Acqua

Acqua

43 Main Street, Westport

Festive and fresco-ed, this two-story restaurant in downtown Westport offers wonderful Mediterranean cuisine on the shores of Saugatuck river.

Robin’s note: The first floor bar is one of the town’s few watering holes.

Who you’ll see eating here: Couples who have left the kids at home.

Their specialty: Seafood.

What you should order: Wood oven grilled pizza.

What you may not know but should: On Tuesday nights, $100 or less bottles of wine are discounted 50%. $100+ slashed 25%.

http://www.acquaofwestport.com

Great Stuff

142 Main Street, Westport
321 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich

Muted tones greet you as you walk into this quaint store that shares a patio with Tavern on Main.

Robin’s note: I’ve enjoyed reprieves from functions at the Tavern by window shopping with my pre-dining cocktail.

Who you’ll see shopping here: Mature women who like dark colors and are slightly edgier than their Eileen Fisher clad counterparts.

Their specialty:: Oversized cardigans in cashmere, wool, or acrylic.

What you should buy here: Oversized cardigans in cashmere or wool.

What you may not know but should: Sandwiched between racks of oversized everything, you can find some fitted cocktail dresses and Majestic Paris tops.

Plaza Too

125 Main Street, Westport
34-36 Elm Street, New Canaan
Plaza Too, 68 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich

UPDATE: The Westport store closed in January 2009.

Small and spare, this popular store packs a podiatric punch, with shoes of all styles, hip accessories, and very limited clothing.

Robin’s note: Tory Burch, Hunter, Marc Jacobs, Comme des Garçons ... to name a few.

Who’ll you see shopping here: Women 20-60 who loves shoes and don’t need orthopedic loafers.

Their specialty: Everything above sneakers and below Swarovski’d stilettos.

What you should buy: Metallic Hunter Boots! So cool!

What you may not know but should: They carry great affordable earrings and some hard-to-find Paul Smith. http://www.plazatoo.com

Sherwood Diner

 901 Post Road East, Westport

A small slice of socio-gastronomic delight, tailored to Westport tastebuds and waistlines.

Who you’ll see eating here: Displaced Manhattanites, townies, and parties of ten or more. Breakfast is most popular and, as the day grows old, so does the average age of the patrons.

Their specialty: Pancakes, omelets, and grilled chicken salad. They update their menu every two-to-two-and-a-half years to keep dishes current.

What you should order: Chocolate Chip Pancakes and coffee, which is potable and copious (the only true standard of a diner’s merit)

What you may not know but should: Two things:

1. They serve a “buttery soft” rib-eye steak
2. According to an informal poll of our male dining companions, they have “lots of cute waitresses”

Zara

225 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich

Latest entry in the trendy “disposable clothes” category, Zara kicks it up a notch with everything from suits to skivvies.

Robin’s note: Try it on before buying it.

Who’ll you’ll see shopping here: Women 20 to 50, though mature women may find some of their styles “unflattering” or “relentlessly unforgiving.”

Their specialty: Dressy suit separates.

What you should buy: Casual tops, basic t-shirts, and chiffon blouses.

What you may not know but should:
  1. Unique, super-cheap kids clothes.
  2. Zara’s is the world’s top clothing retailer.
  3. In response to Greenwich’s taste and budget, they now stock more expensive pieces ($40-120) in addition to the cheapies.

And Company

127 Washington Street, South Norwalk

Part Boho, part Euro-trend, And Company Inc features international designers and a signature line of t-shirts.

Robin’s note: I’m not a Euro-trend chick so I might not appreciate their designer duds as much as, say, a European.

Who you’ll see shopping here: Women (and men) in their 30s and 40s who are slightly right of flashy.

Their specialty: Their own line of tees and sweats, and pieces that include leather and/or interesting cuts.

What you should buy: Striking origami-esque dresses and skirts, and “urban cowboy” belts with cozy sweaters.

What you may not know but should: They also carry bedding, soaps, and hard-to-find bedroom/bathroom hardware.
http://www.andcompanyonline.com