The Essex - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Address: 247 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT 06475.
Phone: 02374189.
Website: theessex.com
Specialties: French restaurant, American restaurant, Modern French restaurant.
Other points of interest: Outdoor seating, Takeout, Dine-in, Delivery, Fireplace, Great cocktails, Great coffee, Great dessert, Great wine list, Live music, Dinner, Solo dining, Wheelchair accessible entrance, Wheelchair accessible parking lot, Wheelchair accessible restroom, Wheelchair accessible seating, Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy hour drinks, Happy hour food, Hard liquor, Healthy options, Late-night food, Private dining room, Small plates, Vegetarian options, Wine, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Counter service, Dessert, Seating, Bar onsite, Restroom, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi, Cozy, Romantic, Trendy, Upscale, Groups, LGBTQ+ friendly, Tourists, Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations, Checks, Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments, Credit cards, High chairs, Free parking lot, Free street parking, Parking.
Opinions: This company has 286 reviews on Google My Business.
Average opinion: 4.5/5.

📌 Location of The Essex

The Essex 247 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT 06475

⏰ Open Hours of The Essex

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 4–9 PM
  • Wednesday: 4–9 PM
  • Thursday: 4–9 PM
  • Friday: 4–10 PM
  • Saturday: 4–10 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

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The Essex

The Essex, located at 247 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT 06475, is a highly-regarded French and American restaurant that offers a modern twist on classic cuisine. With a phone number of 02374189 and website theessex.com, The Essex has become a favorite among locals and tourists alike for its exceptional dining experience.

Specialties and Features

The Essex specializes in a variety of culinary delights, including French cuisine, American cuisine, and modern French fare. Some of the unique features that set The Essex apart include outdoor seating, takeout options, dine-in service, delivery, and a cozy fireplace. Guests can also enjoy great cocktails, coffee, desserts, and wine lists, as well as live music on select evenings. With wheelchair accessibility, private dining rooms, and vegetarian options, The Essex caters to a diverse range of preferences and needs.

Other Points of Interest

  • Dinner
  • Solo dining
  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Wheelchair accessible seating
  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Coffee
  • Comfort food
  • Happy hour drinks
  • Happy hour food
  • Hard liquor
  • Healthy options
  • Late-night food
  • Small plates
  • Vegetarian options
  • Wine
  • Brunch
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Catering
  • Counter service
  • Dessert
  • Seating
  • Bar onsite
  • Restroom
  • Wi-Fi
  • Cozy
  • Romantic
  • Trendy
  • Upscale
  • Groups
  • LGBTQ+ friendly
  • Tourists
  • Dinner reservations recommended
  • Accepts reservations
  • Checks
  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments
  • High chairs
  • Free parking lot
  • Free street parking

Opinions and Reviews

The Essex has garnered a strong reputation, with 286 reviews on Google My Business. With an average opinion score of 4.5 out of 5, patrons consistently praise the exceptional food, friendly staff, and inviting atmosphere. One reviewer raved about the Valentines Day tasting menu, stating that it \"flipped their world upside down\" and recommending everyone to try The Essex. Another highlight is the owner, Cole, who is said to engage with guests as if they are long-time friends.

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"summary": "The Essex is a popular French and American restaurant known for its modern twist on classic cuisine, exceptional dining experience, and wide range of specialties and features.",
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"quality_score": "8",
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👍 Reviews of The Essex

The Essex - Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Makayla R.
5/5

Truly the most amazing food experience i have ever had. The valentines day tasting menu flipped my world upside down. i will NEVER look at food the same, if i could shout from the rooftops about this restaurant and tell everyone in the WORLD to try it, I would. And I will. ((not pictured, they made sure we left FULL and gave us extra of anything we loved which i absolutely appreciate and adore)). The owner, Cole came by every table and talked to us as if we have known each other forever, alll of the staff was amazing and friendly, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

The Essex - Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Nadezda M.
3/5

Very disappointing experience. After reading all reviews, I was expecting much more from this place. Great atmosphere and design, but food and cocktails were disappointing.
It is very interesting to watch food preparation at the open kitchen, but for a price we paid and taste of food , not impressed!
Some of the dishes were returned as we could not eat it.
Not recommending and coming back.

The Essex - Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Nick P.
5/5

Just had the best experience ever. We did their special valentine's Chef Tasting Menu to try something new and it was fantastic. Every single thing served in the 9 course experience made my taste buds do a line dance.

The service was incredible, as soon as we got done with a plate, our table was cleared and we were onto the next course within a minute flat! Halfway through the meal the owner/chef came out and introduced himself as well, very down to earth and professional. He clearly knows what he's doing.

Will absolutely be back. I literally do not have a single negative thing to say about this place.

The Essex - Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Ronald B.
5/5

My wife and I tried the 7 course tasting menu with wine pairing. It's SO fun trying exciting culinary creations you'd never have normally. Did i love them all, no, but we had so much fun. The wines paired were great and they have a nice pour. Service was exceptional. I love being able to see the chefs in action as well.

The Essex - Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Heather W.
5/5

This is a great place to dine for a date night or occasion. We celebrated our anniversary here and we were extremely impressed. The ambience is wonderful, reminiscent of a speakeasy and 5 star restaurant at the same time. The service was superb, Peter being our server. He was personable and quite enjoyable to converse with. The food itself was unreal. Everything was top notch, with the chef Colt checking on us personally to ensure we were having a positive experience. The cocktails were also very well crafted with a great selection. Overall would highly recommend and we will be back soon!

The Essex - Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Rebecca J.
5/5

I wish I could give 10 stars. 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 We arrived in Essex at 11:30 PM last meeting as we are house hunting. Today, after many miles and getting in out of the car all day, we stopped in to the Essex Restaurant for a cocktail, not realizing it is a fixed menu restaurant. From the moment we walked in, Peter was very kind and offered to seat us even though we couldn’t stay for dinner. We ordered our cocktails and, lo and behold, the chef sent out some appetizers for us to try. They were absolutely divine! The service was impeccable. The atmosphere chic. The conversation delightful. What a gem The Essex restaurant is! We cannot wait to come back and have the full dinner soon!

The Essex - Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Shadi A.
5/5

We had an incredible experience at the Essex. We went with the extended 7 course tasting menu and it blew us away. Every ingredient of each bite was intentional and purposeful.
The drinks menu was also excellent.
We had too many favorites, including the Amuse (lobster bisque starter), the steak wagu, canape service, and foi gras just to make a few! Chef Colt has created an experience comparable to any of the top 10 restaurants we've been to world wide. We were sitting there remembering the best restaurant experiences we've had in NYC, Boston and Barcelona! Well done!
Definitely going back and looking forward to their new restaurant in Branford.

The Essex - Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Jack H.
5/5

Outstanding!!! First time here and after reading all the reviews we totally agree!
A small restaurant with maybe 10 tables and must have reservations also to sit n eat at the bar! I was so pleased with my wife’s pick for celebrating her birthday!
We definitely will go back!!! Our server Ryan was wonderful!!

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