Edison Kitchen opened in the heart of Downtown Bethel, at 186 Greenwood Avenue, in December 2021. The historic opera house building was transformed into a thriving restaurant that serves guests American cuisine with the highest quality ingredients.

Owner/Chef Chris Bruno is a familiar face to many Newtown residents, having owned The Foundry Kitchen and Tavern in Sandy Hook Village from 2013 to 2017.

“A lot of loyal customers from Foundry find their way here,” he said. “I see more and more faces as the days go by … it’s nice to see everyone.”

Bruno has built a name for himself in the hospitality industry and owned a total of five successful restaurants since he was 24 years old. He has also had the pleasure of consulting with or helping open more than 20 additional restaurants throughout the Northeast and Canada.

His goal throughout his career has always been to put his heart into the food he creates.

“I want to bring the focus back to what it’s truly about — the food. I want people to be comfortable coming here and enjoy the feeling they get when they try our food and experience the service,” Bruno said.

At Edison Kitchen, the menu changes frequently depending on the season and its access to products at local farms. The restaurant keeps customers coming back for more, sometimes consecutively for days in a row, to get their go-to favorites and try the newest selections. There are also always options for different dietary needs available.

When dining indoors, guests can take a seat at the wooden bar, booth seats, or tables. There is a large floor to ceiling sign inside that reads the restaurant’s motto of, “Come Happy, Leave Happier.” The background of the sign highlights Newtown, as well as references to Bethel.

People can enjoy the nice weather by dining outside on the two patio areas that has tables under striped umbrellas.

Live entertainment is a staple of the restaurant and takes place out on the patio.

“We currently do music Thursday night, Friday night, and for Sunday Brunch,” Bruno said.

Those with a party of five or more people can make a reservation ahead of time by calling the restaurant at 203-649-8720 or e-mailing info@edisonkitchenct.com.

Edison Kitchen also offers take-out and curbside pickup.

Parking is available in the main lot on Depot Place, on the street, or behind the library.

A Sample Of The Menu

Starters: At Edison Kitchen, a go-to starter item is the Rice Cracker Crusted Tuna that is made with sushi grade tuna and kimchee mayo.

Entrees: The Portuguese Fish Stew is a best seller and consists of shrimp, calamari, clams, fish, potatoes, linguica, and tomato broth.

Raw Bar: What makes Edison Kitchen stand out from other restaurants is its Raw Bar display. It has oysters, clams, Ceviche Duo, and Tuna Tartare with Yuzu, pink peppercorns, and cilantro.

Steaks: For those looking for a steak option, Edison Kitchen has Certified Angus Beef New York Strip, Certified Angus Beef Porterhouse, Berkshire Pork Chops, and Veal Porterhouse.

Sandwiches: There is a variety of sandwiches on the lunch menu and the dinner menu. A customer favorite is the Indonesian Street Cart Chicken that has spiced chicken, ginger pickles, curry mayo, and naan. All sandwiches come with fries, but they can be substituted with mixed salad. There is also gluten free bread available.

Salads: The Watermelon Salad is a refreshing choice on a warm spring or summer day. It has arugula, feta, sunflower seeds, and citrus dressing.

Brunch Menu: Brunch takes place on Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm and has a separate Brunch Menu. It has a wide selection of items including its signature raw bar. It even has $3 Bloody Marys and mimosas.

Drinks: Edison Kitchen has an extensive beverage menu with wines, beers, cocktails, and mocktails. Two popular cocktails are the Watermelon Blueberry Smash with vodka, lemon, honey, blueberries, watermelon juice, and thyme; and the Fresh Start with Tito’s vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, cucumber, grenadine, and citrus bitters. Also, the beer selection on draft that is always rotating with options from local breweries.

Kids Menu: Parents can rest assured knowing their children, who are referred to as “Future Edisons” on the Kids Menu, will enjoy the same caliber of food as they are. Bruno explained, “We use the same high-quality ingredients.” Children can get everything from a burger and fries to a New York strip with rice.

Dessert: The desserts at Edison Kitchen are homemade and are constantly changing, so patrons can enjoy something new each time they visit.

Edison Kitchen, located at 186 Greenwood Avenue in Bethel, is open seven days a week. Current hours of operation are Monday through Wednesday, from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm; Thursday through Saturday, from 11:30 am to 10 pm; and Sunday, from 11 am to 8 pm. For more information, visit edisonkitchenct.com. Follow Edison Kitchen on Facebook at facebook.com/edisonkitchenct and Instagram at instagram.com/edisonkitchen.