"Chef Joseph Magrath's New Orleans-inspired SoNo room — Creole cooking, craft cocktails and live brass turn a Friday into Bourbon Street."
About Brass & Bone
Brass & Bone holds a corner at 136 Washington Street in South Norwalk, the strip locals call SoNo. It anchors part of our Norwalk guide as the neighbourhood's New Orleans room, where the kitchen and a live-music stage share the same evening.
It opened in February 2026 from a four-person ownership group — chef Joseph Magrath in the kitchen, with Maxim Schiavone, John McGraw and Jonathan Ackerman running the music, floor and bar. More than fifty bands have played the room since the doors opened, from low-key jazz to funk and soul.
The Kitchen
Chef Joseph Magrath cooks Creole with a Connecticut accent. The shrimp-and-crab Etouffee ($36) is the plate to order — a dark Cajun stew over rice — backed by a fried Catfish Po' Boy ($17.50) with black-pepper aioli and the Jambalaya Arancini ($14), fried rice balls with Cajun crema. A Gatorcake ($26) of alligator and crab meat in house remoulade is the room's dare.
Finish with a Bananas Foster Beignet ($13) and a Sazerac ($15) from a cocktail list that runs deep. Small plates sit around $12-26, entrees $21-39.
The Room
The room is built for noise in the best way — a music bar with a piano, a stage and a skull-and-crossed-trombones logo over the door. Tuesdays turn into open mic, Wednesdays into karaoke, and weekend nights into full brass-band sets that run past midnight.
Doors open Tuesday to Thursday from 4:30pm to 12:30am and Friday and Saturday to 1:30am; it is closed Sunday and Monday. Book ahead on band nights.
Not for
Not for a quiet, conversation-led dinner — there is live music most nights and the room is built to be loud. Book elsewhere if you need calm.
Frequently Asked
What is Brass & Bone known for?
New Orleans-inspired Creole cooking and live music. Signatures include shrimp-and-crab etouffee, the catfish po' boy, jambalaya arancini and a Bananas Foster beignet, with bands playing most nights.
Who is the chef at Brass & Bone?
Chef-owner Joseph Magrath leads the kitchen; the venue opened in February 2026 from a four-person ownership group including Maxim Schiavone, John McGraw and Jonathan Ackerman.
Where is Brass & Bone?
At 136 Washington Street in South Norwalk (SoNo), Connecticut's main nightlife strip.
How much does dinner cost?
It sits in the moderate band: small plates run about $12-26 and entrees $21-39, with cocktails $13-17. Figure roughly $50-80 a head with drinks.
Is there live music?
Yes — Brass & Bone runs live music most nights, from jazz and soul to weekend brass bands, plus open-mic Tuesdays and karaoke Wednesdays.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Brass & Bone
Booking is advised on weekend and band nights. Find it at 136 Washington Street in South Norwalk.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address136 Washington St, Norwalk
NeighbourhoodSouth Norwalk (SoNo)
CuisineCreole / New Orleans
PriceSmall plates $12-26; entrees $21-39
OpenedFebruary 2026
Live musicMost nights
ReservationAdvised on band nights
