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    The Essex

    4.2 (189 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

    The Essex Photos

    THE ESSEX ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - The Essex

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    Robin V.

    We had an amazing meal & experience at The Essex! The lobster bisque, pork shoulder, corn Risotto, Filet, Bouillabaisse & sea bass were all incredible as were the chocolate bar, sundae & cheesecake desserts. Drinks & service were both great & [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambiance was lovely.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Looking forward to returning to this wonderful restaurant.

    Caryn M.

    We were going to be in the area and were looking for a menu that felt inspired. Stumbled upon The Essex and decided to give it a try and it was an experience to remember. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Friendly staff, lively and intimate atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started with drinks which were tasty including the blackberry marg and Christoper Oaxacan, a very Mezcal forward drink. We were then offered fresh bread and butter and an amuse-bouche. We tried roasted oysters as our first, followed by the pork shoulder and halibut entrees. We finished with the chocolate candy bar dessert and coffee. Great experience and delicious cuisine.

    Sarah B.

    We had our post-elopement dinner here for 12 people and could not recommend the Essex more for small intimate dinners or larger celebrations. Colt is accommodating for any dietary restrictions or picky eaters in creating a personalized 3-course menu for the event. There were great seasonal options for each course that our families are still talking about! We loved the app options with lobster bisque, spicy pasta, and salad (truly the best I've ever had). The main courses were all entirely consumed and we loved the dessert despite being nearly full by that time. They have great cocktails and staff is super responsive. I'd recommend making a reservation. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Go on a nice summer evening and enjoy their dining al fresco![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Lobster
    Kristen C.

    Food, incredible we did the chefs tasting menu option. The wagyu melts in your mouth. My hubby and I loved it and we will be back. Friendly service very prompt with taking care of our needs while dining with the Essex! Thank you!!

    Jennifer R.

    The Essex, located right off the main road in Old Saybrook, is a quaint and cozy restaurant. They offer a range of seating options, bar, dining room, or counter. My friend and I had already decided to try the 5-course chef tasting menu option, so we opted for the counter seating. This allowed for an up close, front row view of the kitchen action. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, attentive though they allowed us to take our time and enjoy the experience. Each course (pictured below) was beautifully presented and delicious, and the chef would describe each dish as it was served. His interactions throughout the evening showed his passion for what he does and the food he serves. I will admit I was skeptical as the first couple courses came out that I would leave still feeling hungry. I was wrong! After the final course, the chef surprised us with a complimentary 6th course of risotto with mussels. And dessert, indulgent and decadent. A chocolate mousse topped with sea salt and olive oil. I was unable to provide a picture because I was too eager to start eating it and forgot. The Essex also offers a 7-course tasting menu and both have the option of a wine pairing. The tasting menu rotates weekly, I would highly recommend it, and I cannot wait to return!

    Canapés
    Maegan J.

    One of the best meals we had in 2024! Service was excellent and everything was honestly moderately priced for the amount of food and quality you get. Will be back for the tasting menu for sure.

    Clam Chowder en Croute
    Logan J.

    I came here recently on a date night, and I didn't have the best overall experience. I'd been looking forward to trying this place because I'd heard great things online and from friends, but I was a bit disappointed overall. The atmosphere and service were amazing--definitely a highlight of the night. Servers were professional and prompt. The space is small and decorated nautically. There is a nice open kitchen and bar, which adds to the inviting atmosphere. The food was a pretty big disappointment though. We were offered an amuse bouche to start, which was excellent. It was small serving of soup that was smooth and buttery and delicious. The remainder of our meal was oddly seasoned and less than appetizing. We had ordered the octopus, clam chowder, mushroom risotto, mahi-mahi (which was a substitute for the halibut), and a pasta dish. The octopus was cooked very well, but was served with quince and gigandes (cold), which was an interesting choice. The risotto was plated in an unappetizing fashion and was loose/watery. The chowder and risotto were unbeliveably salty--too salty to finish. And the mahi-mahi had a pepper crust on it that was so strong we could each only have one bite! Overall, I was disappointed with my experience at the Essex, particularly with the food. I think their menu changes seasonally, so I'd be willing to come back given the great atmosphere, but I don't know that I'll be quick to return.

    Tuna tartare
    Susan V.

    The setting is quaint and lovely. Service is impeccable. Drinks are absolutely amazing. The food is some of the best I have ever eaten. I can't say enough for the quality and experience of this establishment.

    Local oysters
    Jen H.

    I'll never forget the words of Chef Colt Taylor the first time eating here: "if you're from Hartford and never heard of us, did Yelp do its job?" I'm so happy that Yelp Elite introduced us to this place and the magic that is the cooking of Chef Colt Taylor. I do agree I wouldn't have found it without Yelp, but it ultimately did its job through taking us to dinner there. Once we tried, I don't think I stopped raving about The Essex. While the menu rotates seasonally, it's a fun time seeing what's on the menu before going. The beauty of the chefs tasting menu is you get to try a little bit of everything. One of the times I went was during a Brazilian themed month and the cloud bread and seafood stew were to die for. We also had the opportunity to try the Japanese themed menu and I found myself licking the plate when trying the cod. While having the American themed menu my partner and I were enamored not only by the food, but also the personable Chef Colt Taylor. He came out to say hello, tell us straight about the food, and share his story. The most memorable were the peekytoe crab fritter, summer gazpacho, and Karabuta pork loin that melted in my mouth. You can't go wrong with anything at the Essex. Fresh ingredients local to Essex and Old Saybrook, food made from the heart, and a lovely experience as a whole. Can't wait for the next time.

    Yellow tail tartar

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    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Amazing food with well timed service in a lively environment that also allowed us to hear each other.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

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    Close and tasty ;local spot, beef plentiful & generously plated flavors options for our party.

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    Ask the Community - The Essex

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    Aspen Restaurant and Bar

    Aspen Restaurant and Bar

    3.9
    (218 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$$

    I was sooo excited to have lunch at Aspen today. It's been on my to do list for so long. We were…read moreseated promptly on arrival. They seemed understaffed and it was at least 10 minutes before anyone came over. Our server never introduced herself. (Later looking at the receipt, her name was Cate) She simply walked up with no greeting and just said "what are we drinking?" My wine pour was significantly less than my husband's, which was not a good start especially after having waited. We ordered small plates to start and I wish we stopped there. The seared tuna was great and had both an aioli and a spicy soy based sauce. My husband had the Kobe beef pot stickers and they were tasty, with a nice warm veggie medley in the middle of the plate. The pot stickers could have used a bit more sauce though. When it came time to order entrees, I was fully set on the lobster panini. The server advised me not to order that, and raved about the carbonara, so I ordered that instead. Big mistake. Huge! I wish she just let me order my panini. The carbonara was full of dark meat chicken (gross!!) that tasted gamey, and the sauce was broken. It clearly had too much butter and was not an authentic carbonara. I told our server multiple times that I did not like it. I had separated all the chicken in a pile and ate maybe 1/3 of the pasta. She strangely kept offering to make me the short rib pappardelle instead, which I declined, as I had no interest in that dish. I found it so odd that she picked out a specific dish to offer as a substitute. At least if she offered the lobster panini, it would have made sense since that's what I originally wanted to order, if not for her meddling in my order. My husband ordered a burger cooked medium. It was fully well done. The fries were limp and not crispy. Not a good showing. He wrapped his up to take home, but I did not. Clearly not eating 3/4 of the meal and also not taking it home was a sign of my discontent. I wish I took photo of my plate as I left it. I was pretty offended when she did not remove it from the bill. It's fine, we paid it, but that will be the first and last time we dine at Aspen. We paid our bill as charged, took the cost of my meal out of her tip, and called it a day. This is something I do not often do, but I felt warranted on this occasion, due to the poor food quality and her absolute indifference. We will not be back. Two stars only for the yummy small plates and the very very sweet hostess!!

    An underwhelming return to Aspen…read more After staying away from Aspen for a while due to a past decline in quality, we decided to give it another try on a Tuesday evening to take advantage of their 15% discount. Unfortunately, the experience fell short of expectations. The Food The meals were a bit disappointing, especially considering the standard menu pricing. My wife requested that her scallops not be undercooked. The server politely noted that overcooking them makes them tough, reassuring us they are always "cooked to perfection" here. However, when the plate arrived, they were quite undercooked and needed to go back to the kitchen. Even after being reheated, they unfortunately remained undercooked. My beef tenderloin tips meal was acceptable but fairly ordinary and didn't quite live up to a premium price. Both entrees featured puréed potatoes and what were listed as "asparagus tips". We had to chuckle when the plates arrived, as the asparagus servings were mostly the stalks and very sparse on the actual tips. The service itself was perfectly fine, though there was a minor hiccup at the end. When the check arrived, the 15% discount hadn't been applied. The server was apologetic, mentioning it was the first night of the promotion, and quickly corrected it for us. Overall Impression Even with the discount, the dinner felt fairly marginal for the cost. The overall atmosphere was a bit uninspiring, and given the disappointment with the food, we likely won't be rushing back anytime soon.

    Photos
    Great atmosphere
    Great atmosphere
    Some of the beat new England clam chowder - a thyme butter tops off this gem
    Some of the beat new England clam chowder - a thyme butter tops off this gem
    Lobster fried rice

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    Lobster fried rice
    The Hangry Goose

    The Hangry Goose

    4.4
    (191 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    Who doesn't serve breakfast all day? I thought breakfast was by far the most profitable meal of…read morethe day and hence restaurants would never NOT serve breakfast. No matter, we were there before 11AM so we were served breakfast. The server we had was excellent she was a former employee of the Coffee Break which was the old restaurant in this location. The place is LOUD. The decor is new and refreshed. There is NO WHEEL CHAIR ACCESS (which surprised me as they just renovated the place. One would think the Town of Clinton would have required it.) I had the Breakfast Wrap with sausage and american cheese. It was good and filling. $7.00 (in May 2026) My companion had the Quinoa Omelette pictured 1/2 eaten ($14.75 in May 2026) which was good. The home fries had a little too much salt but were otherwise excellent. Personally when there is salt actually on the table, I always wonder why the cook just lightly dusts with salt as I can add more. We also ordered a fresh fruit cup which had grapes purple and green, strawberries, and a few hard pieces of honey dew melon. $6.50 (May 2026) In May 2026 the hours are 0700-1430 MON - SAT 0700-1200 SUN ****WARNING**** They stop servicing breakfast items at 11AM They do take credit cards BUT... They used to take it right at the table now, they don't which means you wait to pay. Bad move on the owner's part. There is plenty of free parking. I imagine there will be waits once the summer season gets going so plan to wait (maybe on the weekends)?

    Finally checked out Hangry Goose, one of Clinton's newest spots, and it definitely lived up to the…read morehype! I ordered the Jammin' Turkey with in-house turkey breast, Swiss, cranberry mayo, and bacon jam on grilled focaccia. We also tried the Pepperjack sandwich with chipotle aioli and another wrap, and honestly everything we had was really good. The fries were definitely a standout! They were crispy, seasoned, and worth ordering.

    Photos
    Newly renovated HangryGoose.com restaurant in CLINTON, CT
    Newly renovated HangryGoose.com restaurant in CLINTON, CT
    Chicken parm with ricotta cheese inside
    Chicken parm with ricotta cheese inside
    The Hangry Goose

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    Jack Rabbits

    Jack Rabbits

    3.6
    (134 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Totally legit version of itself. The $5.00 slider option was great, especially the Buffalo Burger…read more The French Onion dip with the onion rings was also wonderful. Shannon did a great job running the bar while serving us!

    I'm a big wing fan and a big hot dog fan. The Wing Addicts recommend Jack Rabbits for wings, and a…read morerestaurant I love recommended them for hot dogs too. I recently planned an errand in the general Old Saybrook area so I could try both at Jack Rabbits. I had the vague impression that there may be more than one part to Jack Rabbits. I went to the part that's more of a bar. It was crowded. There was one table open, but I opted for one of the last seats at the bar. If Jack Rabbits isn't quite a dive bar, it's dive-bar-adjacent. There were clearly a lot of area regulars there. The bartenders were all friendly and helpful. They knew the names of a lot of customers. Always a good sign. The thing about trying both the hot dog and wing part of the menu when you're alone, you can't really do a deep dive into either part of the menu. And the depth of the menu, definitely warranted a deep dive. I'll return to try more of the menu with reinforcements next time. I ordered a New York style hot dog, which was served with a split and grilled Hummel as the base. The toppings included sweet pepper relish, mustard, bacon pieces, kraut and onions. There was a lot going on in a way that I enjoyed. The dog was well cooked. They had a number of specialty dogs I'd like to try. I also ordered 8 Sriracha Lime Cilantro wings, and ate four there and brought the rest home for my son. Good flavor. Good texture. Meaty wings at a goods price. My son liked them too. Wing Addicts had another good call. I'll definitely return. 4.5 Stars

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Perfect Onion Rings and French Onion Dipping Sauce.
    Perfect Onion Rings and French Onion Dipping Sauce.
    IPA - Counterweight Headway DRAFT IPA

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    IPA - Counterweight Headway DRAFT IPA

    The Essex - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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