Stamford and Fairfield County food guide: the Gold Coast by train

Fairfield County, the southwestern corner of Connecticut, is a long string of towns along Long Island Sound, joined by the Metro-North train line from New York's Grand Central Terminal. Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Westport and Fairfield are separate places with different personalities. The area's nickname is the Gold Coast, and its restaurants range from low-key pizza shops to white-tablecloth dining rooms. This guide explains how to choose.

How do you get there and around?

Metro-North's New Haven Line stops in every major town, and Stamford is the first major stop beyond the New York suburbs. That makes Fairfield County an easy day trip or an evening out for New Yorkers. Once you are there, stations are walkable to downtown dining in Stamford, South Norwalk, Westport and Greenwich, though not to every restaurant. Taxis and ride services are available, and parking at restaurants is usually free or inexpensive compared with New York. Plan the last train home before you order dessert, because late-evening service is less frequent, and the last express may leave earlier than you expect.

What is waterfront dining here?

Many diners come for the water. Along the Fairfield County coast you will find a raw bar on Long Island Sound with crudos and fresh oysters, a casual oyster bar overlooking the Saugatuck River, a white-tablecloth dining room on the water in Westport and a walk-up takeout counter with a deck over the water in Norwalk. Waterfront tables are the hardest to get, so book those first and choose the time of day, because a sunset table in July can be booked weeks ahead while a lunch table is easy.

When is the best time to go?

Summer evenings, when the decks fill and the light stays late. Reserve ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner and for Sunday brunch. Spring and fall are quieter and often more pleasant, with shorter waits. Many shoreline seasonal spots close or reduce hours in winter. Restaurant Week events in the county offer set menus at fixed prices.

What do you eat besides seafood?

Fairfield County has a long Italian American tradition, with pizza shops, delis and red-sauce restaurants in Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport. Bridgeport, the state's largest city, has its own pizza and sandwich tradition and a diverse mix of communities, with restaurants that are generally cheaper than those along the coast. Farm stands and farmers markets operate in Westport, Fairfield and Greenwich in the warm months. Bakeries in Stamford and Norwalk sell Italian pastries, and the area has a number of excellent bagel shops that serve commuters. You can eat very well here without a waterfront reservation.

What is South Norwalk like?

South Norwalk, known as SoNo, is a restored historic district on the Norwalk River with restaurants, bars and shops close to the train station. SoNo has oyster bars and other seafood restaurants. Weekend evenings are busy and lively.

Where do locals eat in Stamford, Greenwich and Westport?

Stamford has the most variety, with restaurants downtown near the train station, along Bedford Street and Atlantic Street, and international options from Colombian and Peruvian to Indian. Italian kitchens here range from red-sauce dining rooms to wood-fired pizza. Greenwich is high-end, with Greenwich Avenue's restaurants and shops. Westport has a downtown on the Saugatuck River with a mix of casual and upscale places. Norwalk and Fairfield have lower prices.

What does a meal cost, and how much should you tip?

Fairfield County is among the more expensive restaurant markets in Connecticut, and prices in Greenwich and Westport are close to New York's. Connecticut's meals tax is 7.35 percent and tipping is 18 to 20 percent. Lunch is cheaper than dinner, and bar menus and pizza places lower the cost. Some restaurants add service charges for large parties or on holidays, so check the menu.

What about reservations, dietary needs and families?

Reservations are the norm for weekend dinner, and many restaurants use online booking. Waterfront places are family-friendly at lunch and early dinner. Vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free menus are common in this affluent area, and servers are used to dietary requests. Say so when you book, particularly for shellfish and nut allergies, because oyster bars and seafood kitchens handle many allergens together. For a family, an early dinner around 5:30 p.m. is easy, and many restaurants offer children's menus. For a business dinner, Stamford and Greenwich have quiet dining rooms near the offices, and a table for a group of eight usually needs a booking a week ahead during the working season. For a special occasion, mention it when you book, because some restaurants will hold a better table or send a dessert.

How do you plan a Fairfield County day with Mosey?

Mosey is a food app for finding, rating and sharing places to eat. A day on the Gold Coast is easier when the stops sit in one list: make a list called Gold Coast by train, add the waterfront table you want and the pizza and bagel stops between, and share it by invite link with whoever is riding up from New York. Rate each dish after you eat and add a tag such as Waterfront or Date Night so the right place comes to mind next summer. Following friends shows what they rated in Westport or Norwalk, which helps when you are choosing between towns.

More guides to read next:

• Tax and tipping at restaurants in five states: what the check will say
• Athens, Georgia food guide: a college town with a music scene
• Decatur food guide: dining on the square, six miles from Atlanta

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.

On the train home from the shore, get the Mosey app and rate the best thing you ate.