Celebrating its tenth anniversary, Nouveau Monde has been acclaimed by Connecticut Magazine as one of the most romantic restaurants in Connecticut. A refined dining experience awaits at 6 Washington Avenue, just south of the intersection of Church Hill Road, Glen Road, and Riverside Road. Nouveau Monde is known for its innovative new American cuisine and exceptional wine list, offering a cozy and stylish night out.

Nouveau Monde has one of the most extensive wine lists in Connecticut. With more than one thousand offerings, the restaurant has acquired notable wines over the past ten years to offer a depth of older vintages, ready to drink now. Focused on the classic wines of France, Italy, and California, its wine list has been recognized by Wine Spectator magazine as Best of Award of Excellence for the last seven years and Connecticut Magazine as Top Wine List.

Patrons can engage the team to help them navigate the full electronic wine list or The Vault list of cellared and limited wines to choose just the right wine for their meal. Select craft beers and a robust cocktail list round out Nouveau Monde’s beverage program, including the Ruby Negroni, Satan’s Whiskers, Aviation, Sandy Hook Float, and The Last Word.

Nouveau Monde features a variety of indoor and outdoor seating options (weather permitting), which includes a covered porch at the main restaurant and patio seating overlooking the Pootatuck River in front of Antoinette’s, the standalone, early 20th Century-style barn.

Antoinette’s has the feel of a speakeasy — secret saloons that operated during the Prohibition era. True to the spirit of a speakeasy, Antoinette’s will be open on select Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, and Sunday evening featuring industry night with happy hour pricing.

An extensive list of classic cocktails and local craft beer on tap such as Reverie, NewSylum and Nod Hill is available. Ultra-premium spirits from locals such as Mine Hill Distillery and Litchfield Distillery round out the offerings.

Nouveau Monde is an elegant venue for special events. Whether hosting a shower, celebrating a rehearsal dinner or wedding reception, or hosting a business dinner, Nouveau Monde has event menus to fit visitors’ needs and budget.

There are three separate event spaces that can be tailored to guests’ needs, including the main floor bar and dining area, upstairs private dining room with closed doors, and Antoinette’s. For larger groups, the main restaurant or a whole venue buyout, as well as outdoor dining spaces, are available.

Sample Of The Menu

For The Table: Nouveau Monde offers selections to start a meal, including house-made focaccia, selections of cheeses from Murray’s of New York, and specialty meats from purveyors such as Olympia Provisions in Portland, Oregon.

Small Plates: The seasonal menu features several hot and cold starters. The classic Maryland-style crab cake is a perennial favorite, along with mushroom flatbread, which has been described as “heavenly.” Salads change seasonally, reflecting the produce of the time.

Entrées: The menu changes seasonally based on availability of fresh local ingredients and the appetite of the guest. Guests will always find a selection of house-made pasta, salmon, poultry, pork, and beef dishes; many are the restaurant’s take on the classics with a twist. The menu also features items that are gluten-free or can be made gluten-free.

Dessert: A variety of desserts includes the refreshing limoncello cake or the decadent flourless chocolate and guest favorite banoffee pie. Nouveau Monde pours “by the ounce” after dinner drinks, allowing guests to select one, two, or three ounces of their favorite cognac, port, Madeira, or sauternes. Try just a glass, or maybe three one ounce pours to compare.

Full Bar: Nouveau Monde has a full bar of top-shelf spirits, including WhistlePig, Casamigos, Woodford Reserve, and High West limited bottlings. Liqueurs, digestifs, vintage ports, and sauternes are a great way to round out the dining experience.

Nouveau Monde, 6 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook Center, is open five days a week, closed on Monday and Tuesday. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 9 pm; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10 pm; and Sunday, 4 to 8:30 pm. Reservations can be made on the restaurant’s website or by calling 203-491-2723.

For more information, visit nouveaumondesandyhook.com or search “NouveauMondeCT” on Facebook and Instagram.