Paloma took on a highly coveted waterfront spot at Harbor Point in Stamford about a year ago. With a celebrity chef name like Aaron Sanchez…. the buzz quickly spread like wildfire in and around Fairfield county. Every foodie knows exactly who Aaron Sanchez is. His face is all over the Food Network, for crying out loud! And if you know him, you know that you can expect a wide array of Latin cuisine at his restaurant, Paloma.
Ever since Paloma opened its doors I have heard mixed reviews. Some love it. Some thought it was meh. The general perception started to be that if Aaron Sanchez is there in person - the food tends to be phenomenal. But when he is not, its all a crapshoot. But just to be sure that I had a complete picture, I went with a group of friends last year. The feeling of disappointment was unanimous. I was not impressed. The only dish that I really liked at Paloma was the grilled steak entree. That was the last time, I visited Paloma.
Until last week, when I was invited to attend a blogger dinner. I figured enough time has passed and the place must have gotten their act together by now. So… read on for my updated take on Paloma.
I have come to conclusion that, all of us have had higher expectations of this restaurant than any other restaurant in Fairfield county - simply because there is a celebrity chef’s name attached to it. If the restaurant was not owned by Aaron Sanchez - then perhaps we would all have been a bit more lenient in our judgement. After all, pretty much every restaurant has hits and misses on the menu. And they all have good days and bad days. On my first visit I did witnessed more misses than hits. But the one hit of the steak completely knocked it out of the park for me. It is one of the best steaks I have ever had.
This time I noticed that the food at Paloma is an interesting mix of artful presentations juxtaposed with the very rustic. A lot of the small plates were spectacularly vibrant and just begging to be photographed while the entrees - had a more rustic flair. The entree portions are generous…. you will not go hungry after finishing off one of those.
The flavor profiles displayed mixed performances. Some dishes packed a punch of flavor while others just left a lot to be desired. Some were just lacking simple levels of seasoning. Like the lobster ceviche which was so gorgeous to look at. It’s bright citrusy colors made me expect and crave sharp tangy flavors….. which were missing in the watery liquid.
The Albondigas were super moist and flavorful. A nice earthy dish… you can’t go wrong with this choice. The Queso Fundido was another winner. We found ourselves scraping every morsel off the cast iron pan it was served in. And the sauce served with the Tai Tiradito was divine! LOVED IT!
I really enjoyed ending my meal with churros. Super crispy exterior coats a delightfully sinful interior. Nice!
The restaurant was packed on this Thursday night although the service was a bit slow. It took me a few tries to get my drink order in. Our servers kept messing up our drink orders… which was such a pity because the drinks are quite good here.
The waterfront setting at Paloma is gorgeous! The ever improving vibe at Harbor Point is worth the visit in itself. I LOVE how Paloma has two great outdoor areas - upstairs on the deck and the covered patio downstairs. It is simply irresistible on gorgeous summer days! The perfect place to grab a few drinks with your friends…. along with a few small bites to eat. That’s what I plan to do on my next visit.
Paloma, Stamford | http://www.palomagrill.com/home
