Vin and I rarely ever get away for some ‘us’ time and finding that time can be a challenge when you have kids. It’s especially nice to find a place not too far from home that offers a peaceful haven from everyday life with a fantastic coastal atmosphere to help relax and reconnect. Such was the case last weekend…
When Saybrook Point Inn Marina & Spa invited us for a visit to sample the new spring menu at Fresh Salt we jumped at the opportunity! Conveniently located equidistant from New York City and Boston and a mere 4o minute outside of Hartford, Saybrook Point Inn Marina & Spa is a Connecticut traveler’s must!
I want to start off with a huge thanks to Saybrook Point Inn’s General Manager John Lombardo for inviting us and his gracious hospitality. We had an absolute fabulous time and we were very pleased by the entire hotel stay experience. I must add that at times catering to bloggers can be a bit of a challenge especially in the food industry. Our waiter, Michael at Fresh Salt was up to the task and provided us with beyond outstanding service! 
Fresh Salt is the signature casual fine dining restaurant at Saybrook Point Inn & Spa. They introduced a new spring menu featuring Chef d’ Cuisine Gese Rodriguez’s simple yet high quality approach to transforming the freshest seasonal ingredients of Connecticut into beautifully inspired dishes.
Under Gese’s guidance, Fresh Salt Restaurant has received ‘Best Upscale Restaurant Award’ from the experts’ panel of the CT Restaurant Association and ‘Best Hotel Dining’ from Connecticut Magazine, among many other accolades. Fresh Salt consistently rates 4 – 5 stars from guests commenting on Trip Advisor.
The Saybrook Point Inn Lighthouse is visible from almost all corners at Fresh Salt and was a beautiful site to see from our room. It is seasonally available for overnight guests.
We began with cocktails; Champagne Citrus Punch, Jack Daniels Hot Karma Margarita and Coconut Martini.
Oysters Rockefeller (topped with Spinach, Garlic, Fennel, Pernod)
Fresh Salt raw bar (local picks)
Duck Confit Spring Rolls (Some of my favorite ingredients rolled into one! Plus Goat Cheese & Chipotle-Cherry Salsa Cruda) image courtesy Local Food Rocks
Swiss Chard-Baby Kale Salad (Ruby Red Grapefruit, Apricots, Parmesan-Polenta Crouton, (I had mine with Manchego Cheese) and a Maple-Muscatel Vinaigrette)
I can’t possibly post every single dish we had but it’s safe to say seafood was a favorite of dinner options! Pan-seared Black Pearl Scottish Salmon over Roasted Cherry Tomato-Sweet Pea Fregola Sarda
I love lamb and this was a fantastic turf dish! Pistachio Crusted Lamb Chops (Dish was a ‘special’ and not part of the Spring menu. Amazing!)
Another land favorite is the Free-range Natural Stuffed Chicken Breast. (Stuffed with Sundried Tomato-Spinach Risotto, Pancetta and glazed with Whole Grain Mustard-Morel Mushroom Cream Sauce)
And now for some sweet stuff. I was literally under a food coma after this! Pineapple upside Down Bread Pudding (Spiced Rum Sauce with Tahitian Vanilla Gelato)
Dairy Free Coconut Sorbet (Two amazing scoops of deliciousness with Caramelized Pineapple and Caramel Sauce)
A simple but super refreshing treat, Strawberry Fig Balsamic (Tahitian Vanilla Gelato drizzled with a Balsamic Reduction).
Tiramisu Cheesecake
I simply can’t say enough about Fresh Salt’s new Spring menu. Aside from the amazing cuisine and handcrafted cocktails, Fresh Salt combines fine dining at a casual pace with beautiful water views of Long Island Sound. Fresh Salt is always working closely with local farmers and artisans to craft locally inspired seasonal menus with fresh ingredients from land and sea. It’s a great place in a convenient and easy to get to area for gatherings with friends, family or just because.
Fresh Salt at Saybrook Point Inn is one of southern Connecticut’s favorite waterfront dining destinations. For lunch, dinner, special events and cocktails on the Sound is this upscale casual restaurant. Choose between a relaxed lounge atmosphere at the Fresh Salt Lounge or at the outdoor Marina Bar.
Fresh Salt at Saybrook Point
2 Bridge Street
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
Reservations are recommended, please call 860-395-2000.
A very special thanks to Saybrook Point Inn management team for hosting this amazing event and overnight stay. All views and opinions are strictly my own.
