O68 Magazine, in partnership with inRidgefield, is delighted to present the results of the 2026 Reader’s Choice Awards. Voting kicked off in January, and for the next six weeks, residents of Ridgefield, Wilton, and Redding cast their votes for their favorite restaurants, shops, and services in the area.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to cast their vote for everything from their favorite place to work out to their preferred sandwich shop. 068 and inRidgefield are both always looking for opportunities to shine a light on what makes our community unique, and the Reader’s Choice Awards offered our residents an opportunity to have their voices heard.
InRidgefield is the go-to site to find out about the latest in arts and culture, entertainment, events, shopping, dining, and events in Ridgefield and the surrounding area.
The following ten businesses received the most overall votes. You can view a complete list of all the winners in all categories at www.inRidgefield.com/winners.
In 1998, husband and wife team Deborah Ann Backes and Mike Grissmer left the corporate world behind. For the past 28 years, they’ve been serving the finest homemade chocolates and ice cream to kids (and adults) of all ages. From the variety of chocolates (love the truffles!) to their unique ice cream flavors (the mint chip is a classic, but be sure to check their seasonal flavors), Deborah Ann’s has something for everyone. A fixture on Main Street, they are enjoying the much larger building that they recently moved to. Says Backes, “The extra space makes Deborah Ann’s a place to gather and meet friends. People now have room to linger while they eat – whether it’s inside at the tables or on the front patio in the warmer weather.”
Lounsbury House has always felt like the heart of Ridgefield — a place where our town’s history, architecture, and community spirit all come together. Built in 1896 by former Connecticut Governor Phineas C. Lounsbury, the House remains one of Ridgefield’s most recognizable and cherished landmarks.
What many people don’t realize is that Lounsbury House is a nonprofit that is largely self sustaining through the private events it hosts. Weddings, milestone celebrations, corporate gatherings, and private party rentals all play a critical role in protecting and preserving this historic home.
Equally important is the legacy of community service that has defined the Lounsbury House for generations. Throughout the year, we open our doors to local nonprofits, community partners, veterans, cultural organizations, and beloved Ridgefield traditions — continuing a mission rooted in enriching community life.
“For me, it’s a privilege to help carry this legacy forward through ongoing preservation efforts and to witness how deeply the community values this extraordinary place,” says Director Suzanne Brennan.
For the past 20-plus years, Luc’s Café has been serving the “je ne sais quoi” to Ridgefield dining. Owned and operated by Herve Aussavis, who brings his extensive restaurant experience in operating French restaurants to the table. Known for the traditional French specialties such as escargot, mussels, rack of lamb, and steak frites, Luc’s has cultivated a loyal customer base, including frequent customer, Mary Krebs, who says, “Eating at Luc’s makes me feel like I’m in a bistro in Paris! The food is authentic and delicious.” While Luc’s has feature live music year round, Bastille Day (July 14th) is a big celebration complet with pentaque (a French version of bocce) and a crepe truck.
Caraluzzi’s Markets have been a part of the 068-area supermarket scene since 1949, when Anthony Caraluzzi Sr. opened the first store in Bethel. Since then, three more locations (Georgetown, Newtown, and Danbury) as well as five wine and spirit stores. Part of their continued success can be attributed to the fact that for the past 25-plus years, Caraluzzi’s has been family-owned and run. Currently, third-generation family members are heading up the operations.
At a time when value and prices are at the forefront of consumers’ minds, Caraluzzi’s motto “Top Quality Meets Low Prices” makes their markets a desirable place to shop.
The Prospector is a first-run movie theater with the mission of improving the quality of life for people with disabilities through meaningful employment. Approximately 75% of the workforce self-identify with a disability. Over the last 11 years, The Prospector has shown the world that people with disabilities are capable of in-demand job skills. Their employees or “Prospects,” sparkle, shine, and transform passions into professions while earning paychecks with competitive wages. Earlier this year, The Prospector opened a 5,000 square foot factory in Ridgefield, CT, where delicious gourmet popcorn is made and shipped across the country to consumers, retailers, and grocers. “The Prospector continues to be a beacon of hope for what’s possible when employers tap into sparkle and match it with a meaningful job that adds value to both the business and the employee,” says founder Valerie Jensen. Tickets and showtimes are available at prospectorthater.org. Sparkle on!.
While our name may say Ross Artisanal Bakery & Café, most know it simply as Ross Bread—a place where everyone is truly welcome. Their goal has always been to create a space where people feel genuinely appreciated, never just accommodated. They take pride in the details: exceptional quality, warm hospitality, and a strong sense of community. Everything they offer is made fresh, from scratch, with their team baking and cooking seven days a week. At the heart of it all is the team—their passion and care make it possible for us to open our doors each day with purpose.
As local guest Andrew Burrows shared, “Ross was the first place that made it feel less like a town and more like home… great food, an amazing staff and a true sense of community.” Andrew added, “My 11-year-old put it best… to me, Ross is ‘the 7th wonder of the world.’”
The entire team at Ross is incredibly grateful to be part of the Ridgefield community.
At Posa Ristorante, we take our time to source the best ingredients so we can craft outstanding and authentic Italian Cuisine; that means right down to the tomatoes in our sauce and the oil in our pans.
Our chefs come in at 7AM to turn hand-ground flour and farm fresh eggs into the pasta and pizza you’ll eat tonight. Whether you’re here to spend hours in our dining room, enjoy our full menu at our pizza bar, or just stopping by for drinks and charcuterie on our outdoor patio – Eat Well, and Live Long: time is on your side.
Enjoy a nice wine with solid and authentic Neapolitan dishes in a relaxed ambiance right here in Ridgefield Posa Ristorante & Vineria, with an enchanting decor in the heart of Ridgefield, offers a menu rooted in the traditional cuisine of Positano; the careful presentation of every dish will make your enogastronomic experience unforgettable.
Books on the Common is now celebrating its 42nd year in business – a long time for any business in a small town, but a very long time for an independent bookstore. The 1990’s brought competition from the chain “superstores” like Barnes & Noble and Borders, followed by the onslaught from Amazon, aiming to be the “everything store” with discounts and their view of books as “units” to move on their online platform to lure in customers. But books are different than most consumer goods. Thousands of books are published every month. “To cope with this torrent, we curate our inventory to conform to our physical display limitations and to the general interests of our community,” says owner Ellen Burns. “We are also able to provide personal recommendations, not generated by an algorithm, but rather by us – we know and understand our many loyal customers and their interests.”
The entire staff at Books on the Common is grateful for the ongoing support of our community.
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This Mother’s Day, celebrate the importance of ME TIME, because self-care is not a luxury, it is essential. Why not make her day truly special and enjoy it together?
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Ridgefield’s Hoodoo Brown BBQ has been firing up the barbecue since 2015. Named for the leader of the Dodge City Gang, who epitomized life in the Wild West, Hoodoo Brown’s spirit is celebrated across the restaurant’s delicious menu. Owners Cody Sperry and Chris Saxton refer to their food as “outlaw” barbecue because the flavors come from a wide variety of regions. Hoodoo Brown BBQ, which has been featured on CT Public Television’s Restaurant Road Trip as well as in Food & Wine Magazine, has a consistently loyal local fan base, including Cassandra Weaver, who says, “If you haven’t tried the BBQ Nachos, you are seriously missing out. The meat is perfectly smoky, and the toppings are piled high. It’s the ultimate shareable!” •
