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

The Griswold Inn

4.6
4.6
939 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 5 times today
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood 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

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30–20:00 Fri, Sat 11:30–21:00 Sun 11:00–20:00
  • Phone number
    (860) 767-1776
  • Website
    http://www.griswoldinn.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Ian Matheson
  • 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.
  • Location
    36 Main St, Essex, CT 06426
  • Area
    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
    Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 939 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Middlesex

    Best Ambience

  • Middlesex

    Great for brunch

  • Middlesex

    Hot spot

  • Middlesex

    Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Griswold Inn offers a charming historic ambiance with "great atmosphere" and "wonderful service." Guests appreciate the "authentic Seaport atmosphere" and delightful dining experiences. While some dishes receive mixed reviews, standout items include the fried shrimp and clam chowder, with many patrons praising the "superb" food and friendly staff.

939 Reviews

  1. Tom

    Alabama11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 1 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was excellent, Sarah was a terrific waiter, and the building is very cool! Right out of the 18th century.

    1 person found this helpful

  2. Donna

    New York City20 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 1 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious lunch and a professional, attentive, and very nice server.

    1 person found this helpful

  3. Marla

    Connecticut1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 27 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Perfect evening and the food and service was exceptional. Business dinner with two out of state guests who were left completely impressed by the Inn experience.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Sandra

    Rhode Island3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 23 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Long wait time before getting server to the table.. Food was delicious. However my grown daughter got her meal , soup and salad 45 min before the other 4 people were served.. In the old days this was not acceptable.. Anyways the band sounded great…Will return due to the ambience.. thanks

    Is this helpful?

  5. Brett

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 16 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was very good and the service was decent, but they were very busy so they get a pass. The ambiance is incredible! The building and decor transports you to the 1700’s! Beer and wine was the go-to since our one drink order was a fail. They had music in the bar area and it was perfect for setting, not too loud and a selection of easy listening from the 60’s & 70’s. All in all, a great place for a wonderful evening with your spouse!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Lisa

    New York City14 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 16 February 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went on Saturday night and had the bonus to hear live music from the bar. Charming atmosphere, delicious food and great service. Thank you for a fun evening!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Andrew

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 15 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great place, food is awesome and atmosphere is even better!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Travis

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 15 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A totally great time at the Gris !! Love the tap room . Love the dining rooms !! Great food and libations!!! And our stay at the inn was awesome!! Always love coming here!! Travis V

    Is this helpful?

  9. Jenn

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 14 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great time at the Gris. Love it there From the Inn to the restaurant to the bar and entertainment

    Is this helpful?

  10. Jeff VIP

    San Francisco9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 14 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Great location and property. Excellent ambiance and vibe. Piano music in the pub before dinner. Decorated beautifully. Popcorn for early snack. Dinner in the timeless Steamboat room. Excellent and diverse menu. Food was very good. After dinner had a classic 60s trio band playing. Great sound. Was a great Valentine’s Day dinner. Only draw back was the service. Specifically the bar. Took forever to get a drink. Bar tender was surly with limited sense of urgency and lots of attitude. This was when the bar crowd was small. As the evening progressed it become significantly worse. I can’t imagine how much revenue was lost by the establishment due to these inefficiencies. Overall our experience was very positive.

    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 4.6 stars by 939 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 5 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Griswold Inn

36 Main St, Essex, CT 06426

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Ferry St
  • Area
    Essex
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30–20:00 Fri, Sat 11:30–21:00 Sun 11:00–20:00
  • 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
    Ian Matheson
  • Entertainment
    Live music nightly with a varied musical menu. View the entertainment calendar on the Inn's website.
  • Additional
    Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining
  • Website
    http://www.griswoldinn.com/
  • 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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