The Restaurant at Spicer Mansion
Exclusive fine dining in Connecticut
Mystic, Connecticut’s new Spicer Mansion is an exquisite hotel, but the gorgeously restored 19th-century manor isn’t the only draw. The Restaurant at Spicer Mansion attracts visitors from around the world. But, there’s a catch — not everyone can get in. This memorable tasting room experience is open only guests of the hotel and other invited parties. Here’s why you should book an overnight to score a coveted reservation.
Our Inspector's Highlights
• Dinner begins in one of the Mansion’s maritime-inspired salons. Marvel at the frescoed ceilings, restored to their original glory when the building was being converted from an apartment building into a hotel.
• The Restaurant’s tasting-menu-only experience features farm-to-table fare designed nightly by chef Jennifer Backman.
• Chef Backman takes inspiration from her strong relationships with nearby farms as well as her regular work with a local food forager to find the freshest seasonal ingredients possible.
• The perfect place to enjoy a post-meal cocktail, Room No. 9 Speakeasy is located in the Mansion’s basement. Look for creative twists on classic sips made with fresh ingredients.
• The Restaurant’s tasting-menu-only experience features farm-to-table fare designed nightly by chef Jennifer Backman.
• Chef Backman takes inspiration from her strong relationships with nearby farms as well as her regular work with a local food forager to find the freshest seasonal ingredients possible.
• The perfect place to enjoy a post-meal cocktail, Room No. 9 Speakeasy is located in the Mansion’s basement. Look for creative twists on classic sips made with fresh ingredients.
Things to Know
• Dress to match the occasion – jackets and collared shirts are required for men, and no jeans are allowed.
• The elegant tasting menu is available for dinner Wednesday through Sunday evenings from 5:30 until 9:30 p.m. Sunday brunch is served from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
• Reservations are required to dine at this intimate eatery. Call 860-245-4621 to request a reservation.
• Should you need to cancel your reservation, be sure to do so more than 48 hours in advance to avoid a cancellation fee of $95 per person.
• The elegant tasting menu is available for dinner Wednesday through Sunday evenings from 5:30 until 9:30 p.m. Sunday brunch is served from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
• Reservations are required to dine at this intimate eatery. Call 860-245-4621 to request a reservation.
• Should you need to cancel your reservation, be sure to do so more than 48 hours in advance to avoid a cancellation fee of $95 per person.
The Food
• As you enjoy pre-dinner drinks, you’ll be presented with a selection of canapés designed to prepare you for the meal ahead. On a recent visit, these included a miniature potato topped with crème fraîche and an edible flower.
• Expect a six-course menu composed of both meat and seafood — or a vegetarian selection — which can be mixed and matched as desired, with optional (yet well worth the price) wine pairings.
• Items change nightly, but they are inventive plays on classics. Past dishes have included chicken and dumplings made with roasted chicken breast, Hudson Valley foie gras and chicken consommé, and a French onion soup served as a mirepoix of vegetables in a light veal broth with a spring onion tartlet on the side.
• Don’t miss the optional cheese course, where many of the selections come from local farms, and save room for the post-dessert mignardises served in a custom jewelry box.
• Expect a six-course menu composed of both meat and seafood — or a vegetarian selection — which can be mixed and matched as desired, with optional (yet well worth the price) wine pairings.
• Items change nightly, but they are inventive plays on classics. Past dishes have included chicken and dumplings made with roasted chicken breast, Hudson Valley foie gras and chicken consommé, and a French onion soup served as a mirepoix of vegetables in a light veal broth with a spring onion tartlet on the side.
• Don’t miss the optional cheese course, where many of the selections come from local farms, and save room for the post-dessert mignardises served in a custom jewelry box.
The Design
• The intimate dining room overlooking the Mansion’s gardens is as simple as the food is complex.
• The purposefully quiet dining space, where diners sit side by side at intimate banquettes or at round tables set with Baccarat crystal and Italian hemstitch linens, is best for couples or small groups.
• The art on the walls, items on loan from nearby galleries or available for sale from local artists, enhance the mood.
• The purposefully quiet dining space, where diners sit side by side at intimate banquettes or at round tables set with Baccarat crystal and Italian hemstitch linens, is best for couples or small groups.
• The art on the walls, items on loan from nearby galleries or available for sale from local artists, enhance the mood.
Getting There
