By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT–Karen Hubrich opened a Westport branch of Gruel Britannia on Monday at 161 Cross Highway, formerly occupied by the Porch at Christies.

Hubrich and her partner, Scott Rochlin, hope to replicate the success of their Fairfield restaurant, on Post Road.. 

Rochlin is a veteran restauranteur of the former Henry’s Place and Tarantino’s in Westport. Both Hubrich and Rochlin are long-time Westporters and they want their restaurant to have the same community feel that the businesses in the Christie’s building have offered over the years. “I used to ride my bike here to buy candy when I was a kid,” Rochlin said.

Much of the food and all the decor at Gruel Britannia is British. 

Gruel Britannia currently offers breakfast, lunch, tea and prepared meals for pick-up. The red-white-and-blue “Tuck Shop,” offers snacks that can be picked up on the go from early morning to 4 p.m., beginning next week.

The afternoon tea service presents diners with the traditional tiered dish carrying sandwiches, pastries and loaded scones. Tea lovers will recognize the sandwich selections: cucumber, smoked salmon and egg salad.

In September, Gruel Britannia will begin to offer dinner. The Sunday menu will feature a British prime rib.

Today, plenty of British favorites are available at lunch, including the “most popular” dish: fish and chips. Within a few weeks, the regular lunch menu now offered in Fairfield will be available in Westport: shepherd’s pie (traditionally lamb), cottage pie (beef), Cornish pasties which are turnovers filled with beef and vegetables, and pork pie.

Evoking the era “when the sun never set on the British Empire,” Hubrick plans to serve international fare from Thailand, India and Mexico.

As a magnet for Anglophiles, Gruel Brittania also sells traditional British candy, sodas and  merchandise. The tea service uses vintage English china. “Everything here is British,” Hubrich said.

Hubrich and Rochlin are also planning to host community events at their new restaurant. These include a calm bake, BBQ night, classic car shows, and St. Patrick Day events, Rochlin said.

Jennifer Jackson and Joanne Heller, two tea aficionados from Westport, were enjoying the atmosphere at Gruel Britannia on Tuesday to help celebrate the opening of the new Westport location. They have enjoyed tea at the shop’s Fairfield location and have eagerly awaited the opening of the tea room in Westport. “We’re big fans,” Jackson said, as the pair sipped their tea. “We are excited that they are here.”

Gruel Britannia
161 Cross Highway
Westport
203-293-4310
gruelbritannia@gmail.com