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KRONICK
WINO Novice wine taster,Expert wine drinker!
Click here to read online review...
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What used to be the crazy Rattlesnake bar, and later, supposedly, a short-lived
Italian eatery, is now a semi-well-known secret of great food, atmosphere and
lively action in an astoundingly classy joint. Tucked into a little corner of
downtown Fairfield, Connecticut sits
55 Degrees Restaurant & Wine Bar. The
restaurant is run by two suave gentlemen, Vicente Siguenza and Mario Lopez, who
you’d think had Italian running through their blood from birth, but in fact are
from Ecuador! Who knew!? I’ve been to this place probably more times than I can
count. Typically, you’ll find me sitting at the beautiful dark wooded bar where
the crowd is friendly, classy and i can nosh on house-cured olives. This place
is right off the northbound side of the train station in downtown Fairfield, so
it also makes for a great happy-hour location in town. And I keep going back,
why? Because it’s one of the very few places that I a know, without a doubt,
that I am going to have an amazing dinner. Maybe I’m hopeful, but I have yet to
be let down. So what’s here? Well for one, the pasta! It’s so delectably
delicious! In my numerous experiences there, one of the dishes that immediately
pops into my gastronomic head is the Handmade Ricotta Gnocchi
served with a Bolognese sauce. These puffy little clouds of heaven melted in my
mouth with each bite. Other pastas include tagliatelle with
broccoli rabe and sausage, pappardelle served with lobster
and shrimp and freshly made tortellini.
Equally amazing is the Rabbit “Saltimbocca” that is oh so
tender, served with prosciutto and sage and coated in a light lemon caper sauce.
WHOA! Your taste buds are going to soar, and I was pretty sure I didn’t like
rabbit…. Most recently I enjoyed one of the house specials - a Long
Island Duck Breast, pan seared and served up medium rare, perfectly
cooked to my taste, with some fresh lentils, julienne pear, kale and brandy-pear
butter.
Appetizers worth noting are the Eggplant Parmesan which is a
more modern take on the traditional dish served slightly disassembled with
fresh, giant leaves of fragrant basil, large slices of wonderful buffalo
mozzarella, and lightly breaded eggplant. All served up with a homemade tomato
ragu. The Tuna (and sometimes Salmon) 2-ways
is an excellent starter dish or palate cleanser between courses, usually served
as a tartar and smoked slices or seared. One of my favorite apps, as Chef Jacob
Hamilton is well aware of, is the Carne Crouda. Admittedly, you
have to love a little steak tartar to enjoy this one. It’s a luscious dish of
very rare ground sirloin mixed with fragrant herbs and spices, served up with
two toasty pieces of brioche bread and a creamy, dreamy buttery Parmesan sauce.
And the best part? The fresh quail egg placed right on top. It’s a food-lovers
fantasy on a plate…… did I mention I love it? But alas, it was part of the
summertime menu. Shrimp & Grits is on the customer favorite
list there, but I have yet to try them.
Price points are GREAT here. You can find most appetizers to
run anywhere between $8-$13 and entrees $19 - $32, depending on the specials
that night. A nice detail is that there is something on this menu for everyone,
even the vegetarians, who may enjoy the crispy artichoke salad or the butternut
squash panzotti.
Let’s not overlook one thing: WINE. These guys took the time
to pull a list together of wines that really reach out to the tastes of their
customers. The wine list actually matches up to the menu and, in my opinion, is
a rare trait of restaurants these days. The wine list boasts a lot of Italian
wines for obvious reasons. I was a big fan of the Valpolicella wines and some of
the Chiantis on the list. The California / US selection is excellent in the way
that it is not full of all the ‘big commercial’ wines. You’re going to be
looking at more boutique classics, like the
Benton Lane Pinot Noir from Oregon or a jammy syrah blend out of Central
Coast, California. And fear not! Vincente knows his wines, so when in doubt, get
his opinion! Markup on wine here is also something that stood out to me - it’s
not outlandish, unlike some restaurants I’d like to ‘educate’…but I digress.
Only downsides on my list:
- Service tends to be slowwww. Do not go there if you’re in a hurry to
leave. On the flip side, it’s also a place you will feel relaxed and welcome.
- The place is LOUD and could do with a some music in the
bar and sound panels on some of the barren walls.
- You have to ask for the bread, and THAT is something to NOT be missed!
They make their own foccacia with caramelized onions and their own Italian
bread. MMMMMM!
My favorite parts:
- The olives at the bar with really good Extra virgin olive oil
- The gigantic mirror situated on the bar wall to discreetly allure you to
any interesting strangers walking in.
- The Homemade bread! Do not leave without trying some!
- The Wine list (by the glass you’re going to get some quality wines; no
cheap stuff here, but expect to pay about $9 / glass).
- The clean, sleek lines and cavernous feel of the bar area. Equally
enjoyable - the dining room, situated on 2 additional levels with cathedral
high ceilings and beautiful wall hutch layered in dark wood along the back
wall.
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By RITA PAPAZIAN
Published: August 15, 2008
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Homemade Pastas Among 55° Specialties
Take two smart young men from [Cuenca], Ecuador,
add a California executive chef, then a location where hundreds of people walk by daily
and you have a recipe for success.
55 Wine Bar and Restaurant has opened on Miller Street.
And, if the location is not enough, add an expansive
outdoor patio that seats 60 patrons and Fairfield has an
inviting dining spot, especially for the lingering summer evenings ahead.
Co-owners and cousins Vicente Siguenza and Mario Lopez,
who also own Cava Wine Bar and Restaurant in New Canaan,
now bring their restaurateur magic to Miller Street,
where their multi-level facility provides a spacious bar
and lounge area and two separate dining rooms, one set aside
for private gatherings. In the spacious 4,000 square feet,
diners can choose eating al fresco or in the lounge and
formal dining rooms. The interior wall on the second level
dining room is composed of the rich wooden doors that came
originally from Larry's Diner, the popular eatery that once
sat on the Post Road before it was moved to Miller Street and
incorporated in the former restaurant's structure.
In renovating the building to accommodate the new restaurant plan,
Siguenza and Lopez opted to eliminate the front portion,
which housed the original...
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By Galpal AMANDA
Published: August 9, 2008
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Last Saturday night, my husband and I decided to stop into 55 Degrees
in downtown Fairfield for a glass of wine. We took a seat at their large,
wood bar and had a look around.
The bar area is spacious and can comfortably handle a crowd. The dining
room has a Tuscan vibe (I am not familiar with the look under prior ownership)
and tables are well-spaced.
As for the wine list, the wines-by-the glass selection is robust and priced
fairly and the bottled wine list is extensive.
We sat at the bar, noshed on some olives, chatted with the friendly bartender
and checked out the menu. We loved what we saw, thinking we’d be up for
just about any dish on the menu. So we decided to stay –
and enjoyed a delicious dinner...
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