Virant Family Winery Inc — Attraction in Saybrook

Surrounded by the corporate-type wineries, this cozy, alternative family-run winery is an absolute gem - especially if you are looking for the best prime rib dinner you'll ever eat! Not the place to quickly sample wine and leave, instead this is where the locals bring their families to dine - it's almost a secret to the tourists. It's the kind of business that built America - with 3 generations working there to make your meal perfect, including outstanding personal service. Proprietor Charlie at age 84 came to check on our table twice during the meal (his daughter Kimberly said he was out in the vineyard picking grapes earlier in the week) and when Kimberly noticed that our meal was taking a bit long to prepare, she brought us each a complimentary glass of wine along with a free cheese and crackers plate - WOW - talk about service! Salads are tossed fresh in front of the public, and nearby, Mary had her homemade cookies table covered with sweets to go (put money in jar - and FYI the prices are way too cheap). Unlike the architecturally-designed, big-time tourist-y wineries nearby, you wont be impressed by the building or decor that are reminiscent of a small-town junior high school cafeteria, but don't be fooled - this will be the best steak or prime rib dinner you've had in a long time. Wonderful people, super-clean and friendly. So glad...

I absolutely love the food at this winery. I am a beer drinker so the craft beer at $5 a frosted glass is wonderful. I had the Angus light and it was light and refreshing on a warm fall evening. Now lets talk about the food. Wow. I have been a regular here for years because the prime and ribs are so good but I must say they have truly stepped up their game. The salad is fresh spring mix with warm dinner rolls accompanied by Martha's special dressing which is to die for. I ordered the tomahawk pork chop with a baked sweet potatoes and it was devine. The pork chop super tasty and the sweet potato came with a cinnamon butter and brown sugar. Omg it was wonderful. Friend had the shrimp and that was delicious too. Another friend had the half pound hand patties burger. It was fantastic. Even the chicken tenders were flaky and tasty. Real chicken breast for sure.

There have been changes to the menu in the last six months and the changes are for the fresher and tastier. Can't say enough about how good my meal was and my beer. Oh yeah I tried the fry pie and Oreo cake pop on the way out. Crazy good. If you leave this place hungry it's your own...

If there was a 6th star, I'd highlight it, too! Admittedly, if you're looking to be overwhelmed with an aesthetically pleasing environment, this isn't it. It's more like a country diner inside, but the wine...my goodness it was good. We sampled most of them, and many were very good. However, nothing compared to the White Silk, easily the best wine I've ever drank (I prefer sweeter wines at this time). The greatest part of our visit was Charlie Virant, the patriarch of the family. If you go, ask to be waited on by Charlie if he is available. It's like sampling wine with your grandfather as he tells you the history of the vineyards. Also, the steak, prime rib, and ribs on Friday and Saturday night were fantastic. There are a lot of wineries in the area who are bigger, advertise more, have spent more on decorations and expensive patios and decks, but no winery will treat you better or offer better wine than Virant. We'll be...