The Whelk

Dining at The Whelk was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Nestled in the heart of Westport with a cozy, nautical charm, this spot is everything you could want in a seafood-focused restaurant. The ambiance strikes the perfect balance between casual and upscale — warm lighting, rustic wood accents, and a view of the water that sets the tone for a relaxed yet elevated meal. The menu is thoughtful, creative, and clearly driven by seasonal, local ingredients. We started with the raw oysters, which were impeccably fresh and served with a perfect mignonette. The smoked trout deviled eggs were a standout — such a unique, flavorful twist on a classic. For our mains, the seared scallops and grilled swordfish were both cooked to perfection, beautifully plated, and bursting with flavor. The sides and sauces complemented the seafood without overpowering it, showcasing a real understanding of balance in every dish. The cocktail program is equally impressive — inventive, balanced, and made with fresh ingredients. I tried the house gin cocktail and it was one of the best I’ve had in the area. Dessert was just as strong — a rich, not-too-sweet chocolate mousse that rounded out the meal perfectly. The service was attentive and knowledgeable without ever feeling rushed. Our server offered great wine pairings and menu suggestions, and clearly cared about the experience. The Whelk is a true culinary gem and I can’t wait to return. A must-visit for food lovers!

For me this would be a 3.7 if that were possible. I didn’t love this restaurant. The food was decent and the atmosphere was nice, clean and simple. We started with calamari and deviled eggs. The calamari was cooked well, crunchy coating, maybe cornmeal, and the sauce was delicious, slight heat and tang. The deviled eggs were fine, don’t typically order these out, but fried oyster peaked our curiosity. The oyster was delicious, again I think cornmeal crust and plump and juicy but I would have been happy with just the oysters. Having said that the egg was good, creamy green goddess filling but for me there is nothing special about a deviled egg. Seafood stew was our best bite. Very light broth that didn’t overpower the fish and the fregula added some bulk to the dish. Also had fish sticks. Not on the online menu but it sounded like a fun thing to try. This dish was a little disappointing. The fish was battered and deep fried and there was probably a 2 to 1 ratio of batter to fish. The fish was tender and tasty but you needed to peel off some batter to be able to taste the fish. It came with no dipping sauce but I saw it served a few tables down and they had two sauces. Did they ask for it or did they forget to give it to me, I was at the end of my meal when I saw it so didn’t ask. The coleslaw that came with it was very overdressed to the point of not being enjoyable to eat. Again the other table I saw with this meal had coleslaw that looked white and not nearly as saucy as mine. The bib salad was beautiful but unfortunately I ordered it on a whim and didn’t read the menu closely. I don’t care for truffle oil and this salad had truffle honey so it wasn’t for me. I have never had dubai cake before but i didn’t like it. It was very dry and the only pistachio I tasted were a few nuts on the plate. We knew the whoopi pie would be a modern interpretation and it was. Beautifully presented and the cake was moist and I think soaked in olive oil. The lemon curd was served on the side and absolutely delicious, tart and creamy. The only disappointment was that the cream filling had absolutely no flavor. The dirty martini with house made brine was okay. Nothing special and definitely very light on the dirty. I realize I haven’t said many good things about this restaurant but unfortunately for me it just didn’t hit the mark.

One of the best meals we have had in Connecticut. The Whelk is a bright, simple and fresh looking restaurant during the day then turns into the most romantic place in the world at night. The staff are helpful and friendly, nothing was a problem for them tonight. We ordered their house special Dirty Martini, the passion that goes into making this classic Martini was evident as it was quite simply the best I've had. Smooth, iced cold, complex but yet simple, it was perfect. We had the selection of fresh Oysters 4 different kinds, all of them were fantastic. We ordered their Skate Wing with a side of proper hand cut fries, the wing was zesty, roasted just right yet soft and silky on the inside. My husband had the Seafood Stew, he liked it but felt the tomato base was a little over powering. We finished our meal with the house favorite almond cake, simple and delicious, heated just the right amount to let the aroma come through. We will definitely be back to this wonderful restaurant, make sure you add it to your places to go if your in the area.

We went here for a Saturday family outing. The food is fine...we started with oysters, fried cod, devil eggs and clam chowder. The starters were fine and served expeditiously. The main course of fish stew and fish and chips were fine. The fried potatoes were massive and to my taste a little too much starch and not enough taste. The sauce was excellent. The fish stew had a pasta ingredient we had not known before called "fregula" it added bulk to the stew. The dessert was chocolate custard and was pleasantly addictive! Unfortunately the restaurant ambiance seemed indeterminate...the decor is sort of Cape Cod modern but not appealing at least to this reviewer. If you are looking for good food and service this is a good place... ambiance is not there... perhaps it was just a late Saturday afternoon and things liven up in the evening.

Decent spot in Westport, close to the train station. It’s more tailored for adults / date night than family / kids. It gets energetically loud inside during peak hours so for those soft spoken people, remember to project your volume. Sound dampening is not good. Also, 20% gratuity is already included, which is fine as long as the service is attentive and above average.

Gorgeous restaurant, excellent food & outstanding dirty martini. We had the calamari (great), oysters (great), trout dip (great) & vongole. The vongole was the only bummer really, which leaned way more parmesan/pecorino cheesy than briny/clammy. Maybe it was an off day or something but for a dish I usually love, the vongole was a miss. The martini was out of this world, and the rest of the food we tried was rock solid!

Small portions but incredible food. Had the swordfish and wife had salmon and was delicious. The apps - oysters were super fresh and had one each of the 9 varieties they offer. The broccoli app

Excellent dining experience. My daughter discovered this place about a year ago. Was staying at a place nearby and searched for recommendations. As we both love seafood, we decided to give it a try. Best decision we made. We had the oysters to start and also ordered the old bay fries. Oysters were freshly harvested that day, they were delicious. The fries are freshly made from potatoes and cooked just right. When we made our reservation we made it for 4:30 which is the start of their happy hour. Definitely a plus since we had about 4 dozen oysters and 2 drinks each. They only serve the best alcohol 🥃, not watered down. The atmosphere was perfect. There were even a few kids there which was nice. They were quieter than the patrons 🤗. I would totally recommend A+++

Burger was super hyped up for years, yet somehow exceeded expectations. Cocktails were good. Staff was friendly. Will definitely be back.

Went last night. Server would not let us order appetizers without a complete order. Okay... If that's the case, the meal should be nicely paced, right? Nope. Got oysters, and other apps all piled on top of each other. Now I just feel like I was rushed through a nearly $300 dinner in about an hour. That said, food was excellent.

Came here for a light early dinner. We had the place to ourselves. Nicole was our server she was awesome. They have a happy hour , kind of limited but you can find something on there. We ordered a half dozen oysters . Happy hour special $1.50 each . Right behind were the roasted oysters and crab toast. I wish the portions were bigger for both . Lol the kimchi butter on those oysters soooo bomb! Crab toast was so good too. Last on the spread we ordered the deviled eggs/fried oysters. Those were great too. Overall we had a great experience. Gonna try the pasta on my return date.

They are definitely on the pricier side, but totally worth it if you're looking for some yummy seafood. We had a couple of the jumbo shrimp and I loved the old bay aoli that came with it. The drins were amazing. The deviled eggs topped with fried oysters were awesome and so unique. My salad was delicious. As far as drinks go, I highly recommend "the froggy". You'll want to check this place out if you haven't yet!

Consistently best seafood, and most creative restaurant in Westport. Service relaxed yet attentive. New England coastal ambience

Delicious food, friendly attentive staff, a warm and attractive environment. In an area full of options, The Whelk stands out, and entices you to come back.

Upscale seafood restaurant serving fresh, local ingredients that even non-seafood lovers can enjoy. The staff flawlessly accommodated our party of eight on a busy Friday night. We started with the brussel sprouts and deviled eggs with fried oysters: the brussel sprouts were perfectly roasted and starved steaming hot. The oysters were perfectly cooked, lightly fried and nicely contrasted by the flavor of picked onion. The fried chicken sandwich was delicious however we thought it was lacking the pimento cheese flavor as described on the menu. The burger was also perfectly cooked, juicy, and paired with shoestring fries. I have to add, we were impressed by the beautiful cutlery served with our burger and chicken sandwiches. As someone who does not eat any (and I mean zero) seafood, there were many menu offerings that I found delicious and I would look forward to going back and having again. Not pictured : the basket of fries was enormous - even our party of eight couldn't finish it! We also loved the chocolate pot de creme dessert!

We made reservations for outdoor dining on a Friday night. Indoors were packed and the outside area was also pretty full. They have heat lamps spread out, so on a colder night it is not too bad, but you should still dress warmly. Our waiter was very attentive and enthusiastic about everything we ordered. We started with cocktails and a dozen oysters (local and Massachusetts). The oysters were well shucked and clean and come with 3 different mignonettes. We then had the burrata and the smoked trout dip. Both excellent. The burrata could have come with a few more slices of bread. Then we had the halibut and octopus. The halibut was skinless but seared enough to have a crisp edge. The butternut squash purée had a slight kick to it that was surprising and tasty. The octopus was cooked well and was well seasoned and tender. It came with some sort of Mayo sauce that I think was unnecessary and made the dish heavier. Cocktails were all excellent and we were too full to try dessert. They automatically include a 20% service charge, which was well deserved. Would recommend.

Very nice cool chic casual vibe along the river in Westport. A smart casual mature crowd at the bar and adjoining tables. Food at the bar is trendy, hip and excellent. Prices are fairly high, but in line with the clientele. Nice outdoor seating.

We tried the Whelk for the first time for my wife's birthday. It was nice to sit outdoors near the river etc, and the waitress was nice enough. The French fries weren't as good as McDonald's fried but that was the best food we had there. Deviled eggs look like they are filled with leprechaun ejaculate. Honestly quite gross. The oysters were fine. Fried chicken sandwich for the kids - chicken was SO dry it was almost inedible. I am not a seafood person - so I got the chicken which had polenta in it. That was pretty decent but I make chicken at home much better than they prepared it and it was too salty. I also only use Celtic sea salt - I could taste that they use common table salt. The fried fish was decent and they have a huge wine selection. BUT... The seafood pasta had a LOT of pieces of oyster shell in it - even the fried fish plate had pieces of oyster shells in it. It was a recurring problematic theme across a couple dishes - wife and son had to spit out shell pieces. I would not recommend The Whelk; it was bland, underwhelming, boring food...I could not possibly rate them higher than a 2.9. Stay away **** UPDATE My son was sick for a week after eating here! He vomited for 3 days straight. His stomach still hurt for two more days. Really stay away!

Jen was our server and she made our friend's birthday lovely! We ordered an assortment of small plates including the delicious octopus and spicy mushrooms (two separate dishes!!). The Pot de Crème for dessert was outta this world. Dark chocolate with a slight caramel sauce, not-too-sweet whipped cream and then a sprinkle of sea salt. I'd come back just for that!

Having a perfect day to sit outside and excellent company definitely made the experience more enjoyable and almost made up for my shock at the bill and disappointment over most of the food. The Brussels sprouts were the only thing I would recommend.

I really like the food at The Whelk. Only drawback is that there's a really rude server there and she's been terrorizing customers for years. Otherwise a pretty good experience.

We live in Westport on weekends and UWS during the week. We go to great restaurants all the time and the Whelk ranks up with the best. Service is the best ever !! We went crazy this weekend and in addition. to the mushrooms, we had the fried chicken sandwich and burger! Ridiculous amazing both! Saugatuck on the river- beautiful

This place is very pretentious. If you are into that kinda thing you will like it. If not don't bother.

This place is great. Location, decor, food, ambiance all good. Enjoy it when I go. It loses a point because it's v costly for what you get plus it does not open on Sundays..... I get 2 days off each week and it is not open for long leisurely brunch or lunch 50% of those days..... I don't get it. They don't have customers top of mind is my conclusion.

Food is okay, service is okay and I AM NOT AT ALL OKAY WITH TACKING ON 20% "SERVICE FEE" to my bill as there were only 2 of us in the party. I certainly understand this when it's a large party. However, service fee, gratuities, or tips are earned (optional) and are not an obligation for the customer to pick up. Very poor way of doing business and pissing off customers enough to post these types of reviews.

Two words: Buttery Goodness! My husband chose this restaurant for our anniversary dinner. I heard a mixed bag of things about this place so I was weary.. but decided to go because the good outweighed the bad. Man oh Manny Shevitz it was sooooo worth it! The service and atmosphere were both stellar and the food was deliciousness to the nines!! I ordered the scallops over corn which seemed simple enough so I was not expecting the buttery scrumptious mind blowing phenomenon that tickled my tastebuds! It was so awesome! My husband had the same buttery glory under his lobster and potatoes. I mean seriously.. what kind of sorcery is this?? My daughter even slammed her huge burger! I cannot wait to go back! There is a really nice view if you decide on outside seating. What a treasure this place is!

Always on point with food, especially sea food... expect stellar drinks and excellent service. Great interior and overall scene. One of my favorite places in Westport. You can't beat the drink named Global Warning, delicious.

Get the mushrooms!!!! The fried oyster deviled eggs are truly worth the hype. They also have great non alcoholic cocktail options for people who don't drink. We'll be back!

My husband and I popped into the world tonight for dinner and couldn't have been more happy with our experience. From the cocktails to the wine to the appetizers and entrées, all the food was superb. The service was also really great and attentive. It was fun to sit at the bar and watch the craft cocktails be made.

Amazing food! Everything we ordered was not just good, it was wonderful! If you have never had their shrimp and grits, this is a must have dish! Sadly, the chef was killed in a freak accident just outside the restaurant. Hit by a car. I am so very sorry for their loss.

The chicken sandwich is good (and overpriced) but where is the seafood? They haven't added anything new or special in years. Do they know nothing of the amazing seafood that comes out of the surrounding waters? Porgy, snappers, blues, flounder, black fish, Black Sea bass, striped bass, clams, the list goes on. Hello??? Also not a fan of the automatic 20% service fee. Wife said she had no interest in returning.

Really wanted to love this place but I have to get this out. Very crowded, tables to close together. Extremely loud due to the overcrowding. Limited menu. Pricey for the small portions you get. Time limit on tables, although they will serve you quickly. Automatic 20% service charge in case you can't calculate. Drinks expensive. On the plus side our server was very pleasant and the food was tasty. I'm going to leave this one up to you.

Food was inventive and delicious. Some stand outs were definitely the Smoked Trout Dip, Fish Sticks, Leeks with Anchovy Butter and Almond Cake. It was quite busy at 5:45pm on a Saturday, but the service was outstanding! Highly recommend this place. We look forward to coming back to try more dishes by Chef Taibe.

I was excited to celebrate my birthday at The Whelk with a party of 20 people. Some of us arrived 15 minutes early and assumed we could grab a round of drinks at the bar. To our confusion, the host who I believe was also the restaurant manager told us we were not allowed to hang out around the bar due to the fire marshal code. A few of my friends were already sitting at the bar and were informed that if someone else came to eat, they would need to get up from the bar and go outside until our table was ready at 8PM. We were then asked to step outside multiple times while trying to figure out what to do, and waited outside in the rainy misty raw spring weather. I would suggest editing the website from saying that it is a 'casual, relaxed atmosphere' to having a disclaimer that if you arrive early you have to wait outside, and that if truly no one is allowed to stand up around the bar and hang out, they should have accommodations to comfortably wait instead of saying 'leave and come back'. To be honest, this was a huge turn off and if I was with a smaller party I would've left. Fortunately, the food wound up being very good, and our waitress Lupita was extremely attentive, friendly and helpful, and apologized for our inconvenience. I would've liked to given this 5 stars, but first impressions are everything, and that was not a good one.

We decided to visit this established because my partner was craving seafood before our visit to the Westport playhouse. We were originally going to be seated at the high tops but after a request, we were able to sit in the regular seating. We ordered all appetizers: BBQ clams (not pictured) and burrata which came out first. The burrata was to die for and the beet mixture topping was delicious. We asked for extra bread as it only came with two slices. We were charged minimally; however, I believe for the about you receive, it should come with three to four slices of bread. The BBQ clams were small but lacked flavor. Our next two dishes were the seafood stew and the scallops. Both dishes were absolutely wonderful. My partner drank the stew liquid from the bowl. I don't blame him. As for the dessert, all I have to say is, I'm pretty sure I will be dreaming of the almond cake for days to come.

Awesome food, good vibes, great location on the water, service is very attentive...I will definitely be back

Our waitress was so helpful, friendly and accommodating. The food was delicious. We ordered the sea bass, branzino, shrimp and grits and fried chicken with pimiento cheese sandwich. Each dish was distinctive, with sauces that were so mouth watering and unusual. The fried chicken sandwich was so large my husband had to take half home. We went because we were having an early birthday celebration for me since my birthday was the next day. Even though the prices are fairly high, the culinary experience is well worth the price. We will be back. It is not often that I feel a Fairfield County restaurant can compare to fine dining in New York City but Whelk definitely does!

Had a girls night at The Whelk, the food was all pretty good and the service was spectacular. I would skip the house rolls with honey butter, they were just average rolls. The roasted oysters were cooked well but the kimchi butter overwhelms the taste of the oyster. Fries are delicious but that's pretty straight forward. Shrimp cocktail was fresh and cooked well but the shrimp are $6 per shrimp, which seems high compared to other restaurants in the area. Chicken sandwich was delicious and I would definitely recommend it. Overall we had a good experience but the pricing seems high for the amount of food you get, even for Westport standards. The location on the water is a nice experience and if you're looking to eat small fancy plates and are looking for these kind of ambiance, this place is a great option.

Had a good meal. Here's the good, the bad, and the ugly. The Good: Very personable and good service. Second, very good cocktails / we tried the Ftogget and The Chief. Finally, I really enjoyed the shrimp & grits, and I usually don't trust northerners making a fish like this. The Vad: The blackened shrimp appetizer - had to peel the shrimp. The Ugly:Don't order to Palmer rolls. Nothing special and they were just meh.

This eatery provides a good selection of east coast oysters as well as inventive and non-standardized seafood offerings. Menu items change while maintaining patron favorites throughout the year. Specialty drinks are well balanced and limited selection of wines by the glass are thought out to compliment most dishes. Think modern interpretation of seafood. It's not your typical fish n chips or clam shack. The squid, scallop, and beef tartare are my favorite small plates. This establishment is a bit on the pricier end and reservations suggested for Friday and Saturday between 6:30 through 8:30.

Made a reservation here for 6pm on Saturday and the entire process of creating the reservation and arriving there was very smooth. We did outdoor seating and they had heated lamps available. I wish I got our waiter's name because she was phenomenal. She was very knowledgeable about the different oysters (we went with the ones from Norwalk) and just made the overall dining experience memorable. We got the devil eggs, fish trout dip, oysters, the halibut, the fried chicken sandwich, and the panna cotta. Each dish was great but the showstopper was the panna cotta. After we picked it our server told us that it's her personal favorite and that we wouldn't find one like it anywhere else. And she was right! It was perfectly creamy and balanced with the citrus. Still thinking about the panna cotta days later :)

Ordered a bunch of small plates to try for my first visit. Everything was great, especially the oysters Rockefeller. Definitely going to come back. The mushroom small plate was also tasty.

Simply one of the best meals I've had in a long, long time. Called day of for reservations for 5:45 outside dining during perfect weather. Heaters are plentiful outside, but weren't necessary tonight. A creative cocktail menu starts you off, along with a few choices of brews and a generous wine list. Then you get to the food and you realize you're in for a treat. There isn't a single thing on that menu I wouldn't eat, but the things I did order were perfect. You are asked to keep your stay to 90 mins -- and by the end of it you kind of wish you could stick around and try everything. But that just means you need to go back.

This place is firing on all cylinders. I've been at least a dozen times and they never fail to hit it out of the park. I consider it to be Massimo's crown jewel, which is VERY high praise, considering he's one of the most consistently great restauranteurs on the planet. I've been to 5 of his restaurants now, Whelk, Le Farm, Jesup Hall, Kawa Ni & Don Memo and the only one I wouldn't give 5 stars to is Don Memo. Not too shabby. Speaking of not too shabby, The Whelk, as I said, might just be the best of them all, worthy of a sixth star if that were possible. From the casual-yet-special vibe to the friendly service to the killer food- if I could eat here seven days a week I would. Things to get... Well, the menu changes often, but there are a few staples: For starters, the deviled eggs are heavenly, topped with fried oysters and pickled onions. My god! The raw bar is another must if you like oysters, because they are always impeccable. So fresh, they don't even need lemon or mignonette. The grilled octopus is another crowd-pleaser served in Mediterranean preparation with potatoes, paprika and olives. And sometimes they have a killer fluke crudo with chili oil that's to die for. For entrees, I'm a sucker for Norman's Lobster. It's essentially half lobster, half butter and all ridiculous! It's so damn good even if you have an allergy to shellfish, you still might want to consider getting it. It's worth a trip to the hospital. The fish preps are also always strong, but they change so often it's not really worth listing particulars. And if you happen to be with a non-fish lover, fret not, because they do a killer burger, chicken sammy and even a chicken entree that holds its own. Lastly, for dessert, the go-to IMO is the pot du creme, made with wonderfully salted nuts that make this thing shine - and I don't even like pot du creme! But, if you're lucky, during rhubarb season, they have a strawberry rhubarb pie with fire roasted marshmallow whipped topping that's even better, if that were possible. Net, net... if you're thinking about going, stop thinking. You deserve this!

Nicole was the best! The food was great. would come back but only with nicole as waitress

Always an interesting menu ; top notch service ; nice weekday dinner or special event location.

We recently held a 100th birthday celebration at the Whelk for my amazing mom. We had a wonderful evening with delicious food and excellent service. Every one of our guests loved their drinks and meals. The Whelk was so easy to work with. We would highly recommend The Whelk for a regular night out or a celebration. Can't wait to go back!

Really great evening here the out other night. We were outside so it was a little quieter. ( very noisy inside). Great roasted oyster appetizer.... Could have eaten it all night. Fun staff as well.

Really great happy hour with friendly bartenders. The food is delicious but slightly overpriced. As is everything in the area I suppose. Great location on the river

Drinks were delicious, bartenders were knowledgeable and were able to improvise drinks. Food was also delicious. Would definitely recommend

I came here on a business trip because I was in the mood for oysters. If you love oysters and you're in northeast then you have to definitely need to order some. It does not get any fresher than that! This place is cute and cozy and right on the Saugatuck River! They had a great selection of oysters to chose from about 9. I order 4 of them...sorry I forget which ones. They were all so tasty and very fresh! I also order the Seafood Stew. It was good, not great. I wish I could've tasted more seafood variety other than the fish that was in the dish. I think there was supposed to be crab, but I didn't taste much of that. The toasted bread it came with was excellent for dipping! If I'm ever in the area again, I would definitely come back to eat more oysters and try other dishes on menu that offers a lot of variety!

Finding a lot of the restaurant scene in and around Norwalk!westport since my daughter relocated. The Whelk is a very happening place. Great decor, nice vibe. Nice menu, pricey but I'm learning that's the common factor in the area. Deviled eggs with fried oyster were outstanding, grilled octopus was cooked perfectly, squid ink pasta real nice with a touch of Spanish flair

Great, interesting seafood place (with other options). One of Westport's best places. Food, drinks and people are exceptional!

The Whelk needs no review. It's what all restaurants should strive to be. From food, to staff, to vibe it's the best of what a restaurant can be.

Excellent oysters, fluke crudo, and quality of service tucked in a modern yet comfortable setting. We will return! Thanks for the hospitality

Excellent food and our family's favorite spot for dinner. Can be hard to find a table on the weekends so make a reservation in advance. Love how they change the menu and cocktails seasonally. Never the same dull menu... it's always fun to try something new. The Frogger is awesome and the seafood stew, fried oyster deviled eggs and bbq clams are some of our favorites. Enjoy!

Although the scallops were a bit overcooked, the coco beans and creme fraiche surround almost forced me to lick the bowl. The dripping butter and crunchy breadcrumbs on the roasted oysters would make any shellfish hater a lover. A rounded mound of cheesecake surrounded by a fruit sauce and pecans (though advertised as hazelnuts) brought the words 'totally satiated' to mind. It wasn't too crowded on a Saturday at noon, and we were immediately seated without a reservation, with consistently attentive and friendly follow-up service. Roman, an 18 month- old seated next to us took one look at a passing bowl of thin fries and went from cheerful to whine. He was right to whimper and pout - we had some and they were delicious.