The Place has been on my radar for a while for the unique outdoor dining and real wood fire cooked food. I was surprised that my local vegetarian family members recommended coming here for dinner but they know my passion for well prepared seafood. While the Place is popular for clams, lobster, and other good grilled meats like chicken and steak, there are vegetable kabobs and the grilled corn which was truly the highlight of dinner. We visited on a busy Saturday evening and brought a bottle of wine and soft drinks of our own. Love being able to bring my favorite beverage and not even being asked to pay a corkage fee. Of course I brought my own wine bottle opener, and with so many patrols bringing in their own bottles surely someone would help you out if you forget this tool. The younger ones in my group selected a table near the fire pits to watch the food being cooked. We pulled up stumps and while this was entertaining, the smoke also drove of few of my guests away from the table before all of us had finished. I started with the clam special, which are nicely grilled clams topped with butter and a spicy sauce. I also ordered the shrimp and they were huge and delicious dipped in the hot cocktail sauce. We all ordered the corn on the cob which comes out wonderfully smokey from the wood fire, dripping with a butter and so good some of us actually ordered seconds. The vegetable kabobs were huge with zucchini and onions dripping in a sauce similar to an Italian dressing and they were okay. The lobster was obviously the main attraction here and we saw so many coming out, I would likely just get this next time. Unfortunately I filled up too much on other selections to order one and being the sole meat eater at a table full of vegetarians, I just didn't feel right tearing into a full lobster alone. Service was okay with everything coming out as it was ready. Ordering seconds took a bit long, so I would suggest ordering everything you think you might want on your first round. Very reasonable prices and cash only, but an on site ATM is available for those who did not come prepared. Even though you are dining outdoors, there are restroom facilities available but only one for each gender so the line was long on a busy night. Overall, I love The Place and cannot wait to return. What a fun experience, good food and unique meal out. read more

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Rustic. Good food. Good company. Fair prices for the experience. It's b.y.o.b., which can be good or bad depending on your crowd. My friends are huge on potlucks, so this was a great place to come order clams and grilled corn to add to an already ample supply of homemade goodies and plenty of drinks. At The Place, sit around wooden tables, on tree stumps, taking in the smokey atmosphere and gorgeous surrounding woods. A good portion of the space is open air, so when the weather's nice, it gives the feel of camping - without actually being too far away from civilization and the interstate. It gets pretty crowded, and this won't be the most quiet of dining options. But the experience is worthwhile if you're not looking for your modern everyday restaurant. The staff here is nice and you can definitely get your fill of quality seafood and other grilled goodies. For those warm late spring or summer nights, The Place is a keeper. And, as the sign says... An unusual restaurant indeed. read more

The Place - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

Fantastic as always. Had the rib-eye this time. It did not disappoint. My other guests throughly enjoyed in their lobsters.

This was my first time eating at "The Place". I have to say I was incredibly pleased with every aspect of our lunch. The staff are very friendly, the process are excellent and the food is delicious! What I especially love is that they encourage their patrons to bring their own drinks and sides. My whole family went for Mother's Day and each of us brought something. Some people brought salads, some brought alcohol (BYOB) and others brought cheese and crackers. We were able to enjoy a rush-free experience where we could just be together, enjoying good food and family. The venue is outside, so if you get cold easily, bring a blanket. Also, we saw multiple families bring their pets. read more

The Place is the place!! Wonderful people/service. Food was fabulous. Fire roasted everything!! BYOB and anything else you'd like. From tablecloths to sides n sauces. Bring hot sauce if u like spicy, they don't have it. I loved it. Mussles, clams, steak, lobster and corn were great. read more

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Very nice outdoor seafood restaurant in Guilford CT. Good for everyone, family, couple and super fun for big group of friends. After my friends and I went to Brownstone park in Portland and we were heading back to NYC. We chose this restaurant to be a great time dinner and we didn't feel disappointed at all. Seafood and lobsters are fresh and juicy. The restaurant use a crackling wood fire roasting that make their food smell even nicer. read more

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One of my all time favorite restaurants. An unassuming seafood spot where you can byob and sides. The food is fresh and delicious every time. Can't wait to be in the area again. read more

The Place - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

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Great seafood, roasted corn is a must! Bring your own beer or wine, maybe a salad. Lobster is the main attraction, so dress casually to sit on the outdoor chairs or tree stumps. You might want to bring cloth napkins, seafood forks, but wooden picks are provided. Fast, efficient, friendly staff. Btw - cash or checks only, there is an ATM. read more

The Place - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

A great place to eat, but just because it gets five stars does not mean it is a gourmet restaurant. Picture an outdoor flame roast party in the park with 200 other people. You sit on a stump. The table is plywood on top of a bigger stump. The floor is clam shells from all the previous diners' meals. Luckily all the customers are nice otherwise parking would be a blood sport. The food is great. I have stayed with the seafood so I cannot speak to the meats. Roasted corn on the cob is very good. (Just make sure you tell them to bring it with your meal, otherwise it gets there first and can get cold.) All the food comes to your table too hot to touch, so you know it's not sitting around. The lobster reaches the table looking like it did not survive a car wreck, so it is easy to open with your fingers. I come here every time I am in town. read more

The Place - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

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Just went here today for Father's Day! It was packed but we were happy to get a table under the canopy because it looked like it would rain. Found out it's self seating, you could also bring drinks and sides. Had no idea. We ordered a lobster, clam special, shrimp, corn and the bbq chicken. All very good. My mom didn't like the shrimp because they weren't peeled. I would bring silverware next time since they only give you wood picks. Lobster isn't cheap but it's expensive everywhere. That that it's byob! Can't wait to return. Also found out that you can ask for the corn to be taken off the cob, who woulda known. Oh and the clams special are special because they are cooked with some cocktail sauce on them. We are planning a return! read more

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My boyfriend and I stumbled across this spot and LOVED it! Our waiters were super nice and there wasn't a long wait for the food. We had corn on the cob, clams, and bbq chicken! Absolutely will be back! read more

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One of a kind, unique restaurant. It is more like an outdoor space where people can bring their own food/drinks and have a picnic, while ordering fresh seafood. The menu is on a big red board and the food is prepared in an open kitchen. The seats are tree stumps. We ordered lobster, fire roasted clams, shrimp and veggie cob. Loved the clams as it was flavored well. The lobster was done well, so were the shrimp and veggies. Ideally, should have taken bread or pita along, so that we could have had something to go along with the seafood. No cards, only cash/cheques read more

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Although masks are not required. We wore ours except for eating. Tables are very spaced out. Out door dining. Servers stand away a little and deliver food by sliding it to you! Which I adored due to pandemic. At the time of writing this Conn. had very low rates. Food was amazing Steak, Salmon the best I have had that wasn't 30$ a pound. Something about wood smoked!! But honestly they have a great fish supplier. We had clams plain.. oo Key line moose. That was great too. Staff very accommodating and move a bin for me and offered to get a chair for me. Only issues was the bathroom there are 2 with indoor plumbing. The one I used could have a handicap bar.. on the side. There was one on the back of the toilet. Toilet is regular hight. I used my crutches so not sure about a chair. Manual chair close fit. Plenty of room to turn around. read more

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Came twice in one week! Definitely order the bluefin fish (its cooked with lemon and peppers--delicious fresh) read more

The Place - Outdoor sitting area - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

Seriously unique and the food is out of this world. The food is great the service is friendly and the owner is great to talk with and get to know. Love the ambiance in the outdoor setting. read more

Some tips to keep in mind when coming here: -cash only, they have ATMs near by. - it is BYOB - ladies, wear pants as you will be sitting on wooden stumps - all seating is outdoors - be prepared to eat delicious no bs grilled food and have fun - make sure to get the roasted corn, best ever. What a fun way to have a roast BBQ. Friendly, fun, unique. Must stop here again on our way up the New England coast. Outdoor stump seating and a simple giant wooden menu to order from. We came here on a Thursday night and had great service and food. The smells of the clams, fish, chicken, lobster, corn all roasting away is absolutely heaven. Another tip is that if you are prone to getting bit by mosquitos then spray yourself before because it is nestled in a treed lot with all outdoor seating. read more

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This was one of the first outdoor places we have adventured into for last few months. I'll start with the environment is pleasant, it's a busy place with a kitchen that is going and fire blasting from it which is not an issue. The staff is friendly and the social time we had was enjoyed. The food at best description, overpriced and underwhelming. The food tends to be pretty pricey based on its portion. We got roasted clams and half shrimp which ended up being $20. These are both appetizers sizes and were not seasoned well. I would say if going for social time it's a good place but if you are wanting seafood I would search elsewhere read more

Lobster was awesome! For the first time having eaten them, the roast clams were not bad. Kind of chewy but good flavor. My son had the salmon and said it was dry but had good flavor. The corn was sweet & crisp. Lovely atmosphere & experience! Yes hints to note: *CASH ONLY. There is an atm. * BYOB. *You CAN BRING sides and salads. read more

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I've seen The Place on Food Network channel and was so excited to have a chance to visit on my way back home from Mystic. The Place was very busy, large crowd sitting outside enjoying the open kitchen, watching their food being grilled. It's BYOB, but I also saw people bring their own cooler that packed with their own food as well (salad, chips, anything ..). It really was 'The Place' where people come to hang out and have a good time outside. It's like a family picnic. Food-wise, it was just okay for me. Nothing spectacular. We ordered grilled clams with special sauce (tasted like Shrimp cocktail sauce mixed with bbq). They were good, but not great. We also ordered grilled shrimp which came to us on a paper plate so don't expect a restaurant presentation. Lastly, we ordered grilled chicken, that was so bland beyond any grilled chicken I've ever had. There was no seasoning whatsoever. I would recommend to not waste your money on it. Just stick with grilled seafood. Service was friendly. We loved the vibe of The Place. It's also cash only. So bring your cash and your food that you'd like to go with your seafood. read more

We heard about this place recently. We've lived in CT all our lives. So we decided to go experience it. Menu is limited and the food simple. They don't seem to care about picking up debrie when it falls on the ground. I noticed a wait staffer who dropped clam shells on the ground and never went back to pick them up. They walked by them several times after. Lobster shells and napkins were laying on the ground. We spent 100 for three people without having three main courses. Vegetable cabob appeared to have been sitting in some sort of broth for a while before it was steamed on the grates. It wasn't good at all. Chicken was smothered on top with BBQ sauce, it was not on the chicken when cooked. If you like funkie places with byob...this is the place to experience, at least once. read more

If you enjoy ephemeral dining experiences and you also love being out in the woods, I think you'll really enjoy The Place. We had heard about it prior to our visit, but we were still not entirely sure what to expect. It's very, very rustic, to say the least. Bring bug spray and your own cutlery! Also, basically, feel free to bring almost anything else you think would complement your meal, aside from the requisite booze. Why would I give such a high rating to a place where you have to self-cater so much of your own stuff along with your meal? Aside from the very unique and fun dining experience, the food also happens to be quite good. I'm a sucker for char-grilled items (dat carcinogenic taste), and, well, nostalgia. The seafood will also be extremely fresh, so there is that as well. There's just something really pleasing about sitting on little tree stumps, being near a massive grill, with nothing but the stars above you (though, in inclement weather, there is a canopy). I sincerely think everybody should go at least once in their lives to experience what a cook-out must have been like "back in the day". read more

One of my favorite restaurants ever. Fresh food prepared right in front of you. Sit your rump on a stump and byob! Clam special is a must. But really it's all great! :) Feel free time bring your own: silverware, sides, apps, cups, plates. read more

The Place - LOBSTAH - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

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How is that that I' ve never reviewed The Place? This is probably my favorite spot in CT and I've probably been here close to 100 times. I've been coming here for nearly 30 years! OK, here's how to make the most of your experience: 1) go with someone (or a group) that you really enjoy being with. This is a great first date spot, a great meet up with people from the other end of the state or just a place to go to unwind. 2) Bring lots of cash. You never know what you're going to be in the mood for or how long you will stay. That's not to say that it is expensive, but it isn't inexpensive and if you order several rounds of apps while you enjoy your wine, the check is going to be higher than it would be at the local pub. 3) Bring your own beverages and a cooler as well as glasses/cups as desired. 4) Bring bread, salad, cheese and crackers if desired. It's nice to sit outside and enjoy a drink and a snack while you wait for clams/shrimp/corn etc. 5) Plan for the weather. There's a cover that they slide over for rain but it can still blow under around the edges. It gets colder at night, etc... I usually leave extra fleeces in the car and get them if needed. 6) Try something new. If you haven't ever had decent bluefish you may enjoy it here. The corn is fantastic if you've never had it done this way. I've had the entire menu many times and enjoy everything here. 7) If your dog is well behaved, bring him/her! I love taking a good dog out to eat. Dogs make everything better! This place is a solid 5 stars! Always great food, usually great service and an unbeatable concept atmosphere. Anyone who doesn't love this place probably isn't much fun to be around to begin with! read more

Eh. good If you like camping and bringing your own food and drinks to a restaurant. I could never find anything for my kid to eat. Tables outdoor and dirty I didn't know I had to bring tablecloth. Not that exciting imo. How hard would it be to throw some hot dogs or burgers on the menu? read more

We love coming here with friends!! Ok, it is not posh. But it is friendly. maybe, it wil never be listed in Gourmet Magazine. but the food is good and you make it a meal by bringing a salad or appetizer or dessert. Not that you have to as they have everything you need including paper plates - but we bring a a tablecloth, candles and cutlery. It is just plain fun. We go a few times a year with friends and our son loves this place - to bad this year he got his grilled clams via a cell phone picture! Try it, it is an adventure and a chance to lighten up a bit. read more

This place, I mean I can't even describe the wonder of it. The vibe the aura the gorgeous experience, will forever hold a spot in my heart. Thank you that's all I have to say, Thank you. With much love and best wishes Auntie Noelle (your biggest fan) Love you Emily (my niece who owns this fine phone) read more

The Place. Upon first glance at the name I thought, "What a weird choice to call your restaurant The Place." It seemed a little simple and pedestrian. But then we arrived at The Place and I got it. There is nothing fancy here but that is the point. Especially in a part of the country that is filled with people, concrete and more people. For us New York City folk this was THE PLACE. It is an outdoor "pull up a tree stump who needs silverware and pop your own cork" kind of place. There is a big tented open structure with tables and a few more tables in the sun and in-between a big fire pit cooking just about every bit of seafood you can think of. Oh and a chicken and steak for good measure. There are no menus as you don't need it because there is a giant menu board as you pull into the joint and if you can't see that you can just look at it all cooking on the grill. And just wait until you see them roast the corn on the cob in the husk and then shuck it and dunk the whole ear in a bucket full of melted butter. "You had me at butter." We started with their infamous roast clam special. They were served in the half shell with a cocktail sauce and buttery mixture. Hmmm....butter. ha. We didn't love them but we liked them and it seemed the more we ate them the more we liked them. I think that would be because we are more oyster fans than clams. We also got grilled shrimp and lobsters and they both were perfectly cooked. They were plump and succulent. And of course we got the corn and it was great too. If you are in the mood for a fun country picnic The Place is a real gem. read more

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I wish I could give this place more stars but taking everything into account, 3 is the most I give it. The ambience is ok. You get to sit outdoors and watch the blames as the food cooks. The prices are a little steep for the food your getting, but I guess since it is BYOB, you save on drinks. The food is no frills and although everything is flame grilled, I cannot say to perfection. There's not much to seasoning, which sometimes is a positive, but the best I can say is it was edible. It does seem that it's a great place to BYOB and a group of friends and spend a while just chatting the night away. I'm glad we visited, but we're not likely to rush back any time soon. read more

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LOVE The Place! Great atmosphere and it's a nice touch that you bring your own booze and side dishes. It's definitely a different, fun experience! The food is fantastic. They cook the protein and you bring the rest, is how I would describe it! I had the catfish and it's cooked to perfection. Light and moist with just the right seasoning. The clams on the grill are to die for! My date ordered a steak and it was definitely made for two! He said it was cooked just the way he wanted it. Their corn on the cob is also really good. I mean, how can you go wrong cooking on an open grill? Just spectacular. Highly recommend for kids, large groups or just a date night! read more

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Now here is a "place" that will have you coming back for more: more of the environment, more of the people, and more of the food. Environment Be prepared. Literally, be prepared. Pack your cooler with drinks and sides as well as the dining experience you want: classic, family, romantic, etc.. They give you a build your own story landscape and you set the mood. Outside is where you area. Red tables with a flower center piece is how you eat. Tree stumps and a few plastic chairs is where you sit . The rest is up to you. But don't get me wrong! It works! You are thrown back into what feels like northern woods and surrounded by cooks on an open pit. The fresh air and subtle buzz of a packed house is the sounds and smells. People Put those devices away and soak up the locals, the tourists, and everything in between. The Place team is all about chatting and sharing insights. The locals talk about days gone by, what matters today, and where things are heading. And the tourist share the adventure that brought them to this "place". Food What can I say other than roasted goodness. Get the clams. Get the corn. Get whatever main dish you want and bring your sides to play off it. This is an experience and ambiance rules the day. The food is good but the entire experience is what makes this great! read more

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"Put your but on a stump". This place is an original, grill lobster which is first boiled to perfection, grilled corn on the cob, clams on the half shell. You are eating in someone's backyard on funky recycles spools. Great young stuff, fun place to bring a few beers and unwind over some good food. No credit cards but they will accept your check. I returned here after 10 years and not much has changed, a real treat. A must in my opinion if only for the experience. read more

Last night, hubby and I went to "The Place" with good friends and their kids. It is an outdoor grill/picnic experience. Their t-shirts say "put a rump on a stump" as the majority of the seating would be cut logs - so bring a cushion! We did and it helped for our comfort!! It is BYOB and you can bring your own appetizer and sides as well. So we packed the cooler and ordered from the grill. Roasted clams, mussels, corn, veggie kebab, fish, ribeye and lobster. It is a casual experience and nothing fancy at all. The food was good, staff is friendly. You need to be prepared to clear you paper plates yourself, the server will take your order and the BBQ boys (HS and college students) run the grill and bring the food to you. The ribeye was delicious, lobster was good and tough to open without a cracker (hubby did the hard work for me) and the rest of our group loved their food as well. We brought our own dessert and they gave us paper plates/forks to eat it. Different experience from my normal dining but it was a good time. Bring bug spray for your ankles! read more

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A wonderful al fresco feast of roasted clams, steamers, bluefish and grilled vegetables. We brought our own starters and salad. Our service was outstanding. The food wonderful. The meal was more like a rustic event. Great fun for the culinary diversion that was COVID-compliant. read more

We had a great evening so trounced by friends and family. The food was amazing and the ambient was fantastic. The service was wonderful and as crowd the place was our order was on point. read more

Great little hidden gem with casual, outdoor seating, BYOB, and a large outdoor grill area. The staff was friendly and attentive, food was delivered quickly, and the prices were very reasonable. They were dog-friendly, and the food was very tasty (BBQ Clams are a must, and the lobster and catfish were also very good). Worth a stop! read more

It's 4.5 stars, no doubt but don't have that option but because the service is great and you can BYOB and not be charged a corking fee, I'm happy to give this joint a solid 5 star review. The special roasted clams are a must if you like clams-if you don't like clams, I suggest you trying them-the taste of the "roastiness" is exquisite! The corn on the cob, scrumptious and the veggie Bob, soo good. As for the proteins, the lobsters look great, the fish is tasty and the steak was very good. Great setting and awesome to bring the little people and large groups. stumps may not be too comfortable even with self inflicted pads But just the ambiance and food makes the stump sitting worth it! read more

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This place has become one of the spots I will forever add to my summer requisite. The entire setting is classic New England coast with open air seating, tree stumps for seats, and roasted clams served on a scrap of metal grate. Seating can get hectic, but it is just a factor that you have to bear to get to the incredible food. We brought a cheese plate, but the next time I plan to bring more sides! Fully expect to get messy with the food, especially the husk-on grilled corn. Roast clams vary in size but are fairly mixed. Just in case you didn't read any other review - BYOB, and cash or check only! read more

The Place - Super order of the roast clam special! - Seafood Near Me - Guilford, Connecticut

Absolutely amazing evening here. Bring your own drinks, glasses, maybe even plate, silverware and tablecloths. You really can bring it all. The atmosphere is amazing, we went shortly after opening around 5.30 pm and stayed until it closed. We took games for the kids to play and ordered along the way. Great food! So fresh and piping hot as it is right off of the enormous fire in the center of the restaurant Definitely go. Don't wear your best clothes but definitely go hungry! read more

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I was so excited to try this place. But it turned out to be more of a unique dining experience than good food... The place is a place (haha) where you get to eat outdoors, sitting on sections of old trees and really get into the spirit of casual dining with all your close friends and enjoying the moment. It is definitely a great community eating spot and the owners/staff are great. Very friendly and inviting. You come in and they have this huge wooden board of fresh seafood they are offering. Youre free to bring any sides you wish and it is BYOB! My friends and I ordered the grilled clams with their special sauce (tasted like shrimp cocktail sauce). The clams are fresh and they tasted okay. But nothing that was amazing. Just small grilled clams served with cocktail sauce, that was it. The grilled corn was pretty nice. The copious amount of butter was awesome. Overall, The Place is more of an experience and chance to really interact and enjoy with your friends/family and have some decent seafood. read more

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