Old Post Tavern In Fairfield Is A Breath Of Fresh Air

Opening in mid-June of this year, Old Post Tavern

has brought a breath of fresh air to the key downtown Fairfield intersection where the Old Post Road meets Unquowa Road.

Around the corner on Unquowa Road is the Community Movie Theater,

from which Old Post Tavern’s patio seating is separated by nothing more than a low stone wall.

In nice weather such as we enjoyed, that patio seating looked very appealing.

When one enters Old Post Tavern, one can count on a warm reception from the hostess

or even from owner Patrick Tennaro himself, a CIA-trained chef with 23 years of experience at premier Manhattan steakhouses such as the Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group and Malloney & Porcelli, who now brings his talents to Fairfield County.

Tennaro has an interest in history, which shows in this period piece he commissioned

as well as these historic photographs.

I met my friends from the food media in the inviting bar area,

enjoying hors d’oeuvre like cucumber cups with tuna tartare in ginger sauce,

miniature crab cakes with roasted tomato coulis,

and grilled skewered shrimp in a sherry cream sauce.

Old Post Tavern’s regular customers seemed to be having a good time, too.

Then while my friends adjourned to the dining room,

I headed upstairs to check out the special function room

and to get an overhead view of the dining area.

Old Post Tavern’s interest in wine was unmistakable.

Throughout our multicourse meal, we enjoyed the following wines.

We were given nice bread and butter before our meal started in earnest.

Then this charming staff member

 

brought us an elaborate shellfish tower with oysters, clams, jumbo shrimp, lump crabmeat and Maine lobster,

which we set upon like hungry wolves. This flavorful New England clam chowder disappeared just as quickly.

After that, we demolished a tasty trio of salads, including an Asian pear and Gorgonzola salad with organic mixed greens, candied almonds and dried cranberries in a Champagne vinaigrette,

an iceberg wedge salad with Maytag blue cheese, bacon, tomato and red onion in a housemade blue cheese dressing,

and a spring vegetable salad with pattypan squash, baby carrots, asparagus, snow peas and herbed goat cheese in a black truffle vinaigrette.

Our starters finished, we headed into the heart of the meal, exclaiming over wonderful lobster ravioli,

pretty blackened mahi mahi,

and gorgeous sliced dry-aged rib steak and sliced bone-in sirloin,

served family-style with the appropriate sauces.

The irresistible sides included creamed spinach,

macaroni and cheese,

mashed potatoes,

 

and mixed vegetables.

Finally, we came to the scrumptious desserts. Coffee

 

was ideal accompaniment for a warm apple tart with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce,

a brownie sundae with vanilla ice cream, housemade chocolate sauce and whipped cream,

and a lemon panna cotta with blueberry compote.

At the end of a memorable dining experience, Tennaro visited the tables, giving us a chance to ask questions and express how much we liked his new restaurant.

Old Post Tavern, 1418 Old Post Road, Fairfield, 203-292-8631
www.oldposttavern.com