Context is important. A decent sushi meal in a rural part of the midwest where no other option for sushi exists might deserve five stars, though in NYC, it might merit only one or two twinkles. Mediocre popcorn chicken in Taiwan might earn five in NYC, where the competition is almost non-existent. Sparrow (unrelated to The Sparrow in Brooklyn) is a clear five stars for the New Milford area, a wonderfully rural-ish part Connecticut that nonetheless supports a fairly vibrant restaurant scene. It's one of our favorite restaurants between Danbury and Kent, and if we were to pluck it up and drop it down somewhere in Manhattan, it would probably still merit five stars. Chef Mike Sorensen's kitchen plays with, and tweaks, the menu often, though a few mainstays have been a steady presence since the beginning. Both new dishes and old are well designed and consistently well executed, while at the bar, cocktails are similarly well designed and competently mixed. Owner John Bourdeau always seems to be present, working alongside his friendly staff as part of a very well oiled operation. On a recent visit, we tried the KFC BAO ($13; two buns, fried chicken, gochujang bbq, sesame slaw, pickles, scallion), a longtime bastion on the menu. These were made with juicy chicken tenders, coated in a remarkably crisp, but not overly thick, crust and a spicy, sweet, salty sauce. The acidity of pickles and slight crisp of slaw kept the gochujang sauce from being overwhelming. We've had plenty of fusion bao in other places involving similar ingredients, but Sparrow's version was unusually well executed. YELLOWFIN TUNA POKE ($22; cucumber, avocado, sambal aioli, sweet soy, scallion, jasmine rice) was commendably fresh and well-cut, about even in quality to what a good mid-tier sushi establishment might serve. I don't love aioli with fish, but its presence was not excessive. The only weak point of this dish was the rice, which was too hard and dry to work with poke. A short- or at least medium-grain rice performs far better in this context. Perfectly ripe avocado, crisp, sliced radishes, and pickled jalepeno gave the dish a possibly Mexican-esque twist. KALE CHOP ($14; local kale, olive oil vinaigrette, soppressata, mozzarella, pecorino, red onion, olive, tomato) included relatively tender kale and small amounts of each listed ingredient. I would've liked to have had more of the non-kale elements, but the salad was nicely dressed and in balance. There was more of that incredibly crispy chicken in the CHICKEN MILANESE main ($26; salsa verde, tomato, arugula, lemon citronette, pecorino). I can't hold it against any kitchen for having an ingredient do double duty of course (the same way my poached chicken goes into both tikka masala and enchilladas verde). But the primary consumer did note that he would have ordered something a little less samey had he known. I loved the transformative brightness of salsa verde with the chicken. Since I'm horribly predictable, I again ordered the WILD STRIPED BASS ($32; potato + celery root salad, tarragon vinaigrette, pea shoots, lupine). The fish was presented with enough variation to keep things interesting, however. The basic preparation of the striped bass was the same (a thick pavé cut, lightly salted, pan fried), but with a lovely green tarragon vinaigrette instead of dill vinaigrette that absorbed winningly into the diced potato and celery root. The potato and celery root appeared virtually indistinguishable, so it was sort of fun to guess which root vegetable I was spearing with my fork, and the slightly sweeter, firmer flavor of the latter was especially enjoyable alongside the fish. Tender pea shoots replaced the sorrel used in the prior iteration. Two of my convives chose to order pizza, each 12" and just the right size for a hungry adult. Both the SONGBIRD ($20; red sauce, mozz, soppressata, pecorino, crushed red pepper, honey) and the ASPIRATIONAL CLUTTER ($23; red sauce, mozz, pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, sweet peppers, olives) came on sturdy sourdough crust, generously topped, with cheese and sauce in good balance. The LEXINGTON ($16; Redemption Rye, Amaro Nonino, nutmeg, lemon, club soda, mint) -- likely a reference to the city of that name in KY, not MA -- was served in a mint julep cup and drank a lot like a mojito: light and refreshing. The Pardner had the SAN FRANCISCO ($16; chile infused rum, coconut cream, smoky pineapple, coconut + cinnamon), which was pleasantly smoky, not overly sweet, and charmingly served in a tiki mug. Chef Sorenson does a wonderful job of fine tuning the menu based on what they are able to source locally and serving ingredients at their peak season. Even frequent diners won't be bored by the constantly evolving food. More here: https://eatersdigestnyc8.wordpress.com/2026/07/27/sparrow-bar-and-restaurant-new-milford-connecticut/ read more

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Really enjoyed this place. We were sat right away but unfortunately a family of 5 sat next to us and three of them were under 8 years old. That changed the dynamic of the mood. This was a quick decision and drive-by choice. So no biggie but had it been an anniversary I would have been irritated. Hospitality was great. Super friendly just and servers and excellent service. My wine pour was very generous. The pizza with sopressata and honey drizzle was spicy and delicious and well priced. The Bahn Mi salad was delicious, beautifully prepared and topped with a grilled chicken breast., We really enjoyed it. An area of opportunity would have been to be more generous with the amount of actual food, particularly when it's an entree at dinner time. Vibe is friendly, modern, a bit upscale without being daunting or exclusive. We will return. read more

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The place has a very cool vibe and the staff are professional and pleasant. We went with my fiancé's parents. They were looking at the menu like it was in some other language. LOL. The menu was small and did not have many options for them. They wound up getting the only normal thing they could think of- The Smashburger for one and the other ordered the fish and chips. My fiancé got the pizza with all the pork on it. I ordered this pork skirt steak that the waitress stressed was really good. I thought it was good, but it didn't blow my mind. we all agreed that the best thing was the onion rings that we shared as an appetizer. I don't think there's anything wrong with the place at all. I think it's a great place for like a date night or something, But we probably won't go back. read more

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If you're a foodie, this is an absolute must-visit. Every bite was a delight. We devoured the KFC bao buns (I honestly could have eaten ten!), crispy onion rings, a hearty steak bowl, and perfectly cooked chicken piccata. Everything was amazing. For dessert, the beignets with blueberry dipping sauce and the panna cotta were the perfect finale. The staff was attentive, the atmosphere is cozy, and with the weather still nice, it's perfect for dining on the patio. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Great food excellent drinks friendly staff and the owner is a good guy.. highly recommend sparrows .. it's not cheap but worth it !!

We stopped at this restaurant for lunch and were really happy with our experience here. The restaurant itself is very nice both inside and out - nice lighting, well kept, and clean. Even the bathrooms were clean and tidy, always a great sign. Service was kind and speedy. We ordered a variety of entrees, including the panko crusted chicken with a tasty lemon vinaigrette, club sandwich, and smash burger. All of our food was delicious, and the presentation of each dish was really well done. It clearly shows that they make each dish with a great deal of care and attention. I would certainly come back here! read more

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Nice place for new American/fusion fare. We went here for NYE and for the most part enjoyed the experience. The bao buns appetizer was very tasty, as well as the pork cheek carbonara and pork skirt steak entrees. The oysters Rockefeller were disappointing, I have had far better ones and these were just stuffing and failed to showcase good oysters. The pork steak entree was tasty but very over-salted so I could only eat half of it. The fried chicken in the bao buns was also not quite as tender as it should be, we've had far better texture from food trucks. The cocktails were good, just avoid those that come with crushed ice. Service was very good. Overall, a fairly pleasant and inviting place and we'll try it again, but probably just for drinks and apps. read more

My family and I were exploring the area and searched on Google and Yelp for a spot for lunch. The criteria was, it has to be kid-friendly and patio dining, since the weather was gorgeous and the first warm day of the year. This restaurant popped up many times and I read that they had a global menu and great cocktails, I was sold. There was Korean, Vietnamese, and South American inspired foods on the menu. It's right in historic downtown New Milford and the building was awesome. I loved the interior, exposed brick, classy bar, and overall ambiance. The service was quick and friendly. I started off with a London drink which has nolet's gin, earl grey, creme de violette, red wine, velvet falernum, and egg white. I couldn't turn down a drink with egg white and I was not disappointed. I also had the Tokyo which has lemongrass vodka, apricot jam, green tea kombucha, and midori; it was good but I liked the London way better. The drinks were on the expensive side, about $16 each; it was well crafted though. We ordered the Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns which has fried chicken, gochujang bbq sauce, napa cabbage, pickles, kewpie mayo, scallion, and sesame seeds. We were a fan of it! My kids had chicken tenders and fries; they enjoyed it. My husband really liked his double smashburger. My main entree was the duck bulgogi. I am a fan of bulgogi but never had it with duck, so I was intrigued. For $28, it came with smoked duck breast, duck confit, kimchi, sunny egg, rice, cucumber salad, pickled chiles, sesame oil, soy sauce, scallion, and furikake. I thought the flavor was good, my only qualm was, it was $28. Overall, the location and ambiance was great. The service was prompt and friendly. The food and drinks were good. It's a little pricey but it is a great spot for lunch or dinner. read more

Found ourselves in New Milford and I took a look at what was around for restaurants. Sparrow had very good reviews and the menu was intriguing, so we gave it a try. We got lucky with a table as we didn't have a reservation, but we would have been happy to sit at the bar if necessary. Very neat atmosphere, fast and attentive staff. Wife had a glass of wine, I had the São Paulo cocktail with cachaca, beet juice, and lime- very good and unlike anything I've had. We shared onion rings and bao buns for appetizers- the okinomi sauce on the rings had us looking up recipes. Absolutely would have bought a bottle if Sparrow sold it! Wife had a smash burger single which tasted like a burger should- great flavor. I had the duck fried rice and loved it. We split a panna cotta for dessert. We look forward to visiting again, wish we lived closer. read more

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Great food! We enjoyed our dinner at Sparrow. The food was inventive and delicious! The service was also great. Well done!

Excellent service, delicious food. You will not be disappointed. Everything we had was amazing. Biscuits with maple bacon butter are a must. Can't go wrong with the KFC bao buns or smash burger. read more

Run don't walk. Food is amazing. Bao Buns, fried chicken sandwich and Thai curry shrunk bowl were fabulous. Very interesting cocktail menu and did not disappoint. Friendly staff and great ambiance. read more

Sparrow Bar & Restaurant - Bars Near Me - New Milford, Connecticut

We thoroughly enjoyed the flavors of our dishes that used ingredients not common in other area restaurants. We shared KFC Boa buns, onion rings, cod tacos and falafel. The prices are perhaps a little high, but it would not deter us from going back. The quality of the food made it worth every penny. YUM! read more

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Visited this restaurant for the first time the other night! First thing I noticed was how clean, tidy, and pretty the decor was. I love the exposed brick and the simplicity. Right away we were greeted with friendly smiles and warm welcomes. I unfortunately didn't get pictures of all the food as we were starving. But I was able to get a few! We ordered the spicy margaritas, chicken biscuits, bao buns, cucumber salad, cheeseburger, cauliflower, fried chicken, onion rings, and steak skewers. I actually did not preview the menu before coming so I was very surprised with all of the unique options. The cuisine has a lot of Korean flavors. There are many small plates to pick from and a few main courses. My table shared all of the orders so we all got to taste a bite of everything! My favorite was the Bao bun, onion rings, and fried chicken. I want to thank our awesome server Hannah. She was so sweet and helpful. We had a few questions about the menu and she was patient and shared some of her favorite recommendations on the menu to help us order. Thank you Hannah for taking care of us! read more

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Stopped by for a late dinner on Friday evening. Restaurant was pretty quiet but nicely decorated. Lots of creative cocktails, including a nice mocktail list. Everything on the menu is eclectic and not something you'd find on your average menu. The bao buns were delicious. We also had the banh mi sandwich and duck fried rice. Everything was bursting with flavor and had great spice. Service was friendly and everything came out quickly. Food is a bit pricey, but a fun stop for a unique dinner. read more

Sparrow Bar & Restaurant - KFC Bao Buns - Bars Near Me - New Milford, Connecticut

On paper, Sparrow's menu seems tailor-made for me. Every dish on our handful of visits were well plated but off in execution. KFC bao buns? Yes, please! Except that the fried chicken lacked seasoning or crunch. Smashed fried potatoes? I'll take all of them. Except that they were more oily than crispy. Also the salsa verde wasn't green, that's a bad sign. The bibimbap is for mixing. But so many picked vegetables, like jalapenos, just don't work. And the kimchi, which should be a highlight tasted like it came from a Wildbrine jar. At least the fried egg was good. Smashed cucumber salad only saw the chili oil in passing and never met the ginger. At least the added shrimp were done well. The beer battered fish tacos were on point, if you ignored the burnt outer tortillas. Maybe the clue is in the name. Because their drinks are good. Both their alcoholic and non-alcoholic were done very well. The restaurant portion, I can only recommend if you're already several drinks in. At that point the texture of the fried chicken probably doesn't matter. read more

Nice addition to the New Milford town. Menu is creative and you can taste the local goodness in the food. We were happy with the service too, and everything was delicious. Since they change the menu often, it keeps an element of surprise and makes you want to come back. Only not so good point is that it is very noisy inside the restaurant. See pics for the amazing food. read more

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Food was very good Service was exceptional Music was to loud we couldn't talk Enjoy! read more

Food quality / price (value) rating 8.5. The atmosphere is a beautifully restored Victorian storefront with exposed brick and plenty of very high quality woodwork throughout the dining area. A "shotgun" style, open dining room with several very large windows brings light and a sense of openness to the space. The owners, John & Stephanie at Sparrow, informed us that this is where Deed's Pizza - Adam Sandler's silly RomCom was filmed. The restrooms were newly remodeled, and fresh and clean, and adorned with more nice artwork. High quality artwork, some of which is for sale, is displayed on the walls The menu is limited, and changes frequently. I had the Bucatini Bolognese, a pork and beef tomato sauce over Bucatini pasta (thin tube-like pasta) that was cooked perfectly and served hot. There was no bread or salad served. The wife had the Mushroom Pot Stickers appetizer which was very unusual, and presented beautifully. We had a couple drinks and an incredible Panna Cotta with lemon brittle and an incredible rhubarb / strawberry compote. The smooth texture and density of the custard was unmatched with any I've ever eaten. We had a great conversation with the owner, John, a veteran restauranteur, and our server Stephanie was fantastic! They have a nice, large outdoor seating area. The restaurant is located on New Milford's Bank Street Theater District, and is a walk down memory lane bringing one back in time to the Victorian era that was once Connecticut. read more

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My wife and I just celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary and we decided on sparrow, and it couldn't have been more perfect From the amazing staff, to the amazing food. We had this amazing table right near the window, looking out onto bank street in new Milford's center. inside beautiful art work, nice small tables and a great bar in the middle. Our meals, Started with amazing fresh Apple, pecan salad, that I'm still thinking about, I had FLAT IRON STEAK AU POIVRE, amazing, melt in your mouth. My wife had, the Thai curry shrimp, that she is raving about. it's definitely a place you want to go have a beer and have an amazing meal. The owner John bourdeau, talking and greeting customers. It's the kinda of place you feel welcome. read more

We were New Milford for a few days and found Sparrow. The food was delicious, the staff was professional and attentive without being intrusive, great selection of wines that partner well with the food ... our experience was so good, we went back for lunch the next day. read more

Been here a few times and always a pleasure. Staff is friendly and welcoming. Attentive without being overbearing. The food is flavorful and fun! Cocktails are all delicious whether you're trying a signature drink from the menu or ordering a classic (dirty martini for me). Comfy and calming environment with an outdoor dining area. We have never been disappointed and will be back! read more

When we heard there was a restaurant that just opened in New Milford serving a mix of dishes from all over the world, we decided to make a visit! This was our first dining visit to downtown New Milford, and Sparrow definitely set the bar high for the foodie scene here. The restaurant itself was charming, and the food was all good. Loved the Korean fried chicken and chilaquiles! If we had one critique, the bao bun had just a couple of stale spots, but was otherwise good. Our server, Derek, was very attentive, and everything came to the table in a timely manner. This is a great spot for us to keep in mind for future visits to the area! read more

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Great food! Mushroom pot stickers, bao buns, birria tacos all very good apps! Nice ambiance and quality service!

I came here on a weeknight relatively late and was welcomed and seated right away. My server was lovely and inside was nice, too; they also have an outdoor patio area. The menu was posted outside & I came in here just because I saw Mushroom Bulgogi on the menu. I got this with an egg and it was absolutely fabulous! I took half to go and it was still great the next day. It was $30, which was a little steep since it was close in price to the other entrees with meat, but I knew that before I ordered and I'm just really glad it was good! I think all the mushrooms were sourced locally. They were marinated really well and everything in the dish went so well together; I'm a fan. Would love to come back and try some of their appetizers. They were out of their stout, which is probably a good thing, because I would have had it. read more

Ordered out. was ready on time. burger was well made. definitely will try dine in next time

Terrific menu at this gem of a restaurant in New Milford. Loved the fried chicken bao and banh mi salad. The vibe is casually elegant. The staff did their utmost to accommodate a full house. Despite the crowd, they did a great job. read more

Service was amazing. Loved the shared plates, the bahn mi salad was incredible, and such a great atmosphere

Such a fun little place with nice outdoor seating. Chill atmosphere with amazing service, food and drinks. Everyone was very attentive and helped us select some dishes since this was our first time. Every option on the menu sounded delicious so it was difficult to choose. For apps we had the crunchy shrimp and tomato ricotta toast, and for dinner the lomo saltado and mushroom bulgogi bowl. read more

Sparrow Bar & Restaurant - Limp Saltado (Latin steak and fries dish) - Bars Near Me - New Milford, Connecticut

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Dishes are creative and delicious. Service was professional and friendly. The space is nice and simple. Will definitely return with my family read more

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Fantastic ambience, food was amazing. Owner and staff are extremely attentive and create a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable experience. One of the best in CT. Highly recommend. read more

Went with a few friends shortly after they opened and we were pleasantly surprised! We couldn't find the menu online at that point, so we're unsure about what exactly we'd be walking to but there were options for all. There is a lengthy appetizer list, which all sounded delicious. We tried the pork belly Mac and cheese and it was quite good! Knocked a star off only because the appetizers seem to be a bit small for the price point. For main courses, it was nice to see a burger and a chili dog on the menu! Giving basic options mixed in with some more fancy items is a great idea and offers something for everyone. Service was great and the ambiance is nice. I would make a reservation on weekends as it is a smaller space. read more

SO good, I cannot wait to come back! We made a last minute reservation on Saturday. Staff was super friendly, and the food was amazing. I was super excited to see the mocktail menu - several fun, creative options for non drinkers. We got the cucumber salad, kfc bao buns, onion rings, and a smash burger. The flavors were unreal! Of course saved room for dessert which was equally delicious. Really looking forward to coming back and trying out different menu items! read more

We've been on a binge lately trying new restaurants and stopped in at Sparrow recently. We were there for kind of an early dinner so the lunch menu was just ending... We were lucky enough to be able to choose some of the specials at lunch and add them to our dinner. We found that very accommodating of the team. We had a lobster bisque that was flavorful...the onion rings, and the mushroom potstickers also delicious. I had the pork chop for dinner. Our bartender/server since we sat at the bar was Jon who was beyond attentive and since we were in the mood to be experimental Jon whipped up some creative, fun cocktails after interviewing our preferences in flavors and liquors.... It was a treat and of course we'll be back. read more

Creative menu for both food and drinks. Lots of interesting vegetarian options to choose from.

Loved our dinner here last night. I had the shrimp curry and the chocolate torte - everyone at our table had a different entree and we all thought ours was the best. They also have a variety of interesting mocktails which you don't often see - loved mine! Great service, everyone is so engaging and hospitality. Can't wait to return again! read more

Let me start out by saying, the food here is good but the service is a different story. The customer service in this place is absolutely atrocious and these people act like they have no morals or empathy. the management was rude and despite the ambiance and good food, i will never dine here again. I would give 0 stars if i could. read more

Visited Sparrow for the first time, loved the atmosphere ! Started with cocktails which were exceptional , than moved to the appetizers , Chili Shrimp, Bao something rolls, remember I had a few cocktails , along with tuna . For main had Korean BBQ chicken which was absolutely amazing, along with a smashed burger and fries. We are definitely going back , can't wait read more

Just opened. Eclectic menu, good service. Vibrate atmosphere. Will go again; maybe gets better from that too!

We had an OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCE this evening with our friends Dennis and Abbe at the new Sparrow Restaurant on Bank St. in New Milford. We had fun sampling and sharing many of the SHARE plates. I think we tried six of the eleven offerings and a double of the OKONOMIYAKI ONION RINGS! Each one absolutely delicious. Enhancing the experience was the delightful greeting we received from Carly upon entering the restaurant and the exceptional service we received from Derek as our server. While I do not often have dessert, Derek urged me to try the 'special' spiced hot chocolate. WOW! I made sure to share our accolades with the manager Caitlyn! Clearly I highly recommend Sparrow! read more