There is a new French influenced restaurant in the Saugatuck area of Westport, just across from the NY bound side of the Metro-North Station. Allium Eatery located at 54 Railroad Place is a small and amenable spot that has been open since Fall of 2021 and boasts Michelle Greenfield as the chef and proprietor. After honing her skills at both Jesup Hall and the Schoolhouse at Cannondale , Greenfield thrives on presenting her creations utilizing the current season’s bounty. The restaurant functions as a grab and go market during the day, offering very tempting small bites as well as roasted chicken, sandwiches and salads available to eat-in or take out. There is dinner service on Thursday- Saturday, as well as brunch on Saturday. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday.

In a town that has many options for dining, most of them pretty mediocre, I was happy to discover Allium Eatery. Dinner was so good last week that I returned a few days later for lunch. The focus on quality here is very apparent, and refreshing.

The space inside is compact yet pleasing, and there is a nice sized dining area outside (a Covid Patio) which is an inviting alternative if the weather is good.

The menu changes weekly according to what is in season, and there seems to be no trouble accommodating a vegetarian or gluten free diet (or both)! The menu was highly appealing to me, farm-to-table with a French flair.

While we settled in to peruse the menu choices we ordered a 1/2 bottle of Rioja and asked the Bartender to create a mocktail (currently not on the menu), which was delicious.

I couldn’t resist the Fields of Love salad which was fresh, crispy and tangy with the bite of rich bleu cheese. I “loved” it. My husband ordered the octopus, and he shared all of his chickpeas with me, which were very plentiful.

For my entree I went with the Parisian Gnocchi (minus the lardons) which tasted like spring on a plate. My husband had to try the Rotisserie Chicken which thankfully tasted far better than it looked. Buried under a blanket of radicchio the dish was not particularly photogenic, but there wasn’t much left when he was through with it. The servings at Allium Eatery are generous, so while we had no room for dessert, we vowed to return.

Just a few days later I brought my son in for lunch and we decided to dine outside. The menu is very concise, featuring a well curated selection of dishes that change weekly.

I opted for the Spring Green Toastie, but with no toast. It was served on a large mound of perfect arugula and radicchio. The cheesy roasted asparagus was an ideal topper and I enjoyed every bite. We ordered side salads from the case and both the kale with gouda and the farro with pesto and peas were just as fresh and tasty as expected. My son had the rotisserie chicken sandwich which he enjoyed, but was not as enthusiastic as I was. I often get carried away regarding my passion for farm fresh veggies, though I think that in the case of Allium Eatery it is warranted.

Allium Eatery is the kind of restaurant you hope to find in your town. The Chef watches over every aspect of both the food and the service, and the end result is a spot where you can be confident that all efforts are being made for you to enjoy your experience. I know I will be back again soon!