We don't agree with the high ratings.
Two couples enjoyed our food for the most part. However, my shrimp in phylo appetizer was very disappointing at $15. Shrimp were overcooked and dry; a puddle of cooking oil on the plate. Main courses were good; but not excellent as one would expect for such a restaurant. Service was amateurish at best. Waiter had no clue on how to serve wine without spilling on tablecloth. This is definately not a keeper. Save your $$$    [29 Jul 2002 19:02:03]

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     ­Anonymous   

Way overpriced - not a gourmet restaurant
The food is good, but often not exactly what is expected - duck was supposed to be crispy but wasn't. Salmon portion was teeny. We ordered a Connecticut wine that the waitress recommended and when we got the bill found it was $10.75 a glass. There are plenty of other good value gourmet restaurants in the area.    [22 Feb 2003 07:59:04]

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     ­Anonymous   glasscamera at earthlink dot net

One of the best
I had the great pleasure to enjoy lunch today with my wife. I enjoyed greatly a skillfully balanced Crusted Nori Salmon sushi appetiser served with a sweet fragrant pickled Ginger and Wasabi that had real bite.
My main course, a simple Steak Sandwich was served with a great horseradish sauce and "Shoelace" fries.
The wine selection is very notable and I tried a Guigal Cote de Rhone Rose which sustained the reputation of Mssr. Guigal.
This was followed with a terrific banoffee pie dreged in ground chocolate and high quality light and dark chocolate shavings. My wife enjoyed a rich dark chocolate tart guaranteed to lift anyone's flagging spirits.
The highlight however was in meeting one of the owners Mr James O'Shea. He clearly has both the interest and real knowledge required of a restauranteur.
At his suggestion we enjoyed a selection of sorbets amongst which the Lemon Posset with it's citrus zing and ginger bite was worth the trip alone.
All in all I consider it a "must visit again soon".    [05 Apr 2003 22:22:37]

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Recommended Dishes: Crusted Nori Salmon, Lemon Posset

     ­Dean McGearey   dean at mcgearey dot com

Don't Bother Unless You Think You Are Famous and Come From New York
Went to West Street a few months ago as hadn't been there in a while. Saturday Night, 7:30 res. Called to say we would be ten minutes late. Got there, talked to a server who seated us immediately, things looking good. Then waited ten minutes for her to come back to inform us she couldn't find any menus. Owner comes back a couple of minutes later with one to share. All 4 of us get menus several minutes after that. Server comes back several minutes later (now in seats 20 minutes plus) to get drink order, returns ten minutes later with drinks. My wife had ordered glass of Cabarnet, arrives ice cold. Waitresses response is that with the cold winter, this is recurrent problem, due to proximity of wine storage area to door. Leaves with wine to warm it up, comes back ten minutes later with chill off wine. In interim, the other male in our party of four has caught owner/managers ear and has expressed our displeasure to date. His response? "What do you want me do? How about if I give you an order of Parmesan Bread?" Not exactly what we were looking for, but maybe things will turn around. After delivering the now warmed wine, the server asks to take our order. My wife begins to order, until seconds into the order, the server says, excuse me, I need to tend to the table behind you. Don't know who it was, but, as the server was to tell us later on, she had been told by the owner to wait hand and foot on this "important " guest. Not to cast dispertions on NYC gliterrati - but judging on looks alone, (and the actions of the server, this was "somebody") Long story short, the "special" bread eventually arrived. Turned out to be a piece of toasted rye bread with some burnt parmesan cheese on it. The meals eventually arrived. Small portions, fully priced, and nothing special. We didn't order desert, coffees, or apertifs, and still the bill bordered on the outrageous. I might have thought this was somewhat of a nightmare fluke experience, until I spoke to a friend of mine who is an established restaurater in Greater Hartford later that same week. Upon telling my tale, he was laughing and smiling, seems he had gone there the Sunday following our mis-adventure and had a similarily miserable time. This restaurant is surviving by resting on the reputation it earned a long time ago. I would not recommend it to anyone. Go to West Hartford center, you have your choice of some of the best restaurant's in the state, and the region. There is something for everyone.    [12 May 2003 21:31:05]

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     ­Andrew   

The best part is the plates
I've been told that a high level of expectation leads to low level of satisfaction. Well, that is exactly what my girlfriend and I experienced at West Street Grill. West Street Grill was suggested to us as part of a 'short list' of must tries (we are new to Litchfield). I wish we had skipped it. It is overpriced. The food is decent at best. The wine list is pretty unimaginative. The wait staff is strictly amateur. I will say that we did like the decor, especially the plates that adorn the tables as you first sit down. Too bad they don't serve your food on those.    [29 May 2003 20:58:58]

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     ­jeff   

Great Food, cramped dining
The food was superb the evening I ate. I had a cashew-crusted halibut that was divine. My companion had duck confit, with skin and succulent. For an appetizer, I had a crab and corn salad, that turned out to be a mayonnaise based seafood salad, I didn't expect that. The table was very small and cramped, we were within eavesdroppiong distance from the tables on both sides. The table top for two was about 2'x2', not comfortable with drinks. The waiter was hurried, snobbish, and unattentive. Otherwise, the fish was fabulous. If the ambiance and service were better, I would have had a really enjoyable meal.    [04 Jun 2003 19:57:52]

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Recommended Dishes: Cashew-crusted halibut, duck confit

     ­Jimi   rtfamily at hotmail dot com

Too much $$$
A very over-rated and over-priced restaurant in a very lovely, over-rated town.    [08 Oct 2003 12:28:32]

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     ­Jim   

The finest Fish I've ever had: From LA/SF to NYC
The presentation, the spice rub, the fillet-shapes and the white-bean/smoked bacon underneath, made for the finest Trout I've ever had. The final 3 bites were as balanced, as a extraordinary, and as magical as the first. We were also charmed and warmed by the amusing and conversant owner, who gave us some delicious, complimentary Sauterne--and bantered with us about fish, Los Angeles, Dover Sole. We started out the meal with a highly herbed gnocchi in a kind of Ultra-Sage Butter flavor explosion. Wow. But the chocolate bread pudding put us over the edge, to finish. My wife thought the Creme Brulee very good, but not special. I would compare the WSG with the Rialto at the Charles Hotel--the "old" Orso in LA, and, one of our new favorties in Brooklyn, Al Di La.    [18 Oct 2003 17:56:53]

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Recommended Dishes: Chocolate Bread Pudding

     ­Anonymous   

Seriously overrated and overpriced
Food is OK, but not worth the $. Much better restaurants in the area for much less money. Snobby people greet you. Service was spotty, quick to get the order, but very slow to bring the food.    [31 Jan 2004 22:15:47]

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     ­Sue N.   

The greatest restaurant in the Northeast
The West Street Grill is the best restaurant in Litchfield County and possibly the best in the entire region north of New York City. James O'Shea and Charles Kafferman should get a commission from the increase in real estate sales as a result of the many people who have moved to this area because of the West Street Grill.    [25 Mar 2004 20:57:04]

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Recommended Dishes: Nori wrapped salmon; organic green salad, confit of duck, all sorbets and ice creams!!

     ­Anonymous