Capturing the Beauty and Flavor of RSVP in West Cornwall
RSVP is a French restaurant in Litchfield County that offers a unique experience for those visiting the area. It’s both peaceful and beautiful, and you’ll inevitably encounter friendly locals who are more than happy to have a conversation or snap a picture of you and your dinner crew.
Scenic Photography Near the Housatonic River
Before dinner, you should arrive early. Take a walk through the covered bridge. We arrived roughly an hour before dinnertime with the intention of walking around West Cornwall’s quaint center and to shoot some photos by the river and under the covered bridge. Google Maps wasn’t wrong and there we were in the middle of a handful of shops, the flowing sounds and sights of the Housatonic River, and a covered bridge.
The RSVP Dining Experience
RSVP is operated by Chef Guy Birster and co-owner Charles Cilona, who live in West Cornwall, just yards from their restaurant. The intimate 20-seat restaurant is a two-man operation. Guy handles the cuisine; Charles greets and serves the guests. The meal consists of five mystery courses plus dessert.
The first order of business for this relaxed three hour meal is to use the corkscrew to pop your bottle of wine open. It’s around that time when you’ll meet Guy Birster, RSVP’s chef and co-owner. Not long after, Cilona—who’s also the waiter and the busboy—begins bringing out locally baked bread, followed by the first course, an amuse-bouche.
Planning Your Visit
Apparently the way to go about booking a table is to do it the old fashioned way. Pick up the phone. Call. According to what we had gathered from the smidge of what’s online about RSVP, you have to hope you can even get a reservation should you need one on a specific day. They’re only open Friday through Sunday with one dinner seating per evening. Cilona will tell you that you should be prompt, because dinner starts at 5 p.m.
Key Details for Guests
| Operating Days | Friday through Sunday |
| Seating | One seating at 5:00 PM |
| Price | $140 per person (includes tax and gratuity) |
| Payment | Cash or check only |
| Capacity | 20 seats |
| Policy | BYOB |
In addition, there are a number of outstanding places to eat and drink in the surrounding area, including neighboring towns such as Kent, Salisbury, Falls Village, Goshen, and Warren.