Stamford’s Theater District – Restaurant Row

By Frank Whitman

Behind the Palace Theater in Stamford along a short stretch of Summer Street is a collection of accomplished restaurants that illustrate the range of dining options in our area.  This dense stretch of delicious food makes a night at the theater all the more enticing.

Bartaco for creative Mexican street fare and its sister restaurant, Barcelona Wine Bar, for tasty Tapas occupy significant space at the north end. Across the street in the Courtyard Hotel, Divina Modern Italian is at the leading edge of contemporary Italian.  Further south, Taj Stamford covers the wide range of Indian flavors. Across from the alley that leads to the theater, Flinders Lane cooks with an Aussie

Flinders Lane

accent. Catty-corner you’ll see Kashi for Japanese fare and fresh sushi.  And further south the collection ends with (what else?) pizza, at an outpost of the world famous New Haven Sally’s Apizza.  What more could you want?  

Flinders Lane, the only place around for “Australian-American cuisine” that I know of, was our choice for a recent pre-theater dinner with friends.  The stylish, contemporary restaurant hosted a mix of locals (the happy hour is buzzy) and an early pre-theater crowd. 

We were lucky to hit half-price Wednesday for wine by the bottle.  As the management hoped, I ordered a bottle beyond my usual price point and loved it. In fact we agreed with our friends to order a case from DB Wines in New Canaan to split.  Australian, of course, the Yalumba Winery Bush Vine Grenache was translucent and light-bodied yet packed with flavor. 

The Flinders menu has many of the popular choices seen in lots of places, but there is also the unmistakable sign of something else going on. Starters of Grilled Kangaroo ($20), Sausage Rolls ($16), and Shrimp Bao Buns ($14) call up both the Pacific Rim and the British Empire.  Those references pop up throughout the menu as well. The Steak Frites has Australian Wagyu ($36), Meat Pie ($26) is popular, and the Chicken Parm ($26) has a crunchy deep-fried crust, Aussie style. 

Swordfish ($32) is well matched with black garlic, cilantro rice, Napa cabbage and bok choy.  Seared Duck Breast ($32) comes with Cantonese plum sauce. And, well, you get the idea. 

Chicken Parm

Desserts continued the down-under theme.  Sticky Date Pudding is known around the Empire while Lamington (cake coated in chocolate and dusted with coconut) is an Australian speciality (both $10).

There’s a parking garage next door and it’s just a short walk to the theater. We saw a national tour production of Come From Away, a musical based on dozens of flights forced to land on September 11 and how the residents of Gander, Newfoundland cared for them. It’s a favorite of ours. 

Just like the restaurants around Carnegie Hall (see my previous column), or the tremendous concentration of restaurants in the Broadway Theater District, The Summer Street Restaurants are a tasty partner with the Palace Stamford.

Lamington

We love restaurants. Eating out is a pleasure on many levels, but it’s also broadening.  The diversity of restaurants on Summer Street is a lesson in world cultures.  Language, flavors, ingredients and traditions are all part of the experience. Where else can you be (or pretend to be) somewhere else for a few hours?  

If you know anyone who would enjoy content like this about food, local and far away, restaurants, travel and more, please pass this along. Thanks, Frank

Flinders Lane stylish decor