Of all the Friday Flashbacks I post, it’s these — collections of bygone businesses or restaurants — that resonate the most.
This match collection comes courtesy of Scott Beck. He now owns Little Barn — but it’s clear the Staples High School graduate’s restaurant chops go back a long way.
Some of these are classics, like Three Bears, Mario’s, The Arrow and Ships.
Some — The Mushroom and L’Arbalète — I don’t remember at all.
Davy Jones deserves special mention. It preceded the Black Duck.
But my favorite — though I don’t remember it either — is not a restaurant at all.
Anyone know anything about The Octopus: “t-shirt and head-shop”?
Those were the days.
(Collage courtesy of Scott Beck)
The best salad I ever had was at the Arrow. They had the best home made salad dressing. I could picture the place like it was yesterday- Lou Nistico sitting at a table in the bar greeting the commuters who got off the train.
The Arrow also had a wonderful tomato sauce for their spaghetti. I went there often just to get a quart of spaghetti sauce to bring home. I’d like some of that right now!
The head shop octopus has SIX legs….
Well, if it was a head shop….
Let’s not forget the Peppermill!! Great Salad Bar, wonderful steaks with great atmosphere!
And fantastic bacon cheeseburgers!
10% of the town probably worked at the Peppermill at one time or another. Cindy, my sister, worked there.
I still remember Manero’s fondly after all these years. In the 1950s we were living in Greenwich Village and had friends in Westport who introduced us to Manero’s. They were intimate friends, but I think it was Manero’s that prompted frequent visits. World class martinis and his sea and surf dish was magnificent. I now live part time in Westport and haven’t yet found a restaurant equal to Manero’s — perhaps it is nostalgia talking now.
Love the matchbooks but it’s missing one of my two favorites – the Clam Box. Just for the record, my other (number one favorite) was the Arrow. I loved their pizza!! I remember as a kid burning my mouth every time because I couldn’t wait for it to cool.
L’Arbelete (french for crossbow) had excellent food and had a statue of a crossbow out in front.The venue subsequently became many things including McGlynn’s.
Who among the residents who have arrived to Westport after 1971 would believe that Muriel’s Diner was plopped on the corner of the Post Rd and Taylor Place half on the sidewalk, and half on the road?
As far as I know Jacks Diner was legal. Did Muriel move it?
I wonder who has the recipe for The Ships’ lobster bisque? I had it there Circa 1980) it was to die for.
I have a Pearl’s Matchbook. It’s a keeper.
Paula Pastorelli owned Pearls. I went to Long Lots Junior High with her in 1959 and 1960. She was such a nice person and so entrepreneurial.
I used to love The Mushroom. It later became Blue Lemon and more recently The Penguin. The Mushroom had the best bread and, of course, delicious mushroom-inspired dishes. What is the name of that shopping center? Sherwood?
It used to be Sherwood Square. Then it became Sconset Square. Go figure.
A former employee of Ships sent me the recipe for the seafood bisque…I could eat that stuff every day for ages and not get sick of it 😊
Snows Clam Chowder was the secret ingredient..
Dear Jill,
We all need that recipe. Any chance you could share it?
I’d like to have that recipe too! I’m willing to pay $100,000 dollars for it, and I don’t exaggerate!!
I certainly remember the head shop. How funny that it eventually evolved into Tiffany & Co. of all things. Any kid who rode the Minnybus to Jesup Green had to walk past it on the way to the (old) library or Main St. My mother told me to *never* go in there!
I really miss Glynn’s–great homestyle cooking and a very welcoming relaxed atmosphere.
My brother hired a cook from Ships in ‘79. He came with the recipe. Mark F. was none too happy. As to the Octopus, I had a college housemate who may have been its best customer, but I really can’t remember.
Wonderful collage of Westport history. Loved Ships, Peppermill, and La Bibliotheque.
No mention of Clam Box? Food not the best but top gun among attracting NYers here.
Amazing memory board, Dan, thanks for sharing … My friends and I, actually, were Octopus customers in our early teens. The shelves were lined with 100’s of bongs & they had a remarkable collection of black-light art, rolling papers & smoking paraphernalia … That was back before Needle Park was usurped by developers & when the Green was regularly occupied by great numbers of happy Octopus customers … 😀
Oh I remember many of these! Ships , Cafe De La Plage, Marios, Mansion Clam House, Maneros, Le Chambord, 3 Bears, Onion Alley. I had good times at all of them. Some are gone altogether, some have been replaced. Are the replacements as fun as the originals. In my time these places were hopping.