Zucchero Café Sweetens the Darien Dining Scene
The Good Table | written by: PETER SAVERINE
Bobby Mazza and Antonio Sandolo | photo by Bambi Riegel
AS TREASURED AS A FINE FAMILY HEIRLOOM, reminiscent of times at the table surrounded by laughter and loved ones, the iconic Sugar Bowl at 1033 Post Road in Darien passed to new owners this spring, following previous owner Bobby Mazza’s nearly five decades running it and a couple quick stabs at alternative eateries by others after he retired
Antonio Sandolo, owner of Antonio’s Restaurant Group that includes his namesake restaurant on the Post Road in Darien, as well as one in Trumbull and on Lake George, NY, heeded the urgings of his customers to save the landmark breakfast and lunch hangout that many call the “Heart of Darien.”
“I had not been looking for another location in Darien, but I kept hearing my guests speaking about how much they missed The Sugar Bowl and that its closing left a heart-breaking void in the Darien dining scene,” Antonio shared. “That inspired me to reach out to Bobby and figure out how to bring it back to life.”
Along with a cheerful facelift including enhanced light, comfortable seating, modern accents and a reimagined menu, a full bar, outdoor seating and an energetic vibe, Antonio connected the old with the new by naming the restaurant Zucchero Café (which means sugar in Italian), paying next generation homage to its much-loved past.
Inside the “New Sugar Bowl” | courtesy Zucchero Café
“We want our guests to enjoy good quality food, successful service, integrity and family-friendly pricing,” said Antonio who credits his staff for weaving it all together in a great customer experience. “We have an amazing staff and team, especially Peter Redei and Moira Highland, operators of the company, and our executive chef, Rolando Gaurdado, who are dedicated to Zucchero’s success in the community.”
Tracing the history of the Sugar Bowl, Bobby’s mother Edna bought the restaurant in 1958 and the Mazzas watched generations of Darien families enjoy their food and the whimsical, “every day is a holiday” decorative atmosphere that marked their run. Edna put her three sons through
college thanks to her success with the restaurant. Then, in 1974, Bobby—BA and MBA in hand, left the start of a promising retail career as a buyer at Bergdorf Goodman in New York to help his ailing mother. After her death, Bobby became so enamored by his friends and customers in town that he decided to stick around for “a few more years.” Forty-eight years (!) later, he retired.
The original Sugar Bowl | courtesy Zucchero Café
Incredibly pleased and proud of the “New Sugar Bowl,” Bobby is now a frequent customer. “Antonio has done an excellent job! He has kept it a family restaurant and a positive dining experience, without getting overpriced or stuffy,” Bobby relayed.
When asked about his personal menu favorites, Bobby said, “I’m a fan of the Wedge Salad and the great burgers with a side salad…and there is never a day when I actually get through my whole meal without running into someone I know.” Split now between his homes in Connecticut and Brazil, Bobby says he is “finally catching up on 48 years of missed vacations and traveling the world, but feeling good knowing that Antonio is the closest we can get to carrying on our legacy.”
Now open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the creative menu takes traditional favorites and elevates them with culinary finesse. From the Loaded Bloody Mary to Smoked Salmon Benedict, to the Italiano breakfast sandwich on toasted ciabatta with eggs, pesto, mozzarella and tomato, to Zucchero
pancakes topped with vanilla gelato, caramel drizzle and crumbled biscotti, breakfast is served until 2pm daily and will not disappoint—at any age.
Starting at 11am and running until 10pm daily, the lunch and dinner menus are also filled with surprises such as comfort favorites meatloaf and chicken pot pie, or stuffed portobello, beets and burrata, balsamic steak gorgonzola on toasted ciabatta, or 8 oz. Angus beef Tuscan burgers with sun-dried tomato aioli. Tap the full bar for dinner and enjoy roasted red pepper and feta fusilli, shrimp quinoa bowl, fish and chips, or stuffed salmon in a white wine butter sauce…and be sure to save room for dessert—tartufo, gelato and more!
For more information about Zucchero, visit zuccherodarien.com or call 475-328-9333. (Note: Zucchero does not accept reservations. Wi-Fi and children’s menu available.)
