The Americano — Restaurant in Stamford

Visited during Restaurant Week for their prix fixe menu. Unfortunately, won't go back because the experience fell short of expectations.

The Caesar salad was disappointing - first off the smallest salad I've ever seen. Considering it's all romaine, I'm unsure why there was so little of it. The baby romaine was watery, and while the menu listed Granny Smith apples, they were barely detectable. The dressing had an overwhelming fishy taste that dominated the dish.

The main course, Salmon Poele, was problematic. The salmon came skin up and the texture was off- a bit gummy. Tried to avoid it, but the seasoning was applied only to the skin, leaving the flesh completely unseasoned once the skin was removed. The goat cheese mashed potatoes were the only redeeming element of the dish.

While our server was friendly, she never checked back after the food was served to see if everything was okay. Midway through dinner, the atmosphere changed dramatically - the music switched from a chill vibe of 80s mixes to aggressive club core bass, and the lights were dimmed to near darkness. The unexpected shift to a club atmosphere made it difficult talk or to enjoy the rest of our meal.

The dessert menu was different from what was advertised - instead of the Ricotta Cheesecake Brûlée with blueberry marmalade listed on the prix fixe menu, only chocolate or almond cake were available. While the cake was fine, it was disappointing not to have the advertised option.

My Agave Club cocktail (Los Siete Misterios Mezcal, Herradura Reposado, Campari, Raspberry Purée, Lime) was heavier on tequila and more bitter than expected, missing the smoky/sweet balance I was hoping for.

Given the price point and Restaurant Week promotion, I expected better execution of the dishes, more attentive service, consistent ambiance, and accuracy in...

Last night I and the family went to one of my most anticipated restaurants of the year @theamericanobar in Stamford. As a long time fan of Kousina, I've been following the development of Americano since it was announced. Reasons to go: 1- Top tier service. With food allergies in the family, we always pay special attention to restaurants that on the ball when it comes to possible triggers. Having the manager come over and say "I'm sorry. This contains one of your allergens. We'll l swap it out right away," Was top tier and we appreciate it. And that's on top of every member of the staff actively checking on every table's needs. 2- The Cocktails. When you bill yourself as an old school Cocktail Bar, you have to make sure those drinks are on point. And Americano delivers. The staff behind the bar are mixing up top tier Cocktails, from old Classics that are rarely seen, to new inventions, each drink was on point, and nothing was poorly made. Personally really enjoyed the Agave Club and the Berries and Spice, while the fam enjoyed the Vesper, the Cosmopolitan, and the Espresso Martini. 3-The Food. And like any restaurant the food has to deliver, and Americano does just that. Everything we tried was delicious and can't wait to go again to try even more wonderful dishes. Yes I did order both the Apple and Goat Cheese Salad and the Chicken Milanese just because of the goat cheese croquettes. And it is absolutely worth it.

Only truly negative, for me, was the music was a little loud and the modern pop didn't quite fit the rest of the classic vibe.

10/10...

As a New Yorker, I find this place truly a gem in downtown Stamford. Brought my family here for brunch and the service was amazing. The staff are extremely nice, the owner and Chef Eduardo came out to greet our table, adding to the experience. My family was pleasantly surprised with the drinks and food. I was a bit skeptical at first, since NYC offers some many good restaurants with renowned chefs and cuisines, and my own personal experience with restaurants around Stamford wasn’t the greatest. So, I played it safe, and order the simplest dish on the brunch menu, Eggs Benedicts, with the hollandaise on the side. The flavors were there and everything was in harmony when it comes to taste. The Hollandaise Sauce was just right, creamy enough with just the right amount of acid ratio. The biscuit was not salty and held its own which was a great compliment to the natural saltiness of the prosciutto. The poached egg added the umami needed to bring the dish together. The potatoes cut into cubicles with the caramelized onions and herbs were perfect and not oily. The whole dish was in full of balance and flavorful. I enjoyed every bite of it. The other dishes were just as great, we ordered scallops, the steak and frites and the lobster. I hope the restaurant continues to strive and can’t wait to see what the...