Local couple opening restaurant in Collinsville
By John Fitts
Staff Writer
Chris and Christina Sayer, well known as the creative forces behind Brewery Legitimus in New Hartford, are opening a restaurant in Collinsville.
Dubbed The Lunette, the location is on the banks of the Farmington River at 41 Bridge St. in Collinsville and will feature a menu with a European flair, an approachable but refined atmosphere, and seating for 48 inside and up to 60 to 80 on the deck.
In fact, the location along the Farmington River largely inspired the venture and the couple is leasing the space, which was most recently the location of Seed 41 restaurant. The couple plans to open this fall.
“It’s a beautiful location,” Christina Sayer said. “Collinsville is a beautiful town. It’s quirky; it’s fun. It has amazing events and there’s really no restaurant that capitalizes on the river and when we saw the space come up and we sat outside – you kind of feel like you’re so near to the wildlife and that serene, picturesque view of the river. We thought ‘this is a perfect location for a nice bar and restaurant.’”
Chris Sayer added that Collinsville has so much to offer with the Farmington River Trail, and places by the river to sit down and reflect. The restaurant will only add to that atmosphere, he added. “There’s really not a place where we can sit and dine and enjoy the scenery of the river. There are very few places on the Farmington River that have potential and with the deck here we thought that was a fantastic opportunity.”
Even the name was inspired by the view.
"As we were building out the restaurant we would often break to sit on the deck overlooking that beautiful view of the Farmington River," Christina Sayer said. "We brought a few pairs of binoculars over and thought it would be fun to offer guests an opportunity to borrow a pair to use. Lunette in French translates to 'little moons' or spectacles, which reminded us of the binoculars and ultimately that beautiful view."
The Sayers recently celebrated the 8th anniversary of Brewery Legitimus, which features beer production, a large, rustic “beer hall,” and a private event space that has become a popular spot for organizational meetings, non-profit fundraisers, baby and bridal showers, reunions and film festivals.
“We’ve always wanted to build community since we started Legitimus,” Chris Sayer said. “That’s always been a really important part. We’ve been successful doing that so we’re looking forward having that extend over to here. That is the commonality between the two places – is we desire to build community – and we have an 8-year track record doing that.”
In Collinsville, they are establishing a smaller, more intimate space with a menu inspired by their own travels and love of food. There will be a full bar and, of course, beer.
“We’ll have a good assortment of Legitimus beers. With that, we’ll also have some guest beers that we’ll bring in,” Chris Sayer said. “We wanted to share out culinary experiences and travels with people and things that we’ve liked as we’ve explored. So, it won’t be strictly Legitimus, but obviously we like the beers that we make, and we love how they pair with food. There will be a good amount of incorporation of beer into the menu and always pairings, but we’ll also be doing wine, cocktails, cider etc. – a full bar."
The Sayers are also excited to have a venture in Canton, where they’ve lived for 16 years and are raising three kids. The Legitimus name, of course, draws inspiration from The Collins Co., the historic factory in the Village, and now they will be even more a part of that community. They said they had not envisioned a restaurant when they opened the brewery.
“The location came up and we’re so in love with the location,” Christina said.
The two, however, have worked hard to ensure that the eatery offers something different than others that exist in Collinsville, such as Lisa’s Crown and Hammer, LaSalle Market & Deli and Grindstone Tavern. Many of those locations have strongly supported their brewery.
“The diversity of eateries is really what draws people in,” Chris Sayer said. “We wanted the restaurant to look different than what Collinsville has right now as part of that diversity.”
The couple said they also have great relationships with other area businesses, such as Collinsville Canoe & Kayak. While they are disappointed their opening won’t be in time for the Halloween Parade, they are really looking forward to being open during future large Collinsville events.
The two have been working hard to get the restaurant open and while restaurants formerly operated from the space, the two have taken on important upgrades, particularly with a new hood and related kitchen infrastructure. The old hood was designed for a bakery that once operated from the location and was a limiting factor for restaurants, Chris Sayer said.
They have hired an experienced chef as well as other staff. For job opportunities, visit
Exact hours at The Lunette are to be determined but the locale will likely start with dinner hours Tuesday through Sunday, with lunch added Friday through Sunday. A brunch is also planned for Sunday.
For updates search and follow The Lunette on Facebook and Instagram. We also hope to add to this story as an opening date is announced, interior pictures become available, and a full menu is released.
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