The Water's Edge Resort offered a wonderful experience overall!…read more Although I visited during snowy weather, the incredible food truly stood out. There is an impressive selection of drinks and appetizers, and the shrimp risotto was outstanding--highly recommended.

We went for the expensive Mothers' Day brunch....dinner was fine, the servers did their…read morebest....when it was time to pay the tab, utter chaos ensued!! We had to wait a very long time, we did ask for two bills for two ppl and two for one person. The drinks were not added correctly. We paid, then discovered one party was double charged!! We had an exceptionally long wait to get a corrected bill, which required ALL of the bills to be redone ...and very long wait times.... The manager offered us a gift card for out troubles...then came back and said that the owner declined to give us one!!! We started brunch at 11:15 and did not leave until 2, mostly as we were being held hostage due to the billing errors. I would NOT recommend this place for a nice brunch....over priced and too chaotic!!

We stayed here for 3 nights while we were in the area for a wedding. It was absolutely beautiful…read moreand very comfortable. Be aware, this is a historic house and you must be able to get up the stairs to get to the rooms. It is not handicap friendly. The location was perfect. Only a few minutes drive to many things. The breakfast could've been better. I'm used to a homemade breakfast when you stay at B&Bs. This was a "continental" breakfast. They did put snacks and drinks out for people to have during the day, which was a nice touch. The place was easy to find and they offered free bicycles to use. There were beach towels and things. You could use the fire pit and corn hole too. They also offered free kayak use down the street. No shortage of things to do.

Checking in was very easy, especially since we arrived late. The hotel is bright comfortable in the…read moremain areas of the large bed and breakfast. The bed was extra comfortable and the French roast coffee was delicious every morning. You have options for breakfast, continental the Stannard or walk across the street to the Westbrook Inn for a breakfast special that changes daily. We enjoyed both versions

Westbrook Inn recently hosted our wedding in September and made our day perfect. Meri and her team…read moreare warm and accommodating and went above and beyond to ensure everything went smoothly. The venue itself is set on a beautiful location and offered the perfect spot for our outdoor nuptials. The officiant, Bobi, was recommended and she was one of the best parts of the event! My husband and I loved her and every single guest raved about how amazing the ceremony was. An overnight stay was provided the night before and the night of our event as part of our booking and the room was adorable. It was cozy and had a charm that offered a great atmosphere for getting ready the day of! Whether you are looking for a venue to host an intimate event or a weekend away, Westbrook Inn will not disappoint!

Seriously. This bed and breakfast is AMAZING. Conveniently located on the Connecticut shoreline,…read morejust off route 95. A gorgeous Victorian Inn, authentically decorated, super clean, pretty patio, fire pit, porch, lovely little nooks to read and relax, and each room has its own beautiful bathroom. Friends and I stayed here for a girls weekend away, and it was the perfect setting to enjoy time together. You will be treated to a delicious, freshly prepared breakfast. And the hosts, Meri and Marcus, make you feel right at home and go the extra mile to make your stay enjoyable. Private beach access 2 short blocks away - and the Inn provides your beach chairs & towels! Gorgeous river access at the back of the property too. Close to so much - The Old Saybrook Inn & Spa, great restaurants, kayak rentals, outlet shopping - PLENTY to do near by. (And I found out 2 of their rooms accommodate well behaved pets, so next time, the puppy will join me!) I can't wait for my next visit and excuse to get back to this hidden gem! It's great for couples, for friends, and for families!

This is a fun spot to kill an hour or so. It's priced decently at $15 per adult, and kids under 6…read moreare free. The history and submarine are cool, but what really stood out was the train exhibit on the top floor. Just a super cool and detailed train set. Very fun for younger kids!

We recently visited the Connecticut River Museum. I had learned that a ship that my great-great…read moregrandfather emigrated on was built in the shipyards near Essex, Ct. Wanting to learn more about the shipping history of the area we stopped in to the museum. It is packed with three floors of ship building and shipping history. The staff was excellent and helpful, and we learned so much about the history of the area. There is a replica of the "turtle" considered to be the first submarine and the history of wars and British ships in the harbors. Some exhibits are interactive. On our visit the third floor covered the history of boat racing on the river which was fascinating. We were thrilled with what we learned and saw. The museum is very well done. There is plenty of parking and it sits right on the water. Definitely worth the visit if you are in the area.

The Griswold Inn is an iconic stop if you're in Connecticut…read more Not only is it full of history, it has the absolute best Christmas vibes (complete with carolers who travel from table to table) The food is really good - with a good variety of options including some very unique options. Everything we had we loved! Drinks were delicious, and spot on. Because of the season, it was really busy, and our waiter seemed a bit overwhelmed. We ordered wine for our meals, and it didn't come until after we finished eating. Understandable with the season, but did feel a little hard to get something if we needed it! Overall I'd recommend going because it's worth the fun Christmas vibes.

We visited The Griswold Inn for Thanksgiving day, reserving a spot in the library of the dining…read morearea as well as a room in the inn itself. Unfortunately, most of nearly every aspect of our experience was disappointing: *While we were expecting a small, quaint room (which we certainly got), we were not expecting the walls to be paper thin and the heating system to be ineffective. We were located in the inn itself, and you could hear folks on the stairway, going into their rooms, etc. The heating in our room was really wonky--75 degrees and it felt icy cold. For $300 a night?? *The Thanksgiving buffet was OK. We tried to get drinks at the bar beforehand and had to wait a long time because the ONE woman behind the bar decided to hate us from the onset and serve every single person there before grudgingly turning to us. As for the food, there were some hits and misses. We appreciated that there were some salads available, and while the stuffing was bone dry, it tasted pretty good. There were some other roasted veggies and mashed potatoes, and we did like the turkey. Dessert, however, was disgusting. It was either defrosted Betty Crocker or from an Aramark catalogue, but absolutely nothing was homemade. *The reason why we're especially pissed at the place was the "continental breakfast" included in the cost of the room. LOL! A couple Chobani yogurts, stale Aramark pastries, and not-even fresh hard boiled eggs that were so defrosted that they actually squirted water when you sliced into them. Disgusting. What a joke. Better just to serve coffee than what they had. How embarrassing for America's oldest "continuously-running" inn, a moniker that they are so proud to boast of. Listen, this place is adorable and the dining spaces are cozy and the staff (other than the bar) is extremely kind. Essex also couldn't be more cute and we definitely want to be back here again in the warmer months, but we would actually prefer to stay at a Courtyard Marriott and get the points because it would be far less money and--we can't believe we're saying this--better quality. Maybe we'd come back for the regular menu at the restaurant, but overall, it's three stars.

Much more than brunch!…read more I wanted to treat my parents to brunch and I found this truly unique venue where you can dine on a yacht on the CT River and dance/listen to music! It is the 2-hour fall foliage brunch cruise on the Lady Katharine yacht called the Mystique. You arrive by 10:30am at Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam, and everyone (I'd estimate about 150 people, tops) begins the boarding process. You have pre-assigned tables and can request to sit together with family/friends ahead of time. The buffet brunch is hot and ready as soon as you board which is great because there are literally no lines - it's a gradual process. Also, the food is out and replenished for a long time, so you don't have to worry about not getting any, e.g. if you decide to partake in the music and view on the top deck first, you can eat when you are ready. The buffet consisted of salad, rolls, salmon, stuffed chicken with a delicious cranberry stuffing, tortellini, tender beef tips with gravy, carved ham with a delicious sauce, Belgian waffles with fruit and cream toppings, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, raw salmon w/capers and several desserts... I'm probably forgetting something. There is a cash bar but coffee, juice and tea are free ($3 for a fountain beverage which I thought was strange). The staff members were all incredibly friendly and attentive. There was a 3-piece band playing a variety of music on the top deck and people were having fun dancing. The views were amazing, especially seeing Gillette's Castle from the water. For only $50-ish dollars per person, this was an awesome alternative to your usual brunch buffet!

First I would like to say Donna the promoter for the ALL WHITE Cruise intentions were good!!!! Who…read moregoes on a $5k+ boat ride and the boat cannot sail. Absolutely, unacceptable LK. You charge a lot of money for?? Boat didn't move IJS... The Lady Katherine staff were so nice and pleasant to the guests EXCEPT the contact, She was unapologetic & awful. So back to the boat the venue. I was so disappointed there was no silverware just paper plates, plastic forks and rolls of paper towels on the tables. The bar was limited not sure if the promoter had an opinion. Anyone who rents from them please read the fine print and have insurance... their boats needs repair... this was not a cruise more like a tugboat PARTY

My Wife and I choose the Copper Beach in for our small COVID wedding reception in November 2020. I…read moreknew the minute I spoke to Claudia that we were going to book our venue with her. Claudia was amazing and so attentive to details. With her help we had the most Intimate and Romantic venue . All our guest (20) where impressed by the Dinner selections and just how Delicious everything was. They also commented on the attentiveness of the staff which were awesome. Everyone said that it was the Best Wedding they have ever attended ! Thanks so much for making our Special Day absolutely the BEST, Thank You Claudia & Staff, Best Mr & Mrs Yagovane P.S. We will return for Valentine's Day

Had dinner there and was really disappointed. The menu my wife was handed was filthy and the…read moreentire decor is dated. My wife had the scallops and the whole dish was just totally sad. The scallops were very small, obviously not fresh and rubbery. They were served with boiled potatoes which were sprinkled with parsley and no other seasoning at all. The worst though was the "chef's choice of vegetable": FROZEN green beans. To charge $39 for this pitiful dinner is basically a crime. We told our waiter that we were disappointed for the above reasons and he mumbled that he would tell the chef. Obviously not the first such complaint he received. This place used to be one of the best places in Connecticut. Gonna miss it, cause we aren't going back.

Located in the Westbrook outlets, came for a Mozzarella cheese making glass but food and drink was…read moreprovided. I had pork tacos topped with slaw, with house made Carolina and bbq dressing on the side. The pork was moist and tasty. The servers were very polite and attentive. You can pour your own drink from the tap and pay by the ounce

I came here for the "Cupcakes and Cocktails" event. This is a cute place with a few pour-your-own…read moretaps as well as a good selection of canned beer, cider, and seltzer. For this event they paired up with Nora's cupcakes to go with some delicious cocktails, and for the price of the ticket it was so well worth it. We met the owner, Mike, at the start of the event and learned that Tapville also travels for parties. The staff at Tapville were very friendly and attentive, making a fun night even better! Once I'm down from this sugar high we'll have to come back and do it again!