First time coming here after visiting Lavender Pond Farm. Dog friendly outside with seating area…read more We ordered the McBarrel nachos which came with ground beef, tomato's, pickles, melted cheese and their special sauce (tasted like thousand island/big Mac sauce) We also ordered a cider but it wasn't as bubbly, tasted flat, but they were happy to swap if for a canned Down East cider I also got a plain spicy margarita. Very basic. Asked for flavoring and they have more sweeter stuff: strawberry, pomegranate Food and drinks were all out quick We were specifically looking for dog friendly places online and found an ad for "Yappy hour"; dog friendly food and drinks. Although this was an ad from last year unknowingly, we were still able to get a puppy bowl for our dog (hamburger, hotdog carrots and treats). Who I'm assuming was the owner, came out, greeted us, made some small talk and was on his way. Staff were friendly and food was good.

Stopped in after a hike in the Killingworth area. The restaurant is relatively small with bar…read moreseating and a few tables. In the warmer months, there are several picnic tables to enjoy your meal outside (this area is dog friendly too!). My friend and I sat at the bar and were lucky enough to be greeted with some live music. The bartender was friendly and attentive. The menu isn't large, but it has a good variety of food and drink options. I opted for the Cowboy Griddle Wrap with chicken and a pumpkin cider. The wrap was flavorful with cowboy caviar, avocado, and cilantro lime aioli with chicken and melted cheddar cheese. If you are in the area, it's a great spot for a quick drink and bite to eat.

Had a wonderful dining experience at Brushmill by the Waterfall! They offered an amazing selection…read moreof gluten-free options, making it easy to enjoy an incredible meal without compromise. The staff was absolutely amazing--friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming from start to finish. Great food, outstanding service, and a beautiful atmosphere. We can't wait to come back!

Great ambiance as you walk in by the waterfall. Three rooms depending upon the vibe you're looking…read morefor; dressy dining area, casual bar, or cozy informal den. We chose the latter in a corner window right by the falls. The service was outstanding. From the moment we arrived, to helping us find our seat, to our server helping us with the menu, to the manager coming over and talking with us to make sure everything was ok. I liked how the server first checked to see if we had any time restraints along with food allergies, etc. Speaking of the food. We started with the clam chowder and scallops. The chowder was the best I've ever had. Plenty of meat and seasoned perfectly. The scallops were amazing. The manager later told us that the scallops were the only thing that had been on the menu since day one. They tried to rotate them off once and the people went nuts. We moved on to the duck and salmon. Both were delicious. Sides were perfect as well. I'd love to write about dessert, but unfortunately, we were stuffed. They looked good, but that will have to wait until next time.

A little hidden gem in Essex but worth the drive. Staff is very welcoming and the wine list is…read moredelightful. Started with the Tuna Nachos which were to die for and for the entree I tried the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich with an order of truffle fries. Everything is amazing and I can't wait to come back again. Unfortunatelyx it's a rainy day but I can absolutely envision a glass of wine on the deck. This place should be on any foodies list.

Fabulous Food, Service, Happy Hour and view of the Marina…read moreLove everything about this restaurant. The menu varies by season! But the staples are the lobster roll and smash burger and fish and chips which are all great! Try the Bong Water Drink with Mezcal or the Campfire bourbon smash! The restaurant is open year round, it is located in the Dauntless shipyard and Marina. Make a reservation in the summer for the deck that looks over the Dauntless and Essex Island Marinas. You'll feel like you are on vacation! The staff and owners and kitchen staff really care! If you have an allergy or other dining request they are great at guiding you!! Their shrimp and grits is Gluten Free! Great place to go when you're going on the Essex Steam Train for Polar express or Thomas the train or leaf peeping or just browsing the shops in Essex! Great for couples, families or groups of friends. Deck is dog friendly!

This place has been open for a year and we finally went for an event the other night. We sat in the…read morebasement, so maybe we didn't get a chance to experience it fully. It was cold and felt like a basement. There were wine and spirt bottles lined up on the window sill to give it that college frat house vibe. My wife had the salmon, and I had the filet. The salmon was hard and felt like it was under a warming lamp for a while. The bourbon honey dipping glaze helped to soften it a bit, but then you couldn't taste the salmon. My steak was overcooked and underseasoned. The sides were good and mashed potatoes had lumps! The chocolate mousse pie for dessert was straight from the Sysco box. I wish I could say the service was a bright spot, but I can't. The wait staff all looked like they'd prefer to be somewhere/anywhere else and were not at all attentive. And, what's up with the anatomically correct bronze bull wearing a hat in the front yard?

We wanted so badly for this to be a great spot. We have given it three chances and will not go…read moreback. It is crazy expensive for how subpar the food is. Every time food either came out cold or was not good. The bartenders are friendly enough. No one is in a rush to serve. Disappointing.

First time going Food and service was awesome…read more Drinks are good but very pricey will definitely be back just won't order more than one drink 15 for a short glass margarita is a lot

I recently found this place with a coworker while working in the area. We'd never been to Deep…read moreRiver/Essex so we just picked a place at random and gave it a go. Man were WE pleasantly surprised!! Outside it doesn't have a standout look. Just a darkly painted house with a decent size parking lot. But once you step inside it actually catches you off guard a little! Modern decor, beautifully tiled floors, bright and fresh! We were seated quickly and everything on the menu said "order me!" I got an unsweetened tea that was brewed just right and fresh. I hate skunky tea! We ordered the birria quesadilla to share, my coworker wasn't familiar. One bite and he was HOOKED. The meat was soo flavorful and tender and the SAUCE! Rich, bursting with flavor. I ordered several of the tacos: the scallop, seared tuna, pork carnitas and the Baja fish. Again, flavortown! Fresh, citrusy, creamy, cooked just right and a hint of heat on all of them. My coworker got the beef bbq burrito. Man that thing was stuffed with a crispy shell. Full of meat, rice and beans. He got the red chile sauce on the side but after the birria he just used that b/c he couldn't get enough of it! I thought this place was phenomenal and I've been telling everybody to go!

The best spot in town, any town. Great personalities waiting on you and awesome conversations going…read moreon all the time. The food is excellent and the drink menu creative!! Two thumbs up!! Also you can shop for unique items and gifts, I make it a point to be there a couple of times per week. Sign up for the emails and check out the events calendar there is a lot of life concentrated in one little spot, something is sure to please you.

Super cute place! My sister and I spontaneously stopped by for a latte. We loved looking through…read moreall the little local businesses goodies. Our lattes were perfect & I appreciate that they had non dairy flavors and milk. The owner was so friendly & personable. They have a really great drink menu that I'd love to come back for. Overall great experience. Highly recommend!

Fantastic trout - had it last night- outstanding! Our guests were thrilled with their drinks and…read moremeal including rocky road dessert. Excellent staff and service. Dine inside or on the outside patio. Will definitely be back.

In a word..Amazing!! Food, staff, decor.. So creative, and…read moredelicious! Westbrooks little gem!! Try the tuna tartare on a crispy rice cake

In an effort to start a new family tradition, my wife and I booked a reservation for our family for…read moreChristmas Eve at LA Foresta. We walked in and were instantly greeted and ushered to a table that was the right size for our little group. The service throughout the night was amazing, the food was delicious and appropriately hot, and the beverages were perfect. The staff was very knowledgeable and had no issues answering any questions. Once the food landed on the table, there was that kind of silence that can only mean that everyone was too busy enjoying the food to talk at all. Once the forks had settled, we all had nothing but compliments! After we had finished, we noticed that the whole place had cleared out. We chatted with the manager for a minute and gave praises to the service and food, and he said that he closes a bit early so that his staff can go home to spend the holiday with their families, which was admirable! I honestly can't say enough wonderful things about our experience and we're all looking forward to next year already! Needless to say, this will continue to be where we will celebrate every Christmas Eve from now on!

Prices were very high but the food was mediocre. The avocado salad was mushy and tasteless. Our…read moreserver was excellent.

Wow, what a find. Not sure exactly how I came across this business on yelp but so happy I did. I…read morestopped by an hour before close after dinner tonight. I just missed their live jazz band that they have on weekly Wednesday basis starting at around 7 or 8pm. I wasn't too disappointed because I knew I'd be back. The entrance is setup as a VHS store with VHS movie cases displayed all over the "storefront." Everyone here was polite and welcoming. I was met by a host who showed me the way into the hidden bar, that you enter via a soda machine. If I'm not mistaken, there's a specific button that opens the vending machine door (you'll get a hint as to which one it is.) I was lead to the back to a narrow, elongated bar area that was perfectly dim with cozy decor; incredibly inviting, warm, could make be described as elegant. At the end of the bar, near the exit (at the back of the establishment), is where the band usually sets up. I sat down and asked the bartender to free flow through his cocktail creativity and to please include smoke. He didn't disappoint, I can't recall the name of the cocktail but he included two scotches and delivered the smokiness I was looking for. I love a good spirit despite lacking the knowledge of its production to which Jeremy, the founder, explained to me in a way that helped me understand the distilling processes simpler than I thought possible. On their bar top there were two mini wooden barrels that held their own aged products . One contained Irish whiskey which was referred to as the Irish- the other was as a cherry infused bourbon-- both good but the bourbon? Divine. Tonight I learned that the wood you choose to age your alcohol in heavily impacts the flavor of the liquor, not only through the amount of time the spirit ages in the barrel, but the type of wood used. The example I was given was that of oak and its ability to allow sugar to be drawn from it via a liquor (can't recall which one exactly was used to describe this process). Here they also produce all of their bases/ juices or an additions to the drinks they make. You know exactly what you're drinking here. I had little knowledge of this distilling/infusion/aging components and also of Wallingford, a place that was once referred to as the wettest town in the U.S. It makes sense given that their main strip contains 18 bars in itself. This Gilded Curtain was incredibly immersive, there is no doubt that I'll be back, lots of times, with lots of different people to impress. Love this place, it's a must visit recommendation from here on out. Thank you Gilded Curtain (Jeremy).

Probably my favorite speakeasy I've been to in CT so far!…read moreLoved the traveling back in time theme. They had live music (cello, trumpet, and piano). Would give a 5 for atmosphere , though it is a bit small; bar seating only. It's also quite overpriced in my opinion, particularly for Wallingford area- $16 cocktails. I will say bartenders were very friendly and were able to make me a fun "feeling lucky" drink. Street parking is available up and down the street with a public lot a 5 minute walk down the road. I would definitely come back

We were so impressed with this restaurant. The food was excellent! We had burrito bowls offered in…read morethe brunch menu only offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They were large, filled with individualized choice of ingredients, very fresh, excellent tasting meats at great prices. The atmosphere was very relaxed but pleasant and the service was very friendly. I can't wait to return.

We stopped in for the first time and had a lovely visit. We…read moreordered the chicken taquitos and the short rib tacos. Both were very good Generous pour of the house wine as well. Will visit again. Ambiance was nice and service was fine.