By Dave Matlow
A new Asian cafe, yet to be named, will open in Westport’s Bridge Square in a few months, according to well known restaurateurs Bill Taibe and Massimo Tullio, principals of Westport’s LeFarm and The Whelk.
Bill Taibe (l) and Massimo Tullio, principals of Westport’s LeFarm and The Whelk, outside of the location of their new Asian eatery in Bridge Square. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Taibe said the new eatery in the former location of Asian 88 Bistro, which closed last summer after a year in the old Peter’s Bridge Market space, will be among the first Izakaya-type restaurants in the area.
An Izakaya restaurant is a type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. “It’s going to be the least authentic Japanese restaurant around,” Taibe said. “I’m serious—not a teriyaki place.”
Taibe, who opened The Whelk in nearby Saugatuck Center in January 2012 and LeFarm in Colonial Green in October 2009, said he just returned from a 12-day trip to Japan during which he researched the latest nuances in the Izakaya tradition.
“We will maintain the respect and our appreciation for Japanese culture and cuisine, but it will be Americanized,” he said.
Tullio, who has a small interest in Norwalk’s Fat Cat Pie Company but no current involvement, added, “In addition to serving traditional sake, we will introduce wines, mainly German and Austrian, that complement this type of Japanese cuisine.”
Taibe said the new restaurant will be comfortable and communal. “We will create that atmosphere,” he said. “The food is the easy part.”
He added, “iI’s going to be different a year from now. It will evolve as Whelk did—our customers like to be part of it and see it evolve.”
