Overlooking Mystic Harbor and situated at the mouth of the Thames River, Mystic Connecticut is 60 miles southeast of Hartford and 100 miles east of Danbury. For tourists, the town is home to a variety of attractions, such as the Mystic Aquarium, Old Mystic Village and the Pequotsepos Nature Center. Visitors to Mystic have a number of dining options to choose from, including those that specialize in fresh, local seafood caught in the Atlantic.
Located three blocks from the Seaport Museum, the S & P Oyster Co. has served Mystic since the mid-1980s. The restaurant overlooks the Thames River and provides outdoor, waterfront dining, weather permitting. Diners can choose from a wide variety of seafood dishes, including blue point oysters on the half-shell, seafood ambrosia over mashed potatoes, Sicilian-style swordfish with basmati rice, blackened tilapia and locally caught cod, covered in panko bread crumbs and broiled. The S & P Oyster Co. is open daily for lunch and dinner. The restaurant does not accept reservations, but features call-ahead seating, allowing those who phone to be seated before those who walk in off the street. Casual attire is the norm when dining at the S & P. A children's menu is available for guests 8 years of age and younger. The restaurant does not allow cell phone use in its dining room.
S & P Oyster Co.
1 Holmes St.
Mystic, CT 06355
860-536-2674
sp-oyster.com
A combination art gallery, seafood cafe and raw bar, Go Fish Restaurant is within walking distance of the Mystic Aquarium (around 1/10 of a mile). Established in 1996, the restaurant features an eclectic array of modern paintings, statues and glassworks made by local artists. The restaurant's raw bar offers oysters from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Canada as well as little neck clams, tuna tartar, shrimp cocktail and daily sushi specials. A dinner entree, the grilled, fresh-caught fish of the day comes atop tomato relish and is served in a lemon and cumin vinaigrette dressing. Another featured dish is the smoked scallops and cappellini pasta tossed with leeks and served in a cream sauce seasoned with cracked black pepper and fresh thyme. Go Fish Restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations are not accepted, but call ahead seating is available. Casual attire is appropriate.
Go Fish Restaurant
27 Coogan Blvd.
Mystic, CT 06355
860-536-2662
gofishct.com.
Sea Swirl Seafood Restaurant is less than 1/2 mile from Williams Beach Park. The restaurant opened in the 1980s and is a casual, family-friendly establishment popular for its quick, counter-style service and outdoor dining. Broth-style Rhode Island and cream-style New England clam chowder are among the restaurant's specialties. Other favorites include fried seafood entrees like whole belly clams, sea scallops, Gulf shrimp and cod planks. The restaurant makes its own ice cream, and offers a variety of hard and soft-serve flavors as well as sundaes, shakes and banana splits. Sea Swirl Seafood is open daily for lunch and dinner during the summer months only. The restaurant has no dress code.
Sea Swirl Seafood Restaurant
30 Williams Ave.
Mystic, CT 06355
860-536-3452
seaswirlofmystic.com
