Corporate Cozy Corner in Westport

by Chris Becicka

For business people who prefer to dine where they can relax and talk without feeling rushed, One80 is an excellent choice. Located at the corner of Westport Road and Pennsylvania, One80 offers an up-scale business lunch in the heart of Westport.

 

Since “Lounge” is part of its official name, talking and not feeling rushed is not what you might expect in an area dotted with bars and “thirty-somethings.” Although a younger crowd zooms in during Happy Hour, when the flatbread pizza is cheaper (and still as good) and the drinks discounted, this space provides the perfect ambiance for a workday retreat.

It’s seldom packed tight at lunchtime. The brick walls seem comforting, the padded booths
are inviting and the dark wood table tops shine. It might even be considered “corporate cozy”. Patrons range from folks perched on stools at the long, narrow hightopped tables to small groups clearly solving the problems of the workplace. The blackboard on the wall offers meal specials, and a substantial cocktail menu which includes 22 house martinis.

In the smaller bites section, both the hand-cut potato chips with gorgonzola blue cheese and smoked bacon dip and its cousin - the gorgonzola blue cheese fries - are fabulous. The “blind dates,” which consist of dried dates wrapped with prosciutto and stuffed with garlic and almond, are more interesting than most restaurant
appetizers. In addition, there are five salads, all of which looked large enough to be a meal by themselves.

Not that my guests and I were light eaters today. We asked for everything to be served at the same time, and when four variously shaped plates and bowls arrived, our previously empty table-top was crowded. We began by savoring some roast corn and bacon chowder, followed by the carpaccio duo ($9.99) which consisted of both herbed beef tenderloin and prosciutto. A little too much parmesan dressing covered the stacked arugula in the center. But, it was still very good, and with the wonderful flat bread in the basket, made an excellent entire lunch – for two. Still, we continued to sample the fare, splitting the veggie eggplant strata ($9.49) whose layers melted into each other and finally, the very unusual potato pancakes ($9) which were julienned mounds of crispy potatoes with wild mushrooms, roasted red peppers, two cheeses and a chipotle aioli.

Although we were too full to try the desserts, we were intrigued by the “drunken donuts” which came with Grand Marnier hot chocolate dipping sauce. It was also difficult to pass up the Irish Cream cheesecake, but we remained firm in our conviction.

One80’s menu is varied and quite creative, including pastas and entrées at which we gazed longingly but left for another time. The prices are reasonable; the staff amenable and energetic; the daytime atmosphere nothing like a lounge. It’s a cozy nook in an otherwise bustling area, and a lunchtime oasis for the business set.

 

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