Westport's Pearl Restaurant Successfully Adapts To The Pandemic

WESTPORT, CT — When you think of Pearl, the gorgeous waterfront restaurant and bar at Westport's Longshore Club Park, the image of takeout food containers doesn't readily come to mind.

At least they didn't before the coronavirus pandemic hit in March, when the nation ground to a halt in an effort to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

"We had our struggles early on," David Donnelly, Pearl's director of operations, told Patch. "But we've tried different things, and talked to our guests about what they liked and didn't like. They have been very supportive."

For example, the owners and staff learned that while not all meals travel well as others during takeout, most do. Co-owner Lois Backon told Patch that it took a little experimentation to find just the right containers for their food.

"We knew early on that we would use recycled and sustainable containers," she said. "We were already one of the first restaurants in the area to make the move to paper straws, so using recyclable boxes and bags was important to us."

Donnelly said that the pandemic also drastically altered the restaurant's supply chains ("It's been a disaster"), so they learned that they would need to stock more items than they usually do.

The curbside service the restaurant industry was forced to use during the pandemic was well-received among Pearl's customers, the two said, particularly at Easter and Mother's Day, two days when the restaurant typically does huge dine-in business.

Like other restaurants, Pearl was closed on those days, but their takeout efforts on those days worked out well, particularly its "Chicken Under a Brick" dish. The meal (yukon gold mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus and dijon-chicken jus) has become one of its most popular during the pandemic as patrons gravitate toward comfort foods.

Backon said that in addition to the warmth and support Pearl has received from its customers, she is also pleased by the hard work and understanding from the restaurant's staff.

She said that early on, they decided to retain and pay the staff even while the restaurant was closed.

"I'm proud that we kept our team together," Backon said. "I think they were grateful, and that paid dividends when we were able to reopen for customers. Our staff is happy and welcoming, and it shows."

Additionally, the help from town officials in navigating the state's coronavirus protocols has been crucial.

"The town and the Chamber of Commerce have been great about disseminating information," Donnelly said. "Everyone from the Planning & Zoning Department to Westport's fire marshals, really everyone, has been great."

Backon echoed those sentiments, saying that they would not have been able to fully grasp all the nuances of the state's 66-page book of pandemic rules without the help of town and chamber officials.

Longshore Club Park is owned by the town, which recently announced it signed a new operation deal for the Inn at Longshore with Longshore Hospitality LLC, a partnership led by the Greenwich Hospitality Group. The move to new stewardship at the inn is due to the pending retirement longtime proprietor Rory Tagert of Longshore Associates of Westport LP.

The new management arrangement at the inn will not affect Pearl, according to town officials, which will remain open.

In fact, Backon invites patrons to visit the restaurant this winter, as even its iconic patio overlooking the harbor will be open to accommodate social distancing requirements during the pandemic.

"We have fire pits and heaters on the patio, but we also encourage guests to bring blankets," she said.

This article originally appeared on the Westport Patch