Posted: 12:00 a.m.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Expanded menu coming to popular Middletown restaurant
By Rick McCrabb
Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN —
An
expanded menu is just one of the changes for a downtown Middletown restaurant after a new owner
partnership.
Lou
Shteiwi, who has extensive international chef experience, and his cousin, Abe
Shteiwi, recently became partners in Murphy’s Landing Seafood and Steakhouse, 1054 Central Ave.,
located inside BeauVerre Riordan Studios and next door to the Canal House.
The
Shteiwis join Jay and Linda Moorman and Bob and Nancy Fairchild as owners of
the restaurant that features a menu of fresh seafood, steaks, sandwiches,
salads and desserts. The Moormans and Fairchilds said they see the deal as an
opportunity to get out of the restaurant business, and turn the operation over
to experienced professionals.
For
the past several years, Lou Shteiwi has managed Mia’s in Oxford
and Abe Shteiwi is the manager of the Spinning Fork on Verity Parkway in Middletown. Abe Shteiwi said he also will
work at the Spinning Fork. Their family also operates the Spinning Fork
location in Fairfield, and Dad’s Restaurant,
Gold Star Chili and The Stand in Middletown.
Moorman
said he believes Murphy’s Landing, with Lou Shteiwi running the kitchen, and
his cousin serving as manager, can continue its successful operation and expand
its customer base since it opened two years ago.
Moorman
called the relationship “a great marriage.”
After
meeting the potential partners and discussing the arrangements, Lou Shteiwi
prepared a meal for the Moormans and the Fairchilds.
They
were hooked.
“We
knew we couldn’t let him leave,” Jay Moorman said.
“We
saw what we wanted to be and what we could be,” Bob Fairchild said. “With our
vision and their passion and experience I think we really have something here.
They can elevate us to a new level.”
The
Shteiwis said they were impressed by the location and the interior of the
building that features stained glass and reclaimed architectural wooden pieces
from local schools that were demolished. They believe Middletown is ready for a seafood and steak
restaurant.
All
four are equal partners in the business, they said. The business deal also
includes the Canal House, which uses the same kitchen as Murphy’s Landing, they
said.
Murphy’s
Landing will hold a “soft opening” next week and a grand reopening on June 30.
The
menu includes sandwiches, salads and entrees such as filet mignon, lobster and
scallops. They want to offer “affordable fine dining” and prices on the menu
range from $8 to $32.
People
also can select the VIP table in a private room where chef Lou Shteiwi will
prepare a meal off a select menu.
“We
want this to be a focal point in downtown,” Bob Fairchild said. “We want it to
be a special place for Middletown.”