I will be the first to admit we were an almost difficult group of 11 and the service was good for the most part, you could tell the kid was really trying to make us happy. But things didn't start off well when we were promised a private room when we made our reservation but were placed in the main dining hall. Things continued to go down hill when our food came out in a very disjointed and staggered way (we all ordered our meals at the same time). One of our entrees was completely forgotten and the runner kept trying to bring us other top's orders. You could tell the communication between the back and front of house was disorganized at best. After a very long wait to get our first entree it took a little over half an hour for the last entree to arrive. Everyone's food was cold, especially the French fries that came with the kid's meals. I ordered the baked prosciutto wrapped prawns. The grain salad underneath was cold and the prawns were overcooked. No one was satisfied with their meals. Overall the food was not great, but the drinks were good and the band was phenomenal. I wouldn't recommend this place for dinner but it's great for a neat atmosphere and after work drinks.

The Griswold Inn is a charming step into the past with a menu that's both modern and mouth-watering. The dining room combines a cozy, historical ambiance with a relaxed vibe. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable; our server, Riley, was amazing! Her attentive and warm demeanor greatly enhanced our dining experience. This restaurant is perfect for a light lunch or lavish dinner. The Griswold Inn is a must-visit not only for a truly enjoyable meal, but also for the exceptional service and charming, quaint atmosphere that surrounds you.

It was our first time to Essex and Griswold Inn during the holiday season. The town looks very charming and the Inn stands out as the quintessential New England Inn. Beautiful outside and inside. Loads of charm and preserved history. Very friendly staff. Good drinks, good food, all in a great atmosphere. Kids menu is limited, some fried items were on the crispy side, though still tasty. We will be back.

The atmosphere is fantastic! Old pub style and so cozy to sit by the fire place. The dining room food is far better than the bar food. The menu in the bar has been the same for years and has no variety. That said the drinks are great and so is the ambiance.

A wonderfully charming inn, but in need of some TLC, as the rooms are getting worn out. The rooms are small, but charming, but as you can see from the picture, in need of renovation. The black, mildewed caulking in the shower stall was unappealing. The bathrooms, at least in the main building, are tiny. For those with mobility challenges, the bathrooms, plus the narrow, steep stairs to the upper floors might present a problem. Make sure you call ahead and talk live with someone if you think mobility might be an issue. We ate in the main dining room and had a terrific meal. Our waiter, clearly a long-time employee, was fantastic. Her knowledge of the menu, wines, and general friendliness made for an enjoyable evening. Overall a decent value, and perhaps less expensive because of the worn feel to the rooms. But it was clean, and Essex is a fantastic destination for a brief getaway.

We stumbled upon this place by chance as we drive through Connecticut on Labor Day. Luckily we found a room and - even more luckily - it turned out they had a Sea Chanters performance that night! Excellent show. Amazingly just two weeks after our visit this inn was reviewed in the NYT and we counted ourselves very fortunate at having discovered it before the crowds got here. Must point out Brianna at the restaurant who was especially professional and warm to us. Thanks for a great meal and excellent service :-)!

We had lunch today and have had lunch and dinner on several other occasions. The food and service is consistently good. There’s a kids menu with kid favorites- chicken fingers, burger, grilled cheese, fish and chips , and pasta. The adult menu offers lunch items for lighter fare and dinner options. I had the salmon which was delicious. I also had clam chowder and potato pancakes which were excellent. Everyone enjoyed their food. The atmosphere provides a walk back in time. You are eating in a historic building with low ceilings and small windows. The decor is set for the time with old paintings of boats/ships. The bar area is gorgeous and has a beautiful wood bar. It’s worth checking out the bar area in addition to the many restaurant rooms. The hotel rooms are located in many buildings along main st. Across the street from the restaurant is a curiosity shop with lots of neat gifts and unique items.

Oldest bar in Connecticut. My wife and I stopped in for that reason. Really nice, historical place in a beautiful New England town. We just had a cocktail, didn't stay or eat. We loved the vibe.

Been going once per year for wife birthday, Her parents have a routine with this. All I can say is don't go for the food, It's terrible. Stick with fish n chips for 22.00. Don't consider a steak for 45.00. It's a tourist and boating watering hole, often with music and a decent bar. This past Saturday for my wife's 50th I couldn't list the mistakes at my table by staff on top of the food quality. On Saturday night they had 1 app special they ran out of by 6:15. No dinner specials?? Go for a drink or for music if you want to be cool and say you went to the Gris in Essex.

Asolutely beautiful, great atmosphere. The food was dreadful. My bf got sirloin and he said it was the worst he ever had. I got a blackened pork chop and not quite sure it was a pork chop. It tasted like old pork loin. We both had terrible stomach aches after leaving. The portion is small for the large price! I have been here before with a different menu and it was great and couldn't wait to experience this with him. Unfortunately he will never return.

Wow! This place is fantastic! Oldest inn inn America! Every single person working there, eating at the gris, or stopping by to get coffee was so unbelievably pleasant. The rooms are so clean and the kept their charm while being upgraded. We can’t wait to come back and spend another weekend with you.

So I have been going to this place forever.....since I was in my twenties and that cat Marmalade they have a painting of in the Lobby was alive and well. And the place is still great. The rooms are beautiful and it's just in the nicest setting. But the bar service in the tap room was really disappointing. We stopped in for a bloody Mary in the afternoon and the bar staff was kind of lost. It wasn't even that busy and it took almost a half an hour to get a drink. And the young woman behind the bar had a really unfriendly attitude, which made us walk down to the Black Seal to get a second. Not a good look for the place at all. Room was great. Just wish the pillows and mattresses and sheets were of a higher quality. While I love the history of the place I'd rather not have to feel like I'm literally sleeping in a mattress from 1776. But it's still a lovely place to stay and I'm sure we'll be back again. I just hope the service in the taproom improves.

A fantastic building full of historical objects and documents. The Standard Room was clean and comfortable but small (especially the bathroom). Very soft mattress which is not our preference, but might be yours. Room temperature very controllable with central air, which is amazing given the building's age. Our main advice / comment is that the free breakfast is very limited; no hot items, one kind of cereal (granola with sugar) and a lot of bread. Not tragic, we went to a diner for eggs. Overall we had a great time and the area is full of things to see and do.

We visited Essex in the summer and were told that the town is beautiful during Christmas time. We booked a Tuesday night in December. When I phoned I asked to make sure everything would be open on a Tuesday since a number of shops had been closed on Monday and Tueday in the summer. They said, "No problem." On Tuesday night, we wanted to spend time in the decorated bar, but it was first come, first served. The line was out the door from start to finish, and we could not get in all night. What is the point of staying there if you have to spend the whole night in the room without even a TV? We were told upon checkout that Wednesday through Saturdaythe wine bar would also be open, so there would be more of a chance of getting in, but we were only there one night.

It is such a lovely place, but sadly, the service ruined the experience. Young waiter was very pleasant but he forgot to put our drink orders in, then when I asked where our drinks were he told us he forgot then told us there was only one bartender for the entire restaurant!! If there is one thing you need to get right, it's the drinks!!! We can wait for food ( which was so, so), but don't let us wait w an empty glass!!!!

A 250 year old inn that still ‘brings it.’ The Inn seems to be THE place to go in town for locals and visitors in the area as the dining room/bar is quite large. This has it all and is especially suited for couples looking for a nice romantic short trip out of town. 2 hours from Boston and NYC, less than one hour from Providence and Hartford.

Stop by the Gris for lunch with the family. Sat in the bar area took time to adjust, as it was very dark. Server was very pleasant and attentive. Food was great had fried shrimp with Macdonald french fries, the shrimp was fine fries got cold quickly. For the money it was not worth it.

This is a historic Inn that has continually run since 1776. The restaurant is decorated with prints and relics of old ships. The food was fabulous and the service was wonderful. As we left the restaurant, we walked through the bar area where a band was playing sea shanties and Irish pub songs. It made for a perfect evening.

We started going there in 2022 for New Year's Eve, arriving on the 30th and staying until the 1st. in 2022 the experience was just fantastic all around, last December there were a couple of hiccups but the Inn Keepers responded promptly and remedied the situation. The place is charming with a lot of character. The rooms are a bit small but hey, that's what you get in historic places, people were smaller back then. The food is spectacular and the overall experience is worth every penny. If you want to go back in time and get the feeling of New England a couple of hundred years ago, this is the place to be!

Beautiful place in a beautiful town. The kind of place one thinks New England postcard. Service was on point, and food was delicious. The drinks were well prepared, and the piano player created the cherry of ambiance to top it off. Will be back!

This is a lovely spot in town, we were impressed by how spacious and modern the inside of the restaurant is but the outside seating was very nice as well with the lights and the fire pit. We ordered burger and mussels, both were delicious. The flatbread was came highly recommended.

Nice service and the food is decent. We had a burger and a crispy chicken sandwich which were both good. Sitting outside was very nice and the love music was fun to listen to. The proportions of our food was decently big for the price which was nice.

We visited for lunch on Saturday and the vibe was very chill and quiet around this time. I assume it gets a fair bit busier for dinner and after. They have a really cool aesthetic inside on the first floor where we dined. It was comfortable and stylish. They also have an upstairs bar area and outdoor dining on a pretty expansive front deck. The service was great and the food was really good! I got the fire pit burger and really enjoyed that with the truffle fries. The spring rolls and calamari I tried as appetizers was also pretty good. Everyone else in our party enjoyed their meals and it was a good time! If you're out this way I'd recommend checking this place out for good vibes and good food!

We stopped by here on the way home from Essex to New Haven. Good beer and wine selection. Ribs and steak were done perfectly.

Went to Scotch Plains to watch a play off game Sunday. Ordered a burger which I asked to be cooked medium. It came very undercooked almost raw inside. I should have asked for it to returned, but the bartender seemed really busy behind the bar since the game was on. I actually just started eating around the burger cause I was hungry. Not sure I would order food again here since I am worried about the quality for the price.. I like the atmosphere of this place, but food wise it’s been a miss. I provided a picture along this review.

My MIL and I grabbed a quick bite here while out and about the other day. We had an excellent experience! The food was great, the service was great, and the vibe was great. We will absolutely be visiting again in the future!

My wife and I went for dinner. We got the tavern chips to start which were great. The dipping sauce was amazing if you like blue cheese. I got the short rib burger and my wife got the pear and prosciutto flatbread. Both were delicious. They had a good selection of craft beers and a nice cocktail list. The atmosphere was nice and the staff were very friendly. Would recommend and will definitely be back

We had a wonderful lunch! Nachos, burgers, chicken & calamari was all top notch. Our server was fantastic as well. The space is beautiful. Downstairs for a more formal or romantic setting, upstairs is casual. Outside seating w fire pits. The menu is fantastic. Something for everyone. Did I mention how delicious the drinks are?

Came here for lunch after a local boat and train excursion. There were 5 of us in our party. My nephew got the big pretzel as an appetizer. This was excellent! Among our group 2 of us got chicken 1 person got fish 1 person got a Burger and I got the peach grilled salad with shrimp. We all very much enjoyed our food. My niece got the cheesecake for dessert and she liked it very much. It's a great atmosphere inside. It's decorated to kind of make you feel like you're in a medieval castle hall or banquet area. But with modern touches. Staff was very friendly and attentive. Service was most efficient. We enjoyed our visit.

Great food and Expresso martini selection. Live music. Can't wait to go back when the outdoor dining is open

Located in an adorable downtown storefront community, this place has an upscale divey quality if that makes sense. We didn't care for the stuffed clams at all mushy inside, burnt outside. They were kind enough to remove the cost from the bill. I had the oyster po-boy, which was pretty good, mom had a shrimp and vegetable dish that she said was good. Prices were affordable. Service was fine. I can't give 5 stars. Nothing extraordinary about the atmosphere or meals. It looks like the place has its regulars.

I went there for Easter, the drink specials were totally awesome the bar keep was amazing, we ordered wild mushroom ravioli appetizers, very tasty, the three friends I was with ordered the specials and were good, i ordered fish and chips and totally disappointed, the fish was over cooked, the coating was soft and oily and the fish was warm, one bite and I couldn't go any farther, my friends tried it and were not happy with it, the waitress asked how everything was and I said the fish was not good and she just ignored that and asked if we'd like another drink, not sure if the food is good but I do know that our waitress was not good at her job at all, the place was not even busy, that should have been a heads up, I will give them another try my friends eat there regularly, but I will definitely ask for a different waitress if we are seated in her station, on the way out I talked with the bartender and thanked her for the great cocktails she was very pleasant...the fish is in the last picture it looks like over cooked chicken tenders, horrible

We’ve been here dozens of times over 30 years. We just returned from out of state back to CT and live west of Hartford now, but have tripped back down to Essex twice lately. Both times we ended up eating at Black Seal. Both times we had a great lunch. My wife had the Cheese Quesadilla and I had their burger. Awesome grilled flavor. Service is great and the restaurant has a great atmosphere.

Great food and service! The kids love this place, too!

We loved our lunch time meal. My husband ordered the hamburger and I hit the lunch special quesidilla. Food was delicious and the atmosphere was great!!! We will be back in May to eat here again!!!

My friend & I are we’re looking for a place to eat and stumbled upon this jewel. We were a little hesitant but we were hungry! 😂 So we went in as soon as we walked in we were greeted. We were then seated quickly. Our waitress was extremely sweet & kind. Our food was sooooo good. Overall we would recommend this place to anyone look for some good food & a good atmosphere. Not to mention all the decorations inside super cute, it has a cozy small town feel. And after you eat and you need all that goodness to settle just a walk in the neighborhood it’s very adorable.

Three of us ate dinner here. We ordered the chicken parmesan, red snapper and the salmon. The only one that was good was the salmon. The snapper and chicken were both over cooked and tasted like dry-jerky. We did have a caprese salad that was delicious. Service was friendly but very slow.

It was crowded and kind of an old dive style place. I prefer darker lighting and louder music but otherwise not a bad place. I had the Red Snapper with mash and asparagus, it was pretty good. My friend had the tenderloin and said it was excellent! For a wealthy town I was surprised when my draft toasted lager was only $6, not bad. Our meals were between like $25 and $35 and they were served up pretty quick, nice place!

My favorite bar and seafood restaurant in state of Connecticut. Truly authentic no nonsense old world nautical feel with jovial entertaining local staff to complete experience. High quality food is consistently good and wholesome in addition to being approachable.

Disappointing first experience at this Essex mainstay. The baked clams were 98% breadcrumbs and 2% minced clams reheated and uneatable. The French onion soup was fine but nothing special. The cheeseburger was ok but was served with generic bagged French fries. Seldom do I leave a restaurant without finishing my meal or without taking home the leftovers and tonight I did both. After reading some of the other reviews, I will give the restaurant a second chance at some point but don't feel a need to do so anytime soon. This review is for the food only and is not a reflection of the waitress who served us and was very good.

I hate to do this, because my wife and I enjoyed our first two stays at Copper Beech Inn the last two years. But this year, when we chose one of the rooms we had stayed in before, we arrived at 8:25 to discover that our room had been changed, without notice, to some other room. The claim was that this was an "upgrade," but a. it was no such thing--it was an ordinary looking hotel room with a barely functional tub, and b. even if it was an upgrade, you can't just change a room without notice...they're not all the same! I called the after hours desk, and the person there told me "I'm not on site, that's an upgrade, I guess I could TRY to change the room, but it may take a while, and so..." It was clear he wasn't optimistic on it being able to happen. In the morning I was told that some guests had been unhappy with the rooms in the same building we had chosen, so they were trying to "consolidate" guests into another building. That's...uh...nice, but it doesn't explain why, when my wife and I knew what room we wanted because we had stayed there before, someone could just change it without asking us. They said they would follow up with us, and haven't. Again, we like this place, but this just isn't the way to do things, and it's too expensive to stay when we can't even be sure we'll end up in the room we requested. Not a great experience.

This place is absolutely disgusting. Obviously the owner has not put a penny in the rooms for the last 20 years. We ran away without sleeping in the room that was in disrepair worse than the cheapest motel in the USA. Stay away. Trying to post the pictures..

Wonderful first time staying at Copper Beech Inn. Our room was better than it looked on line. Staff was welcoming and accommodating us. Fabulous and romantic dinner. Breakfast was so nice enjoying with a fresh cup of coffee in the sun room in the morning. We look forward to many more stays here in the future.

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of hosting our wedding weekend goodbye brunch at the Copper Beech Inn. We also had a room block for the entire inn and had our wedding party and close friends stay there for the duration of the weekend. From the moment we arrived until our farewell, our experience was excellent. The inn's location was perfect, only 5 minutes down the road from our wedding venue (my father-in-law's house). The beautifully manicured gardens and traditional New England style Inn created a romantic atmosphere that perfectly suited our wedding weekend. The staff at the Copper Beech went above and beyond to ensure every detail of our weekend was flawless. Their attention to detail and commitment to exceptional service truly impressed us. Our bridal party stayed in the inn's cozy and elegantly appointed rooms both within the main building and the annex buildings, which were a haven of comfort and relaxation. The attention to detail in the room decor made each space unique and memorable. It was the perfect setting for our friends and family to relax and prepare for the big day. The highlight of our experience was the wedding goodbye brunch held in the inn's delightful English garden. The culinary team at prepared a delectable spread that was perfect for our post wedding hungry bellies. Lily was also very responsive and flexible while planning the event, and accommodated our requests for event timing and menu planning. If you're looking for a charming, picturesque, and intimate venue to host your wedding or any special event, we wholeheartedly recommend this gem. Our weekend was a dream come true, thanks in large part to the incredible team at Copper Beech Inn.

My husband and I stayed at the Copper Beach Inn and were so impressed with it that we can't wait to go back. I needed a few days off and wanted to go somewhere quiet but yet near things so we got the recommendation from a good friend of mine. We were not disappointed! We stayed in a beautiful room that had a balcony. The room was beautiful and clean. The bathroom had a beautiful tub with a whirlpool and a separate shower. The service was amazing. We were originally going to stay 2 nights but I extended my stay. I got the rest and relaxation I needed in a gorgeous Inn. They have a restaurant that is top notch and a lovely bar. Everyone that works there is so helpful and friendly and the owners are lovely and make you feel at home. There is shopping and beaches nearby. I want to go back in the winter near Christmas as I heard they decorate the rooms beautifully. If you want a get away go to this Inn - you will not be disappointed!

Sadly we were very disappointed in our stay at Copper Beech Inn. The rooms are in need of updating and the service was minimal at best. We’ve stayed there before and definitely saw a difference in the quality of the overall place. We will not be returning.

We stayed here for our anniversary these last couple of days. It is a lovely property though the main building is not connected to the building where our room was and we had to drive back and forth between them. There is a lovely English garden with a fountain as well. Our room was very nice and spacious with a beautiful bed, huge bathtub and good sized shower. The only odd thing was that we couldn't find the light switch for the reading lights (We had to keep unplugging them!). The breakfast is pretty much as minimal as it gets (bagels, cereal and muffins) but it does the job. The one really irritating issue we had, and the one that drops the rating for the place in our eyes was the Massage Therapy services. One of the reasons I picked this property over another was because they said on their website that they have massage services. We called in advance and told the innkeeper we'll be arriving late so we wanted to book the massage in advance so we have no issues. They wouldn't give us the number for the massage therapist but instead said she will contact us back. When we arrived we received a message that for our entire stay they have no availability to provide massage services. That really put a damper on things for us. There was nothing we could have done differently to get the massage services they advertise on their website. This isn't a pool being out of order, this is plain our not having a service that was advertised on their website. This really felt like false advertising and like I said, put a significant damper on our stay.

My second stay here and it was just as perfect as the first, which was one year ago. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is so warm, comfortable, and lively- it is so quiet and peaceful in the Carriage house making it easy to sleep like a baby (much needed these days.) This time around my room had heated floors in the bathroom which was AMAZING!!! ❤ Lots of wonderful trails and adorable quaint shopping areas nearby that make this place even more special-Great for a couples weekend getaway! One thing I would suggest is hairdryers for the rooms, and maybe a small vending machine for drinks.

The cakes & pastries are delicious. Tried regular Coffee, it was good. Went there on Saturday & the cafe was very busy, sitting is congested. It has large space but Do not have wide sitting areas, social distancing is not possible. Self help for Creamer, sugar for coffee

I have been enjoying this wonderful cafe since in opened years ago. I love everything about it from the food to the pastries and cakes, to the décor and employees. The owner is a the type of person that cares about the community and her customers but is also business savvy. Everything is always so fresh and perfect and well worth the price. Some of my favorite things: fruit tarts, breakfast sandwiches, cakes, lunches. I have tried a lot of items and always go back. I get all my cakes here and order my Christmas cookies each year. I love getting a coffee, lunch, sweet treats, or even gifts from here. It does not disappoint! Love, love, love!

Amazing pastries and amazing desserts. Anything on the counter is definitely superb! Quiche is amazing! Issue is with prepared foods. They look so good but time and again taste disgusting. Please actually try to eat your prep food before you sell it. Bakery and desserts are amazing but prepared foods consistently fail and we have to throw out our money on trying them.

The food and staff are simply incredible. Whether it's a quick stop for scones or stocking up ahead of weekend visits from family and friends, Savour has become a weekly staple in our lives. We recently asked them to help with our gender reveal and despite having less than 24 hours to put it together, they absolutely exceeded our expectations! This cake brought immense joy to our family both when we first saw the inside and when everyone had their first bite!

Was in the area looking for a quick sandwich when came across this place. Sandwiches were delicious. My daughter had a kids grilled cheese and the cheese was perfectly melted on their fresh toasted bread. I ate half of hers after eating my pastrami sandwich. After we got some sweet treats too in their pastry section. Highly recommended and reasonably priced!

Just had one of their scones brought to me by a coworker WOW so moist - easily the best scone I’ve ever had. Will definitely go there in the future.

Great morning stop for breakfast and a delicious cup of coffee along with a wonderful selection of pastries made daily.

Decided to stop in and try this place for lunch since I work right down the street. Glad that I did, too. Ended up with the marinated veggies which contained roasted marinated portabello mushroom cap, eggplant, mozzarella cheese, zucchini, red onion, red pepper, and tomato with a very light balsamic glaze. $9.95 I also picked up a cranberry cardamom scone that was light and crumbly, the way a scone should be. Had strong flavors of the cardamom that was fragrant and could taste it in the first bite. This would pair wonderfully with a lemon tea or even a light blend coffee. $2.95 I also choose their individual chocolate mousse cake. The outer shell was soft and the mousse was perfect. The little chocolate cake layer on the bottom was incredibly moist and wasn't overpowering in chocolate flavor. I will say that this was quite decadent and rich! If you love chocolate then this dessert is for you. $4.95 Staff were friendly when I went in and the place was clean. They carry a small variety of drinks in a cooler and there is plenty to choose from for food choices. This is a bit on the mid-range end for food but, it's justified in the taste and presentation. Definitely will go again.

Beautiful AND delicious bakery items. The canelle with custard was creamy inside. The individual chocolate mousse was decadent and delicious. And the birthday cake was absolutely beautiful and incredibly high quality and delicious — raspberry mousse filling, yellow cake, and lemon buttercream with candied lemons on top. We will be back for our next family birthday party! If I wasn’t already married we would have used them to do our wedding cake. Highly recommend!

This is the best find on the shoreline! Delicious cakes, sandwiches and lunch food. I frequently visit and am never disappointed.

Not bad but not great. Very cute place. Had every sandwich on their menu before giving a review. Very clean. Cupcake was phenomenal, sandwiches need some pep. A little bland, a little too pricey.