Chef Brian Lewis of The Cottage today officially announced expansion plans for his restaurant in Westport, Connecticut. Adding 800 square feet to his existing 1500 square feet, the space next door has broken ground this week to include an expanded bar and additional seating.
“I could not be more grateful for the love and support the town of Westport and all of Fairfield County and beyond has given to us since we opened nearly a year ago,” said Lewis. “While we have big plans for this additional space, our number one priority is to continue to offer the same comfortable atmosphere, delicious cuisine and warm hospitality that we are proud to be known for. Our bar is growing up and being given the new stage it so deserves, allowing Adam, our Head Bar Keep, to dig into his creativity and happily expand our craft cocktail offerings, wine and spirits program, as well as interact more with our guests relaxing in this expanded space.”
The Cottage will maintain its existing entrance and vestibule area, giving guests the option of entering the existing dining room to the left or this new area to the right. In addition to the large bar, which will be the centerpiece of this open floorplan, there will be several tables to accommodate additional diners or be combined for larger parties, as well as a window seat banquette that will seat up to 10.
“Our entire team will not only be able to express ourselves more through this expanded cocktail program, but also through our cuisine with an expanded kitchen area,” added Lewis. “We will be offering the same creative food offerings our friends have come to know and love in both the main dining room and the bar area, and I’m very excited to revamp our existing Chef’s Counter to offer guests an even better birds-eye view of my extraordinary team in the kitchen. This additional leg-room will also allow us to accommodate large parties celebrating life’s most important occasions, and I can’t wait to serve them all of the steamed buns they can eat!”
Since opening in December of 2015, The Cottage has received numerous accolades for its fine, locally sourced cuisine, including recently being named the #1 restaurant in Fairfield County, Connecticut by Hearst Connecticut Media/CT Bites, and its receipt of an “Excellent” rating from The New York Times. The restaurant offers dinner service Tuesday–Saturday, and serves both Brunch and Supper on Sunday’s. Lewis is also now offering catering services both on and off-site, and with the addition of this square footage, will offer the option to rent out both areas for large on-site events, or just the new, bar space.
The Cottage accepts reservations via OpenTable.com, or by contacting the restaurant at 203.557.3701.
About Chef Brian Lewis
Brian Lewis is one of Connecticut’s most celebrated chefs, lauded for his commitment to quality and seasonally driven American cuisine featured at his new restaurant, The Cottage. He first received national recognition as the opening Executive Chef of actor Richard Gere’s The Bedford Post Inn, a Relais & Chateaux property that featured two destination restaurants, The Barn and The Farmhouse. There, he acquired national acclaim including Esquire Magazine’s “Best New Restaurant” list in 2009, and an “Excellent” review in the New York Times for his thoughtful and consciously sourced cuisine. He launched his first solo venture in March, 2012 with elm, before leaving to focus on launching The Cottage in Connecticut’s Westport neighborhood.
Raised in Westchester, New York, Lewis discovered his love for cooking at a very early age. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America with honors and went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in business Management from Johnson and Wales University. Early experiences working under the guidance of legendary chefs like Jean Louis Palladin and Marco Pierre White strongly shaped Lewis’ culinary style to what it is today.
About The Cottage
The Cottage is the vision of chef Brian Lewis and represents his commitment to produce Connecticut’s premier neighborhood destination for the finest, locally sourced cuisine. Located in the heart of Westport, The Cottage elevates the standard for seasonal American cooking delivered with casual simplicity and coastal charm. Lewis’ award-winning dishes are hand crafted with exceptional ingredients procured from local purveyors and farmers responsible for growing, raising, harvesting, and producing within the region. Menus change weekly to reflect the season’s best bounty, and the restaurant is open five days a week for dinner at 256 Post Road East. For more information, visit http://www.thecottagewestport.com/. The restaurant can also be found on Twitter (@thecottagect), Facebook (The Cottage in Westport) and Instagram (thecottagect).
Photo Credit: The Cottage
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