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The Essex, Old Saybrook, CT

The Essex

4.8
4.8
1011 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

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2 people
19:00
Booked 7 times today
  • Innovative
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
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

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Contemporary French / American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Hours of Operation
    Fri, Sat 16:00–22:00 Dinner Tue–Thu 16:00–21:00
  • Phone number
    (860) 237-4189
  • Website
    http://www.theessex.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Colt Taylor
  • Private party facilities
    Your Special Events Destination: Elevating the Dining Experience on the Shoreline.Contact Colt@TheEssex.com
  • Location
    247 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
  • Area
    Old Saybrook
  • Cross Street
    Across From Town Hall and The Katharine Hepburn Theatre
  • Parking details
    Parking in Rear
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,011 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Connecticut

    Innovative

  • Middlesex

    Best Overall

  • Middlesex

    Best Food

  • Middlesex

    Best Service

  • Middlesex

    Best Ambience

  • Middlesex

    Innovative

  • Middlesex

    Hot spot

  • Middlesex

    Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Essex offers a "superior service" experience with a warm, welcoming ambiance and inventive, delicious dishes. Guests rave about the chef's tasting menu, noting it as "absolutely amazing" and "creative." With attentive staff and a chic setting, The Essex is perfect for special occasions or a delightful culinary adventure.

1,011 Reviews

  1. Pam

    VIP

    New York City

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Love the change to a price fixe or chefs tasting menu. We went for Christmas Eve and loved the experience. We had a great server, love the ambiance and the food was delicious and innovative. The price fixe is three courses, but they give you more to try. It was more than a dinner out, it was an experience. I highly recommend.

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  2. Bruno

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    48 reviews

    5.0

    48 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another Outstanding Experience. Peter our server is always professional and knowledge. Chef's new menu format is amazing and this current menu is one of his bests.

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  3. Greg

    New York City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 14 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was the best meal I have had all year. To put that in contest I have enjoyed meals at very highly rated restaurants in NYC, Boston, San Diego, Cape Cod, as well as all over Connecticut. The food could not have been more delicious. Our waiter was phenomenal. I will be back and more than once. I will next try you Branford location as it is closer to home. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience.

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  4. Ray

    VIP

    New York City

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on 13 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Attentive service. Top notch food. Beautiful restaurant with chill music.

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  5. Susan

    Greater Boston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 12 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our dinner with friends at The Essex was beyond expectations. Service was friendly, knowledgeable, and well paced. We opted for the three course price fixe and were pleasantly surprised by the appetizer course we were served before the salad course. At $79 per person the dinner was very reasonably priced for the quality and quantity. Our first and main courses were outstanding. My strip steak perfectly cooked to medium rare and the whole table enjoyed the frites. The halibut and scallops along with the sauces and vegetables were excellent. Dessert choices were very generous although I hit my limit after a few bites of the baked Alaska. The menu was heavy on seafood which restricted our friend who has a fish and shellfish allergy. But once aware of that and a nut allergy, every dish was carefully adjusted for nuts. Dining at the Essex is a wonderful treat. We will be back.

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  6. John

    New York City

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 7 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Nice atmosphere, a little tight and got noisy like being in a pub. Menu is pricey but interesting. Is it worth the money? Maybe once, judge for yourself.

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  7. Paul

    New York City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 4 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Absolutely incredible meal start to finish. Inventive takes on old standards, plus some totally new concepts. Sometimes we had no idea exactly what we were eating, since exact descriptions are hard to put on a menu. But every bite turned out to be a beyond-delicious surprise. $79 prix fixe is steep for Old Saybrook, but I'm not sure how they could pull this off for less given ingredients and attention to detail.

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  8. Kimberly

    Greater Boston

    229 reviews

    4.0

    229 reviews

    Dined on 3 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were there the first night of the brand new menu. We had an excellent meal overall however the french fries that came with the steak were greasy and only tasted like the oil of the fryer. Foie “psicle” was interesting. A little bit heavy on the onion flavor, but would do it again.  There were only a few tables, so not a great time to judge the overall noise level of the restaurant. Service was excellent. Definitely will go back. 

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  9. Weston

    Hawaii

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 23 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We had the 7 course chef’s experience with wine pairing. Absolutely outstanding! The first course was unbelievably delicious. Yet somehow each course got even better. Wine selection was beautifully paired. Waiter was attentive and very helpful with descriptions. Loved our experience.

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  10. Andrea

    Greater Boston

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 21 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and service experience at The Essex is amazing. Always above and beyond. Bartender Dylan is the best! We love the entire experience!

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FAQs

The Essex is rated 4.8 stars by 1011 OpenTable diners.

The Essex does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 7 times today
Google Map for The Essex

247 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT 06475

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Across From Town Hall and The Katharine Hepburn Theatre
  • Area
    Old Saybrook
  • Hours of Operation
    Fri, Sat 16:00–22:00 Dinner Tue–Thu 16:00–21:00
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Contemporary French / American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Parking in Rear
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Colt Taylor
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.theessex.com/
  • Phone number
    (860) 237-4189
  • Private party facilities
    Your Special Events Destination: Elevating the Dining Experience on the Shoreline.Contact Colt@TheEssex.com
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