RIDGEFIELD – Town residents and steakhouse afficionados may have noticed a new name among restaurant offerings downtown. The Benjamin Restaurant & Bar is now The Benjamin – R House and the new owner is Rexhep Krasniqi from Monroe, New York.
Krasniqi, who goes by “Reggie,” and Alma Krasniqi have purchased the 20 West Lane property and business from Rob Moss, Dave Studwell and BJ Lawless of Norwalk. The 8,000-square-foot, two-story Italian steakhouse and 4,110-square-foot, one-story event building property was transferred to Triple L LLC on Nov. 6 for $3.02 million, according to town property records.
“I’m incredibly excited to introduce myself as the new owner of The Benjamin,” Krasniqi said in a press release. “After years in the food industry, I learned early on that a good meal can comfort, connect and create memories that last a lifetime. That belief is what inspired me to pursue a career in the restaurant industry, and it’s what brought me here to Ridgefield.”
Reggie Krasniqi worked at such renowned establishments as RP Prime in New Jersey, Solaia in Monticello, New York and the Gramercy Tavern in New York City.
In a Facebook post, the Krasniqis told residents how they plan on becoming active community partners.
“At R House, our family believes that great food brings people together,” the couple said. “We we haven’t move our kids to Ridgefield just yet, we’re preparing to make this community our home — and we’re here for the long run.”
The former owners said they are confident in Reggie’s vision.
“We are proud to pass the torch to someone who shares our passion and values – someone dedicated to community engagement and with extensive operational experience in the Tri-State area’s fine dining industry,” the trio said.
According to the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce, the new management has made some changes to its hours.
- R House will be open 7 days a week, beginning at noon (11:30 AM on Sundays) throughout December
- The popular happy hour has been extended to 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
- All outstanding Benjamin gift certificates will be honored
R House offers prime cuts of steak alongside handmade pastas, seasonal vegetables, and rich, authentic sauces. Additionally, the meals are complemented by a curated wine list featuring Italy’s finest vintages.
The Benjamin was preceded by Bernard’s Restaurant and Sarah’s Wine Bar prior to the purchase of the business by Moss, Studwell and Lawless in 2023. Bernard’s dates back to 2000 when Bernard and Sarah Bouissou opened the restaurant and wine bar.
