'King of Queens' Kevin James was in Westport. Here's where he had lunch.
WESTPORT — One local eatery had a brush with fame this week, rolling out the red carpet for a high-profile patron.
Bootleg BBQ owner Fred Melnyk, the king of the Westport barbecue scene, came face to face with the King of Queens on Thursday, as actor Kevin James popped by his 778 Main Road eatery to partake in a Southern-style feast.
The star, known for his roles in the popular TV sitcom "King of Queens" and movies such as "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and "Grown Ups," strolled in just after the lunch rush for a low-key dining experience.
Melnyk described James as down-to-earth and friendly, though serving a celeb was a bit nerve-wracking for some.
"He was joking and stuff like that," Melnyk said. "Everybody was just kind of relaxed… I was more worried for the waitress because she was nervous but she did a really good job."
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Why was Kevin James in Westport?
So what brought James to this tiny corner of the SouthCoast?
The comic was in town working on a project with the Kinnane Brothers production company, a band of Little Compton brothers turned filmmaking collective with whom James has been collaborating for a few years now.
Melnyk, a Little Compton native, is a longtime friend of the Kinnane family. When he got the heads up that James was in town, and he and the Kinnanes were looking to stop by, Melnyk was happy to host.
The Bootleg BBQ owner, who opened the doors of his restaurant just two months ago in mid-December, offered up some recommendations to his hungry guests.
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Kevin James' group split a Pappy Platter at Bootleg BBQ
He said James landed on the Triple Smashburger — with no bun, no fries — with coleslaw. The group as a whole split a Pappy Platter, which included "a little bit of everything" — from ribs to brisket to pulled pork and all the fixings.
Melnyk shared the exciting encounter on the restaurant's Facebook page, featuring photos of himself with James and the Kinnane crew.
"Had the pleasure of a special guest joining us for lunch today!!" wrote Melnyk.
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Who are the Kinnane Brothers?
The Kinnane Brothers got their first big break making short films for the comics' YouTube channel in 2020. Videos include their ongoing “Sound Guy” series, which edits James into different iconic scenes from movies such as “Goodfellas," "I Am Legend," “The Notebook,” “Rocky,” “Jaws,” “A Star Is Born” and “Good Will Hunting."
More recently, they worked with James, who starred in their Netflix movie "Home Team," which was produced by Adam Sandler.
On his way out, Melnyk said James left a memento for Bootleg BBQ staff — he signed the order slip for the chef who made his meal and his server.
No telling whether James will pop up again for a return visit, but Melnyk and his staff will have the welcome mat ready.
"He knows he's always welcome," he said. "He's in town quite a bit because he's always working on projects with the Kinnanes."
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Bootleg BBQ in Westport's actor Kevin James and Kinnane Brothers crew