I'm usually not an onion ring kind of gal but my lunch buddy used all her charm to coax me into foregoing the tried-and-true hush puppies and giving the onion rings a try. OMG! The batter was deliciously decadent and inside was the softest, sweetest, juiciest onion ever. What a treat! We had an upbeat, attentive server, and I really appreciated that the kitchen was able to substitute grilled chicken in the Hot Fire Burger that's topped with a habanero cheese sauce. My buddy enjoyed her bucket of steamed mussels too. We'll trek back to the Engine Room during the summer bustle per usual, but this visit on a windy, winter day sure was cozy. And I'm thinking, from now on, we'll have to get the Onion Rings AND the Hush Puppies! read more

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Hands-down most dog-friendly place to grab a bite to eat in Mystic. Came here w/ family and dog while we were visiting Mystic, CT for the first time. We got seated outside, and I ordered a drink -- "Isla del Coco", tropically spiced & toasty coconut. Going into it, here's the description: "Coconut washed Four Roses bourbon, house made coconut falernum, lemongrass & toasted coconut syrup, lime juice & coconut oolong ice cube". How was it really? Pretty spot-on. I really liked it. There was a lot of the coconut taste so that was accurate. Even the ice cubes were coconut flavored, so even when there was nothing left, the ice melted and it tasted like coconut water which was pretty cool. I'd recommend it. Food-wise, I got the Mushroom Mae Burger and I believe rest of table got Grass-fed Burger and Fried Chicken Burger. I got mine with fries. The burger and fries were both pretty awesome. One of better burgers I have tried. I'd rate the burger itself 4.5/5. Fries were pretty good too. All in all, cool spot to visit in Mystic. It's going down in my books as the #1 dog-friendly burger/food joint in Mystic. Cheers y'all! read more

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wonderful 10/10 good atmosphere, great food, exceptional prices, and wonderful attentive staff, also deluxe milkshakes. Do yourself a favor and come here NOT the mariner or anywhere else! 5 stars read more

Food and service were very good, prices reasonable. My wife and son loved their burgers and I had the fish & chips

Absolutely loved my experience here! The food was delicious, the service was attentive, and the ambiance made the whole evening feel special. Great Drinks also ! Can't wait to come back! read more

Engine Room - Manhattan drink! - Southern Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

Came by with a few friends just for beer. As always the place was packed. We sat at the bar. Bartenders as usual were great. I love their selection of draft beers. Great prices too. They are the only restaurant in the area with happy hour menu every day!! Yes you read it right. Happy Hour Menu Everyday!!! Come and enjoy their delicious food. And great ambiance. read more

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Food was good, service was great, and a cool venue. We sat at the counter and watched them working hard in that kitchen! Love when you can see how it's done right, will def go back read more

My husband and I picked here to celebrate our first anniversary together in years (he's been deployed) but ended up getting just waters and an appetizer before going up front to ask for our check because we sat for at least a half hour without seeing our waitress again. The tables surrounding us had all gotten drinks AND ordered -- we even got there before it was busy. We ended up ordering our actual meal on the website to go before getting up to leave and getting that food only took 15 minutes (thankfully). The hostess was very helpful which made up for the waitress not even apologizing. It was disappointing because there were several items on the menu we were looking forward to coming back and trying read more

I came to Engine Room with my family while on a trip to Mystic this week. We had a laugh at the "waterfront view", which was as viewable from an angle behind two buildings. I was the only one in our group who got a seafood dish (scallops with grits). Everyone else's dishes were good but pretty overpriced for what they were. Later that night, I was throwing up in my hotel room for most of the night. I paid $32 for the privilege to throw up. Definitely not coming back here next time. read more

I had the chicken burger. Putting fries and devil eggs...delish. This venue has plenty of parking lot, also plenty if tables and spacious bar. The service is excellent and ambiance totally Mistic. If you are visiting don't forget to visit and enjoy 5 star food Mistic Style. The food we order was amazing and thr staff brought our order promtly. I gave this venue 5 stars because not only the food was delicious but also the staff was wonderful and always checking on us. The staff made us feel like home. The engine room is a true perl hidden on mystic downtown. Can't wait to visit it again... read more

My first visit was a Sunday brunch. We had a reservation and were seated promptly. We started with a Bloody Mary and the cornbread. The Bloody Mary was small, and mostly mix. The cornbread was not impressive in presentation, not warm, and in fact had been over baked so you literally could not cut through half of it. It was rock hard so much so when we tried with a knife the force actually caused it to go shooting off the plate (embarrassing). Could not taste any maple in the butter. For our food we got the chicken and waffles and breakfast sandwich. Loved the chicken and waffles! A juicy piece of chicken, eggs cooked perfectly and the waffle was amazing! Good flavor and they lightly fry it, which was different but awesome. The breakfast sandwich was a disaster. First- they made it with no egg at all. We couldn't find our server who never checked back so we got a food runner to take it back. It has pastrami on it, and they were HUGE, really thick slices that were hard to bite and incredibly chewy. And there was so. Much. Meat. Even when we got the right sandwich with egg on it, it was dwarfed by meat and you couldn't taste it. It was too big to bite into and the whole sandwich ended up falling apart. However, the smashed potatoes well, smashed. So good. Our server was nothing special. She wasn't overly friendly but was not rude, but we really never saw her. A couple other things- they have no beverage menu that is not non alcoholic on the table so we didn't know if there were mocktail or coffee options. The chairs have rubber on the bottom and the floor is kind of like this rubber/stone mix so it was impossible so easily push a chair out or in. Almost tipped mine over. On the strength of the chicken and waffles I would come back to see how their dinner service goes! read more

Engine Room - Cornbread - Southern Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

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Late lunch with a friend. Parking was a bit dicey but it's Mystic on a Saturday so it's to be expected. We were greeted and sat right away. The waitress came over with water and said she'd be right back, but it was a good 15 minutes before she came. We ordered drinks and food. The drinks came right away so that was great. But the food was probably another 30. We ordered the fish and chips and a burger and put in a to-go. She said she'd put it in when our food came out so the timing was good. Perfect- or so we thought. The fish and chips were crispy and fresh. The breading was well seasoned, golden brown and delicious. It slightly fell off the fish with some bites but the fish itself was so well done also. The spicy tartar sauce was a very pleasant surprise. We also loved the selection of beers and ciders. It's the most I've seen in any one location that actually sound good. When we were finished we had to flag her down for the check and a box and I asked if my to-go order was ready. She said that she didn't put it in, she'll do it now so I'll have to wait 10-15 minutes. We waited, but then she forgot the box so we had to wait again. Total time there was almost 2 hours. The place seems great, popular, and the food was really well done and priced. But the service left more to be desired. read more

Engine Room - Crispy Local Fish & Chips - Southern Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

This is hands down my favorite restaurant in the Mystic area. The service is consistently top notch, most servers don't need to write down your order but they have never missed anything for me. Their recommendations are always helpful and they seem genuinely happy to give them. The bar staff are energetic and engaging. For lunch today we started with the Cowboy Dip, which is candied jalapeño cream cheese dip with house made tortilla chips, served warm. Excellent portion for anywhere from 2-4 people. My wife got the half Rotisserie Chicken with a side of macaroni salad and fries, I got the Grass Fed burger with a side of blue cheese, and we finished with the Mint Chocolate Brownie shake. The extra blue cheese was served as both a cup of crumbles and as a slice, which apparently comes locally from the Mystic Cheese Co. It was so soft and tasty, I ended up adding the whole slice to the burger and still sprinkling some extra crumbles on each bite. The apple butter on the burger was an amazing contrast of sweetness, although I could have used more of that. I wanted the apple butter in every bite but it was only every 4-5 bites maybe. So much daylight comes in the windows during the day, it's a really nice atmosphere with the dark wooden walls and the bright daylight streaming in. I'll be back again and again. read more

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Stopped here for some apps and drinks, while in Mystic with my husband. We sat by the bar and the vibes were awesome. Everyone behind the bar was super helpful and really nice. We got the poutine and hush puppies, which were delicious. I do wish the cheese on the poutine was melted and spread out more, but they were still very delicious. They also had many different beer options, which my husband loved. We definitely want to stop here again on our next visit to Mystic. read more

The atmosphere is very fun and the food was amazing. I ordered the fish and chips with the classic Mac and cheese add on. My mr. Had the mushroom burger and 2 craft beers. Nicole (our server) was very attentive even though they had a full house. We will be back! read more

Such a great place! The service was excellent (just a note - don't rush us. It's off season, let us sit and chat without feeling rushed. It wasn't even close to full so you didn't need our table). We ordered burgers and the chicken sandwich. We all over our meals and the beat and goat cheese appetizer was really good. read more

Great bartenders/service. Extensive bar selections with local selections. Elevated pub grub in a cozy setting across the street from the Mystic river. Always worth checking out when in the area. read more

Came here on a Saturday night with a friend and the restaurant was packed but we were able to get seated at the bar. The chicken burger here is unreal, a must get. The fries were solid too. We shared the wings and those were fall off the bone. I've also ordered the mushroom Mae before, which was another great order but not as good as the chicken burger. read more

I had an absolutely mind-blowing kale Caesar here the other day, along with bacon mac and cheese. Waitress Brielle was fantastic. 10/10 would visit again. read more

I made a reservation 1 month in advance via email with Erin. I told her 10 people and 4 were kids. We ended up with a high top. R U kidding me? With kids 2,3 5,and 7 it was a disaster. The hostesses were rude and didnt even look for another, saying everything was booked. Well Hello, I did book a table and was promised a table not a bar high top. Food was burnt, horrid, too noisy near the bathroom. Don't bother eating here. Rude people who dont care about their customers should not be working there. read more

High prices, edible food, but nothing that stands out $20 burgers Vinegar based coleslaw Cute decor, service was ok. But I don't go for the decor ! read more

My friends and I ate there twice over the weekend and both experiences were great. Both servers were friendly and attentive. We got to try several things on the menu - kale salad, chopped salad, deviled eggs, mussels, fish sandwich, burger with mushrooms, bbq pork belly (Brussels sprouts appetizer was a repeat selection). Probably the only disappointment was the chicken and dumplings (too salty) - maybe an off day but they had no problem comping us for that. I would definitely go back there. read more

Stoped by Mystic Connecticut and decided to visit the Engine Room after seeing all their good reviews. Would have to say it's definitely worth the hype. There is parking in both the front and back of the restaurant however on the day that we went they were all full so we had to park on the streets. It was a nice sunny day so we sat outside. We decided to order the chicken wings for appetizers which were delicious. I got the fish and chips and my boyfriend got the steak and fries. Both were very good! Service was decent however we did have to wait a while for the server to come take our order. read more

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Engine Room is a New American gastropub that opened in Mystic, Connecticut in December 2013. It was founded by restaurateurs Dan Meiser and James Wayman. A native of Manchester, Meiser began his culinary career working at Trumbull Kitchen in Hartford. He later enrolled at the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan, graduating first in his class. After graduation, Meiser worked under the guidance of world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud. He later returned to Connecticut and worked at a number of different restaurants. Meiser opened his first restaurant, Firebox, in Hartford in 2007. After joining forces with executive chef Wayman, they opened the Oyster Club in Mystic in 2011. Following its success, the two partners decided to open a sister restaurant (with the assistance of executive chef Chris Vanasse) in the old Lathrop Marine Engine building on the banks of the Mystic River. Like Oyster Club, Engine Room was also met with rave reviews. The menu features 16 craft beers of draught, the area's largest bourbon selection, craft cocktails, a full wine list, and locally-sourced American comfort food. My family and I recently dined at Engine Room while we were passing through Mystic. I had previously visited the restaurant and enjoyed it, but this was the first visit for the rest of my family. I totally love how the owners beautifully restored the historic building and preserved a lot of the industrial aesthetic. Our visit happened to be on a Monday and they have special "Beer & Burger Special" only on Mondays. I decided to order it, which consisted of a "Chicken Pesto Burger" (single grass-fed beef patty with chicken cutlet Milanese, basil pesto, mozzarella, roasted red peppers & tomato topped with a lemon-caper mayor on a brioche) with Fries and a draught pour of Fox Farm Brewery's "Roam: Citra" (Pale Ale). My meal was totally delicious! My wife ordered the "Chipotle Chicken Sandwich" (crispy fried chicken breast, smoked ranch, dill pickles, lettuce & spicy chipotle hot sauce) with Fries and the "Clarified Watermelon Punch" (The Lab's Rum blend, cucumber, green peppercorn, spearmint, honey, watermelon, lime & sparkling water clarified with whole milk) to drink. Our older son had the "Chicken Tenders & Fries" (fried, house breaded chicken tenders served w/ fries) and our younger son had the "Kids Mac n' Cheese" (pasta tossed in housemate cheese sauce). Everyone was very happy with their choices and the staff were friendly and accommodating. We really enjoyed our experience at Engine Room and hope to return again! read more

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We were here on a Friday night. The wait was about 25 minutes which was fine. The food was subpar. I ordered the fish and chips and the fish had no flavor. The breading also did not add any real flavor to the fish. The French fries were ok. The coleslaw needed a touch of vinegar and sugar. The service was slow and we had to tell the server multiple times we needed an extra silverware set and dressing multiple times. We were in a party of 6 and needed 3 separate checks and the server bristled that "she would try" but that's not something they can do. Folks, it's 2025 and any modern ordering software should easily be able to separate out checks at one table. Also I know it was busy and that can be stated as a reason for slow service but the management should not be surprised that it is busy on a Friday evening and staff accordingly. read more

This was my ONLY burger place for a quality beer, if not really over priced, and the best burger and fries (or salad for that matter) in town. 5 years later? Burger's are forgettable, the service is adequate if not lazy. The crowd is almost full on man-bun and butch-chic only for anyone below the age of 40, and then 75 year olds who live local. I avoid at all costs nowadays. read more

The staff made us feel at home, comfortable. I had a cocktail here that I still have been trying to reproduce it was so delicious, called Open Sesame. My fish sandwich was delicious, so were the hush puppies and onion rings. Plus we enjoyed watch the sunset. read more

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Not a lot of parking unless you get there 15 minutes before opening. Excellent service, and the ambiance is enjoyable, especially from our large corner booth. We ordered every appetizer for 5 adults and an infant, all of which were well received. The chicken wings are quite good, as is the mac & cheese and the beef tartar. Definitely worth the visit. read more

My Randy's Double Stack burger was very good. The fries were also very good. My side if Classic Mac n Cheese was quite tasty. It was creamy and filling. read more

Engine Room - Mac n cheese side dish - Southern Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

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At 11ish am we got a table right away. I got the grass fed burger with gluten-free bun. Husband got a fish sandwich. We both got fries. Burger was great, it had flavor! Gf bun was really good. Fish sandwich was really good. Pickles were delicious. Fries we okay; kinda cold and not crispy. Would try something else. Like the place, it was cute for a date and the brick was really nice ambiance. Not too loud either. read more

Engine Room - Grass-Fed Burger Fried Fish Sandwich - Southern Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

Nice bar with a large bourbon selection. You can even buy bottles of their single barrel picks! Most prices for a pour are very reasonable. Great happy hour specials. Bartenders were excellent and accommodating. Would return to try more food since we only got apps this visit. read more

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So, you know how road trips with a 3-year-old can feel like you're trying to survive a hostage situation with snacks? Yeah, that was us driving back from Newport. Then we stumbled upon The Engine Room in Mystic, and let me tell you, it was like finding an oasis in the middle of a tantrum desert. First off, the vibe. Picture this: you walk in, and it's like you've been transported into this old factory--because, surprise, it used to be one! The place is a Marine Engine Building, and they've done it up real nice. You half expect a grizzled old sailor to be in the corner, sipping a bourbon and spinning yarns about "the one that got away." We got there right when they opened, so it was just us and the friendly staff, who seemed genuinely happy to see people, which is refreshing. But let's talk about the real reason you're here: the food. My wife--who's basically a burger connoisseur at this point--ordered the Mushroom Mae Burger. And out of nowhere, she drops this bomb: "This is the best burger I've ever had." Boom. Just like that. Apparently, the crust on the patty was seasoned by the gods themselves, and the mushrooms were so good they made a mushroom hater a believer. So yeah, safe to say it was a win. We also got the Cowboy Dip and the Carolina Hush Puppies. Now, these Hush Puppies? Straight-up star of the show. The Cowboy Dip, though--it's like the hype man at a comedy show. You think it's just gonna hang out in the background, but then it surprises you with this cold cream cheese jalapeño action that would be right at home on a bagel. Not what we expected, but we weren't mad about it. For the main event, I went with the Fish Sandwich. The cornmeal batter on that fish? Crunchy perfection. And underneath? Flaky goodness. Throw in some slaw and tartar sauce that could make a grown man cry, and you've got yourself a winner. Now, let's talk kids' menu. It's not your usual chicken nugget fare. Our 3-year-old, who's got a more sophisticated palate than I did at 25, went with the Avocado Toast. Yeah, we're raising a little hipster. The toast was on point, but the crust was a bit too crunchy for those tiny teeth, so we had to go full surgeon mode and extract the soft bits. Still, she loved it, and I'm not about to argue with a toddler who just had avocado. Oh, and pro tip: Get all the sauces. Seriously. It's like a sauce flight. The smoked ranch and chipotle were the standouts, but honestly, they're all worth a try. Bottom line? The Engine Room is a solid stop. If you're cruising through Mystic and need to refuel--figuratively and literally--this place is a no-brainer. read more

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Yum. This friendly casual place was just the ticket for three friends getting together from MA and Stonington. The atmosphere is low frills and laid back. My friend says it's one of the few places that takes reservations during the busy summer season. Friend 1 asked for something of her own creation, a cheeseburger on top of salad greens, and the server said "of course!" without hesitating a beat. A sign of great service! Friend 2 had a chopped salad which was good but not very chopped (she had to cut everything in order to eat it. I had a special burger after quizzing the server about the toppings, which she answered patiently and with good cheer. The burger and accompanying fries were quite tasty. Friendly and efficient staff, I would go back. read more

It was ok Food was pretty bland like I could eat it but I wouldn't come back again for it The corn bread was really good specifically with the butter, it was kinda dry without it The shake was very small for the price But overall the staff was super friendly and that was the best part read more

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The Engine Room is one of my favorite restaurants in the area to grab a casual meal with friends. Our waitress was so helpful in helping us pick our drinks, and she provided really good service throughout the meal. We shared an order of Hush Puppies, which are always a hit, and they were just as good as I remember. I also got my go-to burger (Hot Fire) which has the perfect spice level. It is served with salad or fries, and I ordered fries (treat yourself!). They were perfectly cooked and salted. Their draft list is rotating with local brews, so I always love checking out what's on tap! I ultimately decided on a can this time, but some of their upcoming brews look great. read more

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We planned to have dinner here on 11/22. The hostess had told us that the only seat available was a reserved table and that the party will be arriving in an hour, which basically gave us a limited time to eat. At first we decided to stay cause we were looking forward to having dinner here. After we were seated we started feeling uncomfortable, and a little nervous because of the time limit. Also we did happen to notice that there were plenty of seats available, it did not appear that they were busy. Because of this shortly after we were seated we decided that we were longer interested in staying and left. This was our first and last experience with this restaurant. read more

Service was awful. Server never said his name but had a small curly ponytail and wore glasses. Not friendly what so ever, didn't answer any questions at all and was extremely rude! We were in the patio area and 3 tables including ours walked out! Horrible experience! read more

This not your average diner, I would call it brewery restaurant that has distinct style. Plase has relaxed yet stylish atmosphere and creative menue. They have their own salmon jerky which is basically a piece of salmon that is particularly smoked and particularly dried, we ended up having two orders of this. Also whipped ricotta was very good and unorthodox. Ceasar salad has hefty amount of grilled chicken and burgers were very good too. read more

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Really liked Engine Room! We made a res for a Saturday lunch easily on Reddit. We had gotten a filling breakfast earlier so we decided to split the Mushroom Mae Burger with mac salad and a side order of Onion Rings. We appreciated that they had already split the burger and mac salad in half for us, rather than us having to struggle with cutting it. The burger was perfectly cooked and came with a delicious creamy cheesy mushroom sauce. Mac salad as good too but I'd probably try the fries next time. Onion rings were delicious!! So crispy and a big portion for $7 too. Not the biggest fan of the sauce it came with and would've preferred a garlic mayo instead. Wish we could have gotten the onion rings as a side to the burger though. read more

Engine Room - Southern Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

The atmosphere was loud and a touch overwhelming but I would die for the potato salad. We ate dinner here before our ghost tour and ate wings, hush puppies, and potato salad. My tastebuds were in heaven rotating between the three. Would highly recommend! read more