Posted: 12:00 a.m. Thursday, June 18, 2015

Expanded menu coming to popular Middletown restaurant

By  http://www.journal-news.com/staff/rick-mccrabb/" rel="nofollow - 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.”