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

The Griswold Inn

4.7
4.7
943 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
10:30 PM
Booked 5 times today

About this restaurant

  • 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.

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–9:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–8:00 pm
  • 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
  • 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

Menu

The Griswold Inn's menu was last updated 2024-10-15.

View menu on restaurant's website

What 943 people are saying

The Griswold Inn reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Middlesex

    Best Ambiance

  • Middlesex

    Great for brunch

  • Middlesex

    Hot spot

  • Middlesex

    Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Griswold Inn is a charming New England gem with a "quaint historic setting" and a "cozy ambiance." Guests rave about the "excellent service" and "delicious food," including standout dishes like the "cranberry chicken salad sandwich" and "clam chowder." The inn's "festive atmosphere" and "live music" make it a perfect destination for memorable occasions.
943 Reviews

  1. Marianne VIP

    Greater Boston79 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Experience was mixed. Sausage sampler and snitzle were good. Table assignment was poor. Had to ask to be moved. Noise of servers. Also tried to get a drink prior to meal but tavern was crowded and had limited seating. No stools at the bar. Charlie (host) was helpful but hostess was rude and server lacked knowledge about the menu and ingredients. It used to be such a lovely place. Not as much now.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Katherine

    Greater Boston3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were very happy with our overall experience. Our lunch was delicious and the service and ambiance impeccable. We certainly will return in the future.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Betsy

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Can’t beat the atmosphere! Enjoyed being in the cozy taproom on a chilly day. The carrot and ginger soup along with a cranberry chicken salad sandwich “hit the spot.”

    Is this helpful?

  4. Michael

    New York City7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The roastbeef was fantastic, nicely presented by our pleasant waitress. We go to dinner there on a regular basis. Do highly recommend for "date night "

    1 person found this helpful

  5. Tom

    Alabama11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 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

  6. Donna

    New York City20 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 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

  7. Marla

    Connecticut1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 27, 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?

  8. Sandra

    Rhode Island3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 23, 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?

  9. Brett

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 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?

  10. Lisa

    New York City14 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on February 16, 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?

FAQs

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

The Griswold Inn is rated 4.7 stars by 943 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Connecticut
  4. Middlesex
  5. Essex

Make a reservation

2 people
10:30 PM
Booked 5 times today
Google Map for The Griswold Inn

36 Main St, Essex, CT 06426

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Ferry St
  • Neighborhood
    Essex
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–9:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–8:00 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
    Ian Matheson
  • 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
  • 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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