New Business In Oyster Bay Honors Owner's Late Father's Rich Legacy

OYSTER BAY, NY — Eddie's Bistro and Bar opened its doors on South Street in Oyster Bay in honor of co-owners Elizabeth and Michelle Reilly's late father and husband, respectively.

The daughter-mother duo said they knew what the name of the restaurant would be from the beginning: Eddie's.

Elizabeth said after her father's death, the restaurant, "is the greatest honor I can do for him."

And, to add to the most heartfelt of tributes, the restaurant's logo, 'Eddie's,' is in his handwriting, she said.

"I knew that signature like the back of my hand," she said.

Elizabeth's late father was born and raised in Scotland, and moved to London when he was 22 years old, meeting Elizabeth's mother, Michelle, there. She said his goal was to come to the U.S., and he did. He still has family in the UK, so Elizabeth and Michelle wanted to honor him in more ways than one.

"There are pieces of my father and Scotland inside the restaurant," Elizabeth said. "Pieces of him everywhere, from the maps, books, and bar tile color. Everything has meaning back to him and Scotland."

Elizabeth said her father was well-known in Oyster Bay and left his mark and a deep and enduring legacy.

"He was a huge soccer fan," she said. "He was a soccer coach, and everyone knew him. It's really nice to see people come in here and say they knew my father and that he's a great guy, coached their kids. Sometimes I don't even know the people who tell me this."

It's a family restaurant, with her brother as a bartender and her sister handling the advertising and marketing.

Elizabeth worked in the hospitality industry for years in Oyster Bay, and said she's always wanted to own a restaurant.

"It's not even like I'm going to work — I just love doing this and seeing customers happy," she said. "I started in hospitality when I was 16 years old, and I always had a passion for it."

She added: "I always wanted my first restaurant to be in Oyster Bay," she said. "It's a very tight-knit family community, so everyone knows everyone.

Elizabeth said that Eddie's Bistro and Bar serves elevated American cuisine.

"Our chef Girolamo Manischalchi is from Italy and runs the kitchen. His food is incredible, and every menu item is his own recipe," she said.

Eddie's officially opened on Sep. 19 and is open Wednesday through Sunday. More information can be found on their website.