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Located in a prime spot on Post Road in Fairfield, Mike's Pizza, will soon be replaced by a chicken restaurant, Rye Bird, and bourbon bar planning to offer the same family-friendly and community-oriented vibe.
Mike's, which opened in 1974 under the watchful eye of Eleftherios Jordanopoulos, changed hands in 2000 and has had four owners since. So when the building became available, Bill Nick, a partner of Post Road Hospitality, a restaurant management group, and a Fairfield native, knew it was perfect for the group's plan of opening a spot that catered to the community and making it a real "go-to" spot for many different occasions.
"I can remember eating at Mike's with my family and having a special feeling," said Nick. "We want to have the same type of restaurant whether it's for a quick business lunch over bourbon or a family outing, Rye Bird will be the type of place that will offer an option for both."
Rye Bird will offer fried and roasted chicken, chicken sandwiches, salads, and plenty of sides. The restaurant will be divided into two sections with takeout on one side, and a bourbon bar and dining room on the other side. There will also be outdoor seating during the summer months.
In addition to chicken, on weekends and for specials they will also offer roasted duck and quail.
As for the bourbon, they will feature 30 different types to mix up everything from an on-the-rocks standard, an Old Fashioned, or a Manhattan.
On the dining side, the Bourbon Bar will be floating with the tables surrounding it, offering a view of the bartenders mixing the drinks, which will feature plenty of concoctions for the kids, Nick said.
They will be priced at a family-friendly rate, with dinners running from $10 to $20 and buckets of chicken available for take-out.
They hope to open in May, Nick said.
Also on tap for the group in Fairfield is the Saigon Snack Bar offering Vietnamese small plates and plenty of rum drinks -- the company also has its own line of rum.
It will be located on the corner of Unquowa and Post roads with a targeted opening date in June.
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