Chef Robin Selden is an award-winning chef and has received numerous accolades including Chef of the Year awards throughout her culinary career. She is currently the managing partner and executive chef of Marcia Selden Catering, a successful catering company that orchestrates over 850 events a year! Robin took time off her busy schedule to chat with Suburbs 101. We asked her where she thinks the best restaurants are in Westchester, Fairfield County and New York City. She shares with us her top restaurants in Westport, Stamford, Norwalk, Westport and Darien plus her favorite restaurants in NYC.
Eat Where the Chefs Eat is a column where local Chefs and food industry insiders share their favorite restaurants in the New York metro area. Learn where your favorite chefs go when they aren’t in their own kitchens!
What are your Favorite Restaurants in Fairfield County and Westchester County?
There are SO many great restaurants in Fairfield & Westchester Counties to choose from so this is a really tough one for me! My favorite lunch spot is Terrain in Westport. For dinner, Prime in Stamford or Kawa Ni in Westport are faves of mine. All of these restaurants have one theme in common which in my opinion is that the food is always great, always consistent and the service is always friendly and attentive.
Terrain at 561 Post Road East, Westport, CT- 203-226-2732
Prime at 78 Southfield Ave., Stamford, CT- 203-817-0700
Kawa Ni– 19A Bridge Square, Westport, CT- 203-557-8775
Where do you go for Cheap Eats?
My favorite Fairfield County restaurants for Cheap and Quality Eats always satisfy my hunger! The Darien Diner has the best Greek Omelet and the Parkway Diner’s Buttermilk Pancakes are the best in CT!! I love Tabouli Grill in Stamford and always get their delicious hummus and yummy Moroccan Salad. Fresh delicious ingredients and so filling!
Darien Diner– 275 Post Road, Darien, CT- (203) 655-3181
Parkway Diner– 1066 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT- (203) 321-8606
Tabouli Grill- 59 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT- (203) 504-8888
What Restaurant Do You Go To For Special Occasions?
Without question, my favorite special occasions restaurant in Fairfield County is Gray Barns on Silvermine River. The scenery and atmosphere are beautiful and their food is creative, delicious and the service is top-notch! In Westchester, Blue Hill at Stone Barns is my favorite restaurant for special occasions! Their inventive farm to table cuisine and over the top service is an experience to remember each and every time! I find reasons each season to go as I need to see what they are doing! Dan Barber is a visionary in my opinion!
Gray Barns– 194 Perry Avenue, Norwalk, CT- 203-580-1900
Blue Hill at Stone Barns– 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico, NY- 914-366-9600
What are your Favorite Family-Friendly Restaurants in Fairfield County?
We are obsessed with Mecha Noodle Bar at any of their Fairfield County locations, and we are very excited that they opened at new restaurant in Stamford. Quattro Pazzi is always great for Italian. And who doesn’t love the Tacos at Bar Taco- my kids can’t get enough!
Mecha Noodle Bar– 151 Bedford Street, Stamford, CT (203) 801-7577
Quattro Pazzi– 269 Bedford Street, Stamford, CT (203) 324-7000
Bar Taco– 222 Summer Street, Stamford, CT (203) 323- 8226
What is your Favorite Fairfield County Restaurant for Date Night?
Date night is always a success at FISH in Stamford, you can’t beat their awesome Happy Hour Specials 7 days / week. Their cocktails are thoughtfully crafted and they have the best happy hour bites. Their outdoor seating makes for great people watching and their indoor dining area is cozy and quaint. I love that you can custom design their delicious fish entrees and have always had the best experience there!
FISH- 254 Bedford Street, Stamford, CT (203) 724-9300
What are your Favorite Restaurants in New York City?
Plant Food & Wine owned by Plant Based Chef Matthew Kenney in the East Village has easily become a NYC Go- To. My favorite dish is the Avocado Tikka with its creamy texture and well-executed flavor. Marcia Selden Catering loves Plant Food & Wine so much that we have partnered with Matthew Kenney in creating Naked Fig Catering, bringing Plant Based Parties to Fairfield County, Westchester County and NYC areas.
Plant Food & Wine– 67 2nd Ave, New York, NY (212) 658-1948
Santina in the Meat Packing District has been a favorite for years. Their food is seriously amazing and I love that they are an entirely gluten-free restaurant…. how cool is that? Their food always leaves my taste buds wanting more!
Santina– 820 Washington Street, New York, NY (212) 254-3000
Sadelle’s is my favorite NYC Brunch Spot located in the heart of Soho! Their famous towers of smoked salmon and bagels are amazing! Their sticky buns will blow your mind and send you into sugar shock…but literally so worth it!! If you’ve never been you really need to experience this one!
Sadelle’s– 463 W. Broadway, New York, NY
The Modern has the best tasting menu in NYC. I love going to The Modern for special occasions! The food and presentation is SO creative and SO delicious!!
The Modern– 9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY (212) 333-1220
I love Momofuku Noodle Bar for Ramen.
Momofuku Noodle Bar– 171 1st Avenue, New York, NY
An Oldie but Goodie is Balthazar on Spring Street. Their French Onion Soup is the bomb and I love their Moules and Frites!
Balthazar– 80 Spring Street, New York, NY (212) 965-1414
Tell me more about Marcia Selden Catering company
My mom (Marcia), brother (Jeffrey) and I have a family-run catering company. We cater New York and Connecticut’s most luxurious events. We do over 850 events a year and to think it all started in my mom’s kitchen more than 40 years ago! We are first-class foodies and we lead a squad of culinary gurus and party perfectors who believe the belly rules the mind, and that the best way to kick off a party is to toast over a custom-made cocktail! We do a variety of events from the low-key clambake to the wedding of the century. We create inclusive, memorable feasts with personalized service that makes everyone feel like part of the family (without all the stress!) Everything is always taken care of, always memorable, and always a party!
Marcia Selden Catering– 65 Research Drive, Stamford, CT- 203-353-8000
What is your signature dish? And why does it represent your style of cooking?
We are known for our custom-designed menus that are tailored for each of our clients. We don’t have a signature dish as much as we have a signature style of luxurious service and exquisite and creative food.
If I had to choose a favorite dish, I’d have to say it’s our Miso Glazed Chilean Seabass. It is amazing.
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About Suburbs 101
Suburbs 101 is an online lifestyle guide for the New York Suburbs of Westchester County, Long Island, Fairfield County and Northern New Jersey. Get the inside scoop on what it’s really like to live in the New York suburbs through our interviews with local suburbanites and features on Food, Fashion, Home, Travel, and Local Events. Be sure to Follow Us on Instagram, Like Us on Facebook and subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter.