I don't want to make this review too personal. But . . . Perhaps you're like me and you long for the days when restaurants offered friendly attentive service. You miss when menus were lists that described the dishes to be served- and not failed lessons in Freshman expository writing requiring Berlitz to translate (the ancestor to DuoLingo). And, if you dared to dream, you hoped for reasonably-priced food that exceeded what your sainted Aunty Margaret could have conjured in the finest kitchen. If you're nodding in agreement, then why aren't you dining at Paparazzi in Darien? On a Thursday night, my wife and I stumbled upon an unassuming restaurant at the start of the Post Road in Darien. The Amazon- acquired "Open" sign did not portend the extraordinary restaurant experience that awaited us. Each piece in our eggplant tower appetizer was meticulously fried to achieve the perfect balance of crispy exterior and succulent eggplant lurking below. The sauce paired the robustness of the tomato with a Spring-like freshness (which, if Vivaldi had ever tried, he would have stopped his legendary composition after that one season). Knowing that lightning dares not strike twice, I anticipated that the Chicken Sophia Loren (which paired Fontina cheese and spinach) would be better than passable but hardly as tasty as the eggplant. But, like a bolt out of the blue, Paparazzi brought forth not a humble version of a chicken francaise but a dish which sparkled with the appeal of the actual Sophia Loren. The wine and butter sauce (and its subtle hint of lemon) provided the perfect balance creating a cradle which nurtured the succulent chicken cutlets and masterfully tender spinach. Paparazzi, though, does not simply let its fare stand on its own. The engaging and attentive (but not fawning) waitstaff made a great meal a truly memorable dining experience- and the perfect way to celebrate our 15 years of marriage. If you seek Italian food that rises to the level of fine cuisine (without the typical exorbitant price tag), then you owe it to yourself, your taste buds and your wallet to become a Paparazzi regular. read more

Paparazzi Italian Restaurant - Chicken Sophia Loren - Italian Near Me - Darien, Connecticut

The food is excellent and the service is top-notch. They were friendly, courteous, and went above and beyond to accommodate us. It was the best pizza I've ever tasted. I would absolutely go back the next time I'm in the area and I highly recommend checking this place out if you haven't been before. You'll be glad you did. read more

I met three friends who have lived in Darien for over 30 years and surprisingly two of them didn't know about this gem of a restaurant. We all had different dishes; sole, salmon, haddock and shrimp and we all devoured our plates! Food was spectacular, service excellent! Can't go wrong dining at Paparazzi!! read more

We did takeout on a Saturday Night. Was smart of us, as the place was crowded and the parking lot nearly full. We had the Margherita Pizza, the Eggplant appetizer, and the Gnocchi Bolognese. All we're very good. Not outstanding as they seemed dumbed down for Darien folks. Portions were average sized. Prices were medium high. We may try eating in one day so as to compare. read more

We have driven by this place many times and finally decided to stop in. What a pleasant surprise! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Quaint, casual, excellent food, and warm and friendly staff.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Julio was very personable and helped us throughout the evening. We ordered the Chicken Milanese and the Tagliatelle with truffle and burrata. Both were delicious. Would highly recommend going Paparazzi a look next time you are looking for some good Italian food read more

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I just love this restaurant! The parking lot makes it easy to pull off the road and enjoy a good meal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The Ambiance is calming with neutral tones in a quaint dining room.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I have enjoyed meals here at least 6 times over the past 4 months and have been impressed each time. I have come alone and felt comfortable , dined with a friend and come with a group and the service has always been excellent. Every meal has been prepared well, with a great taste and a generous serving at reasonable prices. Their salads are fresh, dressed nicely without dominating and attractively served. Their sole franchise, chicken franchise and chicken Marsala are all very good. My friend ordered the branzino special over fresh vegetables and she loved it! ! I recently tried their chicken & farro soup special that was excellent! We ordered their homemade tiramisu dessert and it was excellent! Lots of great menu choices that will keep me coming back! read more

Paparazzi Italian Restaurant - Pint Of Marinara Sauce - Italian Near Me - Darien, Connecticut

Great food, amazing Gluten free tortellini! We love the Pasta Butera , chicken Sofia and so many of the other dishes. You won't be disappointed! read more

Paparazzi is a remarkable addition to Darien's dining scene. The food is elegant, deeply flavorful, and beautifully executed, offering exceptional quality at surprisingly approachable prices. Every dish reflects care, precision, and a clear respect for ingredients. What truly elevates the experience is the warmth of the service. The owners are present and personally attentive, creating an atmosphere that feels both refined and genuinely welcoming. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Despite being newly opened, Paparazzi already feels established--most guests are locals and many are clearly returning, which speaks volumes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The chef and owner brings experience from Michelin-starred kitchens in Greenwich, and that pedigree is evident throughout the menu. Paparazzi has all the elements of a restaurant destined for notable recognition. An essential stop for anyone in the area or visiting Connecticut. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Looking for a family friendly, Italian? This is it[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This small little family owned restaurant has an extensive menu, fabulous service, in a modern restaurant environment.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My co-workers and I have been here twice. Both times, service was great and the food was very good. The food is very good, kind of like your Nona's kitchen. A menu filled with Italian staples. Definitely worth a try! read more

A great option for families after a trip to the aquarium or Stepping Stones. Incredible service, fresh food, hit all the right notes. Bright, open, beautiful space, it feels like an approachable slightly upscale experience. They could not have been kinder. The kid had chicken fingers and fries plus a chocolate gelato, so she was very happy too. But I'm glad to have had solid Italian and a well made cocktail. Will stop again the next time we're in town. Easy access to the 95 highway for the ride home. read more

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Used to live on Bedford in Stamford across from this lovely restaurant's former location and it was an old standby - so happy that now there's a location right on the Darien/Norwalk border! The decor is very nice and warm - they've only been open a week but zero hiccups. The food was better than I remember and a more expanded menu to boot - flatbread was divine and everyone enjoyed their super fresh pasta. Only beer and wine available for the moment (along with non-alcoholic options) but no matter - you're coming here for the food anyway! Thank you for a fabulous meal :-) read more

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I ordered the Orechiette w/ Meatballs and picked up the order. Pasta was undercooked, meatballs were tiny and no flavor and hardly any red sauce. Tasted worse than a can of Chef Boyardee. Take your money to a better Italian restaurant. This one is not worth your time. read more

Paparazzi Italian Restaurant - Orechiette with Orecchiette w/ Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Darien, Connecticut

Visited with coworkers for take out. Staff was super accommodating and order came out fast. However, my salad was pretty lack luster just had calamari and lettuce no other components to the salad and by the time we came back in from crossing post road the calamari were cold and soggy. My coworker had the chicken parm and enjoyed it. Bread was nice and crispy and the chicken was flavorful. Nice portion on the sandwich Parking is what they offer in their lot which was pretty full today They do take credit cards Pricing is a bit expensive for what you get Maybe I will try dining in as take out is not great read more

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Did these folks get a new chef or something?! Everything was fantastic. The grilled calamari appetizer is next level. Fresh and delicious. Highly recommend. read more

This restaurant is solid. From the service in the front of the house to the food that was served to us, we were thoroughly impressed. We will be back. Whoever is in the kitchen knows exactly what they are doing. Amazing pasta, amazing risotto. I had the capellini peas with prosciutto. Quiet ambiance. People were too busy eating. read more

Paparazzi Italian Restaurant - Shrimp Risotto. - Italian Near Me - Darien, Connecticut

I ordered rigatoni pesto with chicken and broccoli, i spent $32 for a watered down dish, no bread, no eating utensils. Unbelievable from an Italian restaurant that spends so much on advertising read more

The chef FORGOT to add the lumps of crab in "Fettuccine Mitty" dish I ordered. For this dish, I paid for an extra item, "grilled chicken" to be included (with extra charge) and the whole plate basically consisted of chicken (90%) and some chopped up shrimp and scallop pieces (10%). No traces of crab meat at all. Crab was the primary reason for me to order this dish as I like its taste and flavor and which was absolutely missing from this dish. Not a honest business, lacking integrity. Disappointed. read more

Great dinner. The food was amazing (Spicy penne vodka, Halibut, burrata and Tiramisu). I'm a bit of a burrata and Tiramisu snob and both were the best I've had in a long time. Service was top notch. Super cute restaurant. If you haven't been, this place is a must. We were very pleasantly surprised. PS The wines were great as well. read more

Food was meh at best. Felt like the chicken was frozen and everything just tasted acceptable. Nothing special.

Love this place! We enjoyed it when we lived close to their stamford location and now so happy they are close to us again in Norwalk! We have only gotten takeout at their new location but whenever we go in to pick it up the place is busy and seems like a good atmosphere. The servers at the counter are always very attentive when I walk in and I've never had to wait for my food. The parking lot is very small and definitely fills up during the busy dinner rush. There is a small parking lot across the side road that they are on for overflow parking. We have enjoyed everything we have gotten but overall I would say their cream sauces are better than the red sauce dishes. I get the four cheese tortellini often because it's that good to put on repeat. We will certainly keep going back! read more

This was our first visit. We had delicious food and friendly, efficient service. We loved the orecchiette with sausage, the spicy penne vodka , and the rigatoni buttera. The desserts were yummy, too! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is hard to tell from the road, but the ambiance is also lovely[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It felt like we were in back Italy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Delicious, authentic Italian food. Excellent Service. Heavy duty, silverware and cloth napkins are used. A nice selection of desserts were offered read more

Special enclave in a convenient location. I am considered a regular after trying everything on this inventive and flavorful menu. The specials offer another opportunity to sample great cuisine. A meal that stands out is the orecchiette with bite-sized meatballs. All of the pastas are fresh and unique. Their salmon and halibut are delicious options for a lighter meal. Friendly staff too. read more

A very nice, upscale, unpretentious Italian eatery with lots of choices, great service and vegan options The decor is clean, the Bankettes replaced with tables and chairs, including a few outside. I hope this very nice establishment fares better than its predecessors, a family friendly upscale diner and before that a straight-ahead diner. This is the third Italian spot in a half-mile stretch of Post Rd. Let's hope it finds its niche read more

Incredible Eggplant Tower!! Small great service, pleasant staff. Food is spectacular!

I've had several lunches and dinners at place before the name change. It was solid and good. Sadly my last experience was disappointing. We made reservations for a special family celebration on a Sunday at 1pm. Upon arrival the parking lot was EMPTY. We were the only people in the restaurant. Not a good sign. The staff was super friendly and very attentive which makes me feel sorry for writing a poor review. The pizza was soggy and could have used a few more minutes in the oven. The avocado salad was just ok. The kicked up chicken Milanese was dry and I think the prosciutto might've been old. The pasta special, which I don't remember the name, was bland and uninteresting. There were a few Mexican type plates on the menu, which is not what I wan when I go to an Italian restaurant. read more

Excellent!! Take it from an Italian who was raised on good Italian food. Quattro Pazzi should be ranked in the top 5 with the good Italian restaurants in the 0685x area code, ordered Veal and Chicken marsala takeout good quality, good portion size worth the meal price Right off I95 on/off ramp by Duchess in Darien, plenty of parking !! Nice dining room and friendly staff!! read more

This is our family go to restaurant, and we're usually here twice a week. I'm a foodie, and my wife is a Cordon Bleu trained chef. This place is more bistro-like and not fancy top-end, but I've found it utterly reliable, with great fresh ingredients. The pasta dishes are the best thing here, but the fish is also great. But I've explored the whole menu and never ordered anything I regretted. The owner is a great character, and she'll do anything to deliver great food and service. read more

Small restaurant but has a really good vibe. I make sure to come here whenever I visit home. The fettuccine mitty is my go to. Really big portions too! read more

Paparazzi Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Darien, Connecticut

I took the kids out for dinner without knowing the price as they aren't listed on their website, with that I should have known it's going to be pricy, and it is. The food was good, they liked it. The service was ok. The ambiance was a bit loud, we couldn't have a conversation there. read more

Pros. Food was above average, I enjoyed the pasta I had and my father really enjoyed the chicken he had. The place feels very loud, I think it is because there is not fabric (modern design). And our waitress was very kind, always had a full glass of water. Cons. Expensive read more

This restaurant have fantastic food. Try the mitty pasta. We have been eating at this place for 15years. The have consistency in all of there dishes.That matters if you want to be in business as long as they have!! read more

Great new addition to Darien, had the chicken Liz taylor and the burrata ravioli - both great. We will return.

Quattro Pazzi did not disappoint. Everything was perfect from the atmosphere to the food. The dining room atmosphere felt special while also feeling comfortable and relaxed. The burrata appetizer and calamari were both delicious starters. If you love sangria, definitely order a glass of red. We ordered the chicken, rigatoni, and a truffle pizza and we're blown away by all three. Every server was attentive and friendly and food came out at the perfect pace . We come into CT to visit my parents every few months and are VERY particular about which favorites we visit with our limited time. Quattro Pazzi is definitely being added to our top restaurants we visit when we arrive! Thank you for the wonderful visit! read more

Every part of our dining experience was amazing! We started with the Buffalo cauliflower as an appetizer and chose to have the sauce on the side. The florets were lightly fried and not greasy. The two sauces, a hot sauce and a creamy dill sauce, complemented the cauliflower perfectly. I had the Chicken Calabrese, which had spicy red pickled peppers. It was tasty and pungent, but the heat of the peppers was not overwhelming. My friend had the gnocchi with pesto and was extremely pleased. Even the bread was absolutely delicious and tasted homemade. We ended the perfect meal with delicious gelato. read more

We went in for dinner with another couple. The service was great, pleasant waitress with good recommendations. They were not overly busy with customers. We tried to understand some of things that made us feel like we would not be back soon. The inside seating was very noisy. The noise from the kitchen was distracting, plates banging and such. Maybe they should think about closing the pass though and add a door to the kitchen to remove that extra noise. In the seating area they could add some panels to absorb the sounds on the ceiling. The food was above average but the cost may be a little high for atmosphere. This is not a highly decorated cozy romantic restaurant. It's more like a pizza place that has good dinner options. This is a try recommendation and you can let others know your thoughts read more

Absolutely delicious from start to finish. The appetizers, dinners and deserts were so good. On top of that, the service was impeccable and portions were generous. This is our new favorite place now and is located in a great location in Darien. read more

Charming restaurant on the Darien/Norwalk line, right off I-95. Always a great meal. Friendly staff. No matter what you order you won't be disappointed and the desserts are delicious. read more

Basic Italian. Nothing special. Very expensive for what you get. Pictures are not what is served. Won't go back