Scott Beck of Match and The Loft in South Norwalk, Kevin McHugh of The Spotted Horse in Westport and Gray Goose in Southport, and Matt Storch of Match in SoNo have worked their magic in downtown Fairfield. They opened The Chelsea in the cottage style space on Unquowa Place that recently housed The Greenhouse Café and The Spot.
This restaurant is rooted in the gastro pub sensation that took London’s Chelsea neighborhood by storm. While it exudes that casual, any night of the week vibe synonymous with the corner pub, the “bar” food here is gourmet. Pop a jalapeno popper in your mouth and you’ll be rewarded with a panko breaded fresh pepper stuffed with cheese that is light years away from TGI Fridays. Everything is more than meets the eye –the lobster rolls are served in pretzel rolls, tuna sandwiches are served open faced with two prep styles and an Asian influence.
The collision of classic and contemporary also extend to the room design. It may be shingled in reclaimed barn-wood siding, but inside it’s marvelously modern. Filament-bulb lights, a white subway tile bar, and chartreuse hued dining chairs that look straight out of a wacky English Aunt’s potting shed define the look. The best part: The Chelsea isn’t so hip that it hurts the wallet. No selection is over $25. – Nancy DePalma Fairfield Magazine
