New American Restaurants near East Lyme, CT

“This American authentic food place is amazing, the portions and sizes are generous, Lisa the waitress is exceptional, she was a one lady show! Pretty much was on top of everything from running drinks to running food, you name it!The ambiance was cool!“

“I had gone to the Grand Central location in NYC many years ago and I remember it being the best steak I've had. Interesting, I told my server this and he said that this was different. I did t know what he meant by that. I didn't inquire any further.We ordered the MVP platter ($240) which consisted of 4 different cuts of steak along with an Italian sausage. They were all cooked to perfection (medium well) and the sausage surprised me as it was very good. I normally don't like Italian sausage as I find a spice in it not to my liking. But this was good at MJ. We ordered sides including the creamed spinach, mashed potato trio and Mac n cheese. The honey glazed rolls came with a small dish of butter and was one of the best parts of the meal! I could've ate the whole basket but I had to share with the other 3 people with me. We also ordered 2 desserts: baked Alaska and carrot cake. The total bill came to $340 including sodas. It was decently affordable considering it was a fancy steak house and everything was a la carte.Service was top notch from the moment we walked in from the hostess to our server. Place had a nice ambiance.Now to things that need improvement. I was excited to try the mashed potato trio because every great steakhouse has the best mashed potatoes right? Well, honestly the regular mash was not creamy enough. It was lacking more milk. It was nice they gave you a trio of potatoes. Now onto the dessert. The baked Alaska was very good.The carrot cake was more of a spice cake. It was served cold. It was dry and it seemed like it was made days ago, placed inside the fridge and brought out whenever an order for it was placed. A good carrot cake needs to be fresh and soft with a creamy cream cheese frosting. And again, I didn't see or taste any walnuts, raisins or carrots in it. It should be renamed "spice cake". This was the only item that was disappointing in the entire meal. I have a sweet tooth so I know a good dessert when I see & taste one. Other than this, the entire meal was to everyone's satisfaction. I expected to pay more but surprised at the total bill (not including tip). I always tip generously and the server was great. We need to take care of our servers, they really work hard.I would eat at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse again, but will not order the "carrot cake" and neither should you. There are better desserts on the menu.Vegetarian options: Mac n cheese, dinner rolls, salad, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, friesDietary restrictions: Vegetarian and low carb optionsParking: Located inside the Mohegan Sun casino. Garage parking decks at both the sky casino and earth casino. Valet parking availableWheelchair accessibility: No stairs to climb, wheelchair/handicap accessible“

“Went there with my wife to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We had mentioned it on OpenTable. I did not re-mention it again when I got to the restaurant but they just served us like we were just regular normal day customers but the food was good. Would like to see more Michael Jordan memorabilia not just photographs because the restaurant is kind of plain looking.“

“Our first time to this restaurant, we were very impressed. The staff was very accommodating, and our server was kind and attentive. The food was excellent and the wine delicious. Fantastic menu. The ambience was cozy, fun and very inviting. Loved being right next to the marina and water. Definitely will be heading back!“

“Stopped in last night for a craisin salad with chicken.. delicious.. stopped again tonight for the same thing.. nothing but greens,walnuts, craisins and very little gorgonzola cheese ..no tomatoes or cucumber either.. very disappointed.. should be made the same every time“

“I am traveling alone for work and am back it CT. I was warmly welcomed and offered to sit at the counter. There were some empty tables and I asked if I could sit at a table. I understand that being the weekend those are reserved for larger parties. However, I was allowed to sit at a table, and proceeded to place my order. I ordered the #2 which came with two eggs, toast, home fries and a choice of meat.The eggs were perfectly cooked to order. The home fries were flavorful and I decided to forgo the ketchup (which I have used at other establishments in order to give the home fries flavor). The cinnamon raisin toast was perfect. The bacon was crispy. If you are in New London sometime you will not be disappointed if you stopped here for brunch.“

“Had a wonderful birthday meal. It was the day before St. Patrick's Day so the specials were Irish oriented. My husband had the whiskey honey glazed salmon which he said was very tasty. My daughter had the traditional corned beef and cabbage and my son had Shepard's pie. Not much was left to bring home in doggie bags. Lots of nice wood paneling inside and we were seated near the fireplace. The grandkids even enjoyed it.Parking: The restaurant is right off of Route 9 in Old Saybrook. There is parking in both the front and the back of the restaurant.Wheelchair accessibility: Walk up ramp for a cess to front door and outdoor seating when the weather is nice.“

“We were a group of 5 in bit of rush to catch the ferry but came across this as we wanted to grab a quick bite before the ferry. Melora at Little Galapagos was the most fantastic server. She was amazingly helpful with the menu, quick with drinks and food, and went way above and beyond on service level. This was a completely random find for us and we were so glad we came here. Thank you Mel!“

“We love BPP!! Their food is very good quality and their entrees in particular are DELICIOUS. We love the chicken florentine over linguine, and the eggplant rollatini is very good, too! Side of meatballs and you're good to go! The employees are all very nice and the owner/chef makes all of the food to order, even the sauce is fresh as can be.“

“Not your regular restaurant. We stopped for brunch on our way to the Orient Point ferry. What a wonderful surprise it was. Everything served is way above the standard quality of regular and even fine restaurants, for a very moderate price. I wish we would have a place like this closer to home!“

“Best ribeye steak! I loved the stuffed mushrooms on top of my steak and the mash-baked potatoes on the side. The salad and desert were pretty awesome too. Service was superb ?. We dinned in on a Friday night, when it was busy, but had no waiting time. Prices are reasonable, and way below the outstanding quality and flavors enjoyed. Totally worth every penny spentExelente restaurante Mediterraneo!!!5*****“

“Hash House a Go Go is a “must stop” for breakfast when visiting Mohegan Sun. Large delicious portions my favorite the huge pancake and bacon like no others. All wash down with a mimosa and delivered with outstanding service. “Terry” has served us a couple of times and she is so helpful and friendly we wanted her to sit and eat with us. We just wait for our next visit.“

“Excellent service. Our waitress was amazing effective and worked the whole floor by herself. Order accuracy and service was TOP NOTCH.. MUST GET WINGSS TO DIE FOR .99 each minimum 6. The wings are big & juicy. Extremely filling. Definitely be back.“

“Fun area to be to pass time by. The staff was nice, the drinks were good. I didn't really like the high tables and chairs near the bar area because I'm short but made it work. Food was not bad at all!Parking: It's located in the casino which is surrounded by a lot of parking so you can easily walk here or park close to the garage it's near.“

“Place was very pleasant looking upon arrival. Not very crowded. First put in a very tiny spot one had a nice soft bench seat the other person would have a hard chair. Being the person that would be stuck in the chair and not having a sore back at the time I asked if they had a small both or something similar. She said all they had were larger sized booths and would that be okay? Of course we were grateful and took her up on the offer. We looked over the menu and you can order reasonable or expensive. My husband started off with the clam chowder and I started off with clam fritters. His clam chowder was very tasty but on the watery side he said. My clam fritters were excellent. Just perfect cooked not burnt and super moist with actual clams inside. We both had oysters. The Mystic, Big Rock and Rhode Island. I can't believe how good these were. Perfect brine on each one. Very clean, perfectly shucked and meaty. Nice brine to every one. Next out was the steamer clams. Perfectly cooked. Nice and clean. Not one bit of sand in any of them. The taste however was not strong. Almost nonexistent same with the butter I was dipping it into. I still enjoyed them. My husband's ordered the whole belly clams. What came out looked more like a clam strip with a beginning pregnancy lol. Had the look hard to find the belly. After he mentioned it our server how we really couldn't see if they strips or whole belly. She said I can see the belly. However she told her manager who offered a replacement which he didn't want at that point so they just graciously removed the order from our bill. Our servers name was Ashley and she was very pleasant to work with. I wanted a hard seltzer. The only one available is Truly Berry on tap. Tasted fine but I had it with ice in a glass so I sure didn't get as much as someone who had it with no ice. Next time I'm going to ask for a glass of ice on the side. I will definitely return for the fritters and oyster's!! Never felt rushed. Orders came out as planned.“

“I have been visiting The Social frequentlyover the past 5 years. I also have a perspective as a part time employee and regular patron. I have to say that this place stole my heart on day 1.Throughout the years (especially before & after quarantine and COVID), I have witnessed IMMENSE staffing shifts , menu improvements, social presence, and just. plain. soul.So many businesses have struggled to keep the heart of NL alive with the shifts in our economy and within the downtown chaos…. HOWEVER. the invitation that the Social has always provided to come back, try something new, and to have a good time-has been with open and loving arms.I have been fortunate to make memories and friends within these walls for birthdays, weekly Trivia, and just by being present in the environment they have created. The music selection they play on a regular is current and fun. The craft beer selection is IMMENSELY curated and includes something for any connoisseur…And for those who don’t drink, they actually feature a non-alcoholic menu (which is incredibly inclusive compared to most bars)!!!The menu has some yummy and modern bites for someone who may want a snack and specific atmosphere after work to decompress in (my usual outting )…or for a cozy date night (be sure to get a window seat) !! Their menu is evolving constantly, and has definitely become more consistent over the past couple of years.The night life is improving, as bands, and events rotate regularly for many ages…and they actually offer Lunch & Brunch (which is harder to find on Bank st throughout the week/weekend). I truly feel a part of the family after all of these years being a regular !!The bartenders and servers have a fun and unique approach taking care of their patrons (which i love because -we are all human☺️) and it has definitely made it easy to come back & hear about their week, learn about specials, or their fav drinks to make ?Even with the ups and downs that they have faced over the years, I will never fail to recommend The Social to any newcomer, and I highly suggest giving them another try if you’ve visited before and haven’t been back. ….A small business like theirs is a story I hope to continue to be a part of as it evolves. It is a true gift to NL.“