Brick + Wood in Fairfield has been listed as one of Connecticut Magazine‘s Best New Restaurants and one of the Best Pizza Restaurants in CT in 2016. Dine here once and you’ll see why. B+W offers old school Italian comfort food wrapped in a contemporary vibe. From fresh hand-pulled mozzarella, to traditional finger foods including arancini, panzerroti; toasted panini; and savory and sweet zeppole.
There are so many delicious items on B+W’s menu, so while you decide on what to order, sip on one of their many cocktails or have a glass of wine (they have 30 on tap). For starters, try the Fritto Misto. Served in a wire basket are perfectly fried calamari, shrimp, and cherry peppers with miso and chipotle aiolis. B+W offers three variations of Arancini – bacon and cheese with jalapeño sauce, pear and gorgonzola with sage brown sauce, and four cheese with vodka sauce. We tried the latter, and were quite pleased with the execution – a crisp outside, savory filling, and the sauce were a perfect combination.
When we dined here, the Prosciutto Stew from the specials menu caught our eye. According to Chef Jess Bengtson (formerly executive chef of The Granola Bar in Westport), it’s a take on a beef stew. It’s a hearty comforting soup with carrots, a rich, chicken broth, prosciutto, potato and rosemary. If you see it, order it.
Homemade Mozzarella and Burrata
The team at Brick + Wood hand-pulls fresh mozzarella throughout the day – rolling, wrapping, and filling fresh and creamy cow’s milk cheese. Burrata is made to order. Customers can have a seat at the marble-topped dining counter and watch their burrata get stretched and pulled.
We recommend ordering the Burrata plate – fresh mozzarella with a cream-filled center served with vegetables a cured meat. The creamy burrata is perfect alone, or on top of crostini.
The Pizza
Now you can’t dine here without trying their pizza. Brick + Wood’s “perfect pizza” is a labor of love and is certified by the Associazone Pizzaiuoli Napoletani (APN), an association formed in Naples by pizza makers to preserve the authentic Neapolitan pizza values. Only a handful of pizzaiolos in the United States have earned this distinction. Brick + Wood pizza starts with fresh dough, handmade on the premises and leavened for 24-48 hours. The dough is hand tossed, never rolled, to give it a thin delicate center. Using Italian imported San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil and house made fior di latte mozzarella; the pizza is then cooked in a 900 degree wood-fired oven for about 90 seconds, which marks the pizza with flame blackened blisters along the crust and bottom while maintaining its soft and chewy texture.
Priced from $10 to $18, B+W has a wide selection of pies to choose from. The Arugula E Prosciutto Pizza hits the spot the peppery arugula, delicious ribbons of Parmigiano Reggiano, and salty, savory prosciutto.
If you see it on the menu, the Cornucopia is a hat-shaped Margherita pizza with mini peppers, mushrooms, onions and artichokes. Think of it as the offspring of a pizza and calzone.
If you have room for dessert, indulge in one of B+W’s desserts. We’ve heard the bread pudding is amazing, but we opted for the Smores Pizza, made with Nutella, graham crackers, and marshmallows. Sweet, gooey, and delicious – it’s the perfect way to end a fabulous meal at B+W.
Aside from the excellent food, there’s so much to love about B+W. There’s a great selection of craft beer and delicious cocktails. Not to mention, the wine on tap. It’s also kid-friendly. What more could you ask for in a great restaurant?
Brick + Wood
1275 Post Rd. No. 7
Fairfield, CT
Tel: 203-939-1400
lovelifeandpizza.com