Walk into Monroe Social, 494 Main Street in Monroe, on any given day and you will most likely see owners Constantine Crama and Douglas Barrientos talking with customers and making sure everyone is well taken care of.

After years of working in the restaurant business together, Mr Crama opened Monroe Social last November, with Mr Barrientos joining shortly thereafter.

The two agreed on the idea of having their first restaurant endeavor cater to meeting the needs of the community by offering a menu focused on new American bistro food.

"All the burgers are homemade, but it's not all that we do," Mr Barrientos said.

In addition to an emphasis on burger creations, there is much attention to detail with every dish, from the salads to the desserts.

Food ingredients are chosen as local as possible, even sourcing mushrooms from a distributor in Newtown, as well as the drink selection. All draft beers are from Connecticut breweries like Veracious Brewing of Monroe.

The name Monroe Social fits the warm, lively atmosphere of the restaurant, making it a hotspot for social outings.

The restaurant can seat up to 50 patrons at its many red booths that families and friends gravitate toward, and at bar seating.

Happy Hour takes place everyday from 4 to 7 pm, with deals like $3 beer, $4 wine, and $5 cocktails.

Monroe Social even offers a variety of weekly entertainment. From trivia and karaoke on alternating Friday nights after 9 pm to live music on Saturday nights, to Open Mic nights every other Thursday, there is something for everyone.

During football season people can relax at the bar and watch the game while enjoying special deals on food and drinks. Dedicated sportsmen and women can even try their luck at guessing the game's final score, up until halftime, and have their tab compensated for if they win.

Ultimately, Mr Barrientos said, "Constantine and I will always try to go out of our way to make sure everyone leaves here happy."

Sample of the Menu:

Brunch is available every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 to 3 pm. With many fresh items to choose from, the standout brunch dish is the Nutella French toast that comes with strawberries, blueberries, and maple syrup for $13.Brunch:

There are more than 15 appetizer options available at Monroe Social, with the mussels being one of the most popular. The mussels come with white or red sauce, chorizo, beans, garlic, and white wine for $11, with the addition of fries for $2. Other customer favorites include the crab cakes with arugula and sriracha aioli for $10, and the Brussels sprouts with honey, bacon, and sesame seeds for $7.Small Plates:

Monroe Social's signature dish is the House Burger that comes with cheddar ale sauce, onion and bacon BBQ sauce, and fries for $14.Burger:

Salad: The Brussel sprouts salad is made with honey, bacon, walnuts, and shaved Parmesan cheese with truffle vinaigrette for $10. Another popular salad is the arugula option that comes with Parmesan, apples, walnuts, and a lemon vinaigrette for $10.

Entrees: Among the different main meals, the sesame encrusted tuna is a standout dish. It consists of tuna pan-seared rare, soy sauce, julienne vegetables, and roasted potatoes. Another seafood entree choice is the shrimp and scallops, which is pan-seared with lemon white wine sauce, celery root puree, and sautéed spinach.

Kids Menu: Monroe Social has a kids' menu with dishes like chicken fingers and grilled cheese.

Desserts: New American bistro cuisine would not be complete without the apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

There are 30 different types of bottled beer and a wide range of wines and cocktails available daily. The Orange Drive cocktail comes with Effen blood orange vodka, orange juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, grenadine, and is served up.Drinks:

The Happy Hour menu has items not available at any other times, like the five house cocktails: tequila cooler, bourbon smash, gin cucumber cooler, vodka berry gimlet, and the banana splash.Happy Hour:

themonroesocial.comMonroe Social, 494 Main Street in Monroe, is open seven days a week. The kitchen is open Monday through Thursday, 11:30 am to 9 pm; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 am to 10 pm; and Sunday, 11:30 am to 9 pm. Seating reservations are accepted by calling 203-590-3450. Orders for takeout can be place with the UberEATS and Vroom Service Now apps. For more information, visit the official website, or follow Monroe Social on Facebook and Instagram.