There’s a new restaurant in Connecticut with a “speakeasy vibe” that specializes in steak, pizza and private dining nooks.
In addition they also offer from scratch “bites” like lollipop drumsticks and signature cocktail and mocktail menus.
“It should be an experience,” owner Randilee England said of dining out. “I know when people are eating and drinking they’re at their happiest”
England’s “ever-evolving” speakeasy restaurant, Kaos (pronounced chaos), opened recently at 354 Woodmont Road and is “kinda tucked away,” adding to that “mystery” vibe, she said.
Guests can dine on comfy couches and barrel chairs in “nooks” separated by bookshelves. They are welcome to leaf through an art history or travel book embossed in gold, pick out an old fashioned game such as chess, checkers, tic tac toe.
It’s a “perfect” atmosphere for business meetings and romance, she said.
There’s a new restaurant in Connecticut with a “speakeasy vibe” that specializes in steak, pizza and private dining nooks.
“It should be an experience,” owner Randilee England said of dining out. (Courtesy)
England, who loves going out with friends herself, has modeled the restaurant with things that she likes, including a “customizable” menu that customers can easily tweak by trading out side dishes. If there’s something they want and don’t see on the menu, they can just ask the chef and he’ll do his best to accommodate.
England, who spent years working in hospitality, as well as in retail management, has dreamed of opening her own place for years and spent two years preparing Kaos by obtaining permits, a liquor license, preparing the kitchen and thoughtfully decorating.
There was a time the process caused chaos, so that’s what she named the restaurant, but spells it Kaos.
She likes mystery and “We want to create as much mystery as possible,” England said.
While the restaurant has regular seating and a bar, the nook seating goes fast so reservations are important, England said.
There’s a new restaurant in Connecticut with a “speakeasy vibe” that specializes in steak, pizza and private dining nooks.
“It should be an experience,” owner Randilee England said of dining out. (Courtesy)
Noting the restaurant is a work in progress, England is working on the mystery factor by designing a code system to get in to make it even more like a speakeasy, possibly using an old-fashioned phone booth in the restaurant to achieve that.
Contributing to the speakeasy “vibe” in the restaurant are old family photos, images of prohibition, paintings and celebrity images such as Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, the Rat Pack. The restaurant is about 4,000 square feet and seats 100, including the bar.
“I definitely like vibe we created,” she said.
England is also incorporating entertainment and that’s part of what’s evolving. A Rat Pack show is planned for May 16: that’s Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. She said they will hold murder mystery dinners and other performances.
England describes her new place as a “steak and pizza house with some amazing chicken dishes.” She said there is Italian influence in the food. They serve rib-eye, filet mignon, and steak pizzaiola.
“We specialize in customization,” she said. If a dish comes with salad and a potato, you can get it with pasta. If you just want pasta, butter and parmesan, you can get that too. For those who are gluten-free, they can make most meals that way.
“Our pizza is amazing,” she said. It’s thin crust, but not charred like New Haven -style pizza and there are plenty of high quality toppings.
“The wedge salad is amazing,” she said.
There’s a new restaurant in Connecticut with a “speakeasy vibe” that specializes in steak, pizza and private dining nooks.
“It should be an experience,” owner Randilee England said of dining out. (Courtesy)
There’s a new restaurant in Connecticut with a “speakeasy vibe” that specializes in steak, pizza and private dining nooks.
“It should be an experience,” owner Randilee England said of dining out. (Courtesy)
There’s a new restaurant in Connecticut with a “speakeasy vibe” that specializes in steak, pizza and private dining nooks.
“It should be an experience,” owner Randilee England said of dining out. (Courtesy)
There’s a new restaurant in Connecticut with a “speakeasy vibe” that specializes in steak, pizza and private dining nooks.
“It should be an experience,” owner Randilee England said of dining out. (Courtesy)
There’s a new restaurant in Connecticut with a “speakeasy vibe” that specializes in steak, pizza and private dining nooks.
“It should be an experience,” owner Randilee England said of dining out. (Courtesy)
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There’s a new restaurant in Connecticut with a “speakeasy vibe” that specializes in steak, pizza and private dining nooks.
“It should be an experience,” owner Randilee England said of dining out. (Courtesy)
She said they are working on plating strategies to create more meal combos, as she personally enjoys variety at a meal.
“It’s ever evolving, “she said of the business.
Currently they are testing unique dishes for Cinco de Mayo and, “Hopefully we’ll have a knock your socks off taco,” she said.
The restaurant and bar opens every day at 11:30 for lunch and the kitchen closes later than most.
They have a happy hour too from 3 to 6 p.m. with discounts for Milford residents and first responders.
England said she loves to go out with friends herself and the best part of owning Kaos is,
“Meeting people and seeing the joy.”
“Food always brings people together,” she said. “I’m definitely happy with the vibe we’ve created.”