Mario Batali's Tarry Lodge Opens in Westport July 19th!!

Tarry Lodge Enoteca and Pizzeria opens tomorrow in Westport at 30 Charles Street. For more on this, read our recent interview with Joe Bastianich and check out a few photos and our take from our visit during a Saturday night preview, below.

Very similar to Tarry Lodge, slightly more informal. Pizza and antipasto will be a major component. Lighter style and more grilled items.  We'll adapt our food purveyors so its also done locally. The pizza will also be a focus. Our pizzaioli is Mario LaPosta who will be there full time, he's very talented. 

--Joe Bastianich

A quick preview of the Tarry Lodge Enoteca menu reads as Tarry Lodge light. Think greatest hits of its Port Chester location.

An heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad, Tuna Tartare, Grilled Octopus, Porcini Arancini, Baccala "Livornese," and Soft Shell Crabs with lemon aoili are a few of the "Insalate" and "Fritti" offerings. The pastas and proteins look formidable and familiar, a Brown Butter and Sage Gnocchi, Fettucini Carbonara and Goat Cheese Agnolotti with Fennel Pollen are three of the eight pasta dishes and a Whole Branzino, Ribeye (with pepper almond pesto) and Rock Hen Al Matone are just three of eight "Secondi." It seems a fitting, if cautious menu for the launch. The wine list, similar to the menu, is a curated list of Port Chester classics, with the Bastianich label front and center.

Mario LaPosta, Tarry Lodge pizzaiolo

And last but not least, the pizzas. The installation of Port Chester's pizzaioli Mario LaPosta to Westport (his Margherita pizza placed in the top ten of the world pizza championships) and a big Mugnaini oven will practically ensure outstanding Neapolitan pizzas will crank out of this place. A beautifully appointed marble bar wraps around the pizza oven, prime seating to watch Mario at work.

Goat cheese, pistachios, truffle honey

As for the specimens themselves, if the Guanicale (guanciale, egg and black truffle) or Goat Cheese (goat cheese, pistachios and truffle honey) pizzas don't make you swoon, you may not be human. 

When the dust settles on the Tarry Lodge menu and the staff gets into their groove, this Batali & Bastianich outpost may prove to be a formidable dining option for Westport and a much shorter drive to get your Batali fix than Port Chester or New York City.

See you there on Tuesday.

Tarry Lodge Enoteca and Pizzeria is located at 30 Charles Street in Westport, CT. For more information, call 203.571.1038 or visit www.tarrylodge.com.