Centro Ristorante, Fairfield, CT

A waste of money for the crappy food and wine yet this place is always packed. The location is great - near the Fairfield train station and shops - and adjacent to the green, which was lovely for listening to the free concert the other night.

The wine list had plenty of varietals by the glass, but each producer was crappier than the next. No thought seemed to be given to the wonderful wine list they could have created. It was like the wine salesman just threw a bunch of crap their way and they accepted. I didn't like any of the choices, even those on the nightly specials menu, but was getting my period so needed wine pronto. I chose an Italian varietal with some Sangiovese in it and it tasted like it came from a jug. Oh well, at least I was headed outside to hear the music on a warm summer night. But first, I had to pay the bartender for my $10 wine before being seated outside. I HATE when restaurants do this - I think it shows a lack of class.

The dining menu has a great variety and I was excited by my options. I chose the soup special, which was roasted corn and vegetables and a gemelli pasta primavera sans the sausage which was to be packed right up for Mr. Booda's dining pleasure. The bread on the table was standard Italian with little flavor so I skipped having more than a morsel. The soup came immediately and I was imagining tasting those lovely little roasted corn kernels. The description sounded like it'd be a delicious southwest flavored soup and I was so excited. So, I was more than disappointed taking the first sip and realizing it had zero taste. I have no idea how they were purporting the corn was roasted. It was just a bunch of corn kernels and tomatoes thrown into a pot and heated up without any spices. I don't eat Campbell's soup, but it probably tastes similar. Oh well, the pasta arrived shortly thereafter. It was huge. It made me laugh because the book I'm reading, "French Women Don't Get Fat", talks about the huge portions served in the States. There is no reason on God's green earth why a plate as large as my pasta should ever be served in a restaurant. A truck stop maybe for those long hauls, but in supposed fine dining, it's atrocious and unnecessary. But, I figured I'd get dinner and at least 2 lunches out of the plate, so was content. And, the 'to go' container with Booda's sausage was huge, so I was momentarily happy until I took my first bite of the gemelli. Now, one of the best gemelli pastas is up at Carole Peck's in Woodbury, CT, so I had that in the back of my mind. This particular gemelli, however, was absolutely void of any flavor. Once again, the dish was about throwing a bunch of ingredients in and doing very little with them. What's up with that? It was more about the size and less about the quality. I remembered why I hated coming to this place in the past and vowed never to be lured back again.

There is nothing more upsetting than spending time and money on a crappy meal. How do these people in Connecticut accept such inadequate food? It boggles my mind. I did notice a good portion of the patrons were in their 20's on dates or groups of younger girls dressed up looking pretty. They don't know any better if they are living in Connecticut at that age. If they did, they'd be in some major city getting cultured or traveling the world. When I was that age, I was traveling to Chicago to experience Charlie Trotter's, seeking out Michelin restaurants in France and driving up to the French Laundry in Napa.

This restaurant really sucks and I am so upset to have wasted money there. Oh, the waitress was a lovely, attentive woman, but I find their little outfits - shorts and polo tops - inconsistent with the casual chic style they seem to be aiming for.

1435 Post Road, Fairfield, CT; (203) 255-1210; www.centroristorante.com