The Benjamin was a great brunch option this past Sunday. The steak and eggs were great, along with several stronger espresso martinis. The atmosphere is nice and modern, with available tables by the fireplace. Service was excellent and it wasn't very busy, which I found nice where you could have a more relaxing meal and conversation. read more

The Benjamin - Steak and Eggs (4 oz NY Strip, and I did request an extra egg, scrambled) - French Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

First time here after new ownership and changeover. We loved the vibe, casual but upscale. We started with the Octopus appetizer which was very good. For entrees we enjoyed the Branzino and Pork Chop Martini; both were very good. The bartender was excellent (apologies I have forgotten his name) and was the first time I was asked if I wanted ice crystals in my martini! We look forward to coming back and enjoying this establishment. read more

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Unfortunately had one of the worst dining experiences of my life at this beautiful establishment. When searching for reservations in the area, the Benjamin was one of the few that had available seatings on a Saturday night - we soon learned why. Upon stepping into the (nicely lit & well decorated) dining room, I was nearly knocked on my back by the overwhelming scent of the elderly. If you have ever cared for an aging family member, or visited a nursing home, you know this smell. The dining room was absolutely packed on the main floor, loud, and chaotic. This will come into play later. Our server struggled to remember the evening's specials, and we should have taken this as a sign of things to come. Shall I list them? - One member of our party's order was never put in at all. - Those that did arrive were so overcooked and old...you could tell the dishes had sat under the warming lamp for a long time and dried out. - Servers repeatedly poured water into my glass of white wine, ruining it multiple times. - Dishes took so inordinately long to arrive that I contemplated leaving. - Temperature in the dining room was so ungodly hot I took numerous breaks in the restroom just for relief!! At the end of an abysmal evening, the manager came around and did not appear apologetic in the slightest. He took one round of drinks off the bill and we were still stuck paying over $800 for the evening for a party of 6. I cannot overstate how heinous this experience was. The search for a restaurant in downtown Ridgefield actually *worth* the sky high prices continues! read more

I'd give this more 4.5 stars. Slight docking for getting entrees after what seemed like a very long time. We came on a Friday night without a reservation and were able to walk in and be seated right away. The restaurant was busy, but not over crowded. The ambiance is lovely. The restaurant has 2 floors of ample seating. We ate upstairs which seemed to be quieter than the ground floor. The decorations had a modern rustic vibe-one of the prettiest restaurants we've been to in a while. For those familiar with other Fairfield county restaurants, I'd compare The Benjamin to Tavern at Greybarns in terms of decor and vibe. Definitely a nicer restaurant for special occasions or even a nicer night out. Parking is in their lot in the back or by the church across the street. The host Scott was very charming and friendly when seating us and as we left. Very down to earth and welcoming. Cocktails: cucumber fennel fizz - reminds me of the reviver at BarTaco but bubblier. Very light and refreshing. Roasted pineapple sour - a very tasty roasted pineapple cocktail, but less reminiscent of your typical whiskey sour. Maybe not enough of the egg white if that is what you were expecting, but still delicious. The No 99 - also tasty. Husband thought it was a little too lemony. We ordered the tuna tartare appetizer- could be cheaper, but was pretty good. I got the duck- cooked medium rare. Nice sear on the skin. The jus/sauce it came with was very good. The quinoa side it came with was decent, but I'm not sure it went with the duck. Felt a little random and maybe better pairs with a fish. Half chicken- husband ordered it and was happy with it. Nicely seasoned and accompaniments went well together. For dessert we got the Mille feuille - this was fine, nothing special. Overall, I'm glad we tried this restaurant despite the low Yelp ratings. Would come again, even just for the cocktails. Many complain about the prices, but they seem typical of a nicer restaurant especially in Ridgefield. We went to Posa the other day and were more shocked with the prices there and didn't think it was worth it. There is more value at The Benjamin for the price with the atmosphere, cocktails and food. Service was not rude at all. read more

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The Benjamin is one of those nice places you love to go as long as you're not the one paying. There are plenty of seating downstairs and upstairs. The bar has lots of fun garnishes, such as candied ginger, espresso beans, and pretty gold toothpicks. I sat and the bar and sipped on some wine while waiting for the rest of my party to arrive. The food was good, there were no complaints about the quality or taste of the food. I had the Caesar salad. The anchovies were very fresh. The tartare and scallops were also fresh. The only complaint is the price. $20 dollars for four deviled eggs? That's 10 dollars an egg! And the infamous bread service! The bread is delicious and comes with three different butter breads. However, it came with four slices of bread. No refills. Lots of restaurants have this for free with refills. I would recommend this place if you're paying the bill with the boss' credit card or if you're looking to splurge on a fancy meal. read more

The Benjamin - Menu - French Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

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Would give 3 and a half if I could. This Restaurant is good, just not in any way outstanding. Ben Franklin decor is okay, not memorable. Service was friendly but also somewhat chaotic. Waiter and helper doubling up and then disappearing. We liked the Ricotta and Spinach Dip. Signature Burger was fine but lacked signature taste. Fries were properly done. Had the Blackberry Lemon tart for dessert. Crust over baked; filling ok Wine list was good. It's a 3 5 place. read more

The Benjamin - BlackBerry Lemon Tart. - French Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

Went to the Benjamin with a little apprehension as I was worried what became of the place after Sarah and Bernard have left, they were (and still are) icons in this town. Was pleased that the new restaurant is in capable and loving hands, S&B found us wonderful new owners, a terrific new addition to town. The superlative - The staff. Not only did we get personalized service before and after the meal, but the depth of knowledge that Matt brought to us was truly impressive. Not only did Matt have every answer for us, but when I mentioned I could not find a certain drink (Blanton's) Matt gave me a great suggestion where to purchase it, and I'm not willing to share that tidbit with you here. Jacob in training was very helpful and friendly as well. Plus when you leave if you pick up your left over food at the front (an excellent idea) Scott is wonderful as well. You must get the bread service to try their homemade butter tray. The Pear Tart is divine. The Great - the new decor was really well done, everything is up to date and looks great. The food was superior. My waygu burger was amazing, best value on the menu. Wife's Sancerre and scallops were excellent. Beer selection was ok, but all the beers on the list are excellent and highly rated. Truffle fries were perfect. The Good - They improved the entrance to the restaurant to keep out the cold, that was a good idea. Nice tea selection. The Poor - nada The Bad - nada Overall, 5 stars, this level of service and quality of food merit a perfect score. Plus the price was quite reasonable for this. Well done, I look forward to returning. read more

The Benjamin - Highly rated Benji ipa - French Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

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I wish all the Karen's didn't have to complain about the 1st new ownership because it was ACTUALLY good. The fresh baked bread, butter all the delicious desserts and now the food quality is maybe worse than a diner.... The Cesar tasted like it came from a bag, the fries whatever, the strip steak all fat about 1/4 of it was edible. NOTHING like quality it was before this 2nd ownership. I really hope they turn it around because it was one of our favorite spots and now I doubt we'll ever be back. It should be a crime to call yourself elevated fine dining and serve that low of quality food read more

We have been to this restaurant several times and took my daughter there for her birthday on July 29th. The waiter was incredible. Attentive but not overbearing, helpful and truly cared about our satisfaction with the meal. We started off ordering the signature bread with three different spread. Always excellent! The white linen cocktail is fantastic. I ordered the grouper special which was delicious. My husband and daughter got the halibut which we get every time we dine there. It was very good. The desserts are excellent with a stellar presentation. My daughter was so happy with her meal, the experience and the fact she finally got to eat at the restaurant we have been raving about since it opened. read more

We went for new year day brunch. Great ambience. Excellent service. My husband loves it because they have Caymus by glass I'd like to come back just for drinks at the bar. This place should have higher ratings. read more

Great staff, food, bartenders and experience - one of my favorite places in town and the area

While I enjoyed the ambiance, the food just fell short. The Benjamin gets "Lost in the sauce" somewhere between causal and fine dinning. We started the meal with the tuna tartare. The lemongrass overwhelmed the dish, the tuna was just lost and felt non existent. There was a little confusion when we ordered our main courses, apparently there was a miscount of scallop portions available for the evening, which was discovered 20 mins after we put in our order. While this was rectified by comping a drink and a dessert, it was a little disappointing. As a result our mains consisted of lamb shank and burger. The lamb shank was perfectly cooked, but needed salt. It was smothered in a thick brown sauce, that lacked depth. The pomme purée (mashed potatoes) and Brussels sprouts saved the dish, and when combined, was the best bite of the main course. The burger was cooked to a perfect medium rare. The bacon was smoky and thick, which was a nice accent to the patty. Occasionally, there was an overwhelming and unpleasant vinegar taste, that drowned out all other flavors. For dessert we ordered the apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream. This is as absolutely delish, and paired perfectly with the espresso martini. The ice cream was soft and creamy, the cobbler was warm and had crispy topping, a great pairing. Overall, The Benjamin was confusing. With some highs and lows over the course of the meal. For the price point, I was really hoping things would be better. read more

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Unfortunately bad experience this evening. Had reserved a high top at the bar through their web site but upon arrival was told it was unavailable. Most disappointing was the total lack of empathy on the part of our hostess, who proffered an indifferent attitude bordering rude while offering no plausible solution. The manager came by and stated that we should have been called prior to arrival and informed of this change. Evidently our hostess did not consider that level of service part of her job. We were offered seating in the formal dining room next to the fireplace, which might be nice on Christmas Eve but was way too hot for this evening and certainly not in line with the casual fun bar night we had planned. One out of four entrees were deemed "good" (steak tartar). Pricing was out of line with the quality. read more

WOW- This was a terrible meal- ordered their special shrimp appetizer- mediocre at best- then lamb lollipops that came to the table uncooked- & had to b e sent back to be cooked- Since meat is their specialty what is up with that?????????? Not returning- a $200- terrible meal - not wonder they are going out of business- They stink- Just an awful experience for a lot of money- read more

Food was good but setvice was BAD. We had a 6:00 reservation. And let the waiter know we were seeing a show. We didn't get our meals till AFTER 7:30! We had to rush couldn't really eat and enjoy and they did s 'em to really care or do anything to make it right. VERY disappointing. read more

High hopes for this place, bought and renovated by a restaurant group. Branded The Benjamin (Franklin) because you know...he was a guy that did stuff. So let's call it the Benjamin and put pictures of him on the walls. How about the Benedict Arnold? That would've been clever. Because you know he was a traitor, and he's got a connection in Ridgefield, and he wasn't a traitor when he fought the British in Ridgefield and that could lead to a clever conversation and oh, why bother. It's The Benjamin. Yes Bernards needed a facelift. But everybody loved it. Clearly a lot of money has been sunk into a thorough renovation and reconfiguration of the space. It's a better restaurant space. But it's not a better restaurant. In a nutshell, it's corporate. The staff has been pilfered from other local restaurants including a number of familiar faces poached from nearby Posa. If my dinner companion and I had to choose one word to describe the food, that word would be "salty." Not salty as in down to earth. Salty as in too much salt. My duck was... Salty. My companion's entree was... Salty. Salty. Pricey? Yeah a bit. Not unexpectedly but at the limit. This place will be popular with a bar crowd (new downstairs bar right as you enter.) And given the effusive praise mediocrity seems to garner in Ridgefield, I'm sure folks will, on average, love it. If you're at all a foodie, you might want to pass. P.S. The new owners did not buy Bernards wine cellar along with the building. The eclectic and interesting selections, including a lot of back vintages of interesting Bordeaux, are gone, replaced by a pretty corporate wine selection. read more

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For regulars, the changes around the restaurant since the change of ownership are very obvious and saddening. I understand that with new owners there will be change, but the quality of service and food shouldn't. Not to mention some of our favorite staff is missing. So much for a seamless transition. Hopefully the new owners can get on track, but I'm not sure we'll be back to see. read more

Really wanted to like this place but unfortunately it is not a place I would ever go back to. The hostess, waiters & bartenders were all lovely, the problem is the food. Paying for a beautifully prepared meal is a rare opportunity for some and I could have overlooked an average meal but the food was sadly, awful. I know that at the time of our visit, they were having problems finding AND keeping a chef. I directly asked who the chef was and was told they had none and the meals were being prepared by the line cooks. I would have had no problem with that either but The Benjamin does not represent itself in that manner nor do their food prices reflect that. It was just sad to see that all the potential and hard work that was left in the hands of these new owners has sadly been squandered. Save your time, save your money. I would not bring any expectations of a good meal here. read more

We took our out of town house guests to the Benjamin for dinner this past weekend. The food was good - not great - especially for the prices charged. The service was quite good and friendly. But I find the decor of the interior spaces quite tacky and the lighting in the plant areas by the windows very uninviting. Sorry - but will not run back there. read more

Start with our only 2 complaints. We sat down, shortly we had water and placed drink orders. 20 minutes later our drinks finally arrived. They charge $9 for bread with some dipping options. Otherwise, no bread. An expensive restaurant, which this is moderately for the town, should include bread in my opinion. Now the good stuff. Buratta w beets excellent. Nicely balanced flavors with nuts and a light vinaigrette. Solid. I had the halibut which was a very healthy size cut served with a nice grain and sauce. My wife had the branzino with a wild rice and green sauce that she enjoyed. The room has been very nicely redone from the previous restaurant. Modernized while still cozy. Staff is friendly and welcoming. Drinks were good pours. We'll come back, give it try! read more

Just awful. My family and I ate there for the prefix Thanksgiving and it was stunningly bad. Everyone hated their food. I'm vegetarian and all they offered was a mushroom risotto (that's the laziest veggie option around). The risotto was served the texture of overcooked oatmeal. I could barely choke it down. Then the bill came and it was over $600 for a party of five (with no alcoholic drinks). Really?!?! That much for awful oatmeal risotto?!?!? Not to mention the look of the place is a complete eye sore. They have these cheesy, what appears to be AI rendered, "pop art" prints on every wall. SO UGLY! I felt like I was dining in a Z Gallery in the 90s. If a place is going to charge a premium price, they need to deliver a premium experience. This fell so laughably short of anything resembling a nice dinner experience. Anyway, this place is terrible - avoid at all costs. read more

Ridgefield WTF honestly what do we have to do to get one seller meal around here? The server was strange the food good but not great and my Manhattan a lack luster meh. For what they are charging I say pull your heads out of your arse and get a grip on quality control on all sides: food, service and beverages. read more

So sad about this place. We went here about 2 months ago and absolutely loved it. We went back to find they had new owners. We were upset but were optimistic. We were seated without menus and had to wait about 10 minutes until we finally asked someone for them. The menu was completely different, very basic in my opinion and nothing unique or original compared to previous. The drinks took a while to come out but tasted fine except they were out of at least 4 different cocktails from the menu. We ordered a seafood platter for 2, the lobster was undercooked and tasted horrible. It was also served without any garnish such as lemon, hot sauce etc so we had to ask for those. Our entrees were fair at best and took a while to come out. We also ordered drinks while we were waiting but they didn't arrive until we were mostly done with our entrees. The entrees were fair at best, lacking flavor and complexity. Such a shame this was such a great spot, hope they turn it around. read more

The food is very good but the service needs a TON of work. I live in ridgefield and have gone 2 times and had poor experiences both times. The first time, my friend ordered the poke bowl which had almost no fish and all rice. The manager apologized, but did nothing to improve our experience. The second time, we were a party of 4 and they brought out the wrong entree for my wife. The 3 of us sat there as our food got cold for 30 minutes until they finally brought out the correct entree. No apology, no offer to buy us a round of drinks, nothing taken off the bill. The value of a long term customer is significantly higher than the cost of removing an item off the bill or a nice gesture such as a round of drinks or dessert on the house. Won't be going back anytime soon. read more

A great place for a lovely family dinner! Food was delicious. Service was excellent. Would definitely return!

Went for Brunch today and it was great! The cozy spot next to the fireplace was perfect on this cold Sunday afternoon. Our server and staff were super fun and friendly. We started with homemade croissants with strawberry butter and Bloody Mary's. Ended with Apple Cobbler and Creme Brulee. In between Eggs Benedict and French Toast! We will be back -next time for dinner! read more

I would give this place a 3.5. It is a very nice looking place and the service was good too. We had 4 different entrees amongst our party and each lacked much of the respective sauces leaving the dishes too dry. Anyone can make mistake with a dish, but given it was all four and the high price point I took away a full star. With more sauce would have rated this place 4.5 stars. read more

Very disappointed! I know it is no longer Bernard's and that is a huge disappointment. Definitely a corporate owned restaurant. Over priced, not a very good menu and no specials. I sat on the cushioned bench seating on the side of the room and it was very uncomfortable. I have long legs, my feet just touched the floor and the bench hurt the backs of my legs. The food wasn't bad but definitely not worth the price. As my aunt said, "this is a one and done " restaurant. We won't be back. Sorry. read more

Ambiance was really great! Very lively place. Bar was huge and nicely placed. Food value was way sub par. I'll admit, I'm used to Bernard's but to charge $38 for scallops and to only get 3 medium sized scallops, was absurd. Not to mention bread was $12!! Definitely not worth the money right now. read more

A well executed renovation of the old Bernard's space certainly is appealing, as is the attentive, upscale service and overall ambiance. The food overall at our recent meal was no question better than at most other local establishments, but especially given the fairly "high brow" atmosphere, a tad underwhelming. The Polynesian tuna tartare was the highlight; pan seared scallops were solid but slightly bland, the poached halibut just a tad overcooked, and the bread basket could use some condiments besides three artisanal butters. Net, net: a welcome addition to the Ridgefield dining scene, albeit arguably more for the "scene" than a true "foodie" experience. read more

Silly expensive. Small portions. Bread "service" for $9 for four small slices. Delicious but silly price. Caesar Salad $21 (yes, extra for anchovies) Duck entree looked like an appetizer it was so small. Sadly, a beautiful renovation will be a "one and done" for us. Save your $. read more

Doors open at 5 pm. Upon our arrival at 4:57pm the matire d stated welcome and noted we were early but it was okay this time. Who makes such an ignorant comment. Not someone who wants business. We sat at the bar. Restaurant was fairly empty because it was 5pm. We wanted to order salad and entrees later. We were told no. The new chef, 3 days, with the restaurant didn't allow separate orders. As you may have guessed we didn't stay for dinner the new chef with 3 days experience in ridgefield was confident he could draw plenty of business so they don't need ours. Ambiance quiet. No customers. read more

The Benjamin serves French food. The restaurant has been totally renovated with a more modern feel than the previous two restaurants at that location. My wife and I sat at the bar. The drinks were fantastic and I was happy to see that the bartenders measured everything. We shared two appetizers and one entrée and everything we ordered was excellent. We had a fish entrée which was cooked to perfection. Service was excellent. I would highly recommend the Benjamin. read more

If you've ever been to the lobby restaurant at a Kimpton hotel, you'll be familiar with the aesthetic here. The food was fine, but fine isn't good enough for the price. My main complaints are around the service. Really slow. Place was near-deserted, but we waited forever for a salad first course. It was also brought out at the same time as our hot apps, rather than being coursed. Our entree (a burger) also took too long. The bar staff were far more interested in hanging out with one another than they were in offering a good experience for guests. I felt like the place was closed and I was invisible the way the staff chatted and loudly talked to one another over us, about anything and everything but the restaurant and their guests. To be clear, it was 630pm on a Thursday. There was also apparently a happy hour that no one mentioned to us. Has potential, but we were disappointed and won't be back. PS: They encourage you to "start with some bread" without mentioning it's NINE DOLLARS lol. read more

As a fan of Washington Prime, I had great hopes for The Benjamin when I heard they were opening up a new restaurant in Ridgefield. As a Wilton resident this new location excited me and not only that but also in place of Bernard's that was closing. I will say that I am fairly easy to please, it's my ageing parents that are the tough critics - not sure if anyone can relate, but the slightest inconvenience can literally ruin an evening. I took a chance. When i say our group had the best time, I am not exaggerating. 6 people in our group and we got the smoked trout rillete, potato leek soup, seared fois gras, and for entrees, 3 had the halibut, 2 had the scallops, and the rib eye steak! All super delish. The space is super attractive as well -- and the bar area was quite a scene!! The dining room was full yet I didnt feel like I had to strain to hear anyone at my table. And absolutely check out the upstairs dining room for small private events -- seems perfect for a social event or a shower! All in all a really wonderful evening at The Benjamin! Cheers. read more

Food was over-salted and absurdly priced for what it was. $9 for four pieces of bread should be criminal. My soup appetizer was cold and it took two hours for us to get our entrees, but hey I guess at least the drinks were strong. read more

What a lovely restaurant nestled away in beautiful Ridgefield, CT. The interior is modern, cozy and welcoming. The food was outstanding. The potato leek soup was so yummy, as were the tuna tartare and foie gras (so, so good! Amazing texture). The duck breast was amazing, so well seasoned and cooked to perfection. Would highly recommend for anyone seeking a lovely dinner or date night. You must understand that a fine dining experience might be a tad more expensive, but very worth it in the end. This is fairly standard. read more

Had dinner with a small group during the week. First the good - nice place and the staff was attentive and friendly. For the most part, apps and main dishes were good but nothing great and for the price, it should be great. The two stars; the drinks (whiskey, vodka) were light pours, so much so, we only had one each. Several dishes, were cold! Onion soup, bowl was hot to touch, soup COLD, should learn to use a microwave correctly. Some of the entries, potatoes and veggies were not warm as well. Finally, after our apps and main course, we left and went to another establishment for drinks that were good pours and tapas because we were still hungry. Price to value - we probably will not go back. read more

We really love the ambiance and its close to home. Could be a contender for a weekly visit. Little disappointed tonight. I was looking forward to this amazing and very special mussel dish that I have had the past few times and was craving it and when I ordered it was not the same. Kind of bummed. They told me a new chef so the special mussel dish is no more. I hope they can find a way to bring it back!!!! read more

It's good. It's not great. Don't wanna complain... but: It's a $150/200 per person place. The bathroom is cold, has screws falling off the latches, a can of air freshener on the pot and bright lights. Could do better. The artwork is .... OK. But, it's screen prints of Ben Franklin. Canal street quality, printed pictures. Wait staff was great; diligent, knowledgeable about menu, friendly. Top notch! Food....good menu. Creative bisque. Chop was overcooked. Fine, but overcooked. Fish... overcooked. And a really fatty short rib. It was good.... but remember, this place wants to compete with the guys up the street! Get your show together! It's expensive, it's a treat. Feed me like it's a treat! The people were great. The food needed a spark..... read more