Welcome to Aspen Restaurant
At Aspen Restaurant in Old Saybrook, we blend culinary creativity with a warm, inviting atmosphere. Nestled at 2 Main St, our story is rooted in a commitment to delivering fresh, seasonal flavors. Our menu features delightful small plates, exquisite hand-helds, and vibrant salads, including favorites like the New England Clam Chowder and Truffle Fries. Each dish celebrates quality ingredients, from succulent veal osso bucco to our playful wild mushroom crepes. More than just food, it’s the exceptional service that defines us, creating memorable dining experiences that keep guests returning. Join us to savor the essence of innovative dining in a charming setting.
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2 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT 06475, United States Hotline: +1 860-395-5888
Welcome to Aspen Restaurant, a culinary gem nestled in the heart of Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Located at 2 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT 06475, Aspen Restaurant prides itself on delivering an exceptional dining experience that pairs outstanding food with unparalleled service. This charming establishment has been making waves with its innovative menu and welcoming atmosphere, drawing locals and visitors alike.
Aspen Restaurant specializes in a delightful fusion of flavors, offering a diverse array of dishes that celebrate both seasonal ingredients and international flair. With a strong focus on small plates, handhelds, and hearty bowls, there’s something to tantalize every palate. Highlights from their menu include:
- Crispy Shrimp Tempura with Mango-Wasabi and a refreshing Crispy Cucumber Slaw - a perfect start to any meal.
- Seoul-Fire Short Rib featuring a house bulgogi glaze paired with grilled baby bok choy, a must-try for meat lovers.
- New England Clam Chowder, celebrated for its rich flavor and perfect balance, has left patrons raving it’s the best they've ever tasted.
- Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with arugula, gorgonzola, and dried blueberries—a seasonal offering that perfectly encapsulates autumn’s essence.
- Veal Osso Bucco, described as “fall-off-the-bone yumminess,” promises a melt-in-your-mouth experience you won't forget.
- Sticky Toffee Pudding with cinnamon gelato is the cherry on top of your memorable meal, though choosing between dessert options will be a delightful challenge.
Customer satisfaction echoes through numerous reviews, with diners consistently applauding Aspen for its vibrant flavors, friendly staff, and inviting ambiance. Guests have shared their experiences of being warmly greeted and well cared for, whether dining inside or enjoying the outdoor seating. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or seeking a cozy spot for date night, Aspen Restaurant proves to be an excellent choice.
The reviews speak volumes—each patron highlights not only the delectable food but also the professional yet friendly service. The dedication of the staff, from servers like Ray and Kate to the attentive management, ensures that your dining experience is nothing short of extraordinary. Many reviews explicitly mention a commitment to fresh, creative dishes that change subtly with each season, making every visit unique and exciting.
In conclusion, Aspen Restaurant is not just a dining establishment; it’s a complete sensory experience. With its commitment to high-quality ingredients, innovative cuisine, and hospitable service, it stands out as a beacon of culinary excellence in Old Saybrook. So the next time you find yourself in the area, don’t miss the opportunity to create your own memories at this remarkable restaurant.
Over the years I have been to restaurants where the staff is just great, but the food was 'ok', and I have also been to the opposite, Great food horrible service - But don't you just love when both come together, Great Staff and Fantastic Food... well welcome to the ASPEN Restaurant in Old Saybrook. Without a doubt one of the finest dining experiences - food and staff - I have had in 40 years of travel, of course the best part is I only travel 7 minutes to get there. I have had Lunch and Dinner; I have sat inside and out, and each time the results are amazingly the same – consistent, creative, seasonal flavors, subtle ingredients, fresh, and delicious. Let me start by saying every drink, app, soup, salad, sandwich, main and dessert was perfect so know I will spend more time on my 'go-to-meal' but please know everything is great. So, my go to meal? The New England Clam Chowder is so good it is the only chowder I have had that I couldn’t care less if there were clams in it – it’s that good. Next - just read this combination and dream with me - the ROASTED BUTTERNUT SALAD arugula, roasted butternut squash, dried blueberries, gorgonzola, caramelized onions, apple cider vinaigrette, forgetaboutit! The main, no hesitation VEAL OSSO BUCCO, my goodness it is fall off the bone melt in your mouth yumminess that is on a whole 'nother level! Desert is tougher - to choose between the Chocolate Raspberry Bomb and Sticky Toffee Pudding with cinnamon gelato is impossible so you will just have to come back again and again. A pleasant surprise and perfect when you want something lighter is the STONINGTON SCALLOPS with lobster and bacon fried rice - the flavor profile changes ever so slightly with each bite – especially with savory sweet soy sauce; now listen this is not a lobster dish as in loaded with lobster - like every dish at Aspen the fresh and inventive ingredients are perfectly balanced. So lastly, with all the great food I must ask every restaurant that serves iced 'tea from a gun' or bottle STOP - Aspen is always busy but they enough time to offer real brewed iced tea. And yes - Joe is the man ask for him and tell him John said hi!
Absolutely outstanding! Walk in date night. It was very busy and hostess quickly found a place for us to be seated downstairs. Mushroom crepe, butternut squash salad, pork rib chop, all were delicious. Our server Ray was friendly, professional and attentive. We look forward to returning soon. Great experience!
The food was incredible and service extremely professional. We tried a bunch of things and were impressed with everything. We will absolutely be going back-and this will most likely be a new go to when we have visitors! What really stood out were the martinis, grilled romaine salad, and the generous portion of lobster on the lobster roll. The New England clam chowder was the best we’ve had out here as well. The next day we were in mystic and tried two of the most recommended restaurants and the food didn’t even compare. Aspen stood out for atmosphere, service, and food.
Great food and service by Kate! We started off with their clam chowder and salad which had roasted pecans, cranberries, gorgonzola cheese with a very tasty vinaigrette. We then moved onto the duck nachos and mussels. The mussels were good but not to our liking yet Kate was on-top of our opinion and sent the manager over. We then moved into the pan seared tuna which was fabulous and dessert to end. The wine prices are really reasonable. I would highly recommend going here to eat as they are very well run and organized.
On the search for upscale means while roadtripping sometimes is hard. This spot wins it all. The chowder was great. Not crowded at all. Our food very delicious and the service was fantastic. Treat yourself to the cappuccino
Sorry, 'Amber'...can't disagree with you more! We just had dinner there tonight too. Our waitress was the sweetest ever and my wife and I vocalized that to each other. We witnessed everyone running around on Valentine's Day to serve us when they probably had a loved one at home who couldn't partake in the day the way we,as patrons could. We saw the manager greeting and saying goodbye to everyone. And, with a modicum of personality insight, you could see he is a caring manager. A rarity today. The food for the price point was well within expectations. Not sure what your psychological bend is, but get it checked out! :-). Hope you don't do this a lot.
I stopped by here for a dinner with my family while visiting Connecticut and the food was delicious. I had the salmon and my wife had the sea scallops and they were both excellent choices. Over the ambiance was warm and the service was on point. Nothing but praise for an excellent meal.
We are having Aspen provide our wedding night dinner in the fall and came in to see the restaurant for the first time. Melanie and I ordered the half-chicken and were very impressed with the preparation of entrees. Absolutely delicious. The crab cake was fantastic as well. Every staff member was efficient and friendly, even as we asked to check out The Amber Room downstairs. As good of an experience as we could hope for and we can't wait to return.