New Owners –

ClearWaters Still Runs Deep

With Menu Favorites

By Kaaren Valenta

MONROE — After working for large restaurant corporations for more than two decades, Tom Sorge wanted his own business. Just as he began to look in earnest for an available site, ClearWaters restaurant came on the market.

“I was very lucky because ClearWaters is well known, and has an excellent reputation. So I decided to keep the name – and the favorite dishes that drew customers here,” he said.

Mr Sorge bought ClearWaters from Joe Addonizio, who founded it with his brother in the Tollgate Plaza on Route 25 a dozen years ago. ClearWaters closed last summer as did Clearly Delicious, the gourmet takeout store that Joe Addonizio opened down the street from ClearWaters in 1998.

“[Clearly Delicious] was his downfall,” Tom Sorge said. “Joe wound up competing against himself. It would have been a great idea in a place like Fairfield or Westport, but here it drew customers away from his restaurant. So he decided to call it quits.”

Mr Sorge purchased the restaurant in late October, re-hired some ClearWaters, staff and brought in a new head chef, Tim Torres.

“Tim is an experienced executive chef who has worked in hotels and restaurants in the area,” Mr Sorge said. “I have a strong kitchen staff including three of the former cooks – brothers Louis and Franco Romero and Aquelino Riviera – and Amy Boyajian, the night waitress. By having some of the old staff and the same menu, we were able to do this right from day one.”

ClearWaters has always been known for its wide selection of seafood, most $17.95-$21.95, including a house salad.  For example, Seafood Sauté features shrimp, scallops, and medallions of salmon sautéed with  saffron and leeks in a seafood tomato broth; Sesame-Crusted Ahi Tuna is served with wasabi cream sauce; Shrimp Julia includes Gulf shrimp sautéed with mushrooms and scallions in a garlic butter, white wine sauce dusted with romano and parmesan cheese served over penne pasta.

“Joe had a winning formula here,” Mr Sorge said. “We decided to keep the more popular seafood, poultry and pasta entrees and incorporate some new ideas like more steak and rack of lamb to make it a well-rounded menu. This week we are beginning to offer a 22-oz porterhouse steak.”

Mr Sorge has been in the restaurant business since his high school years in Pound Ridge, N.Y. He attended culinary schools, then began working for restaurant chains. For the past few years he was a general manager with the Boston Market chain in both Fairfield and Westport.

“My wife, Cathy, and I live in Redding with our sons, Tom, who is five years old, and Jonathan, who is one,” Mr Sorge said. “My parents live in Pound Ridge and my mother-in-law is in Milford, so Cathy is able to help in the restaurant. She is a hostess on weekends and watches the restaurant on Thursday evenings so I can be home with the boys. I take them to Nathan’s in the Mall – my older son loves Nathan’s.”

Mr Sorge’s brother, Paul, is also involved in the restaurant on a part-time basis. He redecorated the bar room, painting the walls rich shades of burgundy and hunter green, and has plans for the rest of the restaurant. Framed prints of ships and lighthouses and nautical accessories accent the walls.

“We plan to do some remodeling in the next six or eight months,” Tom Sorge said. “We want to keep it casual but add some formal touches, put in new carpeting, tile the foyer, wallpaper and paint. People like to see something new.”

He also plans to begin a $19.95 all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch at the end of February, with buffet tables and carving stations in the front dining room, and seating in the main dining room and the bar.

ClearWaters is open Tuesday through Friday for lunch from 11:30 to 2:30. Dinners are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 5 to 9:30; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10:30; Sunday, 4:30 to 8:30. Catering and carryout also are available. For reservations and information call 268-7734.