Oh thanks for this! I previously enjoyed it, and checked not long ago and was sad it was closed. Good to get this update :)

North Stamford to the Inn at Pound Ridge is a very easy backroads drive of about 25minutes each way, and the food is delicious there. They have valet parking most of the time, a good drinks menu, and the brunch has a crispy rice squares w salmon item that is interesting and tasty. It is a bit more upscale than most of what we have in Stamford (it is a Jean George).

Without leaving North Stamford, you might consider (newer in the last 2 years) The Farmhouse at The Crossroads. https://www.farmhouseatthecrossroads.com/

I have been three times now and found the food to be delicious. Their seafood supplier is really hooking them up (the shrimp cocktail was magnificent). They have a great drinks menu, and the interior has a nice fireplace ambiance on brisker nights. They have a big outdoor area that they are ready to trot out for outdoor brunch w drinks once it is a tad warmer. It is more like a 5min drive from anywhere in North Stamford, so a quick/easy one. But menu is large and upscale decor, and it feels splurgy when you are there.

Liberty was amazing for us. Really hustled when we needed it during the process, and a super low fixed rate (December 2020, so I know things have moved since then).

That’s a great budget. A gift card for Prime, which is on the water and has great marina views and a fab menu, would be an upscale option that also says “ enjoy your gorgeous meal and water view as we go into spring time!” More of an upscale outing vibe! https://stamford.restaurantprime.com/

If you were looking for something more darkly, lit, and cozy, with a tucked in corner booth etc then maybe I’d go a different direction.

That’s a great budget. A gift card for Prime, which is on the water and has great marina views and a fab menu, would be an upscale option that also says “ enjoy your gorgeous meal and water view as we go into spring time!” More of an upscale outing vibe!

If you were looking for something more darkly, lit, and cozy, with a tucked in corner booth etc then maybe I’d go a different direction.

My experience is mostly from the reverse commute to yours. Here’s what I can share.

There isnt always an Acella and sometimes you need to switch from a Metro North train to an Amtrac train in NyC, which means leaving Grand Central and traveling across midtown to Penn station mid-journey.

Also, you cant arrive back to Philly from Stamford by train before 10:30am should you ever wish to.

Traveling business class on Acella costs more but you get to pick a seat. Non-business class is no reserved seat. Sometimes I have trouble finding one or finding two together etc.

I know right! With so many people working from home now in the north part of Stamford the lunch options that we do have up here are really cramped. Table 104 is always getting swarmed. And the plaza that has the Chop’d salad and Taco Project It’s already a car’s nightmare because it has to share all the parking space attention of Orangetheory Trader Joe’s the nail place, Cobb’s bread. (Obviously the parking is terrible at Ridgeway too and is always a video game). The Fed food truck at The Wagon Wheel plaza gets its fair share of action too. I guess what I’m saying is I think there are enough people who would want to eat lunch and dinner at a food hall, but wouldn’t necessarily want to go “all the way downtown.”

But a place with lots of options in one spot that wasn’t necessarily table, service and more like order at the counter stalls would be incredible!

Things like assorted spicy dumplings, some varieties of NoLa chicken sandwiches, interesting Hawaiian poké bowls, anything w kimche on it, interesting Arepas, lobster rolls, Pho/noodle soups options etc. I mostly thought of it, because the Bed Bath and Beyond space has really high ceilings! I’m sure there would need to be a pretty big build out to have the right type of ventilation for all these delicious stalls, but in a perfect world it could totally happen.

An Ulta makeup store? They seem to be taking spaces around the state in older style “plazas.”

Maybe a food hall? Like with lots of different stalls and mini restaurant options…. That would be fun.

I thought Ashley was gettting the old Modells Sports space perhaps?

Things I also recommend from there: Work The rope-form bacon in the packing located in the refrigerated bin where the yogurts are; all of the pickles they sell; the hard dry sausages in the case that you point and they get it for you; mustards; sauerkraut varieties; chocolate (all the real ones from Europe. Like the verboden original Kinder eggs with the toy egg inside of them. And…. ALL of the layered tart/cakes in the tall refrigerated case behind the counter. But, if you get lucky, and they have the one with all of the currants on it that day, get an extra bug slice. That one is so good. I actually ordered a whole one for holiday for company.

The new(ish) Farmhouse at The Crossroads on Long Ridge is actually excellent. I have been twice and am so happy that something so good replaced the former Long Ridge Tavern. Interesting menu items mixed in with crowdpleasing staples, well-labeled menu for those w food allergies, and the seafood items I have had have there been of impressive quality.

Omg the Polish Delight or Taste of Poland sandwich (whatever the name is for their signature sandwich the first one listed on the board)…. This is THE sandwich. If one person in our family goes and gets the sandwich and other people find out that they went and got the sandwich for didn’t take them or ask if they wanted one brought home for them, it is a betrayal.

I came here to comment this too. I compare every week and Whole foods is always the cheapest among the ones I check. Sometimes by HALF.

My husband is allergic to wheat, corn, and cow’s milk dairy, so his breakfast is heavily skewed towards eggs. My kids like them too (hard boiled in lunch box or scrambled at home) we eat a ToN of eggs in this house. Maybe three dozen every ten days. It has always Whole Foods for the best egg prices, this entire past year.

I think it is the same owners who have “Cugine’s” - a speakeasy style ny pasta restaurant restaurant concept. They are on indtagram but i font yhink it had a formal website.

Just as an FYI: we are getting Air Lingus back, w glights starting in March.

https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2022/10-2022/Governor-Lamont-and-Connecticut-Airport-Authority-Announce-Aer-Lingus-Resuming-Service

I have never seen a gas station attendant in Stamford.