Manolo, Westport (CT), Mediterranean Fare

Pedro Garzon cooks from the heart at Manolo, his new Mediterranean restaurant in Westport (CT) where the short-live Zest used to be. Courses are offered in two sizes: one portion or — what he prefers to serve — a family style platter, so you feel at home.

Pedro, a former chef at New Haven’s Barcelona Restaurant on Temple Street, selects the best foods and handles it as little as necessary. I experienced that last month at a dinner for Connecticut press to introduce us to his cooking.

We began with platters of charcuterie, another of smoky white bean hummus, roasted peppers and olives while sipping Aizea “Breeze” Albariño Rias Baixas, 2006 ($42). Many of the wines are offered not only by the bottle, but as a third of a bottle for $10 or less, easily allowing sampling of various ones during a meal.

Next, they served us platters of simply grilled, not overcooked scallops, octopus and prawns. A tomato fondue topped the jumbo sea scallops.

Those delicacies would have been enough for me, but various meats from the menu followed next: breast of duck with caramelized cherries, fresh thyme and sage ($14/$27), grilled lamb chops with piquillo pepper and romesco sauce ($14/$27), and grilled Angus NY Strip Steak with cilantro and parsley chimichurri sauce ($16/$30).  We were served some delicious veggies to round out the meal.

I was way too pleasantly satiated to even consider trying the classic brulee or the cheese platter they served. I do, though, plan to go back for more. Definitely worth the visit.

Currently only open for dinner.