BONDA Restaurant :

If you’re traveling through Fairfield County on your way to summer on the islands off Massachusetts or motoring on to see the fall foliage; be sure to visit the quaint village of Greenfield Hill in Fairfield, CT and check out the gourmet cuisine at BONDA restaurant. 

Tranquil and Bucolic Location
It’s located in a picture perfect shopping center that was probably once a study for a Norman Rockwell painting. 

Greenfield Hill is a place where protected shady lanes and rambling colonial stone walls protect hidden gardens. Life here is tranquil and bucolic and it's only a one-hour drive from New York City on I-95.  Alternately, you can jump on Metro North and the get off at the Southport station. 

Warm and Friendly Atmosphere
BONDA exudes a warm and friendly atmosphere. The owner and permittee Jamie Cooper greeted us in the bar with a warm handshake and a gracious smile. 

Open Bottle Night
For a moment we contemplated whether to stay and experience dinner at the bar because it was so lively and festive on a Tuesday night. Every Tuesday night is “Open Bottle Night” at BONDA! Patrons are encouraged to bring their own favorite bottle of wine to enjoy with family and friends without having to pay a corking fee. Fabulous!  If you didn’t happen to bring your favorite vino we’d suggest sampling their yummy Foxglove Chardonnay - $11 per glass. Delicious!

Jamie is not only creative with the menu, which he crafted and oversees the production of but, he’s also a talented interior designer as well.

Décor and Ambience
BONDA exudes an authentic, casual atmosphere. We loved the old French vintage posters that were beautifully framed and hung on the walls in the main dining room. You could tell that Jamie carefully selected each one so as to not guild-the-lily and balance the space out against the walnut floors. 

His favorite color is orange and it's subtle use on his logo, menu and inside BONDA underpins his creativity and the dinner experience that is yet to come. Jamie said to us with a wide grin and a toast when we were seated, “My father taught me about the indulgence of eating and drinking well and that’s what BONDA is all about.”

“Well said.”, I thought.

Somehow it seemed that we weren’t in a traditional restaurant but, rather in Jamie’s home, away form home. 

We were now looking forward to breaking some bread with him and sampling the menu:

The Menu
BONDA serves up American Bistro cuisine with a modern twist. The staff was very attentive, polite and professional. Appetizers range form $7.00 - $15 and Main Course selections range from $18 - $38.

Shrimp, Corn, Avocado Cocktail - $10 
We started with a shrimp, corn, and avocado cocktail with grapefruit and citrus vinaigrette. Jamie introduced a crisp 2011 Domaines Schlumberger Pinot Blanc - $10 per glass - that was a perfect match for this refreshing start. We’d suggest having him pair wines from his cellar for you personally. He’ll take you on a tour of California, Italy and France and it’s fun to talk to him between courses too.

Pan Roasted Sea Scallops with Tomato - $15
The pan roasted sea scallops with tomato, bacon and corn salad that was drizzled with avocado-basil crema was next and was delish.

Grilled Romaine with Parsley-Caper Vinaigrette and Shaved Parm - $10
If you are a Caesar salad fan, their's is to die for. This is a fun and interesting way to make a salad with a twist.

Linguini -Tomato, Corn Basil and Goat Cheese - $18
The tomato, corn, basil and goat cheese melt were delicious!  This flat noodle pasta with fresh papardelle will make you “gobble up” the sausage and tangy pepper sauce too. Both plates melted in our mouth and was complemented with more superb Pinot Blanc from France - $10 per glass. 

Sriracha-Brined Fried Chicken - $26
The Main Course portion of the meal was their signature Sriracha-Brined Fried Chicken. It arrived with coconut rice and cucumber herb salad. Talk about an American favorite with a twist -- named after the small town, Sri Racha in Thailand this hot sauce delivers a big taste.

Pan Roasted Rainbow Trout - $26
The perfectly pristine Pan Roasted Rainbow Trout was served in its entirety; laid over a bed of lentils and haricot verts. These French beans offer more complex flavor than their American counterpart. It’s the perfect compliment to a sweet trout. 

Carmel Budino with Salted Caramel Sauce - $8
The Carmel Budino, a rich and creamy like custard, had an amazing salted caramel sauce and was decadent for sure!

New Orleans Style Bread Pudding - $8
BONDA’s Bread Pudding with bourbon sauce is a ....