I HEARD A RUMOR (yes, I did)...

...that Marisa's, the venerable and over-the-top restaurant/bar/sometimes nightclub/occasional venue for live comedy, may be closing its doors.  This is, of course, a highly unsubstantiated rumor, and let's face it- it's probably not true.  I heard it from someone who heard it from somebody who heard it from somebody else.  But as I always say, rumors start from somewhere for some reason or another.
Should Marisa's in Trumbull close their doors, I would have very mixed feelings.  On one hand, I have fond memories of the way Marisa's was, some seven or eight years ago.  As the only game in town in Trumbull at that time, there was a great mix of patrons (young and old), friendly bartenders, and an all-around good vibe.  During the warmer months, there was a terrific outdoor bar and patio, complete with a fountain and tv screens mounted to the wall, so you can sip a cocktail and watch a ballgame under the stars on a warm summer night.
These were good days and good times at Marisa's, and it was one of the better spots off the beaten path in the Connecticut Gold Coast.  Sadly, this all changed a few years ago.
The outdoor patio was enclosed, and turned into a tacky and bizarre dining area/sometimes-dancefloor.  Odd red awnings hang from the ceilings along with light fixtures that look like giant scrotums, and the clientele- often times clad in Ed Hardy- look just as odd and tacky.  The chef will often double as a DJ and play an odd mix of music.  It all makes for a strange, and not nearly as fun environment as it once was.
Again, what I heard was a third-hand rumor that is most likely not true.  And in the unlikely event that it is true, it would certainly be the end of a prosperous era for Marisa's, a family-owned business that single-handedly brought some nightlife into what was an otherwise sleepy town of Trumbull.  Since it's arrival several years ago, their only real competition in Trumbull has been The O Bar, a couple of miles away.  But as O Bar is smaller, it has never been able to cater to the masses that Marisa's has.  Let's wait and see what happens. 

Why Is There Valet Parking at Barcelona in Fairfield?

And furthermore, why was I at Barcelona in Fairfield in the pouring rain this past Friday evening?  I'm not especially a fan of tapas, and I never quite understood the hype of the mini-chain of Barcelona eateries in Connecticut. If I had to dine at a Barcelona, I'd choose the original locale, in South Norwalk, as I have always felt that it is the only redeemable and enjoyable one.  But Fairfield is another story.
It was a dinner party of sorts that brought me there Friday (I wisely skipped dinner, and joined the group for drinks).  Not surprising, the event was organized by a female friend to whom Barcelona is the end-all-be-all.  Perhaps it's because the small tapas portions appeal to females who are often on diets, but I have never quite been able to fathom why women of all ages go absolutely bonkers for Barcelona, it's weird atmosphere and mediocre food. A mere mention of the name and they suddenly go into heat.  I wish I knew this years ago- I would have brought more dates there in hopes of having a good night. 
So there I was, showing up there in the pouring rain on Friday, and was reminded that at some point over the last year or so, the powers-that-be decided to install valet parking.  To do such a thing at an eatery on Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield is just plain insane.  When I asked our waitress (whose gregarious but oddly-friendly personality seemed more fitting for a 24-hour diner than Barcelona) about this, she informed me that it was because people were just sort of creating their own parking spot wherever they pleased.  Fair enough.
The issue on this particular night was that- in the pouring rain- the valets were hiding under an overhang, moving as slow as molasses.  So rather than wait and have to tip, I did like countless others before me and created my own parking space (even in the rain, Barcelona was packed) near the dumpsters.
As I wrote, I chose not to eat at Barcelona, but my friends got the usual overpriced tapas choices (olives that probably came out of a jar, overly sweet chorizo and figs, beet salad with a few pieces of goat cheese, etc). I opted for a couple of glasses of Rose, which at $10.50 a piece were OK, but not great.
Barcelona in Fairfield must cater to the indecisive (hence its strong appeal with twenty and thirtysomething females).  Customers will order three different tapas at around $7.00 or $8.00 a piece, when there are countless other local eateries where they can go and have a quality meal consisting of a meat or fish with good sides for under or around $20.00. 
Alas, people like to be seen and heard around the Connecticut Gold Coast, and to say that they were at Barcelona in Fairfield enjoying an overpriced tapas and drink on a Friday night (or better, to be seen doing that!) seems like a good idea to most people.  Still, there's no disguising the fact that it's a mediocre at best bar and eatery that is overpriced and- let's not forget- attached to a motel that was rumored to be a haven for prostitutes in the 1980s.  Sure, they boast a lovely and spacious outdoor patio, but in the pouring rain last Friday night, that didn't do me much good. 

PLAN B BURGER BAR TO OPEN in FAIRFIELD: Another Missed Opportunity for Fairfield Dining & Nightlife

Once upon a time, Fairfield Center (the downtown stretch along the Post Road) was a microcosm of eclectic bars and restaurants.  The variety was fantastic, ranging from old-school well-established eateries to dive bars.  One could walk from Al's Place (a rundown but entertaining old bar) to Tommy's, a local hangout with good food and drink, to Skybox, a top-notch sport's bar.
Over the course of the last five years or so, all that has changed, and Fairfield Center is an area that finds itself with many eating and drinking spots to choose from, but none of them are actually that good.
Think about it- everything now is either a mediocre Asian restaurant and bar (Wild Rice, Tombo, Kiraku...all within a mile of each other), or an overpriced trendy need-to-be-seen bar/restaurant (The Chelsea and Molto...across the street from each other!).  Long gone are the welcoming places where- like Cheers- everybody knows your name, or the low-key spots were somebody could go and watch a ballgame and have a beer. 
Everything in Fairfield now has a gimmick; even Flipside, which prides itself on being a low-key burger bar.  The burgers and drinks are overpriced, and I'd sooner drive to Nathan's down the road for a cheaper burger (see yesterday's post).
So with a new era in Fairfield nightlife in full-swing, I had high hopes for something to come along and shake-up the landscape.  For more than two years now there's been talk of Anna Liffey's (a well-established Irish pub in New Haven) opening at the site of the old Skybox, but as of now nothing has come to fruition.  And then I heard rumblings of a possible bar and restaurant going into the old post office.  I knew this would be tricky and that I shouldn't get my hopes up high: anytime something goes into an old bank or post office, it's inevitably going to be trendy.
Sure enough, just a few weeks ago, The Fairfield Citizen reported that Plan B Burger Bar (currently with locations in both Stamford and Milford) would of course be moving to the site of the old post office on Old Post Road (you guess it, across the street from Flipside).
So to recap, not only are there three aforementioned Asian eateries and two overpriced  trendy bar/restaurants, but now we have essentially two overpriced burger bars across the street from one another.  If I had to, I'd give the edge to Flipside who at least has some outdoor seating.
This is in fact a missed opportunity that is indicative of the times and tastes of the CT Gold Coast barfly and restaurant-goer.  Somebody opens a place somewhere with a decent gimmick, the business is good, and suddenly they decide to open them all throughout the 95-corridor (see Barcelona, Bar Taco, Black Bear, etc).
Why not put a casual and comforting Irish pub at the site of the old post office? Or what about a halfway decent sport's bar?  Or- and here's a crazy idea- why doesn't somebody have the bright idea to open something like a piano bar in the area? There are in fact no piano bars around, and I'd be willing to bet that this would be a novelty that wouldn't soon wear off.  Alas, many in the area have mediocre tastes and like mediocre things. 
And at the end of the day, what exactly is so damn special about a hamburger that places dedicated to its existence and prospering need to open left and right? Last I checked, a New York Strip steak was far more enjoyable and- at these prices- not much more expensive than a hamburger. 

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me There is a Nathan's in Fairfield?

These days, it seems chic and trendy to dismiss fast food as being rubbish and sure to cause imminent death.  Don't get me wrong, fast food is, well, fast, and usually not very good at all.  But when people tell you that they refuse to eat fast food under any circumstances, they are usually lying. 
Fast food is part of American culture, and while it may not be the healthiest part or the one that we should be most proud of, there is no denying it is one of the country's contributions to international cuisines.  And in a time when "street food" seems all the rage, people need to realize that in many ways, fast food and street food are linked.
And to those who say that fast food is strictly an American thing, eaten by a bunch of unhealthy overweight Americans, I say take a look and see just how many fast food eateries have  popped up all over the world. 
I don't make fast food a regular staple in my diet, but once every few weeks, I'll treat myself to something greasy and unhealthy.  When I do, however, I be sure to make it as significant and special as possible (in other words, I try to avoid McDonald's and Burger King). 
So you can imagine my thrill and delight a few days ago as I was traveling down the busy Post Road in Fairfield, and saw that there was a Nathan's open in a gas station convenience mart.  Accordingly, it's not a full-service Nathan's, but the basics of the menu are there, and it's a great location. I wish there a was a place to sit, but with as hungry as I was, eating and drinking in my car was fine by me.
Nathan's makes a good fast-food hamburger.  In a time when hamburgers are all the rage again (with burger bars popping up left and right) the Nathan's hamburger is a good size, and a good price (for a mere $6.00 it came with a medium beverage and fries).
I was disappointed with their fountain beverage choices, and the lack of an unsweetened iced tea option (my summer staple)  didn't bode well (not to mention the fact that they were out of their famous iced tea), but these are small issues I suppose.
With the perennial local favorite, Duchess, making a very mediocre fast food burger, and the new guy in town, Five Guy's,  making a very overpriced one, Nathan's was a welcomed change.  Even better (and potentially dangerous) is the fact that this gas station convenience mart and Nathan's is open twenty-four hours a day.  So should I find myself in Downtown Fairfield, with a late night hankering for a decent burger, I know where to go.