I haven't been in Fairfield since the summer of 2011, but there I found myself. I did a quick Yelp search for somewhere to grab some afternoon nibbles and a cocktail and the Chelsea came up as convenient and well-liked.
I was happy with the appearance--while verging on the sterility of forced "authenticity," it's still a cut above anywhere I've been in Fairfield before for aesthetics. It was pleasant to sit around, and not at all crowded on a Sunday late afternoon (unsurprising).
The staff were universally friendly and on top of their work, but not in any way that felt forced or disingenuous. They seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves (though that is admittedly not hard when you have a mostly empty place to take care of).
We shared a few cocktails--the cucumber lemonade was just what I wanted on the hot day, as it was cool and refreshing. The Chelsea mason was also very good, and tastes completely non-alcoholic, which, as we noted, can be dangerous. The real winner, however, was the Black Rock lemonade. The jalapeno packs just a smidge of kick, but was actually more of a rich flavor than a spice. As someone who liked spicy cocktails, I could've gone for something with a bit more zest, but the flavor was so engaging and intriguing that I didn't care. That was definitely the best cocktail of the day.
Unfortunately, there is nothing that is even REMOTELY vegan on their menu. I don't think of Fairfield as a bastion of veg-friendliness, but I've noticed it becoming much more progressive toward it in the past years as I've been back. Hell, the Chelsea is within sight of Catch a Healthy Habit--a little TOO crunchy for my taste--so it would've been nice to be able to actually eat something.
The boy got the mussels, however, and RAVED. They were very well-priced, and the sauce looked fantastic. He ate the leftover sauce with a spoon, so it was clearly a winner.
Overall, we enjoyed our stop, and if the Chelsea is still around next time I'm visiting my mother, I'll most likely return.
Came here for drinks and a small bite to eat a few weeks ago and I had a good experience. We got seated almost immediately on a busy Friday night which I think was more luck than anything, Â but nice regardless. Â The waiters were constantly checking on us, making sure everything was fine. Probably some of the best service I've encountered in a long time. The drinks were also a nice surprise as a gin and tonic came tall for what I'd sometimes pay at other bars for a short one. Â Overall, Â I really enjoyed my experience and would probably come back.
Review Source:The Chelsea has a great atmosphere, very trendy and bougie feel. Great place to load up on cocktails or for a sit down dinner.
Decor awesome, tiny bar and access to restrooms are awkward.
They bartenders are GREAT! Extensive and creative drinks menu And the tenders know how to make them to a T. The Earl Grey Tini was excellent. Â
The food menu was creative; the poppers were very good and excellently presented. The rare ahi tuna was prepared to perfection and paired w a beautiful side of fried rice that would rival your best Chinese restaurant.
Can't wait to go back!
Try it!!
Chelsea burger was very tasty but I tasted more bread than meat. I had to send it back the first time becuase I asked for M/R but got M/W. Â I took off the top half of the brioche to get a good taste of the beef. Â
Fried Oysters were a tad overcooked and they went heavy on the batter. Â The tuna Crudo was delicious but for the price they could have added a few more pieces on the plate.
Location is good. Â The window wall opens and you feel like you are outside which was nice. Â But to be honest, it's pricier than it has a right to be considering all the other choices in the area. Â I may give it another chance at some point but 1st impressions didn't blow me away.
I was a little skeptical, in spite of the reviews here. Â I was expecting an overpriced Archie Moores.
However, I was really blown away by the food. Â The Chelsea burger tastes like nothing I've ever had. Â The food here is truly unique and flavorful. Â
Also, the service was wonderful. Â Attentive, but not overbearing. Â They don't ask a million times if everything is all right. Truly rare in this day and age.
On the downside, the place is very noisy, and cramped. Â The entrees took a little time to come out, but they were worth the wait. Good idea to get an app or a salad to start.
It also was a little pricey for my taste. Â However, definately worth a return trip.
We tried The Chelsea for the first time last night and the food was great! Â The portions were on the smaller side, but definitely still enough - just no leftovers. Â It is also a bit pricy (as to be expected from a trendy place like this), but it really was quite yummy. Â I love the atmosphere too, but I just thought those green chairs were kinda uncomfortable! Â
Would recommend trying them if you haven't already - great place for a date too.
A note on the drinks: Â the sangria was a bit watery, but the Filthy Martini was awesome!
Definitely a 20's something joint after 5PM. My friend's salad looked great and he said it was, but mine was ridiculous. "Cesar Salad" was 8-10 stalks of Romaine with some shredded parmesan cheese; dressing on the side because there was pepper on it when it was presented (can't eat pepper) - which came with the offer of more pepper. No croutons but small piece of toast w/pesto & tomato. Â $11+ is insane.
Review Source:Six months later, the Chelsea continues to impress! Â The tuna crudo was a hit and so was the Black Rock Lemonade! Â The tuna taquitos, while a bit messy, were delicious. Â
If you're celebrating a birthday, let the host know and he'll send over the baritone waiter who does a nice, tactful job with 'Happy Birthday.'
Regrettably, the s'mores dessert that I loved so much back in September is no longer on the menu. Â The dessert waffle is fine, but doesn't come close in originality or flavors. Â The host says it could come back though! Â Oh well, otherwise, as we said on the way out, it was another excellent experience there. Â
Great job, Chelsea!
Loved the Chelsea! New addition to downtown Fairfield. Wait staff was amazing. Although the menu for lunch is not large it packs alot of punch. The salads are amazing as are the entrees and apps. The cocktail list is also very good. The wait staff was ready to answer any questions you had and very informative. The indoor/covered outdoor seating is great for a warm spring/summer day.
Review Source:I would give this place 4.5 stars if I could.
My wife and I went here for dinner this past Saturday night. Â We didn't wait at all, and were immediately seated. Â Granted, when we got there, it was early, at about 6:00 PM. Â And the place is not all that big, so I can see where some reviewers had lengthy waits.
I ordered the Tomato and Rice soup, from their specialty menu. Â I thought it was delicious. Â Just the right amount of seasoning and it definitely tasted home made.
I then ordered their signature burger, the Chelsea Burger. Â This is a burger coated in a cheddar dip, with sweet & sour onions, and with bits of bacon. Â I thought it was one of the best burgers I've ever eaten anywhere. Â All of this on a delicious, brioche bun.
It came with a side of fries, which were cooked to perfection with the skin on and sprinkled with a dash of Parmesan cheese, for additional crunchiness. Â For $13.95, I thought this was reasonably priced for a restaurant in Fairfield. Â And the portion was definitely not on the smaller size.
I will definitely give this place another try as so many items on the menu sounded so good.
The only negative I would have about this place is that it is a bit noisy. No, it's a lot noisy.  And by the time we left, about 6:45, it was packed and it looked like people were waiting for a table.  Again, it is not  a big place, although they have an attached outdoor eating area which would make for more room during the nicer weather.
Three stars for overall experience. Â Space is great as is offering all day dining.
Was excited to try the highly rated jalapeno poppers, but, sadly (my issue only), they were too darn hot for me to even eat. Â They are nicely prepared though.
Wine selections by the glass are the same old, same old found all around Fairfield Country - nothing to knock my socks off, but they did have a label I happen to drink on Venice Beach non-stop so it happily transported me out there to the sun and fun.
Vegetarian options were pretty much lacking and unimaginative. Â Sure, you can omit meat from most dishes, but that gets boring after awhile. Â I like creativity, such as can be found locally at the Schoolhouse or Terrain, or in NYC at Per Se and Eleven Madison Park. Â Interestingly, owner's sister owns Catch a Healthy Habit. Â How about creating some synergy and offering high-end vegetarian dining options? Â A dish or two is not gonna kill you.
Dessert list looks nice but nothing called out to me.
My $30 lunch left me hungry but no worries as I walked across the street for a macchiato and dessert.
I would give this 4.5 stars of I could.  9 times out of 10, I'm more than happy with my experience at The Chelsea.  I was just there the other night and everything was fantastic.  There was a very short wait for a table, the service was great and the food even better (if you haven't tried their waffle dessert, it is definitely a must! I told our server that it should be a  staple on the dessert menu, rather than a special).  However, the time before that, there was a long wait for a table, little room at the bar (to wait for said table), and when I got my food, it was sub-par.  I have one go-to dish (tuna crudo) and while it's usually fresh and flavorful, that particular time, it was bland and boring. Â
The only reason I didn't give The Chelsea a 5 star rating is simply due to a slight lack in consistency.  With that said, I'm a huge  fan of The Chelsea and will absolutely continue to go back.
I really enjoyed my recent visit to The Chelsea. Â The service was very good. Â Our waiter was helpful and attentive. Â The venue has a unique design with raw wood panels on the wall and lime green furniture accents. Â It is sort of hard to describe the style. Â The food was also very good. Â Almost everything on the menu sounds amazing, making it hard to decide on just 1 or 2 plates! Â No one in my party was disappointed with their food. Â I only wished I had eaten less of my main dish and saved room for something sweet. Â The desserts are SO good. Â They may even be the highlight!
I will definitely return again. Â It is a great place to go with friends or on a date. Â I probably would not go for a special occasion, as I often prefer something a bit fancier for nights like that.
Really want this place to be good, but have been there 3 times now and it just isn't that great. Â Menu looks good and is reasonably priced for restaurants in the area, but when the food comes out, it is average at best.
Nice space and decent service, but the food just doesn't live up to what it could be.
Pricey for what it is but tasteful and fresh ingredients with great service. Â They're trying hard to make an impression but no reservations are taken which is a big time problem for anyone seeking quality food. Â They, like us, will likely go where they can get a guarantee. Â If you take the risk or get there and don't have to wait try the shrimp garlic appetizer and as uncreative as it sounds the burger was impressive.
Review Source:The Chelsea is a great add to downtown Fairfield! Â Went there the other day for lunch and loved the food. Â It is easy to find (between the Post Road the the Fairfield train station. Â Even lunch on a midday had a little bit of a urban vibe with the only real color being the restaurant's signature green. Â Our entrees (chicken breast) and the fish sandwich were both delicious. Â Portions were on the large side, and were tasty the next day. Â Loved the green recyclable tote doggie bag. Â Definitely will go back.
Review Source:Lets make this quick shall we?
Came for dinner on a Saturday night. Packed.
Two congenial hosts sat four of us straight away. Nice.
We had a variety if things (see photos).
Presentation is better than the food. I like pop, punch, layered flavor. We kept waiting, waiting for the taste bud awakening. Didn't happen. It's good. Not wow.
Highlight: jalapeños poppers- not hot, nice twist on the classic bar food app. Beet salad, pork bun, tuna tar tar tacos.
A place to see & be seen.
Mixed crowd. Acoustics need adjusting. Lively is cool, yelling over your meal to communicate w your friends isn't.
Very prompt service. They are on their game! Luv that!
Looked forward to coming here. Told wait would be 20 mins. Ended up waiting 50. Space is considered beach chic by some. It's more like ikea. Cheap chic. Uncomfortable metal chairs and terrible acoustics. Food was neither inspired nor well prepared. Not bad, not good. Expensive for the quality, space and service. Would be great for a taco stand. Not an upscale restaurant.
Review Source:Seated quickly. Were not rushed with menu decisions. Waitress genuine & bus boys efficient. Water not neglected. Had to ask for coaster for the brilliant mint/lemonade/ice tea mason (looking out for those new tables!). App portions a little larger than expected based on what I'd seen from the Crudo previously. Nachos enjoyed by our guest. Zucchini hay enjoyed by mom but I thought it was a bit bland. Dunked it in crudo's oils--better. Mains: lobster enjoyed by guest; said he'd had the right amount of food. Mom liked wild stripe bass. I had short ribs that I thought were great but longed for more starch / didn't think the salad was a hot match for it (a lil overwhelmed by vinegars). overall reaction to menu very positive. not rushed out of there by staff. place was busy and saw some friends. SOLID SUCCESS. will return.
Review Source:delicious food, friendly staff. Had the tuna crudo app which is not to be missed, nachos were tasty, calamari and zucchini while fried very good to share at the table. Gnocchis are delicious as was the steak sandwich. Rest of table got spinach salad which looked delicious and the ribs which also looked great. Food is a little on the "heavy" side but still delicious and the price point is right. This place will be around for a while and we will absolutely be back!
Review Source:We had an okay experience. Â Food was very good, beautifully plated. Â The portions were on the small side, except the swordfish sandwich with lots of bun. Â We were inside, and had to yell a lot. Â It was very noisy, and the wait staff was running around constantly. Â I think everyone was really trying, but it felt like a zoo. Â I think next time I will sit outside.
Review Source:How does a NEW restaurant open without a hitch? Â Put Mr. Storch anywhere and you are bound to leave well fed and very happy. Â The place looks great, the service was flawless (thanks Kelly), the menu is creative and the food was Match quality. Â Had an amazing meal - it will be a huge success (and hard to get into). Â Best of luck!
Review Source:Great place. Everything was delicious. I had the burger and cucumber lemonade and it was perfect. My brother is a vegan and the chef came out to talk to him about his options. He made him a delicious sandwich and came out after to make sure he enjoyed it. For a business that has only been open for two days they really have it together. We will be back very soon
Review Source:
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