I sent this email to the restaurant on October 17th and never heard back so now I am posting a negative review which I hate doing: My husband and I had a 6:15 dinner reservation this past Friday. We chose this early time because we wanted a relaxed dinner and were to be at the Ridgefield playhouse at 8pm for a show. We arrived a little late and called ahead to tell you that we were going to be close to 10 min late. We were 7 mins late. After we were seated at 6:25.... it took over ten mins to be acknowledged, given water and 20 mins before a drink order was given. We told the waiter we were seeing a show. When we were seated there were two other tables of patron in the side room and 6 tables seated in the main room. Our appetizers didn't arrive for over 40 mins. At 7:20, an hour later, we asked the waiter when our entrees were coming out and he said five mins. I was getting anxious BC I didn't want to rush eating my meal to make the show. At 7:30 we asked again and were told 5 mins. At this time, I saw two tables served entrees that came in 20-30 mins after us. At 7:40 the meals still had not arrived. I got up from my seat because I would now have ten mins to eat my entree had it arrived by 7:40. The waiter, who was clearly overwhelmed from the second he took our order at 6:45 (he was short w us and not friendly), explained the kitchen does not fire up the entrees based on who sat first etc.... not his fault but did I really need poor excuses at this point? I left at 7:46 saying it was enough and we wanted the check. As the check was printing, out two entrees were being delivered to the table. My husband was dying to try your burger so he sat to wolf down two or three bites while he paid and I got the car. We do not have the opportunity to dine out very often. This was a special evening for my husband and I. I have patronized your restaurant five times over the last year or two , have always loved it, which is why I chose to dine there this past Friday. My home burned down in a catastrophic fire on September 30th. We really needed a relaxed night out. Instead I ate a soup and appetizer and left without a meal. The entire experience was stressful and your staff was rude. There is no excuse for a restaurant to execute dinner so poorly. Dining establishments do this every day without issue. The waiter told us "everyone came in and ordered at the same time". Isn't that how it usually works? Why was this so poorly managed. I see a $61 charge for what we ate (the drink was horrible. I took one sip, and was not ever asked if I like it). I am so disappointed that this happened. I don't know how I can ever return. read more

Overall disappointment. Ordered the Arnold Palmer (combo of Iced Tea and Lemonade). It had NO sweetener- it tasted like half unsweetened tea and half straight lemon juice. Couldn't drink it. The burgers were ok. My grilled veggie panini wasn't grilled enough and the squash was sliced too thick and not cooked enough. No seasoning. Blah. read more

we had lunch , it took forever to get a server and then be served and the sandwich was not very good . the outdoor atmosphere was great . read more

The most simple reviews are the best, so I'll leave it simple. Bailey's Backyard was outstanding. The food was some of the best I've had in the state, and at extremely appropriate prices. The meal was paced perfectly and everything was served with rustic elegance. I only wish I got the tasting course, just to see what Chef William had up their sleeve. We'll be back for sure. read more

Amazing place!!! Food was fantastic and the service was even better so accommodating because we had our dog with us!!

Saturday night we had one of the most disappointing meals I have had in a very long time. There was nothing farm to table fresh about anything we ate. The starter of Brussels sprouts was well prepared and everything else was not good The short ribs which were a special were not edible I sent them back the first time as they were poorly prepared and so overdone I could not chew. The second time it was clear that the meat quality was not good not to mention expensive at 30 dollars We have been coming to this restaurant for years with our family and have always found the food to be inventive fresh and delicious. This was not the case. read more

Sorry, but the food was poorly conceived. I love vegetarian and meatless meals with lots of flavor and texture. My meal was a hodge-podge of trendy ingredients thrown together to make something new, or maybe exciting? Unfortunately, the execution failed to produce a visually pleasing, delicious meal. There were four of us and no one left happy. read more

Bailey's Backyard isn't my favorite restaurant. Service is always a bit slow and the restaurant smells of their delicious cornbread. I did not like the burger because I thought it tasted too dry. My dad however love the burger. He always wants to come back but me however, would prefer not to come back. read more

Went late Aug. 2022 after our son's concert. It was last minute reservation and a true farm to table which was delicious! We'll be back.

One of my first nights out when we were allowed to dine out after the lovely coronavirus. It was outdoor seating and the night had a chance of sprinkles. We were very excited to get out. The waiter was wonderful and the food was delicious. We will definitely come back! read more

Just left the location after a Valentine's dinner. We arrived at 7:30pm, ordered our meal at 7:40pm, received our appetizers at 810 - 30 minutes later. We were served our entree at 910pm - An hour later and lukewarm! We didn't bother sending back after waiting as long as we already had. During the wait between appetizers and entrees, the waiter had no problem visiting our table numerous times soliciting wine refills but never once communicated the status of our entrees. While we waiter we sat and witnessed other patrons who entered the establishment well after we arrived, served appetizers, entrees and leave before we received our entrees. We were the only minorities in the establishment at the time. not sure if the lack of service and communication played a part. Key point here because we weren't approached as frequently as our neighbors about our needs or meal status. E.g., the nice older couple who arrived an hour after we did had been served their three course meal - identical to us - within 45 minutes time with frequent updates and an apology from the server for the wait on their food!! While we weren't extended one for our wait. This is the first location we've visited as we start our food blog 'Foodies for the people' and we have to say it will be memorable first one but for all the wrong reasons. Meal for two a little over $200 - little overpriced for the experience, service and quality of food we were extended by Baileys establishment. Appetizers were small but flavorful. However the entrees were a huge let down. $48 for a bland and fatty Lamb chop and hard to find polenta and $40 for NJ diner quality Halibut dish that lacked flare. We can easily recommend dozens of restaurants in the neighboring Danbury area offering better service, food and overall experience. Is Baileys Backyard a pass or fail? Totally a Fail for us on a day that we cancelled our valentine dinner at Mazzo Danbury in place of Bailey's Backyard. We wont recommend to friends or family but from the looks of it they have their local 'client' list to cash in on. We didn't see the 'stars' in the ratings we've seen but this place is more of a 2.8-3 star. read more

Among our absolute favorites in Ridgefield, CT Have enjoyed many a terrific and perfect meal. Creative menu, creative chef. Example - we were dining late recently, and the chef had exhausted his supply of seafood bisque. We were offered a complimentary appetizer when the kitchen worked to prepare a new batch of bisque. Most places would just tell you to order something else. This is definitely a 5 star, for farm to table in Ridgefield, coupled with a really creative menu and reasonable prices you can't beat it. read more

Great service and good food. A few mistakes but were addressed right away. Vegan options!!

Would give one star but they have worked incredibly hard to acclimate to covid restrictions. Expect to wait an hour for your food when you are one of two patrons (pre and post covid). There is a very strong likelihood your order will come out wrong, you asked for veggies they give you fries, you ask for no cheese you get cheese or you order an extra side dish/appetizer/drink it will never come. The waitstaff is beyond kind and engaging but the timing and organization needs a lot of work. After a couple of visits during the pandemic, I can sadly say Bailey's a big disappointment. There are not many truly good food options in Ridgefield and this place has potential but unfortunately misses the mark big time. read more

Excellent small dining with a good vibe. This restaurant has fine dining for a decent price. New York cuisine in CT. read more

Bailey's Backyard - Damn tasty. Good dining - American Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

See all

Attempted to have dinner outside last night with my family. Drinks took over 40 minutes and were left empty thereafter with no one asking if refills were desired. Our apps took almost an hour, which is also when we received the cornbread (that is supposed to come when you sit and order). We requested more chips for the dip app we ordered which never came so we couldn't even finish our limited apps despite being quite hungry. At this point we gave up. Service was non-existent-- no apology, no check in, nothing. I know people are struggling with covid, but this is not an inexpensive place and 90 mins in I expect some service, perhaps an apology or explanation, and some food or refill on my initial drink. Additionally and coincidentally, I called a friend on my way home who usually loves baileys and she informed me that she also had a reservation for earlier than us the same evening but had left when the hostess refused to seat them (and their 3 year old son) under the tent (despite multiple empty tables), instead insisting they had to sit in the street and sun. They went to luc's instead and had a great meal. read more

Wow this place was amazing! The service was superior and the food was so good! You must try the cornbread it was moist and flavorful. The steak sandwich was cooked to perfection and packed with flavor. I will be coming back for sure! read more

Bailey's Backyard - The cornbread was so flavorful! - American Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

See all

Baileys is open again new localvore focused menu. Need to try it out. 12/16/17 update: new chef brings innovative, tasty & healthful selections to Ridgefield & surrounds. Try it, you'll like it! read more

We couldn't have picked a better spot for our Anniversary dinner. I loved the dim lighting, the energy of a full house and our waiter - who met my somewhat excessive enthusiasm over the menu with some great insight and suggestions. In my defense, most of the options are pretty gutsy! We started simply with a couple of beers (impressive variety), a Popover (tomato marmalade caught my eye) and the Boston Bibb Salad (perfection). Going for two starters instead of a main was a no brainer for me (the more, the merrier) and I went with the George's Bank Scallops and the Jonah Crab Salad. I really enjoyed the scallops (savory and citrusy) but the crab, while beautifully presented in claw, was definitely belittled by the avocado, beets and key lime vinaigrette. Though a few bites of my husband's skirt steak (classic!) rounded everything out and we enjoyed a couple more beers while we finished - amid the hustle and efficient turnover, but never feeling rushed. I LOVE this restaurant. read more

Stopped in for Brunch on Sunday sat out on the patio. Not a lot of staff and I understand why in this environment. Only saw one server but she had 3-4 food runners. Brunch Menu didn't offer a lot of choices. I had Cobb salad which I shared, we both felt seemed a little bitter with the vinegar. My friend said her Egg omelet entree was just OK. I had the 50-50% Burger-1/2 Beef -1/2 Bacon, Very good smokey flavor, I liked it because it was different. This was my 2nd time here and I liked Menu better on the Saturday afternoon, before Corona. Little pricey but that's what you pay for Farm to Table. Waitress was nice just think she had trouble with too many tables. Service was slow, people were friendly, very polite. I know its hard in this environment will stop back after this virus is over. read more

I finally made it to Bailey's Backyard. I've only been here 3 times before. First time I came here with David right after I moved from Georgia. I don't remember what we had then, because I didn't know American food that well at the time but I remember the nice server guy who's name is Orel; he still works here and he's still very nice. After it changed the interior and turned into farm to table restaurant, I always wanted to check it out, but was either never hungry or had too much food at home. Today was the day that I finally decided to forget whatever I had in the fridge and take David there to eat. The good thing is that on Wednesdays they have menu tasting which is my favorite thing, because you can taste 4 different courses, or if you are me and go there with someone, you can taste 8 different dishes. I think every restaurant must have a tasting menu once a week. I loved the size of the portions, just the perfect amount to enjoy the food and not get stuffed. My first course was tomato soup with shrimp salad and dehydrated corn. Soup was fantastic, light, still flavorful, and mild flavor from shrimp accompanied well with it. I liked dehydrated corn, though I would do charred corn instead (sorry chef). David's bib lettuce salad with mushrooms, goat cheese and pickled carrots was very good as well, fresh and buttery salad leaves, crispy breaded fried mushrooms, and some kind of sauce (I couldn't identify it, but it was very good) was a perfect first course. My second course was beer marinated venison on skewers with crispy cabbage and espresso mustard sauce, just perfect combination of flavor and texture. The main course was roasted duck breast with delicious creamy farro, red cabbage, and lavender honey, which I didn't really taste but it was still fantastic, duck was cooked medium rare and very soft and a little crunch and creaminess from farro was just perfect. Ah and the dessert... I had cheesecake with almond paste kind of sauce on the bottom topped with blueberry compote; perfect little bite for the end with my espresso. Overall, we both had an amazing experience and I'm so happy I finally made it here. Sal picked the perfect wine (some kind of Merlot) and was as nice as usual. This is kind of dry review of the dishes I've tasted at Baily's backyard today. Because I cook a lot, I know how much work and attention goes to details behind every dish. You can tell that every ingredient was treated with respect, love and care, it was so well thought and executed. I think everyone should experience how real food tastes like. Thank you chef! read more

See all

Great dinner a few nights ago. Everything was amazing from start to finish. Service was great and everyone was welcoming. Wish they had more wines to choose from, but didn't distract from the food. Highly recommend dining at Baileys! read more

Bailey's is awesome! When I go out to dinner, I want to eat things that I can't make at home. Baileys never disappoints.

I've been here a few times, and although they are on the higher priced side, it is definitely worth it. The waitstaff are very friendly and helpful. I'll be honest, 90% of the time when I read their menu, I have no idea what some of the things are. However, the food is so delicious and such great flavor. And just on a side note, I am not a food person and I dont like to eat things that I dont know what it is. This is the only place where I take my chances and I have never been disappointed. I just went there tonight. They happen to have a special (which I dont know how long they will have it), its corvina, which is a type of fish. If you're even considering going there in the near future you MUST get this special. It is amazing and delicious! read more

The best of the best in RIDGEFIELD. Get the sweet earth sliced to go. Staff is so friendly and warm.

Just left the location after a Valentine's dinner. We arrived at 7:30pm, ordered our meal at 7:40pm, received our appetizers at 810 - 30 minutes later. We were served our entree at 910pm - An hour later and lukewarm! We didn't bother sending back after waiting as long as we already had. During the wait between appetizers and entrees, the waiter had no problem visiting our table numerous times soliciting wine refills but never once communicated the status of our entrees. While we waiter we sat and witnessed other patrons who entered the establishment well after we arrived, served appetizers, entrees and leave before we received our entrees. This is our first location we've visited as we start our food blog 'Foodies for the people' and we have to say it will be memorable first one but for all the wrong reasons. We've never visited a location with such high expectations and drop so quickly. Three glasses of wine, appetizer and entree for two = little over $200 - overpriced for the experience, service and quality of food we were extended by Baileys establishment. The appetizers were undersized but flavorful while the entrees were a HUGE let down! $48 bland lamb chop under hard to find polenta and a $40 'New Jersey' Diner caliber Halibut dish - uncertain if BB was that bad or New Jersey diners are that good. Either way, we can easily recommend dozens of restaurants in the neighboring area offering better service, food and overall experience. Is Baileys Backyard a pass or fail? Totally a Fail for us. on a day that we cancelled our valentine dinner at Mazzo Danbury in place of Bailey's Backyard, they failed hard on delivering a solid dining experience. We wont be back and won't recommend to friends and/or family. From the looks of it they have a local 'client' list they seem to cash in on. I've seen 4.5 and 5 stars given to Bailey's but our experience places this joint at 2.8 stars at most. NOTE: We were the only minorities in the establishment at the time of our dining experience. not sure if the lack of service and communication played a part. Key point here because we weren't approached as frequently as our neighbors about our needs or meal status. E.g., the nice older couple who arrived an hour after we did had been served their three course meal - identical to us - within 45 minutes time with frequent updates and an apology from the server for the wait on their food!! While we weren't extended one for our wait. read more

Over the years, BB has come to resemble a fav pair of shoes; .comfortable and worn but worth the resole. It also is the closest thing country chic Ridgefield has to a moderately priced steady eddy joint. The dishes we've had have all been carefully prepped and made with quality ingredients. But -- as Simon Cowell says -- "having said that," the menu is generally uninspired and resembles so many other American cafes of this type. It's main problem is it occasionally suffers from another very common American restaurant affliction: Cheeseitis. That bizarre ritual too many cooks suffer from on these shores where they're compelled to heap on cheddar and latex-like industrial mozzarella. Why, oh why, when you have a decent idea of portobello sandwich with roasted peppers (ok, so they're from a jar) and fresh greens and a decent house dressing, why must you top it with that gooey, tasteless mozz that could withstand a blow torch before it melts. Having said that, we like BB for the friendly service, too. read more

Great food and amazing service. They were super accommodating at making recommendations with my crazy allergies and dietary restrictions. The food is always creative and tastes great and so fresh! Great work at keeping things fresh and interesting. read more

Placed on the table to start a dish with thick slices of irish soda bread, ( no the irish don't make good bread ). then the waiter pour's a sweet suger syrup over it. yuk, waiter its not sunday brunch? come back, i dont want desert first!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Terrible. Rude. Tried to seat elderly woman at tiny table in rushed hallway. Not legal how they cram tables and chairs - never again. We were offered the best table in the house if the best table is in a hallway beside the kitchen entrance. It is surprising that a restaurant that adds too many tables to a Mother's Day brunch then thinks the customer is a child when they are not desperate enough for service. Terra Sole was very accommodating footsteps away. read more

There's a reason they've been in Ridgefield for what must be close to 20 years... they're amazing. It's a tiny little bistro, which never ceases to serve up something good. From presentation, to service, to specials and menu choices, this is always a great place for an exquisite dinner. They might be hidden on Bailey Avenue, and do little to impress with storefront appeal, but I like to think this makes Bailey's Ridgefield's "awesome little secret." Innovation has to be their best asset. Coming up with wild combinations and great ingredients to use in their dishes is what keeps a customer coming back. read more

Last night was our third visit to Bailey's Backyard, in the five years that we've lived in Ridgefield. It's still overpriced, the food is still hit or miss (and absolutely dreadful when they miss), and the ambience is still....meh. They also still have tables for two overlooking the dumpsters in the outdoor area...and the smell. Inside seating caters much more to the serious & older crowd (I'm 50, & thought it was too stuffy). It took ten minutes to take our drinks orders, though it was half empty. The crab cake appetizer we shared was nice, though not enough remoulade. Her penne alla vodka was nice, though enough for 3. My surf & turf, which was the special of the day, was simply awful. The lobster looked like road kill & was grey. The shrimp were so over cooked, they had begun to liquefy. They too were an ominous grey. The steak was very thin for a filet, and overlooked. Interestingly, neither the waiter nor the chef made any comment about all of the "surf" being sent back untouched. $32 for that. For our meal (shared app, penne, "surf & turf", & two glasses of wine, & a Martini) we paid $100 + tip. You can get the same mediocre food at Fifty Coins, a short walk away) for less. Or spend the same at Luc's (also right nearby) & get a much better meal & vibe. But I wouldn't give it to Bailey's Backyard. read more

WOW! What a gem in Ridgefield CT. Great food and creative menu. I have been in the hospitality business for 50 years and have eaten is some fine dining restaurants this is one of those special places I encouraged you all to try. The young chef ,Zach a graduate of Johnson and Wales could not be better. He is amazing. His choice of ingredients that go into a dish are unusual but work so well. Prices for what the quality and presentation are reasonable.Its also a farm to table. I drove 45 minutes to try and it and have my new favorite place in CT. Ao Wed a $40 tasting menu for 3 courses well worth it for what is on the menu. Bruch, Lunch and Dinner. Also a more elaborate tasting menu. I encourage all you are nearby by to go and if not nearby go. You won't be disappointed. I will be a regular for sure. read more

I am a foodie, I spend way too much of my pay check on dinning out and have become a food snob after living in Manhattan and Brooklyn for the past 14 years....Bailey's would be a winner competing within crowded and tough competition of NYC. Bailey's is a champion in Fairfield County. upscale farm to table menu that changes with good consistency laid back, jovial, but professional staff no frills but warm and inviting room price point is bit a high but nothing to be surprised or upset at. pretty much checks all the boxes for a satisfying meal and a fun night out. read more

Everything about this place was superb! While I have used Baileys to cater events consistently, I hadn't eaten in Baileys for donkeys years but last night we decided to have a little celebration dinner and boy were we pleased with our decision. We were late for our reservation, but the host was awesome to accommodate for us. It was bumping on a Friday evening. We were placed in the second room in a table I thought was going to be awkward, but surprisingly cozy. The menu had a fair amount of options, and I wanted to order it all. As we are more appetizer people, we split the octopus starter. It was AMAZING. The sauce was to die for, it was perfectly grilled. I'm getting hungry again just thinking about it. I had the skirt steak and my date had the braised lamb. They were both really really good. Couldn't have been happier with our choices. Surprisingly we both ordered the Rioja and it paired nicely. The wine list was pretty good. I didn't have a chance to look over the cocktails but I would be curious about them in the future. We were offered a dessert menu but declined. The only thing I found strange is we had about 5 different waiters. The host sat us, then some else offered water, then the host came back and took our order. Then a slew of different people came in and out. Now saying that, the service was excellent. Just wish I could have remembered our servers name. Overall, one of the best restaurant experiences in Ridgefield and I look forward to coming back. read more

Fairfield County does not suffer from a lack of excellent restaurant choices. Bailey's is among the best, based on dinner a few nights ago. It is a warm, unpretentious place. Amazingly enough...and this is something quite rare these days...even though it was fairly full, the noise level was low. You could actually hear yourself talk. That is rare these days, and a very welcome change. But I digress.... The staff is friendly and professional; the service is outstanding and unobtrusive. After ordering drinks (the beer selection is very good), a server brought a plate of cornbread drizzled with a brown sugar butter, a nice combination. Both the chestnut and the black bean soup were well-done, particularly the chestnut soup, with black truffles and other ingredients such that it would be difficult to duplicate this at home. The entrees - "Chicken Under a Brick" and the Filet Mignon were delicious and uniquely prepared, especially the Filet, which I rarely order. This was done perfectly, over Parmesan Risotto, with Broccolini, Baby Tomatoes, and a Morel Mushroom Glace. The combination of flavors and textures was virtually perfect. The chicken was quite moist, very flavorful, and served over exceptionally good grits. There was no room for dessert, but the choices looked interesting. Rating a restaurant with 5 starts after only one visit is risky, but this time it was warranted. We'll be back. Brunch is next read more

I recently stopped in for lunch with my wife on a nice sunny afternoon and we sat outside on the tables on the sidewalk. We were excited to try Baileys based upon recent reviews and finally made it over. Service was a bit slow as there only appeared to be one waiter and a number of the tables on inside were filled. The menu is very fresh- farm to table- sounding, however some of the combinations are a bit strange. Almost all of the salads have fruit in them and some of the mixtures of ingredients did not sound like they would go well together. They start you with corn bread which has a very sweet sauce on it. My wife comment that the bread was good, but tasted more like a dessert. We ordered ice tea and it was nice that they use bio degradable straws vs. plastic. My wife ordered the Dandelion Green salads with grilled chicken and I had the cheddar ale burger with side salad. The Dandelion Green salad was very under dressed and as a results the bitterness of the the greens was the only flavor you could taste. It was hard to eat the whole thing with the level of bitterness as the dressing was not discernible. The burger arrived cooked to my medium rare specification, however it was very messy and the meat tasted somewhat gamey. The cheddar ale sauce added some flavor, but overall I would not say it was in the top 5 burgers that I have had in the Ridgefield area. This review is based solely on one lunch experience and perhaps we hit them on a bad day or dinner would have been a better option. Overall I will not be rushing back to Bailey's for lunch, but I may give them another shot for dinner. read more

There is nothing else to say but awesome. Seriously - service, food, ambiance. Nothing compares. read more

This spot is OK but a little overpriced for the quality of food in my opinion. I had a nice pumpkin soup offering to start. I cannot recommend the short rib. Though tender it was sadly very dry -- could have a red wine reduction or some sauce. For me, short rib is all about sauce + fatty goodness. This sadly lacked both, which was disappointing given the NYC prices. The nice, homey interior seems befitting of the nice country suburban vibe of Ridgefield. Maybe it was an off night -- maybe I'll give it another go. read more

What an amazing find!!! I was on FB earlier in the morning just looking around. LeFarm had a status asking for the best brunch places in Fairfield County and someone mentioned Bailey's. It was on the way to where we were headed so it was game on. When we walked in, there was only one other table. I was a bit nervous. Never good if it is that quite. We sat down and were handed menus. The deco was awesome. Very low key with a southern touch. A burlap ceiling and a bit of gingham here and there. The menu was interesting and I wanted to try it all! We ended up getting Crispy "Scotch"Egg and Cheddar Popover to start. Oh and we had bloody marys too! I've never had a 'Scotch' egg before. It was great, and I've been trying to figure out how to recreate one ever since. The Cheddar Popover was just as delightful. For our meals I chose the cauliflower and eggplant wrap and G got some sort of pate omelet. The wrap normally came with a house side salad, but I asked for the Connecticut Kale Salad. OMG. One of the best salads I've ever had. PS - It was so empty because they close from 3-5 everyday. We just made it in time! Can't wait to go back! read more

Bailey's Backyard - American Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

See all