The Whelk

This is one of my all-​time favorite restaurants.
First of all, it’s right on the water, and the ambiance is really nice — fun and casual, not too loud, very pretty. While it’s tough to get a reservation, they reserve a fair amount of seating for communal tables and the bar, so it’s usually pretty easy to walk in with a small group.
The food is absolutely unreal.
Norman’s Lobster Butter — worth every penny, probably the best lobster dish I’ve ever had. I am not a fan of lobster dishes that mask the subtle flavor of the meat (think lobster mac and cheese), so this dish is the perfect combination of providing just enough seasoning and sides to truly accentuate the natural flavor of the lobster. I’ve never eaten here without using every last piece of bread /​side to mop up the sauce, and I will absolutely order this dish every time I dine at this restaurant.
Shrimp & Grits — one of my favorite shrimp & grits dishes, and I’ve spent a fair amount of time in the south so have a lot to compare it with! The grits are very creamy, and it’s got the perfect amount of kick. It’s listed under appetizers, but it’s big enough to be an entrée if you’re not starving.
Fried Chicken Sandwich — delicious! I don’t know that I would order again given all the items on the menu that I want to try, but if you’re a fried chicken fan definitely give this sandwich a go.

This is by far my favorite restaurant in Fairfield County. We do every birthday, anniversary, and celebration here because it’s the best!
The deviled eggs with fried oysters are unreal and the crab toast is out of this world. The fried chicken sandwich is incredible as well

Overall, the Whelk was excellent. As for specifics: We decided to do multiple small plates to get the best sense of the chef’s abilities. Oddly, the order in which the dishes were served turned out to be the order we would rate them.
We started with the pig ear and escarole salad. It was outstanding; wouldn’t change a thing. Crispy, salty, tangy… yummy
Next came the roasted oysters. Very, very good. Not quite Couchon in NOLA, but a little different style. Again, no complaints.
Next came the smoked trout dip. Again, very good, but a bit heavy handed on the salt. THe bread it was served with was incredible, but I do wish we had more of the crispy trout skin. That was a great component. The portion was large, which is not a complaint, but just a comment… if you order this, perhaps ask for double the bread, and you can spread the dip over a bit more bread and cut the salt factor… there’s enough in the portion for it.
The octopus was next. Octopus is my measuring stick for many modern places as it seem to show up on most menus lately… and I love it. The Whelk’s version was good but not great. (Olio in Stamford is the cream of the octopus crop… they cheat by dropping it in the deep fryer after the grill, but who cares, it’s freakin’ ridiculous). The Whelk’s octopus is more traditional, pure braise and grill, and good, but doesn’t quite get the charred texture with the soft interior it needs… Maybe the grill wasn’t hot enough? The pistachio aioli under it was terrific, as were the potatoes; they had the ‘donut’ quality of really good fried potatoes.
The final dish was had was the «head-​on» prawns. I use quotes because of the 4 shrimp we had, only 1 had the head still on… sort of… hanging by a thread. We had a dish of basically shrimp tails and separate heads. This is a sign that the shrimp were not as fresh as they needed to be. The shrimp tails were also a little over cooked. Sucking the heads was still yummy, but you need to nail the meat temp too. I cook shrimp all the time, and I’ll be the first to admit that it is not easy to get a shrimp perfectly cooked. On a hot grill, the window is very short. But, the cooks in a kitchen the caliber of the Whelk should be able to cook a perfect shrimp with every time, eyes closed with 1 hand. Next is the headless issue… I’m sorry, get fresher shrimp. I know they are not easy to find around here head on. The leading local wholesaler, New Wave, doesn’t carry them, but get online, used FedEx and get some tip quality shrimp for this. A well cooked head-​on shrimp is among the best foods in the world. Technique here is critical. In my book, the best way to do this is to use wood skewers that have been soaked in brine. Run the skewer up from the tail into the head (but not through the head). This keeps the shrimp straight on the grill for presentation, but, more importantly, the skewer running up into the head creates a hole that allows the hot juices boiling in the head to flood into the tail to flavor it. If you don’t punch the skewer out the top of the shrimp, there will still be plenty of juices to suck out of the the head.
Ok, again, overall, an outstanding meal. A few missteps that should be easy to rectify with a little training of the cooks from the Chef.

The food is amazing we wanted to order everything but got the roasted oysters, deviled eggs, octopus, snap peas, squid ink cavatelli and salmon crudo. We can’t wait to go back! The only downside is the price it’s expensive but totally worth it!

There’s nothing else to say. This is one of the best restaurants in Fairfield County.

Had a great time here with friends. It’s in a neat area in case you want to walk around before/​after and enjoy the water views, there are other restaurants, bars, ice cream parlors, and shops in the vicinity. Parking isn’t too bad to get but you might end up walking a decent distance to get there. The service was excellent the whole time and the servers were well versed on the menu. There are some classic options available but also some craftier stuff in case you’re feeling adventurous or funky. There are some «turf» options but it is a heavy seafood-​based menu so just make sure your guests review it before you go in case it’s not their thing.

Imagine, landed JFK @9pm drive through construction zones miss our high end Rez in Norwalk for 10pm. Find this place, and ⁵⁄₅.
Legend!

Came here for a great romantic but casual date. Food was great drinks were amazing. Really accommodating service. Casual seating was not so great with the after work crowd being pretty loud, but aforementioned great drink helped me get over that pretty quickly.

Came here a while back with my boyfriend and had a pretty sub-​par experience. I’m only now writing about it, as I recently acquired a Unilocal account. I’ve heard from fellow Westporters that the staff here (especially the manager) are extremely pretentious and judgmental. We picked up on that right away. There was an event going on across the street at the local ice cream shop being hosted by a charitable organization. I witnessed the manager chew out several of the women working the event. He seemed to be laughing at them and making fun of them to their faces. Not okay. We stopped by their event after our meal. Turns out it was a great silent auction hosted by a local non-​profit, so we placed bids on a few items.
This place seems to think it is on Manhattan’s Upper East side based on layout, cost, and service. The food was just okay– nothing special. I much preferred the owner’s other venue, which is now closed, called Le Farm. We went through hell and back to get a reservation (you even have to put a credit card number down because apparently this place is Nobu) only to get seated at a small, cramped table. Our waiter was rude and slow. Literally forgot to bring us our drinks. The atmosphere was extremely noisy and filled with Westporters attempting to be trendy in six-​inch-​heels. There are so many other places to dine at in the area. Honestly, save yourself the time, money, and death glares. Head to Rizzuto’s which is right down the street or to Spotted Horse for a similar menu. Super disappointed.

I don’t think I can ever eat normal food again.
The Whelk IS as good as it gets. If you can get reservations here and you’re from out of town… do it.
Location — Walking into the Whelk, your eyes will catch the nice view of the river with paddle boards docked alongside it. The ambiance inside is trendy and lively but not just full of hipsters. When you get there you feel like you’re at the hottest restaurant in Fairfield County (actually, that’s fact). The crowd is a nice mixed of townies, young couples and you’ll even see some families with kids pop up before the dinner rush. There are communal tables separating the bar crowd and regular dining crowd so groups are also encouraged. I’ve enjoyed two date nights at the bar and it’s just as comfortable as sitting at a regular table or a communal table.
Service — Very good. My server or bartender is always attentive & the food always comes out at a good pace. The staff is very friendly in general. They are highly professional but with no air. Successful restaurants are fueled by their every day staff (Kitchen, Front of the house) and The Whelk seems to be winning in that department.
Menu — Always changing — which makes me keep going back for more. The menu is primarily seafood, however they do have options for less-​enthused-​about-​fish folk. There’s a killer burger and a chicken sandwich. Be sure to order the deviled eggs when you go (complete with a fried oyster right on top), any of the toasts, …and basically everything else on the menu. Everything I’ve eaten at Whelk exceeds my expectations.
I wish I could rate The Whelk 100 stars. It’s absolutely fantastic.

Great food, lovely ambience and friendly staff. I would definitely make this one of your stops when in Westport. The octopus was delicious.

So good! Everything is delicious here– the deviled eggs are a signature appetizer that we love! The mussels and all the fish are yummy too! If you don’t have a reservation ask to sit at the shares tables in the middle or on the porch.

Our young family of four arrived on a beautiful spring day to enjoy a nice meal near the water. We were informed that they have no children’s menu. Our server, Christopher, also informed us that he could not point to a popular dish because their menu changes so frequently. Interestingly, even though their menu was constantly in flux the kitchen would not accommodate any bespoke dishes.
Our six year old is very thin, technically classified as failure to thrive thin, so we were a bit upset that our request for a simple grilled cheese was both denied and derided. ‘Our kitchen just isn’t set up for that’. The manager, Tori, informed us that their farm-​to-​table process doesn’t provision for enough stock to make a grilled cheese. At this point I had lost my appetite, but our order of a warm lobster roll, Pollock sandwich, hand cut fries, and chilled prawns was placed.
I was cautiously hopeful my lobster roll would at least match the wonderful Spotted Horse roll. Alas, the lobster was overcooked, the roll was soggy, the mustard sauce detracted from the flavor of the lobster, and they used far too much old bay seasoning. My wife claims her Pollock sandwich was well prepared though a bit overseasoned. My son ate a few fries and two prawns… on to the next restaurant to ensure his daily caloric intake is achieved.
If you are in Westport I recommend the Spotted Horse, the menu offers an excellent selection of perfectly prepared items and more competitive prices. If you would like lots of seasoning to accompany average quality ingredients and a completely inflexible kitchen then The Whelk might be for you.
+1 star for removing the lobster roll charge.

The Whelk is absolutely amazing. The service, food, drinks, and ambiance were all top notch. Sat at the community table which I was hesitant about at first but it was just as nice as having our own table. Our server knew literally everything about every dish and drink on the menu, which was beyond helpful in deciding what to order. We ordered a bunch of things to share and everything from sides to dessert was absolutely delicious. Their drinks are fantastic, as well.
Two things you have to do when you come here, however. First, order a side of fries as one of your first dishes. I don’t even like regular fries and these were awesome. Second, don’t hesitate to order a vegetable/​fruit dish. I know it’s a seafood place, but these were extraordinary. Definitely on par with the seafood dishes.

Interesting because the whole griddled octopus was the best I’ve ever had but the chicken sandwich was so terrible it was hardly touched. Will return but only for seafood I guess.

The Whelk is outstanding. It’s a beautiful restaurant in Westport, right on the water though without water views. It doesn’t put on airs, tables and chairs are functional and fit in well with their gastropub/​sea to table theme. Parking is usually easy to find nearby.
We love dinner at the Whelk. The majority of the menu focuses on seafood which is a great fit for us. I’m not a fan of deviled eggs in general, but theirs are definitely a must order. Recently, we had the opportunity to try out their brunch. It seems like this may be a trial run for them, but I sincerely hope they keep serving brunch because it was truly amazing! The stand-​out dish was the soft scrambled eggs with lobster and caviar. I’ve been dreaming about that dish ever since!

Voici une très belle découverte que ce lieu sur la côte allant de New York en direction du Connecticut, plus précisément à Westport. Une table spécialisée dans les fruits de mer qui né ressemble pas à priori à ce que l’on pourrait s’attendre de ce genre d’établissement. Un chef appelé Bill Taibe qui est réputé pour être l’un des plus talentueux de l’état et qui possède déjà un autre établissement connu au nom de «La Farm «à Stamford, et qui nous vraiment impressionné avec une cuisine basée sur des produits locaux frais et une carte qui change au gré des arrivages dans un lieu finalement pas si conventionnel que cela.
Face à la rivière Saugatuck, cette grande bâtisse de bois gris né propose pas de vue sur l’eau comme l’on pourrait s’attendre d’une table dans un tel lieu cependant la surprise est là une fois à l’intérieur.
Une magnifique salle décorée comme un «shack «mais dans un esprit plutôt très esthétique avec une décoration de très bon goût. Nom que l’on utilise aux US pour identifier une cabane ou chaumière. Le genre d’endroit le long de la mer où l’on fait la file pour se délecter de fritures ou crustacés de manière informelle dehors sur des bans. Une structure intérieure absolument parfaite avec deux grandes tables communautaires surélevées, de magnifiques tabourets dans un style industriel comme les lampes d’ailleurs. Une ambiance entre atelier de travail, hangar pour bateaux, et «seafood shack «comme décrit quelques lignes au-​dessus. Un grand bar qui lui aussi est dans l’esprit du lieu.
Au fond une autre table où l’on peut manger en plus petit comité sur des tabourets métalliques toujours dans ce style très harmonieux digne d’un magazine de décoration d’intérieur. Vous remarquerez également les divers objets de brocante ci et là soigneusement présentés.
Et une série de table plus conventionnelle face à la rue qui elles aussi sont réalisées dans un bois laqué qui pourrait rappeler les structures d’un bateau.
La carte est vraiment impressionnante car déjà inattendue. Pas de plats de produits de la mer traditionnelles que l’on retrouve dans toutes les gargotes avec pignon sur mer mais une sélection d’assiettes vraiment recherchées. Certes une sélection de plateaux de crustacés mais ici avec une belle sélection d’huitres (j’en ai bien compté environ une quinzaine de diverses provenances mais toutes locales ou en tout cas de la côte est), mais regardez ce que sont proposés comme plats… Des assiettes à partager les unes plus tentantes que les autres avec de très belles créations ou des associations d’ingrédients plutôt judicieuses.
Pour démarrer, des huitres frites dans des «Parker House Rolls «, qui sont des sortes de petits pains mous à la forme ovale inventés à Boston au Parker House Hotel en 1870, confectionnés à base de lait et avec un goût de beurre. Accompagné de salade de chou en lamelles et de sauce piquante. Le pains maison sont moelleux et parfumés, les huitres encore elles-​aussi légèrement crues et entourées d’une excellente panure, le tout déposé sur une croquante salade type «slaw «légèrement épicée. C’est vraiment du «street food «mais magnifiquement interprété.
Pour moi des huitres grillées au beurre à l’aneth et raifort avec de la panure. Déposées sur des cristaux de sel, chaudes et non sur-​cuites. Un beurre manié avec des saveurs bien équilibrées qui complètent parfaitement ces délicieuses huitres.
En plat principal de fantastiques Coquilles Saint-​Jacques de Stonington, haricots coco, poireaux, beurre bruni, bouillon de porc. Provenant de quelques kilomètres de là, les Saint-​Jacques sont cuites à la précision, déposées sur un mélange des haricots, d’une sauce bien assaisonnée et de quelques herbes fraiches. C’est un plat simple mais qui rend justice a ce coquillage souvent trop écrasé de produits de luxe ou de saveurs écrasantes.
Appréciant les pâtes aux fruits de mer, je choisis les Cavatelli à l’encre de seiche, crevettes rouges, chorizo mexicain, tomates confites. Typique des Pouilles et du Molise, des pâtes travaillées admirablement avec une sauce équilibrée entre cette saucisse rappelant le «nduja «, les crevettes et cette sauce tomate bien parfumée. Un plat de pâte très gourmand qui fait partie de ma sélection des meilleurs plats de pâtes 2015.
Deux verres d’un excellent vin blanc français dont je né me rappelle plus la référence et voici l’un des plus beaux repas de ce périple. Une adresse absolument délicieuse qui nous a donné l’envie de revenir et d’essayer tout ce qui est sur la carte… ce qui est plutôt rare…

The food and service at the Whelk are superb. Everything we were served was superbly prepared and full of interesting flavors. The only part of the experience that was better than the food was the service. A friend I decided to bring is both gluten free and dairy free and the person who waited on us could not have been more accommodating. The waitress spent a tremendous amount of time going through the menu to identify which items were dairy free and gluten free. If she was not sure about a menu item she checked with the Chef, When it can time for dessert there were no selections that were both gluten and dairy free, so she talked to the chef about creating something that was. Great experience form start to finish.

Delicious, fresh seafood in a great atmosphere. The restaurant décor is warm and inviting. The place was packed! Not one open table– or seat at the bar. From the moment we sat down, the service was attentive, and the waiter was extremely knowledgable about the menu, as well as the wine and spirits. There are a lot of great options on the menu for sharing if you are there with a group.
We started our meal with some oysters from Chatham, MA. They were delicious. The presentation was nice as well. We also enjoyed the clam dip, and mussels. The broth the mussels were in was good enough to drink, although we kept it classy and dipped our bread in. The burrata was delicious as well, although the broccoli rabe it was served with wasn’t my favorite.
For entrees (which we were almost too full to eat), we had the lobster butter and the short ribs. Both were incredible. Finally, when we were almost ready to explode, we decided we had to try a dessert. We had the chocolate suburbia. It was just the right size to split, and finish off a very decadent meal.

Best restaurant in these parts of the woods– hands down. Best food and cute ambience.
Deviled eggs w fried oyster is a must. As well as the grilled octopus — so tender!
Squid ink and seafood stew were good too but want to try other things on the menu.
Desserts: pass on the banana Bavarian; butterscotch Budino was good but after a few bites gets a bit sweet.

Finally I got to try out the Whelk! We were there for lunch on a Saturday (as soon as the restaurant opens). The place was still empty with only one couple next to us. So I got to enjoy a serene moment for a bit before other patrons starting to arrive. Interior vibe on a nice, cool sunny day gave me a feeling like I was down in Florida by the beach. Décor was clean and simple with relaxing atmosphere. Thumbs up.
FOOD. I wanted to try many dishes, but since it was just the two of us, we narrowed the menu down to 2 small plates and 1 entrée to share.
GREEN GODDESS DEVILED EGGS W FRIED OYSTERS — topped with onion pickles. Delicious! I could eat that all day long! Fried oysters were crunchy, went perfectly with creamy eggs.
NORMAL’S CLAM DIP — First few bites were so good. Then the saltiness started hitting me, but I couldn’t stop eating it because it was delicious. The dip was warm, creamy, and filled with all the goodness of clams, leeks, and ham hock. Try if you love dips.
SQUID INK CAVATELLI — My very first time trying squid ink pasta. It might look odd to some, but you can’t really taste the ink so. don’t be scared to try. The plate was filled with red shrimp, mexican chorizo, and tomato. Highly recommend this dish. However, I think the kitchen might have salt problem that day. My pasta was also a tad salty. We couldn’t stop drinking water during our lunch.
I will definitely return to The Whelk despite the salt issue.