Popular Bethel Restaurant Relocates To South Norwalk

NORWALK, CT — Taproot, a popular Bethel restaurant run by acclaimed Chef Jeff Taibe, recently put down roots in a new location that is likely to excite residents of Norwalk and nearby.

In April, owners Taibe and Steph Sweeney relocated their restaurant to North Main Street in the city's South Norwalk area, taking over the space previously occupied by Bruxelles Brasserie.

Though the restaurant had successfully operated in Bethel since 2017, the owners felt it was time for a change.

"Jeff and I have been looking around in southern Fairfield County for the last couple years and had just walked into any place that had a 'Taproot feel' like the prior Bruxelles Brasserie did," Sweeney said in an email interview with Patch. "Our Bethel location was a great start for us opening our first restaurant, but unfortunately did not have enough potential for growth."

According to Sweeney, the new Norwalk space offers both the charm and good feeling the pair sought when considering a relocation. The building is broken up into three unique dining areas, which offers the Taproot team more options for private events and large parties, something that was challenging to accommodate at the Bethel restaurant.

The Norwalk building also offers a great bar space, while the new location in SoNo lends itself to more foot traffic from the highly walkable area, Sweeney said.

Taibe, who previously served as the executive chef of Kawa Ni in Westport and Oak and Almond in Norwalk, serves up an evolving, seasonal menu at Taproot that is constructed for sharing, consisting of both small and large plate items.

Current dinner highlights include the Taproot Burger served with smoked onion jam, bacon, gruyere cheese and aioli on a potato bun, steak frites, duck breast, roasted oysters and much more.

"The menu has a little something for everyone," Sweeney said. "As simple as a burger, roasted chicken and fresh green salad to hay smoked hamachi, salmon laab and Vietnamese-style chicken wings."

Sweeney noted the wings are part of a monthly rotating selection of wing flavors, which Taproot guests are encouraged to ask their server about.

Fans of the Bethel restaurant can still find a number of their favorite menu items in Norwalk, such as the lamb patty melt, gem salad with pigs ears and pimento cheese with ham jam on sourdough bread.

Taibe's menu also features items with an Asian flair that have previously been big hits during the restaurant's Japanese pop-ups, culminating in a culinary experience that celebrates "all things Taproot."

Sweeney also promises she and Taibe, along with their partners Jenn Gulden and Jay Luther of Road Runner in Bridgeport and Gates in New Canaan, will continue to offer fun pop ups and other events Taproot has become known for since opening over five years ago.

As they continue to settle into the area, Sweeney said the new Taproot location's first few weeks of operation have run smoothly.

"Our first month has been great," Sweeney said. "We've received lots of support from all over. It's been great to see familiar Bethel location faces, as well as faces that we've missed being a farther drive away."

She also noted Norwalk, and SoNo in particular, has historically offered a great restaurant and bar scene for residents and visitors, of which she and Taibe are happy to be a part of.

"It's surrounded by affluent towns where people like to go out and eat, many having worked or currently working in [New York City] that are looking for that quality and creativity a little closer to home," Sweeney said. "We feel that Norwalk has the ability to be a fun day all around, filled with food, drinks and entertainment."