Tavern at GrayBarns

I think everyone can relate to feeling like you are in a restaurant rut. You have frequented all the restaurants in your town dozens of times, and the ones in the connecting towns have become all too familiar as well. Sometimes, you have to venture just a little further to find a new gem.

So this past Saturday night we had plans with another couple. We all decided we wanted to go somewhere different, and decided to go that step further and drive an easy 25 minutes to Tavern at GrayBarns. My husband and I had been there once before, years ago, and have been wanting to go back. So we did, and it did not disappoint.

Before I can even get to the review of the food and drink, I have to start off by saying how great the service is and how accommodating they are. I made the reservation online through the Resy system, and somehow I managed to book us a table for Sunday night instead of Saturday night. However, I didn’t realize this until we showed up and checked in with the hostess and they couldn’t find my name. I looked at my confirmation email — you are confirmed for 7:30 on Sunday…gulp. However, without missing a beat, they said that there is a table opening up in the bar area and they would be happy to seat us there when it becomes available. So 4 extremely grateful diners headed to the bar to start our night off with a cocktail while we waited.

Turns out it’s a good thing we did, because GrayBarns has a great cocktail menu. The drinks are a good mix of updated classics and creative new concoctions. They pay close attention to presentation for both their drinks and their plates. Adding fresh herbs to their drinks – such as their Greyhound which is a mixture of Kettle One Vodka, fresh grapefruit juice and rosemary – adds a beautiful natural herbaceous flavor to this light and fruity cocktail. As a true margarita lover, I had to give their Polanco Margarita a try. Not too sweet, just the right amount of lime, and the chili rim adds that extra punch to set it over the top. The display of drinks in the photo above on the left shows the variety they offer – there is absolutely a drink for everyone.

After about 30 minutes, a completely reasonable wait for people who didn’t have a reservation, we were seated in one of the tables by the bar. It was 8:00pm so we couldn’t appreciate the view, but last time we went it was still light out and we could see the serene lake and scenery that this restaurant sits in – trust me, it’s beautiful. GrayBarns is located in a beautiful residential area of New Canaan, so it is no wonder that the bar scene was hopping. If I lived near here, I would spend many nights at this bar too.

There is also a light an airy dining room (see photo at the top) giving off a sleek and modern vibe while not being cold or sterile. It is warm, cozy and inviting – a perfect setting to enjoy a good meal.

Or I should say, a great meal. Presented with the menu, we all had no trouble listing off items we were excited to try, but we had to make decisions. We decided to share a bunch of appetizers and each order our own entrée. We quickly settled on Burrata & Eggplant, Tuna Tartare, Wagyu Beef Tartare and Crab Tartine.

I find it very hard to see burrata on a menu and not order it. When a restaurant makes their own burrata, or sources it from a great vendor, the creaminess can not be beat. Here it was served over an eggplant puree, surrounded by calabrian honey – a sweet honey infused with spicy calabrian chilies. It adds the perfect amount of spice to play off the sweet eggplant and cut through the very creamy burrata. Topped with sweet basil, this dish covers all the bases.

Next we tackle the dueling tartares. Beef tartare is probably my husbands favorite dish, and tuna tartare definitely ranks among the top for me. At GrayBarns, both of these dishes are made with classic flavors. The tuna tartar has a punch of jalapeno, matched with the cooling avocado. And the wagyu tartare keeps it simple with capers and scallions, and a horseradish sauce on the side. Though not the most innovative or exciting, both dishes were clean, classic and delicious.

Our last appetizer was harder to choose. We knew we wanted to try one of their tartines, and we had narrowed it down to lobster or crab. So we decided to do what one always does when they can’t decide what to order – ask the waiter. We asked “which tartine is the best?” He answered “definitely the crab or lobster!” Well that didn’t help. So we asked which he would order. He couldn’t decide! Then he said that the crab tartine is the longest standing item on the menu, the only one that hasn’t been changed through the years. Well there ya go, gotta go with the tried and true. So crab it was. And I can see why it has stayed the same for so long. It was creamy, buttery, and full of crab flavor. I look forward to trying the lobster next time I am there, but I am happy we started with the classic.

Now on to the main event – the entrées. In the photos above, from the left, we have Roasted Chicken, Venison Loin and Branzino. The plates were all colorful and pleasing to the eye – after all, they say we eat with our eyes first! Starting with the chicken, our friend who ordered it was very happy. The potato puree was smooth and creamy, the chicken was cooked confit (which means it was braised in its own fat) which makes it juicy and m-word all the way through. (For those who haven’t read my blog, I have a real issue with the word moi…you know the rest. I really can’t say it or even type it so I just stick with ‘m-word.’ You’ll get used to it.) The peas and pea shoots offered a nice texture and crunch, bringing the whole dish together. I didn’t know if this was an attractive picture so I decided against posting it, but I will say that all was left on this place were a few chicken bones.

My husband, ever the red meat lover, ordered the venison loin. It has a swirl of beetroot and cranberry sauces on the bottom, and was accompanied by maitake mushrooms and beautiful swiss chard on the side. The meat was tender and cooked perfectly, and the sides and sauce offered an acidic bite that cut through the richness of the meat. His clean plate is a picture I can show…I actually think this is one of the prettiest “clean plate club” plates I have seen in a long time! Am I crazy?

Both myself and my friend ordered the branzino. It had a delcious crispy skin and was literallly surrounded by a bright warm salad made of radicchio, brussels sprouts and blood orange segments, and topped with half moons of perfectly tender delicata squash. It was certainly a vibrant dish, and the flaky fish was complimented nicely by the slightly bitter brussels sprouts and the sweet and tangy blood oranges. Collectively our only criticism was that there were very few brussels sprouts on the plate, and we were both searching through for more of those roasted vegetable bites.

Overall, we all left our dinner feeling full, satisfied, and happy after having a fun and different night out on the town. I absolutely want to go back this summer to enjoy the view, work my way through their cocktail list, and definitely see if the lobster or the crab tartine does rank supreme. If you are looking to change up your normal routine and venture out, take a quick trip up to Tavern at GrayBarns!

One other fun aspect of GrayBarns is that it is also an Inn. You can spend the night in a charming room overlooking the water, and enjoy a relaxing and romantic night with your significant other. If you are looking for a night away, check this place out! Close to home, but you will feel miles away.

If you do go, drop a comment below and let me know what you think!