Want to live this place. But it def needs more. More food options, more sides. It also needs to step up their flavor and food game. I get the kitch of it and that you BYOB. But I think it can remain kitchy with some improvements to the menu offerings and taste that don't take away their unique vibe and what they are known for. The kids that work there are all adorable! read more

If you're looking for something new and different from your typical lunch spot, fresh and delicious, fun and group friendly... this is The Place! Seriously, I could not have been more impressed with the menu, service staff, and atmosphere. Bring your own bottle of wine, sit down, and let the seafood delight you. I came with a big group and think I tried a little bit of everything. Highlights were the corn on the cob, BBQ clams, salmon and mussels. The outdoor location, table decor and friendly servers made this place warm and inviting. Tips: bring your own bottle and some appetizer snacks and cash as The Place is cash only. Even though they have a lot of food, you can bring some appetizers to enjoy while they prepare your meal on the grills. The only reason this is 4 and not 5 stars is because the bathrooms were really gross. While I thoroughly enjoyed all the food, the dead rat that greeted me in the restroom was less than appetizing. Even still, The Place is a truly unique spot in Guilford and worth the trip if you are venturing out of the Hartford area! read more

See all

The Place is a must-visit when in the area. The homey outdoor atmosphere with a roaring fire grill is inviting, as are the fresh menu items and reasonable prices. Grilled clams were surprisingly moist and succulent though they would have benefited from some Tabasco or cocktail sauce. Salmon was fresh and grilled precisely to order. Lobsters looked wonderful and we will try them next time. Unfortunately while we feasted plenty of mosquitos also feasted...on us. Bring cash, your beverage of choice, and bug spray. read more

I am not an expert on clams but I am so glad I had this experience! I'm in town for a business meeting and wanted to treat myself to something fun I can't get in land-locked Ohio. Other reviews talked about the long waits do I went at 5:30 to beat the crowds! I pulled up a tree stump, asked the group of women next to me what was good and ordered roasted corn (ok, I can get this at Ohio State Fair), 1/2 dozen roasted shrimp, 1/2 dozen roasted special clams and ice tea read more

See all

Lured in by the atmosphere of an open fire and rustic tree stumps, we decided to give it a try, but will not be returning. We walked away hungry and had to make 2 trips to the ATM (thought $80 would be enough). We found it to be relatively expensive in comparison to Abbott's Lobster on the Rough, which we visit regularly. We ordered two 1.5 pound lobsters (does not come with sides) , chicken breast (does not come with sides), two ears of corn and 2 cokes for $90. The following weekend, we went to Abbott's and paid the same price for two 1.5 lb lobster, deviled eggs, cup or clam chowder, two coleslaw, two chips, two cokes, mac & cheese, grilled cheese and a great view watching the boats go by. read more

It had been a while since we visited. It is a unique place to go and remembered it as fun and delicious. We wanted to introduce our friends to the place and drove the hour to come for clams and mussels. Unfortunately everything was WAY over cooked shrimp and clams were almost inedible. Well I chewed on the clams for a good long time before spitting them out. I was sad that our introduction went so poorly. It was still fun but not so delicious. read more

*Told veggies were gluten free but my daughter got so sick after eating them. Server was nice but wasn't confident with menu and ingredients. Atmosphere was good. Outside so you may have the occasional fly or two. Had the clams special- great flavor but a bit chewy. I don't eat them often so I'm not sure if this is the norm. *Told All items but BBQ chicken are gluten free. Corn was yummy and definitely worth it. Veggie bob was good but wouldn't get it again. 1.5 lb lobster was tasty but difficult to crack. Overall pretty good. Another reviewer said they left hungry, I thought how is that possible. But I get it. 1 1/4 lb lobster 4 clams and corn seems to fill you but an hour later everyone was hungry. No itemized bill either so you need to keep track to be sure you're charged correctly. Tips: BYOB, prepare to get messy if you get lobster, bring an app to share. No sides other than corn. read more

Incredibly mediocre, got shrimp, chicken, mussels and corn on the cob. It's literally just grilled, zero seasoning. Only flavor comes from hot sauce. Any 4+ star review is coming from people who haven't eaten real food. Atmosphere is cool though. read more

The Place is unique with its atmosphere, tree stump seats, wood fire grill and bring your own drinks/sides. Always friendly and a laid back place to go out on a date, with a group of friends or a big family gathering/wedding rehearsal. Highly recommend the place and certainly an experience you don't want to miss! read more

See all

What a blast!! Cash or check only, BYOB and sides if you like. A whole lot of fun! Clams, lobster, salmon, steak, chicken, corn on the cob -- everything is cooked on a huge open fire. Outdoor seating ONLY, so come on a day that's okay with you. It's a hoot! Very enjoyable, incredibly casual. Bring a dog and they'll bring it a water bowel. read more

Took my wife here as a surprise and we had a fantastic time. The food is cooked on an open fire and you can watch the whole process. Bring your own sides some wine and enjoy the ambiance. The clams with sauce are awesome, corn is awesome we ordered, lobsters cooked perfectly and delicious. We will definitely be back. It was fall so bugs weren't much of a problem but I imagine you might want some spray in the summer. It was a magical dinner. read more

I've been wanting to come here and so happy I finally did. Everything is a la carte so could get expensive but the clams are worth the price since they are big. The fish portions were smaller for the price of them and each corn cob was overpriced. I have gotten roasted corn for at least $2 cheaper. I do like that you can bring your own things so my friends and I were able to bring chips and drinks to save on that as sides and the set up is super cute! Service was just ok. Bathrooms were pleasantly clean since it's an outdoor environment, I was skeptical. read more

See all

I don't know how they get great reviews from anybody else the food was terrible served on paper plates with plastic forks. I ordered a steak and I think they ran across the street to big Y grabbed a standard steak and threw it on the grill nothing special and then you have to sit on a wooden tree stump...never again! read more

Fun atmosphere, friendly staff, great prices. Love that you can bring your own drinks and sides.

The oyster special tastes good. The ambience is unique here, being outdoor. However, that's where things stop. Grossly overpriced, service is slow, and while you're contemplating your $4 corn, you will be marauded by every species of gnat, wasp, and flying insect. read more

Love this seasonal institution. Simple, fresh and good quality food. Fresh from the sea, grilled with minimal fuss and sensitive flavors. A+++ Byob is a special perk read more

Great concept. Fire roasted seafood - cooked simply, served promptly. Lobster, shrimp, clams available, as well as steak and chicken. For sides, they have roasted corn and a veggie bob - foil wrapped onions, peppers, mushrooms. Other than that - you bring it. Wooden tables -- Outdoor seating - put your rump on a stump as the waiters T-Shirts state. If you want anything else, like a table cloth, you bring it. BYOB. So be take your favorite beverage and glasses, unless you want to use their paper cups. Ample parking. Cash only - an ATM is available. read more

See all

You sit on a log, in an essentially empty lot across the street from Walmart, and get absolute $H!T food and service. The menu sucks. If you're not obsessed with seafood, you have a choice between chicken or ribeye steak. That's it. Sides? There is one. Corn on the cob. That's it. No other choices. The staff is entirely millennial high school kids. They don't know how to cook, and they do not know how to serve tables. Food arrives, and by that I mean corn. Later my steak arrives. It's literally a 1 pound slab of grizzle, maybe 1-2 oz of meat which are also not even cooked through. I managed to get 1-2 bites down before giving up, and shooting for an ear of corn as my dinner. One rotation or bites into the corn and I just can't. Its awful. Every single thing about this experience, this place, the food... is just awful. My father had ordered the mussels, and my mother the salmon. I don't like salmon, but I love well prepared mussels. I tried to eat one, had to spit it out. Awful. It was my mothers birthday and she said she liked her salmon, but I honestly think she was being polite and trying to make the best of her Bday dinner. Of course the bill was $$$, and we all walked away very disappointed. Attached photo is the slab of grizzle I was served, in the "to go" container I asked for (tin foil). MAYBE my dogs might eat a few bits of it. Maybe not. *Important note: I live in Guilford. 25 years ago I knew the HS kids working there, and we would BYO beer, and we had fun there. I've been back once every 10ish years as an adult. EVERY TIME, I remember why I haven't been back in 10 years. read more

The Place - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

Friendly service and decently priced. The outdoor, rustic ambience is quaint and charming. The food was cooked well but we waited for quite awhile on a busy weekend day. read more

The Place - Shrimp, 1/4 lb lobster, mussels in garlic and wine sauce and veggiebob - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

I come to "The Place" annually. It's one of the places you go to not for the food alone but for the entire experience. The atmosphere here is relaxed, but that can change depending on what you bring to the experience. Luckily most of the people who come here have some foresight, and help to keep the place lively enough so that you can't hear the grumbling of the small few who are surprised by the lack of white glove service. If you are expecting Gordon Ramsey to serve you your meal go elsewhere. Their food has always been good each time that I've gone. With many items tasting better than good. Their corn is delicious! By this point in time I've had everything on the menus thus far except for the desserts. It's always disappointing to read the negative reviews, but I'm not there each and every day they are open so perhaps I've gotten lucky for the last 10 years? Don't let the lower scores persuade you otherwise. I highly suggest everyone to visit here at least once, but only do so after doing some homework first. "The Place" is known for the experience AND their food. It's grilled, simple, but still delicious if your not one of those people that needs to hide their food behind a pound of ketchup, salt and pepper or other condiments. Luckily if you do, just bring it yourself! "The Place" is known and popular for everything listed below. If it sounds up your ally drive on down, if not still give it a chance. Just make sure to show up with welcome arms, and any substitutes for items that you must have below that are not offered * Only cash excepted (ATM's nearby) * Logs for seats * You eat outside * There is no table clothes * It's BYOB * They don't serve you bread or sides but they do sell corn and a veggie bob. There are plenty of stores nearby that may sell the bread or side you'd like to bring to the meal. Also this place makes a great stop after a day at Hammonasset Beach! read more

See all

Pardon? I have to put my rump on a stump? Been told to do a lot of things in my life, but this is a first! There is a red house by the street with a huge backyard where they erected a BBQ. Cut a few trees and pounded the stumps into the ground. Added more stumps and put a circular piece of wood or steel to form a table. Paaking is in the back, no lines, just paaak. Ingenious! Did I say this place was casual with absolutely no table linens or tourists? No frills and you get what you see. BYOB LOVE seafood? This is your place! 1 1/2lb lobstah for $24.95 with buttah http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-place-guilford?select=nnjYFgn6PNQOdoup2hCsaA#5p4wGLpMsJ_gS20udmjIOg 1 1/4lb lobstah for $20.95 with buttah http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-place-guilford?select=nnjYFgn6PNQOdoup2hCsaA#ERbmKtWmASrzZZfJ1d3eIQ Roasted corn for $2.15 each http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-place-guilford?select=nnjYFgn6PNQOdoup2hCsaA#NlFz491F_aWV8qB_ZqAyow Yes, we devoured it http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-place-guilford?select=nnjYFgn6PNQOdoup2hCsaA#OBydh_aql3OB5zbTWLxYew Roast clam special $10.95 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-place-guilford?select=nnjYFgn6PNQOdoup2hCsaA#5khJscxZsgvVUIkUofNfaw Plain roasted clams $10.95 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-place-guilford?select=nnjYFgn6PNQOdoup2hCsaA#9NCj9l2ChvS6w4Wn1M-RPw Key lime pie $4.95 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-place-guilford?select=nnjYFgn6PNQOdoup2hCsaA#pe83M4aTOXzw--UmdbiS1w Love this sign http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-place-guilford?select=nnjYFgn6PNQOdoup2hCsaA#BrUUlhJD8mUlyYgaGBOI2Q Exterior or interior, however you wanna look at it... http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-place-guilford?select=nnjYFgn6PNQOdoup2hCsaA#ewesWPwllIM6N5Xo06cxBg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-place-guilford?select=nnjYFgn6PNQOdoup2hCsaA#nlnCEs9gcidD5ECOeGOmIA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-place-guilford?select=nnjYFgn6PNQOdoup2hCsaA#EUl6DH9r9umzrbSBfT9cxg Friendly quick service and they give you a load of napkins! Thank you Brian for reminding me that we throw the clams shells on the ground after we have consumed them! Not the lobstah, only the clams. Ambiance - 5 Stars - casual and no frills! If this is what you want come on down during the summer when they are open! Food - 5 Stars - Can't go wrong with good lobstah, corn, clams and key lime pie! Service - 5 Stars - casual, yet friendly and will come when you need them. Thanks Brian S. and Sruffy Tourist for showing us this seriously hidden gem! read more

See all

Put your rump on a stump There's a sign that says just that and that is indeed what you do. The Place isn't really a restaurant because there is no inside or building to speak of. Just a cleared area in which plywood and pieces of wood serve as tables and chunks of wood (the stumps) are used as seating. It's only open during the summer and casual would be an understatement, we have showed up in wetsuits after kayaking and felt overdressed. The food. If you want fresh seafood cooked over a gigantic open pit fueled by huge logs this is the place. The lobster is as good as any you will find in this area. Steamed mussels, clams, and even roasted chicken if you for some crazy reason don't like seafood. One of their best kept secrets is the roasted corn. Absolutely fantastic . So if you are looking to get all dressed up and want some ambiance and people to wait on you forget this place. If you do want great seafood and a different sort of dining experience come to Guilfood and try putting your rump on a stump. Just watch out for the splinters. read more

By no means is The Place a vegetarian eatery, but it has a place in my new englander heart. If you have friends or family that like steak, fish, oysters, mussels, etc cooked outdoors "en plein air" you should bring them here - this place is rustic, you sit on a stump under a tent with the ground covered in shells, the cars hiss by on route 1.. not fancy schmancy but the food - it is oh-so good. Also note: this place is not a building, it is a tent - so its not open in the winter. Being a vegetarian limited my food options - I had a veggie kabab and corn on the cob, both were outstanding. everyone who got the seafood options in our groups on the many times i have been here have told me they had great meals. you can bring food, drink, whatever you like to accompany your meal - and the big y across the street helps make that easy. for dessert - i would just go to the Ashleys down route 1 for a good sundae. read more

The Place - cooked outdoors - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

See all

This place is AWESOME! It is totally COVID friendly (meaning outdoors with ample socially distanced space and available hand sanitizers). It is totally family friendly. We brought an energetic toddler and dog who both felt welcomed. Great space for restless kids to run around in btw dinner. Staff was friendly and helpful. Our server Eric was personable and attentive. They even brought out a bowl of fresh water for our puppy. Food was fresh, hot, and delicious. We loved the white breast chicken with bbq sauce. The mussels and shrimp were fresh and hot! Do not forget to order dessert. We thoroughly enjoyed the mud pie. You can also bring your own food as well as BYOB. We saw plenty of families and large parties. And remember it is cash only although there is an ATM on site for those who need it. Best part of dinner was getting to sit on a tree stump outdoors. Fun experience all around. We stopped over on our way heading to north, and we cannot wait to stop by on our way home! read more

The Place - Great chill family friendly place - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

The seafood is great! Be warned though, that's all you get. No sides. Yelp is wrong. No credit cards. As far as being kid friendly, it depends on the kid. If they don't like seafood, bring something for them to eat. Would have given this 4 stars but based on the overall uncleanliness of the tables and lack of food for the price, I'm giving 3. But that is all offset by how fresh the seafood is, and the flavor from being cooked over an open flame . So here's what you do to enjoy. Bring a tablecloth, enough fresh potato salad for everyone (or whatever side you like), byob or wine or soda etc, and a fresh baked loaf of bread or dinner rolls! And ice. Pretty much bring everything. Bring everything but shrimp, lobster, clams, salmon, catfish, bluefish, and corn on the cob. We spent $50 on a doz shrimp, a doz clams, 4 corncobs, a catfish & 3 sodas for two people(my 2yo we had to feed afterwards). I left hungry & I'm not a big guy. But I will stress again, it's really fresh, and quite flavorful! I will be going back with my side dishes. read more

The Place - The kitchen. - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

"Put your Rump on a Stump." Yep, this glorious phrase in bold face print graces the homepage of The Place's website and pretty much sums up what kind of unusual rump stumpin' spot this is. Think eclectic, uber casual, outdoor grilled seafood and you've got The Place. Don't expect anything fancy here, where the butter-dripping grilled corn is served on paper plates, the juicy salmon comes served in tin foil, and the roast clams special comes served to you on burnt iron mesh grill that looks like it has been in the fire a thousand times over. They also don't really have any booze nor sides really, so I tell everyone to not only BYOB but BYOS(ides). They also don't accept plastic forms of payment, and if you don't have any hard currency on you can pay via personal check! All the food here is quite tasty. I highly recommend you get the roast clam special over the plain ones, because what sets these littleneck clams off is that they are twice fired, with the second roasting coming after being dressed in a cocktail and butter sauce. Sure they're great for sharing, but get a whole order for yourself and write me a thank you note later. The steamers are meatier, but you will get sand in your mouth even after thoroughly washing them in the Styrofoam cup of salt water. All the seafood is fresh, so you can't go wrong with the shrimp, cat fish, or salmon. For you meat lovers out there, there's even a rib eye steak option, but for $17 bucks isn't the greatest deal and this is more of a grill seafood kind of place. The PB mud bomb or ice cream sunday is a great way to cap off a delicious relaxing meal there too. Once you get over the fact that there aren't many conveniences for the modern-day dining out patron, you can see why there is a very loyal following. When you come here it feels like you're going to one of your best friend's houses for a warm weather BBQ. You're not just a customer when you eat here, you're family. read more

See all

In the six relatively livable months between April and October, you can have a hybrid picnic restaurant experience in a unique yet immediately accessible setting at The Place. I'll be honest - I've only been here once, and it was at the beginning of my stint in New Haven about two and a half years ago. Even so, I remember it well. I went with around ten new friends, most of whom I barely knew at the time. I'm now dating one of them, and I've been to another's wedding, and I count on having every one of them in my life after New Haven. The Place may not have cemented all of these bonds, but it was a crucial outing that I'll always think on fondly. The Place is an outdoor venue with food cooked on a huge open grill and seating consisting of stumps surrounding picnic tables. That's about all there is to it, and it's wonderful. The atmosphere is really happy and relaxed, and its hard not to have a good time there. I happen to remember the food for the simple reason that it was very straightforward. I had an ear of corn and my roommate and I split an order each of shrimp and barbecue chicken. I love grilled corn and The Place certainly didn't do anything to qualify that. The shrimp was great, nicely grilled and juicy. It was easily better than the barbecue chicken, which was a little bit dry without too much connection between meat and sauce. In retrospect, I regret not trying the clams or lobster, but I didn't even know the specialty was seafood. We took advantage of the bring your own drinks and sides policy, which is really brilliant. It gives The Place even more of a friendly communal property, and I think even more than the food, that is its greatest asset. read more

This place was fun and only outdoor seating so it was good for the pandemic. The clams were out of this world. I was planning my return before I left. read more

Great food and great service! The lovely young waitress named Cassandra was fantastic. Cannot wait to come back for some more delicious grub. read more

I love, love, love, love, love The Place- it never fails to put a smile on my face! Order lobster, shrimp, clams, and corn, I recommend all, but to choose one: I am torn! Bring your own sides, and bring your own hydration- sit down on a log and enjoy the fire-grilled sensations! Nearby is Guilford- it's a quaint, old town. Tour the green or beach after eats to wind on down. read more

See all

You can't beat this very special place. An outdoor BYOB fresh seafood everything cooked outside on the giant wood grill. The roasted clams are awesome with a beer and the roasted lobsters and grilled corn on the cob will just make you happy. Cash only ! read more

If your going to "the place" you cannot be disappointed because you don't know what to expect!! Come on after lol it's rustic, it's big fire, it's outside. Bring you own bevies and a picnic tablecloth, patio seat cushion and of course, bring the babies Fun for the whole family. read more

If you are sick of the preppy CT vibe then this is a good place to find relief. Overall the food was fresh and simply cooked, seafood was great, and the food was served quickly. I would suggest this place to anyone who loves Dive Bars or just a place looks cool but is very rustic. It's BYOB so come prepared. Not sure how common it is but the night we were there a couple of people were drunk and smoking at their table. This was during Covid and most the people wore masks but there was no enforcing of this requirement. read more

I'd give them a 5 but they aren't following protocol as far as number of people allowed in a group. Saw a family of over 10 at a table: Food is delicious service is great but it's all kids so they aren't going to say anything. read more

Great place to be in the summer days. Roasted everything is good especially the lobster. Raw and wild but still maintain its tenderness. The corns are also fantastic after bath with fire. The atmosphere is just different, very wild and 'natural'. Or you can say they don't want to spend any penny on the dinning environment. But to me, their wild cooking style and eat in the open tradition are just perfect match. The only annoying thing is the bugs during the summer days. Bring some drink and enjoy a wild dinner in the open, the experience is just unique. read more

Awesome concept and the food is delicious. Lobster was spot on as well as the fire roasted clams and corn

My new favorite summer spot! I pass Guildford often on my ride to visit family in Southeastern CT, but never have explored the area. Thanks to Yelp, I found "The Place" and boy am I glad I did. I am a lover of all things New England summer and this Place hit the spot. You pull up a stump and plop down your rump. The very cheerful and nice staff take your order and bring your food. We got corn, veggie kebab, BBQ chicken, roasted clams and steamers. Everything was great but if you are a seafood lover, make sure to get the clams. You can't go wrong. I brought my little dog and they gave him some water and a few well deserved ooooos and aaaaaas. Bonus points for that ;) read more

Love this place. Great ambiance. Outdoor dinning. Delicious and fresh food. Highly recommended. read more

The Place - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

See all

In our weekend tour of Connecticut, my girlfriend's best friend and husband took us to The Place as our "good-bye [good-riddance]" meal. It's located about an hour south of Hartford and really close to New Haven. Connecticut is such a beautiful state with a lot of green and The Place is located deep within this. Here's my breakdown of The Place: Ambiance / Location: - Spacious outdoor eating area. The menu is on this billboard posted up. You can see the grill and smokers outside. It's a nice and comfortable open space. What we ordered: - Steak - Shrimp - Mussels - Clams Steak was bland and chewy. There was nothing special about the shrimp, they were basically boiled. Mussels were okay. The sauce that came with the dish was so bland, I am not sure what purpose it served. The clams were the best thing we ordered since it came out sizzling hot and they had some spiciness to their taste. Drinks: - It's BYOB. So make sure you bring what you like to drink. You can also bring picnic related things - Table covers, picnic baskets, hmm I can't think of anything else but you get what I'm saying :) Service: - Good. No complaints. The overall idea of The Place is cool. I open seating and picnic related theme is a cool concept. The food however was just okay. It wasn't bad or anything but I feel like it could have been so much better. It's a nice experience overall if you have low expectations for the food. read more

Went with some friends on the spur a moment friends' dinner date! Our friend heard good things and since we were on the shoreline we checked it out. First, the place IS different. You're sitting outside on tree stumps, very laid back, and casual! Wood fire grill just feet from some of the tables. Our waitress was new so I won't rate her, as others stepped up to the plate to help her out. We ordered the Clams Special, I enjoyed mussels, an bbq chicken with my husband, and also the grilled corn. There really are no sides...as I saw a lot of people bring mac salad, and potato salad from the local Big Y....next time we'll bring some sides, since all we ate was corn. It is a BYOB which is very cool as well. If you're in Guilford and its a beautiful day to enjoy a meal outside I would check it out, definitely tasty, and definitely different! read more