Dinner in Old Saybrook

[Sarafina3]

Hi, I am looking for a restaurant in Old Saybrook or surrounding areas for dinner tonight, I know it is sorta last minute! We are looking for something sort of upscale, with fresh seafood, especially oysters, and a good wine list. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

[DonShirer]

Yes, try Liv's again if you're in the area. Jack's Steakhouse (recently renamed) is also good in the downtown area. I'm surprised you couldn't find anything in Westbrook, it has at least three top restaurants, but maybe the power was out there too. My home is nearby, but we only lost power for a few minutes.

[few]

I have not been to Liv's but otheres seem to like it

wrt to Oysters

We went to PIPS in Ivoryton about a month ago

We ordered the fresh oyster sampler platter - - OUTSTANDING - fresh ,cold, plated and a real variety of tastes ad textures to the different oysters!

Pips is the small bistro attached to the Copper Beech Inn - -

I like the food and wine - - their bartender still has not figured out how to mix a decent martinin in the 3x we have been there in the past 12 months.......but

WINE LIST - - also wonderful.....

I peeked - they have their wine and menu online

here ya go....

http://www.copperbeechinn.com/dining_...

[Sarafina3]

So we drove down to Livs, and unfortunatly the whole town of old saybrook was out of power, so Livs had to close for the evening. We drove up through Westbrook on rt 1 and didnt really see anything that we wanted to try, so we decided to swing through Essex center before giving up and going to eat somewhere close to home.

We ended up at the Griswold Inn Wine Bar. It was WONDERFUL. The wine list was really interesting, they do all glass pours, but also offer half glasses of wine and wine flights, which was really cool. Also, Wednesday night is half price wine night for women. The menu is mostly tapas style. We had everything from pork shoulder to lobster and corn brushettta to scallops with a mango foam. We enjoyed everything very much. Further, for every two small plates, you get one free. We ate and drank our fill, and our before tip total was $83. We absolutely loved all of it, and couldn't stop talking about it on the way home. I would highly recommend it if you ever find yourself in Essex, though I think they are closed on Monday and Tuesday.

[few]

we have been there 2x - I always think it is overpriced for what you get.....
half price wine on Wed might be worth running into town again and trying it.

still would recommend PIPs if you were going for Oysters and great wine less than 5 min down the road from the Gris

[pierce652]

The Gris is not what it used to be. Several years ago a new owner came in and in that time the quality of the food has slipped. While it is still possible to get decent food I have to agree with the other posters that its not worth it for what youre paying. The wife and I used to go for the Valentines Dinner every year until the purchase came about. That year they literally sat us in the bar. Also, my wife was there about a month ago and inquired about a dessert..the waitress replied "its terrible."

You are better off heading down to Saybrook to Saybrook Point Inn.

[Sarafina3]

Im sorry that people seemed to have a less than good experience there. My friend and I are both quite discriminating when it comes to food and wine, and we both said that our dinner at the Griswold Inn Wine Bar was outstanding. I would have no qualms recommending it to any of our friends and family.

Thanks for the other suggestions though. As I said before, Saybrook was not an option that particular evening, as the whole town was out of power. We will be sure to try some of those places next time.

[rosieg]

Liv's Oyster Bar on Main St. Old Saybrook is spposed to be very good, although I've never been. There were posting about it at the beginning of the year-people seemed to love it, and carried on about the oysters.

[Sarafina3]

Awesome! I had actually gone ahead and made a reservation there already while I was waiting on replies! Glad to hear that it is good. Ill write about it after we go.

Thanks!