An upscale shoreline restaurant, The Essex, is reopening Friday in a new town — Old Saybrook.
Originally established in 2017 in the Centerbrook section of Essex, it features the culinary offerings of Chef Colt Taylor.
The new location is at 247 Main St., in downtown Old Saybrook, and has an open kitchen, with seating for 42 guests indoors and an additional 20 seats at an outdoor patio. The restaurant is across from the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, and offers a new dining option for theatergoers.
“As parents of twins and new residents of Old Saybrook, my wife Katharine and I are excited about our new family endeavor, bringing The Essex to its new home, amidst a thriving community in a walkable downtown setting,” Taylor said.
He described the eatery as offering fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere. The menu, he said, will reflect the “influence of global cuisines, while being mindful of the region’s history.” It will feature flavors of the Far East and Latin America, while being inspired by the Connecticut River Valley and using locally-sourced farm and sea ingredients.
The menu offers dishes such as red crab agnolotti, lobster and beet fusilli, and toffee-braised short rib. For dessert, diners can choose from treats like pear and walnut tartin and roasted squash pavlova.
Taylor also owns Los Charros Cantina in Centerbrook, which serves Mexican street food-style cuisine.
The Essex is open for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays from 4 to 10 p.m., and it is closed Sundays and Mondays. Visit www.theessex.com for more information.
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.
