In addition to the obvious facilities dedicated to major headliners, Connecticut is fortunate to have a goodly number of smaller music venues. It’s an added plus when these smaller venues have attached restaurants that can feed concertgoers, simplifying the challenging calculus of figuring out where to eat, how much time it will take to get there from work or home, how quickly one will have to eat, and how much added time it will take to get to the concert hall, find parking and get to one’s seats. Infinity Bistro in Norfolk may be a bit of a drive for most Connecticut residents, but once one gets there, all of these problems are solved.
The scenic town of Norfolk is worth the trip for sightseeing purposes alone. Allow a little extra time for it, as we did. My friend and I came up Route 8, passing under strange clouds in “The Valley.”
After a little less than an hour, we found ourselves in Norfolk, which bills itself the “Icebox of Connecticut,”
and indeed, on April 10th, there were still significant patches of snow to be found around town.
Norfolk’s architecture is worth investigating,
as is natural scenery like Buttermilk Falls.
But Infinity Music Hall & Bistro is clearly one of Norfolk’s grandest sights,
even from the parking on the hill behind it.
Greeted by this big carved bear,
we had come to see Janis Ian,
even if she was no longer the rebellious young cutie I remembered any more than I am the wiry competitive runner and mountain climber I used to be.
Once inside Infinity Bistro, we were warmly greeted,
seated, and seen to by this smiling lass.
I took a quick tour of the floor with my trusty point-and-shoot, catching the bar area
and various dining spaces,
enjoying the for-sale artwork.
Of course, parts of the main floor were dedicated to music.
I was able to identify about two-thirds of the photographs. If you can do better, you’re probably at least in your mid-50s and have a keen interest in music. Answers follow the photographs.
If you had James Taylor, Bob Marley, Frank Zappa, Carly Simon, Jerry Garcia, B.B. King, Grace Slick and Donovan, then you’re pretty good.
Infinity Bistro does a pretty good job with wine, as evidenced by this wine display
and wine list.
Beers, and other drinks, were well provided for as well.
But we were just there for a quick supper before the concert, so chef Dan Fortin’s menu and dessert list were what commanded our attention.
Remember, you can click on the photographs to enlarge them if you want to read the various menus.
The first food to come our way, naturally, was bread
and (I believe) sweet potato butter.
My soup of the day was a delightful seafood chowder.
I paired it with a nice, all-natural burger, seen here from the air,
and here from the side.
Even the accoutrements were terrific, like these truffle fries
and housemade pickles.
My companion also greatly enjoyed his teres major (a.k.a. shoulder tender) steak served with a horseradish demi, a crispy smashed potato cake with bacon, and green beans.
Our shared dessert was a caramelized pear and pineapple crisp,
which we ordered à la mode.
The concert was just getting started as we took our seats.
We saw that people seated on the balcony could order food during the concert.
The opening act was Natalia Zukerman,
whose singing, guitar work and lively wit quickly made her a crowd favorite. As her time drew to an end, she invited Janis up on stage with her.
Then after a brief intermission, Janis performed a long set, showing she hadn’t lost a drop of the artistry and passion that made songs like “Society’s Child” and “At Seventeen” huge hits.
An advantage of small venues, my friend and I were able to meet and talk with both artists after they performed, my friend also buying some of their merchandise.
Infinity Music Hall & Bistro, Route 44, Norfolk, 860-542-5531
www.infinitybistro.com
I’d like to congratulate Frank Cohen for his well written, carefully documented blog reviews…..and to thank him for visiting and writing about Infinity Hall a few weeks ago. Keep up the great work!