Artisan, Farm to Table Opens in Southport at Delamar
Artisan, a "farm to table New England-inspired" restaurant opens tonight, July 13, 2011 at the Delamar Hotel in Southport, CT.
“We wanted Artisan to feel comfortable, as if you have been invited to enjoy a weekend in the country,” says Chef Kieffer, a native of Paris and resident of Fairfield County. “And we want the food to match the feel of the restaurant; a place that is casual and very comfortable yet that also reflects quality and excellence.”
Previewing the space during an opening party is a biased occasion, admittedly, but it’s also one of the best ways to understand intentions as well as gauge reactions. Dining experience non-withstanding, mission accomplished Artisan.
Tucked away just off the Old Post Road in Southport, Artisan sets the tone of understated elegance with a series of curated dining spaces filled with Scandinavian-inspired design and details with menus anchored by the bounty of the New England shoreline and its farms. An outdoor patio and bar area is studded with waist-high planters brimming with herbs and edible plants looks out onto the quiet and pristine colonial architectural surrounds of the Delamar. Immediately inside, the casual Tavern flowing into the more formal Dining Room. This carefully crafted setting is an important visual cue to a theme of craftsmanship continued throughout Chef Frederic Kieffer’s menu.
The Tavern’s menu reads like a greatest hits of New England pub grub with a Gold Card palate and budget. These casual plates include dry aged beef sliders, roasted oysters with lemon preserve and pickled shallots, fish and chips and mini lobster rolls.
The Dining Room menu (with much more formal prices) is where things get a bit heartier and interesting. A few intriguing appetizers include a New England seafood chowder with house-made fennel oyster crackers will be served table-side, and chilled Thimble Island (CT) oysters & Cape Cod hard shell clams with a ginger mignonette. Entrees will include a local striped bass served with baby artichokes, arugula and barigoule sauce, a Mayer all-natural steak and a New England style “Cioppino” served in a lobster broth and Artisan beef pot roast with whipped potatoes and roasted baby vegetables.
If the restaurant lives up to the hype, it is no doubt due in large part to the experience of its backers. Artisan is made possible through a collaboration between Rick Wahlstedt, owner of L’Escale in Greenwich and Charles Mallory, Founder and Partner of the Greenwich Hospitality Group, as well as Frederic Kieffer (opening Chef of L’Escale at Greenwich’s Delamar) who is Artisan’s Executive Chef and a partner.
Artisan Restaurant is located at the Delamar Hotel Southport, 275 Old Post Road in Southport, Connecticut and is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For hours, please or more information, call 203.307.4222 or visit www.artisansouthport.com.
Farm to Table, Local Artisan, Lunch, Southport, farm fresh
Reader Comments (13)
Wow this is really exciting. Artisan looks like a gorgeous and wonderfully tasty dining experience. Fennel oyster crackers are a wonderfully creative side to the chowder and the entrees sound heavenly. I can't wait to go for a visit. It is a welcome addition to the Southport area.
I am very excited to try Artisan at Delamar in Southport. My husband and I love L’escale at Delamar in Greenwich! I am positive Chef Kieffer will deliver a fine menu and no one will go home disappointed. www.Friendsfoodwine.com
My husband and I had a very lovely meal there last night. The staff was wonderful, the decor appealing, the food was excellent. My only compliant and I had some concerns going in, was whether or not the crowd from the restaurant across the street would wonder over. They did. There were moments of yelling out loud, and very inappropriate dress. These things happen from time to time at L'Escale. Most often you just have to suffer through it. I really wish that the staff could take a more active position in trying to manage offensive diners, or allow those who favor a respectful atmosphere, have access to one.
The "people from across the street might wander over"? How dare they intrude on the restaurant. Yes, we must "suffer" having to socialize with those vermin offensive diners from non-ivy league backrounds.
Hey lady, if they got the cash its their place as well. Stay home!
We ate at Artisan last night. The food was very good, service was good if not slightly confused. The hostess however spent most of the night walking around with her hand on her forehead in confusion. Hopefully she will figure out how to seat people soon!
The place was jam packed, especially on the deck, and the bar started to fill up around 9. It was definitely a scene out there, lots of socializing, but I really don't think it had anything to do with the Gray Goose across the street, which was packed to the gills as well. Everyone seemed very happy, enjoying the food and drinks. And FYI, all food is 50% off through this Sunday as a promotion - which we didn't know but was a nice surprise!
Beautiful tuna crudo w/ watermelon avocado and tomato, gravlax w/ potatoes and horseradish cream, fluke with roasted grapes and parsnip puree, chicken w/ mashed bleu cheese potatoes. Lemon donuts for dessert. Everything else on the menu sounded good and all the other food around us looked great. Very excited to have this new addition so close to home!
To Foodieonline:
I will own that my comment does come off as a snob, I have enjoyed dinning at the Grey Goose. It was unfair for me to characterize the patrons of that restaurant the way I did. That said, yelling in a restaurant is not appropriate and I nor anyone else should have to tolerate it. I also think there is a time and place for flip flops and slogan t-shirts, not appropriate for upscale dining. I don't think I should be branded as a criminal for wanting to be able to dine in an adult atmosphere with well behaved people, who respect each other.
To PEFP..... Apogogy accepted. However, blame the management for allowing that type of behavior and dress. Today businesses let in all kinds of rif-raff to boost sales. I agree, whatever happened to setting standards.
Artisan left a bad taste in my mouth and I did not even get to order! Called in the afternoon, could not get a reservation but was told (by the woman who answered the phone L'Escale) that they hold plenty of tables aside for walk ins. So we arrive at 6:50, there are 4 tables filled and a handful of people outside at the bar. We are told 10 minutes so we sit in the very nicely decorated and comfortable side area (the inside bar was jam packed) and wait until 7:20. At this point there are maybe 8 tables taken. When I ask the hostess how much longer she has no idea. I ask if the remaining empty tables are reserved and if so those folks are VERY late. The host steps in to tell me that there is a large cocktail party outside. Not sure what that has to do with the kitchen and main restaurant but I did not bother to find out. Keep in mind, there is still the same handful of people outside,maybe 8. When we left it occurred to me that I did not see a plate of food anywhere in the restaurant and we were there a half hour. They seriously need to get their act together, there is just way too much competition in the area.
Yes EKG, I agree as I have had numerous friends and associates who have attempted to eat there all with poor experiences. Shake Shack works.
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We've been to Artisan twice for dinner and once for lunch. The food has been very good, seasoned well, cooked perfectly. Service/hostess has improved since the first time. For lunch we had a burger which was good, not comparable to the other high end burgers in the area such as Le Farm, but it was tasty. Tuna club was good, but very unusual. It was more like a tuna caponata salad with raisins and capers, on brioche with sliced yellow tomatoes. It was delicious, but not the typical "club" sandwich. Lobster rolls were also very tasty, but for $17.00, 2 mini rolls were just not enough...definitely should have been at least 3 for a proper portion. Fries were very good, thin, crispy and the slaw was also good.
Ate at the Artisan for the first time last night. It was a Monday and the restaurant was not crowded. Food was good-pot roast and cioppino. Service was good with the exception of a bus boy's comment that" beautiful women shouldn't sit alone" made to my wife while I used the rest room. Obvious training error or...?
Also, had a significant pricing mistake on a "call brand" drink which was blamed on the computer. Funny how the computer never underprices drinks :-)
Amateur poor management. Bus boy should be fired. No restaurant website. Dosent look good.