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

The Griswold Inn

4.7 (953)
$31 to $50
American
36 Main St, Essex, CT 06426

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 14 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.

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

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Menu

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

View menu on restaurant's website

What 953 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
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Connecticut

    Best Ambiance

  • Middlesex

    Best Overall

  • Middlesex

    Best Ambiance

  • Middlesex

    Best Value

  • Middlesex

    Romantic

  • Middlesex

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Griswold Inn offers a "great nautical setting" in historical Essex, featuring "fantastic food, ambience and service." Guests love the "historic dining" atmosphere, likened to "eating in a museum." The inn's character and live music make it a "great place to celebrate." The taproom is cozy, and service is consistently praised.
953 Reviews

  1. Nancy VIP

    New York City149 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outside in the garden. Couldn't be better out there and I hope you keep it open this summer into the fall. Last year it seemed like it was never opened and I was disappointed. Our server was great as well as the food. Compliments to all, and we will be back soon.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Richard

    Southwest Florida3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Our friends ordered a sausage appetizer which was outstanding My husband and I had the Philly cheesesteak sandwich. The meat was dry and overcooked. Our friend had the French dip and the meat was overcooked . Love the ambience of that historic building. Waitress was pleasant.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Lisa VIP

    New York City21 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food and the service is top shelf. Beautiful inside and just a fun and classy place to have lunch or dinner. Would definitely return.

    1 person found this helpful

  4. Mary VIP

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The moment we walked in the door the staff was extremely welcoming. Servers were excellent. Food was great. Atmosphere was just what you would expect from a historic Inn. We will be back

    1 person found this helpful

  5. Paul

    Houston3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great nautical setting in historical Essex. Fantastic food, ambience and service makes the Griswold Inn a great place to celebrate special occasions or simply enjoy great food with the company of your family or friends

    1 person found this helpful

  6. Jim VIP

    New York City24 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    You can't beat the ambiance. It's like eating in a museum. We always try to stop here if we are in the area.

    1 person found this helpful

  7. Susan

    New York City4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great as always first time for one of the guests who enjoyed

    1 person found this helpful

  8. lynne

    New York City8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 31, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful historic Inn and Tavern. Delicious food in a unique setting. Located in quaint Essex. Enjoyed lunch on a Saturday and will return to experience dinner.

    1 person found this helpful

  9. Patrick VIP

    New York City10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Although the Gris was quite busy last night , and there was a bit of a wait for our dinners - we didn’t mind waiting - good to see them prosper!!! The meals were all very good -our server was great , everyone was polite and respectful. Definitely one of our favorite restaurants to frequent! Thank you Griswold Inn for doing a great service!!

    1 person found this helpful

  10. kim

    Baltimore / Maryland2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always fabulous! 10 stars is a better description and the prices are really reasonable.

    1 person found 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 953 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
7:00 PM
Booked 14 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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