In Westport: Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Kitchen & Bar

Written by Fran Sikorski
Thursday, 15 July 2010 10:13

Guests at the new Rizzuto’s Wood-Fired Kitchen & Bar in Westport, third restaurant opened by Chef Bill Rizzuto in six years, will find some new dining treats.

The 6,000-square-foot restaurant, a space occupied by Manero’s Steak House for many years, seats 100 in the main dining room, 30 for private parties, and has high-top seating at the bar. There is a large raw bar and an exhibition kitchen  with a wood-fired oven, a fresh pasta pantry displaying the day’s freshly made choices, an antipasto station, and mini-market where products made on the premises — sauces, pasta, meatballs and bread — are sold.

Before he became a full-fledged restaurateur six years ago, Bill Rizzuto modified eight restaurants at Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas, and created six restaurants for Walt Disney World’s Dolphin Hotel at Epcot Center. He was also regional director of food and beverages for Hyatt Hotels Northeast Division and launched three of the company’s food and beverage operations and headed the renovation of the Hyatt Regency Greenwich as general manager.

Assisting Bill  Rizzuto in his newest restaurant featuring Italian/California dishes and thin crust pizza specialties are Julio Cevallos as executive chef; Jared Chorney, as general manager; Tom Siano and Anne Whelan, assistant managers; and Kim Crosby in charge of special events.

Having visited the flagship Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Pizza Kitchen in the Stony Hill section of Bethel, followed by the second Rizzuto’s in Blue Back Square in West Hartford, I knew the Westport facility would be a desirable location with its proximity to many arts-related events.

On the evening of our visit, my daughter and I were planning to have dinner before attending an opening night performance at the Westport Country Playhouse. It was apparent many other diners had the same idea because every table was occupied and the well choreographed service was flawless. Members of the staff knew exactly which diners were heading for an 8 o’clock curtain.

I began with the martini flight of Italy, three minis, set up to honor the Italian flag.

We agreed the jumbo lump crabcakes ($12)  were sensational and shared an organic baby arugula salad with fresh pear, goat cheese, honey-toasted pecans, grape tomatoes ($7 as a starter, $12 as an entrée).

A special of the evening, tortelloni with shrimp and asparagus and a pink tomato sauce ($23) was generous and we shared and savored the dish with glasses of a rich red Nero Davola red wine from Sicily.

Other signature selections are wood-fired thin crust Neapolitan pizza ($11 to $16); cured meat and artisan cheese board/appetizers ($6 to $22); house-made pappardelle pasta with Bolognese sauce;  linguini with white or red clam sauce ($16 to $28); oven-roasted free range chicken breast, with truffle macaroni and cheese; cedar plank-roasted salmon; and veal rib chop breaded and seared with white wine caper sauce ($16 to $30). A children’s menu ($10.75) includes beverage and  dessert.

Not wanting to rush through our meal, we followed our waiter’s suggestion, returning after the theater performance to complete the evening, and it included a bonus, a late night jazz combo.

Our light and delicious house-made desserts were pistachio crème brûlée and Rizzuto’s tiramisu prepared with traditional marsala zabaglione, espresso, Kahlua-soaked lady fingers, with espresso anglaise.  House-made limoncello brought out additional flavors. Great end to the evening!

Bill Rizzuto has plans on the drawing board for a fourth restaurant as soon as he finds the right location.

 

Side dishes

La Taverna Restaurant owners Maya Gui, her sons Brian Herman, executive chef Greg Herman, and daughter-in-law Randi Herman  are celebrating their 14th anniversary in business and are offering a glass of Prosecco to couples celebrating anniversaries through Sept. 1. La Taverna is at 130 New Canaan Avenue in Norwalk. Reservations, 203-849-8879...Antipasti, a restaurant at 1 North Broadway in White Plains, NY has closed and will reopen again under new management as  Patricia’s of White Plains.

 

Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Kitchen & Bar

540 Riverside Avenue

203-221-1002

 

Lunch, 11:30 to 2:30 Monday to Saturday; dinner, 4 to 9 Monday; 4 to 9:30 Tuesday; 4 to 10 Wednesday; 4 to 9:30 Thursday; 5 to 11 Friday and Saturday; 4 to 9 Sunday; bar opens at 4 to last call. Family-style menus available.

 

Reservations accepted for six or more; handicap accessible; major credit cards; child friendly; full bar; extensive global wines by the glass $7 to $12 served as a quartino; by the bottle, from $28 to $250; raw bar; Italian/California menu; wood-fired pizza; gluten-free pastas; take-out; delivery; off-premises catering; smart casual dress; private functions; entertainment; seasonal outdoor patio; parking adjacent to the restaurant.