Mystic Pizza — Restaurant in Groton

Centered in the quaint coastal town of Mystic, Connecticut, Mystic Pizza has become a pilgrimage site for film buffs and foodies alike. This unassuming pizzeria rose to fame as the inspiration and namesake for the 1988 coming-of-age film starring Julia Roberts. While it may have all the trappings of a tourist trap, Mystic Pizza manages to serve up a experience that's worth sinking your teeth into.

As you step inside, you're greeted by movie memorabilia and a palpable sense of nostalgia. The walls are adorned with signed posters and stills from the film, transporting you back to the late '80s faster than you can say "A slice of heaven." The centerpiece of the dining room is a large fish tank, a nod to the area's maritime heritage. Ironically, despite the aquatic decor, you won't find any fresh seafood toppings on your pizza – a missed opportunity for local flavor, perhaps.

The pizza itself is a solid rendition of classic American-style pies. While it may not revolutionize your taste buds, it's satisfying in that comforting, cheesy way that only pizza can be. The crust strikes a balance between crisp and chewy, providing a sturdy foundation for generous toppings.

What truly sets Mystic Pizza apart is its connection to cinematic history. As you dine, you can't help but imagine a young Julia Roberts slinging pies and navigating the tumultuous waters of young adulthood. The restaurant cleverly capitalizes on this, offering menu items named after characters and memorable quotes from the film.

While the real-life Mystic Pizza wasn't actually used in filming (most scenes were shot in neighboring Stonington), the owners have renovated the place to resemble the movie set. This blurring of fiction and reality adds an extra layer of charm to the experience.

Is Mystic Pizza a tourist trap? In many ways, yes. But it's one that leans into its identity with such earnestness that it's hard not to be charmed. It's a place where you can indulge in both carbs and nostalgia, making it a worthy stop on any Connecticut road trip.

Slices of Heaven

In autumn's chill, as leaves turn gold, A craving stirs, both new and old. For circles of dough, sauce, and cheese, A comfort food that aims to please.

From Mystic's ovens, piping hot, A feast for those whose summers wrought A lean physique, now seeking more, To pad thighs, backsides, and bellies against winter's cold shore.

Layer upon layer, we stack with care, Pepperoni, mushrooms, without a spare. Each bite a step towards hibernation, A delicious form of subcutaneous insulation.

So let the tourist traps entice, With Julia's smile and pizza slice. For as we bulk and temperatures drop, At Mystic Pizza, we'll...

I like the movie, but am not a huge, huge fan, so I was unaware that they didn't actually shoot the movie in this building, but if they can capitalize on the fame the movie brings, why not? Good for them. But they do overcharge a bit. $34 for two SMALL veggie pizzas (one with cheese, one without) and $16 for two bottles of beer. I bought a souvenir mug so with tax and tip the whole shebang was over $75. So I give it two stars on value for that reason alone. And there's no tantalizing secret pizza sauce, so the pizzas are what you would find at just about any other place. But our waitress was charming and funny and conversed with us because it was not busy at the bar, where we were sitting. At the end of the meal, however, she did ask if we wanted any souvenirs. It reminded me of the days when restaurant owners would instruct their waitstaff to push appetizers ("Never forget to mention the appetizers!). I think maybe they instruct their waitstaff to ask if people want souvenirs, capitalizing on their movie nostalgia. Again, good for them! Why not? I'd do it it, too, if I owned that place. My only problem was when I said I'd take a mug (because that's what I collect from my travels) I thought I was getting the one with the photo of the building on it. I did not check it when the bag was handed to me and only looked at it when I got home days later, to discover it just had the words "Mystic PIzza" written on it. I was really mad...at myself for not checking when I bought it. That's what I get. And you know, maybe I was wrong and they don't even have a mug like that and I was looking at some other souvenir like a magnet. It was across the room and behind the bar, so I didn't investigate too thoroughly. My mistake. Live and learn. I did appreciate the map they had on the wall of the movie locations, for those who are real fans of the movie and want to see all the sights. So I have to give it four stars for the total experience, even though the value is two stars and the pizza is three stars. The nice waitress and the photos on the walls and just being there makes...

My best gals and I ventured into Mystic pizza this past Sunday. We got right in which was nice. To go to the dinning room, you have to climb some stairs so be prepared. The Atmosphere was very eye catching. Lots of pictures and posters around. They even had the movie "Mystic pizza" playing (on repeat lol) on the tv's. Such a cute restaurant. Staff were really nice, helpful and polite. Food was good. I really enjoyed the onion ring shoe strings (YUM YUM). They tasted like a bloomin onion minus the bloomin part n the shoe strings were thinner. I was disappointed that it didn't come with a sauce to dip them in, same with my Cajun fries. No queso or cheese dip (a bit disappointed) but none the less the appetizers were delicious. Now .. onto the PIZZA. I got the sm world famous with mushrooms. When it came out it kinda looked like a pizza you would get at pizza hut but smelled and tasted so much better. You can taste the fresh herbs n ingredients which I loved. It was nice and hot. I will say being that I had to pay for toppings. They only sprinkled a light portion of mushrooms on there so u maybe got 1 tiny mushroom per slice... VERY DISAPPOINTING! U charge for toppings. Put the toppings on. Don't be shy. I personally was not to thrilled about that. I was also expecting pizza like the ones you get by slice but it wasn't like that. It was way different but it was really good (minus hardly no mushrooms). Prices were actually NOT BAD for a tourist pizza joint even the souvenirs weren't pricey. I was impressed with that and of course bought some. All in all... for the experience I would definitely stop in and have some delicious Mystic pizza , buy a souvenir or two and enjoy the atmosphere. It's worth the stop in, but if you order toppings. I would ask for extra because if you don't. You won't...