Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Essex

Pasta Fresca & Piadina features a delicious menu of Italian deli meats, cheeses and grinders. Enjoy salami, ham, capicola, pepperoni and more on crunchy New York-style Italian breads, either served hot or cold. The extensive take-out menu also includes soups and salads. The quaint, traditional-style deli is cash only so be sure to carry enough. Prices are reasonable and won't burn a hole in your pocket. A local favorite, Pasta Fresca & Piadina is one of the best places to stop by for a quick bite to go.

Bravo Bravo Restaurant & Bar features an eclectic menu of local seafood with a Mediterranean flair. Enjoy lobster ravioli. crab cakes, osso bucco and paste e fagioli for either lunch or dinner. The menu also offers several no-meat options, so Bravo Bravo is a great choice if you are dining out with vegetarians! If you're not interested in staying for dinner, saddle up to the bar for some cocktails or fine wines from around the world.

Kitchen Little is your typical New England-style hangout where you can get your breakfast favorites every day as well as traditional seafood bites, like hot lobster rolls, burgers, clam strips and scallop rolls. Where else can you dine for cheap with such a fantastic view of the water? On weekends, only breakfast is served until 1p.

Located in Downtown New London, the Dutch Tavern on Green Street is a comfortable local sports bar that serves some serious retro beers. It's an old bar that has been open since 1933 and was a watering hole of playwright Eugene O'Neill. There are plenty of beers on tap, like Cottrell Old Yankee Ale, Brooklyn Lager, Guinness and Harpoon IPA. You can even get Schaefer in cans if you want to get that early 20th-century feel. The lunch menu is small, but heart with burgers (including veggie burgers!), soups, hot dogs and sandwiches. As noted on their website, "Baseball takes precedence" at this joint, but you can always expect the best games on the tube.

The Captain Daniel Packer Inne Restaurant and Pub on Water Street in Mystic is located in an historic home, constructed in 1756 for Captain Packer and his family. The lovely home remained in the family until the mid-1970s, at which time it was restored and converted into a fine restaurant. The upstairs restaurant serves modern New England fare (plenty of seafood) and contemporary American dishes. Or if you prefer something more casual, you can just head downstairs to the bar with its exposed ceiling beams and original stone foundation. The pub has an extensive pub grub menu with everything from chicken wings to burgers, and these foods are served for both lunch and dinner. There is live music after 10p nearly every night. Note that dinner is served from 5p-10p, but the downstairs pub is open until late.

The Bleu Squid at Olde Mistick Village is a great place to stop for a bite to eat while in the Mystic area. If you are looking for something casual, comforting and delicious, this is the perfect place to pick up a grilled cheese, quiche, cupcakes, artisanal cheeses or pates. The most popular menu items are the Lobster Grilled Cheese and Bleu and Bacon Grilled Cheese. For the little ones, there are children's grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. This bakery and cafe is perfect for lunch after a morning at the nearby Mystic Aquarium.