The Chelsea Introduce
For those in the Connecticut region seeking an exceptional dining experience that marries innovation with comfort, The Chelsea in Fairfield stands out as a true culinary destination. This establishment is recognized not just as a traditional American restaurant, but as a premier New American restaurant and bar, offering a distinctly modern and refined take on familiar favorites. The atmosphere at The Chelsea is one of its greatest assets, seamlessly blending several appealing characteristics: it is simultaneously casual enough for an impromptu lunch, cozy for a relaxed evening, trendy for a night out, and upscale enough for a special occasion. This remarkable versatility ensures that The Chelsea is an ideal spot for a wide demographic, attracting everyone from family-friendly groups and larger parties to business professionals and solo diners looking for a satisfying, high-quality meal.
The Chelsea's commitment to excellence is evident in several key areas. Patrons consistently highlight the establishment’s dedication to fast service, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable dining experience, even during peak hours. Furthermore, the bar program is a major draw, boasting a great beer selection, a comprehensive and appealing great wine list, and, notably, great cocktails. Customer feedback specifically praises the 'expertly curated' mixology, often leaning towards sophisticated and dry flavor profiles. The menu is structured to offer something for every palate, ranging from classic comfort food that satisfies deep cravings to lighter, healthy options and small plates perfect for grazing. The restaurant also takes pride in serving local specialty dishes, connecting its modern menu to the rich culinary traditions of the Connecticut area.
Location and Accessibility
The Chelsea is conveniently situated at 12 Unquowa Pl, Fairfield, CT 06824. This central Fairfield location positions it perfectly for local Connecticut residents and serves as an excellent gathering spot for those coming from neighboring towns. Understanding the importance of convenience, The Chelsea provides ample parking options, including both a free parking lot and available free street parking in the vicinity, which simplifies the planning process for your visit.
A critical feature that makes The Chelsea a welcoming spot for the entire community is its comprehensive commitment to accessibility. The facility ensures that all patrons can navigate the premises comfortably and with ease. Key accessibility provisions include a wheelchair accessible entrance, a dedicated wheelchair accessible parking lot, wheelchair accessible restroom facilities, and readily available wheelchair accessible seating in the dining areas. This dedication to providing a comfortable, stress-free experience for everyone reflects The Chelsea's role as a thoughtful and inclusive gathering place within the Fairfield community.
Services Offered
The range of services offered by The Chelsea goes far beyond standard table service, ensuring maximum flexibility for every patron in Connecticut. From planning a weeknight meal to organizing a large event, the restaurant provides numerous ways to enjoy its celebrated New American cuisine.
- Full-Service Dining: Enjoy the full experience with Table service for Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner. Seating is available throughout the day to accommodate diverse schedules.
- Convenient Off-Premises Options: For dining at home or on the go, the restaurant offers flexible service options, including standard Takeout, convenient Delivery, and a speedy Curbside pickup service. For added peace of mind, No-contact delivery is also available upon request.
- Event and Group Planning: The Chelsea is prepared to handle special occasions with its full Catering service. It is highly accommodating to large Groups and is noted as a Family-friendly venue, featuring a Kids' menu and High chairs.
- Reservations and Planning: To guarantee a table, The Chelsea accepts reservations. Brunch reservations and Dinner reservations are strongly recommended, especially during peak weekend times, due to the restaurant's popularity.
- Payment Methods: Flexibility is extended to payment, with the acceptance of Credit cards, Debit cards, and modern NFC mobile payments.
Features and Highlights
The Chelsea’s signature highlights are what set it apart, creating a premium dining atmosphere rich with sophisticated offerings and comfortable amenities for the Connecticut diner.
- Premier Bar Offerings: A fully stocked Bar onsite provides Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Hard liquor, and Wine. The quality of the selection is highlighted, including a Great beer selection, Great wine list, and Great cocktails prepared by expert mixologists.
- Dynamic Menu Options: Catering to all dietary preferences, the menu includes hearty Comfort food, lighter Healthy options, and specialized Vegetarian options. Guests can also enjoy Small plates and a dedicated Great dessert selection. Coffee is also available.
- Ambiance and Service: The atmosphere is a pleasing combination of Casual, Cozy, Trendy, and Upscale. Service is reliably Fast service, and the menu highlights the commitment to quality by Serves local specialty ingredients and dishes. Outdoor seating provides a lovely al fresco dining option.
- Amenities for Comfort: To enhance the dining experience, the premises include clean Restrooms and complimentary Wi-Fi access for patrons.
- Targeted Popularity: The Chelsea is particularly Popular for Lunch, Dinner, and Solo dining, proving its ability to excel across different dining needs and times.
Contact Information
We encourage prospective patrons in the Connecticut area to reach out or visit The Chelsea to experience its unique blend of New American cuisine and top-tier bar service.
Address: 12 Unquowa Pl, Fairfield, CT 06824
Phone: (203) 254-8200 or +1 203-254-8200
What is Worth Choosing
The Chelsea’s distinctive appeal lies in its commitment to transforming the traditional American restaurant concept into a modern, globally-inspired New American experience. When considering what makes this Fairfield spot truly worthwhile, the answer is a combination of its celebrated mixology, its standout brunch and dinner favorites, and its dedication to service. The bar alone is a reason to visit; one reviewer noted stopping in specifically for 'expertly curated' drinks, praising the 'great mixology selection' which they found 'towards the dry side'—a testament to the skill and attention to detail of the Bar onsite staff. Whether it is one of their featured cocktails, a selection from the Great wine list, or a choice from the Great beer selection, The Chelsea delivers an exceptional beverage program.
The food menu showcases this innovative approach, particularly within the Small plates and Appetizers section. This is where the New American influence truly shines, offering unique dishes alongside perfected classics. Imagine starting your meal with the comforting yet complex Vietnamese Chicken Soup ($15.95), or savoring the highly-praised Fried Meatballs ($12.95), which one customer simply exclaimed were “WOW, so good!” The selection is broad and inviting, featuring seafood favorites like Garlic Shrimp ($14.95), Tuna Crudo ($16.95), and the sophisticated Octopus ($18.95). Meat-eaters can enjoy savory Ribs ($13.95) or playful Pigs in a Blanket ($8.95). For heartier appetites, the Mac 'n Cheese ($10.95), Carnitas Tacos ($11.95), and Nachos ($12.95) are excellent Comfort food choices. The menu also ensures that vegetable dishes are equally exciting, with options like Cauliflower ($11.95) and Brussels ($11.95). This variety, covering everything from Burrata ($15.95) to Calamari ($14.95), makes The Chelsea an ideal spot for sharing and sampling a variety of tastes.
Furthermore, The Chelsea has carved out a significant reputation for its weekend Brunch. It’s here that the restaurant truly excels, as evidenced by one local proclaiming, “I think the brunch here is the best in Fairfield and insanely underrated.” The highlight for many is the Brunch burger, which a patron described as "life changing," a strong endorsement that speaks volumes about the quality and flavor of their signature items. This popular meal is often accompanied by their excellent mimosas, solidifying The Chelsea as a go-to spot for weekend gatherings. The experience is consistently positive, with staff described as 'great and spot-on.' Even if service is momentarily slow, as one reviewer noted, the exceptional quality of the food and drinks—like the acclaimed brunch burger—is enough to merit the highest possible rating.
The combination of a stylish yet comfortable environment (ranging from Cozy to Trendy and Upscale), diverse Dining options (including Catering and all-day service), and exceptional customer feedback makes The Chelsea a must-try for any Connecticut resident. It is a place that accommodates the entire spectrum of dining needs—whether you need a quick, Fast service lunch, a cozy dinner, or a memorable family brunch. By accepting reservations and offering convenient parking, The Chelsea ensures that planning a visit is as easy as enjoying the expertly prepared food and drinks.
The Chelsea Food & drink
Appetizers
- Vietnamese Chicken Soup $15.95
pulled chicken, bean sprouts, herbs in an aromatic broth w ramen & lime
- Fried Meatballs $12.95
panko crusted mozzarella stuffed over arugula pesto topped w/ marinara and parmesan
- Garlic Shrimp $14.95
plump shrimp, chili flake, slivered garlic, thyme & sherry over a grilled crostini
- Octopus $18.95
charred & resting on a chorizo-sweet potato hash drizzled w/ spicy aioli & lime crema
- Tuna Crudo $16.95
sliced RAW tuna in a yuzu-truffle-ponzu, jalapeño, rice crackers, cukes & avocado blocks
- Ribs $13.95
baby back ribs with Tennessee HOT sauce, parsley & slaw
- Pigs in a Blanket $8.95
all beef hot dogs wrapped in puff pastry w/ bacon cheddar cheese dip
- Mac 'n Cheese $10.95
shells in a creamy fontina & bacon cheese sauce w/ scallions & crunchy herbed breadcrumbs
- Burrata $15.95
creamy burrata over smooth squash puree w/ dried cranberries, pepitas, herb honey & garlic ciabatta
- Calamari $14.95
General Tso's glaze, arugula & Thai chili aioli
- Carnitas Tacos $11.95
seasoned pulled pork, pico, tortilla crunchies, cilantro & grilled queso fresco
- Nachos $12.95
melted cheddar jack cheese & all the other traditional toppings (add pulled pork 3.95)
- Cauliflower $11.95
chili-soy roasted cauliflower, scallion, torn basil, crunchy herbed panko breadcrumbs
- Brussels $11.95
charred, roasted grapes, thick cut bacon, orange glaze & parmesan cheese
The Chelsea Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Curbside pickup
- No-contact delivery
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great dessert
- Great wine list
- Serves local specialty
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Restroom
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Trendy
- Upscale
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Groups
- Tourists
Planning
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Parking
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Parking
The Chelsea Photos










The Chelsea Location
The Chelsea
12 Unquowa Pl, Fairfield, CT 06824, USA
The Chelsea Reviews
brunchappdiningentréeoctopusbartendersmeatballslobster rollfood and servicegrilled
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Stopped in for a couple of drinks & snacks before a show at FTC. What a nice surprise! Great mixology selection. Drinks were expertly curated - towards the dry side which is our preference. Only had time for the meatballs - WOW, so good! Staff was great and spot-on. We will be back for the full experience!!
August 17 · Corey FerrellJust came here to say the brunch burger was life changing. I’ll be coming back just for that, but my friends loved their meals and the mimosas. The service was a tad slow in the beginning but I’m rounding up on the rating because I think the brunch here is the best in Fairfield and insanely underrated.
October 14 · Kristi ConnerThe food was good. Service was attentive and friendly. But the serving size of their pigs in a blanket appetizer was pitiful and therefore totally overpriced and cheese sauce that came with it wasn’t actually good. The calamari appetizer was delicious and a welcome Asian take on calamari was a respite from the typical Italian style usually found in CT. However, the Chinese takeout box that came with the calamari was wasteful and took up too much space on the plate: totally unnecessary. The pesto chicken made for a great sandwich and was filling.
April 20 · Leette Eaton-WhiteAmbiance and service are top tier. Some dishes could’ve had a little bit more depth to their flavor, but overall still very delicious. Great experience & hospitality. Will return and try more dishes for sure! Music for Sunday brunch was perfect & the bottomless mimosas have flavor options!! (blood orange is delicious)
June 01 · Felicity KeyworthEnjoyed a nice brunch here on a rainy Sunday. The Bloody Mary was spicy and full of cucumber flavor, which made it a great summer cocktail. The swordfish BLT was good but was overly rich, covering the flavor of the well prepared fish. The staff was attentive, friendly and helpful.
July 16 · Darren Carter
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