Sedona Taphouse opens its doors on Monday, reaches out to neighbor Stepping Stones Museum

Hour photo / Erik Trautmann Co-owners of new Sedona Taphouse on West Ave, Ron Duckstein and Jeff Hardy, plan to have the restaurant open this Monday. Hour photo / Erik Trautmann Co-owners of new Sedona Taphouse on West Ave, Ron Duckstein and Jeff Hardy, plan to have the restaurant open this Monday. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Sedona Taphouse opens its doors on Monday, reaches out to neighbor Stepping Stones Museum 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

NORWALK -- As co-owners Ron Duckstein and Jeff Hardy oversee the finishing touches for the Monday grand opening of Sedona Taphouse, the first restaurant to open its doors at Waypointe, they have wasted no time in reaching out to their Norwalk neighbors.

On four consecutive Mondays, beginning with their July 27 grand opening, Sedona Taphouse customers can enjoy a Black Angus Flat Iron Steak for $10. On that day, the restaurant will donate $5 of the proceeds from each Black Angus Flat Iron Steak sold to the restaurant's new neighbor, award-winning Stepping Stones Museum for Children:

"Sedona Taphouse is proud to support our new neighbors, Stepping Stones Museum for Children with our famous 'Steak Out for Charity' fundraising event," said Ron Duckstein, CEO & Owner of Sedona Taphouse. "We work hard every day to create loyal customers and a strong reputation in the community. We reinforce customer loyalty by supporting our community through ongoing charity initiatives and contributions. We all live here and believe in making our community a better place and helping those in need."

Duckstein, who has more than 30 years experience in the restaurant business, and formerly owned more than 20 Outback Steakhouse restaurants throughout the tri-state area, saw Norwalk and particularly the Waypointe location as the ideal spot to open the new eatery.

"The demographics are great here, we expect to do a great lunch business with the offices in the area as well as a growing residential area," Duckstein said. "Eventually there will be more than 1,200 apartments here (at Waypointe). Another big thing for us was parking. If the parking wasn't good, this wouldn't have happened for us. There is plenty of free, covered parking here."

The Norwalk Sedona Taphouse location is the first franchise in Connecticut and will feature more up to 500 craft beer offerings, including 50 on tap.

"The beers are a mix of regional and national beers, but what they have in common is that they are all craft beers," Duckstein said. "But more than beer, I'd characterize the restaurant as a sophisticated taphouse with serious food."

Duckstein pointed out that the menu offerings consist of fresh hand-cut steaks and seafood, with 40 percent of menu items either gluten-free or can be made gluten-free.

"There are no fried foods on the menu," Duckstein said. "The menu lends itself to business people as well as families. These are meals that people can feel good about."

With a stone facade facing West Avenue, the restaurant decor consists of muted tones, comfortable cushiony booths, wood and stone-accented walls, and an open kitchen area.

"The restaurant seats 160, there are 30 seats at the bar, and we have garage-style doors that open to the patio with outside seating for 44 people," Duckstein said.

In addition to "Steak-Out Mondays" in which a different local charity will benefit from the flat iron steak specials every four weeks, Duckstein and Hardy have put a number of specials in place.

"We will have happy hours from 3:30 to 6:30 Mondays through Fridays in which our 'handhelds,' such as flat breads, tacos and sliders will all be $5 as well as draft beers, craft cocktails, martinis and house wines will all be $5," Hardy said. "We like to say it's easy to be happy for five dollars."

Every Sunday, Duckstein and Hardy are rolling out "beer school" from 1 to 3 p.m.

"Customers can sit at the bar and the bartender will pick out a style of beer, teach them about the beer and give eight to 10 samples of beer for free," Hardy said.

Hardy, who was the proprietor of Outback Steakhouse in Wilton for 13 years pointed out some similarities and differences between his old and new venture.

"While there are similarities in income, age and demographics between the two, the menu here is very different," Hardy said.

The Steak-Out Mondays for Stepping Stones Museum for Children are: July 27, August 3, 10 and 17.

Additionally all customers may enter a drawing for a Stepping Stones Museum for Children Family Membership at each Monday fundraiser. A Family Membership includes unlimited free admission for one year valid for two adults and all children in the same household, as well as a 10 percent discount at the Age of Reason museum store and the museum's Healthyville Cafe.)

This offer is available for lunch or dinner (dine-in only).

Sedona Taphouse is located at 515 West Ave.

For information: www.sedonataphouse.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/STHnorwalk; Twitter: @Sedonataphouse; or (203) 299-1800