The Goose Set To Open Next Week

The Goose, an upscale American bistro located at the former site of the Black Goose Grille, is finally set to open for business next week, according to co-owner Michael Friedman.

Originally slated to launch in March, the restaurant will likely begin serving food to the public on Wednesday, Friedman said. The mood at the Goose will be kept "low key at first," he added, and the bistro plans to hold off serving lunch for the first two weeks.

Friedman described the Goose's cuisine as American with some French and Italian influences, accompanied by about 50 different wine selections at varying price points. Running the kitchen will be chef Piergiorgio Nanni, a Cordon Bleu-educated native of Rome with a long culinary resume.

The 972 Boston Post Road location had been left vacant since the decade-old Black Goose Grille closed in 2008. Friedman and co-owner Michael Gagliardi reached a deal to lease the space from building owner Hattco Post Road, LLC near the end of 2009.

Friedman, co-owner of the Ash Creek Saloon in Black Rock and Norwalk, comes to the project with significant restaurant experience, while longtime Darien resident Gagliardi is making his first foray into the business.

While the pair set out to make moderate renovations to the space, the bistro retains the Black Goose Grille's bar, described by Gagliardi as a "classic, big, beautiful American bar" in January.

More recently, the Goose encountered a setback when its plans to allow outdoor dining were held up by the Board of Selectmen last week due to a reduction in its umbrella insurance coverage.