Water Street Cafe has it all. Great cocktails, service, music, ambiance, and the loveliest staff. Stephanie and her team go out of their way to make sure everyone's accommodated. Every time I'm in the area, Water Street Cafe's a must visit establishment. read more

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We didn't have a reservation but we went early for dinner so they sat us at a high-top table along the back bar. Great vibes and positive energy in the restaurant. The bartender was busy so service was a tad slow but we had drinks while we waited. Broken bicycle cocktail special was awesome! We ordered crab spring rolls which was a perfect size appetizer since there were 3 of us. My son & I ordered the duck & scallops. The cook on both was perfect although I would have preferred the dish not be swimming in sauce but a thickened smaller amount would have been better. My husband ordered the Halibut, which all had to try and it too was cooked perfect and seasoned well. Clean plates all around. I would certainly enjoy another visit next time I'm in the area. read more

Water Street Cafe - Sliced Duck & scallops w/mashed potatoes - New American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

We visited on a Thursday evening. We had a nice table by the window, and was nice and toasty compared to outside! Started with warm bread basket and butter. Ordered a dew drinks, one being a white cosmo. The chowder was great, really has a big bacon taste to it which isn't my fave but again it was good! We opted for basic and had chicken sandwiches on brioche rolls, very good with fries. We had a dessert that was very plentiful and good as well. Nice ambiance, service and food. read more

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Went here a year ago when I lived in Stonington for work. The apps and meal were very good. Drinks were just ok. Our server was excellent. Incredibly friendly. The owner was so sweet. We spoke with her for 20 min before leaving. Would like to return. read more

We are on a sister's trip and walked over to Water Street Cafe and was greeted with an instant smile by the host. Leslie was our amazing server and took great care of us! The drinks were a 10/10 and the food was just as good! It was the best experience with perfect service. Definitely the best decision for our first night. read more

Have enjoyed several very good meals here. It's divided into a bar and 2 dining rooms but the noise level in the room to the left as you enter was a bit loud (the table behind us seemed to be having a competition). We like the bar, small and intimate with a few high tops and maybe 10 seats at the bar. The food and service are very good. It's a staple on our list. read more

Just had one of the best meals I have had in a long time. Came in from the heat to a beautifully decorated oasis. Started off with perfectly mixed cocktails, bourbon for my husband and an excellent Mai tai for me. Onto oysters that were perfectly chilled and tasted of the sea. Next was summer on a plate. Caprese salad. But gosh the main dish. Summer corn with crisp prosciutto and halibut. Each bite I felt like swooning it was that good. Ended the dinner with a cake and ice cream dessert with a tart raspberry drizzle that left me wanting more. Our waitress was fabulous. She let us pace our meal so we had time to savor every bite. We can't wait to come back! read more

Great food and great service at dinner last night. We sat in the bar and the vibe was lively and fun. Kellie is the head bartender and makes the best Paper Plane and Expresso martini! The staff checks in and asks how you are which just adds warmth to the experience. We will be back! read more

The best food ever Intimate & Great ambiance Thoughtful servers and even a jazz guitar musician to add to an uplifting experience. Get the tuna & the bay scallops, you won't be disappointed!! read more

Pretty good! We came here for dinner after having dog watch cafe for lunch. Dog watch had better food, but it was pretty close. Water street cafe had the better ambiance, more of a date night vibe going on here. My gf got an Asian salmon dish with spinach and white rice that was incredibly flavorful. My fluke wasn't as flavorful but was a fresh and clean meal. I would have liked a little more of a "pop" from the dish, fish in a barely present lemon sauce over mashed potatoes, green beans and a cream sauce just didn't quite blow me away. We were stuffed and ate here after a busy day, but I would recommend this place as a good date spot. read more

Water Street Cafe - Salmon and fluke - New American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

A charming small venue with local relics making a relaxing atmosphere. The food was fresh, local and artfully prepared a real feast for the eyes and pallet. The staff was friendly, attentive and engaging making our night extra special. read more

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My husband and I had a wonderful evening at WSC . I love the New England old world ambience. We sat in the bar and enjoyed delicious dinners . The beet and blackberry salad and clam chowder were our starters. Both were exceptional. Our entrees were the blackened salmon with panzanella salad and the yellow tuna with jasmine rice . Once again the chef did an amazing plate . They were both beautiful to look at and enjoy . We topped it off with the Basque style cheesecake. Our cocktails and wine were both very good as well. Kudos to the bartender. Service was seamless and all the servers were kind and professional. We will definitely be back . read more

Coconut Walnut Wafer Cake. There, I said it. We often dream of starting a meal with dessert and most of the time we don't. Ok. I didn't do it either, but I am starting this review off with it because if you are ever going to do it, this is the one you should do it for. Like really- did you ever dream there would be such a delicious treat called Coconut lanut Wafer Cake? Ok. Me neither, but now I do and so should you. 5 stars all the way. Water Street Cafe has a beautiful mahogany bar in the center of the seaside village of Stonington Borough. We had gone to check out the new Lobster Trap Tree (make sure to do that too) and heard this was an excellent place to eat. The village truly looked like a Christmas movie set by the sea. So damn cute. There should be a Hallmark movie filmed here. Really. We tried a few delicious menu choices and had a couple of really excellent libations. Drinkwise- the Painkillers and Sour Whales- if they are on the menu- try them! My favorite was the Sour Whale. We had some shrimp cocktail and the Roasted Grape Crostini with whipped gorgonzola spread as an app. It was so good. That is a newer app item and a real knockout. Our server was so helpful and amazing and guided us through the entire menu. We both ordered the London Broil and it was amazing as well. Cooked to perfection with garlic butter and Water Street Fries. The fries were great too! We had a really cool chat with the owner and it really was just one of those magical dining experiences that you wake up the next day and say, "Wow, when is the next time we are going back?" Pro tip: Make a day of it and check out some of the other cool spots in Stonington. Milagros is across the street if you are looking for a great margarita after! read more

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great time at the bar! Kelly was amazing! Drinks on point! Manhattan filled to the brim and best ever! Had Korean shrimp app and halibut for entree(Kelly's suggestion)) , so delicious, really enjoyed! will definitely be back! thanks kelly for a fun night!! barb and jim. read more

We were at Water Street Cafe on Weds, Aug 27th. I was greatly disappointed. I've been going to this restaurant since the 1990s (when it was in the building across the street, now occupied by Milagro), and even after I moved out of state about 5 years ago, Water Street is usually the first restaurant I head to when I land in PVD and the last place I eat before I fly out, but I won't be doing that again. The menu has changed drastically, and many favorites are no longer available. There is no flexibility in the menu (aka, no substitutions, no switching the sides from one dish with another). All familiar faces have disappeared. No Stephanie. No Ray. The restaurant itself is still warm and welcoming, but current front of house staff are not. I had made reservations and when we arrived, I felt like it was an imposition to be seated. Once upon a time, it felt like everyone knew your name when you walked, but no more. The food was mediocre. The warm bread looked like a commercially sliced loaf with sesame seeds; the gorgeous, crusty warm bread is long gone. I had the salmon, which was cooked perfectly, but was over-sauced. My boyfriend had shrimp scampi and the sheer amount of garlic (about 3-4 tablespoons) and a pool of olive oil made it next to inedible. He gave feedback to our waitress and showed her his plate. She apologized, but didn't offer to correct anything. I asked if Walter was still cooking and was told no, not anymore. Too bad. It's the end of an era. I still have family in the area, but sadly, I won't be back to Water Street. I realize with time, things change, but these changes do not reflect progress. Very disappointing. I am embarrassed to admit that before I arrived at the restaurant, I recommended Water Street Cafe to several tourists in Mystic. I said, "Everything there is great! I've never had a bad meal" - until now. read more

Stephanie one of the owners is so charming and creates such a friendly atmosphere here. You can feel the buzz when you come in. My Stonington fluke was a stomach shot back my days living in this delightful village. And friends loved their tuna. Yummy. Keep it going guys. You do a great job. read more

Cozy ambiance, friendly staff and always amazing food! My favorite place for special occasions.

I'm so glad my husband and I found this place. We were on a day trip in Westerly, RI when we decided to have dinner at this local spot. The customer service was fantastic from the moment we walked in. We were seated at an high top table and serviced by Andy the entire time. The food was delicious -from presentation to flavor. There was nothing to take home. We highly recommend Water Street Cafe. You will not be disappointed. Thanks again Andy for providing top notch service. read more

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Went with my extended family for a Friday night dinner, pretty loud in there but still very enjoyable. Great wine selection - menu has a lot of fish and chicken options, a little bit pricey. I got the seafood pasta, definitely more of a pasta dish than a seafood dish, which I liked a lot. The roasted tomatoes in it were very good, and the sauce was very light and creamy. Also, to start, I got the tuna tartare. I thought it was very average compared to other ones I've had before. The sauce at the bottom was too light, leaving some of the tunas plain and tasteless. Overall a great experience though, I looked around the table after the meal and everyone's plates were completely empty! read more

Water Street Cafe - Seafood pasta - New American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

Stonington was my first stop on a trip back east to there & then Charleston, a real food town. The meal I had at Water Street was THE BEST of the entire trip, and that's saying a lot. Scallops over black rice & polenta was just...I can't stop thinking about it. Great skinny fresh margaritas. Wonderful service. I want to go back but live too far away. read more

Water Street Cafe - Scallops on black rice & polenta - New American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

Family owned spot with great food and drinks. Romantic/candle lit ambience. Good for a date night or a family night dinner. Top-notch service. read more

Excellent food. Gluck was delicious and service was very fine. However a bit loud. Will go again

Went there last night. No other diners in restaurant. Was totally ignored by waitress. Left after 15 min of being ignored like we didn't exist. read more

The food was the worst I've seen anywhere in a while. It seemed cooked ahead and reheated, maybe from the day before. The Stonington fluke was soggy, the potatoes were barely warm. The salmon was over-cooked and dry. No waitress in sight after placing our order. So disappointed. read more

This was my first time here but my best friends third time, and I have to say... the best meal of the year! Thank you to the bartender, the smokeshow was a great drink and the fluke was delicious! read more

Decent New England menu, not great service, probably understaffed but not as expected for a Weds night and restaurant half empty.

My wife and I were in town for a couple of nights and the Inn that we were staying at highly recommended this restaurant for dinner. We visited on a Monday evening and we were lucky to score a table when we did because the place was suddenly at capacity. The restaurant was located in the old downtown area of Stonington. The restaurant was quite charming, cozy, and romantic. There was a nice bar area to enjoy a drink if you didn't plan on eating. My wife and I began with the local seasonal green salad with the balsamic mustard vinaigrette. Fantastic. Very generous portion that consisted of various greens and vegetables. We both ordered the grilled swordfish as our entrée which was served over angel hair pasta with peppers in a light broth. The entire dish was very tasty. The feta cheese on top of the swordfish added such a great flavor to the whole dish. I'm going to try that at home. A very generous portion again. We didn't have room for dessert but enjoyed a nice coffee at the end. As coffee snobs, we would say the coffee was very good. The service was excellent and friendly. The waitress knew the menu well and answered our questions. The prices were a bit on the high side but more than acceptable for the overall dining experience. It's worth the trip! read more

For all the fellas out there, you might want to order 3 appetizers or even two entrees if you want to get "full." After driving two hours, visiting the aquarium and walking around Mystic with the family, I was HUNGRY as hell and looking forward to the meal. Red flag came when our waitress came back with the tiniest sample of beer I ever had in my life. Gulp. It's a sample of beer, not a "shot,"guys. C'mon man. By that time I had already ordered so I was definitely concerned. Since I think I'm slick, I ordered a side of fries, just in case. The waitress comes back later and the fries are now in the smallest basket I've ever seen. Devoured in about 2 minutes - Are you kidding me? WTF. Who actually gets disappointed with a side order of fries? Well it happened to me here. Next came my entree of six very lonely looking scallops and brussel sprout potato hash. I was literally done with dinner in 3 minutes. Luckily, the clam appetizer we ordered contained a ton of sauce so I filled up by eating our two orders of bread with it. PHEW. I didn't have a problem with the service like some of the reviews here. The waitress could have been more forthcoming as she described the scallops as "sizable" but whatever. I later found out that this restaurant is "farm to table" but seriously who cares? The fries AND brussel sprout hash combo I was given should have been double or triple the amount regardless if their little organic potato and brussel sprouts came straight from the dirt in their backyard. Anyway, good food, good service but PLEASE pony up on the portions!! read more

Have to knock this place down. Such a difference from two years ago. Can you imagine waiting a half an hour for your drink and dinner order? And dealing with a confusing menu (fusion asian and something)? Complained to hostess about an hour and a half into the order about our long wait time, our waitress not being responsive, etc, and not once did the manager or waitress come by and at least say sorry. Also, nothing was comped, adding insult to injury. The food was ok. It would have been 100x better if we actually had good service! Avoid the place. Hoping it's a one off read more

It's not easy to find a brunch spot in Stonington especially if your used to NYC, but if you're craving some staples with a local flair, Water Street Cafe is a great place to hit. Don't try swaggering in at 1pm for brunch b/c you'll miss the scene of your typical peach short wearing and popped collar crew that slide up from CT or down from Boston for the weekend. Oh that and it'll be empty (though brunch is served until 2:30 on Sundays only). You'll find some basic egg dishes that are fresh and have great flavor. Quick tip: substitute the home fries for French fries- they are excellent! I lucked out for a unique special 'banana bread French toast' which was just perfect and had a hint of cinnamon which brought out the banana's foster taste. Very much a breakfast treat. I only drink coffee with skim and they get a thumbs up for having it as a option. Overall we were very pleased and when in Stonington, will make this a regular Sunday morning stop. read more

Water Street Cafe - New American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

Can't go wrong! Drinks excellent! Salads Excellent! Oysters crisp and delicious. Hanger steak cooked to perfection. Lamb was served with potatoes and Garlicky green beans. Filet Mignone with Julian sweet potatoes. Also had fresh made mozzarella with tomatoes. Good wine selection. Not cheap but certainly worth the money. Great meal (4 of us all loved it) read more

Water Street Cafe - New American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

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Our go to for a special date night! The food is always amazing and the staff is friendly and fantastic!

Despite the food being excellent, we were appalled at the hostess. Me and my three friends, two of us being 21 and one 24, when we asked to be seated were immediately IDed. This was weird because we were not here for the bar or to order drinks. The hostess took our IDs, and disappeared with them for 5 minutes, then came back and told us that we would not be served alcohol that night and would have to wait a while for a table. This felt very unprofessional and judgmental since we are all of age and had legal IDs that were clearly ours. We respect a restaurants right to refuse drinks to whoever, but after watching her seat many walk ins in front of us, it was hard not to see her bias. With food as delicious as this, it's upsetting that the hostess ruined our night by acting so unprofessional. read more

It doesn't get any better than water street cafe! Always delicious, period. I'm so grateful to have such a delicious restaurant in my home town. I would take a dinner at water street over any top restaurant in Boston or other cities I've lived in. read more

Absolutely the most unorganized cafe I ever went to. My wife and I who are locals decided to give them another chance to redeem themselves from the last time we went. When we got there they quoted us a 35-40 min wait.... which since it was a nice night we decided give it a shot. After an hour we asked the hostess how much longer and she said I don't know it's really hard to seat couples and it is way easier to seat parties of 3+.... Absolutely ridiculous.... just to let you know it's been about 3 hours and we still haven't got a call.... I will never step foot in that place again....pathetic read more

What a find! Staying in Stonington during a very cold weekend, looking to find a place for dinner. Had a lovely, but cold walk to this restaurant. We are still being super careful (socially distancing, etc) and the sweet hostess helped us find a table where we would feel comfortable. Everyone there is very accommodating and friendly. Our dinners were delicious, burger and fries, and salmon with mashed potatoes and spinach. It was such a relaxing and cozy atmosphere. Highly recommend. Thank you Water Street Cafe for making us comfortable! read more

My absolute favorite restaurant in town. Freshest food with the most interesting gourmet menu. A must try! Beautiful little spot in the boro

The food was delicious. Due to our late reservations, they were running out of some items. Would recommend making reservations for earlier in the evening if you can get them. read more

My wife and I stopped for lunch last weekend and we were very disappointed. I had the squash soup which tasted no better than chicken broth thickened with some orange coloring. My wife's Taco salad was awful. The shell was stale and had an old smell to it. The ingredients were minimal at best. It was advertised as having Chile but had only an occasional kidney bean. We will not be back. read more

This place is an outdated cumbersome disaster. I have to assume that the massive amount of 4 and 5 star reviews here are from people who either don't know food whatsoever, or are regulars who spend a lot of time drinking here. I was wary from the first time we saw the place (we had skipped it for brunch one Sunday after looking at their menu, and instead headed to the much more impressive Noah's down the street) , but after several recommendations, and an insistent friend, we visited. Menu is heavy and clumsy. Ordered the duck and scallops. Was described as pan seared duck breast and pan seared sea scallops with mashed potatoes. The scallops were not seared, they were boiled in the sauce, and they were soggy, chewy and bland. The duck was cooked medium, but was rubbery and the skin was chewy, the fat was not rendered. The worst part of it all was that the whole thing was covered with a vaguely Asian themed, anemic sauce with snap peas, carrots, and crispy fried wanton strips. Asian themed duck and scallops with mashed potatoes?? It's like a bad dream from an 80's Jersey suburb... Seriously...mashed potatoes. With soy sauce. Terrible terrible terrible. If you look at this place and feel like it's outdated and horrible...your instincts are correct. Service was mostly fine but not especially friendly. read more