New restaurant serves paninis, pancakes, omelettes and more

Trumbull now has its own Chips, no. 3 in the chain

Yummy chef's omelette and rye toast!

OK, I realize that the newest Chips Family Restaurant is in Trumbull, and not the Valley.

But it's on Route 111, and when you drive north you enter Monroe, which is next to Shelton, which IS in the Valley. So it's all good, right?

Anyhow, today my husband and I accepted a free lunch invitation (minus the tip for our friendly server) from an Ansonia friend who is employed there.

It was a "practice day" for the staff and employees were allowed to invite friends and family. And we are glad our friend invited us! It was a delicious and filling lunch.

When we arrived just after noon the place was packed.

It was difficult to decide what to order, but I finally went with a Mediterraean Panini, pictured below, and some coffee.

A panini for Patti

I've been trying to eat healthier and I haven't had French fries in forever, so they tasted great.
Greasy, but great.

The panini featured grilled chicken breast, mozzarella cheese, roasted red peppers, and pesto on sourdough bread. I had my choice of white, rye, sourdough or honey wheat bread. It came with a pickle and a dash of cole slaw.

Ralph ordered the chef's omelette that was filled with sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, Bermuda onions, tomatoes, and feta cheese.
The verdict? "It was excellent," he told me. He enjoyed the rye toast accompaniment as well as the coffee.

Restaurant consultant Chris Danas said the "friends and family" day was held Monday "to give the kitchen a dry run and work out some kinks." 
The diner-style restaurant will open for breakfast Tuesday for its first day of business.

George Chatzopoulos, a Greek immigrant, owns all three Chips restaurants. They are located in Orange, Fairfield and Trumbull. 

On Monday the staff was accepting donations for a worthy cause: Swim Across the Sound. The annual swim raises funds for the St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation.

If you've been to either of the other two Chips (I've been to the Orange location many times) you'll find the same quality food and friendly service.