In a two part series, MyRye.com’s social scene columnist Pamela Baur digests the new old favorite—the Rye Grill and Bar. Today, Pamela wonders is the Rye Grill an old flame, a new flame or a little bit of both? In the second part of the series, you will meet Tim Judge, a Rye Grill bartender since 1992.
Newly home from an evening at the Rye Grill, my forth time there and I finally have a sense from my experience there offering something for me to write about.
Rye Grill is the “new kid on the block”, the long anticipated unveiling of an old favorite, a local standby. So yes, there is the buzz wondering, “So what’s it like? How does it compare to the original? And how does it compare to the other places in town such as The Town Dock, Ruby’s and Kelly’s we’ve been enjoying during the 19 month renovation?
As someone who didn’t live in Rye during the era of the former Rye Grill (or the Mug & Ale before that), I don’t have a standard of comparison, and at the same time, I have a sense of what it was like through the way I hear people talk. I get the sense it was a place where people gravitated to and felt connected to other people in a fun simple way. Where there was a juke box, family clientele, and apparently a really cool bartender who worked there for many years named Tim! People felt at home there and they could count on it to be a genuine, no frills experience.
Now, the highly designed, elaborate and expanded Rye Grill still maintains warmth about it with the community table, couches and coffee table lounge areas on the upper level and corners with cushioned benches which invite all for a fireplace chat. And of course the fabulous bartenders are still there!
It’s also my observation in looking at the Rye Grill, looking to understand what it is all about and asking is the new something we like, and the “how does this compare?” that we take on this comparison perspective in the realm in relationships as well.
Instead of venturing down the speculative labyrinth to answer questions like “is this a good or bad thing to do?”; do the reasons behind comparison ever really tell us anything we need to know to make a choice or truly know our preference? Does comparing only keep us not choosing and enjoying what’s there for us to enjoy, what already is, the choice that’s available now?
I’ll declare and simply say, we are often enthralled with the “new” and after a time when novelty wears off, people will really look at what they prefer, and simply go where they are most comfortable. And that’s just perfect.
What do you think of the new Rye Grill and Bar? Leave a comment below.
WHY CARE WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH MORE GOING ON IN RYE FAR MORE IMPORTANT. LET’S NOT WAIST ARE TIME ON THIS PUBLICITY STUNT AGAIN!!!
OMG !! “Waist are time ??”…Are you a product of the Rye school system?…If so, we have yet another expose ready to hatch !!
Grammar Guy
A PRODUCT OF THE “ONCE” PROUD RYE SCHOOL SYSTEM INDEED!!! I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE SOME POSITIVE INPUT ON THE INFAMOUS MUG & ALE-OOPS I MEAN RYE GRILL…..SOMETHING TELLS ME IT WILL BE A VERY LOOOOONNNNGGG TIME!
MAYBE WHEN MR.SEARS IS DONE PROMOTING THIS BEAST WE CAN CONCENTRATE ON FIXING WHAT IS WRONG AROUND HERE!!!
Do either “Why Don’t You Care” or “Grammar Guy” have a review on the food at what will always be known to this Rye veteran as The Mug! If so, let ‘er rip!
I don’t eat in town much but as a longtime fan of Town Dock I’m curious about this old/ new place. The building sure looks great and the clock seems to be keeping accurate time.
So how’s the service, food and prices?
I actually eight their. It was grate. The ise wuz kold, the insides wuz kewl, the kewgers were hawt.
Tri the korden blew, it tastes lyk checkin.
Got to go now, mey boss Mr WhyCare in the male room is kalling me.
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EXACTLY- MUCH PREFER THE MUG! NOT INTO THE RITZY RIP OFF SCENE W/ THE MEDIOCRE FOOD AND THE PRICES THAT OVER SHADOW THE MEDIOCRITY!!! I HAVE HEARD NOTHING GOOD SO FAR ABOUT THE FOOD SO I WOULD NOT WASTE MY TIME & MONEY ON A CHANCE. DON’T NEED TO DRIVE BY TO SEE WHAT TIME IT IS & IT IS A NICE LOOKING BLDG.IN THE WRONG PLACE…WOULDN’T GO THERE FOR THAT REASON EITHER! THEY SHOULD OF JUST PUT ANOTHER BANK THERE TO MATCH THE OTHER EYE SORE!!!
Thats’eezy fer yew too say!
Food is so-so, the ice expensive, the noise overbearing, and the hype too much. Overall I give it a 6 out of 10.
A SIX? WOW THAT’S GENEROUS!!! ARE YOU RELATED? A 4 @ BEST AND THAT IS ONLY FOR THE WORKMANSHIP!!!
Thanks Sudsy – Don’t we have enough 6 out 10’s in Rye? When is the 10 going to roll along…
I waited until last Friday to check out the new rye grill and bar. nice place — although it seems out of place — very big, unusual crowd….looks a bit like a somewhat nicer Applebee’s. Definitely a lot of hype – but glad I satisfied that curiosity. I’ll stick with Kelly’s and The Rye Roadhouse — two 10’s in rye each in their own unique way — great and affordable food, all are welcome, and the best bartenders in rye hands down
I agree Tom – Kelly’s and the Roadhouse are 9’s (no such thing a s a 10 in my book)The Dock holds its own as an 8, Beluccio’s a 7, Frankie and Johnie’s a 6, Ruby’s 5 tops.
Belluccio’s a 7 over a 6 for Frankie & Johnnies. I would love to hear this comparison! The Roadhouse a 10..maybe when it was Over the Bridge! There isn’t a eatery in RYE that deserves a 9. Let’s @ least be realistic here.
BYOB – Well I have eaten at F & J’s a half dozen times and 3 of those times my steak was prepared medium well when I ordered meduim rare and the first time there I had an entire glass of wine spilled over my head and down my back and all they offered was a free dessert! No mention of the drycleaning bill. I know what I’m getting at Bellucios, veal picata to die for. And I happen to think their pizzas are fabulous. That and no BS crowd like the blowhards at the RG&B.
The Dock is awesome! Good food, good service and awesome bartenders! Try their mapletree burger. Ask for the bartender Danielle, she sings opera and is adorable.
Love Town Dock, their food is great and the staff is always polite and on top of things
The Dock?? gimme a break. The best item on the menu — the maple tree burger — was a carryover from the previous place – The Maple Tree! I’ll stick with the unpretentious great food, great service, and great beverages of the Roadhouse and Kelly’s.
I agree, Ruby’s is way overrated. Populated by a lot of clientele that seem hell bent on being seen but don’t know a thing about taste. The new Bar & Grill is 70 percent of what the old Bar & grill was. The old bar and grill offered consistently reliable, home cooked food. I’d never had a bad meal there, this new place is hit or miss, hopped up with a bunch of meth heads and nanny types. Saw some nannies drinking alcohol and they had two children with them at their table. Wanted to post that on I Saw Your Nanny, another blog birthed from the anals of Purchase Street.