Rizzuto's in Stamford, CT

I recently had the pleasure of trying Rizzuto's, a brand new restaurant in Stamford, CT. The Rizzuto's name has been around awhile with location sprinkled all over Connecticut, but the Stamford location just opened about a week ago. I took my good friend Katelyn there for dinner for her birthday since she lives in Stamford and I have to say, we had a truly wonderful experience there that I want to tell you about.

I made a reservation on one of my favorite websites, OpenTable, for 6:45pm and called the restaurant ahead of time to ask them to bring a slice of cake with a candle out for Katelyn after dinner. The host on the phone was SO nice and helpful, I knew our dinner was going to be great. Kate picked me up at the Stamford train station and we arrived right on time for our reservation. The host, who I assumed was the one I had spoken to on the phone, said "Rachel, Party of 2?" and then gave me a "this must be the birthday girl" wink.

We were shown to a table for 2 and I took in the fun decor of the restaurant. Cozy and inviting, I was already loving it before we even had our first bite of food. Our waiter, Mike, came over to greet us and take our drink order and he was energetic, friendly and warm. He talked to us about it being the first week that the restaurant was open and made us feel so welcome. 

Kate and I decided to share the Meatballs, Cesar salad and Eggplant Rollatini to start, then I had the Cavatelli & Sausage and Kate had the Rigatoni. We also shared a bottle of Pinot Noir. I didn't take pictures of any of the food, but everything was truly delicious. I was super impressed especially with the meatballs. I have had too many bad meatballs in my day and know how easy they are to screw up, but these were awesome.

Our waiter Mike was one of the sweetest waiters I have ever had in my life. You could tell he loved his job and we thought he was wonderful. Then I noticed him lighting Katelyn's cake behind her back and looking to me for the nod of approval to bring the cake to the table. I found this SO sweet and Katelyn was totally surprised!

Here is our adorable waiter singing Happy Birthday to Katelyn:

By the end of the meal we were completely stuffed and happy. We sat talking for over an hour after we had finished our meal and not once did they rush us out of make us feel unwelcome. The owner of the restaurant, Mr. Rizzuto himself, came over to as us how our meal was and we told him the truth. It was absolutely wonderful!

How important is good service to you in the grand scheme of your meal? Would bad service ruin a wonderful meal? Would amazing service save terrible food? Let me know!

Let's Eat!

-The Fabulous Foodie

Connecticut's Best Chinese Food

Lucky for me, I live in one of the most amazing food cities in the world. Sometimes when I'm not busy eating my way through New York City, I visit my family and my favorite hometown restaurants in Connecticut. These include Pepe's Pizza in New Haven (you have to try the White Clam, it's life-changing), Firehouse Deli in Fairfield and Panda House in Stratford.

Ever since I was little, I've been going to Panda House with my grandparents for Connecticut's best Chinese food. Since their birthdays fall within a few weeks of each other, the 3 of us went to Panda House to celebrate last weekend. The restaurant is owned by a man named Jack Yih, and he is a close friend of my grandparents.

As always, Jack was standing at the front door ready to greet us as soon as we arrived. We sat down in the main dining room, and the aromatic food immediately came flowing out of the kitchen. We started with dim sum; Shrimp Shumai and Chicken Gyoza. These were so good that I ate them before I had the chance to take a picture. Then we had Chicken Lettuce Wraps. The lettuce was fresh and crunchy, and it was filled with chicken & vegetables. I often find that Chinese dishes can be heavy and loaded with salt or sauce, but the food at Panda House is light and still manages to be full of flavor.

When we finished the delightful appetizers, we ordered our main dishes. I opted for Chicken & Shrimp with Snow Peas & Water Chestnuts and when it arrived to the table I was delighted to see the a beautiful purple flower sitting atop an incredibly colorful plate of food.

Water Chestnuts are one of my favorite vegetables because they add a unique crunch to any dish. I enjoyed how crisp the vibrant green snow peas were, and both the chicken and shrimp were tender and delicious.

After we finished our meal, Jack brought over three small desserts to celebrate my grandparents' birthdays. What a great way to end our excellent meal! Before we left, I snapped a quick photo of the 4 of us to capture the afternoon.

If you ever happen to find yourself in southern Connecticut, be sure to stop by Panda House in Stratford, CT for a warm atmosphere and fantastic food. And while you're there, please tell Jack I say hi.

If you have family in another state, is there a restaurant you make a point to eat at when you visit them? Or, when family visits you, do you have certain spots you like to go to? Let me know, I'd love to hear from you.

Let's Eat!
-The Fabulous Foodie