Excellent meal. Excellent service. my son has a dairy allergy and it was no problem at all. They also had a non-dairy dessert on the menu!!!!! Amazing. We have never been to a restaurant (other than a vegan place) that had a non-dairy dessert on the menu and it was delicious! others got it and ate every bit of it. Great place!!! read more

My visit last month was 40 years in the making. When I was a kid my dad would always make a stop at the Gris and my sister and I would take photos, especially of the always up holiday tree but we never ate there or stayed there because in the words of my dad, " It's only for adults. I'm almost 50 and live on the West Coast so for my summer sabbatical a stay and a meal was a dream come true and on it's 250th birthday too! The Stay : Check in was easy and the front desk staff gave my boyfriend and I a full folder of facts and information on what to do at the inn and beyond. We also secured reservations for dinner later. We had a lovely corner room on the third floor. The bed was high but comfortable and modernized in the sense that the AC unit worked well and so did the wifi. The bathroom was probably the weakest point - small and not great water pressure but hello you are in the oldest continuously run inn in the US. There are many charming nooks and crannies including adjacent sitting rooms and outdoor rocking chairs. The Meal : 7:30 Dinner reservation and we were seated right away in the back dining area where we were surrounded by images of boats and ships. It was busy but the service was prompt and attentive. The bread was warm and yummy. I had a delicious bowl of New England Clam Chowder and the grilled pork chop off the summer menu. It was so delicious and filling that even though I really wanted dessert , I couldn't fit any more. My boyfriend's prime rib was fall off the bone tender. When we left the tavern was full because it was Sea Shanty night! Cannot wait to make visiting an adult tradition. read more

My wife and I have wanted to try The Griswold Inn for many years, and our schedule finally allowed us to make the trip ahead of a nearby show. Reservations via OpenTable were easy. When we arrived at the hostess station, she verified the reservation and immediately led us to a table in a small room off the main dining area and bar. The entire dining area is old wood -- floor, wall, ceiling -- and the room we were in had narrow floor-to-ceiling bookcases filled with hardcover books. I write this to demonstrate that all the decor served to dampen the sound despite nearly all tables being occupied. While you could hear the bustle and conversations around you, you could still have a conversation. Our server greeted us promptly and took a drink order. When he returned with our drinks, we ordered the clam chowder and braised short ribs for my wife and a wedge salad with the dry-rubbed pork chop for me. After entering our order, our server returned with a basket of warm dinner rolls and butter, then minutes later brought out our soup and salad. Both appetizers were terrific, and I think that may be one of the best blue cheese dressings I've had. Water glasses were refilled frequently without being asked and dishes were cleared by other waitstaff. We never wanted for anything, and none of the comings and goings were disruptive. This was a professional and competent team. Our entrees were served shortly after we finished our appetizers, and they were beautifully presented on the plates. My wife loved her short ribs, which she said melted in her mouth. Until this meal, I've yet to find pork chops to surpass the ones I make at home, but this was truly exceptional! While the mango salsa topping the chop was nice, it was completely unnecessary as the chop was well seasoned and juicy. We capped off the meal with desserts, a chocolate mousse pie for my wife, a warm butter caramel cake with berry compote for me. Delicious! We'll be back to this gem of a place! read more

Very cool spot. 250 years old this year! The interior has all sorts of nest things to check out. Enjoyed a sausage platter, my wife had some salmon tacos which she liked. Beer options are limited, but some good locals represented. Staff were very nice and attentive. Neat place to stop in if you are in the area! read more

The Griswold Inn - Sausage sampler plate - Hotels Near Me - Essex, Connecticut

The @OldPubClub is in #EssexCT returning from a mini OPC expedition. We stopped for lunch at the @GriswoldInn . The Griswold Inn opened in 1776 and is one of the oldest continuously operated inns in the United States. Its historic building features the iconic Taproom--originally built in 1738 as the town's first schoolhouse and moved to Main Street by oxen in 1801--alongside the main three-story structure erected by Richard Hayden in 1801. The ceiling of the taproom is made out of horsehair and oyster shells. Dining at "The Gris" is like having a meal in a museum. It houses the largest privately owned collection of marine art in the United States, featuring masterpieces by Antonio Jacobsen. This historic complex is rumored to be haunted by several spirits, including a mischievous ghost named Clarence, a spectral sea captain, and a "woman in white". Sadly, we only encountered a friendly hostess, a multi-talented waitress/bartender/busboy and many patrons enjoying themselves. If you like a little history with your meal, be like the #OldPubClub and dine at #TheGris ! read more

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The Griswold Inn is an iconic stop if you're in Connecticut. Not only is it full of history, it has the absolute best Christmas vibes (complete with carolers who travel from table to table) The food is really good - with a good variety of options including some very unique options. Everything we had we loved! Drinks were delicious, and spot on. Because of the season, it was really busy, and our waiter seemed a bit overwhelmed. We ordered wine for our meals, and it didn't come until after we finished eating. Understandable with the season, but did feel a little hard to get something if we needed it! Overall I'd recommend going because it's worth the fun Christmas vibes. read more

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Great food and service! Come early or make a reservation in advance. Love this history and menu! read more

The Griswold Inn - Burgers are the best! - Hotels Near Me - Essex, Connecticut

Love visiting historic bars and restaurants. We sat in the bar and had drinks to take in the atmosphere. Lovely experience. Great drinks and great service. What a beautiful Inn read more

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I just love visiting historic places and wondering about the thousands or millions of people that came before me! This restaurant was no different. It's inside of an inn that has been around for almost 250 years! My husband and I split the fish and chips and steak frittes. The fish was all one piece instead of pieces resembling chicken tenders which I'm used to. It was great! The breading did tend to come off a bit as you cut into it but still good! The chips (fries) were also good as was the tartar sauce. The steak frittes were also great! Cooked perfectly. The truffle fries were super flavorful and the Gorgonzola fondue was amazing! Incase you're as uncultured as I am, haricot verts (that come with it) are a type of green bean We would love to come back someday! read more

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After hearing such great things about Griswold inn . I finally had the chance to visit. And I must say going around Christmas time is the best time! they even had carol singers come around each table, and the whole place was beautifully decorated . The food was amazing everything we ordered was delicious, we got an order of the duck with beans, carrots and beets the flavours came together beautifully and duck was cooked to perfection. The butternut squash ravioli with chicken was a delicious winter meal, and finally the pot pie ( which I am not a huge fan of... was my favourite dish of the night !). The best part is the menu changes with the seasons and use fresh ingredients. For dessert we ordered one of every thing, but my favourite was the chocolate mousse cake . Can't wait to be back and try the new menu ! read more

The service use to be good. My wife and I arrived at 4:50PM and was told to wait until 5PM near the bar at which time they would come and seat us. At 5 the hostess seated other guests that had arrived after us. After having seated 2 other parties and ignoring us even though she clearly saw us as she walked passed, we realized we were being ghosted. At 5:10 we left and went up the street to the Black Seal and got seated right away. There we had a wonderful meal and not made to feel persona non grata. read more

I've been coming to the "Gris" since I was 6 which is a long time. The food is great and the service has also always been top notch. I recently moved into the area and decided to stop in and have dinner. Being a solo diner it was an awkward experience. The hostess ignored me then asked me what I wanted. This is only the second time I've had this issue at an establishment while waiting to be seated and it's always the last time I visit solo. Next time I'll grab a friend. I hate feeling awkward. read more

Always a fun place with a great staff and fantastic food. Plus you are surrounded by history.

Beautiful quaint place with tons of history. Very friendly staff and the food was good quality and everything was delicious. Very glad we tried it out. read more

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We dined here on a Friday evening and also had a brief history lesson and a tour. As soon as you step in, you're teleported to the old days with the old-fashioned decor and ambiance. Although this place is massive, I highly recommend having a reservation, as they were busy the whole time we were there. We chose to dine on the outdoor patio. The service and food were exceptional, with fresh ingredients and served in a timely manner. However, the food was overpriced and portions were small that you would not get full. The menu offered numerous options, including gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free. We would come back again and would recommend checking out this place if you're in Essex, CT. read more

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This place is filled all kinds of paintings, artifacts, historical documents and writings , newspaper articles and advertisements of when Essex was in its glory. Truly fascinating. We had been wanting to try this historic and well known establishment for some time, and made a reservation for their New Year's day Brunch 2025 to ring in the new year. We called to make reservations. We arrived to find the parking lot in the back completely full, but were able to find a spot on the street relatively close. There are multiple dining rooms and we were seated in the one closest to the bar/wine room area which was closed off. We had to maneuver through several of the adjacent dining areas to get to the buffet...awkward and maze like. The buffet was $55 plus tax and tip and included coffee or tea. Drinks and cocktails could be ordered for an additional fee. The buffet was not large and there were limited choices. The carving station consisted only of steak which was not the best cut, quality or taste. There were several salads and we cared for none of them. The dressings tasted oily and lacked freshness and flavor. There were a several breakfast style casseroles, fried chicken, sausage, bacon, fish, one mixed veggies dish, fruit salad, mac and cheese, and cornbread and biscuits. The Mac and cheese was delicious. The fried chicken was also really good although when I went back for a second piece, all looked burnt and not appealing. Sausage and bacon were both good. Dessert was meh. While the ladies restroom was clean and lovely, it is awkwardly situated right behind the buffet line, and just seems weird to have the buffet right there. Service was ok but could find no one to ask about some condiments (only butter at buffet station). This buffet was in no way worth the $55 plus tax and tip. The quality was just not there. There are some shops and stores and quaint houses within walking distance, and it's a short walk to view to view the CT river. We are glad we got to visit but don't foresee returning or recommending. read more

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We had our manager meeting here every year. The food is fantastic. The Christmas carriers are incredible.

Always good to Good service Good food Always consistent food Atmosphere is good Love this place read more

We visited The Griswold Inn for Thanksgiving day, reserving a spot in the library of the dining area as well as a room in the inn itself. Unfortunately, most of nearly every aspect of our experience was disappointing: *While we were expecting a small, quaint room (which we certainly got), we were not expecting the walls to be paper thin and the heating system to be ineffective. We were located in the inn itself, and you could hear folks on the stairway, going into their rooms, etc. The heating in our room was really wonky--75 degrees and it felt icy cold. For $300 a night?? *The Thanksgiving buffet was OK. We tried to get drinks at the bar beforehand and had to wait a long time because the ONE woman behind the bar decided to hate us from the onset and serve every single person there before grudgingly turning to us. As for the food, there were some hits and misses. We appreciated that there were some salads available, and while the stuffing was bone dry, it tasted pretty good. There were some other roasted veggies and mashed potatoes, and we did like the turkey. Dessert, however, was disgusting. It was either defrosted Betty Crocker or from an Aramark catalogue, but absolutely nothing was homemade. *The reason why we're especially pissed at the place was the "continental breakfast" included in the cost of the room. LOL! A couple Chobani yogurts, stale Aramark pastries, and not-even fresh hard boiled eggs that were so defrosted that they actually squirted water when you sliced into them. Disgusting. What a joke. Better just to serve coffee than what they had. How embarrassing for America's oldest "continuously-running" inn, a moniker that they are so proud to boast of. Listen, this place is adorable and the dining spaces are cozy and the staff (other than the bar) is extremely kind. Essex also couldn't be more cute and we definitely want to be back here again in the warmer months, but we would actually prefer to stay at a Courtyard Marriott and get the points because it would be far less money and--we can't believe we're saying this--better quality. Maybe we'd come back for the regular menu at the restaurant, but overall, it's three stars. read more

The food is outstanding, with a very cool vintage atmosphere! The staff is so nice, I highly reccomend dining and staying here!

I like the Griswold Inn however I really their wine bar next store. Steve is serving up a great selection in various sizes and flights. The food here is also really good - different kitchen, chef and next level menu for a less touristy local high-end crowd than at the Inn. Both have their own charm and different vibe. read more

Loved this place! The Griswold Inn has 2 fabulous spaces: The Wine Bar (right front entrance - there's also signage) and the Tavern (left front entrance). I walked into the Wine Bar when I was hoping to check out The Tavern. I ended up exploring both which is great bc they have 2 distinct decor & vibes. Loved them both! read more

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Loved this place. Came here for a birthday dinner and it was a hit. The place is on this quaint street in Essex and is also an inn. It was quite busy and glad I made reservations. The gnocchi was not the best, if I'm being honest. Just didn't hit the mark with us. The pork chop was great and the salmon was also good. The winner was definitely the desert. Service was a bit slow in general. The server was quite slow at checking in, refilling water, etc, but she was nice. We also came here for a birthday but there wasn't any recognition or anything which was odd, but maybe they don't do anything for special occasions. They did acknowledge the birthday when we checked in and even when we left which was nice. It seemed to take quite a while for the food to come back out. Server came over a few times and said she was checking on the food but we never saw her walk into the kitchen, so who knows. All in all, it's a 4+ for me, but giving the full 5 here anyway as it was an enjoyable time. read more

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I didn't know what to expect as I see mixed reviews online. Personally, I dug the place. Food was maybe just ok but the history more than makes up for any shortcomings. Love the ambience. Love the area. read more

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09/09/25-This was a first time visit for me, but my husband had dined here before as a child. We opted to eat in the cozy tap room for lunch. I love old taverns and this place was so much fun! Great nostalgic decor and a huge fireplace that I can't wait to come back in the winter just to sit by. Service was excellent and there was a good blend of regulars and tourists. The roast turkey panini was perfectly done and the waffle chips retained their heat. My husband had the fish and chips which were equally delicious. Excellent spot for a cozy meal. Can't wait to return. read more

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2 words: SEA. SHANTIES! Seriously just go for sea shanty night. (Oh and the food is fantastic too) read more

Beautiful old atmosphere with good food and great service. The wine bar was a highlight.

Charming place. My wife and I spent out 20th Anniversary here. History is everywhere all around the inn.

We stopped in from a trip home from Foxwood's. We ordered the corn beef hash omelette and pancakes with bacon. We were served hot cornbread with maple butter to start. It was perfect! My pancakes were fluffy and delicious and the bacon was extra crispy as I like it. The corn beef hash omelette was amazing! It was served with a fresh fruit cup and hashbrowns. I am so glad we stopped in! It's quaint an adorable just as I remember. Service was fantastic. read more

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The Griswold Inn is a historic inn and restaurant that opened in Essex, Connecticut in 1776. It was founded by Sala Griswold. It was originally known as the Bushnell Tavern and offered "first class accommodations" to travelers. The inn saw action from opposing British forces both during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. It is one of the oldest continuously-operated inns in Connecticut as well as the United States. It was renamed the Griswold House, or "The Gris", in the mid-19th century and later the Griswold Inn. The Paul Family have been the proud owners of the Gris since 1995. There have been multiple additions and renovations over the years. Today the inn features 33 charming rooms and multiple historic dining rooms. My wife and I stayed at the Griswold Inn last weekend for our fifth wedding anniversary. The room that we stayed in was a Standard Room with a Queen bed, which was just what we needed. None of the rooms at the Gris have a TV. This is to encourage guests to mingle with each other. We liked this concept and enjoyed mingling with other guests and staff members alike. Throughout our whole stay, we constantly saw an elderly couple always sitting at the same table in the Tap Room. We later learned that they have been married for 50 years and come back to the Gris every year. My wife and I hope we will be as lucky as them some day. Over the course of our stay, we had all of our meals at the inn. We ate each meal in a different room with a different menu: lunch in the Tap Room, dinner at the Wine Bar, Sunday hunt brunch in the Covered Bridge Room and dinner in the Library Room. Every meal was very different but they were all excellent. Our favorite was when we had dinner in the Library Room. Aside from the inn itself, the surrounding area of Essex Village was also quite lovely and relaxing. There were lots of cute shops, eateries, and the Connecticut River Museum. There were even a few events going on during the weekend, including a Scarecrow FestiFALL and a Doggy Halloween Parade. My wife and I enjoyed the Continental Breakfast in the Library Room on our last morning before we checked out. Our stay at the Griswold Inn was one for the books and we hope to return again and again! read more

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Charming, historic inn and restaurant! Had a delightful lunch with my mom at The Griswold Inn. The daily specials for 01/18/25 were scrumptious! The new Executive Chef Ian has brought another level of deliciousness to The Griswold Inn. And the carrot cake with candied walnuts and caramel were otherworldly. Highly recommend The Griswold Inn in the lovely town of Essex, CT. read more

The Griswold Inn - Carrot Cake Special with candied walnuts and caramel! - Hotels Near Me - Essex, Connecticut

Great place to stay overnight and eat. We had gift cards, some dating back to 2009. We checked in with Jillian who was amazingly warm, inviting and patient. She is super friendly and a great credit to the Gris organization. Everything about our stay was top notch! read more

We had a luncheon here for my husband today and the service was amazing but the food was beyond amazing. Wow. The fried shrimp at lunch time was perfectly cooked. The French dip sandwich's flavor was off the chart. Topped off our after afternoon with a few amazing desserts along with happy birthday wishes for my husband. A Perfect celebration! Chef Matheson is great! read more

Celebrated our 30th anniversary here in November 2024. The inn was beautiful, Essex was glorious. Live music was a plus!! Loved everything about it. read more

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The menu reflects classic dishes that have been served there for years; however, the quality of the entrees is awful. At this price point, patrons can find outstanding food elsewhere. read more

Had a romantic date-night dinner with my wife at the historic Griswold Inn. Was not overly busy which was good for us. The "Gris", as it is known, definitely had a lovely historic charm to it. The decor stays true to its era. As for the food, we ordered the potato pancakes as an appetizer. Solid app, crispy pancakes, not overly fried and true to the dish, very plain but not in a bad way. Delicious with applesauce and sour cream sides. Onto the main course, I ordered fried chicken breast w/ hot honey oil dinner with sautéed garlic kale, curry roasted cauliflower and mashed potato. Chicken was perfectly cooked and juicy. Kale and mashed were good but really enjoyed the curry roasted cauliflower especially when mixed with hot honey oil. Wife got the Reuben w/ no sides. I ended up eating half. I found it a bit dry but will say it had nice flavor with a touch of spice which I think came from the sauerkraut. My wife really liked it but I was slightly underwhelmed. For dessert we ordered the toffee pudding which was very good. Service was good, our server Melissa was great. However, took a long time for our food to come. In a busy setting I would understand but it was not and our orders were very straight forward. All in all we had an enjoyable dinner and I get why The Griswold Inn is a CT icon. I would eat here again but to be honest, I am not certain it meets the hype. read more

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I was so excited to go to the Wine Bar which was named one of the best. It was empty! Not a place to go if you are hungry as the "Starters" menu had a handful of options. The Food portions are so small as they tell you to order 2 servings. We ordered a cheese board to start with and it lacked and came with mushy grapes & 2 bite size samples of cheese to share which unfortunately ended it for me. The service was friendly. As the Inn had another restaurant with more options, We decided to go to a different shoreline restaurant to eat dinner. read more

The Griswold Inn - Cheese board - Hotels Near Me - Essex, Connecticut

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Just dropping this note to say thank-you for all that you did to make my wife's Birthday party a wonderful time had by all of our family and friends. It was elegant from the room to the table setting and the food was delicious. Everyone was impressed and we will definitely keep you in mind for any future events.Claudia Odekerken , Events Manager went above and beyond to make this a special day. John & Mary Ellen Skorzewski read more

We loved this quaint, historical hotel. It was very comfortable and full of hidden treasures. We also ate in the dinning room and were overjoyed with our meal and drinks. The food was so good, craft cocktails were fabulous and dessert was to die for. I would highly recommend staying here and dinning here if you're in the area. I'll definitely be back read more

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Nice, historic building. Very cool old art. Clean considering how old it is. No bathroom fan, heat was way too high, smelled a little like cigarettes actually. The band was a little annoying below as you try sleep but it didn't go super late. No tv kinda sucks considering the cost. $225 for a Thursday night should have a tv and a better breakfast. Breakfast was disappointing. People there were extremely nice tho. I'm glad I gave it a try but wouldn't again unless more amenities were offered or price was lower. Oh, and it's not haunted. read more