Restaurant guide

Loyal 850 followers - we need your help! Please google Baja Cocina in Rigdefield, CT or go to www.BajaCocinaCT.com to help us get found on Google. AND you'll get the first look at our menus on the website.

Baja Cocina is now on Instagram. Show Larry your support and follow on Instagram to get the latest updates about Baja Cocina's opening.

Brussels give you muscles 💪 Though, maybe not deep fried with truffle parm cream. But hey, it’s the thought that counts. #brusselsprouts #brusselsmuscles #eatyourveggies #brusselsproutsdonttotallysuck #foodporn #foodphotography

6 more weeks of 🍕#punxsutawneyphil #whenwillwinterend #donttrustgroundhogs #dontdriveangry #groundhogday

It’s officially February. Jeremy our pizza guru wanted to be the first to spread some ❤️ #pizzalove #heart❤️ #foodporn #spreadlove #valentinesday #buyhallmarkstock

My mother said I’m a “glass is half empty” type of guy. I told her that’s because I get to order another beer 🍻 sooner. #beer #craftbeer #beerstagram #motherknowsbest #mommyandme #beerporn #ctbeer #springiscoming #ridgefieldct #mommyissues

Embrace Carbs...#carbs #spaghetti #foodporn #eatyourfeelings #foodie #ctblogger #ctbites #yummy #delicious

Shout out to TownVibe/Ridgefield Magazine Readers Choice Awards for rating us “Best Pizza” in town. 🙏🏻Come try this Sriracha Thai Chicken Pie w/ Cilantro Yogurt this weekend! #townvibereaderschoice #ridgefieldmagazine #ridgefieldct #specials #pizza #thaipizza #foodporn #ctbites #yummy

When you can’t decide which pizza to order. #family #familydinner #dinner #eatlocal #ridgefieldct #sharingiscaring #pizza #pizzatime #pizzas

School Snow Day really means S’mores Pizza Cheat Day. #nothistforkids #smores #smores #noschool #snowday #ctbites #ridgefieldct #nomoreresolutions #foodporn #food #foodphotography #pizza

S'Mores Pie!!! Twins experience our delicious dessert pie for the first time. Too cute!

We will be closed Sunday and Monday for Labor Day! Have a great weekend everyone! :)

We will be closed Sunday 8/13- Wednesday 8/16 for a mini summer vacation. See you all on Thursday! :D

Attention tennis fans! We have a very special guest coming to 850 this Friday 5-8pm. Local author Judy Aydelott from Katonah NY, is coming to talk about her new book Sports of a Lifetime. This is a great opportunity to meet an amazing author while enjoying your favorite pizza and a beverage.

Music lineup for July *8pm-10pm* 7/6 Thursday- Bobby 7/7 Friday- The Bellas 7/8 Saturday- Off the Hook 7/13 Thursday- Chip and Vince 7/14 Friday- Al Rivoli 7/15 Saturday- James Zap 7/20 Thursday- Cal Kehoe 7/21 Friday- Off the Hook 7/22 Saturday- Hat City 7/27 Thursday- Blue Yodels 7/28 Friday- Chip and Vince 7/29 Saturday- Don Lowe

Remember me... This is an excerpt from Memorial Day Remarks given by Rich Debany, Colonel, US Army today in Springfield, PA about a soldier who is like so many young men and women who have given their lives to defend our country. 850 takes pause and gratefully acknowledges these soldiers' service and sacrifice. Mike was born October 13, 1980 to Nancy and Jim Smith. He grew up near the corner of Springfield and Norwinden, not even a third of a mile from here. Mike attended Scenic Hills Elementary and ET Richardson Middle School. In the springs, he played little league through the Springfield AA just like lots of kids today. When Mike was just 15, his mom passed away from cancer. Although a smart kid by all accounts, he eventually left Springfield High and he and Jim moved to Media. Mike worked odd jobs, he sang in a heavy-metal, punk, goth style rock band… I’m not sure if his dad or bother knew what to call the style. He liked skateboards and video games. His waist-long hair and lifestyle didn’t outwardly make him appear destined for the military service but destined he was. Mike’s inspiration to serve may have come from wanting to emulate the service of his dad, his uncles Ed and Danny, or that of his big brother Jim. Perhaps it was just a desire to live up to his potential, to be a part of something bigger than himself, or to serve his nation and help people around the world. Whatever it was, he eventually chose to serve in the Army. Mike worked hard to earn his GED and when he was just a few weeks over 22, he enlisted in the Army and became an infantry soldier. After basic and then infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Mike was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, or HHC, of the distinguished 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, the ‘First Rock’ at Camp Casey in South Korea. While in Korea, Mike, who came to be known as Smitty by those with whom he served, found his calling. The Army was a good fit for Mike and he was good soldier – popular with his friends and his leadership alike – a soldier who tried hard and who could be counted on to do his job. He was even selected to serve as his Battalion Command Sergeant Major’s driver – a job that required intelligence, diligence, dedication, and resourcefulness. Smitty took his responsibilities seriously. As the driver, one of his first duties was to keep the Sergeant Major’s vehicle and it's communication and other equipment in top condition. According to his friend and 1-503rd teammate, then Specialist Kurt Clardy, of Ancortes, Washington, Mike spent a tremendous amount of time in the motor pool making sure everything was just right. He would get so extraordinarily greasy working on the vehicle that his buddies sometimes, affectionately, referred to him as ‘Grimes’. Kurt said Smitty was full of pride and enjoyed doing what he did. During this period, Mike suggested to his family that he was planning to reenlist and, potentially, make the Army a career. In Korea, Mike met a beautiful young lady from Russia named Oxana. He fell in love and quickly married her just a month prior to the battalion’s deployment to Iraq. Then Army Specialist Patrick “Sean” Timmins of Columbiana, Alabama, considered Mike his best friend. Sean always called him ‘Mikey’. Ostensibly because the name Smitty was so common, too generic to use for his best friend, the real reason, of course, was because Mike absolutely hated being called Mikey. Teasing aside, he said Mike was “the greatest guy ever.” On being a soldier, Sean said his friend had an uncanny ability to achieve excellence but, because of the way he achieved it, he would sometimes be chewed-out before he was celebrated! In Aug 2004, Mike deployed with the 1-503rd, organized under the name “Task Force Rock,” to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Soon after its arrival, the battalion joined the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment under the 1st Marine Division in the city of Ramadi; 68 miles west of Baghdad. Task Force Rock had the mission to conduct offensive and stability and support operations to ultimately foster the creation and development of a representative local Iraqi government and effective Iraqi security forces. At the time, Ramadi was a city teething with insurgents and the Task Force Rock soldiers were targeted daily by deadly small arms fire, rocket propelled grenades, mortars, and improvised explosive devices. The city, at the time, was arguably the most dangerous in Iraq. Sean Timmins, who himself was later injured in Afghanistan on his fifth deployment, after 12 years of reflection and comparison to subsequent combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, characterized the situation in Ramadi at the time, simply as “the worst ever.” The intensity of his later deployments didn’t compare to what he experienced in 2004. Despite austere conditions, constant attacks from the enemy, daily casualties, and frequent combat losses in the battalion, according to Sean, Mike was very happy and proud to be a part of the First Rock. By all accounts, he was happy to be in Iraq with his friends. Sergeant First Class James Hunter of New Orleans, Louisiana, the Operations Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge and acting Operations Sergeant Major, said that Smitty was eager to go on missions. Eager to contribute as an infantryman. Always ready to volunteer despite the danger. [PAUSE] On January 11, Mike volunteered to drive a HMMWV on a Charlie Company tactical mission west of their base camp. On that mission, while in his vehicle, Specialist Michael Smith, 24, husband, son, brother, nephew, cousin, friend of many, and Springfield neighbor, was struck and killed by a rocket propelled grenade. While Mike may not have lived like a stereotypical hero, he certainly died as one. Because of him, the three other soldiers in the vehicle lived. From 365 East Springfield Road, to Media, to Fort Benning. Then to Camp Casey, to Fallujah then Ramadi, to, finally, Section 60, Arlington National Cemetery – Mike circumnavigated the world in his short life and made a difference to many along the way. I asked Sean Timmins a few days ago if there was anything he wanted me to pass along to Mike’s family. He simply said “I loved Mikey like a brother and I hate everyday he isn’t here.” He also went on to add that “he had the sorriest taste in music!” Speaking of Mike’s family, there are many here today: • His dad, Jim Smith who served in the Air Force from 1959 to1961 • His brother, Staff Sergeant Jim Warrington, PA Army National Guard retired • Mike’s uncles Gunnery Sergeant Danny Joy, USMC retired and Ed Joy who served in Vietnam • Ed’s wife Sharon. Unfortunately their daughter, Desiree and her husband, couldn’t be here today. • Ed and Sharon’s friend Trish Freil • Mike’s aunt Gerry Joy and her daughters Jamie and Colleen Grellis • Colleen’s husband Joe and their kids Abigale (10) and Benjamin (8) To all of you, we recognize the sacrifice you’ve made and we’re eternally grateful. To everyone here today, your presence is a tribute to all of our lost warriors and to their families. You clearly understand the solemnness of this day. But today we must also celebrate. Celebrate the lives of those we lost and celebrate the enduring American spirit that is willing to give all because we’re a beacon of hope to the world. I encourage you to quietly sit someday on the bench outside this building that rests under a beautiful dogwood tree dedicated in Mike’s memory. You’ll find it; the bench has his name on it. By the way, the flowers that some of Mike’s family is holding include a small branch from his tree. I ask that you quietly sit under Mike’s tree today or a different day and reflect upon every man and woman who risked all and who gave all for you and me. Think of Mike. Think of Mike’s 19 American and 25 Iraqi teammates from Task Force Rock who also perished at Ramadi. Think of the three members of his team who later took their own lives and recognize that, while the official number of injured was 137, there were many wounds that couldn’t be seen -- the emotional scars on survivors cut as deep as the graves of their brethren at Arlington. As you sit and think about all of those that gave so much, I imagine many of them would ask just one thing if they could: “remember me.”

Cal Kehoe is back this Saturday May 6th! Join us from 7-10pm for a great performance and delicious food!

Happy First Day of Spring🌸 come in and try our Shrimp, Pear, Apple and Walnut Salad now on special 🥗

S'Mores Pie!!! Twins experience our delicious dessert pie for the first time. Too cute!

Always look on the Sunny Side! One of our favorites, The Truffled Sunny Side, with bacon, shredded mozzarella, shaved black truffles, topped with two sunny side eggs! Thank you for the picture @brialf

We've started celebrating for St. Patty's day already. What a fun evening! Join us for more live music tonight.

Our beautiful patio is open. We will have live music on Thursdays and some Saturdays in the evenings. Join us!

Georgie Brennan on the patio tonight. Supporting the @Molly Ann Tango fund.

We hosted the Ridgefield Youth Lacrosse Fundraiser last night. So much FUN! Everyone had a great time while raising funds to support the League

Lee Jam & Fran! So much fun - great music. Keep watch for the next time they're here.