Westport, CT – Restaurateur Danny Gabriele knows a thing or two about the art of fine dining and is bringing this lost art to Westport, CT in the form of Gabriele’s Italian Steakhouse. Fairfield County dining enthusiasts will recognize the Gabriele’s Italian Steakhouse brand from their restaurant in Greenwich (2011-2019), which was a popular haunt for high-profile sports and business personalities and celebrities such as Judge Judy, Phil Jackson, A-Rod, Robert DeNiro, Michael Douglas, and more, and prior to that, the Gabriele family’s long-running restaurant Luca’s (1982-2009) which set a high bar within the local dining scene throughout the years.
Located adjacent to the Westport Country Playhouse at 27 Powers Court, the space has been transformed into a stylish restaurant, bar, and event venue, complete with patio dining and a reception deck. The front dining room boasts a stunning slate stone fireplace, plush banquette seating, white linen tables, and is wrapped in dramatic chandelier lighting, eclectic artwork, and beautiful woodwork. A glass partition offers a peek into the grand bar, where the wood craftsmanship continues. A backdrop of illuminated glass shelves lined with premium spirits puts forth an urban vibe. High-back cushioned bar chairs and a cozy lounge nook add to Gabriele’s bar appeal. The back dining room is an elegant extension of Gabriele’s main dining room. Natural sunlight and a high ceiling with a magnificent chandelier hover over the room’s luxurious furnishings.
To run the day-to-day operations, Gabriele’s has recruited hospitality veteran Peter Redei as the general manager. Redei brings over 20 years of international food service experience to Gabriele’s, most recently managing Z Hospitality Group’s Mediterraneo in Greenwich. Peter, a trained chef himself, has launched several successful restaurants in Westchester County.
The kitchen is under the direction of Executive chef Edgar Marcial, who most recently worked alongside Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho at New Haven’s popular Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill and Shell & Bones Oyster Bar. Gabriele’s menu will take its seasonal cues from local organic ingredients and the many food finds that the Westport Farmers’ Market has to offer. The steak-forward menu will also feature a variety of flavorful vegetarian dishes such as a rustic cauliflower steak. Setting the tone for Gabriele’s extensive menu are the restaurant’s signature classic cuts of hand selected, prime dry-aged beef, simply seasoned with sea salt and crushed black pepper. Passionate carnivores will rejoice over the selection of reserved international meats, including American Wagyu Premier Farms Beef, Certified Piedmontese Beef, and Japanese Kobe “A5”.
Side dishes come in true steakhouse fashion, from an XXL baked stuffed potato with crème fraiche and crispy bacon, to baked spinach au gratin, asparagus hollandaise, and creamy mac and cheese served classic, laced with truffle oil, or spiked with lobster.
Icy raw bar selections include New England oysters, colossal shrimp, and fresh lobster and crab. Appetizers run the gamut from brûlée burrata with cured iberico meats and ahi tuna tartare, to Sicilian meatballs, clams oreganata, and bourbon maple heritage bacon. Ribbons of pappardella with Bolognese and paccheri panna sauteed with English green peas, cream sauce, roasted shallots, fried prosciutto, and pecorino cheese are just a few of Gabriele’s comforting pasta dishes. Additional menu highlights include market fresh fish specials, Hatfield reserve pork chop prepared with garlic lemon sauce, cherry peppers, sausage, and potatoes, and pan roasted heritage chicken with lemon, roasted garlic, rosemary, and rainbow chard fingerling potatoes.
Desserts a must-try selection of seasonal flavors and ingredients and prepared daily by Gabriele’s pastry chef, the talented Chef Ruben Palma, a graduate of the Cordon Blue in Mexico. Chef Palma’s illustrious pastry chef career includes career time spent at the Ritz-Carlton in Cancun, New York’s Le Cirque, and Greenwich hot spots Versailles Bistro, Valbella, and Gabriele’s Italian Steakhouse. In addition to creating the restaurant’s decadent dessert offerings, Chef Palma will also be designing custom cakes for all occasions.
Gabriele’s modern cocktail culture is led by the mixology team of Isaac Patrick Camoro (cb5 Restaurant Group, Gabriele’s Greenwich, Owner Our House SoNo) and Sleman Husain (former bartender/bar consultant from the Delamar/Artisan Group). Hand crafted cocktails and timeless martinis share the stage with an extensive, curated global wine program.
Private events are under the direction of Catalina Schmidt, who has been orchestrating both intimate and elaborate corporate functions and milestone celebrations throughout Fairfield County for over 20 years on behalf of such high-profile restaurant groups as cb5 and The Marc Group, and ultimately as the owner of RSVP Venue Planning. In addition to Gabriele’s multiple dining room, bar, and patio options, private events can also be hosted in the Westport Country Playhouse courtyard, barn, and main patio/lobby.
We’ve said it before, and we are thrilled to say it again! “Forget the skinny jeans, tuck your napkin in, and enjoy a true dining experience.”
