On The Waterfront Restaurant — Restaurant in New London

Very disappointed with my most recent trip to say the least.

I had made a reservation in advance to take my best friend out for a birthday lunch here. The reservation was made for a party of three. Upon reserving a table - I was informed over the phone that reservations for tables outdoors were not taken. We definitely wanted to sit outside. They will reserve you a table inside and sit you outside based on availability - which is fine!

Upon arrival, we asked to be seated outside and the hostess said that was okay. She walked my party to the deck and there were not any tables that could seat three. There were, however, tables that sat two. We asked the hostess if we could pull up a chair to a two person table (the two person table was big enough for three people, just lacked the chairs). The hostess went to ask her manager and the manager said we would not be allowed to pull a chair up. She said when a table frees up we could move outside. We were fine with this of course, but all the events to follow were just disappointing and an awful delivery of “customer service”.

We were seated inside and our waiter then greeted us. We informed him (our waiter’s name was Trevor - absolutely wonderful gentleman by the way!) that we planned to move outside once a table freed up. We saw a table had freed up outside, and per the directions we received from the host, we went and told her it had freed up because we wanted to be moved to it. A man named Bruce (older gentleman who wears a tshirt) then came up to our table and he told us that there were “two parties ahead of us” and that we would have to wait another 30 minutes for an outdoor table. We asked if they made reservations and Bruce had said no - that the parties had come in and requested an outdoor table. He was very condescending and rude in tone. He never tried to be friendly or apologize once.

My party let this go and we tried to make the most of it! For a second time, I then reached out to my waiter to say that those other two parties will be seated outside in a few minutes and there will still be an empty table we could move to. On top of all this - we saw a party of five be seated outside at a four person table and pull a chair up - YET - we were told we couldn’t pull a chair up for a two person table? It just was not adding up. Trevor, our waiter, then went to ask his manager (or owner) Bruce, if we could move to the deck per the empty table. Bruce told Trevor we could go sit at this outdoor couch, not a table, and that that was the best he could do. We informed our waiter we were very disappointed we drove an hour for a BIRTHDAY lunch and felt none of the staff was communicating the same message to us about seating and being very rude.

I am very understanding of seating availability and what I am saying is the issue here is that I made a 1 o’clock reservation and saw countless parties being sat outside, and other parties pulling chairs up to tables but we were not allowed to. We were a younger party - 22 years old - and every party that was seated and better respected were older. It felt like we were not being taken seriously considering our age, but at the end of the day I made a reservation to celebrate a happy time and I deserve to be treated just as kindly as all the other customers.

Absolutely awful management and the food is not even that good!! We genuinely would’ve left the restaurant and paid for drinks alone if we hadn’t already ordered our food. The only person who tried to rectify the situation or ease our disappointment was our waiter Trevor — Trevor was also aware it was one of my friend’s birthdays and he later made sure she got a dessert on the house. So we are grateful to Trevor, but would never come here again. It’s sad when your waiters are trying to deliver better customer service than a manager/owner. Never one apology or acknowledgment for the issue at hand. I would not recommend and you can better spend your money elsewhere.

If I could give this place less than one star I would. Our waiter Trevor is the only reason I...

On The Waterfront Restaurant & Bar, located at 250 Pequot Avenue in New London, Connecticut, offers a dining experience with striking views of the Thames River. This family-run establishment, managed by Stash Schiavone and Chef Anthony Schiavone, emphasizes a combination of casual elegance and culinary excellence. The restaurant features a spacious dining room with waterfront views, a full bar, and an outdoor patio that is especially popular during the warmer months. It has made a name for itself by focusing on delivering the best of New London's culinary offerings through a diverse menu that includes seafood, pasta, steak, and chicken dishes…

Venturing into the restaurant for the first time, I found myself unacquainted with the layout, leading to a waterside table that, while scenic, suggested a preference for the indoors next time around.

The meal commenced with a rustic presentation of bread served with whipped, salted butter, setting a comforting tone. The appetizer—a delightful array of scallops wrapped in bacon and adorned with a basil aioli—was a standout, hinting at the culinary finesse that awaited.

The main courses further showcased the kitchen's prowess. The "Surf and Turf" for my companion featured a perfectly cooked 4-ounce fillet medallion alongside a generous 6-ounce lobster tail stuffed with savory fillings, accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes and crisp vegetables, all enhanced by a rich lobster sauce.

On the lighter side, the "Mediterranean Cod" was a vibrant dish that married the mild flavors of seared Atlantic cod with the intensity of sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and garlic, nestled on a bed of spinach. The light tomato sauce provided a fresh counterpoint, making it a dish that truly delighted.

Dessert was an extravagant chocolate mousse cake, layered with lush mousse and frosted with a smooth chocolate buttercream. The addition of a drizzle of chocolate and a sprinkle of chocolate chips, along with my signature cappuccino, provided a decadent finale to our dining experience. Each element of the meal was crafted with attention to detail, offering a testament to the chef's ability to blend classic comfort with...

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary at The Waterfront Restaurant this evening. Making the reservations the day prior was easy and fast. Our reservations were later confirmed via email. So far, so good! The restaurant was easy to find, though parking might be a problem during more busy summer months. We decided to dine on the patio in the wonderfully warm temperatures. The patio overlooks the water and adjacent mariner. We started our meal with lobster bisque which was good, but a little salty. We then progressed on to the crab cake appetizer with roumelade sauce. The cakes were overly mixed with too much bread and could have used more crab meat added. Very bland. My husband had steak medallions with shrimp for his entree. The two steak medallions were cooked to perfection and the 2 shrimps were tender. He ordered a side house salad which was crisp and delicious. My entree was lobster roll with french fries and cole slaw. The french fries were the best I have ever had! They were crispy and crunchy! I felt the cole slaw could have used a little more tartness to it with maybe a bit more vinegar. My lobster roll was a disappoinment to me. The roll was soggy on the bottom and could have been toasted more. The lobster in the roll was fair, but did not look fresh and inviting to eat! The lobster was bland and somewhat rubbery. For $32, I would have expected more tender and favorful lobster. We asked our waitress if the small plastic container that looked to have melted butter in it was real butter. She said it was. Upon tasting it, we could tell it tasted more like an oil and not real butter. Another disappointment. I will say that the waitress was good and met our needs The Tiramisu for dessert was also yummy! For the money we spent for the two of us, $150.00 with tip, we would have liked to come away with a more complete satisfying...