You may not realize it while driving through the center of town, but there's a well kept secret inside of Heritage Plaza. A place with everything you could ask for, from Sunday brunch to Saturday night, and every thing in between. A place many locals simply refer to as "The Grille".
In an area of the country seemingly overrun with Italian restaurants, the Candlewood Grille offers up a break from the norm. As the name suggests, they have steak and other grilled fare, and as the lobster tank which greets you in the entrance suggests, there's a lot more than that for both kids and adults. The prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the meal, and if you are indeed on a budget, then take advantage of their early bird dinners and bar specials, the latter of which make for the best happy hour in all of New Fairfield. Where else can you get a whole lobster dinner with a coconut shrimp app plus cocktail for under $25?
That's the beauty of the Candlewood Grille, it's great food at a great price, and the best part of all, it's right in your back yard!
In my numerous trips to the Grille, I can honestly say I rarely have any complaints. Everyone is friendly, everything is clean, and most importantly, everything is delicious. Featuring both a dining room and a bar, there is an appropriate environment for you regardless of the occasion.
The dining room is perfect for an evening out or a quality lunch out of the house. There is ample seating regardless of the size of your party, and being separated from the bar, offers a quiet relaxing atmosphere. The service obviously won't be as snappy as it would be as sitting at the bar, but if you've got the time to enjoy a meal at a leisurely pace, then there's no better place.
In the bar, there are regular dining tables as well as bar tables, or you can do it the old fashioned way and pull up a stool right to the bar. There are five HD TV's, always playing a game, despite the Grille not having a sports package. But you can always find the local teams on as well as the nationally broadcast games, and many of those games even have bar specials, the best of which come for Monday Night Football, in which a different special is offered every week in addition to their normal Monday-thru-Thursday dollar bar specials (including sliders, coconut shrimp, a large soft pretzel, and footling hot dogs). To that end, the beers on tap are also constantly rotated, so you can keep coming back without anything getting stale.
Upon first glance at the menu, it can be overwhelming. It is several pages deep, so figure out your protein of choice and then dive in deeper. Or better yet, just put down the menu and keep reading here, and I'll just tell you what to get.
Let's start with starters! the Candlewood Grille has a selection of finger foods that are perfect for an appetizer or bar snack. In addition to the dollar sliders, which just can't be beat, the Buffalo Wings and Steamed Mussels are my personal favorites. The wings are super tasty, a great buffalo sauce that's not too mild but not too spicy. Nothing worse than having it skew too much in one way or the other, and the Grille has found that happy median that I love. Mussels can also be too briney, but the Grille's Prince Edward Island variety are never that. Always tasty, in a great white wine and garlic sauce that you'll want to ask for some extra bread to finish.
Soups and salads are different sections of the menu, but I'll combine them here. The chili served at the Grille is terrific, and they 'll serve it however you ask. It comes with cheese and raw chopped onions by default, but if you ask for sour cream or some jalapeños, it takes it to a whole new level, for salads, while I love my buffalo chicken salad, I'd say their best is the ahi tuna. I get the fish blackened and rare, and always ask for extra crispy noodles, because let's be honest, you can never have enough.
Lets quickly go through the rest of my favorites plus the best side to get with each. The grilled chicken portabella is served (obviously) with sautéed mushrooms and some roasted red peppers, topped with a balsamic glaze. It comes with rice and vegetables, I prefer it with mashed potatoes. There's the shrimp augestine, which is a number of jumbo shrimp over garlicky pasta dish with fresh tomatoes, all tossed in a white wine sauce. No need to make any substitutions, it's perfect as is. And we saved the best for last, the baby back ribs. The fall right off the bone, not overly sauced, and simply to die for. The menu says go with fries and a veggie, I say go with mashed potatoes and their sautéed garlic spinach.
New Fairfield natives don't have to go to Danbury or New York to find a great meal. There's one right in the center of town at the Candlewood Grille. If you've been there before, you know what I'm talking about. And if you haven't, the you've been missing out on New Fairfield's hidden gem.
You can check out the Candlewood Grille's website here or like them on Facebook here
HamletHub Feature Contributor Myke Furhman says, "There is nothing better in life than a great meal". He has been able to sample some of the best foods imaginable around the country and now brings that expertise home to Connecticut, to share his love for wining and dining with his new neighbors in New Fairfield, CT. Myke does not get paid to eat any establishment's food or to promote any establishment's product. His reviews are in his own words and are shared as a courtesy to the residents and neighbors of New Fairfield.