By James Lomuscio
Stori Tallman, manager of Spotted Horse Tavern—a year-old this month—on Westport’s Church Lane, says this is the first time her establishment is taking part in Restaurant Week sponsored by the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce, and in less than two days, she is already seen an increase in customers.
“A lot of people have been calling to participate,” Tallman said about the event that began Sunday and runs through Saturday, offering discounted gourmet lunches and dinners at more than 20 restaurants around town. (Participating restaurants [PDF].)
“They come to participate, they get to know us, and they will come back,” she added. “That’s what we’re hoping for.”
Beyond the added business through $15 three-course lunches and $30 dinners, Tallman noted the event “benefits the town,” the bin placed near the entry being a reminder.
In it, patrons are asked to donate canned foods for the town’s food pantry run by Homes with Hope. Jeff Wieser, Homes with Hope’s president and CEO, stressed food donations are sorely needed.
“It was really nice for the Chamber to tie Restaurant Week to the need that everybody has for food,” said Wieser.
“Last year was the first time they had a food drive in connection with restaurant week, and every bit of food counts. The demand is there. Over last year it’s probably up over 50 percent.”
Wieser said the previous year the food pantry gave out 2,000 filled grocery bags to needy residents, and this year he expects that number to hit 3,000.
“These are not homeless people, but people who are trying not to become homeless,” he added.
Ergo the bins at the participating restaurants this week, a Chamber of Commerce effort to web the public good and the bottom line by allowing restaurants to shine via discounts designed to attract new customers.
Though not required to eat royally at prices ranging from $10 to $15 for lunch or $20 to $30 for dinner, Wieser stressed donations are in demand as about 75 residents each week line up for food.
Jeff Evans, manager at the Blue Lemon in Sconset Square, described Restaurant Week as a goodwill gesture that proved a boon to business last year, and this year, too.
“Already in the past two days we had an increase in customers who had not experienced the culinary excellence the Blue Lemon offers,” Evans said.
“The nice thing is that it allows people form the Town of Westport and even neighboring towns to experience the establishment we have here, and to give the people a deal, a really good bargain price.”
The three-course lunches ($15) and dinners ($30) offer appetizers that include the like of roasted beet salad, homemade soups, pulled chicken rissotto and red snapper entres and desserts that include “mouthwatering carnelized banana topped wiho our homemade vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce,” said Evans.
At Tavern on Main, bartender Taso Manalis touted $30 dinners featuring pan-seared Mediterranean sea bass, “and homemade, wild mushroom raviolis with white truffle oil and new York steak with Merlot wine sauce.” Appetizers include crab cakes, fillet mignon empnadas, deep fried tortillas with cheese, plus soups and salads.
“This is our second year, and it’s worked out well for us,” he said, adding that the $15 lunches feature a “Cabin Burger,” and fish of the day.
And for desserts, carrot and molten chocolate lava cakes, to name a few.
“It’s a great deal,” he said.
New this year is the fact that the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Patron Reward Program” to entice customers to dine more frequently during this week.
With a minimum of three punches on the card, participants can be entered in a raffle to win gift certificates to favorite restaurants, according to the Chamber’s website. Punch cards are available at the Westport Public Library, Westport National Bank on Post Road East and Citibank on Post Road West.
For further information and for a list with phone number of establishments taking part in Restaurant week, visit www.westportchamber.com.
