40 Best American Restaurants near Old Lyme

“This place is really a wonderful establishment. It is not often in this area that you find a place with great quality, interesting, and rotating/seasonal dish options. And all of this is at a fairly reasonable price and a great view of the Lieutenant river. Highly recommend.“

“Love this place!!! Very friendly staff“

“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!!!“

“1st time here and wow was everything from the appetizer to the main course top notch dining.“

“Absolutely outstanding! 5 star experience from start to finish! Our hostess was a gem! Very kind..Our server Peter was a professional.. made some wonderful suggestions on wine and appetizers! And one of the most important parts was the food! It’s a must try! Memories were made! Can’t wait to go back and enjoy a beautiful experience if they’ve gave 10 stars the Essex would get an 11 cheers“

“Very good dining experience. food, service and atmosphere get a big thumbs up 👍“

“Stopped by Ed's Place and had the Hot Chick Sandwich with a side of coleslaw both were absolutely delicious! The sandwich was flavorful and cooked perfectly, and the coleslaw was fresh and a great complement to the meal. The service was excellent, and the staff were friendly, personable, and made me feel welcome from the moment I walked in. Great food, great people, and a great experience. I’ll definitely be back!“

“This is a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ restaurant for sure from the Food which was mouth watering to the service and atmosphere a fantastic place to eat! You won't find a better steak around. I can't say enough about how pleased I was tonight with everything . Hats off to Jack and Nancy I highly recommend it“

“Not only is the food delicious, but the staff are fantastic and truly make you feel like family. The East Lyme Shack is our go-to restaurant! Thanks, guys!!“

“Fabulous from the beginning to the end! Excellent staff and great food. Enjoyed it very much. The lobster chowder was fantastic! Kobe sliders amazing! And the best porkchop I've ever eaten! Great bottle of wine 🍷
I'll definitely frequent this place. Highly recommended 👌“

“My husband and I went to Aspen the other night for our wedding anniversary. We had our rehearsal dinner there 4 years ago and were blown away by the food.. well, once again, they nailed it! It was delicious!! Not only was the food good, but our waiter, Joe M (funny, same name as my husband 😅), was wonderful! We will definitely be back again!!“

“Amazing service from the moment I walked through the doors. I had a table of 7 booked for my birthday meal and couldn’t have wished for better service! Food was amazing as always and the atmosphere was great! 😊 Thank you little pub!“

“Birthday dinner. Everything was fantastic. Service impeccable. Our server lylia was awesome. Will definitely be coming back.“

“Amazing food and a really great atmosphere. The chef puts so much care into what she does and she makes everything tasty“

“The food was amazing. Beautiful restaurant. The service was just a bit awkward. It was almost like they were annoyed we were there. Our initial server who took our order was very kind and attentive, but after him, the other two waitresses seemed put out and almost rushed us out. Hopefully it was just an off hand experience because other than that we loved the restaurant!“

“We were in the area last night- headed home from the casinos- and like to sing Karaoke. We stopped here and the people were so warm and welcoming. Also drinks were very reasonable. I’ll definately stop again next time I’m in the area. Only wish I lived closer. It’s a good atmosphere for any age group.,“

“Always loved this place. Food and service amazing! Always stop here on my way through town.“

“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.“

“We stopped in last minute before our Saturday night Goodspeed show and sat at the bar. The drinks were very well made and brought out promptly. We knew we did not have time for entrees and ordered the Eggplant Rollatini and Crab Cake special appetizers. They also were brought out promptly and were absolutely delicious and generous portions. We are looking forward to going back soon!

Follow up: We came back looking forward to another great meal. The drinks were still fantastic. We orders three appetizers and dessert. The Eggplant Rollatini which last time was fresh, delicious and generous this time felt like warmed over left overs and a smaller portion. The Brussels were good. The meatballs were good but felt like a small portion for $15. We were really bummed about the cheesecake for dessert, it was a very petite slice which we got to share and tasted like a frozen cheesecake maybe worth $6-8 but not $12. We might come back again but dialing back our expectations for the next visit.“

“Big Thank You to Alex who handled our reservation & table of 24. Great, friendly service & he juggled a lot so we really appreciated it. Food & drinks were very good. Our 1st time there - great atmosphere! Definitely check it out.“

“Very nice tavern with pub fare and quite a variety on the menu. I had blackened chicken caesar salad and it was really good. I dont drink but there looks to be a large selection of beer and other drinks. Would be a good place to meet up with friends and get a drink.“

“I had the bison burger with sweet potato fries. The dipping sauce for the fries was amazing. My server Jackie was great about never letting our glasses become empty and making sure to help out with my daughter’s allergies!“

“Food is awesome and the staff is great! Food is cooked fresh and worth the wait! Lori is amazing!! I highly recommend!!“

“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.“

“I saw the Channel 12 News segment over 11 years ago and have had been wanting to go and have their lobster crepe. It surpassed my dreams, which is a rarity. The first bonus was the wonderful staff (waitress and cook). I was so touched by their kindness that most places miss nowadays. Having driven from Stamford to Turtle Cafe was the best decision of self love I could ever give myself. The crepes were amazingly flavored, big pieces of lobster and the goat cheese highlighted the dish. They serve it with a small field green salad that complimented the dish. So take it from a true foodie, go and experience it for yourself. Who knows, you might be as lucky as I was to meet the couple who I was honored to meet who go there everyday. That's how GOOD Turtle Cafe is. Addicting!!“

“The food is amazing. Highly recommend the firecracker calamari and the OC Salad. My stuffed lobster was perfect and I also really enjoyed the Chocolate Mousse Cake. This is a special place with a relaxing atmosphere and outstanding service. I highly recommend.“

“It's a Friday night and we're meeting up with some friends! One of them suggested Marker 37 for a variety of reasons and today, we're going to find out why! Here's how things went for me during my visit. Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right on the Connecticut River in Chester, CT connected to its own marina is this gem. Reservations are recommended especially in the summertime since THIS is the place where you wanna be. We were here in early April so things hadn't quite picked up, but at least the snow was gone and we didn't need to wear super heavy coats. The parking lot is massive so if it's busy you'll be walking for a minute before you get to the door. But once inside it's pretty modern, chill and relaxed. The decor isn't over-the-top. Everything is straight-edged and just... almost minimalistic. However, we sat in the patio area that was certainly heated so we could see the view of the water while the sun set. It was a wide-open setting and I'm very glad the restaurant didn't smash too many tables and chairs in there. Service: I can't remember who took care of us, but I don't remember having any issues throughout dinner. It was fairly slow so I didn't expect any hold-ups. Food/Drinks: I started off with an old-fashioned which was fine. Nothing crazy. Next up was a New England clam chowder which is perfectly seasoned and flavorful. Textures were good and so were the seasonings. Spot-on. For dinner I went with their Prime Rib! It came out perfectly medium-rare with a side of fingerling potatoes, grilled squash, au jus and horseradish sauce. It was good. Just... kinda not exciting. :-/ Maybe I should've gone the seafood route since we were on the water. But no matter. Value: Not too crazy here. It's a nice restaurant, but prices aren't out of control. You can totally come here to chill, have a drink and an app or a full-on family dinner and not be upset at the final bill. In conclusion I liked it here, just not enough to want to drive all the way out here again. Would I come back? Sure, if I were invited by friends and stuff, but I highly encourage you reading this to pay this place a visit and enjoy the views! Thank you for reading.“

“This place is great. Great food, great people. Even great customers. We always meet fun people here, that’s a big why it’s a favorite. Growing up on the Boston area, I love fried seafood. Charlie’s fried seafood is the closest reminder to the fried whole bellies I grew up with. And the Bahamas Mamas are on point!“

“Love, love the food and staff of this fabulous breakfast lunch restaurant!
Great specials. The sausage and biscuits best in CT.
The homemade muffins and breads out of this world! My favorite is the Cinnabon bread. Yum!
Outdoor seating if you have a dog with you.
Right on Main St, Deep River if you want to pop in one of the local stores after very nice unique !“

“Terrific location in a small New England town bordering the Connecticut River. Excellent food, wine and comfortable rooms.“

“Honestly originally came here thinking it was a typical tavern. Left having one of the best food experiences I have ever had! The food was amazing and so perfectly prepared I have been back countless times since and am always recommending them to friends and family. Definitely need to fit in a date night here really soon!!!“

“great beer selection and bar food is unique and creative“

“I have been going here for at least 11 years. The food never disappoints. I love the daily specials and holiday special orders. Fresh and delicious. The bakery is excellent, the cookies are irresistible. Quaint gourmet sandwich, coffee, and gift shop in downtown Chester. Highly recommend, outdoor seating. Always friendly service.“

“Black point pizza is always my go to when I want an absolutely amazing pizza. for me I have the cooks keep it in the oven a bit longer so it stands up when you pick it up to eat. the sauce is to die for also. if you like your pizza a little more firm just ask and the cooks are happy to make your food exactly as you like. minor the owner is a stand up guy and really did good with this recipe. the salads and his homemade balsamic dressing is the best I've had from anywhere. if you have not come out to black point you are really missing out. I promise you won't be disappointed 🍕 #gettotheoint #Blackpoint #thebestpizza #soooyummy #greatcustometservice“

“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 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Very Friendly Place. It has a small little local artist shop!“

“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!“

“Obsesssssed, our new favorite place. Short ribs melt in your mouth yummmm so good. Great attentive servive. Super friendly staff, I can go on and on about the positives!“

“Food was delicious, service was spectacular - the way the manager in the brown jacket spoke to the all-female front line staff was disgusting. Do yourself a favor ladies, record his cowardly intimidation talking and get him for hostile work environment. He should be ashamed of himself.“

“Great for a warm September afternoon lunch by the Old Saybrook Marina. The à la carte menus is extensive, delicious, and portions generous. We shared the whole grilled Branzino. The dish was well seasoned, but the bold ingredients came through with delicacy. The fish was grilled to perfection. Service is excellent. The venue is a resort and the one negative was the messy state of the bathrooms. This restaurant is well worth a visit - even at the $60/head price tag including drinks à la carte (there is a brunch menu).“