Breakfast Menu "The Griswold Inn" Essex
18th-century inn featuring colonial-style lodging, plus a classic American restaurant & tap room.
The Griswold Inn, 36 Main St, Essex, CT 06426
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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.
I had my wedding in Essex last weekend, and my wife and I and some of my wedding party stayed at the Gris. Our ceremony began just after 2pm. Several of my party arrived just before and asked if there was anyway they could get into their rooms just 10 minutes early to change. They were categorically refused this option. They had to change in the tiny Tap Room bathrooms, and of course, as soon as they were done, were told “your rooms are now ready”! I understand you guys have a policy - but you also claim to be in the Hospitality business. Which requires some flexibility and a little “Accommodation”. My guests were shown none. We enjoyed our room, but it would have been nice to have at least a couple of water bottles or something. There’s no fridge, no tea/coffee. Just the absolutely bare bones essentials were provided. The room was indeed beautiful and cozy. The free continental breakfast? Come on. This was the saddest, most low effort display I’ve ever seen. You can’t just throw out some instant oatmeal, Thomas’ bagels, and Dannon Yogurt and call it a day. I hate to give a bad review - but for the rates charged and the grandiose history and claims about this place, the results are simply not there. You’re resting on your laurels.
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 :-)!
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.
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 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.
I booked a stay at the Griswold Inn as a gift for my husband’s retirement six months before our reservation. The website stated it was a room with a waterfront view. We were not even in the inn..but over a store down the street!! I will post the pictures of the parking lot and the FedEx delivery box that was our view. I had to go back inside twice to ask for directions for our room down the street lugging our suitcases back-and-forth… I told the hostess how upset I was an even crying outside on the street in front of her.. she then stated it was a partial view not a full view of the ocean …she could have cared less and said sorry we are booked There is nothing I can do for you…it was an awful experience. I am attaching a picture of our view from our view of the inn and also the filthy vent in our bathroom
The restaurant is full of history and it's wonderful to look at but my gosh the food is just terrible. The NE clam chowder was so brothy I thought it can be put in a glass. The fish was extremely overcooked. Poor thing died twice. Fire the line cook and bring in a real executive chef.