For many couples, January and February are perfect for cozy moments and deep conversations over a delicious meal leading up to one of winter’s most romantic holidays: Valentine’s Day. Here’s a lineup of a few local places you and your sweetheart will surely enjoy for an anniversary, date night, or any time of year.
Bartolo, 103 Danbury Road, Ridgefield
The dining room at Bartolo offers a laid-back romantic vibe and a separate bar area that has a sexy flair with lively music and a decidedly more invigorating tone. Couples and singles can relax and enjoy wine and food at the bar. In addition, a smaller private dining room hosts parties of up to ten people.
Every bite at Bartolo is delicious, and the experience is relaxed and unrushed. Diners can expect unique specials on Valentine’s Day and throughout the year.
A window in the dining room offers guests a peek into the kitchen. Watching Chef Arthur Michaelsen painstakingly prepare each dish was tantamount to watching an engaging show on Food Network.
“Our customers seem to like the idea of a showcasing chef. There are always fingerprints on the dining room side of the window from our customers knocking on it and giving him the thumbs up,” explains co-owner Julia Michaelsen.
The “lazy lasagna” they serve features layer upon layer of fresh pasta elegantly presented like fallen handkerchiefs nestled upon meatballs, sausage, fresh ricotta, Marinara, and Burrata cheese. The Bolognese sauce is delicious, and the Fettuccini Carbonara is exceptional. But, ah the Marinara! How do they do that?
“The most popular thing on the menu is our Marinara. Arthur was taught the recipe by my father, Bartolo, and it was passed down from his father and my Great Grandfather,” Michaelsen says.
