Best Casual Restaurants in Fairfield

Went to meet my longtime friend at Terrain in Westport Connecticut today. Upon entering, I thought I was walking into a terrarium of sorts. I didn’t even realize it was a restaurant.  walking past the beautiful decorations I saw lots of smiling faces; waiters and patrons.  I sat down and was offered a drink right away. The menu was clean and elegantly designed. I liked how it was not overwhelming, but still had a nice range of options. The prices were great considering how lavish the decor was. I don’t think there was anything over $30 But the average I would say was $15. My friend ordered the grilled cheese and I got a medium well burger with aïoli dressing, bacon on top and a side of fries. I was really impressed with the quality of the meat combined with the juiciness of the burger. You never know what you’re gonna get when you Order medium well. The waiters were always on hand and ready to serve, but never gave us the feeling they were trying to rush us out. But we were there after the lunch rush so I don’t know what it’s like during the busiest times. Couple of lattes and we were ready to go. Was excited to explore the other areas of the place. I felt like I was at the botanical gardens with a restaurant growing out of it. It would be a great place to eat when the weather would allow outdoor seating.  Besides our kind waitress, a hostess by the name of Teresa, came by to check on us. She appeared to be a nature-loving enthusiast with an artistic bent. She turned me on to a Portuguese author whom I’m interested in reading. Overall, my friend and I had a great time and now planning on returning the last Thursday of this month. There’s a lot more to experience there not only in food, but in shopping. I could easily drop $1000 at the store, considering all the unique things on display. No hesitation, offering up five stars for Terrain ! After you check it out, send me your comments. Would love to hear from you. @HEARTmyMIND

The food and the service is great. We love the ambience too.

Let me start by saying, Blackstone’s did not disappoint. Well, okay, it did a little,but only because I foolishly left my leftovers behind, and we don’t live close enough to make a casual rescue mission. Heartbreaking, I know. Let’s relive the meal to ease the pain: Apps: Clams Casino These were the MVP of my starter lineup—big, bold, and packed with flavor. My only critique? The bacon could’ve been crispier, but hey, that’s just me nitpicking perfection. Smoked Salmon I wouldn’t know firsthand how it tasted because my fiancé inhaled it before I had the chance. To be fair, I didn’t share my clams either, so I can’t exactly complain. From the look on his face and the clean plate, I’d say it was a hit. Dinner: Bone-In Ribeye (for one) OH. MY. STEAK. Cooked perfectly to order and paired with an insanely good mushroom sauce. This is the kind of meal you do turn around for and believe me, I almost did. Regret Level: High. Brussels Sprouts Crispy, smoky, and perfectly paired with bacon. I wouldn’t normally gush about Brussels sprouts, but these deserve the attention. Seafood Linguini Talk an absolute seafood extravaganza, topped with a half lobster. I snagged a bite before my fiancé could dominate this one too. There were leftovers…and yes, we left those behind too. Tragic. Service: Joe, our server, was fantastic—friendly, attentive, and just an all-around great guy. The bussers were equally lovely and accommodating. Final Thoughts: Blackstone’s is worth the trip, and clearly worth remembering your leftovers. Lesson learned. Until next time, I’ll dream of that ribeye and seafood linguini. Highly recommend (and don’t make my mistake—take your leftovers home!).

Overall we enjoyed and appreciated the music , the creativity of the artwork and seating arrangements . It is definitely a place to consider going for a date night. The servers and owners were extremely welcoming and eager to assist, even with the bottle of wine to consider. The food is average for bar food .

We did their "After Dark" special dinner menu, picking out our steaks, appetizers, etc from their butcher shop portion of the restaurant. It was AMAZING. NYC steakhouse (or even better) steak, sauces and sides. All house-made. It was a fantastic experience and am so glad to have this option close by.