Bar Sugo

We had an amazing meal last night!
It is hands down my favorite romantic spot in Norwalk. The chef is so creative and talented the food was even better than I had remembered it to be. Also, the service was terrific, from the manager (who sat us, and bussed our table) to the servers that worked as a team making sure our water glass were filled, and regularly checking in with us, they have perfected the art of top-​notch service.
Although they label themselves as an Italian place, to me they are authentic Italian– they do have amazing pasta and pizza and are renowned for their meatballs (the lady sitting next to me even got a second order for dessert) but just like in Italy they also use local and seasonal ingredients in their creative small and large dishes and these are the real highlights of the menu for myself and my husband. I eat a mostly Paleo (grain-​free diet) and my husband is a Celiac (gluten-​free) so we can’t always partake in American style Italian food which is not an issue for us at Bar Sugo.
We started our meal with cocktails from their drink menu, I had the chamomile vodka one and my hubby a spicy margarita. I didn’t sample his but mine was lovely, well balanced and really easy to drink. Next we each had a small plate, I ordered the duck confit, and my Husband ordered the grilled octopus. Our waitress commented that those were her 2 favorite dishes and have to agree, we did choose well.
My duck skin was crispy and delicious and the meat was flavored with elements of Chinese five spice. It came with some deep fried baby kale that was so delicate and crunchy that it just melted in your mouth. The grilled octopus was tender and grilled to perfection and was garnished with some really mellow chorizo — It was smokey but not spicy and really complemented the octopus.
For our big plates I ordered the grilled Branzino and my husband the chicken. I have to be honest I did prefer his dish to mine. It was the best chicken I’ve ever had in a restaurant. It was moist, marinated and had a super crispy skin. He normally will always peel chicken skin off and discard it but in this case he ate all of it! It was so well prepared that the fat under the skin had been rendered into pure crispy deliciousness. And the buttery garlic sauce it came with was yummy too.
The branzino was heavily chargrilled and had a mound of blistered shishito peppers (peppers unfortunately I’m not a fan of) piled high on top. I scooped off the peppers to get to the fish. Our waitress had warned me that it was not deboned which I was okay with, but in this case I think it should have been an option to order it already filleted. The restaurant has dim lighting which contributes to the romantic atmosphere but it makes it really challenging to debone your own fish.
(In my opinion branzino is a very delicate and beautiful white fish and I prefer it prepared more simply: just stuffed with lemons and herbs, a little salt and pepper and olive oil and broiled on both sides until the skin is crispy.)
In this case the chef had more flavorful approach that I appreciated it but wouldn’t necessarily order it again.
For dessert we shared a dark chocolate pudding that had a little whipped cream and a drizzle of phenomenal salted caramel on top. pure heaven and it was gluten free.
I can’t wait to go back to Bar Sugo for more yumminess soon!

Sat at the bar for dinner. Excellent service, extremely knowledgable and helpful bartender. Had the meatball sample plate which was to die for and very filling. Had a pizza after that which was 5-​stars closer-​to-​heaven incredible. Great beer selection, good vibes, cozy and warm environment. Can’t wait to go back!

Great food and service, but reservations don’t mean much here. We made a dinner reservation at a specific time and were not seated until 45 minutes after our reservation! We walked into the restaurant and no hostess was to be found. We finally asked a server walking by who seemed perplexed that we hadn’t been helped. Eventually, the hostess came out and confirmed our reservation and then told us to head to the bar while they got a table ready. He said it would only be about 10 minutes. 30 minutes later, my husband finally went back to the hostess stand to discuss our reservation. We were told that many tables had already paid, but were just not leaving! The hostess seemed very distressed about it, but nothing was happening! As this discussion was going on, I think one of the tables overhead it and got up to leave. We were eventually seated 45 minutes after our reservation! After this fiasco, our dinner and service was wonderful and I certainly would rate it 5 stars. However, the reservation process needs work — and I have heard that others have had the same issue. The restaurant is small so it usually is a packed house. But if clients are finished, not paying for anything additional to be brought to the table, my suggestion would be to graciously offer to bring them to the bar area so they may continue their conversation and allow other patrons to be seated for dinner!

Went to meet friends for drinks on a Friday night. Very crowded very noisy. I hear the food is good but will have to come back when it’s not so busy and someone isn’t constantly bumping into my chair. They bill themselves as Italian but you could call it a confusing mix (fusion) with meatballs and pizza.”

A great place to go if you want to venture out of the craziness of SoNo. Make sure you have a reservation though, cuz chances are you won’t get in without one. The service was excellent, the waitstaff are knowledgeable and the will guide you in the right direction when it comes to the menu. Speaking of the menu, they have some seasonal items and some every day greats. Honestly you can’t go wrong with anything. Pizzas, pastas, meatballs, all are amazing. Can’t wait to go back!

Not your Mama’s meatballs!
And that’s ok! Food here is so good. Hands down one of the best places in Ct. You can tell there’s a ton of love behind every dish. Atmosphere is intimate and comfortable. Always busy, but have never had a problem waiting a few at the bar with a cocktail.
Can’t wait to try their Sunday brunch…

This is a little Italian restaurant near downtown Norwalk that has great meatballs. It’s a little pricey, but they have a great menu. Everything I’ve had seemed fresh and handmade. They have a large selection of wines and beers. I’ll definitely be back to try their pizza, but don’t sit too close to the oven because it gets hot.

I’ve been twice and have yet to be disappointed. From the truffle fries to the octopus, your palette will be pleased with the appetizers. The food will not let you down, as their homemade pastas are anything but ordinary and full of flavor. I haven’t been able to save enough room for dessert, unfortunately. I’m promising myself that next time that will change.
The restaurant is small, intimate, and straight perfection. Due to the tight space, it can get a little loud, but no louder than a busy bar. The vibe welcomes you and teleports you into a super trendy atmosphere. You will eat it up!

Taking the train from NYC after a weekend trip, we had parked the car in Norwalk. After a day of trekking Manhattan, by the time we got to the car we were starving. Found this place online and decided to give it a try. So glad we did!
Small, bistro sized restaurant with a 10 seat bar up front and tables lining the narrow back. Immediately greeted and sat next to the bar, we ordered drinks and contemplated the menu. The theme is simple Italian and they have it dialed in. You don’t have to have a huge menu, just focus on a few things and make them great. That they did with the meatballs (the sampler is recommended for your first visit) and the pizzas. We shared both items and each was awesome. The pizza was baked to perfection and had a nice snap in the crust. All fresh ingredients and attentive service will keep this place going.
Atmosphere is great and the lighting and noise levels were fine. I overheard one guy next to me berate the server for the lighting level. What gives the 203’s the audacity to speak to people the way they do? I commend anyone who works in the service industry in this area code, because the clientele is beyond a nightmare.

There are only two rings that truly irk me about this place — the fact that they apparently have the hostess trained to be just on the border of rude and the clientele. Other than that it was great! The food, ambience, and service is all on point. I would have had to give it five stars if it weren’t for the weird vibe we kept getting from the hostess and the absolutely sleezy/​snooty people that came in and schmoozed everyone in the place as if they were VIPs. You’re a patron of a restaurant just like the rest of us, not Elvis and Priscilla.

I’ve never written a restaurant review but after this past saturday night I would be doing a disservice to other diners not to write about Bar Sugo. I go out to eat almost ever night either in NYC or fairfield county and enjoy very good food. Bar Sugo is arguable one of the best restaurants and has one of the most creative chefs anywhere. We had the most amazing food ever. You must start with the Meatball tasting — a staple and a must, a cauliflower starter was amazing, burrata was like butter, chicken liver toast amazing. The 4 of us shared everything including a special thin lasagna and a perfectly cooked branzino! Wine is fairly priced too… I encourage anyone who enjoys good quality, and perfectly prepared food to go! The staff is knowledgable and friendly. Chef Pat gets better and better. it is just the best place ever!
john isaacs

The only place to eat Italian! The owners, the chef and the sommelier, are lovely people to boot. Every dish excels and is artfully prepared. The wine list is a rare representation of Italian regions and focuses on artisanal, small batch production. All menus change seasonally and ingredients are locally sourced. Cocktails are handcrafted and creative. Service is superior. I can’t say enough. Our favorite restaurant and staff hands down!

Cute place with good food! Location is fine, but if you sit outside be prepared to listen to the roar of city busses and loud motorcycles etc.
Meatball sampler was very good but pasta dish we had was ordinary. Pâté and salad were great.
Waitstaff were attentive and wine list was complete… solid place for happy hour or for dinner.

I have to say that the menu is very tempting with mixed ingredients in a sophisticate way! The atmosphere wasn’t welcoming, the portions too small for the price, staff need to be more friendly! The meatballs were savory and the sangria was good

Finally made it to Bar Sugo. You definitely need a reservation. They are on Open Table.
Upon getting there, we were promptly seated. We started off ordering some small plates: Shinsito peppers, which were not spicy, but a nice light snack with a hint of sea salt; Arancini rice balls, which were delicious with these peas that were like little stones that popped in your mouth; & burrata salad with the freshest mozzarella and peppery arugula.
I was still hungry so I ordered the cannelloni pasta, which was good. I don’t usually like ricotta stuffed pastas, but wanted something filling.
The service was good although there were long droughts when I wanted another glass of wine but by that time I almost finished my meal. The flip side is that we weren’t rushed to turn over the table.
Overall, four stars, less one for the service gaps. I will likely go back.

I’ve been wanting to check this place out because whenever I drove by, it looked packed. I went with a girlfriend on a Thursday night. You can park on the street (if you’re lucky) or across the restaurant in a lot. When you walk in, you find that it’s long and narrow and has a bar area and brick oven to the right. Ambience is hip and cool but not pretentious. Everything is made to order. We had the Three Meatballs for starters and pasta for entrees. The presentation and menu reminded me of Top Chef without the obscene prices of a five star. Location is an area that’s undergoing renovations. I’d expect this place in Sono but can imagine the skyrocket rent.

18 hours later and I’m still in a post Bar Sugo haze.
I’m actually ashamed to admit that I’d never been there before. The food was amazing, the service was spectacular, the cocktails were out of this world. I feel as though the kitchen staff takes quite a bit of care to craft amazing food. We had a long, leisurely dinner and every plate that came out was the epitome of perfection.
This is usually the part of the review where I brag about what I ate and I make recommendations, but I shall refrain because no matter what you order, it’s going to be out of this world (although, I do recommend the guanciale pizza).

Nestled nicely on Wall Street in Norwalk is one of my favorite places in Connecticut.
When everything in this town seems ridiculously bland, Bar Sugo has stepped up as the trendy spot that isn’t even located on Main Street (thank goodness).
My first visit was for a wine tasting class. I got to try six tasty wines from the Tuscan region… this was taught by the owner herself. Paired with each of the wines came several tastings, my favorite being the Cavatelli Pasta– bolognese, ricotta salata, sage veloute. Furthermore, the meatballs here are in-​freaking-​credible! They have a sampler which includes all six homemade flavors, each being a unique creation…
The pizza is divine as well… We went with the Funghi, which had sausage, truffle oil, and ricotta… A perfect white pizza.
Okay… let’s chat about the brussel sprouts… OH MY GOD… they are mixed with pancetta, truffle honey (the truffle is a common theme, and oh so special love of mine), ricotta salata. You haven’t lived a worthwhile existence unless you have had these brussel sprouts.
The other awesome aspect about Bar Sugo? The events of course! Coming up in the next couple of weeks, there is a Pizza Making class, Cooking with Seafood Class, and Farmer’s Harvest & Feast.

I wanted to love it after reading the glowing reviews but I didn’t. I was actually getting more and more agitated as the night wore on. First we waited 20 minutes beyond our reservation, is it a huge deal? not really but the hostess was rude to us but friendly to everyone else who was apparently a regular. We finally sit down and the acoustics are terrible, I couldn’t hear myself think. The meatball sampler was ok, again I wanted to love it but I make better meatballs! Calamari was good but we each had three pieces. Pizza was completely devoid of any flavor.
It was one of those experience where you pay a high bill for so so food, are aggravated on top of it and want to punch someone int he face on top of it. I never need to go back. Instead I’ll go right across the street to Mike’s Ristorante where the service is always warm and the food is top notch.

I stumbled upon this gem of a place while jogging by one day. I absolutely fell in love with the décor and just had to walk in and check it out. I could just tell it would be my kind of place and sure enough it is. Maple table tops, a large common table, the bar and a decent outdoor patio. Nice. Did you know they grow their own fresh herbs on that patio? That’s sort of farm to table right?
A few days later we met some friends out for drinks and sat in the way back. I love the empty wine bottles on the wall signed by past guests. The staff are so friendly and the overall feeling of the place just can’t be beat. It’s very quaint and not too pretentious at all, which I like. We had a blast and rocked this place till closing.
For me your ambiance doesn’t need to be like a Harlan Social or Stanton or whatever name they’re ripping off from Stanton Social. You just need to have great food and great food Bar Sugo has.
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AMBIANCE OVERALL VIEW
Well, for starters. this is hands down one of the best restaurants in this little hole in the wall town. And I mean that last part with all my heart or something like that.
There’s something to be said about small holes in walls.
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THE FOOD | Note: the menu changes, constantly.
MEATBALL TASTING, just order it. Period.
FRIED CALAMARI with Cherry peppers done with a perfect batter and served with a delish aioli. Like my grandmother use to make but even better.
SHISHITO PIE. Now this one we have them make a bit different here because the wife, she no like-​ah goat-​ah cheese-​ah. Ewwwww she says. Comes with a bacon jam base, ricotta and shishito peppers. For me, I’m not a fan, fan of the jam jam. I like it but I’d rather have a garlic oil or infused oil of some sort. The Shishito peppers and the pie crust are to die for. How or why this isn’t voted one of the best places for pizza in this town is beyond me. Yeah, it’s that good.
CAVATELLI, let me just start by saying. WTF! This is absolutely ridiculous. So good. That’s it. Now drop the mic and walk off stage. Homemade Cavatelli no less. How many places make all their pasta in house? Yeah, that’s what I thought. An amazing bolognese made with a sage veloute. For those of you that don’t know, just think Hollandaise like sauce… nice and thick and to die for.
SPAGHETTI CARBONARA, this dish is done right. Like done the way my family would do it and how it’s done in Italy. Some Prosciutto, «60 minute egg», pecorino and you call it a night. Ciao!
SHORT RIB
Served with a nice pesto like glaze, some farro, and herbs. So delicious.
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DESSERT
If you know me you know I’m not a dessert guy. I make them, I just don’t eat them. Well, not always. Hey, don’t let that stop you from getting one. I’m just not a fan of the two I tried.
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CONS
I’d like to see a salad added to the menu. Just a simple insalata della casa you know. Not everybody is a fan of the ghetto lettuce known as Kale. Yeah I called it that. Didn’t we use this to line catering trays back in the 60’s?
You may say the area/​location isn’t great but it’s getting a facelift. You just need to come and enjoy. Simple as that.
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PARKING
You can park on the street or there’s a parking lot across the street behind the building directly across from the restaurant.
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IN CLOSING
This place has a really great energy about it. They have a great staff, good wines to choose from, a full bar and just really, really, really, great food. If you’re a fan of all of those things then you can’t go wrong at Sugo.
You’d be a fool not to dine here.