Sweater / Scarf (on sale for $10!) / Jeans / Boots

Now that we’ve lived in Connecticut for two years (I still consider myself a city slicker, but that’s another story), I feel like I finally have a solid list of go-to restaurants and bars. I often get asked where to eat in Fairfield County, so I rounded up a list of some of my favorite spots for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Anel and I are creatures of habit, and tend to find one great restaurant and stick with it, but we’ve made a big effort since moving here to explore more.

It’s definitely not like the city, where there are a ton of amazing options, but once we found the gems, we’ve kept this running list of our favorites.

I love supporting small, local restaurants, so I’m excited about American Express’s latest Shop Small for 2x Rewards offer which gives Card Members who use an enrolled American Express Card, including the Blue Cash Everyday Card, a chance to earn even more rewards when they #ShopSmall at qualifying merchants between now and December 31st. All of the restaurants in my list below qualify! For a list of qualifying restaurants near you, reference this map. Enroll your American Express Card to get more rewards, and learn more here.

I’d love to hear any of your favorite spots if you live in my neck of the woods!

Breakfast

Neat (Darien, Westport)
This is where we shot the photos for this post. I try to schedule as many meetings as possible at Neat because they make me dairy-free tea lattés that are to die for! They also have a few delicious gluten-free pastries, so I always know I can eat something if I need to. The outside courtyard is great in the summer, especially because you can bring your dogs.

Granola Bar (Greenwich, Westport)
If you follow me on Snapchat, you know I’m a Granola Bar addict. I could eat breakfast and lunch here everyday and never get sick of it. The Bababooey sandwich is maybe the best ever (they can make it on GF bread, for us weirdoes). I also love the Naughty Cobb Salad, The Shrek smoothie, and their paleo cookies. For breakfast, sometimes I’ll indulge in the “Crunchy Elvis” yogurt parfait, swapping in their cashew-based yogurt. So delicious!

Sugar Bowl (Darien)
If you’re looking for healthy, skip this section. But if you’re looking for a solidly delicious diner experience, read on. They decorate in a serious way for every single holiday. It’s like decorations on crack, but in a good way. Totally kitschy, and I totally love it. Currently, there are approximately 300 giant ornaments hanging from the ceiling. Go for omelets and coffee, but don’t expect anything fancy.

Green & Tonic (Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Cos Cob, Westport)
When I used to work in Port Chester, I’d stop at the Green & Tonic Greenwich location almost daily to pick up breakfast and lunch. It’s 100% vegan, but never compromises on flavor. The butternut squash and white bean quinoa bowl is great and you can’t go wrong with any of the smoothies or juices. If you’re looking to do a pre or post-holiday cleanse, they offer 3 or 5 day cleanses that are wonderful. I’ve done two of them and always feel amazing when they’re done.

The coffee bar at Kirby & Company (Darien)
I’ve talked about this before but Caitlyn makes the most delicious coffee/tea drinks and they have GF macarons! Plus you can shop while you enjoy one of their yummy breakfast quiches.

Lunch

Baldanza (New Canaan)
My friend Amanda and I meet here at least once a month for lunch (and recently for brunch which was also great). It’s all organic and they have an awesome selection of salads, grain bowls, and tartines. The turkey chili is to die for. I always take home a pint of it for Anel. Another plus is they serve breakfast all day!

Bodega (Darien)
I’ve only been to Bodega twice, but it’s becoming a fast favorite. I’m a huge taco-holic, and they make the best ones around, in my opinion. The fried avocado and Ya-mon (jerk chicken) tacos are my faves and I can’t pass up the massaged kale salad. The margaritas definitely don’t suck either!

Beach House Café (Old Greenwich)
Being in Old Greenwich just makes me happy, and this cute little spot, made to look like a boat, is no different. They have a good selection of salads and sandwiches, but my favorite are the spicy fish tacos.

Spotted Horse Tavern (Westport)
I love the old-timey tavern feel of the Spotted Horse. It’s great for lunch or dinner, but I love getting the Chinese chicken salad, and asking them to chop it for lunch. All of the salads are gigantic, and can definitely be a full meal. They make killer mussels, and the black truffle burger is always a good choice if you want to be a little naughty.

Layla’s Falafel (Stamford)
Don’t judge this book by its cover. Located in a strip-mall type of location, this hole-in-the-wall falafel joint wins awards every year. We takeout lunch from here on weekends and it never fails to amaze me. I go for the falafel platter with hummus and Fattoush salad, and Anel gets a mix of the chicken and lamb Shewarma.

Dinner

Back 40 Kitchen (Greenwich)
It’s hard to find upscale health food restaurants in the ‘burbs, so Back 40 Kitchen is truly a gem. Everything from the cocktails to dessert is organic, so I always feel good about eating here. Literally every single thing I’ve ever ordered has been incredible. Just get passed the fact that it’s on the second floor with a weird long hallway, and you’re all set. Once you enter the actual restaurant, the ambiance is adorable!

Harvest (Greenwich)
A good wine bar is a solid thing to keep in your arsenal. Harvest has a great wine selection, which is only half the reason we frequent it for date-night so often. The farm to table menu is hearty and comforting, with something on the menu for everyone. You can’t miss the shaved Brussels sprout salad and the lamb burger.

Rowayton Seafood (Rowayton)
“The Restaurant”, as they call it, is attached to Rowayton’s fish market, serving some of the freshest fish around. You can sit inside or out, but either way you get beautiful water views. We love coming at sunset for oysters and lobster rolls in the summer.

Zaza (Stamford)
We recently discovered Zaza when we wanted a restaurant near the movie theater we were heading to later that night. It’s an Italian restaurant/wine bar that is constantly packed, so we figured we couldn’t go wrong. It was delicious! The Arugula di Parma pizza is unreal (prosciutto, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and lemon), and Anel and I both went crazy for the truffle Brussels sprouts. It has a good energy about it too!

Mecha Noodle Bar (South Norwalk, Fairfield)
Before we realized there was a location in South Norwalk, we used to drive 35 minutes just to eat at Mecha. On a cold winter night, their ramen soups hit the spot. The spicy miso ramen is the best, and I always swap out the ramen noodles for pho noodles made from rice. The kale salad looks boring but is SO good, and all of the steamed Baos are delish. Pro tip: Takeout isn’t as good, so try to eat there if you can.

Locali (New Canaan)
In the summer, you can sit outside and enjoy your wine and pizza, and it’s just heaven. We love the shaved local cauliflower, the meatballs, and cherry pepper Sriracha chicken wings. I recommend getting a bunch of plates and sharing so you can enjoy more.

Le Fat Poodle (Old Greenwich)
This fancier local restaurant is great for birthdays because they blast 50 Cent’s “It’s Your Birthday” and bring your dessert with a sparkler. It’s a funny juxtaposition given the stunning decor and high-end menu. I love the red snapper with coconut curry sauce, and Anel is obsessed with their take on chicken and waffles.

Thank you to American Express for sponsoring this post.