our story

Chez Vous Bistro is the creation of Executive Chef-Owner Erik James Erlichson. Our location is an elegant pre-war stone building at 188 Bedford Street, the corner of Spring Street. It’s a contemporary French Bistro with a bar, two dining rooms, and offers outdoor seating (from late spring to early fall). Its Mediterranean colors and hand-painted wooden tables create an inviting, casual atmosphere, in which you immediately feel welcome.

‘Chez Vous’  means: at your place — your home, your house — and our goal is to be your home away from home.

Chef Erik brings over 40 years of hospitality experience, having worked in New York City, Paris, Sydney and across Fairfield County, Connecticut. He grew up in New York City, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the first generation of a French family to be born and raised in America. His mother migrated from Cannes and his father from Paris, both completing high school at Le Lycée Français de New York.

When Erik started elementary school, his paternal grandfather Pepe Jerry was chef at The Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, and his great uncle Tonton Armand was a captain at Mama Leone’s for over thirty years.

Family friends George and Olga Wertz ran a neighborhood French Bistro named Chez Olga, and this quickly became Erik’s second home. He loved to help them out in the restaurant, and learned a great deal of Classical French Cuisine with Chef George; pastry and table service with Madame Olga.

After ten years of New York City kitchens, Erik moved to Paris for two years, working for Joe Allen in the neighborhood of Les Halles.

Upon his return to New York, he worked at La Taupiaire for Chef-Owner Joel Benjamin and Executive Chef George, formerly of Le Cygne. He then moved to Fairfield County, working in such notable establishments as Sole e Luna, Café Morelli, La Colline Verte, Bistro Bonne Nuit, Saint Tropez, Chez Jean-Pierre, Acqua and Versailles; The last restaurant he ran in New York City was La Colombe d’Or, the first Provençal restaurant in New York City.

This project was made possible with the help and support of landlord/developers Mario  and Greg Lodato, longstanding pillars of the downtown Stamford Community.

We at  Chez Vous  welcome you and wish to make your experience here one to remember. we look forward to hosting you again.

—Chef-Propriétaire Erik James Erlichson