Rye House: fine food and drink in the heart of Port Chester

Rye House takes its name from the spirit rye, and not from the neighboring town. Rye House in Port Chester is a fine gathering spot for friends or couples looking for a hip and relaxed place to drink and dine. The owners also own the Rye House in the Flatiron district of Manhattan yet this location has created its own identity with an expanded menu. The Rye House has been described as the “elevated American tavern”, combining the friendliness and warmth of a tavern with upscale food and a vast selection of drinks and innovative cocktails.

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The interior of this vintage brick building on the corner of Main and Willett in downtown Port Chester is a warm and inviting space. In a prior life the space housed for many years an upscale clothing store but had been shuttered for some time. The new owners have breathed life into the space with new large windows that let in the streetscape, and use lots of wood, exposed beams hardwood floors and warm tones to give the space an honest yet familiar tavern experience. Downstairs is a separate space perfect for music or private events.

The bar has a very extensive list of whiskey, rye and bourbons as well as the usual menu of spirits The whiskey and bourbon list is so extensive I stopped counting after 100 different varieties.. There are 10 beers on tap and another 12 available in bottle or can. Signature cocktails are also available under the supervision of Sara, their master mixologist.

Prior to dinner we sampled some appetizers including the Fried Pickles served with buttermilk ranch dressing, Truffle Grilled Cheese (fontina cheese, and black truffle) which was amazing and the spicy Voodoo Shrimp with creole remoularde. For a cocktail I tried the Clara Bow, which featured bourbon, house made grenadine and mint. I usually do not drink bourbon, but this was one fine cocktail.

After being sat at our table we decided to sample some appetizers. We sampled the Baby Beets Salad with pomegranate, and greek yogurt which was a healthy choice. We also sampled G-Ma’s Meatballs and marinara which was a nice comfort food. We then moved on the Spicy Chorizo Tacos with pineapple which was delicious. We also enjoyed the Hamachi Cerviche. A nice pairing with the apps was Driftwood Ale from Montauk Brewing.

Main course: we sampled a few items from the entree menu and they were all winners. The Pan Seared Branzino was excellent covered in sprouts and spaetzle. The Carolina Shrimp and Grits was a real comfort food and was a favorite. This dish seems to be in more restaurants lately and we are happy about seeing more of this comfort food. We complimented our entree with a wine pairing of a white wine from Long Island White Blend of Mattituck..

Dessert included a Artisanal Hudson Valley Cheese Board and the Chocolate Lava Cake served with Longford’s ice cream. Both were delicious and a great way to end the meal.