Astin J's is absolutely my go to for takeout or delivery in this area. They have a variety of items…read moreincluding burgers, wings and birria tacos. The portions are great and everyone who works there is warm and welcoming. I have been searching for years for good wings in this area. Astin J's wings are light years ahead of anyone else. They are absolutely monster sized wings unlike some of the places that serve teeny tiny wings. They offer tons of different flavors and I believe the sauces are made in house. I typically order either the garlic buffalo sauce or the garlic parm and both are equally awesome. The garlic parm fries are wonderful as well and they are loaded with garlic. The birria tacos are delicious as well. I just absolutely love this spot and will continue to support this wonderful local business indefinitely.

Outstanding Smashburgers, hands-down, probably in my top 10 . They were seasoned perfectly and…read moreserved piping hot. Service was good. This is a simple burger joint, combo comes with fries and a can of soda. Not overly fancy inside, solid burger joint. Would definitely go back.

We stopped in last Friday on our trip up to see one of our kids…read more When we arrived it wasn't busy, as we came after the lunch crowd but before the dinner one. Food was good, not a fan of the cheese plate, but my husband loved it. Everyone's meal was really good we all enjoyed it, our waitress serving us was fantastic. We had to do a quick in and out as we were running late to meet our other kid. Recommend stopping in if you're in the area.

A Mystic staple with heart, hops, and hearty Irish fare…read more Friar Tuck's Tavern is one of those Mystic spots that just feels right the moment you walk in. The beer selection is always solid--plenty of familiar favorites plus a few rotating picks that keep things interesting without overwhelming you with choices. The Irish‑leaning menu is where they really shine. Comfort classics, generous portions, and that cozy pub vibe that makes you want to settle in for a while. Whether you're craving something hearty or just need a plate to go with your pint, they've got you covered. Live music adds a great energy without drowning out conversation, and the staff deserves a shoutout--they're faithful, friendly, and keep the place humming even on busy nights. You can tell they care about the regulars and newcomers alike. Not quite a perfect five, but absolutely a Mystic go‑to when you want good beer, good food, and a warm pub atmosphere. Cheers

Great Dive Bar - Delicious Food…read more Ryans is old dive bar pub with dated decor (which is a good thing) and plenty of food and drink deals. The food at this pub is spot on. I love their kickin chickin. its a great value and you can choose the sauce and trust me, i've tried all of them and they are all fantastic. also, the lobster roles and fried seafood are of the quality you would see at a seafood restaurant but without the high cost. Definitely check this place out if you are in Groton area. Thanks

In town visiting Of course I looked on yelp for a local…read moreplace to relax. I liked what I read so I decided to stop in. It's not easy being a woman and being by yourself but Erin the bartender made me feel welcome right away. My battery almost died and she went above and beyond by lending me her personal charger. I was grateful due to the fact that my phone was dying. She handled the bar with ease. Most people seemed to know each other and were very pleasant. I saw a couple pool tables to the side. Keno was playing but I'm not sure what else they offered. TV's were on playing sports and the enthusiast were really enjoying the game. I had already eaten so I can't tell you about the food but from what I saw it looked delicious If I'm ever in the area again I will definitely stop in and hopefully it's Erin's shift.

I happened upon The Shack Restaurant while looking for a good local breakfast spot, and it…read moredefinitely has that classic small-town diner feel that a lot of people love. The inside is really interesting, everything from old farm and country décor to hubcaps on the walls and you can immediately tell it's a local favorite with a lot of regulars coming in and out. The setup is pretty cozy with counter seating facing the kitchen, several booths, and a few tables. I actually enjoyed sitting at the counter because it gave me a full view of the open kitchen and the pace of the restaurant. While I was there, they had several cooks working along with a few servers/runners, so it was busy but still manageable. The menu is mostly breakfast classics; eggs, home fries, Belgian waffles, French toast, pancakes, etc. along with some larger specialty plates like the "Kitchen Sink" that looked huge. I ordered the traditional breakfast with eggs, fries, toast, and coffee for around $15, which honestly felt pretty reasonable these days. The food came out quickly and the prices overall seemed fair. Where things fell a little short for me was the service. My plate sat on the line for close to 10 minutes before my waitress remembered it was there after answering phones, checking people out, refilling coffee, and helping other tables. When she finally dropped it off, she didn't really acknowledge me or ask if I needed anything. It then took another several minutes to get butter and Tabasco for my toast and breakfast. I also couldn't help but notice a couple of food handling things since the kitchen is fully visible from the counter. The cooks appeared to wear gloves consistently, but I never saw gloves being changed, and some of the servers were preparing toast and fruit bowls while actively touching food without washing their hands in between tasks. That was probably the biggest downside for me personally. Overall, it wasn't a terrible experience by any means. The atmosphere is unique, the prices are fair, and you can see why locals enjoy it. For me, though, I'd probably try a few other breakfast places in the area before making this one a regular stop.

I came here for brunch on a Saturday and there was a small 5 min wait to be seated. I got a clam…read morechowder ($4) and the Thanksgiving turkey ($17). Chowder was very meh (wasn't expecting much given the vibe). The thanksgiving turkey came absolutely loaded with food, easily 2-3 portion of food which was great. Unfortunately there was not much flavor, turkey was dry and flavorless. There was a bunch of gravy which helped give flavor to everything. Overall fantastic portion for the price, but nothing special taste wise. Food(50%): 5.7 Staff/service(25%): 7.0 Value(25%): 8.5 Overall: 6.7/10

We were honestly hesitant about trying this place out, as pubs/bar & grill places aren't really our…read morejam. But it had great reviews, so we thought we'd give it a chance. We're very glad we did! The food is solid, no matter what we order. My husband likes the burrito, and I've liked everything else I've tried also (I like to switch it up). It comes out pretty quickly, and it's reasonably priced. Anyplace can serve good food, but you don't necessary want to hang out there long. This place is a great one for just enjoying the hubbub of murmured conversations among friends, servers, and other patrons. It's just a nice, cozy place to be whether you've been here a hundred times or it's the first time you've stepped foot in the place. The first time we were there the owner(?) (she's in the pictures on Yelp) was helping her servers get food out to the tables, with a smile on her face. That says a lot about how this place is run.

Sneakers Cafe is a great place to go for a nice lunch. The great prices, friendly staff and…read morewonderful atmosphere make it well worth a visit. I recommend it highly.

We recently hosted an event here and couldn't be happier with the experience. From the initial…read moreplanning stages to the day of the event, the staff was absolutely fantastic to work with. They were incredibly accommodating, professional, and went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly while staying strictly within our budget. The food was outstanding and the atmosphere provided the perfect backdrop for our gathering. If you are looking for a venue that offers great service, delicious food, and a seamless planning process, I highly recommend them for any event. We will definitely be back!

Came back two years later and I was also able to swing by during their happy hour where they had $1…read moreoysters. It was unfortunately very slow to get the order in. The waitress took about 20 mins to get to our table right before happy hour ended, even though it was not busy at all. The oysters were big and tasted really good! The main dish came out in another 25 mins and it was good, but not as good as I last remembered. Overall the happy hour oysters are a great deal. The mains dishes were a little more overpriced for what you get. Staff and service was unfortunately very slow. Not disappointed with the experience, but expected a little bit more from this place. Food(50%): 7.7 Staff/service(25%): 4.0 Value(25%): 5.0 Overall: 6.1/10

This brewpub is inside an old bank in downtown Mystic. If you're in Mystic, you won't miss this…read morebeautiful and grand building. It used to be a bank in the 1800s. I'm a sucker for historic architecture so this is awesome. They brew their beers in house and also offer beers from other places. There also have wine and seltzers for the non beer lovers. I am a fan of sours so I had one of their sour beers (forgot the name) it was okay, it was extra sour, too sour. My husband enjoyed their IPAs. Also, we had some house made potato chips and a hot dog. Those were decent; I just wished they offered a dip for those chips! Hummus or something like that? We sat outside on a balmy June day. They had a few tables and our server was great. It's a nice spot to people watch too. Inside was large and spacious. There was a long line to the restrooms though, popular place. Overall, a cool space for some drinks and snacks; I definitely would go back and try out more food and beers.

Had high hopes for this place given its incredible location, beautiful building and that it's…read moreveteran owned. The beer was decent, especially the traditional stuff. Nothing out of this world but good enough to have a few pours before heading over to mystic pizza. Service was prompt and efficient, but not overly friendly. Where we unfortunately went wrong was eating here. Cheap fry oils and sloppy sandos that give bar food a bad reputation. I'm not sure why I expected more, but it fell short on freshness, flavor and creativity especially given today's modern brewpub scene. With a plethora of great restaurants in the area, next time I'd probably have drinks here then head to dinner elsewhere.

Food was all very good - we had the clams casino, kale salad, and beet salad to start, and staples…read morelike fish and chips and fried clams and spaghetti fra diavolo for entrees. After living in Northern California for the past 15 years, I am ecstatic about getting real fried clams in New England as opposed to chunks of tough batter with just a tiny taste of clams in them. Service was exceptionally warm and friendly.

Good oysters and good drinky poos…read more Weird back patio in a parking lot? But if you got kids it works so they can scream and yell. We don't like to disturb the dining room

Good clean oysters Great views…read moreSteak lacked a flavor Go early cause there's always a wait

What a joke…read more.. We were just here 11 days ago and it was completely fine. This visit was a different story, and honestly still hard to believe. Our waitress was walking away mid-sentence while we were trying to order. She never asked my girlfriend what side she wanted, just assumed fries without mentioning other options. The appetizer came out wrong and had to be sent back. When entrees came out, everyone at the table had food except me. My shrimp taco showed up 10 minutes later, clearly forgotten, and I was supposed to get four shrimp but only got two. Gone in one bite. When I brought it up, the manager didn't offer to remake it. She just knocked 50% off the price since I'd technically gotten "half" my shrimp. Not an apology, not a fix, just a discount calculated like a math problem. I've maybe written one review in my life. This experience was bad enough that I couldn't not write this one. Forgotten orders, wrong sides, missing food, and a manager who couldn't be bothered to actually fix it. We won't be back.