Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    What's Cookin'

    4.3 (63 reviews)
    ModerateNew American, Delis
    Closed Closed

    What's Cookin' Photos

    WHAT'S COOKIN' ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - What's Cookin'

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Outside roadside sign
    Dave J.

    Amazing place to grab a bite to eat! The food here was good, and they serve breakfast and lunch options all day! The food is really good, and the salad is made to order. The price is also very reasonable for what you're buying, so it's a great place to stop if you're out for the day and want a quick bite to eat. The service was very nice as well, with the staff friendly and helpful to patrons as well as enjoyed being around one another and working together. Communicated order well and got us our food in a timely manner. Additionally, when I entered, staff was sanitizing countertops and tables, which let me know that the establishment is clean The ambience was nice. Small indoor seating area. They had multiple freezers and refrigerators running, which had a slightly annoying hum when trying to eat or talk, but not deafening; worst case scenario I could eat outside or in my vehicle and doesn't effect the overall atmosphere for the business. Very pleasant venue overall and decorated to fit a beachside aspect! Will come again!

     a grocery store
    Jared M.

    Wow. Delicious. Cute little diner off the side of the road, with the nicest people around. The breakfast sandwiches were fantastic. And the iced coffee has frozen coffee cubes! No watered down coffee for the drive. Definitely worth a visit!

    Iced coffee with coffee ice cubes
    Lindsey S.

    So yummy so glad we found this spot. The cleanest, cutest spot. Staff was super friendly and the food was AMAZING!!! We will be back for sure!!!

    Boss Man
    Matthew C.

    We made a pit stop at What's Cookin' this weekend while traveling through Madison, CT and could not have been more delighted! Nestled away in its private little corner, this small deli is kickin with major flavors on its diverse and full menu including sandwiches, chili's, soups, sweets and more! Not only can you eat at the deli (either inside OR outside) but they also have freshly cooked frozen/refrigerated options for you to pick up and bring home to enjoy with family and friends. Definitely recommend this hidden treasure! Enjoy!

     a display of food

    Exploring Connecticut and came across What's Cookin'. Decided to pop in for a bite. I was impressed with all of the gluten free options they had in their ready-made cases. Several paleo and gluten free dessert options too. Several people came in for to go orders as we ate our breakfast panini and split pea soup. Both items stayed hot throughout, which is unfortunately rare in many dining establishments. All employees were nice and helpful. Would definitely recommend stopping by if you are in the area.

    Chicken cutlet sandwich
    Samantha A.

    Oh my this has got to be sandwich heaven. Ordered a chicken cutlet (pick your own toppings) provolone, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo. Simple but they made it with perfection. Quality meat, and veggies and the hard roll was fresh. Girl behind the counter was polite and explained their vast menu to me. Seems like a mom and pop shop kind of deal which I love. Inside was clean and i like their freezer selections soup, mac and cheese, meatballs, even house made specialty pizzas. Oh and did I mention it's all paleo? Theres also non paleo options too for those who dont have an issue with gluten. Overall great place, will be coming here agaib

    See all

    28 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Meg A.
    0
    12
    2

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Madi C.
    109
    56
    4

    11 months ago

    Great staff. Amazing prepared foods. Sandwiches are all great. Been coming here for years when I'm in the area!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Phoebe R.
    3
    130
    53

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kris P.
    0
    62
    208

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Great food, service, and pricing! Eclectic ingredient combinations, fresh ingredients. Loved the breakfast bowl! Waffles were yummy!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    The food is delicious and there's always a great choice! Gail who owns the business is really friendly. Would definitely recommend it.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    It was absolutely delicious! I ordered the breakfast and it definitely satisfied my hunger!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bill C.
    50
    28
    5

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    This place makes the best breakfast burrito I've had east of Tucson AZ. Awesome! I'm definitely coming back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chelsea J.
    260
    17
    39

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenn P.
    1
    16
    20

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joe C.
    27
    1061
    1820

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A C.
    0
    90
    11

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jim L.
    1
    30
    0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Great food!! Great people. Very reasonable prices. Fantastic for large groups/catering

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Great deli that takes Celiac / Gluten Free seriously. Lots of options to choose from and staff is very knowledgeable.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - What's Cookin'

    You might also consider

    The Wharf Restaurant - Lemon Grilled Swordfish

    The Wharf Restaurant

    3.3(212 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    The Wharf is inside the beautiful Madison Beach Hotel, with the perfect setting right by the water…read more I love the atmosphere and we've been here 3 times already this summer. Outside on the covered porch, they have both dining tables and high tops facing the water. The outdoor space is limited and they have tables inside as well, but I'd recommend the outdoor seating on a nice day, if you're dining alone or with up to 2-3 people. My favorites are the New England Clam Chowder and Lobster Roll. Their fries aren't my favorite and even though I'm not a huge fan of truffles, their truffle fries were also quite good. One thing to note is that the service level has varied. Sometimes it's been quite slow and we've also had a mix-up with the order. If they raised the service level, it'd feel even more upscale.

    Disappointing Valentines dinner-long waiting line with reservations, cartilage abounded in the…read moreDover Sole (no warning from the server), no rose for our table at the end (as others received them left and right). The Wharf has been our choice for brunch, lunch, and dinner for decades (before and after the renovation). This was by far my most disappointing (worst!) experience. On the plus side, the crabcake first course was excellent! The desserts-fruit tart and the chocolate one-were mediocre (chocolate was the better of the two). Definitely not worth the price needless to say.

    Photos
    The Wharf Restaurant - Beautiful views

    Beautiful views

    The Wharf Restaurant - ZACAPA FALL PUNCH
Zacapa Dark Rum, Apple Cider, Maple Syrup, St. George Pear, Grenadine

    ZACAPA FALL PUNCH Zacapa Dark Rum, Apple Cider, Maple Syrup, St. George Pear, Grenadine

    The Wharf Restaurant - SALTY DINGHY
Belle de Brillet, Cointreau, Fresh Lime

    See all

    SALTY DINGHY Belle de Brillet, Cointreau, Fresh Lime

    Charter Oak Tavern - Dayboat scallops $34

    Charter Oak Tavern

    4.9(33 reviews)
    10.0 mi

    Hands down the new best restaurant on the shoreline. Creative menu that updates seasonally,…read moreabsolutely delicious food, cosy ambiance with great music taste that's not played too loud, and very attentive friendly service. I've been several times since they opened and almost always get the salmon. What I love is that it's not always the same dish, it changes but always heavenly. The last time it had pumpernickel breadcrumbs yum! I had the faux foi gras(yay no tortured ducks) and it was not only beautiful but delicious. Then I recently tried the tofu appetizer which was equally delightful.. hope it stays on the menu a while, I love tofu done well. I've also had glazed carrots with hummus, trout, and brussel sprouts.. all top notch. Great wine selection and well made mixed drinks. Definitely my new favorite spot. You'll need a reservation for a table most days and get there early for bar seating.

    I had the chance to dine at Charter Oak Tavern for the first time last night and was super…read moreimpressed......my husband and I had dinner at Coast at the Ocean House in Westerly RI on Christmas Eve and honestly, the experience at Charter Oak last night was better.  The waitress we had was phenomenal! One of the friends who was dining with us has allergies and she was fastidious in making sure that nothing got into his food that he couldn't tolerate......she was friendly and just the right amount of present.  The food was fantastic....I had soup + sea bass, which were both tasty....my mixed drink (a Manhattan) was solid as was the Chardonnay. Everyone at the table was similarly happy with their food.

    Photos
    Charter Oak Tavern
    Charter Oak Tavern
    Charter Oak Tavern

    See all

    Lobster Landing - lobster roll with a view

    Lobster Landing

    4.3(670 reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$$

    We ended up coming to Lobster Landing twice during our trip -- once on the way to Mystic and again…read moreon the way back -- which probably says everything you need to know. It's definitely a little more expensive than some of the other lobster spots we tried, but I honestly liked the food here the most. The lobster meat is lightly seasoned with what tasted like butter and lemon, and it all worked perfectly together without overpowering the lobster. The bun was incredibly soft and loaded with so much meat that it was practically falling apart in the middle. We got the half-pound lobster roll both times and would absolutely order it again, but it is $60. The clam chowder was also excellent. It's creamy without being too thick, and you can really taste all the ingredients. The hot dogs seem to be really popular -- almost everyone was ordering a lobster roll and a hot dog combo. My son loved them so much he had two the first visit! The outdoor seating and water views make it such a relaxing place to sit and eat, and there's also a market on-site where you can buy lobster and shellfish. Definitely one of our favorite stops and somewhere we'd happily return to.

    Great stop off of the highway for lunch! The views were picturesque while waiting in line. The line…read moresnaked down the sidewalk on Labor Day, but moved quickly. After ordering, our food was bagged and ready to go in no time. The lobster roll was very meaty and buttery-- probably one of the best I had on my weekend trip through CT/RI/MA. The surprisingly tasty item was the sausage and peppers sandwich. For a place known for lobster, this sausage sandwich was very flavorful and loaded with peppers and

    Photos
    Lobster Landing
    Lobster Landing
    Lobster Landing - Overcast in Connecticut - 4/19/2026

    See all

    Overcast in Connecticut - 4/19/2026

    The Essex - Oysters

    The Essex

    4.2(187 reviews)
    13.7 mi
    $$

    The Essex isn't just a dinner reservation -- it's a full‑blown experience, and one that absolutely…read moreearns its reputation. Between the chef‑driven creativity, the polished service, and the modern‑meets‑New‑England ambiance, this spot delivers a level of dining that can consistently be raved about! From the moment you walk in, the energy feels elevated yet welcoming -- a balance many restaurants try for but few actually achieve. The NYC‑level quality without the rigidity, and honestly, that's exactly how it feels: refined, thoughtful, but never pretentious. The Chef's Tasting Menu is where The Essex truly flexes. With amuse, canapés, five courses, pre‑dessert, dessert, and mignardises, diners describe it as a sensory experience that avoids palate fatigue and showcases the kitchen's full range of technique and creativity The Essex. The menu changes daily, and the attention to detail is obvious in every course. Add‑ons like caviar and foie gras only elevate things further. Service is another standout. Warm, knowledgeable staff who guide you through the menu without hovering -- the kind of hospitality that makes a great meal feel effortless. The atmosphere blends upscale elegance with old New England charm, creating a setting that feels special without being stuffy. Whether you're here for the raw bar, the a la carte dinner, or the full tasting experience, The Essex consistently delivers on flavor, creativity, and execution. It's no surprise they've earned accolades like Best Restaurant in Middlesex County and Finalist for Best Chef Connecticut The Essex. A must‑visit for anyone who loves modern American cuisine done with passion, precision, and a whole lot of heart. Enjoy every bite

    Dining at The Essex is a must if you want a special experience. We chose to sit at the counter, and…read moreI must say, that watching Chef Colt (owner as well), team work with such precision and teamwork was impressive and enjoyable. He and our waiter, Ryan, made it feel personal, welcoming, and first-class from start to finish." We had the Scallop and Shrimp Bisque, Duck Confit Dumplings, Wafu Bolognese, Beef Wellington and Ribeye Steak. This is a dining experience where you don't need to review each course! Each one was excellent. We topped it off with an amazing piece of cheesecake. Visit The Essex because it will feel like a performance as much as a dining experience. We will be back....... Congratulations on your ratings and reviews.

    Photos
    The Essex
    The Essex - Roasted carrots with squid ink hummus

    Roasted carrots with squid ink hummus

    The Essex - Counter View

    See all

    Counter View

    The Shipwright's Daughter - crispy fried oysters

    The Shipwright's Daughter

    4.4(404 reviews)
    35.2 mi
    $$

    So chic, so delicious, such an amazing server who understood our hangover and hangry needs! So glad…read moreI made a reservation - the decor was superb and the food hit the spot perfectly. I'm so glad I tried the deviled egg - that crispy clam strip was such a nice touch and being Ukrainian, the beet pickling is in my DNA! Excellent brunch choice for our Mystic getaway!

    This ranks as one of my all time favorite dining experiences. We recently moved to CT from DC,…read morewhere amazing restaurants are around every corner. There were 6 of us for brunch and none of us had been here before. The Shipwright's Daughter rivals many excellent experiences we had and surpasses most. The staff was super friendly and did everything they could to make our experience memorable. The brunch menu offers a nice assortment of options as we had one member in our party who had some eating restrictions. We started off with both raw and roasted oysters, both of which, we some of the best we have ever had. I love Shashuka. I've never had it with tomatillos. This version is now my favorite. I enjoyed the play between savory and acid. I chose my eggs to be prepared over easy expecting the yolks to add the desired richness that tomatillos can handle without overpowering their bite. What set this version apart for me was the addition of the pickled vegetables. They greatly complimented the tomatillos with their own sweetness and acidity that made for a well balanced bite. Others in our party felt similarly, that their meals were so flavorful and so well execucted that it made for a superb dining experience.

    Photos
    The Shipwright's Daughter - Interior

    Interior

    The Shipwright's Daughter - Sea-scargot . Basically tastes like mussels.

    Sea-scargot . Basically tastes like mussels.

    The Shipwright's Daughter - A fantastic hotel attached to an even better eatery.

    See all

    A fantastic hotel attached to an even better eatery.

    What's Cookin' - newamerican - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...