CT DVC'ers

[5forDiz]

Wondering if any members are from Mystic CT area ?

We'll be heading there for dance competition and suggestions

on some casual dining places would be welcome. We love Olivia's at

our OKW home, anything similar - family friendly nearby ?

Many thanks for your help.


~Laura

 

[lovinpoohbear]

Fairfield here and "almost" a DVC member and I am SO excited!!!

 

[lovinpoohbear]

Just realized I didn't answer your question !! Mystic Pizza is famous and many friends of mine have traveled over an hour away just to eat the pizza.
I know that the Waters Edge Resort in Westbrook is excellent, the restaurant is well known here. They also have specials that you can book online. Google Waters Edge Resort for the site. Hope this helps!

 

[5forDiz]

Thanks for the suggestions and hope we get to welcome you home

to DVC real soon

 

[VacationKicks]

I live about 20 min from Mystic. There are lots of family friendly restaurants all over Mystic. The lines can be long however, since it is a tourist town.

There are fun "clam shack" places. One is the Sea Swirl in Mystic: Located at the junction of Routes 1 & 27 • 30 Williams Ave. It was on Rachael Ray's $40 a day show a few years ago.

Mystic Pizza is also a fun place to go, that is in downtown Mystic. If you do go into the downtown area, Drawbridge Ice Cream is delicious. Over by the Aquarium there is a 5 Guys burger and fries, awesome burgers, not too much seating.

My family loves Margarita's also in downtown.

If you aren't actually in Mystic, which town will you be in?

 

[5forDiz]

Our group is staying in Waterbford (edited) & New London but where we compete

is in Groton so we'd be going / to from there when we break for meals.

 

[VacationKicks]

Waterbury is pretty far from Groton, maybe you meant Waterford (which is right next to New London)? New London and Waterford are about 20 min from downtown Mystic. Groton is about 15 min. from downtown Mystic. So I am thinking if you are going on a break you might not have time to get there, wait for a table, eat and get back.

Right on 95 in NL, there is a Outback and a Chilli's. Are you looking for chain restaurants or family owned? By the water or near the highway?

 

[5forDiz]

Waterbury is pretty far from Groton, maybe you meant Waterford (which is right next to New London)? New London and Waterford are about 20 min from downtown Mystic. Groton is about 15 min. from downtown Mystic. So I am thinking if you are going on a break you might not have time to get there, wait for a table, eat and get back.

Right on 95 in NL, there is a Outback and a Chilli's. Are you looking for chain restaurants or family owned? By the water or near the highway?

Yes thanks, you are correct it is Waterford ( just went and edited my post )

We were interested in non-chain restaurants, not that there is anything

wrong with those but figured it would be better to try out local places.

TIA

 

[DVCDAVE]

We live in Avon, CT BUT......we take our boat over to Mystic several times a season. We are also Sustaining Members of Old Mystic Seaport.

There are many fine dinning options in Mystic. Mystic Pizza is almost a must, especailly if you've seen the movie.

AJ's Bistro on Holmes St. is a little bit more, but the food is superb, and I've never had bad service. Shorts are fine here too.

A local favorite is either Abbots in the Rough in Noank. Fine lobster seved cafateria style in the out of doors, and you eat outside on picnic tables overlooking Noank/Mystic Harbor and Long Island Sound. Costellos is a few yards away, served the same way, except they serve shell fish with the same view as Abbots.

Beware, summer is tourist season in Mystic, and waiting in lines can be a problem. I suggest being at any of these places before 6PM, by 7PM lines will be long anywhere you go.

 

[DVCDAVE]

Here are some links;

http://www.anthonyjsbistro.com/

http://www.abbotts-lobster.com/

http://www.costellosclamshack.com/

http://www.mysticpizza.com/restaurants.aspx

Hope this helps, you are headed to my second favorite destination after WDW.

 

[Monte Cristo]

I am just over the line in RI and worked in Groton for a few years.

Totally agree with Abbots, great picnic table seafood overlooking the harbor. Make sure you bring your GPS and the adress though as it's like a maze to get to.

I like Margarita's a lot too. I don't get to eat Mexican food a lot as my wife doesn't like it, so I go to Margarita's for lunch and it's really good.

I actually don't think Mystic Pizza's pizza is that good, just a tourist draw.

 

[SFD998]

We are in Beacon Falls about an hour and a half away, but we head over that way about twice a year. Exit 90 off of 95 is Old Mystic village. There is a resturaunt called the Steak Loft. We eat there every time.

 

[DVCDAVE]

I forgot to mention S&P Oyster Co. also on Holmes St. in mystic

http://www.sp-oyster.com/

Almost directly across the Street from AJs Bistro.

S&P is right smack in the middle of the action in Mystic overlooking the Mystic River and Rt1 draw bridge, BUT it has private parking which is a plus in Mystic during peak season.

S&P probably has the best location in Mystic, bar none.

Over the years our experience with S&P is inconsistant. Sometimes the food is great, sometimes, OK. Sometimes service is terrific, sometimes not. Sometimes their specials seem a bit pricey.

This is probably the only resteraunt that I think a reservation would be a must.

 

[5forDiz]

Thanks so much everyone

Knew we'd get great suggestions here on the DIS

 

[Mouse511]

CT DVC members here and I have to agree with DVCDave post - not only has he supplied you with some good resturant choices, but he helped us as well - we were trying to remember the name of Abbots in the Rough.....Thanks !!!

 

[DVCDAVE]

Glad to have been of some help. Like all of us, I'm all too happy to share experience with our favorite destinations. Mystic is certainly special with my family during boating season. While we often do cook on our boat, dinning out in Mystic is a must on at least one of the nights of our stay.

As far as contrary opinions on Mystic Pizza. Well you are certainly entitled to the contrary but I defend recomending it because it is a local landmark and others may not be aware of it or make the movie connection. Besides, the atmosphere is unique, I've never had a bad meal or service there, all the ingrediants are fresh and the price is right.

 

[Happy@OKW]

If you can, try Paul's Pasta at 223 Thames St. in Groton. It's small, but they make their own pasta, and there's a screened deck over-looking the Thames River. Lots of boat action, and sometimes even a sub returning to base.

 

[WalterYensid]

We live in Norwich, CT just down from the Indian Casinos. Both Mohegan and Foxwoods have a large selection of restaurants including some good breakfast buffets and so-so kunch & dinner buffets. The casinos are 15 minutes from (an OKW to AK bus equivalent) Groton.

Mystic has a fantastic breakfast place called Kitchen Little just 400 feet (approx) North of Mystic Seaport on Rt 27. KL is extremely small and you'll think you've made a mistake due to its' size and look, but it has one of the best breakfasts in CT. Meals are $8-10 for bkfst but worth EVERY penny.

Abbotts in Noank, CT (next to Groton) is a seaside Lobster and seafood eatery but pricey in a VERY quaint seashore New England neighborhood. One of the prettiest around.

Custy's on Rt 2 heading to Foxwoods is an all you can eat Steak Lobster baked stuffed shrimp etc. place. Better be really hungry though, last price i heard is $66 per. Even worse than WDW.

Voted best (and I agree) New England Clam Chowder 2 years running (Mystic Chowderfest) is the Hilton in Mystic.

Someone mentioned Steak Loft in Mystic. We used to love it and go often but last year it went downhill. After two lousy meals we gave up and havn't been back.
Mystic Pizza is overrated. The food is very good but it's not to rave about. If you liked the movie, then go and check it out, it's fun.

Even though we own at BCV we do not eat at Cape May. That is a real Disneyfied Clambake. You'll find the real thing here from New London through Rhode Island and up to Boston.

Something to do: Go visit the Nautilus. Full free tours inside and out of the first nuclear submarine. Climb down inside and you'll think it's 21000 leagues under the sea! Immediately South of the NewLondon Subase off of Rt 12. Subase New London is in GROTON not New London. Go figure.

Hope we helped and GoodLuck in the competition. What and where is it?

 

[Monte Cristo]

If you can, try Paul's Pasta at 223 Thames St. in Groton. It's small, but they make their own pasta, and there's a screened deck over-looking the Thames River. Lots of boat action, and sometimes even a sub returning to base.

How could I forget...excellent advice! Chicken Alfredo is fantastic, but very heavy in the stomach. Everything I've had there has been very good. About 10 minutes from downtown Mystic.