Hands down my favorite restaurant in Stamford and I almost never feel that way about a New American…read morerestaurant. Definitely make a reservation, they are always busy and for good reason. From Korean BBQ short ribs to a tomato, cucumber, & burrata salad to chicken scarp and seared scallops - they are doing global fusion food WELL. Masterful even. Never have had a bad dish here and the food photos I included/presentation speak for itself. The visuals match the taste here. Cocktails are also strong and delicious. Servers are attentive and friendly. I did have one negative experience here but it's more representative of the community, not the restaurant. The experience here is so great they're bound to have regulars and that is who I had my bad encounter with. I was celebrating my birthday with a group of friends who had traveled from out-of-state to visit. We were laughing a lot as we were catching up when someone who claimed to be a regular at the restaurant approached our table to ask us if we could quiet down and basically said we were being too disruptive and that even the staff/manager agreed. One of my friends was mortified and we apologized to them but also explained the special occasion; the group seemed a bit more understanding after that. When our server came to check on us next, we apologized to him too - and he looked at us confusedly. He and the staff had no issues with our party. They had no idea that someone came to even talk to us! It was just the complaint of one entitled group of regulars who thought they had the right to speak for the establishment. We would've got dessert and at least another round of drinks after our meal before leaving but because of this group, we left abruptly and the restaurant themselves apologized profusely to us for that having happened. This experience as a whole made me like Olio even more though because they didn't just take the side of their regulars over our business, which I respected them for. Again, not a bad thing to say about Olio - best food and service in Stamford.

I'm going with 5 stars strictly on a basis of food quality and ignoring a number of annoying…read moremishaps. We had reservation for 7 pm on Friday. Once we were seated, we learned that there is only one portion of duck left (two people in our group wanted it) and they are out of short rib. Then there were many issues with wine. I ordered Malbec from a specific producer and we were offered Malbec from a different producer (No, thank you). The Rioja we got was from a different vintage then on the list (this is common, I know), and nobody warned us (group of 6 people) that this was their only bottle... Anyway, the food was outstanding. Fresh bread with white bean sauce was flying off the table. Miso Soy Grilled Octopus was sublime - texture, seasoning, sauce. Fried burrata was excellent. I had seared scallops as my main course, and the whole dish was outstanding (my only gripe would be that $40 for 4 scallops is a bit (very) steep). Gnocchi were light and fluffy, something you can rarely find. Everyone was really happy with their food choices. And Bread Pudding for dessert was just perfect - creative, light and tasty. Excellent service - prompt, attentive, friendly. Recommended (May be not on Friday night? )

The food is good. However, every time I order I wait. And wait. And the food is ready but the…read moreexpeditor is busy or asleep at the switch. This has happened multiple times where people are waiting and waiting and there seems to be food ready for pick up. Here's a pic of my latest visit. My food- avocado toast is waiting and ready in the white to go box. And the lady is just talking to who looks to be her boss/owner and he's leaning back just talking to her...telling her an in depth story. Meanwhile the guys at the grill are busy making the orders. The person running the cashier is taking orders and this dope is leaning there, telling his story and she's just listening letting the food stack up. I deleted the other pic where there are a ton of orders on that table and they're just talking away....while the food is good, the customer service is poor. I timed 10 minutes where I was waiting for my food- and half of which was because this dude and chick were engrossed in some convo which prevented her from multi-tasking. Shame on him for preventing her from doing her job and not adding value. Shame on her for not excusing him to get the food out to the waiting customers...who by the way, can SEE you and our waiting food!!! The food has to be taken to the counter (as seen in the foreground of the pic)...it's not far. Low score as this happens REPEATEDLY. Step up the customer service and focus on the customer because no one likes $10.00 soggy avocado toast. Btw when not soggy, it's delicious but due to consistent poor service I haven't had non soggy in a while. As I write this, I guess the joke is on me as I keep coming back. Going to find me a new joint with better customer service. PS- when she FINALLY brings the food she brings the latest made food out, and I wait till the end. The other lady and I who were waiting (she's the bag delivery and I'm the white to go order) look at each other with the same thoughts.

Been here so many times and have not yet written a review!…read more They have really good drinks and food! So far we have tried the following - kids chicken tenders - buttermilk fried chicken sandwich - breakfast burrito - roost English muffin sandwich - Korean cheesesteak sandwich - chopped Cobb - overnight oats - lemonade - strawberry lemonade - ice chai - mermaid latte (blue matcha) - vanilla latte - power green smoothie All is really good! You will be amazed on how tasty the food is - especially paired with the hot sauce! Of everything we have tried so far on the menu - the breakfast ones are definitely the fav. Although be prepared to drop a bit of $$. And they are a cashless cafe.

Neat serves the best coffee in the area. The small batch beans they select are part of this, and…read moreskilled baristas are the other part. They are very consistent, I have been a customer for about 10 years. I was surprised to see less than stellar rating, so decided to write my review. If what you are looking for is coffee and nice setting you cannot do better.

Even though my experiences at Neat are almost uniformly mediocre, I did stop in again…read more This time, after ordering, I was informed that I would receive my coffee in a paper cup. "Why" I asked . "Our sterilizer is broken." "How long has it been broken?" "A few weeks." I realize that here in the wild outback of Darien Connecticut can be hard to get service on a piece of equipment because the technician has to ford rivers and cross mountains, but two weeks? The coffee? It was actually the best tasting one I've had at Neat so far. But it was in a paper cup. I didn't drive to Darien for a paper cup.

Our go-to CT diner spot (NYC ex-pats approved!)…read more My wife and I used to live in NYC, and like most ex-pats, we consider ourselves absolute "diner people." We seriously missed the vibe, the regulars, and the familiar faces at our old city hangouts when we first moved to Connecticut. Luckily, we've found a few local spots that stepped right into that void, and Darien Diner is easily one of our favorites. First off, the vibe here is awesome. It has that classic, retro stainless steel exterior, a great eat-in counter, old-school soda fountains, and tons of 1950s memorabilia inside. It's always super clean and well-maintained. During the pandemic, they had a makeshift tent and wooden deck for outdoor seating. They took it down a while back, but the *best* news is they just finished building a permanent foundation for a brand new outdoor dining area. My wife and I cannot wait for it to open so we can bring our fur babies along for breakfast again. Speaking of breakfast, they serve it all day and the food is pure American comfort. If you're going the breakfast route, you can't go wrong with the Farmers Omelette, the Two Eggs and Three Meats, or the Protein Breakfast (grilled chicken and tomatoes) if you're trying to be good. For lunch, their Patty Melt is elite, and I'm a massive fan of the Thanksgiving Sandwich (turkey, gravy, cranberry, and stuffing on a flatbread) and their Gyro platter. A quick heads up on timing: this place gets absolutely packed around noon on the weekends--we're talking a line out the door. If you want to sit down, definitely aim for either 11:00 AM or after 1:00 PM to miss the rush. Weekdays are much calmer, but on weekends we usually just order takeout to avoid the crowds altogether. The location is incredibly convenient, right off Exit 13 on I-95. Plus, there's a Splash Car Wash right next door, so we usually kill two birds with one stone and get the car cleaned before or after we eat. Pro-Tip: Just watch your speed when you're getting off the I-95 ramp onto Connecticut Ave. Cops love to hide right there and ticket people catching the light. Definitely recommend this spot if you're looking for a solid, welcoming diner in the area!

The corn beef hash-just OK. Simple over easy eggs and bananas foster french toast do it for me. The…read moreambience-light and peaceful.

Post Road is always reliable divas. She always gets the damn job done. Love her. There's literally…read moreso many options on the menu theres something for everyone. And the ambience, girl. Just yes.

"I'll go back to the diner I'll write another letter…read moreI hope you'll read it this time" (Billie Eilish) I kind of laughed when our server brought over our menus. They were in a heavy book (reminded me of a high school yearbook) with six pages of choices plus an insert of daily specials. Post Road is the kind of diner that diner lovers dream of. Their menu is an embarrassment of riches and would seamlessly fit in alongside anything you would find on the Sunrise Highway on Long Island or on Route 17 in New Jersey. Three of us walked in around 11:30am today, and our first order of business was deciding if we'd go for lunch or breakfast food. We all went for breakfast plates- pancakes ($9.99) with a side of scrambled eggs ($2.99), GF Pancakes ($12.98), and for me a "Protein Breakfast" ($13.99) and a coffee ($3.49). So, I'm sure you're asking, "what on earth is a protein breakfast?' Well, it was four egg whites, a few gorgeous tomato slices, and a nice piece of grilled chicken. It was pretty filling and everything tasted great. Our server was efficient and professional and swiftly brought over a "to go" box for the excess of those enormous pancakes. The dining room is awesome, a real throwback to the 1950's with plenty of old-time booths, art deco neon signs, checkerboard ceramic tile, and music\entertainment\pop culture images everywhere. We really enjoyed our visit !

I love this Friday market vibe! Great selection of vegetables, fresh bread, flowers, ready food,…read moreeven some jewellery and goods for dogs. I'm planning to go there every Friday when I'm around

Rowayton Market offers a variety of prepared foods and groceries, including fresh-cut meats,…read moregourmet takeout, produce, store-made cold-pressed juices and smoothies, freshly baked breads, pastries, and cakes, and a wide selection of fine cheeses. They also carry basic household items and fresh flowers. Since Rowayton Market is close to my workplace, I decided to swing by for lunch. When I walked in, it was bustling. I ordered the East Beach sandwich, which had grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. The ingredients felt incredibly fresh, and the bread complemented them perfectly. I overheard many customers asking for that sandwich, and now I see why. On my next visit, I went for a salad with just as fresh ingredients. The market has a coffee area in the back where you can buy coffee, and there is also a seating area with a waterfront view. The customer service is friendly, and I'll definitely be coming back again.

Good, solid sandwiches. All ingredients seemed fresh. The turkey sandwich had a good balance of…read moreeverything. The Ruben wasn't too impressive because the fixings were a little too light. We'll try them again though!

Heard this place was good, so I decided to stop in. Cute little deli with a variety of options. I…read moreordered a turkey club. It was really good! Sandwich was a good size. I got 2 meals out it lol. 19 bucks for a sandwich, chips, and a drink is a bit high, but I would return. The service was great!