Granola Tacos

Now in its 8th year, The Granola Bar is a Westport icon.

The Playhouse Square spot — which also offers coffee, smoothies, salads, wraps and more — has spawned 4 other locations (Fairfield, Stamford, Greenwich, Rye), and a booming catering business.

But no place is immune to COVID-19. The Granola Bar shut down early in the pandemic. When it reopened in May, owners Julie Mountain and Dana Noorily realized their business was solid from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. After that though, it flagged.

They were paying rent, and had fixed costs, for much longer than those 8 hours. Their executive chef, Neil Rohricht, is “amazing,” Mountain says.

So the owners asked themselves: “What does Westport need, and what would we be really good at?”

The answer: tacos!

Which is why The Granola Bar has introduced The Taco Bar.

From 4 to 8 p.m., 7 days a week, Westporters are scarfing up tacos (carnitas, pollo asado, papas con chorizo, pork belly pastor,, carne asada, charred cauliflower and vegan gringo), burritos (cali, mixtos, original), sides (guac, queso, chips, rice and frijoles borracho), and taco packs. Those include 12 “build your own” tacos, and a family dinner kit with a choice of 3 varieties). “Parents really appreciate the ease of feeding their families,” Mountain says.

Like The Granola Bar, The Taco Bar is all takeout or delivery. There is no in-restaurant dining.

“Parents really appreciate the ease of feeding their families,” Mountain says. “And the deliciousness.

“We’re doing this with quality. We’re not just throwing something in a taco shell.”

Which is why — at The Taco Bar at The Granola Bar — you won’t  “granola tacos” on the menu.

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