Tonight I found myself humming the famous song titled "Oh What A Night" by Four Seasons, all the way back home from yet another fabulous event put together by CT Bites in partnership with Chef Jamie Cooper of Bonda restaurant in Fairfield. It was such a blast! Amazing food, plenty of wine and wonderful intimate gathering of fellow foodies. I got home after 10PM but I was feeling too charged to go to bed and I just had to blog about it ... NOW! It was a very exclusive tasting event presented by Chef Cooper showcasing some wonderful first course options that he is considering for his menu. Our job was to try out his creations, and share some feedback. Tough job, I know ... but someone had to do it! I had never dined at Bonda before so I did not know what to expect. As the wonderful food started to come to the table, the first thought that hit me was that this chef really thinks outside the box. He forced us diners to get out of our comfort zones and try unusual pairings of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Chef Cooper presented us with creative cocktails like "Milagro Silver Tequila with Scorched Grapefruit Puree and Cilantro-Mint-Jalapeno Simple Syrup" served with Chicken-Black-Bean-Cheddar Burrito, next came a "Caramelized 3-Citrus Juice with Cognac, Rum and Sparkling Wine" served with yummilicous Potato French Fries and Blood Orange Gremolata Aioli , and finally a "Bacon Infused Bourbon with Maple Syrup and Bitters" which was served with Maple-Candied Bacon!!!! I mean, who would have thunk?!!!! We sampled delicious Chicken Yakitori with Sesame-Cucumber Salad. This very asian-inspired dish was simply divine! There was a perfect little dollop of wasabi sauce on the side that did magical things to the dish and created a wonderful flavor profile. We had Braised Lamb Risotto Fritters with a Spicy Tomato-Olive Sauce. This dish should definitely make it on the menu. It was truly unique and unexpected. A perfect example of how this chef takes a diner out of his/her comfort zone leaving them feeling pleasantly surprised. My personal favorite was the last dish, a winter braise: Beef Short Ribs with Carrots, Celery and Celery Leaf Salad, topped with a very delicate Blood Orange Vinaigrette. For a special surprise touch it was topped with Black Olive Bread Crumbs. The heartiness of the short ribs, with the tang and freshness of the vinaigrette along with the perfect crunch of the bread crumbs is what I would a call a match made in heaven. This one is a sure winner when it makes it on the menu. My belly is full. My soul is content. This truly was an unforgettable evening. read more

Bonda continues to provide an amazing dining experience - the food, the presentation, the attentive service are top notch. Even in Fairfield County, Bonda stands out read more

You will not find a restaurant in Fairfield or Westport with the style, flair and food that Bonda Restaurant generously serves up. The owner's presence and high touch and sense of style Makes it feel like home. The food is diverse in flavor and presentation and served by a team that adds to the homey and warm feel. Bonda is the rare joint in Fairfield County that combines all the elements of great hospitality. Ambiance, good, wine and service. read more

Bonds is consistent good and always so friendly. This time I had the special swordfish and it was off the charts. Previous times I had had their pasta and the steak frites. Again great. One of my favorite Fairfield County spots. read more

What a gem in CT! If you're looking for a solid spot in Fairfield.....look no further. Burrata, mussels & ravioli to start. ALL were executed perfectly and tasted amazing. sriracha brined fried chicken....YES PLEASE! Awesome! Pork Milanese with grilled peaches...SURE! Just as delicious. Bonda, I'm happy I found ya:) read more

The spaghetti carbonara is the best Ive ever tasted. Ever. Italy included. I always get the siracha fried chicken, never disappoints. Tried the grilled salad (everyone around us had it), and much to our surprise, it was actually really flavorful. Would have never guessed that based on the menu description, but we will most definitely be adding that to our future dinners here! read more

Not Good! I really cannot figure out why there are so many great reviews for Bonda; maybe I went on the one night of exception? Service was awful - how many times can the waiter top your Pellegrino with tap water? How many time does one need to get up to go and get their waiter? The food was so average that I can't even remember what I had. And, there was a smell all over the restaurant, but stronger in the entrance/bar; a smell of a clogged toilet. When we wanted to pay and leave, there was no one around... so we went upfront to find just a few people cleaning the kitchen. They were closing the place and it was very early on a Friday night... I guess nobody wanted to stick around under these conditions... read more

Amazing food, wonderful service. Try the fried chicken,. Their specialty drinks are amazing. Not many places like Bonda!!!

Love how this place is tucked away in Greenfield hill. I've been here 3 times and the service and food never fails. Actually had dinner here on New Years Eve and it was delightful. Bonda is one of my favorite restaurants in fairfield! read more

Bonda is one of my favorite restaurants in the area (for me, its tied for first with Le Farm). It's got a great upbeat vibe in its cozy space. Owner Jaime is usually bouncing between the kitchen and the dining room, greeting customers and making you feel at home. The menu is very eclectic, but somehow all the various styles are very well executed. I love the Siracha spicy fried chicken with coconut jasmine rice. I am also a big fan of the lamb tacos, the curry chicken and the pasta Bolognese. There is an emphasis on strong flavors, though i don't fine the food overly heavy. Service is good, though it can be a bit slow on the weekends. The wine list is well thought out and almost as eclectic as the food, though its a bit pricey. read more

What an excellent meal! I have been dieting to eat at this place ever since I checked out the menu. Fabulous choices, it was hard to decide what to have for dinner. We shared the roasted beet ravioli and wedge salad (with bacon) for starters. So good do not skip the bacon! For entrees I had the halibut and my husband had the fried chicken. Both were wonderful. The Green curry sauce with the fish was to die for! I will definitely return to eat again soon! One of the best meals I've had in Fairfield! read more

Great little spot. We have been in on 3 separate occasions now and each time it's been excellent. Service is great and We've tried at least 6 different entree's now and all (with exception of pork chop) have been great. Pork was a bit flat for me, little flavor. All in all top notch restaurant read more

Awesome little place and the bartender, Alexandra, makes a damn good margarita. Also the carbonara is phenomenal.

Very good local restaurant that I finally got to check out tonight. Sat @ the bar and had a burger. Very tasty and enjoyed it very much. Def will be back. read more

I was traveling to the Fairfield area on business and a group of six of us ate at Bonda. What fantastic meals. We ordered a good variety of appetizers and entrees and every single person in our group really enjoyed their food. I travel and dine out quite a bit and this restaurant is one I will remember and hope to visit again someday. I appreciated that the menu is not crazy long as I would rather have a good variety of really well thought out combinations. The appetizers paired well with a number of the entrees so you could choose many different combinations with success. I ordered the sausage and pan roasted cauliflower with caramelized onions, raisins and pinenuts for my appetizer. It was perfectly cooked and the flavor and texture was excellent. It is easy to get caramelization wrong but the chef absolutely nailed it. For my entree, I had the pork chop scarpariello with sweet bell peppers and hot cherry peppers over Israeli cous cous with preserved lemon and broccoli rabe. There is no other way to put it, the dish was fantastic. There was just the right amount of heat from the peppers as it got my attention but did not overwhelm the pork. Coming from Iowa, I appreciate a well cooked pork chop and this was done right. The flavor combinations were daring but well executed making this meal unique, memorable and very enjoyable. We had good service and parking is right in front. The food is very upscale without being pretentious and the pricing is very reasonable. There was obviously pride at Bonda in putting together good meals that will be enjoyed. read more

What a find!! Chef/owner Jamie Cooper watches over his baby with obvious care and pride. Wait staff is enthusiastic and attentive without being over-bearing. The front room can be boisterous so we love the cosy back room...feels like you are in your private manor being cared for by loving staff! But the real note here is the food! If they ever get rid of the grilled romaine starter or the caramel buddino dessert, they better shoot me...I just love them!! All courses are creative and delicious...hard to make a bad choice. Oh, I can't forget to mention, great wines by the glass or bottle. And to think this is practically in our backyard! Can't wait to go back. read more

I've dined at Bonda many times And they never disappoint. Service is consistently excellent and the food is amazing. While not cheap, the food and service provide real value for your $. Save room for the salted caramel Budino - it's heavenly! read more

Bonda is now one of tops in CT!! Unique dishes, great immagination. Congrats to owner Jamie.

I agree, the burrata was insanely good and I loved the little bit of fig in there. Great ambiance. Friendly staff. Our server was a little nervous maybe? I'll say she was new and still rave this place. read more

Love this place! I am a definite fan! The food is outstanding and everyone is very nice. I highly recommend this place.

This neighborhood gem never disappoints. The menu is well thought out with new interesting choices and good old standards. Service is outstanding being attentive and hospitable. Always feel a welcoming vibe at Bonda. read more

To me, this is exactly what the restaurant experience should be about. I look for food quality, consistency, and great service. In my mind, Bonda lives up to all of those. The food is great and comes from a limited menu (maybe 5-10 appetizers, 10-15 entrees) so you know it's always fresh. The service is extremely friendly and helpful. They have a BYOB policy on Wednesday nights and a good wine list. My wife and I have come here probably 10 times in the past two years and have always been delighted with the experience. We have turned a lot of our friends on to the restaurant, all of whom have enjoyed it as well. The place is low key. You'd feel comfortable in jeans or in more dressy garb. I can honestly say I'd recommend it to anyone. You won't be disappointed. read more

We lamented the closing of Bonda in Westport, and just discovered that it had reopened in Fairfield. Had a family celebration dinner last night. Excellent food and service all around. Decor and ambiance warmer than the old place. Good wine list, unusual finds with several reasonably priced options. Highly recommended. read more

So happy to have this great place in the neighborhood. Consistently fabulous. Pork chops great, burger great, grilled artichoke hearts, have never had anything that wasn't excellent. Jamie the owner is always there and courteous enough to stop by your table and make sure everything is satisfactory. Service is always excellent. It is rare to have such consistency with the food and service. We eat out a lot and this place is one of the best. The only minor critique is we would love to see a higher quality ice cream served with the fabulous cookie dessert. Vanilla haagen daz rather than what tastes like off the shelf vanilla. THAT would put us over the top. Make reservations because it has become a popular place. Lovely decor and no screaming children....sorry parents, but not fun when you are dining out. read more

My wife and I went there on a Sat night and ate in the main dining room. Everything about the experience was top-notch. Greeted and served attentively with warmth and knowledge, mango colored wallpaper creates a warm ambiance but most importantly all of the food and wine we enjoyed was fantastic. I highly recommend the Bastide Miraflors Languedoc Red by the glass or bottle (70/30 Syrah/Grenache). For apps, we had their mussels with fennel, tomato and chorizo and signature grilled romaine salad (with parsley/caper vinaigrette and shaved farm). As the owner, Jamie Cooper, told me (not kidding)--"If we took that salad off the menu, we would go out of business!" I now see why and believe the hype. To that point, it was a struggle to get my wife to share a mussel she liked them so much...As for our entrees, they have an appealing range of tempting options including pastas. We selected the fried chicken that had been brined in a Chinese spice (with superb coconut-jasmine rice-have to try to replicate if I can manage) that came with a cucumber salad (in yogurt or buttermilk dressing?). It was boneless and lightly done on the spice/fried component. The other entree was a pan roasted fish dish (halibut I believe) that was generous and beautifully presented. We need to come back to discover and taste so many of the other apps and entrees. Didn't get a chance at the desserts--next time. Finally, we didn't feel rushed at all though we were right in the Sat crush. Our favorite restaurant in Westport/Fairfield area without a doubt and we have tried The Whelk, Artisan, Gray Goose, Cafe Lola and others. read more

Exceptional service, one of the best restaurants I've been to since moving from Boston to CT, and wonderful vibe. The grilled romaine was fantastic - crisp, flavorful, slightly charred, and overall delicious. My steak was cooked slightly more than what I had ordered it to be (medium rare came out to more of a medium) but was still flavorful with delicious fries on the side. The watercress dressing had a tad more tang than I preferred but was still quite good. The dessert was simple but delicious - the ice cream sandwiches were a fun play on a childhood treat with the right proportion of cookies and ice cream. I had a wonderful medium bodied Italian wine (the name of which I sadly cannot recall!) which supplemented the meal perfectly. I found the service to be outstanding :) read more

Consistently good and creative, locally sourced meals.. . attentive service and nice wine list. We have been several times (including their two summer En Plein Air dinners at the local Grange in July) and went a few weeks ago with local friends who have never been there and they loved it. The owner Jamie is almost always there and watches carefully over everything. Always an elegant and vibrant experience. read more

We just recently visited BONDA and were so impressed with our dishes fish and steak. Service, wine and food were fantastic! Coming back for more! read more

Best meal I've had in Fairfield. Fresh, quality ingredients, attentive service. Perfection from wine to dessert. Bonda is a must!

Two of us went for dinner during the week, The staff was very friendly but somewhat pushy. I realize it is rated $$$ and we don't mind an expensive restaurant but you should get what you pay for. The portions were small, good but not a WOW for the price. We ordered pasta and it wasn't enough to satisfy. I think in order to feel filled we would have had to order 3 or more courses, which would of cost us $100 - $150. $11.00 for a glass of wine, really???? The decor is lovely. But I will not be going there again, I guess it's just not a restaurant for the average dinner patron. read more

I took my husband for his Birthday dinner last night. My husband wanted a Vodka and tomato juice the restaurant only had the spicy bloody mary mix so the owner got in his car and drove to stop and shop to purchase tomato juice what an nice thing to do. Our meals were excellent as well will visit them more often! read more

This place is the best! I get the fried chicken every time and it's a shame because the rest of the menu is so tasty. Friendly staff, comfortable setting, love it! read more

My wife was looking forward to a great birthday night out. It started out great and then our two year old made to much noise so the staff said we would have to take him outside if he didn't shut up. We were so shocked by this that we couldn't even finish our meals. My wife was in tears. My five year old asked her why she was sad. We couldn't explain the un-explainable to him. We left humiliated and hungry. Thanks Bonda. read more

very good food. my wife and i thoroughly enjoyed. we are very causal people and don't often go out to fancier restaurants but this one is very good. service was excellent too. read more

Our new favorite! Excellent food. My husband only wishes there was a cocktail menu (he enjoys trying new, interesting drinks that many restaurants feature). read more

Outstanding food. One of the most innovative and interesting menus you will ever find in the suburbs. Very friendly service. However, you MUST get a table in the back room if you don't want to feel like you are dining in a construction zone. The decibel level in the main room and bar area is intolerable. Also, I was disappointed when I ordered a rusty nail, and they told me that they couldn't make it because they didn't have Drambuie, even though there was a liquor store open two doors away. They should have just gone out and bought a bottle to make me happy. Having said that, this clearly one of the best choices in Fairfield County. read more

Very simple. The best restaurant in Fairfield! Very creative menu. Very consistent kitchen. Wether it's for a nice family dinner or celebration like New Year's Eve, always great food and service . Jamie and his staff always make you feel like a VIP! Can't wait to go back! read more

The management at Bonda should be fired. My husband had a chicken curry dish which, much to our surprise, had MSG in it. It was our unfortunate assumption that we would not have to worry about MSG at a place like this. My husband had an allergic reaction and when we complained, a waitress relayed a message from the manager who never showed his face that "they could not possibly list every ingredient in all of their dishes." Needless to say, we will not be returning. I had the lamb tacos and wasn't really impressed. Don't waste your time with this place. read more

I must agree with the couple of 1 and 2 star ratings because my experience at Bonda can be summed up in one phrase: utter disappointment. First issue was with the wine. There were three "go to" house red wines, listed on the back of the menu. We ordered the Tannat (a bargain at $40?!) Waiter returned with news that they were out of the house wine. And he didn't know that 1 of the 3 was missing? He offered a substitute--a wine from the same grape and similar price. It tasted fine, but not like a Tannat. I read the label and discovered that it was a blend of Cab, Malbec, and Merlot. I told the waiter that there wasn't even a drop of Tannat in the bottle. He seemed surprised; I looked puzzled. Appetizers were pricey, but just ok. I ordered the short rib shepherd's pie. It was awful! What should have been succulent short rib had been hammered to a dry stringy mess, totally devoid of any beef flavor. It also tasted like it had spent a good deal of time in the fridge. I managed to eat about a quarter of it and left the rest. My plate was removed with no notice taken that it had hardly been touched. The waiter did ask how it was, and I told him it was horrible. He apologized. I asked for the manager and was told he was "away". His wife, however, assured me that the brown mess was "freshly cooked". I ordered a Remy Martin because my generous gift certificate had more money on it. It arrived in a glass more appropriate to tomato juice. I stared at it for a minute and asked the waiter if they had run out of all the brandy snifters. He said "No". I then said I would like my brandy in a brandy glass. He obliged. Overall, I agree with the reviewer who said that there are waaaay better restaurants locally for much less money. I'm passionate about food and cooking, and Bonda fails on many levels read more