The Gray Goose: Classy Comfort in Southport
I've always enjoyed getting GOOSED. Now, I can get goosed whenever I want to and it won't even make my husband jealous. In fact, I'm sure he'll enjoy getting GOOSED too at THE GRAY GOOSE, a tasty new lunch and dinner spot in Southport. The menu is classy, interesting and full of simple creative dishes, prepared with skill by executive chef Tom Carney (previously of Spazzi in Fairfield.) The restaurant, which formerly housed The Wine Knot, is situated in a charming, 100 year old building, creating an idyllic spot for restaurant developer Kevin McHugh, (previous co-owner of Little Pub in Ridgefield, Match, and the Loft Martini Bar in Sono) and his business partner, Tommy Febbraio. With fresh and inviting decor, McHugh and Febbraio have utilized reclaimed materials to create old wood floors, exposed beams and stone fire places (inside and out) and added modern lighting to juxtapose and to induce a crisp new feel.
If this isn't enough to get you in the front door, THE GRAY GOOSE is also a darn good value. We couldn't find anything over $20.00 on the lunch OR dinner menu. Now I know why this GOOSE is always stuffed...with people. Though I know for a fact that this joint has a jumping bar scene at night, we went for lunch to sample the fare.
As usual, we completely under-ordered (hah!). First from the "Little Plates" and up through the "Main Plates" without a minute to catch our breaths, we plumped up like fois gras.
The general consensus was that if a menu offers LOBSTER MACARONI we were compelled to try it. And were we glad we did - Decadently delicious! The macaroni was cooked to perfection, bathed in a gentle coating of white truffle cream and laced with tasty Manchego cheese. To top if off, a panko crumb coating provided a nice crunchy contrast to the surrounding tiny chunks of delectable lobster. Could have died and gone to heaven right then and there. The TEMPURA BATTERED GARDEN ASPARAGUS beckoned but we felt that we needed to move on to the Grilled Flatbread Salads. There was so much more to sample.
We chose THE GRAY GOOSE COBB which was very tasty but without surprise. The usual suspects were present and accounted for with fresh, ripe tomatoes, avocado, and crumbled gorgonzola over a bed of greens and a generous portion of double smoked bacon. The balsamic dressing was tangy and refreshing. This salad was solid but leaning toward the ordinary, despite the unexpected wafer thin flatbread hiding under the greens. Why we didn't order the CRACKLING CALAMARI SALAD (with endive, toasted cashew, and diced banana) or the MYKONOS (with marinated tomatoes, tabouli, grape leaves and so much more) I'll never know. I think we were still on a food high from the LOBSTER MACARONI. Next time we will...and there WILL be many "next times." Onward CTbites soldiers.
What came next? Why the CHARRED VEGETABLE GYRO, of course. Lavash bread formed a soft blanket that kept the grilled eggplant and roasted tomatoes toasty and warm. Zucchini, roasted garlic and sweet red onion were also present at this party, along with a goat cheese and hummus spread providing the perfect "yang" to the veggie "yin." There was peace in our tummies and the world was good.
But we weren't done. We couldn't get our minds off that haunting LOBSTER MACARONI but were WAY too embarrassed to order more. After all, the Southport Fitness and Racquet Club was right next door and many of the club's clientele were watching...But we just had to have more lobster. We were in luck. Another spectacular lobster dish was ours for the sampling. The MAINE LOBSTER CLUB (seen above) had arrived. Buttermilk toast was the servant that carried the royal chunks of lobster on its back. Tarragon, avocado and bacon added a smoky yet sweet dimension while the arugula contributed a nice peppery flavor. The MAINE LOBSTER "CLUB" - I want a lifetime membership there!
So many choices, so little time. Next visit I will surely try the AHI TUNA TACO with its black and white sesame crusted tuna, mint salsa, grilled pineapple and wasabi-lemon yogurt. Stop drooling, you're ruining the mouse pad!
The GRAY GOOSE has it all - charm, low prices, a convenient location and incredibly good food. If you're looking for a great place to grab lunch or dinner or if you just need a place for drinks at one of Fairfield county's latest hot spots, fly on over to THE GRAY GOOSE. Come on, take a gander!
THE GRAY GOOSE - 246 Old Post Road - Southport. Open Seven Days a Week. Call for reservations at (203) 203 292 8779
1 Reference | tagged American, Lunch, Southport, comfort food
Reader Comments (21)
I agree the the Grey Goose is a great new addition to the restaurant scene. It is stylish, food is good, prices great, and an interesting crowd. The proprietor(s), if they are behind Match, Loft and esp Little Pub have an enviable ability to pull a successful restaurant together- where all the details seem to have been thought about.... the food concept, the music, the attire of the waitstaff, the typeface on the menu all consistent thematically which is to me what makes a place unique. It goes without saying that all of these guys' places have really good food.
Having been to the Grey Goose already many times ( I am a reg. at Spt Raquet), and given all of what I hope is seen as high praise above, the Grey Goose seems to not have quite" come together" yet. Most unexpected for these seasoned restauranteurs ( based on the review), the food is inconsistent in quality. One day something as simple as the salad is great, and the next time quite over-dressed. Burgers rarely (no pun...) come as ordered- too well done one time, not enough the next. The dining room is annoyingly loud, so as you are stuck in your own thoughts rather than conversation you start to think... the lighting is weirldy dim, those orange traffic control cones(?) in front oddly jarring (looks like traffic control at my kid's school), where's the unexpected twist to the food, like Match or Little Pub? Where's the wit and style (the faintly masoginistic name of one dish doesn't really count in my book) found in Match. L Pub , etc's menu?
In time, this will all be corrected I hope. I will continue to go weekly and enjoy the Grey Goose... more and more as time goes on ( I hope!)
The restaurant came out great, looks terrific, although I loved the WINEKNOT and its layout, so I was surprised that it was completely re-done. Place started out with a 20's crowd who went away very quickly. Now it's more 40's and up. As for the food - well, one night hubby and I stopped by for a quick bite - spring roll appetizer and one dinner salad - no drinks - frankly, I thought the $27 tab for that was a bit much for that. Lobster mac and cheese interesting, but maybe make it a special and have the delicious 'ol mac and cheese sans lobster as a regular item. And how about some luscious bread with meals? Not an option. Restaurant looks great, staff is nice but service is inconsistent. Hope you get it together so it will continue to work after the one timers have tried it once.
Frankly, I'm just happy to have an alternative to the Dressing Room when I feel like bellying up to a bar for a glass of wine and a bite... not that there's anything wrong with the Dressing Room- it's just that for so long there has been no alternative within spitting distance of Westport. True, the place may have some kinks to work out, but what restaurant doesn't a month or so after kickoff?
The ambience is upscale, lively and cosmopolitan in a town where I'm hard-pressed to find anywhere even open after 9pm. I love the outdoor dining option, the menu items I've sampled thus far have been outstanding (tuna- yumm!), and I would like to model my kitchen after their interior!
The tuna tacos at Gray Goose were delicious for lunch. We went back at dinner time and it was packed -- the way Martel's was when it first opened. Hopefully it will be easier to get a table in the near future, although for them it's great news the place is so popular. As for alternatives to Dressing Room, Le Farm is the best place in town.
Just a quick clarification to the comment above. Kevin McHugh has NOT been part of Match for quite some time, years for that matter so you can not expect there to be any creativity with the food like Match or even be compared to Match. The menu at Match was created by Executive Chef Matt Storch so kudos to him for creativity. As far as I know (I know the Match folks pretty well), Match or their current owners has no affiliation with The Goose.
What I will say is that Kevin has an exceptional sense of what it takes to open a successful restaurant, his track record clearly proves that.....the same goes for Tommy. It is a nice addition to the Southport/Fairfield area...I wish them the best of luck!
If only the author printed the correct telephone #....I wouldnt have run out of quaters
Sorry 'bout that. How much do I owe you? Number has been corrected 203 292 8779
this is the place to be and be seen !
Had lunch there a couple of times. Food was good, menu interesting, nice options. I love the decor, very nice job. Tables are a bit close together and awkward when the dining area is full.
Tuna tacos were my favorite. Perfectly cooked tuna, flavorful pineapple salsa. Lobster mac and cheese was pretty good, not great, but had a nice flavor. Calamari salad was almost very good, but the banana chunks in it just really didn't appeal to me. They had a very unpleasant texture and were way too sweet. Lobster BLT was okay - the lobster was actually a lobster salad, not chunks of lobster, but decent. Great fries, very crispy.
Not a place I'd go to for dinner, but for lunch I'll go back.
My only complaint is that both times we were there the bus person was swatting flies in the bar area against the window and sweeping the floor around the dining room as we ate. Personally, I prefer not to have dust from the floor swirling in my food. Kind of unpleasant!
love this place!!!
We do like it, have been back for lunch many times, but the service has been getting slower and slower every time we've been. They really need to get the food out quicker for lunch. The last 2 times we were there we waited almost 1/2 hour for our food to come out. Everyone else was sitting around waiting as well, and not looking too happy about it. Once it comes, it is very tasty, but if you only have a certain amount of time for lunch, you might want to go somewhere else!
my lunchs have also been taking longer but i have also noticed lunch is now packed everyday,i geuss it is agood problem to have .
looking forward to trying the Goose
Brian Bender
http://www.cuttingboardct.com
Had dinner for the fist time tonight .Overall we had a fantastic time and will be back !
Loved the food and the atmosphere! Service was great, ambiance was there and Tommy was the perfect host!
very cool place !
was very good but a bit loud.
Waited to go for lunch at 1:15 during the week thinking lunch crowd would be thinning . Without a reservation, was told wait would be about 10 minutes. Waited 45 minutes then left. Apparently GG is the place for ladies who have nowhere to go after they finish eating. Too bad as the menu looks good. Time seems to stand still as earlier comments indicate about the service. Probably won't try again as there are too many good places to actually eat.
This place is fantastic. Great ambiance, food, service, etc. I can't say enough good things. I've already eaten there about 5 times and my guests have all raved about it. My only recommendation at lunch time is to get there around noon...definitely before 1. And if you don't, the food is worth any wait. Try the glass enclosed outdoor area...with a roaring fireplace it is quite comfortable.
My husband and I came to the restaurant for lunch, on Sunday, for the first tme. He is still talking about the fire grilled oysters. I had one and will definitely have my own the next time. The lobster club and tuna wrap (make your own) were both great. We will be back!!! A great addition to town that we have been talking about trying since the "Turkey Trot".
Yesterday I took my grandson and daughter for lunch to celebrate the end of school. Unfortunately, there was an insect in my grandson's lunch (a beetle).
We were all rather nauseated and did not eat our lunches. The manager never came to the table and they charged us for two of the meals. I wouldnot recommend this restaurant to any one.