What's New at Walrus Alley: Honing in on Hospitality

CTbites Team December 05, 2020

Like so many local restaurants in 2020, Walrus Alley in Westport has had to make quite a few changes to adapt to the new scene. Outdoor dining has been expanded. Custom-made accented partitions have gone up indoors. Family-style meals have been added to the take out menu. But instead of focusing on these actionables individually, the team behind Walrus Alley has been looking at the big picture: hospitality and really tasty food.

“When this all began, we realized we had to stop reacting and really bring our restaurant to its core,” said Angela Farrell of the Walrus team. “We didn’t want to just make more takeout options, we wanted to test our menu items and include reheat instructions to ensure the guest is getting the best experience, even at their home.”

And man, they made it work. With cult favorites like the The Notorious PIG family pack feeding 4, (baby back ribs, pork shoulder, brisket, smoked turkey, mac + cheese, baked beans, collard greens, cornbread, coleslaw, house pickles ) and new crowd pleasers like the Mom What’s For Dinner, featuring a full dinner with adult entrees, kids meals, and family-friendly sides, they’ve found a way to help us forget the present and focus on a great meal.

Not to be overlooked are their killer fried chicken sandwiches, dressed with either chipotle aioli or Tennessee hot sauce. The vegetarian-friendly Smoked Jackfruit Tacos with Walrus BBQ, radish, carrot, and lime are savory with a touch of fruitiness. The smoked brisket is prepared for hours in their smoker to emerge tender and so popular, it often sells out before the end of dinner.

Of course, Walrus is no stranger to change. After 7 years as Walrus + Carpenter, they shut their Black Rock location and reopened in Westport under the new and ever-appropriate name Walrus Alley, in the side alley of the Old Town Hall building. They added a food truck to their roster and partnered with Two Roads, creating a pop-up location in the Stratford Area 2 tap room. We look forward to seeing what they come up with in the years ahead.