Dinner at Aspen on Friday. Brought friends who had not been. The experience was very good. This…read morerestaurant delivers high quality food and service. Two of us had the Stonington scallops and two of us had the mahi mahi special. We split two deserts- the chocolate mouse and the pistachio ricotta pie. Everything was done well and the service was the perfect pace.

I was sooo excited to have lunch at Aspen today. It's been on my to do list for so long. We were…read moreseated promptly on arrival. They seemed understaffed and it was at least 10 minutes before anyone came over. Our server never introduced herself. (Later looking at the receipt, her name was Cate) She simply walked up with no greeting and just said "what are we drinking?" My wine pour was significantly less than my husband's, which was not a good start especially after having waited. We ordered small plates to start and I wish we stopped there. The seared tuna was great and had both an aioli and a spicy soy based sauce. My husband had the Kobe beef pot stickers and they were tasty, with a nice warm veggie medley in the middle of the plate. The pot stickers could have used a bit more sauce though. When it came time to order entrees, I was fully set on the lobster panini. The server advised me not to order that, and raved about the carbonara, so I ordered that instead. Big mistake. Huge! I wish she just let me order my panini. The carbonara was full of dark meat chicken (gross!!) that tasted gamey, and the sauce was broken. It clearly had too much butter and was not an authentic carbonara. I told our server multiple times that I did not like it. I had separated all the chicken in a pile and ate maybe 1/3 of the pasta. She strangely kept offering to make me the short rib pappardelle instead, which I declined, as I had no interest in that dish. I found it so odd that she picked out a specific dish to offer as a substitute. At least if she offered the lobster panini, it would have made sense since that's what I originally wanted to order, if not for her meddling in my order. My husband ordered a burger cooked medium. It was fully well done. The fries were limp and not crispy. Not a good showing. He wrapped his up to take home, but I did not. Clearly not eating 3/4 of the meal and also not taking it home was a sign of my discontent. I wish I took photo of my plate as I left it. I was pretty offended when she did not remove it from the bill. It's fine, we paid it, but that will be the first and last time we dine at Aspen. We paid our bill as charged, took the cost of my meal out of her tip, and called it a day. This is something I do not often do, but I felt warranted on this occasion, due to the poor food quality and her absolute indifference. We will not be back. Two stars only for the yummy small plates and the very very sweet hostess!!

Great oysters. Great shrimp tacos - although they were a little messy and left me a bit hungry. But…read morethat left room for a delicious blondie with carmel sauce and ice cream. Sat at the bar. Lively atmosphere on a Friday night. Very friendly bartender.

Delicious meal selection. Well prepared food. Efficient, fast service. Great atmosphere.read more

Food is always good Drinks are good depending on the…read morebartender Nice place to have a drink and appetizer after work

First accolades to our food server Kyle. He was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu and prompt…read morewithout being intrusive. Hard balance for sure but he had it down to a science. The egg roll appetizers were delicious, my husband had the sticky chicken nuggets which were very good. I had the Napa salmon pita which was a ten. I opted for sweet potato fries, perfectly -cooked and half of my lunch came home with me. This spot has really upped its game with delicious food, too large portions and Kyle who pulled it all together perfectly. We will return and we will request his services. He adds incredible value to the establishment's overall performance.

Best decision I made all week was to decide to go for dinner at Himilaya Cafe. From the outside it…read morehas always looked underwhelming. No social media presence, website and its cash only. The reason is because they put all their focus into making amazing homemade Indian cuisine. I felt cozy sitting in there and they are truly hospitable, as if you were in their home. I cannot wait to go back

Service was attentive and friendly, decor beautiful, new zealand white wine lovely. Food fantastic…read more We also tried garlic naan--exactly as described in other reviews. Chana masala nicely done with some kick. I consider myself a samosa expert and we loved them! I would now feel comfortable trying any thing on the menu. Happy to find not just because of the food but also the comfortable and creative vibe. We are visiting and staying next door at the blue pier inn. Very content to go next door for an excellent dinner out after a challenging couple of work days.

Caught happy hour at Nori to try various items. First time but not the last! We had the spicy…read moreedamame & that is a must for everyone! Roasted garlic, onion, spice and a hint of smokiness that suggests it was perhaps on a grill. Do not miss this one! The avocado salad is a generous portion of avocado, sliced delicately thin, and fanned out over mixed greens. It was a nice compliment to the spicy items we had. The tempura sea bass is very lightly battered but oh so crisp, no trace of oil, and enough seasoning to complement, yet not overwhelm, the fish. The dipping sauce is unnecessary but was appreciated. Pork gyoza has a nice sear outside with plenty of filling inside and a tasty sauce. The only roll we had was the spicy tuna. It was tender and mildly spiced. The soothing atmosphere and attentive service elevate the experience. Our amiable server didn't crowd us but didn't leave us waiting either. We appreciated that fine balance.

Self proclaimed "Shoreline's best Japanese restaurant". Says it on their website. My grandmother…read morealways said eat humble pie and avoid putting a bullseye on your back. I guess they like inviting high expectations. To be fair it's old saybrook, not much competition, but Massa in Clinton far exceeds Nori and at much better ambience and pricing. Nori does have a cool vibe and love their spicy edamamme and spicy tuna dumplings. Poke bowl is a hit too. Always thought it was weird to have new american or french entrees on their menu like the Duck. Can get very loud when crowded.

This was my first time here and I was delighted to speak with Derick, the owner about the business…read more He was proud to share that their five year anniversary is coming up this fall. The space is nicely decorated and has a comfortable vibe. There is a bar and tables. Looks like a great spot for a romantic sip. We indulged with a flight of wine which you can have one, two or three selections and a charcuterie board to go along with the wine. All the selections (food and wine) are flexible so everyone should be happy! Definitely looking forward to a return trip.

Intimate surroundings for a largely female clientele. Charcuterie selections are excellent. Many…read morevaried wine choices although a bit expensive for the size of pour. Good for an occasional treat but pricy overall.

Stumbled upon this gem of a place yesterday and was genuinely impressed from start to finish. The…read morefood was absolutely delicious -- the pretzel bites arrived hot and fresh, the meatloaf was hearty and comforting, and the green beans were cooked to absolute perfection. The shepherd's pie was another standout, cozy, flavorful, and wonderfully filling. And do not skip the bread pudding -- it was absolutely amazing and the perfect sweet finish to the meal. The only negative was our booth: right in front of the door, so every time it opened (and it was often), we got blasted with cold air. Next time we'll sit further in or upstairs. If you're running around Old Saybrook and need a quick, hearty meal, this is the place to be.

We made our first visit here several days ago, dropping in for a midday lunch on a pretty crowded…read moreSunday. With some good and some not-so good, we concluded that we aren't likely to return -- in spite of the really yummy tartar sauce (more on that in a moment). Penny Lane is a bit of an English Pub-style restaurant on two levels. We ate upstairs since the lower level was filled (steps, no elevator that we saw). Service was slow to nonexistent. It took us ten minutes to get recognized by a server who asked if we wanted something to drink and took another five minutes to get it. After we ordered we waited 25 minutes to get our food. We got no drink refills. Maybe service is better in the first floor? Ah, the food. Fish and Chips is essentially pub food, so that's what we got. The crust was light and buttery, quite good. The fish was utterly without any sort of flavor, as bland as could be imagined in your worst imagining. The tartar sauce was super good, but it just couldn't disguise the fact that the fish was tasteless. We also tried the poached egg and corned beef hash, which was ok though the hash was kind ... well, and of a hash, unremarkable at best. Conclusion: There was little that was appealing in our experience. Oh yeah, another ten minutes to get our bill... a long afternoon.

Came here to have a couple drinks with a friend and The bartender was super kind and helpful…read more Parking was easy. Full menu but I didn't try the food. The prices are very fair and the vibe is a bit diver. I'll visit again.

Started out with lemonade water...( more water than lemon). Rootbeer was flat..Buffalo wings were…read moreundercooked..sent back so they added more hot sauce to make them unpalatable. Chicken burger equivalent to McDs. And fries were burnt. Not much to say about the chef. Consequently would not go back or recommend for food...just a bar. Oh and left off the cheese on a cheeseburger!

Do NOT be fooled by the outside of this establishment. It looks like an old run down pizza spot but…read moreon the inside it's a characteristic and lively Italian dining experience. I started with the Caesar salad and they use whole anchovies rather than incorporating it into the sauce. Which is not my preference but is a dedication to a style I cannot discount. My main course was a whole Neapolitan pizza. Very very good and classic. My boss got pepperonis on his and regretted it because why on gods green earth would you desecrate a well done simple pizza like that. Beyond me. The wine was good. Our server was very nice. Surprisingly great meal.

I love Alforno! The chicken francese is amazing, I love that they use bell & Evans chicken and it…read morewas the most tender and delicious chicken! Love the lightness of the lemon sauce. I highly recommend getting the homemade tagliatelle instead of rigatoni. Their homemade gnocchi is the best, the gnocchi are so light and soft, I got it with the cream sauce and would try a different sauce next time, it was good but a little too milky for my liking. I also recommend their pizza with garlic, it reminds me of New Haven pizza. Their desserts are amazing as well -- the chocolate torte is so rich and the raspberry and fresh whipped cream compliment it so well. There's a reason it's always busy!

Amazing food specials. Great people very reasonably priced food. I stopped by there every time I'm…read morein town.

Old man bartender with the beard gave me a lecture when I tried to order my first drink which was a…read moredouble shot vodka ginger ale, and then refused to serve us. Maybe it's the state of Connecticut since I'm not from here, but I've done a lot of traveling across the states and my go to drink is a vodka ginger ale with a double shot. You pay for the extra shot of alcohol. It's not that you're asking for extra booze in a drink for a cheaper price because a double shot is what you're asking to pay for. I'm a new local to old Saybrook and unfortunately I won't be coming back here. His lecture was that you never ask a bartender for a double shot. In my experience you're asking to pay for 2 drinks or 2 shots in one. Am in the wrong here? This has never happened to me, and again this is my go to drink. Anyways, I won't be coming back here after this. My boyfriend and I came in for a night cap despite being on the younger side of their typical crowd (we're pushing 30). I think there was a strong assumption and we were stereotyped based on looks. Mind you we had just walked in to sit down at the bar and order a single drink. Was disgusted by the treatment we received. I hope this place gets shut down.