New Social Eatery Arrives in Darien

DARIEN, Conn. – The staff at Darien Social is looking to create a “home-away-from-home” atmosphere. They want customers to come in and feel relaxed. The restaurant opens its doors Wednesday.

The vintage black and white photos from the Prohibition era, the old newspaper-style menus and the music are meant to evoke the carefree feelings of the Roaring 20s, General Manager Baird Van Beever says. “We want people to enjoy themselves, and not feel like they’re having a stuffy dining experience.”

The restaurant is almost like two different establishments: the bar area will be louder and livelier, while the back dining room will be quieter and more refined. Both, he said, will feature the same menu, crafted by Executive Chef Nick Bilello.

Bilello, who created the popular Burger Bar and Bistro in South Norwalk, said he wanted the menu to “take classic dishes and bring them back to life.”

The Swedish meatballs come with cranberry jam, toast and foie gravy, while the mac and cheese comes with Gruyere cheese, bacon, English peas and bread crumbs. Bilello said his personal favorite is the shrimp and grits, a crispy polenta cake with sausage gravy and jumbo shrimp.

Many of the menu items are large, allowing for lots of sharing. Most of the food comes from local farms and greenhouses, and features all-natural beef products and free-range chicken.

Van Beever ad Bilello have been preparing to open Darien Social since the end of the summer. Van Beever praised the location, right across from the Darien train station. They are hoping the casual atmosphere will attract a range of clientele.

“We want this to be a good place for a birthday party, for a first date, a place to bring the kids,” Bilello said. “We really tried to hit all the angles.”

Darien Social is located at 10 Center St. and will be open every day for lunch and dinner. 

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