The customer service is beyond lacking...made reservations over a week ahead of time. When I came in the staff looked at me like I had 3 heads. After asking me my name and number 3 times I got told to wait...well 10 minutes after my reservation time a party of 6 walked in and were seated right away. When I asked how that worked I was retorted with "They came in an hour ago and put their name in"...I put my name in and made a reservation 1 WEEK ago...I then got asked 5 other times what my name and number was and if I had a reservation...NO communication among the staff and customer service needs a LOT of improvement read more

My fiancé and I came after arriving from NY. I wasn't impressed the food was ok. I loved the decor and the staff was really friendly. My fiancé loved his burger. I felt like my food lacked seasoning it was very bland. The Mac and cheese was good. My beet burger had a strange after taste. read more

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Great food and atmosphere! We had a small mixup on the order but Dylan helped us right away. Great customer service highly recommended!

Fabulous aesthetic and fun, innovative menu - the ideal combination. I was in Mystic on Monday and stopped in for a quick happy hour in the bar area with my husband. The HH menu is so cleverly reminiscent of childhood with old fashioned hot dogs, cheese straws, roasted peanuts and deviled eggs. We started with cheese straws with pimiento cheese (ahhh LOVED) and a classic ol' burger and hot dog with hot pepper relish. Hit. The. Spot. At that point, we couldn't help but order a dish off the regular menu because I can never pass up liver mousse when I see it. This was served on toasted cornbread with strawberry, rhubarb & habanero honey. It was SO perfect. $5 Old Fashioneds & Fishers Island lemonade didn't hurt either! I'm determined to return for a full meal later this summer - it's my kind of place. read more

Great time! Loved the decor. Based on a friend's recommendation, we made reservation - which worked out well. We walked in & sat down. We ordered the hush puppies (yum) and Rhode Island Squid (overall- good. Parts were undercooked and had some grit). For dinner we both were stuck as to what to order. I ordered the bleu mushroom burger, while my boyfriend ordered the grass fed burger with caramelized onions. Sides were French fries and macaroni salad with old bay (delicious).The waitress asked if were going to share, which we were. When we got our food, it was served as half portions to each, so we didn't have to split it ourselves. We were stuffed and didn't attempt dessert. Definitely going back! read more

Engine Room - Grass fed burger with caramelized onions and bleu burger with mushrooms. The macaroni salad with old bay was spectacular! - Southern Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

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I have heard great things about this place so I was excited to finally try it. The food is overpriced and not that great. I got the tuna steak. I was expecting a large steak with rice and vegetables. I got 5 very small pieces of tuna steak, cold rice, and mushed up cucumbers. Everything was doused in rice wine vinegar. Not something to pay 32 bucks for. I left still hungry. Maybe they were having an off night but I won't be back, there are too many other places to choose from. read more

I've reviewed several times over the years and returned to lower my rating... again. We had another disappointing visit and I was embarrassed to have recommended this spot to our guests. The menu was far less appealing than it was years ago and the dishes we wanted were all unavailable. Drinks were mediocre and overpriced, whereas cocktail had been terrific in previous years. And while our server was very personable the front of the house was less than welcoming and the vibe in the place was just... off. read more

I must admit that my initial glance at the menu had me second guessing my choice of restaurant. I thought I was in over my head because food wasn't described in "plain English" so I thought I was outside my comfort zone. It read, or rather, I interpreted it as being too "exotic" for my liking. That being said, I'm glad we stayed. My wife and I came in for lunch. Our waitress was Heather C. She was very friendly and attentive. We never needed anything more than what we had in front of us but if we had needed something, it wouldn't be long before she was checking on us. The wings were fantastic. I have no idea what. "kobi brine" is (see 1st paragraph) by the wings were excellent. They were crispy and flavorful, finished off with a mesquite BBQ dry rub. The "grass fed beef burger" was one of the best I've ever had. (Again, see the 1st paragraph. If it says more than bacon cheese burger, I start questioning what is that). I literally could not put it down on the plate after I started eating it. It was cooked to medium rare perfection. I would highly recommend this place! I would also call ahead for reservations. We were here for lunch on a Saturday in January, hardly the height of the Mystic tourist season and they were busy and had a wait for seating when we left. There was plenty of staff and service was excellent, I think that they're just that good! read more

The atmosphere of the place was great! And beautiful!! Don't get me wrong. But as a vegetarian I was sadden that I was only left w one choice in this menu ( if it was a choice at all) I tend to usually figure it out when it comes to places where my friends don't really understand vegetarian eats or however you want to call it. But this place made it extremely hard to even have a full tummy. The burger was spicy and the tofu patty was extremely large to even bite. Not to mention pricey(all could eat was fries) There should be at least more choices if your going for that boho look in your restaurant, you're bound to attract more than one vegetarian or vegan. read more

I want to love this establishment, really, I do. But last night I dined at Engine Room for probably the fourth time and was underwhelmed again and also disappointed -- saw an employee taste test a bucket of something in the kitchen using his fingers as a spoon, TWICE! I have sat at the bar, at the kitchen counter and at a regular table. I have been for Mother's Day brunch and dinner time. For this particular meal my Nashville hot chicken sandwich was over fried so the outside was very dark and the chicken was a little tough. We also waited an abnormally long time for our food, the two couples next to us got their food first yet were definitely seated after us. I was too hungry to complain about the chicken at 9:15 at night. Our server was very friendly. The beef tartare app was amusingly diminutive and lacking beef. The flavors altogether were great but it was more like crouton tartare! For that price point -- never will order that again. I return over and over hoping for a different result and because the atmosphere is great and the decor is appealing. But sitting at the kitchen counter definitely offered up an exposé in employee practices around food. A male 'cook' was making some sort of dressing/batter in a large bucket and stirring it with a whisk. He was directly in front of us which made it even more surprising when he stuck is hand in the bucket and scooped a substantial taste test our for himself directly into his mouth! Eek! It was surprising, funny, but also a little gross. We watched and he did it again about a minute later. When he transferred the mixture to another container he skimmed the overflow off the bucket with his finger has well. I pointed him out to the lady next to me at the counter and she pushed her food away. We had a good laugh about it, but it was still icky! We made up a narrative in our mind that this was his personal stash of something that he was taking home for himself -- but still! From now on I'd go back for the atmosphere and the drinks at the bar. I wouldn't recommend it to friends for the food. read more

All the food was incredible! Had the lobster roll a fish and chips...the best we've ever had of both & the fries are amazing! Kids loved the "real" Shirley temples and Mac n cheese! Such a cool rustic vibe; great for a date night or a night out with the kids or to meet friends for drinks and apps! Highly recommend! read more

Engine Room is the first restaurant I've visited in Mystic and since then, I've been coming back to the area to explore the food scene more hoping to find more gems like this. It's not often that I say I had a perfect experience at a restaurant but Engine Room is definitely the exception. My boyfriend and I came on a Saturday night and were seated immediately at the counter. Their menu was extensive to the point where they had some of everything: burgers, seafood, poultry, salads, you name it. Although extensive, their menu isn't overwhelming like other restaurants with large selections. We were thoroughly impressed with their creative alcohol menu as well as the execution of their drinks. We really enjoyed the atmosphere. It had sort of an industrial, rustic, hipster vibe to it which is definitely one of a kind. Since we were seated at the counter, we had a full view of the open kitchen. We wanted to try a little bit of everything they were making and since we had a full show going on, our food that came out tasted all the better. The boyfriend got the smoked beef burger and I got the shrimp and grits both of which were terrific and generous portions. Our server was great and gave us recommendations along the way. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying the rest of their menu. There is so much more to explore and I'm sure everything is excellent here! read more

First time writing a yelp review, but I knew I had to for the Engine Room. Food was some of the best we've ever had. Wed drive the hour to come back here. Cool rustic/industrial atmosphere. Our sever, Jackie, was very nice and had an awesome "Zen" aura about her. Everything is made in house and ingredients are purchased/ grown locally. It shows. We ordered the hangover burger- which is topped with an egg, bacon, and an onion ring with amazing home made batter. I typically don't like onion rings but I would order a side of these. We also had the eggs Benedict with brisket and homemade cornbread. Unreal. The specialty drinks and brews are also great. You may wait for a bit in peak times- but it's worth it. Thank you, engine room for ringing in my 30th with an amazing meal! read more

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So good! Went with family for Father's Day. Sat at the bar that faces the kitchen. Great service. Vibrant atmosphere. All the food was awesome! Pulled pork, fish, hush puppies, Mac and cheese. All sooo good! Prices were reasonable for what you get. Would definitely go back! read more

Absolutely loved this restaurant! Visited on a weekend afternoon before dinner rush. It was still super busy but we were easily seated. I loved the decorations and flowers on the tables. They have an extensive beer list and cocktail options. I had a craft cocktail made with melted down popcorn, topped with two pieces of kettle corn! So unique and really tasty. My boyfriend had a local fox farm brewery draft. We shared some wings to start, slow roasted with pineapple glaze and Mexican dry rub. They were to die for! I had the mushroom bleu burger for my meal with a side of old bay macaroni salad. The macaroni salad was delicious - love that you can switch out fries for different sides at no cost! My boyfriend had the chicken and waffles with maple butter and sesame honey hot sauce. Also shared an order of the onion ring stack, which were probably one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. They were so fluffy and not heavily greasy. We pigged out and had some to take home! Everything was excellent and the menu had lots of different twists on your normal meals. Highly recommend the visit and will be back whenever I'm in the area. read more

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Located conveniently on Holmes street and in a beautiful old brick building the Engine Room is a great family friendly restaurant with an awesome bar and awesome team members. We were greeted by our server who kindly accommodated our request to sit in a tall booth so we could contain my ravenously hangry, and insane, three year old. She brought us water and offered a kids cup (we declined as he had his kleen kanteen). The menu is simple with well thought out items. We wanted to order one of everything and I ended up getting a bunch of apps and sides so we could try everything. The kids hotdog was a great portion and the house made fries delicious. I ordered a chai milkshake and had them add a shot of tequila, it was a long day at the aquarium, my friend ordered a well balanced flinty Sauvignon Blanc and we admired the interior design as we waited for our food. Every dish was just great. The Caesar salad had the option to add chicken or tofu, we went for tofu as my friend is pescatarian, it was perfectly cooked and a nice accompaniment to the crisp, flavorful salad. My friends veggie burger was the bomb, the patty was a mix of grains and mushrooms with an insanely good flavor and texture. The fried Brussels sprouts were crunchy and drizzled with balsamic glaze. By far the sweet potato with whipped creme fraiche and maple drizzle was my favorite side. We definitely would like to return sans child, to enjoy the bar scene (bourbon selection is on point) and have a nice dinner without someone driving a monster truck up my back. read more

We visited this rustic, crafty (in beer and aesthetic) restaurant on a slow Thursday afternoon. It was more than half empty-quite the change from our last visit with a 2 hour wait (we didn't stay that time). After this visit, I'm afraid I don't know what the fuss is about. It definitely looks the part of a better than average restaurant, but looks can be deceiving. The service was very slow. It took over 45 minutes for our food to arrive, despite being one of two tables in the dining room. We started with the Scallop Dip- which I expected to be thick, creamy and brimming with fresh seafood. Unfortunately it was thin and runny, and more the consistency of a chowder than a dip. It was served with saltines. We ate it because it was the first thing we ate all day, but it was meh. For lunch my husband had chicken and waffles. I had the "fried local catch" which was haddock. It lacked salt, tasted bland but it wasn't bad enough that I complained or didn't eat it. Honestly service was so slow, I didn't know where our waitress was anyway. I wasn't going to wait another hour for something else. On the bright side, the fries and coleslaw were better than average. My husband said his food was "okay" and I tried it and agreed. The weirdest part of our visit is that they gave my husband the wrong beer. What I found strange was not that the bartender mixed up the beers, it happens; but that she repeatedly insisted she was correct the first time. He ordered an IPA and got (what I believe) was a sour. These are VERY different flavors. If you think the customer is wrong, okay fine (we weren't) but don't tell us that. And don't tell us that 3 times. All in all, maybe we will give this place another shot in the future but not someplace I would seek out, personally. read more

One of the best places for lunch or dinner in Mystic! Great menu, good craft beer selection, good music and atmosphere. Highly recommended! read more

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We went for lunch yesterday. We ended up here because the only place we could find to park the car was right in front! So why not? Right! Atmosphere is great; though I thought the AC was a bit high. A nice open kitchen area and fast service! The waitress was very friendly and came came right away. I ordered the Tomato Gazpacho. I asked if it came with bread or crackers. It came with nothing but she could get me some bread if I liked so I said yes please. My sister got a item that was served on sour dough bread with pickled cucumbers and radishes and some kind of sauce or cheese it was served with what was greens on the menu. Unfortunately I for got what it was called. My so called bowl of soup tasted great but it was closer to a cup in portion size. My sisters dish was basically only the crust that was burnt with something smeared over it with corse cut lettuce! When we received our check they charged me $3.00 for the 3 small slices of bread that I got with my soup! Really??????? Needless to say we weren't very impressed! read more

Food was great. Outside seating in tent with "heating" was cold. Their heater intake was directed into the tent while the heat supply was blowing on the outside. Tried to explain to waitstaff only to be told to wear our mask outside. Remained cold. Will eat there again read more

We stopped in for dinner while visiting Mystic. The hostess was super nice. There was a wait, but we definitely got a table way sooner than the wait time we were given. Everything was great! Very clean, and everyone wore masks. The drinks were amazing (my husband had an old fashioned, and I had a kissed by a rose). I had the pulled pork sandwich and potato salad. It was delicious. My husband ordered the fish and chips, with the spicy cheddar fries...sooo good! My son's grilled cheese looked gourmet. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there. We will definitely be back when we visit Mystic again! read more

I've never had a worse experience than at this place. I placed a pick up order: 2 burgers and 2 fish sandwiches, with some juice. I was told the food would be ready in about 15 minutes. However it took them over 1 hour. When I asked for status they kept on saying the food is coming. When I finally had enough and asked them to cancel the order and for a refund, they replied that they are packing the food. Okay fine, food is finally ready. Then they did not pack the food and juice well, the juice spilled all over. It's just a horrible experience and ruined part of the day we've planned. I'd love to give this place a 0 star is possible. read more

The atmosphere for this bar & restaurant is cool but the experience wasn't for me. It was too loud for me to hear my partner so we couldn't have any meaningful conversation and also I didn't enjoy sitting so close to the tables next to me. The food was just ok. I had the Randy's Double Stack which just tasted like a regular double cheeseburger. It was supposed to have "happy sauce" but it just tasted like ketchup to me. The patties were definitely very moist though! Overall the experience here was much better than something like fast food but I think there's probably something better not that far away. read more

The tastiest southern style food in the Northeast! Located in the best New England water town, Engine room has options for everyone. Wait staff is always so friendly and knowledgeable. If you know your whiskey, this is the place to go. Go for the happy hour deals, stay for a fine candle lit dinner. Love this place! read more

Was thankful that, while they were out of online reservations, a phone call reserved us a couple of seats in the bar. The bar was definitely a family friendly atmosphere at dinner time. Was quickly greeted and seated. Jenny quickly hustled over which allowed for a $5 Old Fashioned off the happy hour menu, right before it ended. The Old Fashioned was perfectly blended and worth way more than what I paid for it. There was something about the chicken burger (avocado purée, pickled red onion, lettuce & jalapeño mayo) that sounded perfect for a hot day. Both Jenny and the young man who served us said it was the best on the menu. They certainly weren't lying because this chicken burger was the best burger I've had. The pickled red onion made for a perfect bite and the light heat from the jalapeño mayo finished it all of nicely. The potato salad as a side was creamy with nice soft, big chunks of potato. Great kids menu, wide selection of beers/booze and all around solid menu. read more

Engine Room - Old Fashioned - Southern Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

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Seated on time per our reservation. Hostess was extremely friendly. Drink order was prompt. Wine selection was great. Kids menu. Food was fantastic. If I was to critique one thing it's be the fries but that's nitpicky. read more

You must go here! I was in town from Chicago, and my friends and I decided to hit up The Engine Room after visiting the Mystic Aquarium. The food was outstanding! We started with the hush puppies, which were damn good specimens of fried dough, and the biscuits that came with some sort of cream cheese jelly spread akin to crack. My friends ordered the chopped salad and the double stack burger, and they thoroughly enjoyed their selections (my friend was moaning as she ate her salad). I ordered the fish sandwich and loved every second of it. The sweet potato grits were different and I really enjoyed them. The beer selection is damn good too (although a bit pricey). My friend is a beer aficionado and loved his choice, and I felt similarly! read more

Everything was so tasty!!! The grits and scallops, so good, just needed hot sauce! The hush puppies were amazing, the butter was a perfect pairing with them. The wings are a dry rub but one of the most tasty dry rubs! And the chipotle chicken sandwich, wow! So good. I got the macaroni salad, probably wouldn't get it again, too much mayo. Service was good for a busy night! read more

Second visit here was much less of an experience than the first. Still a great atmosphere and server was efficient and nice. Drinks were great too. But the food wasn't anything to go back for. Fish and chips was over battered and so hard that it all fell apart when touched with fork. Very bland. The fries were a quality cut but tasted like they were already brought home in styrofoam and then reheated, in a microwave. Chicken and waffles was good, but again waffles hard and chicken was bone in. Kind of strange for that meal. Salad was way over peppered. Scallops and grits app was good but grits were fine cut, more like a polenta to me. Don't get me wrong, we didn't walk out and didn't complain. We ate some and left. Just really disappointed since it was a night out from the kids and the food wasn't much to be excited about. read more

Stopped in for a couple of beers and some appetizers, here was the result. The bar was crowded so my friend and I were directed to sit at a row of seats facing the front window. It was a nice view of the street if you like that sort of thing but the seats were not very comfortable and I felt like I was in Siberia since the rest of the restaurant was at my back. Even though we were the only ones at the window bar the waiter was about seven minutes in coming over. We asked about a couple of beers and he brought over two shot glasses for us to taste. The service was very quick after ordering. The beer was good. We had ordered the mussels in beer broth which was very good. The mussels were cooked nicely and the broth was tasty. We also ordered the squid. It was nice, a very light version of fried calamari with fried pickled okra. OK, problem. 15 minutes in our waiter kept coming over to ask if we were done. There were still mussels in the bowl, still squid on the plate. Obviously not done. This happened three times. And then another guy (not our waiter) came over to take our plates away before we were done again. I'd understand if there was a line out the door but we were still the only ones sitting at the long counter facing the window. End result, food good, beer good, service needs work. That's why I give 3 stars. Would I go back? Yes, for the food and ambiance. If service continues to be bad, I'll drop it down to one star and for good reason. It's too expensive there to pay for good food but poor service. read more

Engine Room - Good beer and ambiance. Service...? - Southern Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

We have wanted to try this place for a long time but it was always so busy We finally had our chance and let me tell you it was well worth it I had a burger that was cooked to perfection great fresh cut fries My husband had the barbecue brisket 3 large slabs of beef served with potato salad and coleslaw He is a big eater but couldn't finish it all The service was very good but might I suggest telling the servers not to call the guests you guys As we left a server was headed outside to serve the patio he kindly held the door til I was through An excellent experience we will be back read more

Disappointed in this evenings takeout from Engine Room . This is the stonington scallops "dinner" for $26, that's right $26. I understand this is Mystic (I live here and have eaten here many times) but this was underwhelming. Did not come with a side so I thought the portion would be large...NOT. read more

Engine Room - stonington scallops $26 - Southern Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

We returned to the Engine Room and sat at the chefs table, the long communal table facing the kitchen. We were immediately greeted by a friendly server named Meghan who took our cocktail order and made recommendations on menu items. Mushroom bisque and prime rib tartar appetizers were outstanding. The blue cheese burger was cooked perfectly and the tuna entree my wife had was totally devoured. I recommend the corn bread! There is an interesting story about the origins of the corn that the restaurant uses to make the cornbread. The manager Aaron told us the story, it tasted wonderful and is highly recommended. The place is known for their large variety of unique craft beers, but the drink menu also has some great cocktail selections. Their rendition of the mint julep was outstanding. Overall, the Engine Room is a restaurant you must try! read more

Great service. Eclectic beer menu. Somewhat pricey for what it is, but possibly the best burger you'll ever have.

The first thing I noticed about this restaurant was its old rustic look and feeling it had. I like that I was able to sit at the bar top in front of the kitchen and watch the food be prepared. Everything smelled delicious. I got the chicken sandwich, hush puppies, macaroni salad, and fried chicken skins. And no I was not alone. Everything tasted great. My favorite part was the fried chicken skins with the spicy honey sauce on it. My waiter was awesome, friendly and made the experience great. My girlfriend and I saw a big stew pot of something brought out of the kitchen and we got curious. We asked the waiter what it was and gave us a little sample to try. Didn't even get charged. I will definitely recommend this place and be back in the future. read more

This is my FAVORITE, chicken and waffles!!! Goes well with the Revival - Are you Thirsty?' Beer. Service was good. Indoor and limited outdoor seating. Great menu and drink choices. Looking for to bringing my friends back. read more

On this occasion, I did brunch with 7 other folks at a long table... a departure from my normal spot at the bar. The decor is interesting... lots of light, and a good amount of exposed/reclaimed wood. The hostess/waitstaff were accommodating and well-trained; the table had water and several much-needed cocktails in short order. It did take a bit longer to put our main order in, but items started coming out of the kitchen pretty quickly. My beermosa was appreciated, but I'd love to see a non-beer mimosa that was fancied up a bit with some kind of spirits There was a good mix of lunch and breakfast ordered from my party, with plenty of delicious sides to share amongst the table. Notable were the hush puppies, served with a spicy/savory sauce, as well as the mac n'cheese, which was nice and crunchy with ample breadcrumbs on top. Texture is a key component of brunching here, and they do it very well! As I recall, my main course was chicken sausage between biscuits, with a "sunny egg" and some gravy. It was delicious! My only gripes were that the egg was over hard, and the biscuits were a bit crumbly and dry. That said, between the sides and the main course, it served as both an enviable brunch and a great leftover midday meal as well. Others were similarly pleased with both the quality and volume of food. Double win! I definitely suggest this spot for cocktails, brunch, or both. They could tighten up on individual items - biscuits and hush puppies were very dry - but the menu is great and they execute well. A very solid 4.2/5. read more

Having spent almost 3 years in the Charleston area, the wife and I both agree it has some of the best food in the country. That being said, the Engine Room belongs on the downtown streets of Charleston. The food is excellent. Great southern soul food. We've been twice so far and have ordered different things each time. Everything we have tried is fantastic. Highly recommend if you want really good, truly American-at-heart, food. P.S. Try the cornbread. read more

Recommended by the desk staff of the Whalers Inn where we were staying. Nice curb appeal, welcoming patio, bar and dining room. On a chilly Tuesday January night, dining room was 1/2 full, but the limited staff was hustling. Tried the Hush Puppies, lacked any flavor or taste. The burgers though are great with local beef used, nice toppings and served with some hand cut fries. They should not list being a Bourbon spot when the servers cannot make a recommendation. Definitely would return as I would like I try the "Chicken & Waffles" read more

I'm specifically rating the brunch. I ordered the Benedict over corn bread and my husband got the chicken and waffles. He also ordered a Bloody Mary which he gives 3 out of 5 stars. We thought the food was good, but not worth the steep prices. $16 for half a waffle and fried chicken?? Just no! $12 for a medium sized bloody? Nope! Home fries weren't a thing here and only sandwiches came with fries. Will be going elsewhere for brunch. read more