Open to the Public

Situated in the epicenter of South Norwalk’s bustling bar scene stands Public winehouse. The newest addition to Norwalk’s world of refined dining opened on April 10th of this year. Public Wine Bar, located on 88 Washington St. in what was formally the Greek restaurant Estia, has been a collaborative idea in the making for over four years between a pair who embody the American dream, Henry Lopez and Eugenia Zuniga. Run and owned by the two, Public features a sophisticated dining experience ranging from exquisite lunch options and an elegant dinner menu to a wide variety of wine options from the California sun to the Tuscan countryside.

The restaurant is small, but possesses an elegant and modern vibe. Currently seating around 50 people inside, during the warm seasons, outdoor seating is also available at leisure. It is the perfect locale for a date, a casual lunch break, a night out with some friends, or a business meeting to impress your boss.

The menu is inclusive yet takes you out of your comfort zone. It provides a range of Mediterranean and French cuisine but with a New England flare such as the Seafood Soup for $10 and the Wild Boar Ragu for $18. The two-course lunch menu (offered between 11:30 a.m to 3:00 p.m) has a fixed price of $17 with an addition of a glass of wine or dessert for $3. The broad-based menu also contains an assortment of wines that are exclusively offered at Public. All fans of brunch will love their selection of brunch menu items with a fixed price of $20 including a mimosa or bloody mary.

Pictured Below: The Warm Grilled Octupus: fingerling potatoes, scallions roasted grape salad, blood orange vinaigrette.

The most important ingredient to any restaurant business is the quality and production of food and service, something in which Public excels. Henry’s father is the head chef, creating elaborate yet elegant dishes for over 20 years like the delicious Linguine Carbonara for $20, or the elegantly presented Hanger Steak for $25. The relationship between Eugenia, Henry and his father allow for a stronger dynamic in the management and presentation of the restaurant enabling an enjoyable and familial eating experience.

Public Wine Bar is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m and later on Friday and Saturday. They have happy hour drink specials and a happy hour menu everyday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. so feel free to indulge in a Spanish wine or their famous Bloody Mary. Information is online at www.publicwinebar.com or by calling (203) 939-9995.