We decided to cover the first edition of Westport Restaurant Week, because of the quality and diversity of participating restaurants. In the 2009/10 edition of the Zagat Survey, Westport boasts sixteen restaurants that scored 20 out of 30 or higher for food, topping off with Da Pietro’s 26. These numbers are impressive for a town with roughly 26,500 residents.
As we cover this event, we will be laboring to bring both top-rated participating restaurants and some of the more unusual and entertaining eateries to readers’ attention. Because this is the first go-around, there is likely to be less uniformity than in other more settled Restaurant Weeks, like New Haven’s and Hartford’s. Few menus have been posted, and the rules seem looser. But because we have such familiarity with and faith in these restaurants, we didn’t hesitate to participate. Our approach to the restaurants? Surprise us!
The first restaurant we visited, Bombay Bar & Grill,
proved to be a most pleasant surprise for lunch. Due to Bombay’s proximity to a party store, it seemed almost as festive outside the restaurant
as it did inside.
We were taken by this colorful restaurant’s many fun design details, including these entry hangings,
these booths
in the bar area,
the wine wall,
these spice-filled wall decorations,
and most of all, this three-headed Ganesh statue.
You’ll find the same sense of order governing this chandelier,
this silverware and dishware display,
and these heated tureens full of good food.
Bombay even has a well-organized chat bar,
and of course we couldn’t resist trying the intriguing mélange of textures and tastes that make up this popular Indian street food.
Bombay was an enthusiastic Restaurant Week participant.
The Indian eatery decided to take an unusual—and inviting—approach to the event. For lunch, Bombay is offering its impressive buffet for the significantly reduced price of $8.95 per person, including a glass of wine or soda.
This special will be extended Monday through Friday for the entirety of March. For dinner, Bombay is offering a family dining deal, with two fixed-meal options for $15 per person (minimum four people). The first fixed-meal option included chicken tikka masala, lamb Malabar, spicy shrimp pappas, aloo gobi, basmati rice, naan bread, raita and the dessert of the day. The second fixed-meal option included saag paneer, bhindi masala, baigan bharta, langarwalli dal, basmati rice, naan bread, raita and the dessert of the day.
Our party took advantage of the many beverage options. We had bottles of Samuel Smith’s India Ale,
Kingfisher on tap,
and even mango lassis.
Not to mention cardamom tea that I never photographed.
Not surprisingly, our daughter, Tala, was the first to reach the buffet.
Let me guide readers through the various dishes. Here are dahi vadai,
vegetable fried rice,
avial,
saag paneer,
aloo gobi,
steamed mixed vegetables,
channa masala
and sambhar,
Here are assorted naan,
idli
and batura.
Here’s my daughter biting a tiny hole into her batura,
and here she is inflating it.
Continuing the tour (and I tried everything), there was a condiments station (plus salad and kheer),
basmati rice,
chicken and egg biriyani (I’ve no idea which came first),
shrimp Madras (one of my favorites),
chicken tikka masala,
lamb bhuna,
kalmi kabob and tandoori chicken.
We also tried a couple of items that weren’t offered in the buffet. One was a masala dosa,
,
one a spicy lamb phal,
and one quite possible the best goat dish I had ever tasted.
Finally, we had kheer for dessert
and gulab jamun.
The rice pudding was very creamy,
while these dough balls in syrup were as soft and light as any I ever encountered.
What makes Bombay such a great dining destination? In addition to its imaginative décor and its delicious and affordable food, I would have to cite its talented chefs
and friendly manager, Shaji.
Bombay is an ideal family destination,
as illustrated by this mother and child.
Despite an array of baby foods, this little one preferred to gnaw on a slice of naan,
proving that participating in Restaurant Week may win one loyal customers of any age! My own family and friends achieved contentment approaching nirvana at Bombay, while making plenty of work for the unfortunate dishwasher.
Bombay Bar & Grill, 616 Post Road East, Westport, 203-226-0211