Maryellen Fillo 2016-11-21 15:02:42
NEW BAR, FRESH MENU AT LITCHFIELD’S STYLISH WEST STREET GRILL
When it comes to celebrity people-watching in Connecticut, there are few places better than the landmark West Street Grill on the Green in Litchfield.
Now, the streetside eatery known for its quintessential charm, continental menu and who’s who pedigree of A-list diners has made the experience even nicer thanks to a new bar area that provides a relaxed, up-close-and-personal view of the comings and goings inside and outside the restaurant. And who knows who might be perched on the stool next to yours!
“We thought it would be a more casual look and give our guests somewhere to sit that doesn’t feel so formal but still offers some casual elegance,” says co-owner James O’Shea, who, with partner Charlie Kafferman, has made it the place to dine whether you are a celebrity with a Litchfield County summer home, or someone looking for a destination dining spot during a backroads weekend drive.
O’Shea and Kafferman are fixtures at the front of the house, making sure guests are happy and well attended to during their visit. “And now we have this extra space, and booths, that is inviting, casual and can be seen if you take a sneak peek from the sidewalk,” says O’Shea.
Of course the new bar area meets the “high bar” (no pun intended) status that has consistently catapulted West Street Grill to the top of “best restaurant” lists. Fashioned of rich cherry wood by a master woodworker, the clubby yet bistro-like bar area includes a finely crafted back bar, comfortable bar stools and subtle floral arrangements and amenities that make it nearly impossible to resist a classic cocktail and some conversation before heading to the dining room.
“Actually we are getting a lot of people who would just like to eat at the bar,” says O’Shea, noting that the casual vibe mimics the al fresco dining area that West Street Grill established long before sidewalk dining became the rage.
Diners at West Street Grill usually have a story to tell about a celebrity they have seen there. Regulars include George Clooney, Mia Farrow, Philip Roth, Henry Kissinger, Richard Gere, Kevin Bacon and Daniel Day-Lewis.
“To us, they are just here to enjoy a good meal,” says O’Shea, “and other customers are usually very respectful.”
But there are more changes at this Litchfield dining landmark.
There’s a new chef, Carlos Perez, who was named executive chef earlier this year and is already making his mark, not just on the lunch and dinner menus, but on the dessert choices, as well.
Perez, who formerly worked for the Mill Restaurant Group, also owns La Palette Bakery in Watertown. Besides a flair for everything sweet, Perez has also introduced menu items that highlight molecular gastronomy, the popular food science that transforms the tastes and textures of food, such as tuna prosciutto with micro wasabi and grilled Allen Brothers ribeye with chipotle patatas bravas and rum gastrique. Bar items include vegan dumplings, bistro sliders, burrata (Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream) salad and ahi tuna flatbread.
And if that isn’t enough change, there’s more. Its private dining “Monkey Club” room, named after the tasteful but oh-sowhimsical Susan Waken wall murals there, is now open to diners.
“It’s become one of the most popular rooms for dining,” says Kafferman, noting that the restaurant still books private parties in the backroom space that boasts a French feel and a cozy intimacy.
“I think, even with our changes, we still have such an appeal,” says O’Shea, admitting that, as a small business owner, it is imperative that towns and the state provide whatever help they can so small businesses can prosper. “We just want to have a place that has appeal and is inviting and is a place people can come and sit and enjoy. I think we do that.”
West Street Grill
43 West St., Litchfield 860-567-3885, weststreetgrill.com
Hours: Mon. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., closed Tue., Wed. & Thu. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m., Fri. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 10 p.m., Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 10 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Price range: Lunch starters $9-$15, lunch entrées $17-$23, dinner starters $10-$17, dinner entrées $24-$45
Handicapped accessible
Published by New Haven Register formerly 21st Century Media Newspapers . View All Articles.
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