In this post, we’ve featured 10 of the best restaurants in Stamford, Connecticut, to help you plan a great night out.
1. Kouzina
A place that wants to transport you back to the Greek Isles for an evening of fun and food, Kouzina is a Greek restaurant situated in Stamford, Connecticut. The interior of the restaurant has been designed to recreate the atmosphere that you would experience at a local Greek restaurant while being conveniently located on the East Coast.
Kouzina is happy to accept reservations for any size of party and is determined to make your visit a memorable one, whatever the occasion. Learn more about Greek cuisine at Kouzina, from their crispy calamari or sauteed shrimp and feta cheese to main dishes like their beef souvlaki and pastitisio.
Don’t forget to speak to Kouzina about their catering services for your parties away from the restaurant!
2. Layla’s Falafel
Established in Stamford, Connecticut in 2000, Layla’s Falafel is a restaurant committed to its menu of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. The family-owned restaurant has multiple locations in the state of Connecticut, all of which live up to the same standard of great hospitality and delicious food. In addition to their in-house services, Layla’s Falafel is also able to cater events like corporate functions, birthdays and weddings.
The first things that are noticeable when looking at the pictures of Layla’s Falafel’s food, on their website or social media pages, are the beautiful colors that will entice any customer. Go with their Fattoush or Greek salad, before checking out any one of their different flavors of shawarma, with options like lamb, chicken and their house special Layla’s shawarma. For vegetarians, ask Layla’s Falafel about their non-meat options as well.
Contact Layla’s Falafel today.
3. Brasitas
Owner Jaime Guerrero is the culinary artist behind Brasitas, a nuevo Latino restaurant founded and located in Stamford, Connecticut. A chef with a background in traditional French cuisine, Jaime paired his kitchen skills and traditional French technique with the tastes and smells of his native Columbia, to create a menu that is both imaginative and skillfully executed.
Since opening its Stamford location in 1998, Brasitas has continued to expand in reputation and size, opening a second restaurant in Norwalk and consistently being ranked one of the best Latino restaurants in the area. Both locations of Brasitas are open for lunch and dinner, delivering popular dishes like Spanish flatbreads, roasted pato, and paella valenciana.
Brasitas also provides a catering service, for people planning a party outside the restaurant!
4. F.I.S.H. Restaurant + Bar
F.I.S.H. Restaurant + Bar is a restaurant located in downtown Stamford, Connecticut in the heart of the city and a reputable source of great food and drinks. The interior of the venue captures its essence as a seafood restaurant, with simple wooden furniture complementing white and black tabletops.
Join F.I.S.H. Restaurant + Bar for brunch, dinner or at the bar for happy hour. The restaurant’s brunch selection includes classics like buttermilk pancakes, new trendy additions like avocado toast, and of course the obligatory mimosa or glass of champagne. Come back to the restaurant later in the evening to enjoy F.I.S.H. Restaurant + Bar’s oyster sampler, serving of grilled halibut, or opt for their seafood paella.
Learn more about F.I.S.H. Restaurant + Bar here.
5. Olio
Located in Stamford, Connecticut, Olio is one of the best restaurants in the state of Connecticut. With its new American cuisine that was reviewed positively by The New York Times and earned a spot as one of Reader’s Choice’s Best Restaurants in 2015, Olio is a spot that any local or visitor to the area has to check out.
Olio keeps a very sophisticated but unassuming feel that makes it a versatile venue to go for a family’s night out, a romantic evening or a business function. Alongside tried-and-true favorites like its veggie salads and chicken parmesan, Olio also offers a beautifully done duck breast, with a side of whipped burrata cheese and basil pomodoro, as well as a wild Mexican shrimp mofongo (mashed green plantain and pork belly).
Plan a night out at Olio!
6. Zaza Italian Gastrobar
Zaza Italian Gastrobar was founded in 2011 and continues to be one of the most popular locations for Italian food in Stamford, Connecticut. A gastrobar is, by definition, neither a bar nor a restaurant, and Zaza Italian Gastrobar is essentially that: a venue that offers an incredible variety of alcoholic beverages while also having the culinary chops to provide a perfectly matching menu to go along with it.
Zaza Italian Gastrobar is open for lunch and dinner service. Their lunches offer light but satisfying options like pizzas, paninis, pasta and different smaller options served tapas-style, including their butternut squash gnocchi and arancini (fried stuffed rice ball). Customers can expect dinners at Zaza Italian Gastrobar to be more substantial, with dishes being served up like linguine carbonara, braised short rib or 4 stagioni pizza (with ham, mushrooms, artichokes, and olives).
Allow Zaza Italian Gastrobar to introduce you to Italian cuisine and gastrobar culture!
7. The Capital Grille
Open for business seven days a week on Tresser Boulevard in Stamford, Connecticut, The Capital Grille is a fine-dining restaurant that is proud to be one of the best top-end dining options in the area. The Capital Grille is also represented in multiple locations across the USA, with another Connecticut in nearby Hartford as well.
Whether it is the top-notch ingredients this steakhouse serves or the skill of their chefs to cook it perfectly to order, The Capital Grille is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. Start your dinner off with The Capital Grille’s lobster bisque or clam chowder, before deciding between the main course of dry-aged NY strip or a bone-in ribeye.
Learn more about The Capital Grille here.
8. Cilantro
The direction of Cilantro is to create a fusion Latin cuisine that anyone can enjoy, no matter what background or culture they may be from. The restaurant, located in Stamford, Connecticut, has been recognized by Restaurant Guru in 2021 for the quality of its food and its exceptional focus on customer service.
The dining space at Cilantro is designed for the free flow of ideas and the enjoyment of food; the large open glass windows help utilize the city view along with similarly gritty artwork that adorns the walls. Explore the carefully thought-out food items, from pato and cambas al ajillo tapas to shrimp quesadilla and cazuela, a stew with clams, mussels, fish and white rice.
Communicate with Cilantro or plan a visit today.
9. Villa Italia Ristorante & Bar
Established in 1983, the rich history of Villa Italia Ristorante & Bar is not the only thing that that sets this restaurant apart from other eateries in the local vicinity of Stamford, Connecticut. Ever since its simpler beginnings, the family-run restaurant has been known for its love of customers and of great, well-made Italian cuisine.
The restaurant continues to be led by the Vitiello family, who have been embraced by the community for their hospitality and the quality of their Italian food. Events at Villa Italia Ristorante & Bar make for a great evening out, whether it is an open mic night or an evening with live jazz music. To go along with the festive mood, there’s a generous menu to choose from, whether it is their lobster ravioli, penne vodka with chicken, chicken parmigiana or Romana pizza.
Choose to go to Villa Italia Ristorante & Bar for your next evening out!
10. Bartaco
Situated in Stamford, Connecticut, Bartaco takes its culinary identity from the warmer climates of Brazil, Uruguay and the state of California. Bartaco is a restaurant that aims to bring a more casual, friendlier vibe to the East Coast. Even in the colder Connecticut winters, customers will be able to relax and have a relaxing afternoon or evening out in the warm atmosphere of Bartaco.
Bartaco’s fascination with the beach culture of the south goes beyond its menu; the restaurant even has a swimwear collection for sale! The popular restaurant has expanded to multiple locations across the USA, with popular dishes that include their tuna tatako (tuna with slaw on a lettuce shell), spiced chicken verde and sesame ribeye. For families, Bartaco has prepared a kid’s menu for your younger family members, to ensure that they too get the full, fun experience of eating at Bartaco.
Check out Bartaco’s full menu here!
