Best restaurants near me in Essex, CT

Price

££
£££
££££

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSeafoodFrenchSpanishTapas / Small Plates

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeaway only

Seating options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Accessibility

Gender-neutral toiletWheelchair access

19 restaurants available nearby

1. The Griswold Inn

4.5

Awesome(933)

££££Price: Expensive

• American • Essex

Booked 11 times today

The Griswold Inn is an inn and restaurant located in the historic seaport village of Essex. The Gris, as it is affectionately known, has been in continous operation since 1776.`Currently we are offering dine in, dine out, and Gris To Go! Inside, guests may enjoy dining in historic, art-filled rooms which exude character, charm and tradition. Seating for the alfresco experience is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with the exception of larger parties of 7 or more which may be made by calling 860.767.1776. The Inn boasts a wine list consistently recognized by Wine Spectator with the prestigious Award of Excellence; Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure have recently recognized the Inn's restaurant as "Connecticut's coziest" and it is included in Patricia Schulz's "1000 Places to See Before You Die". The Griswold Inn is also the recipient of Connecticut's Highest Award for Hospitality. The best of old and new meet here.

A photo of The Wine Bar & Bistro at The Griswold Inn restaurant

2. The Wine Bar & Bistro at The Griswold Inn

4.8

Exceptional(85)

££££Price: Moderate

• Wine Bar • Essex

Booked 1 time today

The Wine Bar at The Griswold Inn is an extraordinary space in which to enjoy a delicious experience in every respect. It features an innovative tapas menu, inspired "macro" plates, artisanal cheeses and handcrafted desserts. The menu changes periodically to take advantage of all that characterizes a particular season, though there are a few classics that remain on the menu throughout the year, like its very popular Grilled and Carved Bistro Steak, served with white truffle-laced pommes frites, arugula,and red wine jus. A consistent winner of Wine Spectator's prestigious Award of Excellence, it offers numerous wines by the glass, wine flights, and a more extensive bottle list. A full-service bar is also available. A creative and accomplished chef and a knowledgeable and attentive service staff complete the experience.

A photo of Surfridge Brewing Company restaurant

3. Surfridge Brewing Company

4.8

Exceptional(43)

££££Price: Moderate

• Pub • Centerbrook

Booked 2 times today

Wood fired Artisanal pizza and brewpub. Cold and hot share plates, Neapolitan Pies, and chef driven cuisine. House brewed beers, wines, mixology. Large patio, family and dog friendly.

4. La Marea

4.8

Exceptional(1802)

££££Price: Expensive

• Italian • Old Saybrook

Booked 10 times today

Savor the authentic tastes of Italy when you dine at La Marea. Located on the shoreline of CT in Old Saybrook, our family owned Italian restaurant prepares northern and southern Italian cuisine using a mix of the finest imports from Italy as well as fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Gluten Free and Vegetarian options are available. Enjoy your dining experience in either our dining room or be sure to reserve a seat at our conversational hi-top tables or at the bar in our lounge.Important: when making a reservation through OpenTable there is an option to make a reservation at a high top table in the bar area or standard table which is in the dining room. If the high top option does not pop up as an option for you then that means that there are NO High Top tables available at those times. If you would like to reserve bar seats please leave us a note or call us. See you soon! Take-out available

5. Aspen Restaurant

4.7

Exceptional(1709)

££££Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Old Saybrook

Booked 9 times today

Aspen Restaurant Voted Best New Restaurant for 2009 by Connecticut Magazine. A premiere destination dining experience, serving contemporary american cuisine with global accents. Aspen Restaurant is Located on 2 main street in Old Saybrook,CT.

6. The Essex

4.8

Exceptional(1034)

££££Price: Expensive

• American • Old Saybrook

Booked 6 times today

Set in the heart of downtown, across from the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, the “new” Essex will continue to offer the progressive, modern, approachable cuisine that has made it a top restaurant in the region. Whether it’s a pre-theater dinner, a casual gathering with friends, or a tasting menu for a special evening, guests can gather at The Essex to create memories with family and friends while enjoying excellent cuisine. The Essex menu showcases modern American cuisine that draws inspiration from the land, sea and deep heritage of the Connecticut River Valley, using the freshest locally sourced products available from farm and sea. All will inspire an ever-changing menu of progressive interpretations of timeless dishes. "Voted Best New Restaurant in New England" Yankee Magazine "Best Restaurants in Connecticut" CT Magazine "Not to be Missed" Town & Country Magazine"Rising Chef Star" CT Mag

A photo of The Brushmill by the Waterfall restaurant

7. The Brushmill by the Waterfall

4.5

Awesome(601)

££££Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Chester

Booked 9 times today

The Brushmill By The Waterfall is a restaurant and tavern featuring contemporary cuisine in an elegant setting overlooking a romantic waterfall on the Pattaconk Creek located in picturesque Chester, Connecticut.

8. Café Routier

4.7

Exceptional(2171)

££££Price: Moderate

• American • Westbrook

Booked 11 times today

Please go to www.caferoutier.com for all current menus and important postings!"Constantly evolving, Seasonally driven and Globally inspired menus"Cafe Routier, Bistro and Lounge, serving a three paneled menu format; Regional (a different region of the world every 8 weeks), Seasonal (locally sourced seasonal ingredients) and a specialty menu of classic Bistro fare. A 40 seat lounge serving 'small plates' and tapas adjoins the bar area. Ethos is important to us.Reservations made online are for our dining room only. Our lounge does not require reservations and works on a first come/first serve approach, so please do not make a reservation if your intent is to sit in the lounge!

9. Liv's Oyster Bar

4.9

Exceptional(2703)

££££Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Old Saybrook

Booked 5 times today

Opening in 2006, Liv’s Oyster Bar and Restaurant quickly became a dining destination in Old Saybrook. Inspired by his daughter, Olivia, and years of experience in the restaurant industry, owner John Brescio set out with a desire to welcome the community to his family’s table.Dining at Liv’s, whether in the main room, at the bar, or on the patio, is an experience to be savored with friends and family long after summer on the shoreline has past.John Brescio also serves as Liv’s Executive Chef, creating simple, focused dishes with an emphasis on local ingredients, and the stunning seafood that the area provides. The menu at Liv’s changes with the seasons, bringing guests a true taste of the pristine environment. John works closely with Liv’s partners to make sure only the best produce is used, as he would serve nothing less to his family.Together with his exceptional staff, John welcomes you to the special experience he’s created at Liv’s Oyster Bar.

A photo of Scotch Plains Tavern restaurant

10. Scotch Plains Tavern

4.4

Awesome(701)

££££Price: Moderate

• Pub • Essex

If you’re looking for an authentic tavern cuisine and rustic ambiance, Scotch Plains Tavern is the place to be. Located minutes from Essex Steam Train, Rt. 9, and I-95, guests can kick back with a drink and some wings in our newly renovated upstairs bar, redesigned in a modern vintage industrial style while maintaining the original bar from Oliver’s Tavern. The bar, retrofitted for additional space, was originally built in 1913 for a bar in Chicago where Al Capone is rumored to have regularly tipped a glass.

Dining near Essex, CT at a glance

Updated on 16/02/2025

Barvera - Stamford

View restaurant

Discover local gems

Exceptional reviews

Search top-rated restaurants

American

Search American restaurants

Average check amount

£25 and under

Search in this price range

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

J
JeffVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •9 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Great location and property. Excellent ambiance and vibe. Piano music in the pub before dinner. Decorated beautifully. Popcorn for early snack. Dinner in the timeless Steamboat room. Excellent and diverse menu. Food was very good. After dinner had a classic 60s trio band playing. Great sound. Was a great Valentine’s Day dinner. Only draw back was the service. Specifically the bar. Took forever to get a drink. Bar tender was surly with limited sense of urgency and lots of attitude. This was when the bar crowd was small. As the evening progressed it become significantly worse. I can’t imagine how much revenue was lost by the establishment due to these inefficiencies. Overall our experience was very positive.
More info
The Griswold InnPrice: Expensive• American• Essex
•
4.5
R
Richard
Greater Boston •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Absolutely fantastic! We will be back soon! First class staff.. and the food? All 10’s! Thanks for a wonderful evening! Cheers
More info
The Wine Bar & Bistro at The Griswold InnPrice: Moderate• Wine Bar• Essex
•
4.8
J
John
New York City •17 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Always a great experience. Magnificent food, fresh and well prepared. Pleasant, attentive but not overweening service. Nino (the owner) always on site, on point, and warm and welcoming.
More info
La MareaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Old Saybrook
•
4.8
S
Shannon
Connecticut •1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
The food is excellent each time we have eaten there and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable! We can’t wait to host our daughter’s bridal shower at the brewery!
More info
Surfridge Brewing CompanyPrice: Moderate• Pub• Centerbrook
•
4.8
S
SusanVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •31 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Met a friend for an early dinner. As usual it was a CNN lively low key time for dinner. Our favorite server was there and she delivered impeccable and friendly service. She greeted us at the door with a warm hello. The food was excellent. I would highly recommend Aspen for lunch or dinner!
More info
Aspen RestaurantPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• Old Saybrook
•
4.7

Frequently asked questions

Here are the most popular cuisines: American, Italian, Contemporary American, Steakhouse, Seafood and many more.

There are 531 restaurants on OpenTable in Connecticut.

Yes, we partner with a third party to retrieve menu information for restaurants near you.

Explore OpenTable

Nearby
Open now

Restaurants nearby

Open near me

Best restaurants near me in Essex, CT

Price

Cuisine

Top Rated

Dining Options

Seating options

Accessibility

19 restaurants available nearby

1. The Griswold Inn

2. The Wine Bar & Bistro at The Griswold Inn

3. Surfridge Brewing Company

4. La Marea

5. Aspen Restaurant

6. The Essex

7. The Brushmill by the Waterfall

8. Café Routier

9. Liv's Oyster Bar

10. Scotch Plains Tavern

Dining near Essex, CT at a glance

Barvera - Stamford

American

See what locals rave about

Frequently asked questions

What cuisines are available near me in Connecticut?

How many restaurants are on OpenTable in Connecticut?

Can I see menu information for restaurants?

Explore OpenTable