seetheworld

DH and I were thinking of taking a ride to Essex, CT and taking a river cruise to enjoy the upcoming fall foliage. Does anyone have any dining recommendations for either lunch or dinner? Thank you!

AHaugeto

Actually, there's not too much in downtown Essex, save for the Black Seal and the Griswold Inn (look for the "Banjo Tonight" banner) - both are fine for lunch (burgers, chowder, etc.). If you're looking for a bit swankier (Is that a word?) I'd recommend heading to nearby Chester, a similarly picturesque little town that is home to the highly rated Restaurant du Village, which we've tried to go to but have had to cancel out on- I have heard from friends that it's excellent. They take reservations, and you can find them on the web. I have been to the Pattaconk just down the road from du Village for lunch and casual dinner - again competent food, and they brew their own beer. They used to have a pretty good cask-conditioned ale.

While you're driving, I highly recommend taking River Road from Chester back down to Essex if you have time - it takes you by all the incredible houses right next to the Connecticut River. Have fun!

seetheworld

AHaugeto: Thanks for the suggestions. Have you, or do you know of anyone who has stayed at the Griswold Inn?

P.S. glad everything worked out with your tests. The EMG is a medical form of torture, isn't it!?!

mclaurie

I stayed at the Griswold Inn about 7 or 8 years ago. I was in the area for a wedding and was told this was a charming place (not). The website photos are much more charming than the reality. It was OK but nothing special IMO. Take AHaugerto's advice seetheworld. Pick someplace else to eat/stay.

I too am glad your tests were good AHaugeto!!

Patrick

I've not stayed at The Griswold, but have had a couple of wonderful meals there (not spectacular gourmet, but really good plain food). I suspect that the place could kill you with quaintness at night if you were staying there, so if that isn't your thing, you might avoid it.

seetheworld

Mclaurie: That was my impression of the website photos (the rooms looked a little outdated). I did, however, come across what seems to be a gem of a B&B called the Copper Beech Inn. Anybody hear of it? Their dinner menu is very appealing to me.

I was just thinking that if we had dinner and enjoyed a bottle of wine, we probably would not want to drive home. I know it will be impossible to get reservations at this point in time, so most likely we'll just make a day trip of it, have lunch, and check out inns for a future visit.

The Restaurant du Village seems very nice as well, but it does not serve lunch.

Quaintness kill me, Patrick, nah! Not at least for one night anyway

mclaurie

Patrick, I don't think we're talking about the same place. The problem was not quaintness. As seetheworld observed, the furnishings were dated rather than antique, musty dusty rather than timeworn and the dining rooms IMO were very...um hokey?

While the building dates back a long time, the illustration on their website is sooooo misleading because the inn doesn't sit by itself. It's now more or less "attached" or right next to buildings on both sides. The dining rooms could be anywhere USA. AHaugeto's point to look for the Banjo Tonight sign says it all. I know this may be sounding snobby. I enjoy staying in old historic places if they feel so. This just felt fake even though it wasn't.

I've just read the reviews on tripadvisor and have been reminded that in addition, we were staying in the main building above the tap room. While one reviewer thought "the faint sounds of the shanty bands below on Saturday evenings" was charming, I thought I would scream having come from a wedding and wanting nothing but sleep.

I don't know the Copper Beach but it does look wonderful on the website.

I doubt this will help you seetheworld, but fussy friends of ours love the Manor House in Norfolk Ct. and go every year for Tanglewood. It's not the area you wanted, but pretty country for fall foliage.

seetheworld

Mclaurie: Thanks for jogging my memory regarding Tanglewood! I hope I'm not sounding too fussy It has taken me ages to convice DH that staying at a B&B would be an enjoyable experience, so I don't want to make a decision that will elicit the "I told you so response"!

Patrick

Hmm. McLaurie, I guess it's interpretation of words again. By "quaintness" I did mean hokey! Shades of "Cracker Barrel interior gone wild". Of course musty and dusty is another matter!

mclaurie

You hit the nail on the head Patrick. I had never been to a Cracker Barrel at the time we stayed at the Griswold, but stopped at one on my drive down to Fla last year. Exactly like a Cracker Barrel.

Now, seetheworld, you don't sound fussy at all and I know what you mean about b & bs. There is a difference between inns and b & bs though. I don't know what you mean by my jogging your memory on Tanglewood. The place you found looks good and our friends love the Manor House in Norfolk. I think there may be some previous threads on inns in Ct. I remember someone posting not too long ago about wanting places all over Ct. Try a text search.

seetheworld

Mclaurie: by mentioning Tanglewood, you jogged my memory that it was another activity/place for us go to. See, we're newly empty nesters, and it seems that DH is always worried about whether we'll have enough stuff to do to keep from thinking about how much we miss our kids - he's just running me ragged coming up with fresh ideas. Now I can add Tanglewood to the list Thanks for the idea! I'll be sure to do a more comprehensive search on B7B's and Inns in CT.

AHaugeto

seetheworld and mclaurie - you are too kind, thanks for the good wishes. I am wondering if I will be charged for acupuncture along with the EMG

Re: daytrips, B&Bs, etc. - I have in fact heard of the Copper Beech, and remember reading good reviews in my local paper. Maybe you could search on other nearby towns (Deep River, Ivoryton, Chester, East Haddam, Centerbrook) for places to stay, or you could at least file for future use. Actually, I think there may be one or two places right next to the Opera house in East Haddam.

If you're going to be up before Columbus Day, in addition to Chester and the River Road drive I'd also recommend making the side trip to Gillette Castle park, on the other side of the river (you can follow 154/River up to East Haddam - home of the Goodspeed - and drop back down). The Castle tour is cool (Gillette was the original actor who portrayed Sherlock Holmes before the turn of the century; he originated the deerstalker and pipe in his stage portrayals) and offers gorgeous views of the river and foliage from its promontory. When I was there last a wedding was taking place after closing...

Anyway, hope you have a great time. There's lots to do out this way - but sometimes you have to look for it!

AHaugeto

Actually, come to think of it, you can still go to Gillette Castle after Columbus day to see the grounds and view - you just can't tour it...

AmyNYC

Hi there,

I've used this site to plan trips before and have given advice for the places I've been...but never thought to give advice on the town I grew up in until tonight.

You've gotten a lot of good advice already... what I would add is a recommendation for a beautiful B&B in Chester called 123 Main. It's walking distance to the Pattaconk and the Du Village. I stayed there for my friend's wedding a couple of years ago and was totally impressed. Breakfast on the veranda was especially nice. I haven't stayed at Copper Beech though the food was always good. It's a bit out of the way though. If you decide to go to Gillette's Castle, take the tiny ferry from the Chester Dock rather than going over the bridge. More authentic experience : ) ... it's located, where else but Ferry Rd.

The place next to the Goodspeed Opera in East Haddam is called the Gelston House. Great for dinner (the views are beautiful)...not sure about the rooms though.

Hope that helps... have fun!

HowardR

The Gelson House may be great for dinner, but our experience at Sunday brunch last year was quite opposite. It was dreadful.

Larry1

I wonder if Seetheworld did have fun- too bad Amy's suggestions were about 8 months too late. Well, maybe they can go again this coming fall.....

PamSF

We stayed at the "Gris" 5 years ago. We stayed in the newer wing across the street from the old inn. It was fine. We actually liked the food there. The town of Essex is small and "quaint". It can be a bit much,IMO. But the walk down to the sound is lovely.

We also stayed at the Copper Beech Inn. I found it a bit tattered. Apparently, since then it has been completely re-done. The website looks so enticing I considered another trip. Check it out.