Water Street Cafe opened in April of 1994. Walter worked with a sous chef and a dishwasher while Stephanie and another waiter served his notable mouthwatering dishes. This tiny cafe, where Milagro now resides, held 12 tables with white linen tablecloths and was reservations only. In June of 1997 Water Street Cafe moved to the infamous Harbor View Restaurant. After only three and a half months and a favorable New York Times review Water Street Cafe, aka The Harborview burned to the ground on September 29th, 1997. With unanimous and heartfelt support from the Stonington community Walter and Stephanie returned to their original location and re-invented themselves. A beautiful mahogany bar was built by frenchman Oliver LeBras. An additional pub menu was created thus leading to a more casual atmosphere while continuing to be a favorite spot among locals. In 2002 Water Street Cafe found its current and permanent location where the Water Street Market and Motherʼs once resided.

About the Chefs
Walter Houlihan, Chef, grew up in Westchester county New York. His culinary experience began at various restaurants in California and New York and is an alumni of the Culinary Institute of America. He was Sous Chef at the Grand Hyatt in NYC before moving on to the United Nations Plaza Hotel. He was Executive Chef for Mr. Robert Abplanalp at Eldredge Preserve in upstate New York and at Walkerʼs Key, Bahamas. He has cooked for President Nixon, B.B. Roboso and various dignitaries from the United Nations. Walter returned the United Nations Plaza Hotel in 1990 as Chef of the Ambassador Grill Restaurant. He specialized in wine dinners working with the Robert Mondavi family and other wineries. Walterʼs culinary persuasion and repertoire is influenced by French and Asian cuisine. He was mentored by the most renowned Chefs of Gascony, France. While in New York he was a Member of the James Beard Foundation and cooked at the James Beard House. He was also a member of the Escoffier Society where he participated in a benefit held at Windows of the World under the auspices of Julia Child. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his impeccable cuisine.

Nick Sullivan has been with Water Street Cafe since 1994. He graduated from Ella T. Grasso Technical High School with a focus in the culinary arts. He is an alumni of the International Institute of Culinary Arts in Fall River, Massachusetts. He continues to create exemplary dishes and plays an integral part in the quality, consistency and high reputation that Water Street Cafe continues to carry on. He is married and expecting his first child.

The Wife of the Chef
Stephanie Hayes-Houlihan grew up in Europe and the United States, the daughter of Air Force pilot Chuck Hayes. She lived in NYC for 20 years where she worked in the hotel industry. Her focus was primarily in catering sales although she worked in restaurants, where she met and worked with Walter at the Ambassador Grill. Stephanie started her career in catering at the United Nations Plaza Hotel under the mentoring of June Martinez. She became Banquet Sales Manager at the French owned Parker Meridien Hotel in 1989 and Peter Kalikowʼs Hotel Millinium across from the World Trade Center in 1993. Stephanie speaks Italian and Spanish and is a student of environmental studies. Walter and Stephanie were married in NYC in 1990 and have three daughters.