By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — Nômade, the new restaurant that opened last week in the Main Street space long occupied by Tavern on Main, is drawing crowds to sample its mix of international cuisine.

The downtown dining destination, whose name is the French spelling of the word “nomad,” features a diverse menu of foods from France, Morocco, Italy and the Pacific rim.

“I just opened the door and people were walking in,” Patrick Jean, Nômade’s general manager and partner, said about the restaurant’s first day on Aug. 16, and every day ever since.

“They’ve been waiting for the past two-and-a-half years,” Jean said of the place, which had been vacant since Tavern on Main closed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was time for the place to be more alive again.”

Maria Koubek, lunching Thursday on the restaurant’s patio with her daughter, Liz Duggan, and nine-month-old grandson, Noah, agreed. “It’s just what Westport needed,” she said. “The menu looks wonderful. The wine list looks beautiful.” 

Tavern on Main, which had done business at the site for more than 25 years, was preceded there by the French restaurant, Chez Pierre.

According to Jean, quality service is a top priority at Nômade and the new restaurant’s downstairs patio currently is open only for lunch while he continues to hire and train his team.

But Nômade also has a large terrace and wrap-around porch for outside dining, as well as inside dining for lunch, dinner, a late-night menu and brunch.

“I’d rather serve fewer people and provide great service,” Jean said.

He said he has been told by patrons that the service they’ve experienced at other new restaurants isn’t always up to par, partly because of the post-pandemic labor shortage plaguing the restaurant industry. Opening Nômade proved to be a lengthy process, as Jean took his time to hire the staff. “I’ve had plenty of time to find help … It took months to create a team.” 

Nômade offers several bills of fare, including a bar menu, a “sandwich and more” menu and the main menu that includes charcuterie, cold and hot starters, vegetables and entrees from “the land and the sea.”

The choices are international and eclectic, such as “Local Burrata,” an Italian favorite, and the Middle Eastern salad Tabbouleh, both on the cold starter menu, and Hungarian stuffed cabbage and Peking Duck offered as two entrees.

The restaurant’s main investment partner, Ciara Webster, who has connections in Morocco, helped Jean, who is French, design the menu as well as the interior of the restaurant. Décor details, as well as the glassware and plates, all are imported from Morocco, Jean said. 

Nômade is designed to be a relaxing place to dine, with an undercurrent of excitement, Jean said.

“You can feel the energy. You can feel the happiness.” 

Nômade, 150 Main St. serves lunch, dinner, brunch and a late-night menu. Hours are Monday through Wednesday: lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; afternoon menu from 3 to 5 p.m.; dinner from 5 to 10 p.m.; late night from 10 to 11 p.m. and snack menu from 11 p.m. to closing. The dinner menu is available until 10:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday with a snack menu until 11:30 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with dinner and late-night hours varying. 

For more information, visit nomadewestport.com or call 203-557-9577.

Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist and journalism teacher for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman newspaper for 10 years and currently teaches journalism at Southern Connecticut State University.