Little Pub Opens In Stratford At Old Marnick's Location

STRATFORD, CT — The owners of Little Pub, Stratford's newest restaurant, had planned a soft opening Wednesday night for family and friends. But when they found a long line of eager diners waiting outside, the evening quickly transformed from a soft opening to more of a grand opening.

"It was like we'd been here forever," co-owner Daneen Grabe said of the reception she and her husband, Doug Grabe, have enjoyed from the community.

Little Pub occupies a beach-side building at 10 Washington Parkway on Long Island Sound that was previously home to Marnick's, which closed about a year ago. The couple had originally planned to open in late August, but wanted to wait until the restaurant was completely ready for business.

"They wanted to make sure it was done right," manager Kirsten Comfort said.

Little Pub's menu includes several dishes that reflect its beach location, such as cold and hot lobster rolls, fish tacos and a fish wrap. The menu also has standards from the restaurant's other four locations, like burgers and mac and cheese. Seasonal items will include stew, shepherd's pie and fall cocktails such as hot apple cider.

The restaurant has a patio and beachy, rustic decor to match the view, including a bar that was handmade from a boat. Customers can expect a kid-friendly dining experience, with quality pub food at a reasonable price, Daneen said. The venue also hopes to host live music, with soft acoustic performances during the week and bands on the weekend.

Little Pub plans to eventually offer breakfast and ice cream, both of which were staples at Marnick's. The Grabes will begin by serving brunch items on Sunday along with the typical menu when the restaurant opens at 11:30 a.m. Their goal is to slowly expand breakfast service, starting by opening at 9 a.m. on weekends and then branching out until Little Pub is serving breakfast every day. Brunch offerings will include a breakfast burrito, Kahlua french toast and bloody marys.

The Grabes plan to sell ice cream next summer from a retrofitted 1950s trailer outside the restaurant.

The Little Pub property also includes a hotel, formerly known as the Rodeway Inn, which the Grabes are reimagining as a beach getaway called Surfside Hotel. They are working to open the hotel within the next three months, in time for the holidays.

Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick, who attended the Wednesday night opening, has said the new businesses represent a rebirth for Stratford

Little Pub is open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit littlepub.com.