What is the most romantic restaurant in Essex?

The most romantic restaurant in Essex is The Griswold Inn

The Best Restaurants in Essex Right Now

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La Marea
4.8
1,774 reviews
ItalianPrice: ExpensiveOld Saybrook
Booked 10 times today
Aspen Restaurant
4.7
1,696 reviews
Contemporary AmericanPrice: ModerateOld Saybrook
Booked 23 times today
The Brushmill by the Waterfall
4.5
567 reviews
Contemporary AmericanPrice: ExpensiveChester
Booked 11 times today
Fresh Salt
4.6
1,493 reviews
SeafoodPrice: ExpensiveOld Saybrook
Booked 23 times today
Surfridge Brewing Company
4.8
40 reviews
PubPrice: ModerateCenterbrook
Booked 8 times today
Comomango Mexican Kitchen and Cantina
4.7
58 reviews
MexicanPrice: ExpensiveMadison
Booked 10 times today
Luigi's Restaurant - Old Saybrook
4.8
87 reviews
ItalianPrice: ModerateOld Saybrook
Booked 2 times today
Little Pub- Old Saybrook
4.5
130 reviews
AmericanPrice: ModerateOld Saybrook
Booked 7 times today
The Flying Monkey Grill and Bar
4.6
39 reviews
AmericanPrice: ExpensiveNewington
Booked 20 times today
Pho Thai - New Haven
5.0
0 reviews
ThaiPrice: ModerateNew Haven
Booked 1 time today
Marcello's Italian Eatery
4.4
67 reviews
ItalianPrice: ExpensiveMonroe
Booked 4 times today
Rustica Ristorante - Chester
4.7
1,308 reviews
ItalianPrice: ModerateChester
Booked 1 time today
Dattilo Fine Italian at Water’s Edge
4.6
866 reviews
ItalianPrice: ExpensiveWestbrook
Booked 11 times today
La Fortuna
4.6
235 reviews
ItalianPrice: ModerateStratford
Booked 3 times today
Salt + Lime
4.4
114 reviews
MexicanPrice: ModerateWest Hartford
Booked 12 times today

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Check out diners' favorite restaurants in Essex

Updated on 12/5/2024

Diners’ Choice Awards are based on where your fellow diners book, dine, and review. Only verified diners get to review restaurants on OpenTable, so our data doesn’t lie.

The Wine Bar & Bistro at The Griswold Inn

The Wine Bar at The Griswold Inn is an extraordinary space in which to enjoy a delicious experience in every respect. It features an innovative tapas menu, inspired "macro" plates, artisanal cheeses and handcrafted desserts. The menu changes periodically to take advantage of all that characterizes a particular season, though there are a few classics that remain on the menu throughout the year, like its very popular Grilled and Carved Bistro Steak, served with white truffle-laced pommes frites, arugula,
and red wine jus. A consistent winner of Wine Spectator's prestigious Award of Excellence, it offers numerous wines by the glass, wine flights, and a more extensive bottle list. A full-service bar is also available. A creative and accomplished chef and a knowledgeable and attentive service staff complete the experience.

The Griswold Inn is an inn and restaurant located in the historic seaport village of Essex. The Gris, as it is affectionately known, has been in continous operation since 1776.
`Currently we are offering dine in, dine out, and Gris To Go! Inside, guests may enjoy dining in historic, art-filled rooms which exude character, charm and tradition. Seating for the alfresco experience is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with the exception of larger parties of 7 or more which may be made by calling 860.767.1776.
The Inn boasts a wine list consistently recognized by Wine Spectator with the prestigious Award of Excellence; Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure have recently recognized the Inn's restaurant as "Connecticut's coziest" and it is included in Patricia Schulz's "1000 Places to See Before You Die". The Griswold Inn is also the recipient of Connecticut's Highest Award for Hospitality. The best of old and new meet here.

If you’re looking for an authentic tavern cuisine and rustic ambiance, Scotch Plains Tavern is the place to be. Located minutes from Essex Steam Train, Rt. 9, and I-95, guests can kick back with a drink and some wings in our newly renovated upstairs bar, redesigned in a modern vintage industrial style while maintaining the original bar from Oliver’s Tavern. The bar, retrofitted for additional space, was originally built in 1913 for a bar in Chicago where Al Capone is rumored to have regularly tipped a glass.

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See what locals rave about in Essex

From verified diners like you

S
SheilaVIP
New York City •38 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
La Marea is our special occasion go-to spot. We had a delightful dinner tonight celebrating my husband's retirement. As always, the food was outstanding, only surpassed by the exceptional service by ALL of the many staff taking care of us. Karen is particularly amazing and always makes our experience wonderful. We can't say say enough about how truly first class La Marea is. Cheers to all of you!!
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La MareaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Old Saybrook
•
4.8
L
Lisa
New York City •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Festive and fun and delicious! Great food and ambience!
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The Wine Bar & Bistro at The Griswold InnPrice: Moderate• Wine Bar• Essex
•
4.9
M
Mary
Washington, D.C. Area •12 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
The Griswold Inn is such a special place during the holidays. It was decorated beautifully, and the singers really made the evening very special. The service was excellent, and the food particularly good. I note that because the restaurant was definitely full, so clearly there was a lot going on in the kitchen. We come every year during the holidays, and will continue to follow this tradition. Of course we enjoy it at other times of the year as well. It is a great asset to our community.
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The Griswold InnPrice: Expensive• American• Essex
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4.4
M
Meridith
New York City •1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
Great place to eat before Essex Steam Train. Accommodating servers (we had many children). Good food/beer. We also were able to park at the brewery and leave our car there while taking the train. It was easy to get out following the train. Highly recommend!
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Surfridge Brewing CompanyPrice: Moderate• Pub• Centerbrook
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4.8
M
megan
New York City •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on Dec 13, 2024
The best food and service! Wish there were some light live music playing :)
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Aspen RestaurantPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• Old Saybrook
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4.7