'He was just really friendly': What Bill Murray ordered at this Mattapoisett restaurant

NEW BEDFORD — Just like in the Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day," if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.

With Murray popping up for the fifth time in the SouthCoast, and usually toward the end of the summer, does this mark a new tradition that the area will have a full year of laughs?

On Aug 28, Murray, 71, enjoyed dinner at Turk's Seafood in Mattapoisett after a round of golf at the Kittansett Club in Marion.

"I was a big fan, so I flipped out," said Kimberly McCarthy, who got the phone call that the Oscar-nominated actor was going to be dining with them.

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McCarthy, who has worked at Turk's Seafood for over four years, was in charge of takeout for the night when she was quickly shifted to the dining room. When Murray arrived, he surprised them with a group of 13.

"We were able to make it work," added McCarthy who seated them together on their outside patio. "He was just really friendly with me and made a lot of jokes."

Murray ordered sushi and swordfish

McCarthy said the group shared a sushi appetizer, while Murray ordered the swordfish for his dinner.

During the meal, McCarthy said he would make people stand up every 15 minutes to rotate three seats to the right so that everyone got a chance to talk with one another.

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Best known for his popular 'Saturday Night Live' characters and movies such as "Meatballs," "Ghostbusters," and "Caddyshack," Murray was nominated for an Oscar in 2004, for the film "Lost in Translation."

Murray was recently photographed dining with singer Wynonna Judd on July 26, at Newport's Clarke Cooke House. 

"I was just trying to keep my cool throughout the dinner," said McCarthy, adding this wasn't the first time she had a celebrity appearance at the restaurant. ("Law and Order" actor Sam Waterston, who owns a house in Mattapoisett, is a frequent visitor.)

According to Turk's Seafood owner Richard Pasquill, Jr, Murray isn't the first celebrity sighting they've had in their restaurant over the years.

"I don't know why this one blew up like it did," he said. "But he was great with the girls, he posed for photos, he was very nice... they probably laughed for a full hour."

Getting a special gift from Murray

Since his shoutout to New Bedford on David Letterman in April 2014, Murray has been making regular appearances in the area at the end of the summer.

In August 2018, he was spotted taking a fast ferry from New Bedford to Martha's Vineyard and in August 2019, Murray and writer/director Peter Farrelly tasted pierogis at Patti's Pierogis in Fall River.

A week later, Murray was again spotted at Cafe Mimo sharing "putting tips" and posing for photographs with the staff, according to a Facebook post.

Murray's last appearance was in July 2020, ordering burritos at Mi Antojo Mexican Restaurant on Rt. 18 in New Bedford while wearing a light blue medical mask.

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McCarthy said she was able to take a photo with Murray later in the evening, adding that he pretended to pose with her as if they were attending prom.

"It was very special," she said. "Summers are stressful and hard. And for the season to end this way for us — it's just unbelievable."

At the end of the night, McCarthy said Murray and his guests were among the last to leave the restaurant. When Murray came in to pay the bill —only to learn that someone else in his party had paid for the meal — he spent a few minutes taking last-minute photos with the staff.

McCarthy said she noticed a golf ball sitting on a ledge across from the bar, possibly left behind by a patron, and grabbed it to ask Murray to sign it for her husband — who is also a huge fan of the actor.

"He wrote, 'Trev, Make a putt! -- Bill Murray'," she said. "My husband was thrilled."

The autographed golf ball is now inside a glass display case specifically for golf balls, with a little mini cutting green, hole and flag, in their home.

"We haven't decided where to put it yet because we have two cats who love to knock things over off shelves," she said with a laugh.

Celebrities dining in the SouthCoast

This isn't the first celebrity to visit New Bedford.

In June, the movie "Finestkind" filmed all over the New Bedford and Fairhaven area with stars such as Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster and Jenna Ortega dining out all over the city during the production.

Jones and Foster were both spotted having dinner at The Black Whale.

In September 2021, "The King of Queens" star Kevin James enjoyed breakfast at the former Whaling City Diner on Purchase Street.

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On July 16, 2009, Martha Stewarts dined at Antonio's while in September 2008, Justin Timberlake and his then-girlfriend (now wife) Jessica Biel, were spotted having breakfast at Margaret's in Fairhaven.

Since the news of Murray's appearance at Turk's Seafood, a hostess on Wednesday said it has been busier than usual for a weekday.

"He was just so nice to them, and with everything going on these days, I think it's great to have a fun interaction like that. We need more laughs," Pasquill added.

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 'Ghostbusters' actor Bill Murray has dinner at Turk's Seafood