FAIRFIELD, CT — Though it launched in the middle of the pandemic, Reef Shack, the neighborhood market and grill in the former 7-Eleven on Reef Road in Fairfield, has thus far managed to weather the storm.
But the popular eatery is perhaps facing its toughest test, as it adds indoor and outdoor seating, and a revamped menu, while co-owners Bridget and Jason Lesizza grapple with Bridget’s melanoma cancer diagnosis.
“It’s been tough going, as you can imagine,” Jason told Patch. “But she’s fighting, so we’re hoping for the best.
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“She’s my partner in crime,” Jason said of Bridget. “But these things happen, and failure was never an option, even if there’s a person down.”
When the two opened Reef Shack, takeout was the main driver, but now they have added tables inside and out to give it a more of a friendly neighborhood feel. Jason’s father once owned the bar RJ Scotty’s in the Hell’s Kitchen section of New York City, so he knows a little something about creating an inviting environment.
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“We revamped the Reef Shack space, and have a nice warm, cozy atmosphere for dinner service now,” Jason said, adding that Reef Shack should still be a considered an all-day spot.
“Not many places can do breakfast, lunch and dinner successfully, but we’re determined, and it’s working,” he said.
Reef Shack also started a “design your own entrée” option.
“What I realized with takeout, is that people want to be able to mess around with their meal, so to speak,” Jason said. “Mix and match different items, so we decided to allow that with our menu.”
Reef Shack also added pizza to the menu, which Jason said is “a cross between” two popular local pizza styles, the thin crust of a Colony pie, and the thicker crust of a Beverly pizza.
“We want to be able to cater to everybody,” Jason said.
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