Old Lyme Inn

$ 18 dollar burger ordered medium came out a charred hockey puck half the size as the bun. Dinner companion had the same. Slow service and complaining wait staff. Weak drinks and a bill in excess of $ 200 for 4 people… would have been better off going to Outback.

What can I say? This restaurant occupies prime real estate, has a great location, yet fails to deliver on every level. I’ve eaten here more than a handful of times, each time expecting that it couldn’t be as bad as it was. Staff are not engaged and the food is less than mediocre. In fact, I can’t see how they can break even. The place is empty most of the time. The last time (may I reiterate — the ‘LAST’ time) I was here, there were three parties dining, including us… while other local restaurants were packed. I don’t understand it, the music being played was great and the look of the bar area fabulous, art terrific, yet there is a stuffy formal feel to the place that is a major buzz kill. It seems like they need to relax the bar area… maybe some soft furnishings rather than rows of empty, formal seating. Perhaps employ a chef who cares about the food being produced. Even a manager who can organize the staff so they don’t appear like they’re clueless or fighting fires.
I hear that the Side Door Jazz Bar is a major venue, which is very cool, however the restaurant side is a disgrace. I feel that the Old Lyme Inn is a potential gold mine that has not been tapped. The question is: when will it be?

Lovely Inn. We stayed mid-​week, off season and were immediately upgraded to a beautiful room with a fireplace. There were very few guests but the staff never made us feel like they were not giving us their «A game.» Bar staff was friendly and the restaurant was quite good. This place is charming and worth a visit.

When you think of classic New England charm, if you’re imagining a stately old home with an elegantly-​appointed dining room serving traditional cuisine, the Old Lyme Inn is what you had in mind. It’s definitely the place you’d want to take your grandma for brunch, which ironically is exactly why we were there. Unfortunately, this place scores well on style but poorly on substance.
A meal in such a nice space deserves to pass in relative peace and quiet, which was impossible with the jazz band in the next room playing so loudly that we strained to hear each other talk across the table. Although our server was friendly he overstepped a little when trying to join a conversation we were having when he approached, and he managed to mess up my grandma’s order, either because he spaced out or because the music prevented him from hearing her. Despite there being relatively few occupied tables our round of bloody marys seemed to take longer than it should, and when the food arrived I was initially short by one of the two eggs the menu promised me, although it arrived rapidly on a separate plate without my having to point it out.
The food itself was good if somewhat pedestrian. My corned beef hash was clearly homemade but had a strong flavor of some herb or spice that overshadowed everything else on the plate, and the poached eggs and rye toast were fine but nothing I couldn’t get at your average diner. My mimosa was mostly champagne with a hint of orange juice, which I suppose some people would consider a plus, but I was hoping for a more even balance. The other dishes around the table, benedicts and so on, looked similarly ordinary, although the homemade chips that came with some of the sandwiches were excellent.
All in all, our meal was pleasant without being excellent in any way. It’s a shame that such a beautiful venue lacks the attention to detail to make sure the food and service match the setting. And seriously, lose the band, or at least tell them to take it down a notch.

We stayed during Christmas, and the moment we walked in, the inn was lovely. Cheerful outside lighting, and live music in the lobby felt very festive. Unfortunately, our experience gradually degraded over several days. Staff and management are «okay», but there is the sense that they are too comfortable with the place, and what should be a class operation misses the mark. Everyone, including the cooks, could benefit from a re-​boot in training, or they could simply follow the example of the service and food at the Bee & Thistle Inn, which achieves excellence because they choose to. P. S. Butternut Squash Bisque is an actual cream soup! not just pureed squash —

This is a lovely inn. There is a terrific jazz band that performs during Sunday brunch.

Ok. So my husband accuses me
of having high expectations, but for the cost of the room, $ 230 + on a Sunday night during off-​peak season… I expected more.
The clerk was very nice & accommodating. Led us up a dimly lit hall to our room. The first thing I noticed was an envelope on the night stand labeled «tips for housekeeping». The heat was turned way low took a while to get up to room temp. Overall, room is nice enough for a 1night stay… just not at this price.
Website said the rooms had flatscreen tvs & Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries. Nope. Also, the towels were sooooo yellow & rough. Website also said we would be supplied w/​bamboo robes. Nope.
Whatever. Again, my husband is telling me it’s my fault for believing what I read online. On THEIR OWN website!
The WORST part about the experience was the bar/​restaurant area downstairs. We got there a little before 8:00, after a fabulous dinner across the street. We wanted one drink before going upstairs. Before we could even ask for one, the bartender said she «aint servin food no more but we can get a drink.» We asked if she had any local beers & she did not know. We then ordered random beers off the menu. She then began to spray cleaning chemicals on the bar around us. I asked what time they closed & she said 9:00. I asked about places to visit nearby & she said she didnt know anywhere local. We downed our beers & got the hell out of there & up in our rooms.
I just checked the website again. supposed to be tv’s & wifi. I plan on speaking to the manager tomorrow morning. Definitely the worst part about the entire trip.

One of the better inns in the coastal historical art area of Connecticut. We’ve been there twice, once for a more formal dinner, and another time for something more casual in the bar area.
The more formal and intimate setting in the dining room by the fire was ideal, and we enjoyed it greatly. The food was good, with some standouts like the beer corn chowder, and some mediocre dishes. Our second experience was in the bar/​pub area, and was less charming by a long shot.
Staff is a mix of professionals and local characters and was acceptable
I would suggest requesting the dining room for a more charming atmosphere.

excellent stay. room was spacious, and inviting. we got tickets to the jazz club that’s attached to the inn and it was great!
the staff, although nice, probably requires some hotel management training. it seemed as though the «concierge» was a bit preoccupied — and didn’t have the usual temperament you’d find in other reputable inn’s in new england. for example, she said that she didn’t have our reservation, and vaguely implied that we didn’t even make one with Old Lyme Inn, but rather, the inn down the street. she had printed out all of the reservations for the night, but not ours — and rather than go back to her computer to double check first, my girlfriend had to pull up the reservation on her phone to prove it. «oh, I forgot to print it out!» she says. — this person needs serious training.
the continental breakfast was great, definitely helped for our morning out on the road.
I’d definitely stay at old lyme inn again, just get some training for the Inn’s concierge.

Nice outside image… Went we got to the desk a few people passed by, saying… someone will be with you in a minute…
The room (#4) was big… when we walked in… the smell of disinfectant cleaning products was SO Strong… I had to immediately open all window… it was too much.
The carpet, even though it was vacuumed… it looked kind of worn and old… The fireplace worked, but the flames were miniscule… They were barely 2 inches tall…
Overall OK…

Let it be known, I am going out of my way to sign up for Unilocal & give the Old Lyme Inn a negative review. We live in Old Lyme & shortly after moving here were sold a gift certificate for dinner. A month later, we were told they no longer served dinner & it was essentially worthless to us. ]
That didn’t detour us from throwing a wedding shower there. We choose the Old Lyme Inn because it was handicapped accessible & I thought we had made that quite clear to Candy (the Owner). It didn’t seem to matter because the day of the shower we found ourselves carrying my grandmother in a wheel chair up a flight of stairs to the cocktail hour, which she had moved without notifying us.
Because Old Lyme is a small town, we inevitably had people stay there after the wedding. All reported being unsatisfied with their stays & being treated rudely by Candy. I would save yourself the trouble of staying there & try the Bee & Thistle across the street or one of the chain hotels in East Lyme, at least there you will know what you are getting in to.

When you first walk in the door you can tell this B/​B will be just o.k. No really bad complaints, but from mattress to amenities to breakfast it is just adequate. The place needs updating. Cracked flooring, malfunctioning drapes, luke warm water, ultra-​thin bath towels, you get the picture. Exterior trim coming loose, peeling paint. Breakfast everyday is the same… just rearranged. Portions are good, quality is good, fresh fruit and berries. The home made mini-​muffins are very good as is the granola. Only met one staff person and she is very friendly and helpful. Since this is my first trip to Old Lyme /​Saybrook I am at a loss to recommend another B/​B but I would keep shopping a bit more next time. Old Lyme Inn is a one-​time event for us.