Ralph 'n' Rich's — Restaurant in Bridgeport

Ah, bellissimo! Ralph & Rich's in Bridgeport, my friends, is a true gem that transports you back to the days of amore and la dolce vita. I had the immense pleasure of visiting this divine establishment for a graduation party on a serene Sunday afternoon, and let me tell you, it was a feast for the senses!

As I stepped foot into Ralph & Rich's, memories of my nonna's kitchen flooded my heart. The warmth, the aroma, the nostalgia—it was as if I had been whisked away to a bygone era. Accompanied by my beloved 90-year-old nonna, who knew the art of preparing a magnificent dinner like no other, we eagerly embarked on a culinary journey that exceeded our wildest expectations.

The service we received was nothing short of extraordinary. The staff at Ralph & Rich's went above and beyond, catering to our every desire with grace and finesse. They even delighted us by conjuring up a unique cocktail from my nonna's younger years, a delightful concoction known as the "Pink Lady." Oh, the memories that flooded back with each sip!

Now, let me regale you with the symphony of flavors that graced our palates that day. The Sunday Gravy, my dear friends, was a triumph of epic proportions. The fennel-infused sausage, lovingly prepared, added a delightful touch to this culinary masterpiece. The brasciole, oh, the brasciole! Tender and perfectly braised, it melted in our mouths with every glorious bite.

And the antipasto! A work of art, finely chopped basil dancing harmoniously with the vibrant medley of cured meats and cheeses. It was a symphony of flavors that serenaded our taste buds, leaving us longing for more. The ricotta eggplant parm, delicately seasoned with a hint of nutmeg, was a revelation—an ode to the simple yet profound beauty of Italian cuisine.

But let us not forget the pièce de résistance, my friends—the succulent, thinly sliced pork. Cooked to perfection, each morsel was a tender embrace that spoke of dedication and culinary expertise. It was a home run, a culinary triumph that left us all applauding with delight.

I must extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire team at Ralph & Rich's—the talented chef, the waiters who tended to our every need. You have crafted a truly remarkable dining experience, one that will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Grazie mille for sharing your passion for Italian cuisine and for treating us like family.

As I pen these words, my heart swells with anticipation for my next visit to Ralph & Rich's. I eagerly await the moment when I can once again be transported to the comforting embrace of old-world Italian flavors and traditions. Until then, I raise my glass and bid you arrivederci, with the promise that we...

So me and my sister try to go out and pratonize local eateries. we heard rumor that Ralph and Rich's was closing, so figured let's go before they shut the doors. By later found it was just a rumor. Anyway, by the name, by the way its owned that corner for so many years...I was really expecting an authentic meal. Let's start with parking. We went on a Sunday night. I parked right on Ceasars battalia, adjacent to restaurant. There's also a parking lot, but the street was clear. They close at 8 and I got there around 630, but my sister was infamously late, coming in at 7. The host sat us in a booth by the window. There was a bar, and a dining area in the back. Three place had an old relic feeling to it. I personally like that. There was a specials menu and a regular menu. We were served bread and butter. The bread was not warm though, which I was hoping. But I was so hungry I still tore it up. I ordered a two roads beer in a glass. My sister got a strawberry/lemon drop martini. She said it was very strong, but she's a lightweight. The water was tap water, but they do offer bottle as well. I don't have a problem with tap, so I was good. Our server was quick, attentive.. maybe bc it was close to closing time! But no, seriously, he was a good sport! He was very patient with us. My sis is vision impaired so it took time for me to read her the menu. We started with beef tips and spiedina Romana. I nearly ate that while plate of cheese! It was so good... my sis said her beef tips were spicy and flavorful. For entree, I had the broiled salmon with risotto Primavera...the salmon was perfectly cooked, the risotto was more like a pilaf to me.. something I could make at home, nothing special. It came with a strip of spicy, candied bacon, which I gave to my sister she said it was really good. My sister had ziti aribbiata. Besides the olive which she didn't realize was part of the dish - which I happily ate- she enjoyed it. We were happy with it for, we left full. But both felt we didn't NEED to go back... like it was good, but not great. That being said, I the ambiance was lovely, cozy, private. I could see going here to sit at the bar for a drink, even alone. I appreciate an atmosphere like that. I can't imagine what it's like on weekends that the arena has a show. But on a nice quiet Sunday, I might...

I got to tell you we weren't even planning to come here, and we saw 2 people at the driveway entrance that got us to come in and try it. We were greeted by I believe one of the owners, Richie, possibly and didn't have to wait to long to get a seat inside. We had just finished fasting during the week and wanted to experience an A++ meal and started off well. Once seated as always, the waiter comes by and introduces himself and starts off. I would think that look at us he would notice we probably never been here before and would start conversation with menu, specials, and recommendations, but no. So moving one, we chose 2 appetizers to start with, and they were great calamari and a bold flavor steak tip dish with sauce. Steak tips were so good I chose to go with a steak and shrimp for surf and turf. My brother got lamb chops with shrimp. I got to say this is where the ball was just dropped the lamb and steak I don't know why we're not on point and steak had no flavor just taste like out the fridge or cooler and to the grill. The steak appetizer had so much more flavor and tenderness than the NY Strip I ordered. We both told the waiter we were not happy with the plate and we could not eat it. Now to desert as you can see in pictures tiramisu and I got chocolate and vanilla ice cream with a cherry and hard chocolate outside. The deserts wow brought us right back to how we started with the appetizers, and we enjoyed them. Overall it wasn't a horrible experience thats why I still gave them a good rating at 4 starts but the main dish failing the way it did and the waiter came and told us we still have to pay for it because the chef said didn't sit well with me. At the end of the day ill pay my check. Ill just express my experience for others to see. Would I come back maybe to hope a different entree selection would be better but I wouldn't recommend...