Housed in a beautifully renovated two-story building at the historic Town Wharf, Trafford Restaurant is owned by Russell Goyette and his wife Sherri Miles. The restaurant features both indoor and outdoor seating, including a riverside patio with an open-air bar, making it a popular spot for both casual meals and special events. We recently chatted with the team.
For those who haven’t dined with you yet, how would you describe your restaurant in a sentence or two?
Trafford Restaurant offers a refined dining experience with contemporary American cuisine and stunning waterfront views of the Warren River.
Tell us a bit about yourselves. What led you to opening Trafford in 2011?
We started as an extension of Marguerite’s Restaurant in Westport, Massachusetts. The owners, Bill and Marguerite Kane, invited Russell to partner with them in opening a new restaurant in Warren, named Trafford after their son and for its meaning, “where the land and water meet.” Russell took full control of restaurant operations in 2012.
What do you love about being part of the Warren business community?
Warren has always been a vibrant and supportive community, which we experience daily thanks to our amazing staff, many of whom are local residents! Our business thrives because of our guests, and many of them are loyal regulars who have supported Trafford through ups and downs over the past 14 years.
You closed down for some time in 2019 due to a terrible fire, and then, just in time for your reopening, COVID hit. When did you finally reopen, and what did the experience teach you?
We reopened in November 2021 after nearly 2½ years of fire recovery and reconstruction. It was a very challenging time. We had to start over and rebuild our customer base. We’ve heard from guests who would drive by periodically when we were closed, hoping to see us open again, and we continuously hear how much we were missed during our closure. We truly appreciate that support.
If someone were coming to Warren for the weekend, what would be your list of must-do activities for them?
There are so many wonderful places to explore! Blount, the scenic bike path, the charming shops on Main Street, the irresistible Perfect Sweet Shop, and Trafford, of course, are all must-visit spots!
What’s new for the summer?
We’ve got Prime Rib Fridays, Sunday Brunch, and we’re now open on Mondays, serving lunch and dinner every day of the week. We also provide online ordering and catering, and soon you will be able to buy our signature Trafford Stuffed Quahogs at your local grocery store!
