Ambiance
Weep no more, you who were saddened by the closing of
33¤, the little restaurant that served imaginative new
American fare and enjoyed popularity for seven years in
Ridgefield.
Arthur Michaelsen Jr., chef and co-owner of 33¤, and his
wife, Julia, have opened a restaurant in New Milford.
Not surprisingly, the couple has given their new eatery
a numerical name. "We have good luck with numbers,”
Arthur Michaelsen says.
At 33¤, every price on the menu ended in 33 cents. Here,
every price ends in 59 cents.
The Michaelsens chose one of New Milford’s unique
buildings for their restaurant, unique because one
entrance opens on Bank Street, while another entrance
opens one level down and around the corner on Railroad
Street. The owners prefer patrons to use the Bank Street
entrance.
The space previously housed the restaurant Kaleidoscope,
and the bread-company/restaurant Fabled Foods. Entering
through Bank Street, you’ll see a handsome wide stairway
on your right. This leads to an airy dining room that’s
decorated simply but with pizzazz.
Walls are painted pale yellow, hardwood floors are
sanded to a light sheen, and wooden bistro tables are
stained a dark mahogany. The tables are flanked with
dark wooden chairs with navy blue cushions. On the wall
is a large flowered rug, and in a corner is perhaps the
largest urn we’ve seen outside a museum, filled with a
lavish arrangement of silk flowers.
If you’ve come for cocktails, there is a handsome bar
upstairs, off the Bank Street entrance. There’s also a
small dining room with about 10 tables, and many patrons
prefer eating here. Anything on the menu is served on
both floors.
Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.
Musicians perform on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Reservations are recommended. Attire is casual. Major
credit cards are accepted.
People using wheelchairs are asked to call ahead so the
staff can assist them. The Bank Street entrance is flat,
but the Railroad Street entrance leading to the main
dining room has two steps.
A bathroom on the Bank Street floor has accommodations
for those with disabilities. Parking is in the railroad
lot across from the Railroad Street entrance.
Tasted and recommended
We sat down for a simple lunch on a Friday and found
ourselves eating memorable food. One item we highly
recommend is the Cajun Grilled Jumbo Shrimp ($8.59).
Four huge shrimp grilled with Cajun spices surround a
salsa of fresh avocados and tomatoes. Surrounding the
shrimp are pieces of crisp tortillas and a mango puree.
My companion ordered this appetizer, which pleased the
palate and the eye, and disappeared almost seconds after
it was placed on our table.
I ordered hot corn chowder ($3.59), creamy and
comforting on a cold winter day. Placing a large soup
plate before me, our waitress said, "Yes, this really is
a cup.”
My companion ordered a lovely salad of baby field greens
with pan-fried goat cheese ($7.59). The greens came with
red and yellow grape tomatoes, and honey-roasted
slivered almonds.
It was tossed with a sweet raspberry vinaigrette, but
the best part was the generous hunk of goat cheese,
crusted with breadcrumbs and fried to a luscious
crispness on the outside while staying warm and soft
within.
The grilled flat breads are very popular here. I ordered
The Veggie ($8.59), which was a bread resembling
focaccia topped with grilled broccoli, zucchini, roasted
red peppers, sauteed spinach, fresh tomatoes, and
mozzarella and topped with fresh crumbled goat cheese.
It was mouthwatering and the portion was generous. I
shared mine with my companion and still had some to take
home. Other flat-bread toppings include sweet Italian
sausage and artichoke hearts ($9.59), and shrimp,
slivered garlic and caramelized onions ($9.59).
For dessert, we sampled Fallen Chocolate Cake with
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream ($6.59), warm chocolate cake with
a filling of rich chocolate ganache. Served with the
cool ice cream, it was irresistible.
The menu
The menu is the same at lunch and dinner, but prices of
entrees and pasta dishes are slightly higher at dinner
because a salad is included. Also, there are a few more
entree choices at dinner and several specials.
This is one of the few area restaurants that serves
old-fashioned meatloaf. It’s served with peas, carrots,
pearl onions, and mashed potatoes and gravy for $10.59
at lunch and $12.59 at dinner.
Pecan-crusted salmon topped with raspberry vinaigrette
comes with fried leeks and mashed potatoes ; grilled
jumbo shrimp is offered with orzo and a red and yellow
tomato-basil relish.
Sandwiches, priced the same at lunch and dinner, are
quite imaginative. The Cajun grilled chicken comes with
roasted peppers, avocado, tomato salsa, and Jack cheese.
Brunch, served on Saturdays as well as Sundays, features
a wide selection of omelets, and some lovely crepes —
including one filled with shrimp, smoked salmon,
scallops, mushrooms and scallions, and topped with
lobster sauce.
Children’s selections are offered to those age 10 and
under.
Prices
Our luncheon for two, including a shrimp appetizer, a
cup of soup, a flat bread selection, an entree salad, a
shared dessert and two cups of tea, came to $38 before
tax, tip and wine.
Dinner entrees are $12.59 to $18.59. Pasta dishes at
dinner are $9.59 to $14.59. The prices includes salad.
Entrees at lunch are $10.59 to $14.59. Pasta dishes at
lunch are $7.59 to $11.59. Flat breads, served at lunch
and dinner, are $6.59 to $9.59.
Sandwiches, available at lunch and dinner, are $6.59 to
$8.59, which includes sweet potato fries and slaw.
Brunch entrees are $5.59 to $9.59.
Wines
Vintages of California and Italy dominate the wine list.
House wines are $4.50 a glass.
Service
The service here leaves you feeling very comfortable.
It’s efficient and given with a smile.
About the chef
Arthur Michaelsen grew up in Ridgefield and graduated
from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park,
N.Y., in 1989.
After graduation he worked at Morgan’s restaurant in
Greenwich for 2 1/2 years. During that time, he married
Julia Crisafi, whom he met in Greenwich. The two decided
to buy Heibeck’s, an ice cream business that is a
Georgetown landmark. The couple ran it for eight years,
along with a catering business, Sizzling Creations.
During that time, Michaelsen thought up the concept of
33¤ and opened it in 1995 with his mother, Josie
Connelly, and sister, Nancy Burke, as co-owners. The
family decided to close the restaurant two years ago.
In 1998, Arthur and Julia Michaelsen took a respite from
Connecticut winters to run a restaurant in the Virgin
Islands for several months, then returned to the state
to run Heibeck’s until opening 59 Bank in October of
2003.
"We’re happy to see customers from 33¤ in our dining
room at 59 Bank,” Michaelsen says. "They make the drive
to New Milford.” |
