Newest restaurant in town woos locals with good food and service

Although, Jose' Avelar still lives in Port Chester, New York, he doesn't seem to mind the 45 minute commute.

"We have been coming to Brookfield for years for day trips and fell in love with the community," said the owner of Brookfield's newest restaurant Tavern 483. The Grand Opening on May 21 drew a large crowd as Chamber of Commerce business owners gobbled up the Fresh Lobster Rolls and Sizzling Garlic Shrimp.

The airy bar adjacent to the dining room seems as though it has been there for years. It has that kind of Cheers-type atmosphere. What sets Tavern 483 apart is a simple, yet classy, modern American menu with healthy, gluten-free entrees and salads.

The Oven Roasted Flounder with (with baby bok choy, cilantro, lime and basmati rice ($22) is a big hit, with customers coming back for more, even though the restaurant has been open only three weeks.

"I usually go through five to ten pounds a day," said Avelar, referring to the flounder. The Beet and Asian Pear Salad with field greens, red beets, endive, fennel, fresh grapefruit, walnuts and citrus vinaigrette is as fresh and healthy as it gets. Even the Children's Menu ($6-$7) is refreshing, with a variety of sliders, chicken cheese fries and spaghetti and meatballs, to name a few.

It was a fan of Avelar's cooking who encouraged him to open up his own restaurant in Brookfield. Frank Fioretti was a frequent diner at Town Dock in Rye, New York where Jose' was Executive Chef.

"People just raved about his food all the time, so when I was looking to rent out space, he was my first choice," said Fioretti, owner of Colonial Shopping Center where the restaurant sits on the North end of a quaint strip mall.

"He has a passion for what he does, which people can feel. He likes making customers happy," he added. Fioretti presented Avelar with a bottle of his homemade olive oil, made from his 300 year-old family farm in Italy as a good luck gesture.

Avelar is no stranger to the restaurant business. He learned his love of cooking from his father, Isaac who was a chef in Greenwich at DaVinci's and That Little Tiny Restaurant. He began studying Culinary Arts at Southern Westchester BOCES and earned a degree at Culinary Institute of American in 1995. He later became Executive Chef for Holiday Inn and owned two fine Northern Italian restaurants, one in Bronxville and the other in Ardlsey, New York. At age 39, he has been cooking his entire life.

Tavern 483 will be participating in the Taste of Brookfield at Raymour & Flanighan on Saturday, June 1 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Open seven days a week, hours are Mon. to Thurs. 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sun. 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., (brunch is served until 3:00 p.m.). Happy Hour is 3:00 to 7:00 with half-priced drinks Mon. to Fri.

Reservations can be made online at www.Tavern483.com or by calling (203) 775-5599.

Tavern 483 is located at 483 Federal Road, Brookfield.