Wow, it's getting really tough to stand by this place right now, and the scuttlebutt amongst the locals confirms I'm not alone in this opinion. It's getting more and more disappointing every time I go. One time recently, I ordered the Jesse Burger, which was a classic from the old menu. It had shrunken drastically in size. Okay, I can never finish a burger anyway, and I didn't finish this one either. But while Old Ancient Mariner's burgers weren't exactly the best around, this one was dry and just trying to look fancier, an absolute downgrade. But worst of all, the scallops were absolutely terrible, and for around $38 I believe. I was excited to try them, but they were undersized and chewy, and the cauliflower purée underneath was grainy and disgusting. It barely qualified as a side at that price point anyway. What is this new owner doing??? We're all whispering about it in Ridgefield and taking bets. I really hope he turns it around. Right now, I can't recommend it for anything but booze with townies, if they even keep going. read more

The Ancient Mariner - Scallops. Not good. - American Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

It was delicious!!! totally unexpected but the New England clam chowder was stellar. Chunks of bacon, croutons atop a creamy clamy thyme scented soup. The calamari was very good too, and we also got fish and chips, which had yummy crunchy shoe string fries with 3 light and crispy cod fish. Highly recommend this spot if you're in the area. A great place to eat before you check out a show at the Ridgefield Playhouse. The place is cute, needs a little updating that rug- but it was clean and comfortable. read more

The Ancient Mariner - New England Clam chowder ! - American Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

This isn't the same old Mariner This food is off the charts and the service extraordinary- just the right amount of time - to take our order - to check on us and deliver the check Highly recommend read more

My evening at The Ancient Mariner was hands down the best dining experience I've had in years. From the moment you walk in, you are hit with a vibe that makes you feel like you are about to have a really great time. And that is exactly what happened. I was greeted and seated immediately even though the restaurant was bustling with guests. Though I was dining alone, the waitress made me feel like I was amongst friends. I ordered the Lobster Mac, which tasted like something out of a REALLY good dream! The rigatoni and lobster were cooked PERFECTLY, and the bechamel cheese sauce had the rare combination of being beautifully rich, but not heavy. I was so comfortable that I took seat at the bar on my way out and had a glass of wine. The guests are a mix of both locals and visitors such as myself. The bartender, Michelle, made everyone feel like we had all been friends for years! I genuinely couldn't have asked for more. Whether you are flying solo, on a date, or with friends and family, The Ancient Mariner is a sure bet when it comes to having an incredible evening. I can guarantee you will walk out with a smile on your face! read more

The Ancient Mariner - Lobster Mac - American Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

Food was great. I had the avocado chicken salad and my buddy had a burger. Nice pub cozy atmosphere with bar seating, some tables and some booths. Exceptional service! It seemed to be a one woman show and she was super. There was a large group as well as a few other tables and she handled it all with a smile and grace. Dishes arrived in a timely manner, we did not feel rushed, and she anticipated all our needs. I'd give her five stars! read more

The Ancient Mariner - Avocado and honey mustard chicken salad - American Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

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The food was delicious! The appetizers (Firecracker Cauliflower, Crispy Salmon Sushi) were glorious...I am not a sushi eater but I couldn't pass this up! The Sesame Seared Tuna was delightful! I'm looking forward to my next trip to The Ancient Mariner! read more

My family and I went to the Mariner last night. It was truly amazing. we haven't been in a couple of years. I didn't realize it was under new ownership. The atmosphere was incredible and the new menu was incredible. The waiters and waitresses were so friendly and outgoing. The tuna tartare and Sesame Tuna was perfect. My children loved the wings. The meat actually fell right off the bones. and the burgers. My wife had a chicken sandwich that she raved about, plus the drinks were great. We and/or I will be back again for sure!!!! read more

They now use a nice brioche roll for the burgers! Thanks Shannon (and did I forget to mention that Dennis is THE best bartender in Fairfield County?) read more

DANGER. New Owners New Menu...bad arrogant unprofessional service .. After 22 years of good food and friendly service... we walked out We never got our food ... What Just happened??? I'll give you the time line ... 5:15 arrival ...drinks,ordered apps and dinner ordered.. dining room empty... 5:45 no apps , no dinner Server asked how was your calamari.. I never received it! I said ... 4 other tables came in after us and promptly received their food ...the worst insult was one of the tables had 6 people ... they received all their food within 10 minutes .. Our server hid the whole time .. He saw the wheels falling off ...and hid ...! I asked for a manager The owner came to the table and said something about our ticket time being a problem ... YOU THINK! He went right to ..."let me comp you your dinner" HOW ABOUT BEING A MAN AND APOLOGIZING! Your Arrogance Will Be Your Undoing... Make a bad situation worse ... insult the person that your business failed with the easy out.. I don't want a free meal ... If his "go to "fix is a free meal .. this restaurant won't be here much longer Absolute Horror ....Avoid !!! read more

I hate to do this for a few reasons, 1. My father went to the Ancient Mariner since his high school days and he thinks of it fondly. 2. I love Ridgefield and am a huge supporter of local businesses. 3. I'm in the hospitality business myself and know how hard it can be. I was born and raised in Stamford, CT and have lived in Norwalk for 10 years, and NYC for five years. I bought our home in Ridgefield in 2021 and love this town. A few weeks ago I went to the Ancient Mariner with my partner and his 13 yo daughter. It was around 8:30 on a Friday and we were pretty hungry and looking forward to see the updated menu. It's a fav spot of my partner and I due to its charm and good, simple eats. I left furious as we received pretty awful service and were the only table blatantly ignored/overlooked by the woman working the tables - she has red long hair. The kitchen was clearly backed up and she was attending to each table with conversation, and rounds of additional drinks to ease the wait time. She didn't make eye contact with us or stop at our table. It felt intentional. We waited patiently for our food which took about 40 mins to arrive. No water refills and our waiter didn't offer to refill drinks until we had finished our meals. The only difference between us and the rest of the patrons was our skin color. I'm white, though my partner is Latin and his daughter is mixed. I don't want to throw inflammatory accusations though my interpretation is the woman in charge assumed we were out of towners. Which was very wrong. This experience left a terrible feeling with all of us and will prevent me from returning. The lesson here is even if some patrons don't "look like" locals it doesn't mean they aren't. I wish them success but this experience was v disappointing. read more

We sat at the bar on Saturday night and bartender Dennis was very attentive and super friendly. Our food was perfectly presented and so delicious. You must try the crispy salmon sushi!! And the cheeseburger is definitely a 10! Cooked exactly as requested and so tasty with a little twist on the usual toppings. A great local haunt! read more

From the second I walked in with my family I was greeted with a smiling face at the door! I loved the homey decore of the restaurant! I automatically felt like I was at home. The menu was concise all while having a nice variety which us important to me when I dine out. The bigger the menu the less I tend to trust the quality of the food! My family and I tried a variety of items as starters! The crab cake, crispy sushi, wedge salad and nachos were to die for! For my main I ordered the fish n chips! Being originally from the Boston area I tend to be very picky about my fish and chips and this place did not disappoint ! The fish was flaky and melted in my mouth at the same time ! The fries were nice and crispy! Man were they delicious! The tartare sauce was heaven ! My server Michelle was very lovely and attentive ! I would definitely be back and will spread the word about this hidden gem! read more

We went Saturday night with a group of five. I had salmon which was cooked to a perfect medium. Someone else had the chicken milanese and the cutlet was crispy and then. I had a few Maine Lunch drafts which were fresh and delicious. The staff was attentive. I'll be back soon. read more

Had dinner at Mariner last night. Food was delicious, crab cake was huge. Great service, love Dennis and Jess, friendly and efficient. Looking forward to coming back for football games. Hope to see more football watching menu additions. read more

Friday night we decided to check out the Ancient Mariner because I have heard a lot of things and wanted to see for myself as we had not been since the new owner took over. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. The hostess was lovely and very personable. We were seated and because it was Jimmy Buffet Day decided on 2 Margaritas and the Firecracker Cauliflower (which were delicious) to start. When we got our drinks they tasted more like the mix with little to no alcohol in them. We each ordered a shot of tequila to add to our drink and it tasted much better. When our drinks came we ordered our entrees. 50 minutes later the hostess came by with wings because the kitchen made an extra order and would we like them. Of course we accepted because we were starving but no mention of our entrees. 10 minutes later our waitress came by to see if everything was ok and did we need anything else. I wanted to order some Calamari to go and asked if I should order it now and would it take another hour to get it. I placed the order but no comment on the refencing how long our entrees were taking. 10 minutes later our entrees came. I ordered the Special of Montauk Scallops which was very disappointing, no flavor at all and the scallops were cooked but barely seared. Within 5 minutes of getting our meals the waitress dropped a desert menu in cause we were interested, we did not order desert. We have always loved going to the Ancient Mariner. The food has been good and never had an issue with the drinks we ordered. The service was always responsive and friendly. I was so disappointed in our experience under the new ownership. No mention as to why it took our food so long and no apology. Also when we arrived there were about 3 or 4 other tables with guests. The place was filled within a half an hour of us getting there and several of the guests who arrived after us left before we even got our entrees. I do not believe we will ever go back. We were so disappointed! read more

I just enjoyed the best meal I've had in Ridgefield, CT - and I love good food. The crisp black sea bass with cauliflower and sugar snap peas and a light cream like sauce was a leave-no-morsel-uneaten delight. Chef Sturz has made the Ancient Mariner, still a homey institution, into a gourmands' delight. Can't wait to try another dish there. And the wait staff is wonderful too. It has become my favorite date night destination. read more

We went here today for the first time and genuinely enjoyed it. Our server was friendly, upbeat and attentive. The ambiance was like a mix between a sports bar and a seafood restaurant, which is what this place was. There are large television screens throughout the restaurant, each showing different sports. I had fish and chips, while the other people in my party had the fish and chips from the kids' menu and the hamburger. The fish and chips were a perfect texture- fluffy and moist. The batter was not too thick. The fish and chips came with steak/dinner fries, which were also delicious. I was told that the burger was tough, but we are all open to coming back here at some point in the future. The only disappointment I had was that sea scallops appeared on the website menu, but they weren't on the menu in the restaurant. Perhaps they are a seasonal item? If they're not on the menu next time I go, I would definitely like to get the lobster roll with butter. read more

The fries are the best, but for what we got it was super expensive. The kids burger was dry and over cooked and cost $15. You only get 2 chicken tenders for $16. And the lobster rolls were $38 each and there isn't even a lot of meat!!! Overpriced. Great staff, but not worth the money. read more

Checked this place out over the weekend. New management and some changes to menu. Tuna tartare special starter and linguine with cockales were great. Great kids options as well. Will be back read more

This old faithful spot has a new crew and they are going to take it to new heights. Always a fun time!

Fun casual bar / restaurant with a solid cheeseburger. Was in the area actually searching for parking to go to another restaurant and happened on this place. It a wonderful little place that apparat's to have been around while, though I can't confirm how long exactly. It was fairly busy at the bar (random Tuesday at 1pm) so I grabbed an open table in the restaurant area. The bar tender / waitress came over almost immediately and was super friendly and helpful. I went for the burger and curly fries and was not disappointed. Seems like a fun place to grab an afternoon beer or a casual meal in the area. read more

The Ancient Mariner - Menu - American Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

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The pictures dont really do this place justice. Its tucked away in a little strip mall but the food was surprisingly high quality. My friends and I stopped in after a long day of traveling wanting some casual pub food but were all surprised at just how good it was. They have a nice wooden bar, plenty of seating, and a friendly staff. Can vouch for the quality of the seafood... and the pastrami! Good bartenders too. Definitely a place you should give a shot. read more

Had the Jesse Burger tonight and it had to be the best burger I have had in years. Paired with a Palm- simply awesome. Karl J read more

Great food great service a fun place to be in Ridgefield. The shrimp avocado arugula salad excellent. So many items on the menu to choose from. Great burgers. Go for the Jessie burger or chicken. Local Gem. read more

lets start off i have been going here for 40plus yrs always loved their menu had something for everyone well i understand new owners took over what do they do destroyed the menu being in the business for 25plus yrs i get some of it but to decimate the entire menu doesn't make sense now there is 1 menu lunch and dinner the menu is confusing there entrees mixed in with burgers no weights on burgers or filet mignon but they do have a hefty price tag needless baskets for french fries save the money and just put them on the plate thank god they didnt touch the chicken wings what really got me was the lobster roll i get market price BUT having just getting on in westport just the day before was shocked at 1 the size and amount of lobster meat for $38 compared the one i had had in westport and2 was $30 for 2x the meat and bigger bun makes no sense new owners should get to know their customers before making such drastic changes i will only HURT their business this has forever been a friendly neighborhood place the bar is awesome and the food was great good luck to whoever took over you're going to need it one more thing there other burgers were better also read more

Located conveniently near the post office and CVS. Found a menu with enough options to satisfy the group and prices seemed more than fair. The problem folks had is that the food just didn't seem prepared with "love" or maybe even "like" Salmon, dry and overdone. Shoestring fries tasted stale like they had been made long before and dipped for a reheat ? Mashed potato ordered mentioned they seemed like boxed, fellow who ordered onion rings found them way overdone to being dark brown. Their attempt to fix brought a huge replacement order cooked the same way. So it feels to me like they are trying hard but might be missing some small points which matter and could be corrected. I cannot recommend but others seem to have had a nice meal there from the reviews, maybe it comes down to who is working that day. read more

I hadn't dined at Ancient Mariner, literally, for more then 15 years. That long ago experience hadn't been terrific, mainly with slow service and the fact that the restaurant had an weird, unpleasant odor. But then, we do most of our dining at Ridgefield, and most people seem to love this pub. Yesterday, since it was the first Friday in Lent, I had a desire for fish and chips. When we looked at the "best of" reviews, Ancient Mariner was near the top. So I thought, "why not? My last impression was over 15 years ago, and things change." So I called. The first time I was hung up on while ordering. I called again and ordered two main dishes: fish and chips, the fisherman's platter which is $25 just by itself, and clam chowder. My husband was driving up from Wilton, so when the woman answering the phone told me it would be 30 minutes, that was fine. I gave her the name on the order. 25 minutes later I received a call from the Mariner telling me that they had given my husband the wrong order. Instead of the fisherman's platter, there was a crab cake sandwich. She seemed to think that it would be fine if we just accepted this substitution, and pay $27 with tax for a crab cake. But there is a BIG price difference between the two. My husband drove back to the restaurant, and after waiting, finally drove home with dinner and an apology. The fish and chips were undercooked, the scallops on the platter were not even opaque. I should add that we are not neophytes at restaurant reviewing, since for the 20 years that my husband wrote for The NY Times Westchester section, we routinely went with the Times Westchester restaurant reviewer, as her "designated eaters" who would order what she wanted to sample. I'm disappointed that our Mariner experience this time around wasn't successful or even passing grade. Will we go back? It's sad that, even after waiting and giving the place another try, it's still chaotic there. Even though this was a Friday night, they still should be able to handle the volume. read more

The perfect place in Ridgefield CT to feel salty and comforted by great prices, attentive service, and the meals never cease to disappoint. The calamari with panko, Parmesan, parley and pepper flake are amazing. Flat bread pizzas fantastic and also great to share. My spouse can't get enough of the burgers, fresh from the butcher not frozen, you'll know the difference once you've had a bite. The owner always generous with her time and feels casual as though you were a special guest in her home as she makes her rounds to greet customers with a friendly smile. We need more places like this in Fairfield County. read more

Hole in the wall spot with great ambiance. YOU MUST get the clam chowder. Chunky, salty, and delicious! Very kind staff as well - 10/10!

Just what I needed! Sat at the bar for a solo dinner early Saturday evening after a long afternoon of study. Friendly atmosphere reminded me of an English Pub. Turns out I was sat next to Jessica the owner, who is charming. Andy the bartender was attentive, efficient and relaxed. Other patrons were social and appropriate, always something I'm conscious of dining alone. The food though, wow, I was impressed. I was hungry and had the chicken special, with asparagus and purple sweet potato. Generous vegetable serving with it, I hardly ever feel like I get enough. The chicken piece was huge! The sweet potato was fantastic, the sauce was great. I didn't leave a scrap. I will drive the 40 mins back again another day, happy to have found this gem. read more

We arrived at Ancient Mariner around 12:30 for lunch. The restaurant had a few table's worths of patrons and a few at the bar. We were told we could sit anywhere and chose a table. There was one worker in the restaurant who was acting as bartender, waitress, and hostess. She was friendly and accommodating throughout our experience. We ordered a round of drinks and then our lunches. To start we shared littleneck steamers and mozzarella sticks. The steamers were tasty although a few were served that did not open. The mozz sticks were OK... thin and nothing to write home about. Definitely not homemade. For our lunch entrees, we had crab cakes, the lobster roll, and the fried cod sandwich. The crab cakes were huge and delicious. The fried cod was unimpressive. Huge roll for two tiny pieces of fish. The lobster roll was sad... so small and so little lobster for $18. Overall we enjoyed our experience at the Ancient Mariner. The ambiance was adorable. We waited a bit for our drinks and entrees for such a small crowd and they needed at least one more worker. Food was OK... not stellar. Would we return, sure, but definitely looking forward to trying other places in Ridgefield. read more

I grew up in Ridgefield in the 80's and frequented this bar quite a bit, of course I was 21 lol... anyway, I had only drank there and never ate there in my younger days but my husband and I stopped there on our way home to NH and had the mussels, calamari and he had a fish and chips. The food was amazing and the bartender who is leaving Ridgefield to move to Texas was fantastic, he tended to our needs and went above and beyond... I love that fact that the mariner has not changed a bit since the last time I was there which was about 25 years ago. Keep doing what you are doing and don't listen to the haters on this yelp page! We will be back to visit on our next road trip! Thank you! read more

Old-school Ridgefield establishment. Great town bar with solid comfort food. Nothing fancy about this place but decent food and fantastic pricing wings are exceptional along with quality service. The owners still leaving with some tables and tends bar sometimes. read more

No thank you... we walked in and the smell turned us away... reminded us of a bar fly establishment... not recommended ...

Oh ye Gods! What high praises can I lavish on this 1984 opus from the album Powerslave? From the initial galloping bass line to the eerie middle part to the thundering finale. This is quintessential Iron Maiden and Poseidon himself should bow in honor. And it only gets better as the song makes it's dramatic reappearance on 85's "Live After Death". The lyrics and dramatic sound effects make you feel like you are on the ship, dying of thirst. Will the curse of the albatross ever be lifted? PS-The burgers are wonderful. If there was mold on ye bun, it's only because we've been at sea for 5 months, ye scurvy dog! read more

Been frequenting Ancient Mariner since moving to Ridgefield in 1989. The people are always very friendly and welcoming. We always enjoyed the Beer Batter shrimp and Fish and Chips. We picked up our order tonight and it is all different. The batter is not the same and the taste was off. I am writing in hopes they will return to their old recipes that were so much better. read more

Ordered the lobster roll for $24. It had to be the worst lobster roll I've ever had. Dried out lobster - did not taste fresh. Very salty. The only thing that was good about it was the buttery roll. read more

The wings here are so good! Our go to are the Buffalo wings and the Honey BBQ. The wings are always so hot, crunchy, and tasty. Because we like our wings saucy, we do ask for them to double sauce it which is so worth the extra request! read more

My girlfriend suggested to go there so i thought ok a new place I have never been to. First glance ok needs updating but will try he food. We ordered drinks and appetizers 30 mins later we got it . Hmmmm wasnt busy there. Well the customers were coming in and we were forgotten. After an additional 40 min the food still did not come. We told the waitress we will take it to go. She explained that it got busy an it took a long time to cook our food. Ill call like it is poor wait staff. But here's the kicker the food iI ordered was wrong. I will never eat there again. read more

A favorite for casual dining. The burgers are great. Cooked to perfection with well cooked and seasoned fries. I try and get my fix at least monthly. Outdoor seating was a plus till the temperatures dropped. read more