ABOVE: Plain cheese pie from Colony Grill in Fairfield. Please excuse the crummy cell phone photograph.
COLONY GRILL (FAIRFIELD): 1520 POST ROAD, FAIRFIELD
When I first heard a second location was in the works for Colony Grill, Stamford’s legendary Myrtle Street bar and pizza place (in the most literal sense), I believe my first words to LBC’s own Chris Preovolos were “please tell me this is a joke” followed immediately by “I’ll never go there.” Colony had always struck me as the kind of place that could not and would not be duplicated. Like many a Colony fan, I didn’t want to believe it.
Nearly a year later, curiosity and circumstance conspired to bring me to Colony in Fairfield, and I gave in.
The first thing I noticed was how large the Fairfield location is in comparison to Stamford. It wasn’t brightly lit (I went after dark), but I imagine it gets a lot more light during the day than Stamford.
At 8 p.m. on a Thursday night, the place was quite busy, so I made my way to the bar and wedged myself into the last available spot. Not one, but two friendly bartenders took attentive care of me (a definite change from the tepid attitude of the busy staff in Stamford). I ordered a plain cheese pie and watched the “highlights” from the Mets’ second loss in one day while I waited.
The pizza was definitely Colony: Thin crust, sauce to the edge, and dappled cheese, but it wasn’t quite up to snuff with the original. My pie was a bit undercooked, making the dough at once rubberier and flakier than the original. To be fair, I only had the one, so I’ll have to return for a second sample. I also didn’t try the hot oil, but I overheard a patron at the bar saying it doesn’t have the same bite in Fairfield as the original.
As I asked for the check, I noticed possibly the biggest difference between the two locations: Colony Grill Fairfield takes credit cards.
Overall, the Fairfield location is definitely a worthy addition to the downtown landscape, especially with the tangy allure of neighboring Pinkberry for dessert, but I’ll take the original location by a nose.
Tonite the cook made my colony pizza at ridgeway and it was still better then the other 2 ricos and colony.But the owner and his wife make it the best.But it was still good.Just thought i would add this to the board.good nite pete…
wow daniel,are you related to the owner’s of colony,because i just tried ridgeway pizza tonite,and it was there new colony pizza,and i must tell you,it is like the colony in the 80s and 90s,un freaken believable…perrrrrfect….pizza…the old man was there that cooked for colony for 34 year’s,i have been going to colony for 30 year’s,and the old man there is auggie,he is the original cook for colony from the 70s.These guy’s are for real.i just hope they are ready for the business…anyway happy memorial day people…have a good night…peter…
Ridgeway was just okay, sorry to say. Colony, though, is pretty darn awesome. They take credit cards now and they are opening up shop in Avon, CT also so more people can get their Colony fix. It’s hard to say which pizza in CT is best, but it’s easy to say which one we like…and that’s Colony.
HAPPY NEW YEAR AMERICA….GOD BLESS THE U S OF A……
Thank you pizza lover,I gave ridgeway pizza a try tonight and i must tell you it was excellent.I was told by ridgeway pizza tonight that as of 1-1-13 the new year they will be serving the thin crust colony pizza there.
That was great new’s,the owner’s wife’s father (father inlaw) was the cook for colony grill for 34 year’s.Now they will be serving there own thin crust pan pizza as of the new year.They have ordered 4 oven’s that will be coming in 3-4 week’s.They are telling people verbally that they are serving the new thin crust pan pizza,The owner expressed worry about not wanting to be over whelmed with order’s and not being able to handle the business like colony or rico’s.they were very busy with there own pizza ,let alone when they add there new thin crust pan pizza.Anyway i am giving them a try tomorrow and i will report back.again,thank you pizza lover,there thin crust italian pizza was excellent…HAVE A HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE…DANA
I didn’t happen to notice whether or not the phone was taken off the hook, but I doubt it.
Sorry Brett, that was directed to you. So used to responding to CP……
Chris, did you happen to notice if they take the phones off the hook when they are busy?
You want great pizza,hit ridgeway pizza for delivery or pickup,best bang for the buck.I love the fact that they accept all competitor coupon’s in stamford,The pizza was excellent.Stamford pizza tour gave them the award for best pizza delivery in stamford.I am happy i listened to the spt crew.Great job guy’s….albert
For some reason, the hot oil pie in Fairfield lacks the heat of Stamford’s. They must have the impression that Fairfielders can’t handle the full-throttle pie.
I’ve never been to the one in Stamford, only Fairfield, and only once. I had the hot oil and a couple of vegetables. $13.00. Seems a little pricey to me. Even worse, my husband had meatball pizza — some slices had one tiny circle of meat, others had 2, the most was 3. Probably about 40 cents worth of meat. If that.
End of story is, although I enjoyed the pizza, there are other places where I enjoy the food just as much, they’re way more generous with toppings, and they don’t make quite as big a dent in the wallet.