My wife and I went there last night on a whim They were able to seat us straight away, we found everyone pleasant and helpful, all the coarsest arrived at the right time I had the duck meatballs as a starter followed by the strip steak My wife had the butter squash with pear followed by the striped sea bass For dessert we shared a butterscotch with fruit ice cream and popcorn What struck us about everything was the combination of sweet and savory that was evident in every course We were very impressed with everything and would definitely go back again read more

Was so looking forward to dining here again but I'm sorry to say it was rough....slow service, food took forever to arrive and when it finally arrived one of the 3 entrees were sent back. I'm sad because I've never had a bad meal here and I really hope they can figure it out. The most frustrating part of the night was that the owner or manager Sal eventually stopped by and was somewhat rude and unapologetic about the whole thing. I don't think we'll be back anytime soon. read more

Four of us ate there. Quality was very good. Our waiter left a lot to be desired. Not friendly and not attentive. The fish special was excellent but it was slightly larger than an appetizer. The same with the duck. Prices are on the high side for restaurants in this area. Our waiter appeared not to be pleased with his job. What is with waiters who start to clear plates while others are still eating? We would have had a second round of drinks had our waiter paid attention to our table. Probably will try one more time but not right away. read more

I generally write good/great reviews for places I love. And occasionally have an experience that just needs to be noted. My wife, son and I went to Baileys on a beautiful Saturday night. Loved the live music, the chill atmosphere and location. We ordered a bottle of wine right at the start of our time. And waited and waited. The waitress came back to take our food order and still no bottle of wine. We realized it was forgotten and we wanted a drink while listening to live music waiting for food. We waived down a hostess, received some crazy explanation, which was much worse than I'm sorry I forgot. But we were still good at this point. (Things happen). This is a quality farm to table so we ordered the grass fed beef burgers. I simply asked for NO bread. And son asked for NO cheese due to a dairy intolerance. And guess what. Both burgers came with bread. And both with cheese. And we literally, couldn't explain, because once they forgot the wine, they were too uncomfortable to even visit us regularly. And we were not rude or upset. The taste and quality of the food was great. Even though we had to remove bread. And my son the cheese. Which also caused him to lose the sauce which was on the removed cheese. Just a shame overall. We won't be back for sure. And otherwise loved the vibe. read more

BEST restaurant in Ridgefield! Attentive knowledgeable wait staff. Eclectic inventive and farm to table local menu. Quaint location quiet ambience. I real can't miss. Good date location and large enough for groups. Wine list to boot. read more

Just came home from our first outing to "the new" Bailey's backyard since their makeover. Disclaimer: We fans of the "old" Bailey's, and now we're also friends of the owners...but this is truly as unbiased a review as possible. AND the opinion was also shared by a number of other diners we spoke to during our visit. First impressions, having the owner greet us at the door was a welcome change. It makes the experience so much more personal than having him in the kitchen. We walked in and felt at home, whereas in the old restaurant we often walked in and felt as though we were imposing. Walking inside, I was surprised at how much they changed the decor, and it's wonderful. it took what was a country-bistro feel and gave it a dramatic update and upgrade. The space feels hip and trendy now, but still warm and welcoming. Jumping forward, we've sat down, and the menu is really interesting. We've recently gone semi vegetarian (still eat fish and eggs), but we were still drawn to many of the "for the table" starters, most of the apps, and all the salads. At first glance, the entrees were 50/50 up our alley, but when we read the descriptions, most were intriguing and even eating as vegetarians had many options to choose from. They've added signature cocktails to the beverage list, and while this not only addresses the complaint of a prior yelper about informing diners that they have a full bar, it is filled with interesting recipes. I had the Kentucky peach, which was based on bourbon and muddled peaches. As a bourbon drinker, I can say it was really, really good. Fruity sweet, but kept a distinct bourbon flavor. my wife tried it (a bourbon drinker like a snowman likes summer) and agreed it was delicious, and while she could clearly taste the bourbon, was something she'd "absolutely enjoy." She had the sangria, which was equally yummy, a real refreshing spiced wine flavor, and not cloying at all.. Second disclaimer: our enjoyment of the evening was not hurt at all when an incredibly generous couple sat down next to us with a bottle of 2005 Pavie, and when I commented that it was a special bottle of wine, insisted on pouring us each a glass... So, Dinner. We started with the mozzarella table starter. It was interesting, and plated very uniquely, but it felt like it was missing its personality..it was all there, but didn't have that stand out memorable quality. It also felt small for a table-sharer. The kale salad was the opposite on every account. Light, crisp, flavored perfectly. And if portion size matters to you, this was big enough for two people. The cherries were roasted or something, and had just the right amount of sweetness and tart, but with a savory element, too. The kale was young and not tough at all. Lots of other elements I don't remember, but it was really amazing. We then moved on to the main courses. I got a special - black pepper encrusted yellow fin. She got the salmon off the menu. Mine was very good, nice prices of tuna and cooked perfectly black and blue. Came on a bed of French carrots and fiddle heads. Maybe could have used a little more pepper, I was expecting more spice. But I also munch jalapenos for a snack, so... My wife's salmon, on the other hand. was unbelievable. It was pan seared, and had an amazing crust on both sides. If you like some creosote on your food like I do, a little crisp edge, this is up your alley. Yet the meat was cooked perfectly medium, as she requested it. Came on a bed of asparagus and I don't remember what else, but it was really, really, really good. Throughout the meal, service was attentive and present but not at all obtrusive. And they passed my usual test, removing and replacing silverware as would fit my selection for each course promptly. Wow, did that sound snooty or what? We finished up with the nutella mouse with brownie chunks (her) and a cup of coffee (me). Both were awesome, but left us just on the wrong side of over-full. Bottom line: when the check came, we would have been happy to pay literally twice what we did for the food, atmosphere, and overall experience. They have taken what was an enjoyable local staple and created a destination dining experience. read more

Wow is the way to start here. The staff is welcoming and SO accommodating. The food was amazing. We had shrimp, scallops, hangar steak and the 1/2 and 1/2 burger as well as the Boston bibb salad with chicken. We were delighted. The garam masala squash was execeptucnal. There were 6 in our party and all were extremely satisfied. We celebrated a birthday and the yummy cake with toasted marshmallow cream was delicious! I can't wait to go back. The food is truly farm to table. The names of the cooperating farms are prominently displayed and is evident in the delicious, fresh food. read more

My boyfriend and I had the best dinner here! I had the half chicken and he had the 50/50 burger with a fried egg and it was all delicious. Can't wait to come back soon! read more

Food price / quality ratio 7. Service was excellent, presentation was beautiful, and staff was accomadating. Atmosphere is poor, my food ("Brick Chicken) was flavorless and dry, and the entree prices were well above their competitor's prices for an equivalent experience. read more

I am little disappointed in you my fellow yelpers. This restaurant has almost entirely 5 star reviews yet our table of 5 women was overwhelmingly disappointed. Yes, the menu sounds interesting with all the sweetbreads, rhubarb reductions, grapefruit caviar etc yet it does not deliver. And it wasn't just me who thought that. We had a few bottles of wine which were all fine. Shared fried pickles which tasted exactly as you'd imagine it - not sure why thats a menu item other than perhaps for the novelty aspect. Two of us ordered the special, panko crusted cod with several sauces and purees and it was ok. I do cook something similar at home routinely so not sure how accomplished that chef really is. Handmade gnocchi was so doughy and dense, we each tried it and left it on the plate. Pan roasted monkfish was really dry, hard and tasteless. Another special was a veal dish with some sort of a hot slaw, it had a large vein through it and the whole thing tasted so incredibly rich and heavy. For the dessert we had house made donuts with caramel and bacon sauce. Donuts were very cake like, dense and the bacon which I assumed would be fried to bits to imitate sea salt effect was in larger pieces, greasy and chewy. It was not good, like not at all. I really hate to be so negative but there was not a single dish that deserves this kind of acclaim. I'm tempted to leave 2 stars but we did like the wine. read more

Food, service and atmosphere was really great! Went for dinner last night. Servers were friendly and knowledgeable. Food was fantastic. We shared Kung pao Brussels as a starter then the salmon and cauliflower gnocchi. All were so yummy and cooked perfectly! read more

Finally was able to make it to this place to eat. Beer selection was amazing, loved the rustic decor and the food and service were awesome....the cheddar ale sauce was perfect read more

What a great fresh eclectic and reasonable restaurant. We are here with 2 friends and shared everything and EVERYTHING was great!

We went to brunch here and tried the southern breakfast which was outstanding. We also tried their version of the Big Mac. I have to say that the sauce does not taste like a Big Mac sauce but it was still good in its own way (just don't expect a Big Mac flavor). All ingredients are very fresh- but also very pricey for this reason. read more

Wonderful, fresh food and excellent service. Michala was amazing, so gracious! Love it here, will be back!

Big precursor: It seems like the old management pre-2012 was less liked by yelp patrons, but newer reviews warrant a more positive response and I couldn't agree more. As an overall I would definitely round-up the current 3.5 rating to at least 4 stars. Don't let the dreaded yellow star rating turn you away. Now, I'm Giving 5 stars for the following reasons: -It was a classy ambiance with a no-pressure type experience. By that I mean there was a lax rule on where you sit, waiters were more than happy to explain and give you all the time you need and even offer to sample things like beer if you're unsure. Not once did I feel rushed to get through the meal. - A unique range of choices of food. There are so many delicious appetizers that I couldn't decide! I got the ahi tuna poke but the Connecticut clam chowder was a close second. Also, something to remember this restaurant by was their love to pour things. Whether it was a brown sugar sauce on the complimentary cornbread, the broth on the soup "fixings", or a finishing glaze on meat, it is all done freshly at the table. Never experienced that before! They also pride themselves on local food which is always a plus. -Super congenial staff. The chef (Forrest) came out afterwards to introduce himself and ask about the food. It's nice to see that a restaurant has a chef who genuinely wants to improve his patron's experience. Overall I would say this is a must-visit if you're in the area. read more

Perfectly crafted farm to table dishes that we stumbled upon for brunch...we want to come back for dinner!!! The southern breakfast is served with the most savory sausage gravy and top notch grits and the pecan French toast is a sugary sensation of warm, melt in your mouth, overindulgence which is a sharing plate! Staff is warm and friendly. The chef brought us out special quince from Spain to try with our biscuits. We cleaned our plates, are smiling big and can't wait to return! read more

Food is fine. Too heavy and always a bit greasy / over-sauced. Have been four or five times and always leave with a ''meh".

I have been going to Bailey's for some now and I swear the food continues to get better and better every time. The skirt steak was excellent with a side of goat cheese creamed spinach and a side of fried cauliflower. I enjoyed the nutella mousse for dessert and it was to die for. read more

This review is long over due. My fiancee and I stayed in Ridgefield in September of 2009 for a wedding in Danbury. This was our first trip to the Ridgefield/Danbury area, although I had been to Hartford a few times on business. We dined at Bailey's Backyard on one of the nights prior to the wedding. I live in San Diego and I've dined at many high end establishments all over the US and in Europe and I have to say the food at Bailey's was right up there with many of them. I was very impressed, especially for a restaurant in a small town like Ridgefield. I had a spicy seafood pasta which I don't see on the current menu. It was some of the best seafood pasta I've ever had. The sauce was delicious (perfect amount of spice), the scallops and shrimp were very tender and flavorful, and the pasta perfectly al dente. I can't remember what my fiancee had but she loved it. We liked the food there so much that we went back for lunch the next day. The service was very good as well. Sal, the owner/chef, was a delight to talk with about the menu and why he chose Ridgefield to open his restaurant. We have not been back east since the wedding in 09 but if we are ever back in the Danbury area, we definitely plan on heading to Bailey's again. If you live in the area, you should definitely try it. You won't regret it! read more

Now that Bailey's has completed their renovation to a 'farm-to-table' restaurant, we went back for dinner. And we loved it! The service was friendly, attentive and helpful. They have a good craft beer selection. I had the Fascist Pig Ale. We had a pork belly over grits and asparagus app special, which was mouth-watering. We were treated to a dish of babaganoush with pita chips which also tickled our taste buds. I had Lobster with handcut fettucini, spring onions, basil salsa burro(basil butter sauce) and shaved parm. I couldn't get enough of it. My wife had Salmon over spinach (subbed for the asparagus) with roasted potatoes, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, we didn't have room for dessert as they had several options we drooled over. We'll definitely be back. read more

I have to differ with the other reviews posted here. The food is very good, no question about it. But the service is terrible. We were seated for our 6:30 reservation, completely ignored until 7, when we got water and menus. Finally ordered, appetizers arrived at 7:40. Long time later, two of the 3 main dishes appeared, the third showed up after another ten minutes. All in all more than 2 1/2 hours start to finish, and that's without dessert and coffee. Prices are high, but it would't have mattered if the entire experience was better. This place needs a good dose of professionalism. Personally, I'd never go back and would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

If you're on the fence about going, go. I'm not a foodie by any means. If I can't pronounce the dish or understand half the ingredients, I won't get it. But from the standpoint of an average, love-me-some-home-cooking woman, this was awesome. Cornbread with brown sugar butter- tender, crumbly, hearty deliciousness Sweet Potato Croquette w/ cranberry cream cheese- my partner doesn't care for sweet potato, but I really enjoyed this. Really fresh and the sauce was a perfect match. Beef Brisket Tostada- split with my partner, was crisp, fresh, and the beef was very smokey and flavorful. Two thumbs up. We had a market table special- was a ricotta cavatelli carbonara with parmesan, thick cut bacon and a sunny side up egg. Okay, so I was up basically all night with a stomach ache but that's my fault for having every dish include something fried. This was superb, but be warned about how rich it is! Heavenly. Finished with coffee & donuts- small, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Loved the dulce de leche with bacon one. I love how fresh the food is, and how relaxed the atmosphere is. Chef came out which was a nice gesture. He truly cares about his dishes. read more

Today was my first time at Bailey's. Three of us shared several dishes including the felafel and hummus wrap, crab cakes, sweet potato soufflé, the roasted carrot salad AND the special shrimp salad sandwich. Everything was delicious but the presentation and the garnishes with each dish made them really special. For dessert we had three house made donuts with a pomegranate coffee dipping sauce that were amazing. We rolled out of Bailey's very happy and discussing how soon we would be eating there again. read more

What a fantastic meal! My family and I came here on a Wednesday evening, which is when they offer their 4 course 'seasonal tasting menu' for $35. The menu was fantastic, with really unique and creative twists on classic dishes. We had such a hard time deciding what to order because everything looked so amazing. Some highlights were the white corn bisque with bacon and the bbq brisket with crispy Mac and cheese. The food was mostly 'farm to fable' with extremely fresh, local ingredients. The food was exceptional, and the service was quick and friendly. Would highly recommend Bailey's to local foodies! read more

I love the farm to table concept... That being said our meal did not reflect the skill we thought would come along with the overpriced menu. The salad was delicious and fresh but portion sizes were tiny for the price. The gnocchi was like a mushy plate of flavorless squash purée and what was supposed to be home made potato pasta. It did not hold its shape, had no flavor and I couldn't even pick it up with my fork - very disappointing. The server was friendly- but rushed us to place our order even though we were only one of two tables seated. They also cleared others appetizer plates while I was still enjoying my salad (service no no) making me feel rushed. read more

Every time absolutely 100% consistently amazing BBQ food . Mac and cheese only place that I eat because it's amazing. Taxes lollipops spicy sausage wrapped with bacon and deep fried amazing !!! Spicy BBQ chips amazing . Beers and drinks great . Always everything amazing. I'm so lucky to live not even a 5 min a way read more

Chef Zach Campion nailed it! The Wednesday night four course tasting menu is always a treat, and an incredible value. Tonight I had the Coconut Seafood Stew, Roasted Shaved Cauliflower, and Seared Hanger Steak with dates and olives, and Lemon Cheesecake. Loved it all! I only wish I could have tasted ALL of the creative, appetizing dishes on the menu. The ambiance and energy of the restaurant is perfect for a special event, or a casual night out. The staff and owner, Sal, are always welcoming and attentive. Bailey's Backyard is hands down my pick for Ridgefield's best restaurant. read more

Great atmosphere, fantastic food. Have only been here for brunch, three times, but can say every visit was absolutely delicious! Each time we've ordered a different dish and haven't been able to say we didn't like something we've tried. Maybe one of these days we will try lunch or dinner, but this will stay our staple brunch spot! read more

Delicious, inventive food from a former NYC chef. One of the best restaurants in the area. The people who run it from chef to manager to wait staff are friendly foodies who know their menu. The only downside is that the prices have gotten pretty steep, so we don't go as often as we used to. read more

I've been to Bailey's four times since 2011. My first experience was mediocre at best, but I wanted to give them another chance when a new chef was brought in. The food has improved, and I have friends who think this place is great, but it's just not for me. The menu is so complicated it's headache-inducing, every single dish including the desserts, seems overwrought. There is no balance of simple and complex, just complex and more complex. Everything is adulterated with trending ingredients and/or techniques (ramps, foam, crystals, donuts with bacon, etc.) as if it's an Iron Chef competition. For all that, the food just doesn't live up to expectation. This might be because the bar is set pretty high by listing all those ingredients that aren't really discernible in the final product. Or maybe I just prefer simple, unpretentious food. It left me wishing I'd crossed the parking lot for a croque monsieur and salad instead. Unlike other reviewers, I found the servers to be very friendly and accommodating, although a little lax. Our "for the table" item arrived after the appetizers, and wine didn't arrive until we were well into our entrees. read more

Everything here is magic! Great chef, personalized service, exciting menu, charming decor and inviting atmosphere. Killer Moscow Mule! Our favorite date night place. read more

Perfect place to quietly relax over a delicious meal with unobtrusive but attentive service.

Expensive but 100% worth it. Excellent food and drinks here. Highly recommend for special occasions. Better to come here without kids (don't ruin it for me!). read more

Some highs, but too many lows marked our recent visit to Bailey's. Farm to table? The wait staff was less informed than the people at the table which isn't saying much. Also no tasting menu because they "too busy" though the place was only half full. For appetizers the Kale salad was very good while other dishes were so-so. The bigger problem was that I had to keep getting up to hunt down someone to serve our table. After an hour in we still had only starters with no clear reason since the place wasn't full. When we finally did get our main meals the Halibut was under seasoned and cold and my wife's "chicken under a brick" was raw. Other passable meals included a thick pork chop and a fish dish. We skipped dessert. This only reinforces the principle that a new chef needs 6-12 months to get the kitchen running smoothly. Clearly Bailey's is still on the learning curve. read more

One of our favorite places. Food is always excellent. Priced in the higher side, but worth it.

The food was outstanding but the service was terrible. The waiter was clearly in over his head and completely ignored us once he took our order. We wanted to order a second drink and had to flag down the busboy who pretty much assumed the responsibility of the waiter. We wanted to order dessert but the waiter never came over after the busboy brought us the dessert menus. We gave up and asked for the check. I slipped the busboy $10 on the way out because I felt he was more deserving of a tip than the waiter (I still left a 15% tip for the waiter). I expected great service for the amount of money I spent on the meal. Food is most of a dining experience but if you mix in bad service it can overshadow a great menu and great food. Very disappointed. read more

Some tough reviews here. Next to the garbage served at most of the establishments in town this is an exception. Had the lobster stuffed with risotto and found it to be excellent. Yes , the price is a bit more than most but compared to Toscana ( similar price) the food is far better here. 4 Stars!! Edited: A tale of two restaurants. Would pass on Brunch. Children's pasta was overcooked and the remainder ordinary for the price. But clearly the major angst here was with the burger. We asked to substitute another cheese for the Cheddar. First we were told Swiss but then told they were out and try the Gruyere. Then we were told they were out of the Gruyere and we settled for another. Added to the bill was a charge of a dollar for the substitution of the cheese. It's so picayune , so trivial but also insulting to a customer, especially for a $16 dollar burger. Want to know why the Little Pub is packed for lunch? They have better tasting foods, better service, don't overcook a simple pasta, never trivialize their service by charging an additional dollar for a change in cheese ( perhaps they realize it ain't going to make them rich but will upset their customers for how petty that is) and the cost for lunch is more reasonable. I've enjoyed dinners here but won't be back for lunch. I'll accept a small wait and go to Little Pub. read more

This is by far my favorite farm to table in Connecticut. My husband and I come here every excuse we get. The menu never disappoints. Food is always perfection. Service is a bit slow sometimes but only because they make sure the quality of food is well worth the wait. The chicken under a brick is unlike any chicken I've had. I don't usually like chicken or eat meat, but I CRAVE this dish. The handmade doughnuts are insane. We will continue to come here as much as we can because it's the best food in and around Ridgefield CT. read more

I love Bailey's! My family and I have been regular guests here for years and have never been disappointed by our meals or drinks. Bailey's is without a doubt our favorite restaurant in Ridgefield. We've only ever been for dinner, but I hope to make it there for brunch sometime soon! read more