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RIDGEFIELD – For residents Tom Devlin and Todd Carpenter, food is the common thread of their friendship. The only other hobby they both enjoy is kickboxing.
Three times a week, longtime friends meet for a bite to eat in town. It has been their routine for several years. They have two of these meals at the Early Bird Café (86 Danbury Road). Self-proclaimed regulars meet there every Wednesday for lunch and every Saturday for breakfast.
But their most popular food tours are on Friday nights, which they book to dine at one of Ridgefield’s many restaurants, especially ones they haven’t visited yet or frequented. since a long time.
“There are so many restaurants that we haven’t been to even though we’ve lived here for 25 years,” Carpenter said, “so we wanted to expand our exposure.”
During their dinners, they think of themselves as food critics; however, they are not traditional in their deliberations.
“Our intention is to just talk about the things that are good,” Carpenter said.
“Few people have been bad,” Devlin added. “We are so lucky in this city.
When the pandemic toppled the industry last year, Devlin and Carpenter went out of their way to support Ridgefield’s family restaurants. Now, as life returns to normal, they continue their tradition of good taste and encourage other residents to do the same.
“For a small town… it really is a restaurant mecca,” Devlin said. “You can get something different all the time, whether it’s the specialties or what (the restaurant is) known for. “
He added, “Going out and exploring these places is like a treasure hunt. “
The duo first met after Carpenter’s sister-in-law Debbie started talking to Devlin’s wife, Nicolle, while she was online in a Toys R Us more than 20 years. The Carpenters’ House was the site of many social gatherings; Devlin recalled their “excellent barbecues”.
Friends are so constant in the Ridgefield restaurant scene that they are often mistaken for a couple when they dine out, perhaps because they enjoy sharing plates.
“There’s a comedic innuendo out there that plays out all the time,” Carpenter said with a smile behind his voice.
During a visit to Mannen (15 Danbury Road), they asked the staff to refer to their sushi order, nicknamed “The Love Boat”, as “The Friend Boat”.
Their favorite dishes in recent memory include “drooping ribs” from The Barn Door (37 Ethan Allen Highway) and a special “phenomenal” soft-shell crab from Gallo (5 Grove St.). Devlin also recommended V. Thai’s Soft Shell Crab Delight (113 Danbury Road).
“The flavor is so powerful,” he said of the dish.
However, they couldn’t remember the exact items they ordered from Tequila Escape (439 Main Street), attributing the memory blur to the restaurant’s Old Fashioneds tequila.
The culinary adventures filled the couple’s hearts as well as their stomachs. Whether they’re heading to the Lantern’s bar (378 Main Street) or talking with the staff between bites, they remember the owners who kept every establishment open despite the pandemic.
“It’s amazing that all of these restaurants survived,” Devlin said. “They are so proud, so welcoming and want to make sure you are happy.”
As more people return to restaurants amid the new normal, Carpenter recommended diners “grab a friend and experience something new.”
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