The Reef Shack in Fairfield: Cheesesteaks, BEC's and Homemade Ices, Oh My….

Cheesesteaks, Bacon, Egg and Cheese and Homemade Ices, Oh My….welcome to the Reef Shack. 

I stumbled upon the Reef Shack after their Instagram feed caught my eye.  It was in mid-March, around St. Patrick’s Day, and they featured their homemade bright green “Lesizza’s” Sour Apple Italian ice. Being a huge fan of Italian ices, I had to investigate further.

The Reef Shack is the lifelong dream of husband and wife team, Bridget and Jason Lesizza, who saw a niche to fill in the culinary landscape of Fairfield. Opened this past December and housed in a former 7-Eleven on Reef Road in Fairfield, the Reef Shack is an oasis of deliciousness. The Reef Shack provides elevated, fresh comfort food and treats in a clean, friendly, come with your neighbors environment. Their menu is extensive with nine options at breakfast and numerous wedges, sandwiches, salads and make-your-own bowls for lunch. They also offer gluten free rolls for their breakfast sandwiches and lettuce wraps at lunch.

During my multiple visits, I sampled their Chicken Cheesesteak Sandwich, Ribeye Cheesesteak Salad, Bacon Egg and Cheese, Chili Cheese Fries and Nora’s Favorite Salad (Spinach / Quinoa / Cranberries / Egg / Avocado / Sunflower Seeds / Green Goddess Dressing). Everything was an absolute home run, and the owners take pride in utilizing the highest quality and freshest ingredients, for example, the bread is delivered fresh daily from the Bronx and it is soft and delicious. 

I could see the love and attention that goes into all of the dishes at “the shack.” The chicken in the cheesesteak was so soft and flavorful…kept in large chunks, instead of chopped, and cooked to perfection. The ribeye cheesesteak salad has me wanting to return at this very moment (maybe next time go for the ribeye cheesesteak wedge). Their bacon, egg and cheese sandwich was the best one I had in recent memory, it was cooked perfectly and served on the softest roll. 

Then the real test for me…I love French fries and consider myself a bit of an aficionado. I know making fresh French fries requires multiple steps and costs and when a restaurant goes that extra mile, as the Reef Shack does, the results are crave-worthy. Their stand-alone fries are delicious, now add the chili and cheese and you will be in food heaven!

Save room for the sweet treats, the Italian ices.  These dairy-free ices are made on the premises and come in eight delicious flavors including cherry, mango, strawberry lemonade and blue raspberry. The texture of the ices is truly incredible and making them sounds like a complex process that Jason Lesizza keeps under wraps. Once you taste the ices you will know why!

I really loved the Reef Shack. When I return, I will definitely need to try a few other breakfast items and one of those ribeye cheesesteaks with all the trimmings.

Instagram@reefshackffld

Reef Shack

257 Reef Rd.

Fairfield