Duchess Restaurant was founded in 1956 by brothers Harold and Jack Berkowitz in Milford, Connecticut. The chain now has 14 locations, all owned by Berkowitz and Lavin family members throughout southwestern Connecticut.
Duchess Restaurant offers a casual/fast food type of dining experience with typical American cuisine such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and French fries. Duchess differs from other types of fast food chains as they have produce delivered to each location daily. Food items are cooked fresh when ordered, nothing is pre-cooked and sitting under heat lamps. Chicken burgers and nuggets are hand cut from real chicken breasts, breaded and fried by hand.
The company offers a wide range of alternative food options, such as egg white only omelets, low-carb wraps, and salads.
Duchess Restaurant was founded in 1956 by brothers Harold and Jack Berkowitz in Milford, Connecticut. The chain now has 14 locations, all owned by Berkowitz and Lavin family members throughout southwestern Connecticut.
History
Duchess Restaurant offers a casual/fast food type of dining experience with typical American cuisine such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and French fries. Duchess differs from other types of fast food chains as they have produce delivered to each location daily. Food items are cooked fresh when ordered, nothing is pre-cooked and sitting under heat lamps. Chicken burgers and nuggets are hand cut from real chicken breasts, breaded and fried by hand.
The company offers a wide range of alternative food options, such as egg white only omelets, low-carb wraps, and salads.
I have used both the Ansonia and Shelton sites and have found them to be fine. One improvement is needed. When you order a chocolate milk shake it should contain enough chocolate to turn all the vanilla ice cream chocolate. A swirl of chocolate is not tasting chocolate. All you taste is vanilla. Please make this better. Thank you.
I have always enjoyed what I order at Duchess. I have had one bad experience in the last five years at the Ansonia restaurant. I also tend to go to the Shelton restaurant on Bridgeport Ave. when in that area. Each and every time I get one particular employee at the Shelton restaurant (who seems to have a speech impediment and possibly a hearing impediment as well), he interrupts me as I give my order, his speech is unclear, and he screws up the order each and every time. He is difficult to understand. Again today 8-4-21 at 2:30pm I made an order #394 which came to $39.12. Part of the order were two Turkey burgers. As I continued to give my request for 2 slices of Swiss cheese & 3 strips of bacon on the Turkey burgers he interrupted. When I also asked for two fried onion orders and a #1 BDG CHZ. I tried to tell him a long dog as well but I couldn’t get it said before being interrupted again. And yes… I yelled, “ Will you please let me give you my order!” Fine, I paid for what was ordered. I waited far more time than it usually takes to make such a Turkey burger (which is my usual order.) 4-5 vehicles received their orders and left before the burgers were ready. My order was brought by the same individual who took my order. When I got home I found both Turkey burgers to not include the extras I had ordered but had paid for…. Not the first time with this particular employee. I then called the restaurant & complained loudly. I was told by the female manager that the burgers would be made again and ready for me when I came to pick it up. It was another 15 minute ride back to pick up the fixed ordered and a 5 minute wait for the Turkey burgers she said would be waiting. As I entered the parking area I saw that particular server again standing in the driveway with a huge smile, laughing, and waving. I assume his shift was over or he was sent home, Perhaps he recognized my car either way it was insulting.
If I encounter that particular employee doing duty on drive up service again. I will have to enter the restaurant instead to place my order. He should NEVER be working drive up. He does not speak clearly, he doesn’t listen, he interrupts when people are trying to place the order, worst if all he screws up the order, and I believe that it was screwed up in partnership with the woman who was on the grill at the same time as retribution. Well, this message is my response. Let’s see how many others have had the same kind of experience with that man.
I’ve been eating grilled cheese on a soft roll since I was 4 years old I’m 46 now. Can somebody please teach all of your Chefs how to do so. I do not want a cheese sandwich that is then in whole slapped on the grill and burned black on both sides of the bread. Slap the cheese itself on the Grill. Once it brown and toasted on the bottom then put it in between a non cooked or toasted soft roll. That’s the flavor I want
So funny how Duchess can take our money however; cant seem to get a simple order correct. I WILL NOT be going back to a Duchess Restaurant EVER AGAIN! Recently had two terrible experiences with the Shelton Conn location and One recent experience with the Bridgeport Boston Ave location. Tried to find a way to reach out to the owners\Corporate office however; no REAL contact emails nor telephone numbers. Lol? Wow! How convenient. NEVER EVER AGAIN?
Just ordered Duchess through Grubhub I ordered two long dogs with relish, mustard, sauerkraut, and bacon bits with extra bacon, also fries and a Big D deluxe meal with Onion rings and a Peach flavored Sprite… the cheese burger was instructed to be cooked medium well … Grubhub delivered on time. when we opened our meals we found both dogs only had bacon with cheese ??? and the burger was completely raw … I called and the only thing they could do was remake our stuff but we would have to go and pick it up … we did … then they got the order wrong again there was only one dog so they put together another one and we decided to eat there… first dog was ok but cold like it wasn’t even put on the grill then when I opened the second dog it was wrong- no sauerkraut … again it was cold … this is just so f*(&(&ed up very disappointed !!!! the store was Wallingford Ct.
Just had our last experience at Duchess in Ansonia. Was scolded by an employee because we misunderstood her muttered directions and when we tried to explain our,confusion, we were scolded by the young lady at the window-we were told That’s not what I told you to do I never told you to do that. . I asked the supervisor for the server’s name and the young lady asked if we wanted know because “she is black.” Why was I accused of being racist? Color has nothing to do with rudeness. We made a simple mistake about not knowing where to,pull our car and I was accused of something horrible.
We wont be back. Our family won’t be back and its a shame, we liked the food but that crossed the line.
Hi Michael and Lou, this is Jill Haymes. I was referred to you by Julie Beitman. I am the Development Manager at March of Dimes in Fairfield & New Haven Counties. We are doing exciting things in these markets to help fight for the health of all moms and babies. We are currently supporting a Doula Program in Bridgeport (Bridgeport Prospers). I would love to get together to tell you about more of the exciting and critical work we are doing. Ultimately, we would love to partner with you and get a retail campaign going. Please feel free to reach out to me at 203-952-XXXX.
Thank you.
Best,
Jill
I went to the Duchess in Monroe, CT. I had an expired $15 Groupon that I had bought for $10. The Groupon websits says that most places will accept expired coupons at the coupon face value. The website also said that some places will onl;y accept expired coupons at the price paid for the coupon. The Monroe Duchess has a different policy. They won’t do anything with expired coupons. They will lose a lot more of my business then the value of the expired Groupon.
The former owner Shaw Lavin would of accepted the coupon but Maybe Lou Berkowitz can help you out his The owner
I bought a sandwich tuna fish there was a hair wrong bread and no onion and asked if I really have to pay for it the
Spanish mgr on duty said wheres receipt and wheres sandwich
My husband is sick and asked for sand which took one bite and threw it away I never get my receipt. I said I’d look it up on my chase account and there’s no internet service for bank. He asked me 9 times for a receipt and I don’t have it. I said to his are you asked me too many times, then he asked me again and I told him are you retarted
He said he cant get into office. He pulled my patience and I started to yell I don’t have a receipt. He would not wait on me because of this and now I cant bring home a sandwich to my husband. I have never been treated this way. I even offered to pay for sandwich thanks sharon Villafuerte 845519XXXX sdasila240@ gmail.com norwalk ct.
Milford , Ct.
Old gate lane.
This particular location has a very biased customer service…..I work in customer and have been for 20 plus years.
Went in today at ordered a sreak and cheese wrap, small curly fries. Cashier was a young lady with no customer service . I felt like i was wrong for wanting duchess. I will not be returning and I will make sure everyone knows of the poor customer service at this location ….Milford Ct.
Order time i came in was 12:18 p.m….
This wasn’t line that when the owners nephew Paul Puglia ran that location shame on them!!!
Boston ave in Bridgeport Ct. Rude rude rude they woke up with a bad attitude check workers check the store
I’m admazed at the complaints it’s not the quality of food but preparation of it & poor customer service… Back in the day Duchess was a strong friendly company that catered to all of it’s customers thus isn’t acceptable behavior mgnt needs to take a hard look at customer complaints and rectify them!!!
I have stopped today 10/4 at the Orange location in Ct, for a sandwich ! Was 11:30am.
I’m sorry to say that the place is lacking cleanliness, behind the counter , coffee station, and in the dining room.
Behind the counter as much at was visible floor dirty, bad bird black from filth, equipments just dirty.
Coffee station had small fruit flys and was coffee spells and just fool of opened sugar.
Dining room carpet sticky char cushion stained and dirty , char legs black from dirth that has not been cleaned for sometime ………
Needless to say that I picked up the sandwich, I have not had the coffee , and I have discarded the sandwich because I was Uncomfortable consuminget .
My order # 407
I will not visit this establishment again .
Hello I visited your restaurant in ct on Harriet st and main ave…. and explained to management his name is Jose that, I am tax exempt had my credentials in hand…. ive been there before and had no problems But this guy tells me he don’t no how to do this and he would not do anything for me I ordered for for family and could not buy because he was not nice about it help me please !!!
Can you please send me information or point me in the right direction of Duchess franchise possibilities.
Thank you
I grew up in Norwalk. Love your food forever. My friends sister was dying and wanted a burger from Duchess. Your manager helped him pack it so it would stay fresh for the journey and did so much more . I applaud him and your great work ethic!!!! Compassion is so underrated!!!! Give this guy the credit he deserves!!!!!