Bissell House rises from the ashes
After four years of permit delays, construction and endless patience, the old Bissell building came alive once again this past weekend. Bissell House, a “casually upscale” restaurant owned by proprietor Roy Reeves, opened its doors for dinner Thursday evening.
The newly reconstructed building, a replica of the 1890s structure that burned and collapsed in the May 2005 fire, will house three businesses in addition to the restaurant, one with a storefront on Main Street and two below the ground floor that will be accessible from the rear. Eight one-bedroom apartments will comprise the second and third floors.
Reeves brings 15 years of restaurant experience from his present location, Deer Park Tavern, in Katonah. The cuisine is similar to that of the tavern, including appetizers ranging from gazpacho to mussels, and an array of salads, sandwiches and entrees.
Bissell House also has an outdoor dining patio, a children’s menu, eight beers on tap, and a dozen or so wines by the glass. Prices are moderate, with three mid-week specials: Tuesday is Bring Your Own Wine night, where Bissell House will waive the cork fee; Wednesday is “Wine Down Wednesday,” with the entire wine list half-price; and “Thank You Thursdays” offer a complimentary dessert when you purchase dinner.
As for the other tenants who called the Bissell building home before the fire? Patty Finnegan–DiPetra, owner of Gail’s Station House, moved her business to Gail’s on the Common to maintain a presence in Ridgefield originally, but closed in August 2008 to concentrate her efforts on The Station House Café in West Redding, which closed in May 2009. She continues her catering business.
Bissell Pharmacy, owned by Ed and Sue Karvosky, relocated to Governor Street and has remained there since the fire in 2005. The pharmacy has no plans to return to its former spot.
Anyone checked out Bissell House? What’s it like? Share your opinions!
I will definitely be checking out the new and improved Bissell’s! Their Wine Down Wednesdays sound fabulous! Has anyone been yet?
Wine down Wednesdays? Sounds good to me. I stopped in on Saturday night at around 9 (just for a drink)…it was quite crowded and we decided to hit Sarah’s Wine Bar instead. Good news that it was crowded!
Been there twice already! Just what this sleepy town needed! Outstanding!
I just received a gift cerficiate and can’t wait to check it out based on all
the rave reviews…open for lunch too?
The Bissell House is fun and delicious with a great wait staff!!! Enjoyed the gazpacho and artichoke salad. Have been twice already and plan to return soon!!!!
Ya, the grilled artichoke salad is not to be missed. Excellent.
Had the wahoo and it was overcooked and tasteless. Our server replaced it with the cod and it was great!
Running at full speed right from the start..no new restaurant problems…great food & service….good competition for Luc’s and Baileys..
Great ambience, good food… word to the wise, “Wine Down Wednesdays” only apply to bottles… glasses are not half-price
Still, a worthy dinner experience… especially the desserts!
Very poor service, dinner served cold, and took over 1 hr with only one other table in the place being served. Overpriced wine
Over priced, tasteless food. Poorly presented and took over an hour to serve us (the restaurant was maybe 1/4 full). Have been twice for lunch and once for brunch…three strikes…won’t be back and won’t recommend to others. Need to get their act together in this town if they want to survive.