Weston's coziest dining space is once again open for business.
Over the weekend, La Roue Elayne at Cobb's Mill Inn opened its doors to the public, starting things off with live music and drinks on Saturday night followed by Mother's Day brunch and dinner on Sunday.
The restaurant had been closed since 2010.
According to The Weston Forum, the restaurant will offer salmon, lobster, ham, lamb, beef and other seafood options. La Roue Elayne will open today with a "limited pub menu," and is scheduled to open on a full scale next week.
According to the restaurant's Facebook page, live music is scheduled for every Saturday night this month.
Elayne Cassara and Drew Friedman are the brains behind the new restaraunt, former owner Domenic Cocchia is the general manager and the head chef is Michael Achille.
History
A structure that predates the Revolutionary War—according to a historical plaque located on the property—the Cobb's Mill Inn stands majestically near the center of , abutting Cobbs Mill Pond.
The inside of the building has been renovated and offers comfortable, open and well-lit areas for dining, while also caters to those who just wish to imbibe in the spirits.
The building itself has a rich history, having been used as a lumber mill, a grist mill and a cider mill.
In the 1800s, Westonites who wished to build homes would bring the trees they cut down on their properties to the mill in order to process the wood. According to the plaque, "many of the fine old homes in Weston today are built with lumber cut at the old mill."
But over time, a plague befell the chestnut trees which populated the area.
"During this period [the 1800s] there stood in these parts large quantities of chestnut trees which kept the mill busy," the plaque reads. "However, this portion of the mill's activity ceased in the early 1900s because of a severe blight to the chestnut trees."
In 1913, Frank and Margaret Cobb purchased the property, while the mill was no longer in operation. Following Cobb's death in 1923, his wife sold the property in 1927, giving birth to its first "modern commercial enterprise"—an antique shop and tea room.
In 1936, Alice DeLamar and Jacques deWolfe converted the building to a country inn and fine dining establishment. Among their many improvements were the two fine mahogany and pewter bars rescued from the cruise ship “Normandie”, which can be seen today in the Tavern Room. The Mill was owned and operated from 1952 to 1986 by Julie P. Jones, and from 1986 to 2006 by the Cocchia family of Norwalk.
In 2006, two Westonites, former Weston First Selectman George C. Guidera and Peter’s Weston Market proprietor James E. Magee purchased the inn and re-dedicated it to providing the very finest food, spirits and hospitality.
Once doubling as a lodge and restaurant, five U.S. presidents are said to have visited the property.
The restaurant's hours of operation are as follows:
- Sunday through Thursday: 5 to 9 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday: 5:30 to 10 p.m.
- Brunch on Sunday: 11 to 2:30 p.m.
La Roue Elayne is located at 12 Old Mill Road. For more information or to make reservations call (203) 227-7221.
