Street. Just stay off politics when the owner is around, which is all day long.