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December at The Gris - oh so festive! - The Griswold Inn, Essex, CT

The Griswold Inn

4.4
4.4
901 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 12 times today
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood gem
The Griswold Inn is an inn and restaurant located in the historic seaport village of Essex. The Gris, as it is affectionately known, has been in continous operation since 1776.

`Currently we are offering dine in, dine out, and Gris To Go! Inside, guests may enjoy dining in historic, art-filled rooms which exude character, charm and tradition. Seating for the alfresco experience is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with the exception of larger parties of 7 or more which may be made by calling 860.767.1776.

The Inn boasts a wine list consistently recognized by Wine Spectator with the prestigious Award of Excellence; Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure have recently recognized the Inn's restaurant as "Connecticut's coziest" and it is included in Patricia Schulz's "1000 Places to See Before You Die". The Griswold Inn is also the recipient of Connecticut's Highest Award for Hospitality. The best of old and new meet here.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–8:45 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–9:15 pm Sun 11:00 am–7:45 pm
  • Phone number
    (860) 767-1776
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Shaheed Toppin
  • Catering
    DECEMBER is a wonderful time to experience The Griswold Inn! With our “halls” fully decked, the “Rockwellian vibe” is in the air. The month-long celebration features a Holiday Bill of Fare with game selections as well as Gris Classics. Each evening, while served by costumed wait staff, The Royal Court Singers perform seasonal classics table-side.
  • Private party facilities
    The Griswold Inn, is ideal for many types of private events, from small gatherings and business meetings, to large parties. Each of our rooms is a unique space, showcasing our celebrated art collection, and our proud history. Contact Claudia Odekerken, our Private Events Manager to plan your next event!catering@griswoldinn.com t.860-767-1776.
  • Neighborhood
    Essex
  • Cross street
    Ferry St
  • Parking details
    Free street parking and in the Inn's private lots.
  • Entertainment
    Live music nightly with a varied musical menu. View the entertainment calendar on the Inn's website.
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 901 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Middlesex

    Hot spot

  • Middlesex

    Neighborhood gem

  • Middlesex

    Romantic

  • Middlesex

    Good for special occasions

  • Middlesex

    Lively

  • Middlesex

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Griswold Inn, a historic gem, offers an "awesome choice" for dining with its charming New England ambiance and delightful staff. Guests rave about its "great food" and "fun atmosphere," highlighting the clam chowder and fried shrimp. While some service inconsistencies are noted, the inn remains a beloved spot for memorable experiences.

901 Reviews
  1. Adare

    New York City

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We had a lovely family dinner here before the Polar Express. The NICEST waiter, quick service, good food, wonderful live music (Sunday night, he was so talented and kind to our kids) and an awesome table.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Joseph

    Atlantic City

    21 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    1 very loud 2. Service was very 3 had request bread three times 4. Found out their bread is B&G brown bread. That is sad coming from a place like that 5. Food was very good

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  3. Douglas

    Orlando

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food and Band was excellent, atmosphere was so very unique

    Is this helpful?

  4. Tina

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 3, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, great service, conserned staff checking to make sure everything was good, nice ambiance.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Scott

    New York City

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 2, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food is amazing and the energy is even better! What an amazing place for a night out. Service is always top notch. I note to first timers- Some of the tables may slant, so watch your food and drinks! Overall though, it is always a memorable and enjoyable experience at “The Gris”!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Mark

    Milwaukee

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 23, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very unique and historic local. Excellent salad and starter courses. The boneless beef ribs were more like a beef roast than rib meat, but tasty and filling.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Michael

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 22, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a fantastic time, as usual! Staff is wonderful, the food was soooo tasty. We’ve never had a bad meal there. The management is on hand and happy to help. Very accommodating! Can’t say enough good things, that’s why we keep going back!!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Charles

    New York City

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 19, 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    We had dinner reservations at the Grizz for Sat at 7:30 as as we do each year when sailing to Essex. We requested to be seated in the back room, but that request was denied. It took One hour to get our drinks. One hour. That was after the waiter visiting our table 3 times and returning a final time to clarify the drink order that he had clearly messed up. Our table never received bread. When our food did arrive, two of the orders were undercooked to the point of leaving fish gelatinous. However, having waited an hour and a half for our food to arrive, we thought it best to roll the dice and eat the subpar offerings rather than wait another hour and a half to get a replacement main course. I have eaten at the Griswold many times and was completely satisfied in the past. While I expected the Grizz to be busy, I did not expect to wait an hour for drinks. The poor service was most likely due to one particular waiter, so while I hesitate to blame the Griswold as a whole, I still cannot help but reflect on the fact that they continue to allow his derelictions of duty. Especially on a busy Saturday night. A table behind us which was also serviced by this waiter had a similar experience as I heard them lamenting the length of time it took them to get their drinks as well as their meal. Next year when I sail to Essex, I will probably visit the Griswold only for drinks at the bar, if at all, and enjoy a meal elsewhere.

    4 people found this helpful

  9. Wynn

    New York City

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on October 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    We always enjoy having lunch but this year we were kind of cramped into the corner behind a large table and many others when there was room in the other part of the large room. So felt a bit cramped and noisy.

    Is this helpful?

  10. wendy

    Philadelphia

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was very nice. We sat right nest to the fireplace !

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Griswold Inn offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (860) 767-1776.

The Griswold Inn is rated 4.4 stars by 901 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 12 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Griswold Inn

36 Main St, Essex, CT 06426

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Ferry St
  • Neighborhood
    Essex
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–8:45 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–9:15 pm Sun 11:00 am–7:45 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Free street parking and in the Inn's private lots.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Shaheed Toppin
  • Entertainment
    Live music nightly with a varied musical menu. View the entertainment calendar on the Inn's website.
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (860) 767-1776
  • Catering
    DECEMBER is a wonderful time to experience The Griswold Inn! With our “halls” fully decked, the “Rockwellian vibe” is in the air. The month-long celebration features a Holiday Bill of Fare with game selections as well as Gris Classics. Each evening, while served by costumed wait staff, The Royal Court Singers perform seasonal classics table-side.
  • Private party facilities
    The Griswold Inn, is ideal for many types of private events, from small gatherings and business meetings, to large parties. Each of our rooms is a unique space, showcasing our celebrated art collection, and our proud history. Contact Claudia Odekerken, our Private Events Manager to plan your next event!catering@griswoldinn.com t.860-767-1776.
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