[dazzleman]

Connecticut has some interesting spots, but I think they're too scattered about to attract a serious number of real vacationers. Real vacationers need a number of major attractions in the same spot or nearby each other.

The state doesn't really promote tourism and I am fine with that. It is largely a suburban, residential state that is a nice place to live most of the time. Our cities have too many downsides, and generally not enough positives to attract large number of tourists.

As far as the Fairfield County restaurant scene goes, in my area at least, I don't think the restaurant quality matches the level of wealth and supposed sophistication. There isn't a really high quality Italian restaurant in my town, IMO, and the town has had some fantastic French and Mediterranean restaurants that it hasn't been able to support for some reason. Yet there are a million pizza and Chinese places. I think it has to do with the town being oriented to families with children, rather than sophisticated dining. My friend and I talk about this all the time, how lacking the restaurant scene is in the town. The "hot" restaurants are all too similar to each other, which is no surprise considering that many are owned by the same people.

[WouldLoveTo]

Originally Posted by dazzleman

Connecticut has some interesting spots, but I think they're too scattered about to attract a serious number of real vacationers. Real vacationers need a number of major attractions in the same spot or nearby each other.

It's a tiny state. You can go from Stamford to Thompson in less than 2.5 hours. One can easily find a place to stay in the center of the state and do day trips anywhere in the state, multiple areas in a day even, and make it back to home base before supper.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by dazzleman

The state doesn't really promote tourism and I am fine with that.

They actually spend millions on campaigns, but they are always frustratingly terrible.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by dazzleman

As far as the Fairfield County restaurant scene goes, in my area at least, I don't think the restaurant quality matches the level of wealth and supposed sophistication. There isn't a really high quality Italian restaurant in my town, IMO, and the town has had some fantastic French and Mediterranean restaurants that it hasn't been able to support for some reason. Yet there are a million pizza and Chinese places. I think it has to do with the town being oriented to families with children, rather than sophisticated dining. My friend and I talk about this all the time, how lacking the restaurant scene is in the town. The "hot" restaurants are all too similar to each other, which is no surprise considering that many are owned by the same people.

This has been my experience living in lower Fairfield County, as well. Go to places with similar economic demographics like Los Angeles or Palm Beach and you’ll find the CT high end restaurant scene to be severely lacking. I think, perhaps, a lot of it is because the area isn’t a destination the same way many other areas of uber wealth are. Even in Greenwich - Chinese restaurant, pizza place, liquor store. Yawn.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

This has been my experience living in lower Fairfield County, as well. Go to places with similar economic demographics like Los Angeles or Palm Beach and you’ll find the CT high end restaurant scene to be severely lacking. I think, perhaps, a lot of it is because the area isn’t a destination the same way many other areas of uber wealth are. Even in Greenwich - Chinese restaurant, pizza place, liquor store. Yawn.

Los Angeles is a city of nearly 4 million people and Greenwich is a suburb of 60,000. Hard to compare. Also, LA is far from my favorite food cities. I find it hard whenever I'm there to find GREAT food. Yes, I've found a few spots but there's so much overpriced crap to sort through and can't necessarily rely on reviews. A great large food city is Montreal, or on a smaller scale New Orleans. They have a food culture and it's a high standard.

The Greenwich equivalent in LA area would be Calabasas, Malibu type towns. Wealthy suburb of the city. Food is fine.

Palm Beach I can't comment on. But Tampa food scene was totally underwhelming. Miami's was solid.

Lower FFC is not my favorite food scene in CT, but it's similar to many wealthy places I've traveled to. Mixed results. Some gems. Some overpriced hyped spots. But overall solid. Certainly there's more than Chinese and pizza in those towns.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Los Angeles is a city of nearly 4 million people and Greenwich is a suburb of 60,000. Hard to compare. Also, LA is far from my favorite food cities. I find it hard whenever I'm there to find GREAT food. Yes, I've found a few spots but there's so much overpriced crap to sort through and can't necessarily rely on reviews.

The Greenwich equivalent in LA area would be Calabasas, Malibu type towns. Wealthy suburb of the city. Food is fine.

Palm Beach I can't comment on. But Tampa food scene was totally underwhelming. Miami's was solid.

Lower FFC is not my favorite food scene in CT, but it's similar to many wealthy places I've traveled to. Mixed results. Some gems. Some overpriced hyped spots. But overall solid. Certainly there's more than Chinese and pizza in those towns.

Random Person: Hey, it's hard to find Wagyu beef in SW CT
Random Person 2: Really? the dining scene severely lacks

Greenwich has more restaurants that you can't pronounce the names it's unbelievable. To say it's just pizza and chinese takeout is just spreading misinformation. It's fake news. It's like people who buy 2M houses in CT are middle class. After a while, you become catatonic listening to this stuff.
Fairfield has a wide ranging variety. From high end to chinese takeout and everything in between. Fairfielders I know love it. I was summoned to Paci again a couple of weeks ago. Fantastic.
You may not be able to rub elbows with Mick Jagger and Gov Newsom at the French Laundrette but you can eat good in SW CT.

[Johnho771]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

Random Person: Hey, it's hard to find Wagyu beef in SW CT
Random Person 2: Really? the dining scene severely lacks

Greenwich has more restaurants that you can't pronounce the names it's unbelievable. To say it's just pizza and chinese takeout is just spreading misinformation. It's fake news. It's like people who buy 2M houses in CT are middle class. After a while, you become catatonic listening to this stuff.
Fairfield has a wide ranging variety. From high end to chinese takeout and everything in between. Fairfielders I know love it. I was summoned to Paci again a couple of weeks ago. Fantastic.
You may not be able to rub elbows with Mick Jagger and Gov Newsom at the French Laundrette but you can eat good in SW CT.

In SW CT you have to settle for Keith Richards and Ned Lamont.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

Random Person: Hey, it's hard to find Wagyu beef in SW CT
Random Person 2: Really? the dining scene severely lacks

I had incredible Japanese Wagyu sushi at Rockfish in New Haven a few weeks ago. The real deal that's something like $150/pound. He also does a blow torched toro that tastes like Wagyu. Exceptional.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by Stylo

I had incredible Japanese Wagyu sushi at Rockfish in New Haven a few weeks ago. The real deal that's something like $150/pound. He also does a blow torched toro that tastes like Wagyu. Exceptional.

Yeah, but there isn't a Nobu or Azul in CT so it severely lacks.
I've never been overseas but whatever the top restaurant in Paris is, we don't have that either, so CT severly lacks.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

Yeah, but there isn't a Nobu or Azul in CT so it severely lacks.
I've never been overseas but whatever the top restaurant in Paris is, we don't have that either, so CT severly lacks.

As an aside. Had a four figure dinner at Nobu in Las Vegas once for work. It was good, but I would've been pretty let down if that was my money.