The new Annette’s Restaurant is taking shape

The new Annette’s Restaurant on West Main St. in the Village of Webster is slowly taking shape.

Annette’s is moving into the location of the former Mozzeroni’s Restaurant at 27 West Main. There’s still a LOT of work to do as owner Nan Kent and her staff complete all the renovations, so it really doesn’t look like much yet — more like a construction zone than a sit-down restaurant. But it already DOES look a whole lot bigger and nicer than the old Mozzeroni’s.

Nan’s removed a wall, opening up the dining area significantly, installed a spacious bar, and repainted the walls. New wood flooring will be going in soon, and the lighting fixtures are being swapped out. Soon all of the tables will be ready to set up, just waiting for the construction to be completed.

As the restaurant itself starts to take shape, so is the menu. Drew Greenfield, Annette’s manager/executive chef, describes the new menu as “very eclectic … upscale home but also featuring newer, more modern-style foods.”

For example, he said, “We’ll have some burgers but it will be a steak burger with stuff like homemade bacon jam and brie cheese … doing interesting things with more premium toppings.” It won’t be a huge menu, he added, but it will allow the flexibility to offer different seasonal specials every week. And almost everything will be made from scratch, including the sauces and dressings.

They’re also considering contacting local bakeries and bringing in fresh baked goods each week for their desserts.  

The atmosphere will also reflect the eclectic menu, Drew said.

I want the restaurant to reflect the food. If we’re going to be doing interesting menu items, I want the restaurant to reflect the intricate details of what the plates are going to look like, using different ingredients and combinations of ingredients that people aren’t used to seeing. Or have seen at a higher-end place but at a lower cost.

The lighting, tables, muted paint scheme and tasteful artwork will together create a “warm, happy vibe with an eclectic touch.” Basically, Drew said, it’ll be a restaurant that’s a little bit classy, but still family-friendly and inviting, a place where people can sit back and feel okay with chatting for hours.

That warm atmosphere is exactly what owner Nan Kent is aiming for. She named Annette’s after her late mother, who insisted that, every single night at 6 p.m., her father and all five kids sit down together for dinner. And if the kids happened to have friends over, they were welcome, too.

The loving memory of Nan’s mother and her philosophy that mealtime brings people together and strengthens relationships, will be reflected every day at Annette’s.

“My mom’s been gone since 2016 and my dad passed away in 2020,” Nan said. “(This) feels like them.”

The new Annette’s Restaurant might be open in mid-October for lunch and dinner. Stay tuned for more details.

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(posted 9/27/2024)

Tags: Annette's, Local business, Missy Rosenberry, Village of Webster, Webster NY