Bowling, bocce bistro latest to roll into mall lineup
NORWALK — Swinging through the city this week to see FactSet’s new world headquarters, Gov. Ned Lamont echoed a popular hiphop song in exhorting some of the 950 local employees to “get this party started.”
A few miles south at the new SoNo Collection mall, the party gets rolling Thursday night — literally, as pinsetter machines swing into action at the new Pinstripes bistro that includes bowling lanes and bocce courts.
The biggest addition for The
SoNo Collection since the midNovember opening of Bloomingdale’s, Pinstripes becomes the first restaurant to open on the concourses with more than a
dozen lined up for the new mall.
Under developer Brookfield Properties, the mall has been adding retailers on a staggered schedule since concourses opened in midOctober as storefronts are completed, with Artee Home the latest arrival selling designer fabric coverings for home furnishings and decor.
It will be the 13th Pinstripes location nationally when the doors open at 6 p.m. Thursday with the Chicagobased operator occupying one of the mall’s prized suites that includes a topdeck patio overlooking Norwalk Harbor and Long Island Sound.
Pinstripes Norwalk has a dozen bowling lanes and four bocce courts, and can accommodate private events of up to 1,000 people. Pinstripes has already hosted a few in the leadup to Thursday’s grand opening. The menu includes seafood, steak, pasta, pizza, lunch and weekend brunch options, with rotating specials, according to the seasons.
“Our crown jewel is definitely our restaurant — we have an ItalianAmerican scratch kitchen, a fusion,” Megan Salisbury, senior manager of Pinstripes Norwalk, said during a Wednesday tour of the venue. “Our chefs are very creative . ... We have a really great selection of dishes.”
As much as the food, however, Pinstripes will grab the attention of mall shoppers thanks to a bank of windows that allows passersby to see the action in the bowling lanes, which extend in opposite directions from a central seating area to create intimate settings compared to the sprawling width of most bowling alleys, with local options including Bowlmor in Norwalk, RPM Raceway in Stamford, Nutmeg Bowl in Fairfield, Bowlero in Milford and Brookfield Lanes.
Pinstripes patrons can order food, wine, cocktails and local craft beers at the lanes, as well as at a bar and on the outside patio, which will include a bocce court in addition to three inside. Pinstripes offers specials throughout the week, including on Fridays when it sells halfpriced bottles of wine that cost less than $50. Happy hour specials run Monday to Friday from 37 p.m.
“The wonderful thing is that when you come in, right there I could see a couple on a date (and) right next to them I could see a family having a nice night out,” Salisbury said. “It’s a beautiful venue — if they want to (bowl) then sit at the bar and then go play a game of bocce, the goal is to allow our visitors to enjoy every aspect.”
The new restaurant will employ close to 80 people at peak operating season during the warmer months, according to Salisbury, who estimated that about seven of every 10 employees live in Norwalk, herself included.
Until now, the sole, fullservice dining option at The SoNo Collection has been Bazille inside Nordstrom, with other food options, including food trucks stationed outside; a barbecue stand operated weekends by Bobby Q’s Cue & Co.; and snack options like Pretzelmaker, ice cream and gelato stands, and Ebar inside Nordstrom.
Other restaurants on tap for The SoNo Collection include Yard House, Sally’s Apizza, Jacob’s Pickles, Made in China, Road Runner and Yong Kang Street Dumpling.
Pinstripes will be open 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday, with a Sunday brunch starting at 10 a.m. and hours extending that day until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Pinstripes is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with valet parking available as an alternative to The SoNo Collection’s main garage.
For more information, visit www.pinstripes.com.