L'escale Restaurant Will Remain Open At Delamar Greenwich Harbor Hotel

GREENWICH, CT — This past summer, L'escale, the popular French restaurant located at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor Hotel, announced that it would be closing on Dec. 1 after the hotel would not renew its lease.

On its website, the restaurant posted somewhat of a "goodbye" message that would pop up when the site loaded. It thanked patrons for two decades of business, and even asked if anyone had recommendations for a new location.

But on Monday, that message had disappeared, and the restaurant and Greenwich Hospitality Group, which owns Delamar hotels, announced that the popular eatery will remain open.

The restaurant, which is located at 500 Steamboat Road, will operate under a new licensing agreement, according to the announcement. Executive Chef Frederic Kieffer, General Manager David Fletcher, and members of the staff will stay in place.

"We have had an overwhelming response to L'escale's planned closing from our fantastic clients who made their voices heard," said lessee and restaurant founder and owner Rick Wahlstedt in a news release. "Seeing L'escale continue what it has been doing at the Delamar for the foreseeable future is a very good thing. I am confident that the restaurant is in good hands and will continue to flourish."

Greenwich Hospital founder and CEO Charles Mallory recounted that in 1999, a friend of his, restaurateur Jean Denoyer, came to him with the concept of "an elegant waterfront restaurant evocative of what one would find on the French Riviera."

The idea led to what became L'escale, and the restaurant was founded by Wahlstedt in 2003.

"L'escale is and always has been an exemplary culinary destination, and it will continue to delight guests and welcome private events for years to come," Mallory added in a news release.

Rather than closing for good, Mallory said the restaurant will close on Jan. 1 for up to three months "to refresh the dining room, bar, outdoor terrace and banquet facilities."

Translated to "port of call," L'escale offers seasonal Mediterranean cuisine with intimate decor, along with a wrought iron tonelle covered waterfront terrace.

Two-hundred-year-old stone terra cotta tiles from the Provence region in southeastern France adorn the floors inside, to go along with a wood burning fireplace.

The restaurant offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. It was named as the top restaurant in Fairfield County for waterfront dining earlier this year by CT Magazine. It was a statewide runner up in the category.

For more information visit the L'escale website.