Their official Grand Opening will come on May 1 with a brand new full menu to match.
The local community and golf enthusiasts at Greenwich’s Griffith E. Harris Golf Course, popularly known as “The Griff,” are welcoming a new culinary endeavor with the opening of “The Clubhouse at the Griff.” This new restaurant venture is spearheaded by Dave Corbo and John Bosco, co-owners of the well-regarded Corbo’s Delis in Stamford and Greenwich.
The change comes after the previous operators decided not to renew their contract at the end of 2023, opening the door for Corbo and Bosco to bring their expertise to the golf course. The new restaurant quietly commenced operations in mid-April with a limited menu and is set to expand its offerings to include breakfast, lunch, and dinner starting May 1.
In a recent interview with the Greenwich Sentinel, John Bosco shared his connection and enthusiasm for the new project. “When we learned that it was up for bid, we definitely were interested, being local guys and frequenting The Griff for the past 30 years of our lives. David, even longer,” Bosco explained, “because his grandfather worked up there when he was a kid so he had been up there since he was probably about five or six years old. He grew up there.”
The Town of Greenwich’s decision to award the restaurant license to Corbo and Bosco was influenced by their strong community ties and proven track record in the local food industry. “We picked Corbo’s because they have a great relationship with people in Greenwich,” First Selectman Fred Camillo told the Sentinel. “We wanted to choose someone that would be successful and also offer the best chance and a smooth transition,” he explained. “We’re excited that this is a local company with a long history in town. Corbo’s is very popular, and they’re a known entity. They have brand equity and that’s not something you can really measure.”
In addition to the CLUBHOUSE AT THE GRIFF, there are two Corbo’s Delis, Corbo’s Southside Deli in Stamford and Corbo’s on West Putnam Avenue in Greenwich.
Corbo’s Southside Deli in Stamford was featured on Guy Fieri’s “Sandwich-Fest” episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” recently. Jonathan Corbo, Dave’s brother, is one of the co-owners of Grigg Street Pizza on Greenwich Avenue, which was also on “Triple D” last year.
The transition comes at a time when The Griff is seeing a robust use of its facilities. The golf course, which hosts between 35,000 and 40,000 rounds annually, now anticipates an increase in patron visits, not only from golfers but also from those attracted by the new dining option.
Bosco elaborated on their plans for the space during his discussion with the Sentinel. “This was the perfect opportunity and we’re excited to do it. We’re excited to have a space, to have a venue for our events,” Bosco explained. He also highlighted their readiness to serve the community, “It’s for the people. It’s, more than anything, for locals who like to go up there and play a round of golf, and then want to have something good to eat and have a drink with friends. And then, hopefully even when the golf season’s over, we want to make it a little destination place where you can come have a party and come have dinner.”
In addition to serving golfers, the restaurant aims to become a hub for community gatherings. Indeeed, Bosco’s vision for the restaurant’s future sounds like a community-oriented space where it can be more than just a restaurant.
The Clubhouse at the Griff is gearing up for a Kentucky Derby themed party to mark its official full-scale in time for the first day of May, complete with a pig roast and other festivities, as Bosco noted.
As the restaurant sets its sights on becoming a central part of the local social scene, it promises to offer a blend of casual dining and special event space.
