Summer preview
May favorites…
stamford, ct
April showers bring May flowers, and I for one am so excited. Warm weather means patio season at my favorite restaurants, Aperol spritzes by the gallon, and dinners at the beach. It’s the time of year New Englanders cherish most, the reward that makes winter feel (almost) worth it. It’s also officially been two months in my new apartment, so I’ve had more time to explore the Stamford dining scene, and I’ve already become a creature of habit at more than one spot. So without further ado, my current hyperfixations of the season, with many more to come…
Winfield Street Coffee is a mere five steps away from my apartment, and their $7 coffee gives Nitro Bar a run for its money. (Kidding, could never.) But the hot vanilla latte has become my staple, much to my wallet’s dismay. Pair it with one of their muffins, and you’ve got the perfect comforting breakfast that has grown to be a part of my weekly routine.
While we’re on the coffee topic, and since it’s almost iced coffee season (devastating news for my hot latte, which will now have to take a literal back burner), check out Third Place by Half Full. It might just be my spot of the season. Off the beaten path sits a coffee shop, brewery, and food truck all in one. Their BEC is drool-worthy, the burger is delish, and somehow it works for literally any hour of the day. Major points for the iced Samoa latte. Extra, extra points for drinking it outside the brewery in the sun on a Saturday morning with my girlfriends while debriefing our previous night antics. But it’s also ideal for a casual post-work drink with your cute neighbor, splitting a local beer and burger while baseball plays on the outdoor screen. I can already tell I’ll be walking over there and rewarding myself with a drink of choice most weekends this summer.
And of course, summer to me means happy hour season. Half priced wines, seasonal specials, splitting apps outside while everyone pretends they’re only staying for one drink. It’s the best time of year, and my current favorite happy hour spot is Capriccio Cafe, an Italian spot right in the heart of Bedford Street. It’s aesthetically pleasing, has friendly staff, and, most importantly, a patio. The first sunny day we had, I practically ran there, ordered a spritz, and sat outside, people-watching from 4 to 6 p.m (duh). Truly ideal. At this point, I’ve taste-tested most of the menu with absolutely zero shame. The wine list is divine, the meatballs and bruschetta never miss, and the shrimp Caesar paired with the spicy rigatoni is still my favorite combo to date.
Overall, and this should surprise no one, bartaco is ridiculously high on my list of places to be this year. (Call me basic- I don’t care) While their tequila flights kept me warm this winter, sitting at one of the window tables on a 70-degree Cinco de Mayo with a skinny spicy margarita and ahi tuna tacos made me believe in heaven. I’ve tried recreating their bowl of esquites at home, but it’s just not the same. Current fixation: the sesame ribeye tacos. Bonus points for the constantly changing specials, offers, and games they post on Instagram.
For CT Bites, I recently covered Roost, and as a regular for the past few months, it feels wrong not to mention it here, too. They have locations in Cos Cob, Darien, and Fairfield, so while it’s not walking distance, it’s absolutely worth the drive. It’s healthy fast casual done right and makes for the perfect sweet treat or fresh breakfast, depending on the mood. Current fixation: pancakes, dark chocolate espresso bread, and the spicy pesto chicken sandwich. Choose your fighter.
A spot with similar energy is Harborview Market. If you know me, you know Harborview, and this definitely won’t be my first summer walking around St. Mary’s with a dozen homemade dark chocolate sea salt cookies from the market. It’s a beloved local staple and well worth the wait.
Now, I know this wasn’t an extravagant list, but I’m just getting started. My list of places to try keeps growing. Next up on a 75 and sunny day: Prime or Çka Ka Qëllu. I want to brunch outside at The Wheel, spend the occasional summer storm cozied up at Cafe Silvium, try a coffee from Modern Love, or park myself outside Bedford Hall one night with my friends.
Moral of the story, summer’s almost here, and for that, we’ve all got something to look forward to. Cheers.