Say Goodbye to The Rye Grill
Get your orders in for those turkey burgers, filet mignon sandwiches and farfalle pastas.
As I told you in my foodnotes column on November 10, the Rye Grill will be razed to make way for a new restaurant. I hope you took the opportunity to get over there for a burger and a beer  because this weekend is your last chance. (That photo is of Debbie Fottrell, a former employee.)
After Saturday night, the restaurant  which has been around since May 4, 1992  will close. And people are paying their last visits, making sure to order their favorite meals. “It’s amazing!” says manager David Nelson. He’s the one that told me those burgers, sandwiches and pasta (which comes with Kalamata olives, sauteed spinach, hot Italian sausage and tomato sauce wiht a touch of cream) are flying out the door.
The new Rye Grill  it’ll keep the same name  will be a two-story building with a big front porch facing the train station. They’re hoping construction will be finished in about seven months. (That’s December, 2007.)
This is what Jim Sullivan  who owns the restaurant with his partners in the Pearl Management Group  told me when we spoke last year:
“It’ll have an entrance-to-town kind of feel. The restaurant will have a bigger footprint than it does now, and there will be a nice bar with fireplaces.
“We’re not really going to redefine it,” he said “We’re just going to improve what we have.”
“The menu will be the same caliber, but new and improved,” he said. “We still want to be a place where you can grab a burger and wings, or grab a drink and watch the game – but an updated version.”
And in the meantime  Nelson told me  they’ll be serving Rye Grill specials down the street at Ruby’s Oyster Bar & Bistro, another one of Pearl Management’s restaurant.
Rye Grill & Bar, 1 Station Plaza, Rye. 914-967-0332.
Ruby’s Oyster Bar & Bistro, 45 Purchase St., Rye. 914-921-4166.
Photo Caption: ryegrill.jpg
hi liz
the heathcote tavern in scarsdale was part of this group as well. i heard they were opening up in tuckahoe but havent seen anything about it—they were going to open up where the old rockwells was by the train station. if u have any info on that, i would love to hear it.
You’re exactly right.
They used to own the Heathcote (now Backals). And yes, they are planning a new restaurant in the old Rockwells. It is the first restaurant Jim Sullivan ever bought – and then he sold it to Rockwells. They’re renovating it and are hoping to do an upscale-ish pub. (EDIT: i mean, it will be casual, but a little more than just a pub.)
They’re also working on a restaurant in Darien. I’ll be interviewing Jim about all his goings-on soon, and will report back!
thanks for the info liz. i drive by there often hoping to see some progress. as of last weekend, the scaffolding was down, so i am hopeful that they are making progress. heathcote was our weekly favorite, but the feel at backal’s is completely different. i will check back to see what jim has to say about the new location. thanks!!
Hi Liz, We recently had lunch at the Tap House and was disappointed to see that with all the hoopla of the opening they did not have Captain Lawrence Beer. Which is our local brewery. Have you heard anything about this?
Hi Heather,
I’m working on a post about the Tap House as we speak. I was there Friday night. No… I didn’t see Captain Lawrence, but there are tons of other beers. I’ll post the menu.