323

I was here for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day. It was pretty crowded, and so there was some delay in getting our drinks at the bar, but we were soon quickly seated in the dining area and then promptly attended to by waitstaff. The live jazz was great — not too loud, consisting of sax, (soft) drums, piano and upright bass.
This section of the review will focus on my dinner: I ordered the fish and chips, which were pretty spectacular. The fish filets were piping hot throughout, with crunchy and tasty breading on the outside, while moist and tender on the inside. Three sizable filets dominated the plate. The fries were excellent, but I should point out that they were shoestring-​style (there may be some fish & chips aficionados out there who prefer «steak fries» to the shoestring style as part of their f&c experience). The tartar sauce was among the best I have ever had — it possessed a spice in it which my palate was not able to identify, but it was not a hot spice (rather, it accentuated the typical tartar sauce flavor quite well).
Overall, a good dining experience. I only have a few minor complaints: 1) the 323 website seemed to tout the St. Patricks Day-​style food and beer «specials» — but they weren’t on the menu, and neither our server nor bartender mentioned any specials to us. The site also referenced special St. Pat’s Day music as well, but as noted above, the music, while good, was strictly jazz (but we may have missed the Irish music, as we arrived there a little after 9 pm); 2) I did not see the falafel wrap on the menu. I had this dish previously at 323 (sometime in 2014). It was excellent, and I am not sure why they dropped it from their repertoire.
Note: My rating is actually an A-​, or 4.5 stars; but my cursor was not able to select that in the star rating above.

SLOW service, so so food
Cheeseburger was not particularly flavorful and undercooked. Chicken parm was good
Service was brutally slow. Had to hunt server down a few times.
Better options in town.

Came out here for a Meetup event. They had 1 bartender for the entire place!!! It was horrible trying to get drinks. And the DJ sucked. Very disappointing not to mention the $ 5 cover charge. Didn’t eat so this is solely based on service. Though the prices were good for the drinks we got.

Good food, friendly service. The weekly Thursday night jazz is terrific, starts early enough that you can enjoy the music and not be exhausted the next morning.

Have been to 323 a half dozen times for «happy hour». The bar room is spacious, very attractive, and typically not too noisy… so you can easily hear one another. I found the wait staff to be very attentive, as well as extremely pleasant. The wines on «special» have been really nice and the «happy hour» selection of nibbles tasty. We ordered a couple of personal pizzas one night and they were well done with a slightly crispy crust and good flavor. Have not been to a «real» dinner, but the perfect place to meet friends after work, enjoy a cocktail and some tasty apps.

Went here to hear a little jazz and was astounded by how fantastic this place was. Divided into two sections the dining room and bar we were greeted warmly by our waiter. Of course what’s a little jazz without cocktails and I asked our waiter, Jeff (I believe), how he felt about «The Last Rasp» (Stoli Raspberry, Triple Sec, Strawberry and Basil) and he was honest that he’d never tried it. He did recommend a couple of their other cocktails that he had tried but I went with my gut and ordered «The Last Rasp» and I was instantly in love. It was the perfect combination of sweet and boozy and I couldn’t get enough. In fact I had two ;) My boyfriend ordered the «Black and Blue Mojito» which was white rum, fresh mint, lime and blueberries and blackberries. A little too tart for my taste but to each his own!
The menu, while not overly extensive did have some delicious looking options. For appetizers we ordered the tempura cauliflower and tuna tartare (see a theme here with the tuna tartare??) I ordered the steak frites medium and OH MY GOODNESS. Let me tell you something rarely does a steak out get to be called perfect, this readers was amazing. Perfectly seasoned, cooked to the exact right temperature and the au jus. I’m sitting here drooling thinking about it. I could’ve dunked the frites in it all day long. Boyfriend was equally impressed and finished off ¼ of my steak while «just having a taste». Alls well that ends well.
The staff was superb and very attentive. While we didn’t experience the bar atmosphere the mix of cool banquet seating and curved booths provided a great dining experience and fantastic setting to watch some jazz.
Head on down to 323 Main on Thursday nights for jazz. You’ll be glad you did!

My wife and I went to this place shortly after it opened and were disappointed, having been happy regulars at Bogey’s which used to occupy the spot. However, 323 has since re-​invented itself and corrected nearly everything that was wrong in the beginning, even though it’s still not the re-​incarnation of Bogey’s we had been hoping for.
Keep in mind that this place is essentially a bar with a restaurant attached and not the other way around. But it’s quite welcoming now with good food, very friendly service and an interesting ambience, kind of a combination of antique art-​deco and modern-​day sports bar. The menu is classy without being priced beyond its value the way it was in the beginning.
The address is very convenient for us, and my wife and I are regulars again. Everybody seems to have a good time here, and so do we now.

Dinner and an appetizer (fried calamari and penne primavera with shrimp) were excellent and fairly priced. The drinks, on the other hand were not. A stoli straight up was good and reasonable. The wine? Oh boy. $ 14 a glass for a decent Spanish Rioja? Come on. I understand that it’s «Westport.» Certainly not NYC. My other visits for cocktails only left me a little light in the wallet. I live very nearby but the expensive drinks are a deterrent

Love this resturant ! The staff was very attentive and welcoming and the food was not only delicious but prompt! I also love the vast selection of wine both white and red! The décor is very abstract and worth the look when you have a chance.

I’ll say that our server was awesome, really attentive, into beers, and friendly. The food however was awful. It was like what you might get served at an unpleasant relative’s and are forced to choke down to be polite. My mother and I shared the beef short rib, which was supposed to be served over polenta with spinach. What came out was bland, overly salted but lacking any other flavor rib, served over what I can only describe as salty oatmeal instead of polenta and kale instead of spinach. Our oysters were good, the only redeeming part of the meal. But at $ 2.75 each being market price, war would have been had if they weren’t. Beer was overpriced, although a good selection for a restaurant. When we complained about the meal they offered to comp dessert, and then added it to the check. Once our server left for the evening we waited an extremely long time for them to handle our bill and we had to ask. Will definitely not be eating there again. Left a pretty large tip because our original server deserved it. But the place itself is terrible. I hope he finds a new job.

This is truly the greatest neighborhood restaurant in Westport. There isn’t an item on the menu that isn’t good. Get the French cut chicken. Also great wines.

Went with one other person after a long day of work. Ended up being a nice relaxing choice.
Staff was super friendly and responsive. We had our meals within just a few minutes of ordering, and our extremely friendly waiter got our drinks immediately.
Atmosphere is nice and chill, but still trendy. Good place for a date night or to hang with friends for a cocktail. The only thing is that it can get a bit loud when they’re packed, which was when we were there. Although, we were in the lounge area and not in the dining room area. It may be quieter in the other room…
The food quality was wonderful as well. The mushroom pasta dish was sooooooooo good! Pasta quality made me wonder if they make their own.

I like this place. The décor is a bit modern for the area and totally unexpected if you’re judging from the exterior. The dining room is large and well-​spaced. Plenty of seating for intimate dinners or large celebrations.
The menu is diverse with a focus on American favorites. I recommend the following items:
Steak Frites — tender and juicy and paired with a side of your choosing.
Nachos — not and overwhelming amount, but the flavor makes up for it.
Orechette — shell pasta served with veggies and a protein of your choice.
Truffle fries — you can’t go wrong here.
Pricing seems fair, but I’m from North Jersey and I’m used to higher prices. In fact, if this restaurant were in North Jersey it would be a fairly good value.
Service was a little spotty. I had some wine questions and she had no clue. So I pulled out my wine app and was able to make a good decision. Wine service was just as bad. She did not allow me to taste the wine prior to pouring and she emptied the entire bottle into 4 glasses. To make matters worse, she did not measure correctly and had to pour wine from one glass into another. I felt bad, I’ve been there, but this is your job and you should know what to do, or at least ask.
I would’ve preferred that the wine be decanted and poured throughout the meal. It was a minor hiccup but a topic of discussion between my friends and I nonetheless.
I’ll be back…

I’ve been here several times, and the food and service is sort of all over the map. You’ll see this in the other reviews: some people had terrible service, some great. On two out of the three visits there was a waitstaff shortage (once resulting in errors in serving what was ordered, and the other time I wouldn’t have noticed had the server not pointed it out). On the other visit we were the only people eating food in the entire restaurant, and every meal arrived cold (?).
And yet… I really like the menu. I ordered the same thing all three times I’ve visited, and it was *really good* the last time. When they’re on, they’re on, but they’re also sometimes, randomly, disappointing.

Always sit in the bar area when we go. Huge TVs make it great for any big game.
We live right around the corner so it’s our go to place when we can’t think of anything else. Always have been pleased with the service.
Wish there were more vegetarian/​vegan friendly options on the menu.

This place is awesome, I’m here at least once a week for drinks. Let me start off with the excellent bar area. The smooth lighting and warm fireplace in the back create a great, relaxed ambiance. They have huge TVs for whatever sports are on that night. The bartenders and management are awesome. They are super personable and always making sure everyone is having a good time. The cocktails are delicious and they have a great selection of beers on tap. They even have 40’s (OE, Colt) for when me and the homies want to kick it old school.
On to the food, the shoestring fries are a go to snack if just there to enjoy drinks. There are other great bar food items like the fried calamari and chicken quesadillas. Some other dishes we got were the mussels, chicken satay, burger and french toast. The mussels were enormous and quite delicious. I swear they were on steroids (no pun intended). The chicken satay was really good as well and A+ for presentation. Served with skewers extending out on a ring of grilled pineapple with micro greens in the middle. It looked like a portal through a wormhole leading to a parallel universe. My friend got the burger and was very impressed. The frosted flake crusted brioche french toast with berry compote and vanilla ice cream was BOMB! Nice, crunchy crust and a perfect ending to a great meal.
Highly recommend this up and coming restaurant. Great for a relaxed night with good food and a couple drinks during the week or on the weekend. There was great music on the weekend too with a thriving late night crowd. I even saw one guy dancing on the bar with a mascot head on (crazy right?!) Rumors of an outdoor patio will be perfect for drinks in the summer breeze. Can’t wait!

I went here a few months ago and really wasn’t a fan… BUT I have gone back twice in the past week and I’m an official convert! The menu has vastly improved and offers diverse, creative choices, and range of prices to fit any appetite. Brussels sprouts, calamari, a Thai coconut rice entrée, cool salads and flatbreads, and a lobster roll give you an idea of the menu.
I had the filet mignon panini with truffle parmesan shoestring fries and my date had the burger with house-​made mozzarella and sweet potato fries. They were both on the daintier side (not nearly as decadent as say, Spotted Horse or Chelsea) but the flavor and quality of ingredients were all there. (I’ve definitely had better truffle fries at Bistro 7 though. Shoestring fries get cold too quickly and the truffle taste was barely evident.)
The drink prices have come down a bit but are still on the high side for the area. Great selection of craft beer on tap and bottled. Also, the bartenders and overall service were excellent! Quick, friendly, and every cocktail we ordered from the two female bartenders tasted on point.
I really like the bar area — lots of seats and three large tvs create a lively atmosphere. (Note: I haven’t sat in the dining room yet.) I definitely recommend trying them out.

Tonight I thought I’d try something different in the Westport foodie scene and a friend of mine who’s local to the area highly recommended 323 as a great new up-​and-​coming restaurant. Upon entering I was very pleased with the modern décor and cozy atmosphere.
After being seated I was delighted with the service throughout the night. Our waitress Natania was extremely polite and helpful, she answered our complicated questions about the menu and helped with recommendations.
I ended up ordering the Filet Mignon per Natania’s recommendation. It was PERFECT, the meat was of excellent quality and came cooked to perfection. The mashed potato’s with hint of black truffle were delicious as well.
For dessert we got the French Toast, and let me tell you this is not your traditional French Toast. IT IS TO DIE FOR. If you’re hesitant to come to 323, all I can say is at least come for the French Toast. You’ll find yourself finishing the plate and craving more.
All in all I loved this restaurant and had a great experience. The only thing I think they could improve is the layout inside, perhaps extend the bar so that it continues throughout all of the restaurant. The division between the bar area and the dining room is a little bit awkward.

After several visits to 323 Restaurant & Bar in Westport is a bar/​restaurant looking for an identity. It is unclear whether this is a bar with a dining room, or vice versa; whether the cuisine targets Italian, Seafood, Southern, or just great grilled meats. The interior was converted from a neighborhood bar, Bogies, and now includes a 66-​seat dining area to the right and a large U-​shaped bar and tables to the left. Both rooms are similar in size. The décor is eclectic-​rustic with wood beams intermingled with table clothes and art. On a recent Friday night visit there were limited guests (4 tables) and the vibe was dull but the service was excellent. Overall I enjoyed some of the dishes, a few of the components in the others required a little attention (some of these items have already been modified from when I originally sampled) and others were not at all to my liking.
The «New England Clam Chowder» on my initial visit was one of the best chowders I have tasted and it was a great start to the meal. The creamy bisque was rich in flavors from the fish stock and included an abundance of clams. On a subsequent visit the broth was overly pungent, the clams were very chewy and the potatoes were mushy, almost as if it simmered too long.
The «Grilled Octopus» with Chorizo hash and olive tapenade delivered some excellent flavors and textures. The octopus was braised and then finished on the grill. It was extremely tender and the olive tapenade was a good complement. The hash lacked the appropriate spiciness and would have benefited from more chorizo to add additional spice. The menu subsequently eliminated the hash. The «Salad of Thumbelina Carrots,» et. al. was a big hit. Included in the cacophony of colors were breakfast radishes, beets, kumquats and avocados. Each was sweet and incredibly delicious; I loved the textures and flavors of each of these vegetables. I was not as fond of the ginger yogurt that accompanied the salad and thought it did not complement, and almost fought with, the sweetness of the vegetables.
The grilled meat entrees were the highlight. The best overall dish was the 323 Burger. Eight ounces of short rib and brisket blend was served with pancetta, onion jam, American cheese, pickles and 323 sauce served on a Wave Hill brioche. Served with French fries or onion rings, the burger was perfectly prepared, delivered great flavor and the accompaniments were delicious. The hand-​cut onion rings were delicious but on my two visits the seasoning was uneven. The «Dry Aged Boneless NY Strip» was fantastic. It was served with broccolini with raisins, and pignoli duck fat potatoes. The steak, from Pat LaFrieda in NYC, was prepared perfectly and delivered great flavor and texture; this was one of the best steaks in the area. The potatoes were delicious; crisp on the exterior and creamy on the interior; I was not fond of the broccolini and raisin accompaniment which was undercooked. The «Salmon a la Plancha» with spring vegetable ragout, julienned pear and a black truffle sauce was flavorful. A simple salmon filet sat atop a variety of beans, peas and onions and hidden beneath the vegetables was the highlight of the dish, a truffle sauce. The sauce was earthy and delightful when paired with other ingredients.
Unfortunately there were an equal number of very disappointing dishes. My least favorite dish of the evening was the «Hand Cut Fresh Tagliarini» with Guanciale, English peas, spring onion and Parmesan cheese. The pasta was overcooked, gummy in texture and the sauce was lacking the richness I would expect from the description. The «Chicken Saltimbocca» was incredibly bitter and was returned to the kitchen. The Lobster Roll was non-​memorable with limited meat and flavor and it almost joined the chicken in a return to the kitchen.
The desserts were all disappointing. On one visit the «Chocolate Torte» with butterscotch, sea salt and vanilla gelato was served with burnt edges and on a subsequent visit, the flavor and texture were lacking; the Panna Cotta with crumble was served two different ways. On one visit it was delicious and on a subsequent visit the crumble topping had a burnt flavor.
Overall the grilled meats and burgers that 323 served were delicious while the non-«grill» items did not deliver the same level of satisfaction.

Not sure of hinges have changed since previous reviews but I found them to be off the mark. The comments on grocery store buns could not be further from the truth.
Overall decent place. My biggest gripe is the prices. They are too high.
Burger was good. Fries we ok.
Beer selection while not huge was well thought out.