Looking for a refined dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere? Take a short voyage to Nouveau Monde, 6 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook Center. Nouveau Monde is a full-service restaurant featuring new American cuisine in a cozy and stylish atmosphere. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are marked on the menu.

The menu focuses on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, with farm fresh produce from Daffodil Hill Growers and Gilberties, incorporating inspirations from a variety of global influences. The menu provides a suggested wine-by-the-glass pairing for each entrée, and servers encourage guests to sample the chosen wine before committing. Nouveau Monde has one of the largest selections in Connecticut of half bottles of wine, encouraging guests to explore high-quality wines from around the world. A rotating selection of reserve wines, either mature or limited production, hard-to-find wines, are served via Coravin wine preservation system, which broadens guests’ options to try wines unavailable by the glass anywhere else locally.

In addition to the extensive award-winning wine list of more than 450 selections, Nouveau Monde offers a full bar of top shelf spirits, with a robust classic cocktail list resembling the prohibition era with a modern twist. Some of the delicious cocktails include the Bourbon Bomber, Bees Knees, classic Manhattan, and the 105-year-old French 75.

Nouveau Monde recently expanded their venue and opened the standalone, early 20th Century-style barn along the Pootatuck River. Named Antoinette’s, the space has the feel of a speakeasy — secret saloons operated during the Prohibition era — in an updated, modern environment. The bi-level building shares stylish details with the restaurant, yet it evokes its own energetic vibe. Antoinette’s serves wine, craft beer on tap, an extensive list of classic cocktails, and ultra-premium spirits such as Whistle Pig Boss Hog. The speakeasy shares the restaurant’s full by-the-bottle wine list. When weather permits, Antoinette’s has outdoor seating overlooking the babbling brook. True to the spirit of a speakeasy, Antoinette’s is open on select Friday and Saturday evenings, with its opening days announced on Nouveau Monde’s social media channels.

Nouveau Monde is an elegant venue for special events. Whether hosting a bridal shower, baby shower, celebrating a rehearsal dinner or wedding reception, or holding a work group dinner, Nouveau Monde has event menus to fit your needs and budget. Nouveau Monde has three 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 a larger group, the main restaurant or whole venue buyout is available. Click on the “Events” tab on the restaurant’s website to get started working with the dedicated events planner.

Since opening in April 2016, Nouveau Monde has received the Award of Excellence recognition from Wine Spectator magazine three years in a row, which is awarded to fewer than 3,600 restaurants worldwide. Nouveau Monde was also featured in Connecticut magazine’s “Best of Connecticut” issue as the best wine bar in the state for 2018 and 2019, as well as Experts’ Pick for best restaurant in Connecticut multiple times. Nouveau Monde is the only restaurant in the greater Danbury area that has received all three aforementioned accolades.

A Sample of the Menu

Shareables: Nouveau Monde has a wide variety of shareable appetizers. The buttermilk biscuits are made in house using a traditional Southern-style recipe, and the “faux gras” provides a vegetarian spin on the French pâte.

Starters: The house-made New England clam chowder is a guest favorite. The restaurant’s version of the wedge salad is served with house-made buttermilk dressing, grape tomatoes, bacon, red onion, and crumbled Danish blue cheese on hearts of romaine. The escargot en croute is layered in garlic herbed butter and pancetta, covered in puff pastry.

Entrées: Wondering what beer or wine will pair well with a certain dish? Each entrée has a suggested beverage pairing chosen specifically for the harmony of the flavors. Some of the most popular menu items are the lump crab and cornbread stuffed flounder with a Creole sauce; gluten-free pan roasted salmon with harissa, red quinoa, and chickpeas; and the natural Angus New York strip, served with potatoes dauphinoise, local vegetable, and maître’d butter.

Dessert: A variety of desserts includes seasonal additions such as the restaurant’s version of banoffee pie, which combines banana, amaretto whipped cream, and dulce de leche in an Oreo crust. The restaurant also has a large selection of after dinner drinks, including Sauternes, port, scotch, and whiskey.

Brunch: On Sundays until 2:30 pm, guests can enjoy a specialty menu of brunch options, including crab Benedict with lump crab cake, hollandaise, and home fries; the very popular corned beef hash; or the decadent chicken and waffles. Salads, soups, burgers, 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.

Full Bar: Nouveau Monde has a full bar of top-shelf spirits, including Michter’s, Whistle Pig, Kavalan Whiskey, and Jefferson’s Ocean. Liqueurs, digestifs, sherry, port, 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, 4 to 10 pm; Friday and Saturday, 4 to 11 pm; and Sunday, 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 nouveaumondesandyhook.com or search “NouveauMondeCT” on social media.