Plenty, as it turns out. At this writing, we had news of two new restaurants and one expansion in Sheffield, one of our most charming little towns (and the oldest in the county).
We were sad when Sugar & Rye closed its doors at the end of last year, but excited to learn that Chris and Mary Jo Gore were moving into the space. Chris was chef de cuisine and Mary Jo was a line cook at The Old Mill until owner Terry Moore closed its doors last year. After a six-month break—“We were exhausted,” says Mary Jo—the two leased the Sugar & Rye building from owners Pierre Cum and Candice Richner (GB Eats) and, at this writing, were planning to open Chris & MJ’s in March.
“We’re planning to have steam tables with fresh, hot food made daily,” says Mary Jo. “I’m Filipino so I really want to introduce Filipino food to the local people.” Think pancit, a traditional Filipino noodle dish. Chris’s specialty is grilling, so there will also be plenty of grilled chicken, pork, and vegetables, plus grab-and-go salads. Fun fact: The couple is naming their restaurant after a sign (pictured) that Mary Jo’s father, a woodworker, made and presented to them when he first met Chris in 2001. Now, Chris’s father is making a new sign for the restaurant, based upon the original sign, which remains in the couple’s home.
“I really want to emphasize that we are here for the locals,” says Mary Jo. “The Berkshires have been so kind to our family, and we just want to give back to the community.”
Chris & MJ’s | 139 S. Main St. | Sheffield
Michele Ragussis, executive chef and partner at Ponte’s
Serving the local community is also a prominent theme at Ponte’s a new “old school” Italian restaurant brought to us from the owners of Gedney Farm. Michael Smith, Peter Miscikoski, and executive chef Michele Ragussis teamed up to buy the building previously occupied by The Frog, which closed abruptly last summer, and, prior to that, a local favorite called The Bridge. The new restaurant’s name is a nod to that local favorite, says Smith: “Ponte” is Italian for “bridge.” At this writing, the sale was still in process as was the liquor license, but Smith says he expects to be open by mid-March. “It’s going to be a very family-friendly Italian-American restaurant and bar with menu items that everyone is familiar with and loves,” says Smith. Think spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, and manicotti. Ragussis, a celebrity chef who is a frequent judge on Beat Bobby Flay, grew up in a Greek/Italian home where her passion for cooking was nurtured in the family kitchen, says Smith. She will be in charge of the kitchens at both Gedney Farm and Ponte’s. Smith says the two restaurants will share staff and will give the ownership team the opportunity to “keep our core staff employed gainfully year round.” But the best news for us locals is that Ponte’s, which will only serve dinner, will be open five days a week, including Mondays and Tuesdays (it’ll close on Wednesdays and Thursdays), making it a rarity in the Berkshires.
Ponte’s | 650 N. Main St. | Sheffield
Lastly, if you haven’t already checked it out, head over to Roberto’s Pizza where owner Robbie Robles’s recently opened “The Pub” right next door. Previously used for private parties and overflow from the pizzeria, The Pub is now a bar in its own right. You can order a pizza there, plus there are Italian entrées, a High Lawn Farm cheese board, and Robles’s own popcorn made with caramelized brown sugar. The signature cocktail: Monkey Business, which is made with rum and a top secret concoction, and garnished with a bruléed banana and Luxardo cherry. This summer, Robles will expand his growing enterprise to Great Barrington, where he’s renovating the old Gorham & Norton space. Stay tuned!
Roberto’s Pizza | 113 Main St. | Sheffield | 413-248-1241 | robertospizza413.com
