Bites of Bethel - Whitlocks Restaurant

John Murray presides over Whitlock’s Restaurant, which he, in a business partnership with his best friend Rob Mariscano, bought from the original owner, Jay Whitlock, last year.

Located on Greenwood Ave, they serve the freshest fish. After all, we’re only 30 or so miles from the Connecticut coast. The clams, a best seller, are sourced from Bethel's Community Shellfish, said Murray. Offerings that he considers comfort food include Broiled Scallops Cooked in Wine; Broiled Cod Cooked in Wine, Lemon, and Herb Butter; and Grilled Atlantic Salmon with Herb Butter over Sautéed Spinach with Garlic. Their menu also includes steaks, pasta, salads, chicken dishes, and many specials! They are open for both lunch and dinner every day. He describes the fare as “from scratch American comfort food. Our cuisine is steak and seafood. Our big sellers are prime rib and whole belly clams.”

The vibe is friendly and welcoming, the kind of neighborhood place you want to take friends and family or drop in to dine alone. Having Greenwood Features next door makes dinner and a movie simple!

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The restaurant was opened by its original owner in 1998. The menu hasn’t changed much since then, and neither have the prices. A fine dining sort of dish you might try is Grilled Shrimp with Delicious Herb Butter Served Over a Bed of Rice. With the affordable prices at Whitlock's, you might wonder, “How could they?” so the Grapevine asked.

The answer from the self-described “businessman not restaurateur” is that he’s a, “shrewd negotiator. I go and get the best products and get them at the best prices. All the prices are done before we open the doors. I call 10 people and I beat them up price-wise. I have a lot of great friends who own restaurants. My daughter and son-in-law are in the restaurant business. When we sit around and talk I get all their knowledge. I’m a pretty quick learner.”

Even more affordable on the fresh catch menu are options like Fried Jumbo Sea Scallops, Whole Belly Clams, and Fish and Chips.

Murray relies on his personable approach to running things. He described himself as curious, someone who likes asking questions to get to know someone, people-oriented, and someone who tries in earnest to remember what he’s learned about you, so when you come in again he might ask about a family member. He will always be genuinely curious to hear about what’s new with you.

Local resident Eddie Kingham enjoys going to Whitlock’s. “It’s one of the last pubs in the whole of the area, including Danbury. When you walk in there you’re in a great atmosphere. It’s not loud. Everybody’s relaxed. I bring my family there all the time. Everybody’s pleasant. When you get served, there isn’t attitude. They don’t come back in two minutes. They serve you and then float by and say, ‘Are you good?’ It’s got that atmosphere that’s been lost in other places and they’ve managed to keep it going. You walk out of there feeling you’ve had a good meal, at a good price, and a good time.”

“We’ve never been let down on a meal,” Bethelite Marnie Uliasz enthused about Whitlock’s. She noted Murray, a veteran, honors other veterans by giving them free desserts on Veteran’s Day. “He’s a stand-up good guy. He works hard. It’s an awesome restaurant,” she continued, lauding the quality of the food and “super friendly” staff.

“They treat you like family. It’s almost like [the show] Cheers where everybody knows your name. It’s homey. It’s cozy,” Uliasz went on, as she described their homemade desserts and warm brownie sundae. “It’s a little tucked away nook on the local scene,” Uliasz said.

In addition to seafood, there’s a popular burger menu with options galore.

“We're not…down, downtown. People don’t know we’re here. The former owner had a good clientele of older people. I would like more people of all ages,” said Murray, a grandfather of a four-year-old.

While Whitlock’s is the first restaurant Murray has purchased, he has a history of running pubs in his business background. “I thought it was a good investment. For me, originally I was the money guy.”

Originally from Danbury, he’s lived in Bethel for 8 years.

“I’m a foodie. I have traveled all over the world…and I’ve eaten in crazy restaurants and 3-star Michelin restaurants…Everyone I know, my friends are chefs. I'll bring them in.”

His philosophy for running a good restaurant comes from how he feels when patronizing others.

“I believe in nice places where people come to listen to music, hang out with friends...I'm not trying to be the restaurateur of the year. I’m not doing it for my ego. It’s about the experience. When I spent time in Ireland, the pub [experience] was a big thing in the community. [Similarly], when you come into Whitlock’s, people care about each other.”

Murray is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He’s a combat veteran, ex-Army, and noted many veterans among Whitlock’s patronage. “We have veteran’s discounts. We do a lot of things on Veteran’s Day. If you come in here asking for money for veterans or dogs you’ve got it.”

He’s also a drummer with the local band Missiles to Malta.

Whitlock’s features a variety of live music. A regular is Billy Michael, who brings Open Mic Madness Wednesdays and his lively assembly of fiddlers, guitarists, and flute players for a monthly Fiddler’s Brawl, which Michael started in Bethel 30 years ago.

When asked about Murray, Michael said, "Being a drummer besides a restaurant owner he throws himself into creating the opportunity for nightly music. He is a patron of the arts. It is great for both the musicians and their customers…Whitlock's is as friendly a place as you could find...you always see people that you know...it is a wonderful place to dine in! Terrific staff!"

Additionally, Whitlock's offers Karaoke and Comedy Night events that have been highly successful.

For more information about the restaurant or events, follow them on Instagram.