29 Best Seafood Restaurants near Essex

“I celebrated my birthday at the Seal tonight. We haven't been in a while. I had the Short Rib Ravioli, Mom had the Serloin Steak, my wife had Tuna and our son a grilled cheese. Everything was delicious! Our server said she was new, but did a great job. We finished with warm Carmel apple pie! It was the perfect ending to a great night!“

“This is definitely the place for a special dining experience. The menu, quality of food, service — all top notch. Thanks to The Essex team for making our anniversary amazing!“

“The lobster rolls here are the best! The staff is excellent and the ferry boat ride is fun!“

“Such great service but even more so, the chefs are incredible with their creativity and delivery of unique and delicious food. Liv's is an oasis away from home....they do so much to make dinner special every time. Thank you all.“

“Always a great experience if you’re dinning in or having takeout. Highly recommended!“

“Huge portions, friendly staff, great experience!

Parking: Plenty of room in the big parking lot that wraps around back.

Kid-friendliness: The kids at the table next to us had plenty of choices! They seemed very happy!!“

“The best place in Coastal Connecticut“

“Randy had clam fritters that he said were delicious and I had clam strips that were lightly breaded. The breading was thin and fluffy and tasted great. The restaurant is so clean and bright with seating outside too. We will return.“

“Excellent food. Owner on site regularly. Buttermilk fried chicken is excellent. Great specials. A local favorite.“

“I love this place! Thank you, Stephanie for all these years ❤️“

“Great 👍🏻 Food!! It was my first time eating at Bill’s, but went with family that has been. For a busy Sunday afternoon we got in fast, no wait, got an inside table and it was nice and comfortable! Food was great 👍🏻 the prices were also very good for seafood around the area! Our Waitress was so sweet (I didn’t catch her name) but she did remind me that I forgot my gold ring on the table before I left so I thank her with all my heart ❤️ (I got ketchup inside my rings so I took one off) I forgot to put it back on! Thanks again!! Will be back again soon. p.s Bills Chowder with the clear and creamy mixed is awesome 👏“

“Such a great experience! Food was amazing! Highly recommend the crab cakes, clam chowder and of course the Lobster Roll 🦞! We will be back for sure!“

“Fresh Salt never disappoints! Highly recommend the pork chop! Cuts like filet mignon! Apps (Mrs Tag meatball, and the calamari were so full of flavor ) were plentiful and dessert , cheese cake and a seasonal bread pudding, were a perfect ending to our evening. Worth it for sure.“

“It was a pleasure working at The Gelston House this weekend! The staff were so accommodating and friendly! We highly recommend their event services and dining experience! 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“everything was good except the Rhode Island clam chowder , they need to put real clams in instead of ground up tiny specs very disappointed yesterday in the chowder all we got was broth and potatoes with tiny bits of clam“

“The best lobster roll and clam chowder I ever had in my life and I am very happy.“

“So happy they are here! The foos is always good and the servers are always friendly and welcoming!!! Thank you for bringing a great restaurant to this town!!!“

“07.26.25 *WRITTEN REVIEW Big Al’s Reel Reviews – EP.143 Sapore Pizzeria Town of Old Lyme, CT This morning, I dropped a post asking if any restaurants wanted to invite Big Al’s Reel Reviews to their spot—and guess who hit me up? Sapore Pizzeria in Old Lyme. So I pulled up—and let me tell you right now… this one felt special the minute I walked through that door. The welcome? Warm. The vibe? Bustling. The atmosphere? Absolutely amazing—families dining, good conversation, and a team that made me feel like I’d been coming there for years. My server, Sarah, was top notch—attentive, kind, and on point from the jump. The owners were there as well, and you could feel the pride in the place. Turns out, the owner is originally from Naples, Italy and used to work for Illiano’s before opening this place six years ago. That Naples-to-Old-Lyme pizza lineage is real. And then something beautiful happened… A true B.A.R.R.fan—Troy Gaston—saw I was at Sapore and drove over just to show love. So I invited him to sit down and have dinner with me. That’s what this is all about: community, connection, and real support from real people. Troy’s a solid dude and a subscriber, and I appreciated him being part of this experience. Here’s what I ordered: 1. Meatballs in Vodka Sauce – $11 Served with toasted ciabatta. These were tender and flavorful, and the vodka sauce was creamy and smooth. A perfect starter. 💣 2. New York-Style Cheese Pizza (17”) – $20.50 This right here was the star of the show. Thin, crispy, cheesy, and cooked just right. I gave this a DOUBLE 💣💣 — one of the best I’ve had on the shoreline. 3. Chicken Parmigiana Bolognese – $24 Served over penne pasta with rich, meaty bolognese. This was another 💣. Classic flavor, hearty sauce, and that perfect comfort-food bite. And then… out came a complimentary tiramisu—a gift from the kitchen. That kind of gesture speaks volumes. The tiramisu was absolutely delicious, a smooth and sweet way to end an already dope meal. The food was fire. The service was flawless. The atmosphere was family-friendly and full of good energy. And the fact that they reached out and invited me in? That means something. Especially after what happened yesterday. Sapore didn’t just pass the test— They’re officially a Big Al’s 💎 Gem Spot. It’s worth checking out—and if you go, make sure you tell ‘em, Big Al sent you! ☝🏾❤️ - Big Al Mayo “See you on the Rebound, Peace✌🏾out”“

“Excellent!! Crab cake appetizer was the "best I've ever had" according to my son. There were four of us and all were very pleased. I've been twice and looking forward to going back. This restaurant is definitely the place to go when you want to take your time between courses and enjoy the food and people you are with. I like the 20% service charge(tip) added to bill. Keeps paying thoughtless as service is excellent. 5 stars on everything!“

“Stopped in and had the best chili dog I’ve ever eaten in my life! Perfection!“

“Otter Cove Restaurant is one of our go to restaurants here in town. The atmosphere is really really nice with a large dining area or a smaller more intimate bar area. And it is spotless!!!! The staff is professional and friendly*****
The food is excellent. Great choices and fairly reasonable for our taste. I often get the OC salad with a side of chicken or shrimp. One of my fav salads by far- just a great combination of apples, salad, etc. it’s large so I always bring half home. My husband goes for the salmon with their sides- always plenty of food.
You will not be disappointed.“

“Great place for breakfast, whether you carry away or eat it there. They open at 6:30 a.m., and prepare the food super fast. The breakfast sandwiches are fantastic, with fresh ingredients including buttery brioche rolls if you want to indulge.

Extremely friendly service.“

“My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary and were absolutely blown away. We tend to end up with less than stellar dining experiences and service, but the Brushmill was outstanding! The service was impeccable, they congratulated us on our anniversary (which was a note on the reservation) and gave us a complimentary Prosecco toast to start the evening. Our server was top notch, we never found ourselves in need of a thing. We started with drinks after the Prosecco toast- a mint greyhound and a tequila old fashion, both of which were well balanced with beautiful presentation. For the appetizer, we got the scallops…. Out of this world! Our server commented they were his favorite, and after trying them it’s no surprise! This may have been the best scallop dish I have ever had. If you go, GET THE SCALLOPS and thank me later! For dinner I had the pasta dish and added chicken to it and my boyfriend had the steak frites. The chicken was juicy and perfectly seasoned. The brown butter sauce was light and flavorful at the same time and the hazelnuts in the pasta dish paired beautifully with the brussle sprouts and sage. My boyfriend’s steak was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. The amazing meal and service were complimented by the absolutely beautiful building. We both love the rustic industrial vibe, pairing the history of the building and the elegance of the atmosphere perfectly. We will definitely be back and telling all our friends about this hidden gem. Thank you for being a stupendous addition to our evening.“

“Love the Deck and LOVE the fact they pay attention to not serving those under age. More establishments need to be aware of this and enforce it! The Deck is a wonderful place! Great bartenders, great service, great food, and great overall atmosphere. Other patrons are always friendly and just there to enjoy themselves and have a good time! Definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a laid back place to enjoy a drink. Plenty of space to move about and plenty of parking as well!“

“Been shopping at this fish monger since 1999, from org. owners.Fast forward, Lisa F. bought business (guessing 2004-2006) I have NEVER had an issue with any fish or side etc. purchased including to present! My favs: Ahi tuna, Niantic oysters, Wellfleet oysters, sea scallops, swordfish, grouper, clams, sea bass, oysters rockefeller, carolina slaw, to name a few!
Lisa F. added a larger variety of fish products and sides! Chef Jerry created fantastic recipes (Carolina Slaw) amongst others! NYT review said "Any fresher you'd have to catch it yourself" Fast forward to mid 2004, Lisa said she was retiring (OH NO!) But ironically, sold the business to LISA and MIKE K., whom she introduced me to! Basically telling them, Mark supports your businesss all year long! please take care of him! Which they have! I might be long winded!, but NO ONE IS BETTER THAN ATLANTIC FISH IN OSB! PS: Lynne has been there NOW P/T FOREVER! Tell her Mark sent you in!“

“5 of us went for lunch yesterday, Haley & the kitchen knocked it out of the park. None of the other guys had ever been before,all said they'd be back. So laid back, not at all stuffy. Don't ever change.“

“This restaurant is my summer favorite. Awesome staff, awesome food and a wonderful view at Pilots Point Marina. Absolutely the best !“

“Very good chow and good service, 5 stars!“

“Stayed here for a family vacation the amenities were amazing they have a Starbucks inside of the spa and the spa itself was a treat to be there for it was a very relaxing place to spend a vacation I would recommend it to all my friends and family“