I titled this post Weekend Brunch because, at Vespa, brunch is not just a Sunday thing. Vespa’s brunch menu is so good, they offer it weekends from 11.30am to 2.30pm. Located at the historic Inn at National Hall, diners can enjoy their meal indoors in the gorgeous restaurant or dine alfresco on the patio overlooking the Saugatuck River.
A couple weeks ago, we were invited to sample Vespa’s menu, which features classic brunch items with an Italian twist, antipasti, pasta, and more. So on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, we chose to dine outside and soak up the sun and fill our bellies with their delicious creations.
Inside Vespa
Brunch always starts with a cocktail. Breaking from my usual Bloody Mary, I tried the Prosecco Bar, chilled prosecco mixed with your choice of strawberry, passion fruit, or raspberry nectar. I went for the passion fruit – crisp and a little sweet. Jay had the Raspberry Gimlet made with 12 Broker’s Gin, house-made raspberry puree, and lime. The Bloody Mary, by the way, is also delicious. We tried during at a separate visit.
Raspberry Gimlet & Prosecco Bar
We started brunch with some appetizers – Chicken Liver Toast, Burrata Mozzarella, and Fried Artichokes. The Chicken Liver Toast was a unique twist on the classic chicken pâté. In a mason jar is a healthy serving of chicken liver in a mousse-like consistency. It is mild, with a touch of sweetness and spreads nicely on toast. We were told the chef made it to appeal to those who normally stray from pâté. I had mixed feelings about it, but I’m more of a block of pâté kinda gal.
The Burrata Mozzarella turned things around. On a wooden board rested freshly made burrata with arugula, sweet peaches, and sliced heirloom tomatoes drizzled with a sweet sauce called Vincotto. I highly recommend ordering this dish.
Chicken Liver Toast and Burrata Mozzarella
Can’t go wrong with the Fried Artichokes either. If you see it, order it – they sell out quick. The crisp artichokes are packed with flavor. I assume it was marinated in lemon, seasoned and fried to perfection. The Fiore di Sale Garlic Aioli is an excellent condiment for dipping, though not needed.
Fried Artichokes
The Brioche French Toast (shown top) is perfect for those who want to stick with a brunch classic. It’s just too beautiful to eat, but each bite of the french toast with berries and citrus mascarpone crème is wonderful. Yes, get them all on a fork and enjoy it.
The Poached Eggs Benedict is another great brunch dish to try. Vespa’s version is with house-cured salmon, grilled asparagus, pancetta, and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Lots of great flavors in this dish.
Poached Eggs Benedict
Sorry, forgot to poke the yolk for some #yolkporn.
The Shrimp & Crab Salad Sandwich is a really good sandwich made with sweet baby shrimp and lump crab nestled in a toasted brioche bun. Though it had a little too much mayo in it for my liking, I still enjoyed the sandwich with the crispy fries.
Shrimp & Crab Salad Sandwich
Halfway through brunch, Kim, the bartender, made us a “dee Cuisine Negroni by Kim” (this is not the official name). So delicious, and such a smooth cocktail to drink. I’ll admit, we liked it so much we stopped by a few hours later in the day to have a couple more.
Of the many pasta dishes on the menu, we tried the Squid Ink Cappellini with Cockle Clams, Squid, Fresno Peppers and the Spinach Gramigna with Ragu Bolognese Tradizionale, Parmigiano. The cappellini was cooked al dente and had a lot of flavors from the seafood, and did not have too much heat from the peppers – so don’t be afraid to order it. The rich, hearty bolognese was fantastic, though I would have preferred it with another type of pasta.
Squid Ink Cappellini and the dee Cuisine Negroni by Kim
Spinach Gramigna
The best dish was the Veal Milanese – a tender, fried cutlet of veal topped with a salad of baby arugula, onion, watermelon radish, and Parmigiano. Despite how full we were, we managed to eat most of this. The thought of how good this dish was still resonates in our minds, and when people ask us what to order – we say get the burrata, artichokes, and veal milanese.
Veal Milanese
So what did we think of brunch? We loved the food, the cocktails, and the view. Vespa is also kid-friendly. Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays, from 11.30am to 2.30pm. When we stopped by, it wasn’t a busy scene, which we like.
Though we’ve read mixed reviews of Vespa, we enjoyed the food and drinks. Some more than others. With Vespa being close to our house, this is one of our spots for cocktails. We’ve been eyeing the mussels we often see other diners eat. So we’ll need to try that next.
To see more of our photos, check out our Vespa, Westport album on Facebook.
Vespa
2 Post Road West
Westport, CT 06880
Tel: (203) 557-9057
vespawestport.com
DINNER
Tuesday through Thursday 5:30-10:00
Friday & Saturday 5:30-11:00
Sunday 5:00-9:00
LUNCH
Wednesday through Friday 11:30-2:30
Brunch
Saturday & Sunday 11:30-2:30
Aperitivo Hour: 4-6pm Tues-Fri, Half Price Beer, Wine, $8 House Spirits
The patio
Disclosure: We were invited to sample Vespa’s menu. The opinions expressed are my own and I received no further compensation from Vespa or their representatives. We left a cash tip. Visits after brunch were paid by us.
