On the heels of Cisco Brewers’ Connecticut debut, The Village is set to unveil a first-of-its-kind F&B “ecosystem” and launch of its signature restaurant The Wheel. A seasonally driven concept, The Wheel is where renowned chefs and visionary farmers work hand in hand with hospitality management company APICII and Village Chief Food Curator Mike Geller to raise the culinary bar in Fairfield County. All of The Village’s F&B “spokes” connect at The Wheel to comprise its unique culinary profile, one that includes: Cisco Brewers, a rooftop garden and sourcing initiative, a tequila bar, and pop-up experiences including a celebrity chef program alongside unparalleled private event spaces.
Debuting Wednesday, June 30, The Wheel focuses on American cuisine brimming with locally sourced ingredients in an industrial chic, waterfront setting. Executive Chef Chris Shea, who serves as APICII’s Culinary Director and whose resume includes executive chef roles at David Burke Kitchen and The Wayfarer, helms the kitchen. Drawing on fresh ingredients from over 40 local farmers, fishermen and purveyors, the restaurant features the best of what’s in season with an ever-changing menu plus produce grown and harvested right from The Village’s rooftop garden. At the center of its open kitchen lies a hearth oven used to roast meats, fish and vegetables, as well as to bake Neapolitan-style pizzas.
With stints at The Alinea group (including the James Beard Award-winning cocktail bar The Aviary) and LA’s Employees Only, Beverage Director Kyle Tran leads The Wheel’s extensive beverage program, which showcases handcrafted, seasonal cocktails mixed with fresh produce, hand-squeezed juices, and house-made tinctures, syrups and infusions. The restaurant also offers top New and Old World wines along with a large selection of locally brewed craft beers available on tap and popular domestic and imported brews. Pastry Chef Alessandra Altieri Lopez oversees all things sweet, curating a menu of delectable house-made pastries and desserts. Chef Alessandra’s previous experience includes Per Se, Bouchon Bakery, and Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro.
The expansive bar and lounge, casual elegant dining room and rustic, waterfront patio each provide their own unique backdrop to host any type of private event. In addition, the patio features exciting programming throughout the week, including live music, food trucks, happenings at Cisco Brewers, pop-up events and activities, and forthcoming weekend brunch.
The restaurant and bar concept for The Wheel was developed by APICII, developer and operator of a collection of restaurants, bars, event spaces, private clubs and co-working venues throughout North America, including Casa Apicii in New York City, The Bath Club in Miami Beach and The Hotel Figueroa in Los Angeles.
Touting 133,000 square feet with nearly 1,000 feet of walkable marina, The Village fuses modern office space and unique private event venues with world-class food and beverage offerings. Anchoring The Village is media magnate and entrepreneur Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse brand, launched in 2018 in partnership with Jimmy Kimmel. Wheelhouse Properties, run, owned and operated by Courtney Montgomery, is the developer of The Village.
APICII Founder & CEO Tom Dillon added, “Brent’s vision of creating a true community at The Village has been the driving force in crafting the experiences at The Wheel, which are the collaboration of so many talented local entertainers, artists, craftsmen, culinarians, farmers and purveyors. At the heart of The Wheel is our desire to create a welcoming place for people of all backgrounds and ages to gather, share and celebrate. Our highly seasonal menus are heavily influenced by The Village’s rooftop garden as well as our partnership with Mike Geller and so many local purveyors to offer an ever-evolving experience in this unique waterfront location.”
