Your Guide to Authentic Regional Eats
Sign In | Register for Free!
Restaurants Recipes Forums Eating Tours Merchandise FAQ Maps Insider

Westfair Fish & Chips

1781 Post Rd. East, Westport, CT - (203) 255-3184
Posted By Sally Lerman on 7/18/2012 12:03:00 AM
I had tried this lobster roll once before, and remembered that it had tail meat, butter, all the right stuff, but I didn’t really enjoy it as much as I should have. I remembered it being soggy, but figured that might have been due to getting it take-out and driving around to try to find a more picturesque spot to eat it. So, I decided I needed to give this spot another chance and a fair shake, by eating it there.

It is a very challenging spot to find if you don’t know where you’re going. It’s in kind of a strip mall behind a strip mall. Obviously very popular with locals, always very packed, no matter what the time. The “in the know” way seems to be to call ahead and then pick up your order. There’s only one guy at the counter taking orders, charging, and bagging up, and one guy cooking. So, if you just walk in, it could really be a while before anyone takes your order, then a while longer before you eat. I don’t mind that so much; there is some minimal indoor and outdoor seating while you wait. So, after some interesting people watching, I got the hot lobster roll.

The soggy thing was apparently not a fluke the last time. The second I picked up this lobster roll, the bottom fell out and most of the meat with it. I respect a place's desire to use lots of butter on the lobster roll because, obviously, butter is delicious. But there is a fine line with butter, since you still want it to be a sandwich, not a fork and knife endeavor. In which case, why not just order a fresh steamed lobster and dip it in butter.

The bread was your standard white split-top bun, dry grilled, nothing special. The lobster meat, while it did have tail, knuckle, and claw, and seemed fresh, just didn’t taste very good. One problem it had was that the meat didn’t seem to have been picked very well. It still had that white gooey stuff that adheres to fresh lobster meat and you’re supposed to pick off. I think some people refer to it as the blood, but you’re not supposed to eat it and it doesn’t taste good. I also found a large shard of inner claw shell.

I tried to like this lobster roll, but it just kept disappointing. I didn’t see much worth returning for, except the onion rings. They were truly incredible! Maybe some of the best I've had, fresh-cooked, saltylishious, great. Call ahead and order onion rings. Judging by the onion rings, if you're into fried stuff, that may be worth trying here. I’m just not into much fried besides onions.

1 out of 2 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes

Scorecard

1 - Overall: Won't Eat Again
Overall: Won't Eat Again
Onion Rings
Hot Lobster Roll
Rate this place

Reviewers Photos [Upload Your Photos]

This mountain of fried clams is mostly whole bellies, with a few strips thrown in for variety's sake. French fries are served on the side. (Photo taken on the armrest of the car, where we dined.)
"This mountain of fried clams is mostly whole bellies, with a few strips thrown in for variety's sake. French fries are served on the side. (Photo taken on the armrest of the car, where we dined.)"
Michael Stern





What the blackboard menu calls 'Rhode Island' chowder is found also along the shore in much of Connecticut: a dairy-free soup dedicated to the oceanic flavor of clams.
"What the blackboard menu calls 'Rhode Island' chowder is found also along the shore in much of Connecticut: a dairy-free soup dedicated to the oceanic flavor of clams."
Michael Stern


This is about all there is to the inside of Westfair Fish & Chips. That's a lobster tank at the left. Outside of camera range on the left is the order window, and off to the right is a case holding cold sodas.
"This is about all there is to the inside of Westfair Fish & Chips. That's a lobster tank at the left. Outside of camera range on the left is the order window, and off to the right is a case holding cold sodas."
Michael Stern


I want to call the New England chowder creamy because it has such a plush flavor, but it isn't at all thick, nor is it obscenely rich -- just a lovely balance of ocean and dairy flavors.
"I want to call the New England chowder creamy because it has such a plush flavor, but it isn't at all thick, nor is it obscenely rich -- just a lovely balance of ocean and dairy flavors."
Michael Stern


Shrimp are available broiled or fried, in a 10-piece order or a six-piece order, alone or with French fries, onion rings and/or cole slaw.
"Shrimp are available broiled or fried, in a 10-piece order or a six-piece order, alone or with French fries, onion rings and/or cole slaw."
Michael Stern


Westfair's hot lobster roll seems not to contain any butter. But that's OK, because the lobster is so buttery itself that it scarcely could get any richer. The toasted bun is irrelevant, too, except as a pedestal for all that fresh-from-the-shell meat.
"Westfair's hot lobster roll seems not to contain any butter. But that's OK, because the lobster is so buttery itself that it scarcely could get any richer. The toasted bun is irrelevant, too, except as a pedestal for all that fresh-from-the-shell meat."
Michael Stern


We had driven past this place a hundred times before our friend Diane Slovak clued us in to it. You don't actually see it from the road, but you will know you've arrived when you see the Westfair Fish Market out in front.
"We had driven past this place a hundred times before our friend Diane Slovak clued us in to it. You don't actually see it from the road, but you will know you've arrived when you see the Westfair Fish Market out in front."
Michael Stern


Portions are big at Westfair, so if a large amount of clams or shrimp seems too monomaniacal, you might want to choose a half-and-half dinner. This one is piled onto a nest of the kitchen's lovely onion rings.
"Portions are big at Westfair, so if a large amount of clams or shrimp seems too monomaniacal, you might want to choose a half-and-half dinner. This one is piled onto a nest of the kitchen's lovely onion rings."
Michael Stern


Here's the menu posted adjacent to the order window. We're definitely going for the hot lobster roll next time we visit.
"Here's the menu posted adjacent to the order window. We're definitely going for the hot lobster roll next time we visit."
Michael Stern


A modest-sized crab cake with sweet, fresh-meat flavor and enough filler to add spice and texture. It reminds me of a really good turkey stuffing with a pronounced seafood flavor and the added attraction of crusty outsides.
"A modest-sized crab cake with sweet, fresh-meat flavor and enough filler to add spice and texture. It reminds me of a really good turkey stuffing with a pronounced seafood flavor and the added attraction of crusty outsides."
Michael Stern


Jane and I have eaten our way through much of the Westfair menu, but no matter what else we get, we always share at least a small order of the excellent fried shrimp.
"Jane and I have eaten our way through much of the Westfair menu, but no matter what else we get, we always share at least a small order of the excellent fried shrimp."
Michael Stern



What is Roadfood?  |   Submit Content  |   Privacy Policy  |   Contact Roadfood.com   Copyright - Roadfood.com