Whether you like it or not, your financial decisions affect others. In this strapped economy, where you decide to eat is a vote to keep one restaurant open and let others founder. Do you give your money to the chains that guarantee a certain minimum standard? Or do you support the independent restaurants in your area, casting aside predictability in the pursuit of excellence?
I struggle with the same questions, but my decisions are amplified because of the number of people who follow this column. On rare occasion, I’ll cover a chain, but I tilt heavily toward the independents. They need our support in these difficult times.
Even among the Mom & Pops, there are good guys and not-so-good guys. There are restaurateurs who take great pride in offering the best food possible at reasonable prices and there are those who make cynical calculations based solely on profit. There are those who would give their shirt to the first person to ask for it and those ruled solely by self-interest. There are those with a reputation for treating their staff well and those who run through new hires like an ice breaker. There are those who care about the green footprint they leave behind and those who leave a trail of waste and consumption. There are those who are friendly and self-effacing and those who have egos the size of Patagonia. I try to support the good guys.
If you want to support the good guys, let me commend to you Ponte Vecchio in Fairfield.
At right you see chef-owner Giannino Cavalli with a fellow restaurateur,
and here you see him with manager Rebecca.
Originally hailing from Ripi, Italy, Cavalli purchased Luigi’s Restaurant in Fairfield in 1975, which continues to this day in his brother Giulio’s hands. In 2004, Cavalli opened Ponte Vecchio with his wife and children. His son, Paolo, has gone on to open successful restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth environs.
Cavalli located his new venture in the Brick Walk strip mall. In warm weather, Ponte Vecchio has nice patio seating and even garage doors to let fresh air into the end dining room.
Ponte Vecchio features a bar area (not pictured), a main dining room
and a second dining room also suited to small private functions.
For those who don’t know, the Ponte Vecchio is a famous Medieval bridge lined with shops that spans the Arno River in Florence. A representation of it graces the cover of the menu.
About a year ago, Cavalli introduced an extensive Italian tapas menu,
which has been a huge hit with his customers. The many temptations of the tapas menu make it easy to make an entire meal of small plates, as younger customers seem inclined to do, or to use the small plates as appetizers, as older customers seem inclined to do. Either way, you’re bound to enjoy them!
For liquid refreshment, let me recommend a nice Italian wine, whether white
or red,
or even an Italian beer.
Fresh rolls and good quality extra virgin olive oil will hold you until the first food arrives from the kitchen.
From the menu of tapas, priced just $7 to $9, there’s fresh figs and goat cheese over crostini,
bruschetta,
fried calamari with cherry peppers and vegetables,
clams casino,
thinly sliced beef over arugula with shaved Parmesan and extra virgin olive oil,
Brie cheese in puff pastry drizzled with honey,
eggplant rollatini,
fresh ricotta over Tuscan bread,
five bean salad with oil and white vinegar,
crispy Panko-breaded artichoke,
mussels sautéed with garlic, oil and parsley and served with toasted Tuscan bread,
rice balls stuffed with meat and fresh Mozzarella,
fritto misto,
chicken wings,
a tortellini salad,
roasted red and yellow peppers stuffed with avocado,
meatballs,
and my personal favorite, grilled petite veal chops in a demi-glace with mashed potatoes.
From the regular menu and specials, there are refreshing salads,
tasty pastas,
and delicious entrées.
And I can assure you, Ponte Vecchio’s food tastes even better than it looks.
In addition to housemade dessert specials, Ponte Vecchio offers a number of Bindi desserts.
After a satisfying repast, you might wind down with coffee
or limoncello.
But don’t come alone. Bring your loved one,
bring friends,
and have an absolutely great time!
Come out to Ponte Vecchio. Discover the real Italy! Patronize the good guys!
Ponte Vecchio, 1275 Post Road, Fairfield, 203-256-1326
www.pontevecchiofairfield.com