Looking for a cool place in town to enjoy great food and drinks? Take a short voyage to Nouveau Monde Wine Bar & Bistro, 6 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook Center, to embark on a taste bud exploration. As a full-service restaurant, Nouveau Monde serves new American cuisine in a cozy and stylish atmosphere. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are marked on the menu.

Nouveau Monde is French for “New World.” Newtown residents and owners Peter Chang and Bill Towne’s experiences show that on the East Coast, there is usually an emphasis on what are called old world wines, those from France, Italy, and Spain. In addition to having old world wines, Mr Chang and Mr Towne want Nouveau Monde to emphasize new world wines from places such as the United States, South America, and Australia and how these wines complement the restaurant’s cuisine.

“We really want people to get excited about food and wine,” said Mr Towne. “We want our guests to dine in a relaxed atmosphere and appreciate our extensive wine selections, delicious cuisine, and excellent service.”

The restaurant recently refreshed its interior and added additional dining tables in the high-energy downstairs lounge, as well as new furniture in the upstairs dining room. Along with the interior change, the menu was updated to focus on seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients, incorporating inspirations from a variety of global influences. Continuing the theme of food and wine, the new menu retains a suggested wine pairing for each entrée. Knowledgeable servers encourage guests to sample a wine before committing to ordering a glass. In addition to the extensive wine list, Nouveau Monde offers a wide variety of craft spirits, bourbons, scotches, whiskies, craft beer, and one of the largest port selections around.

Nouveau Monde Wine Bar & Bistro is an elegant venue for a variety of special events. Whether hosting a bridal or baby shower, celebrating a rehearsal dinner or wedding reception, or holding a work group dinner, Nouveau Monde has a variety of customized special event menus to fit the guests needs and budget. Available soon is an early 20th Century farmhouse-styled space that will provide another venue option. Events can be planned directly from the restaurant’s website or through its dedicated event coordinator.

Since opening in April 2016, Nouveau Monde Wine Bar & Bistro has received the Award of Excellence recognition from Wine Spectator Magazine two years in a row, which is awarded to fewer than 3,800 restaurants worldwide. Nouveau Monde was also featured in Connecticut Magazine’s “Best of Connecticut” issue as the best wine bar in the state.

A Sample of the Menu

Starters and Share Plates: Nouveau Monde Wine Bar & Bistro has a wide variety of appetizers. The melanzane features crispy eggplant, goat cheese fondue, and roasted red peppers, while the escargot en croute is layered in garlic herbed butter and pancetta, covered in puff pastry.

Soup/Salad: The house-made New England clam chowder is a staple and guest favorite. The organic baby kale and romaine Caesar salad, with house-made cornbread croutons and Caesar dressing recalls the days of table-side preparation.

Entrées: Wondering what wine will pair well with a certain dish? Each entrée has a suggested wine chosen specifically for the flavors that enhance both the food and wine. Some of the most popular menu items are the locally-harvested scallops with lump crab, tomato butter, and seasonal risotto; and the Nouveau Monde fried chicken, brined and soaked in buttermilk, and served with mashed sweet potato and spiced honey.

Dessert: A variety of desserts are featured, including seasonal additions such as the sweet potato pecan pie. The restaurant also has a large selection of after dinner drinks, including dessert wines, ports, scotch, and whiskies.

Brunch: On Sundays, until 2:30 pm, guests can enjoy a specialty menu of brunch options, including the crab benedict with lump crab cake, hollandaise, and home fries; or the decadent bananas foster French toast. Salads, soups, and other savory dishes are available as well.

Coffee/Tea: Coffee is from Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters in Trumbull. A custom blend made specifically for the restaurant is rich and aromatic and available for purchase in one-pound bags. Nouveau Monde also features Newman’s Own organic black and green tea.

Wine: Nouveau Monde’s wine list has more than 250 selections, from budget-conscious options to exclusive grand cru Burgundy and first growth Bordeaux. In addition to numerous wines by the glass, including a short list of hard-to-find wines such as Varner single vineyard pinot noir, there is a growing number of half bottles, perfect to share and try multiple styles of wine during your dining experience. The Sommelier’s special list has great wines by the bottle that are all excellent values.

Nouveau Monde Wine Bar & Bistro, 6 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook Center, is open six days a week, closed on Tuesday. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 4 to 10 pm; Friday and Saturday, from 4 to 11 pm; and Sunday, from 11 am to 9 pm. Reservations can be made on the restaurant’s website or by calling 203-491-2723. For the special events concierge, call 203-408-6229. For more information, visit nouveaumondewinebar.com or search “nmwinebar” on social media.