Location: Essex
Top Restaurants in Essex
Top Things to do in Essex
Best American food near Essex, Connecticut, United States
Best American restaurants nearby. Discover the best American food in Essex. View Menus, Photos and Reviews for American restaurants near you.. Essex is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,683 at the 2010 census. It is made up of three villages: Essex Village, Centerbrook, and Ivoryton.
Things to do in Essex
10. Ivoryton Tavern Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 123 reviews
A small family run 100 year old Tavern with a big heart! We are located adjacent to the Ivoryton Playhouse which makes for a great "date night"! Enjoy a great dinner at the Tavern, then walk a few steps to enjoy one the the Playhouse's professional shows.
Reviewed By Sheila L
The crab dip is amazing. Itâs enough for 10 people. We were only four. The burgers were amazing. Cooked to order, rare was rare, medium was medium. I canât give bigger praise just for that. Every single one of us was happy with our meal. It was a bit copious, but, the leftovers were welcome the next day. The ambience was lively and the service was wonderful. Just for that we would go back again. A lovely local pub, good food, nice company. Everything that you would want in a local joint. This might just become one of our weekly hangouts!Thank you for your review. We are especially glad to hear that you felt at home in a friendly cordial environment. Looking forward to serving you again.
9. Red House Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 134 reviews
Red House provides an array of food and drink that keeps customers wondering what is coming next. Whether it is seasonal menus, southern bbq, hot trends we keep are customers coming by keeping our ingredients fresh.
Reviewed By Coopermom2017
Tonightâs meal was even better than the first! I had the roasted Brussels sprout salad with a side of Pulled Pork. It was delicious. My husband had the Roasted Beet salad and said it was also very good. The special dessert was an orange infused rice pudding, which was fabulous! Our dinner was made even more enjoyable by our waitress, Amanda. She was so personable and made sure we had everything we needed.
8. Scotch Plains Tavern
Overall Ratings
3 based on 53 reviews
Reviewed By xxxxxxcxx
My 15 year old & I stopped for lunch around 2:30 on a Sunday. There was a good amount of people but not packed. My son ordered the cheddar, fried onion burger. Its came with cheddar fried onions and a pile of mushrooms. Kind of strange because theres no word of mushrooms on the menu. The fried onions were terrible they were put into the fryer while the oil was cold and they came out pale white and soaked it oil. He liked the mushrooms eventhough he didn't order them. It also to 5 mins to find someone to bring ketchup to the table. Fries were nothing special. For $16 you need to hit a burger out of the park. Not so here. I ordered the chicken caeser salad with homemade croutons. It can on a rectangular plate 5" wide and probably 10" long. The salad took up half the plate with 2 croutons. The chicken was half of a chicken breast cut in half. Hardly a $5 add on for a 1/4 of a chicken breast. The salad was soaked in dressing. The dressing wasn't bad but it wasn't Caesar it was a creamy lemon dressing. The croutons were terrible. You'd think they'd be crunchy but they were just stale old bread. Terrible! So a $15 salad and a $16 burger were both very underwhelming. We saw the waitress 3 times. Order , water, bill. They will not be seeing me again and I live close. Way over priced for what their serving.
7. The Essex
Overall Ratings
4 based on 53 reviews
Asian Inspired Modern American Dining With a Focus on Sustainable and Local Product, Cutting Edge Fish Program with sushi, sashimi, ramen, etc. "Voted Best New Restaurant in New England" Yankee Magazine 2018 "Best Restaurants in Connecticut" CT Magazine 2
Reviewed By Jackie B
A girlfriend and I had a dual birthday dinner at The Essex. We decided to participate in the tasting menu. It was a phenomenal decision! Each course was better than the next. We had a fantastic server and were so happy to meet the chef as he rounded on tables. The quaint, private atmosphere was perfect for our dinner conversation. The savory and the sweet rounds were sheer perfection! The current theme for the menu is influenced by Brazil! And if you thought you had enough coconut in your life, you were wrong. So wrong.
6. The Blue Hound Cookery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 126 reviews
cookery and taproom located in the center of Ivoryton across from the Ivoryton Playhouse. Casual dining for lunch dinner and late night. New taproom opened with ct craft beers.
Reviewed By jodig408
We went here over the weekend and all 4 of us had great meals. The menu leans toward New Orleans, southern type food. Portions are a good size and the food is good, and the service is warm and friendly. Although we were told it's their slowest month, the place empties out after the early diners leave. If it's the busy season (there is a play house next door) just go after 7:30 pm.
5. Black Seal Seafood Grille
Overall Ratings
3 based on 173 reviews
Reviewed By grandma4920
After our trolley and riverboat trip we drove into Essex at the the suggestion of one of the crew members had lunch at the Black Seal. Delicious soups, salads, stuffed clam, burgers, etc. the town is a great place to walk around in as well.
4. Essex Clipper Dinner Train
Overall Ratings
4 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By gardenweasel
This is about our 5th Essex Clipper Dinner Train and was the best ever! The servers (Danielle & John)were friendly, efficient and entertaining. The food, from charcuterie plate including salmon mousse to the warm apple crisp was super fresh and perfectly prepared. The scenery along the Connecticut River included charming New England homes, marshes, & marinas at their fall best; this is a must do, regardless of the season, and highly recommended!
Most Popular Italian food in Essex, Connecticut, United States
3. Abby's Place
Overall Ratings
4 based on 202 reviews
Casual waterfront dining located in the Brewer's Dauntless Shipyard. A bit hard to find but defintely worth the effort. Abby's Place serves American cuisine with a flair, specializing in fresh, locally sourced meats and seafood.
Reviewed By Christina M
Terrific veggie burger with pesto. The crab soup was very good and the chicken sandwich was tasty. Our waitress was very accommodating as was the owner. Unfortunately the waiter had an issue when we arrived and asked not to be seated next to the door as it was very cold outside and didnât want our two year old granddaughter to be subjected to that. We simply asked to be seated at the adjacent table that had a reserved sign on it when he told us that they had a reservation. We informed him that so did we and he didnât seem to understand arguing that they had called ahead which we informed him that we did as well. Finally the owner came out of the kitchen and placed us at the âreservedâ table we had asked for originally. It could have turned ugly but we appreciated the owner settling the issue.
2. Olive Oyl's
Overall Ratings
4 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By carriagehouse37
Olive Oyl's Carry Out Cuisine brings renewed life to a former gas station in historic Essex, Connecticut. Instead of filling cars with gas, Olive Oly's satisfies hungry appetites with delicious sandwiches, soups, pastries, and daily specials. Just a five minute drive off Rt-9, Essex exit, you enter walking between two antique gas pumps; the interior walls are decorated with awesome gas station memorabilia. Table seating for up to 20 people has an elongated bench seat with 50's era vinyl car upholstery. Counter seating borders former car repair bay doors that bring sunlight and a view of outside activities along Main Street. Selecting from the menu choices hanging on the wall, we gave Lissa, the cashier, our order: Small Soup (Italian Wedding)($4.95), 20 oz. soda (Coca-Cola) ($2.25), Water (Olive Oyl's)($2.00), Small Potato Chips (Cape Cod)($1.50), Sandwich - Create Your Own Masterpiece (Roast Turkey, *Provolone, Lettuce, Tomato, and Mayonnaise on Sour Dough Bread. ($6.95 + *$1.00 for Provolone). Kevin, the proprietor, greeted us at our table and enthusiastically talked about moving from 77 Main Street, Essex, CT to the current location at 6 Main Street, Essex, CT. Olive Oly's Creative Cuisine has been in business since 1991.
1. Griswold Inn ~ Dining
Overall Ratings
4 based on 515 reviews
Located in the âstorybookâ village of Essex mere steps from the Connecticut River, this 1776 landmark offers three distinct dining experiences. âHistoric Diningâ is offered in four handsome rooms - The Covered Bridge, The Gun Room, The Library and The Ess
Reviewed By MelissaScottkk58
I highly recommend going to the bar on Monday evenings to hear the Jovial Crew. Try to get a table in the center of the room because it will end up being standing room only in the aisles. They were great and so much fun! You can sing even if you've never heard the songs are the words are repetitive and the chords predictable. We also had a delicious goat cheese salad and my husband enjoyed his cavatelli with veggies. It was nice that they had popcorn to snack on while waiting. Don't miss the sea shanties!!!!!!Greetings from The Gris, Melissa! We're so glad you enjoyed Sea Shanties with us! Cliff Haslam and his Jovial Crew have been performing at our place on Monday nights for over 47 years!!! They are renowned in the "Folk Music/Songs of the Sea" world and have a very loyal following as we're sure you observed. There are no strangers in the Tap Room on Monday nights - only friends not yet met which by the end of the evening...All are linking arms! A spirited evening indeed - not to be missed. Thank you for visiting! On a related note - you may know we feature live music every night of the week! Our entertainment calendar may be found on our website at griswoldinn.com.
Where to eat Pizza food in Essex: The Best Restaurants and Bars
