The Whelk — Restaurant in Westport

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...

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...

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...