Not being a Westport resident, I was unaware of the existence of the little neighborhood at the Canal Street intersection where 323 Main, formerly Bogey’s Grille & Tap Room, is located.
323 Main (or just “323”) is not especially prepossessing, but you’d be making a mistake to judge this “book” by its “plain brown cover.” We spotted a few parking spaces behind the restaurant, more just across Canal Street.
Once inside, we found 323 Main plenty welcoming with this bartender (left) and owner Jay Stasko (right).
The large bar area
had some nice beers on tap
and beautiful butterfly jointing like this.
At the other end of the restaurant was a nice little sitting area
with interesting photos like this one of a church being moved
and the dining room.
Soon I and other menacing members of the food press had taken up their positions at two tables.
The first wine
and three nice rounds of hors d’oeuvre began to lighten these dangerous individuals’ foul moods.
Soon all of these culinary sharks nosing around for blood in the water had been turned into friendly Flippers by this great tasting menu with lovely wine pairings.
What followed was an incredible parade of food courses and wines. A delicious New England clam chowder.
Spanish-themed grilled octopus with chorizo hash and olives.
A paradigm-changing salad of Thumbelina carrots, breakfast radish, beet, kumquat, avocado and ginger yogurt.
Hand-cut fresh tagliarini with guanciale, English peas, spring onion and Parmesan.
Salmon à la plancha in black truffle sauce with spring vegetable ragoût.
Magnificent dry-aged boneless New York strip,
broccolini with raisins and pine nuts
and duck fat potatoes.
Our desserts were just as extraordinary. With a nice Muscat,
we enjoyed bread pudding with berries and crème fraîche
as well as chocolate torte with butterscotch, sea salt and vanilla gelato.
We ended our incredible dining experience sipping coffee
and meeting genial owner Jay Faillace
and talented chef Chris Vacca.
323 Main Street, Westport, 203-222-0323, www.323westport.com