Charter Oak Tavern

Lee C

year ago

Terrific new upscale restaurant on the green in Westbrook! I was only checking it out for my family for a visit soon. I had a very well-made espresso martini and wonderful Parmesan truffle fries! Cozy atmosphere and kind attentive waitstaff make a visit that much more enjoyable. The menu looks great and I was told it gets tweaked every couple of weeks. Can't wait to get my family there!

Douglas Gingrave

9 months ago

Charter Oak Tavern in Westbrook has quickly become one of those places you just want to keep coming back to. The food is outstanding, the kind of cooking that makes you slow down and savor every bite. The chef is an absolute magician in the kitchen, turning familiar ingredients into dishes that feel both comforting and exciting. The atmosphere and decor are fun, warm, and cozy, with a playful vibe that still manages to feel relaxed and welcoming. It is the sort of room where you immediately feel at ease, whether you are at a table or up at the bar. The bartender/waiter is one of the nicest people you could hope to have taking care of you – genuinely friendly, attentive, and a pleasure to talk with. There is something special about seeing a chef in a Hartford Whalers hat at a place called Charter Oak Tavern. It brings back memories of the good old days in the South End of Hartford and ties right into Connecticut history and the lore of the Charter Oak. For anyone who loves great food, warm hospitality, and a little nostalgic Connecticut charm, Charter Oak Tavern is a true gem.

Donna Taylor

4 months ago

Duck was superb, as were the short rib croquets. Save room for dessert: the butter cake is divine. Lovely atmosphere, great service and the chef is quite personable. Lucky Westbrook!

Cerina Savino

8 months ago

My new favorite restaurant on the shoreline! From the very first bite, Charter Oak Tavern delivered an exceptional dining experience. The chef is clearly extremely talented. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, with flavors that were clean, vivid, and beautifully defined. I was thoroughly impressed and every dish reflected thoughtful execution and incredible flavor. The bacon-wrapped dates were a fantastic start, followed by the salmon appetizer, which was truly out of this world. The soup was comforting and perfectly balanced. The mushroom bolognese completely blew me away, as I’m definitely a meat eater. The depth of flavor was exceptional. The Cacio e Pepe was incredible. The scallops were cooked to absolute perfection. Dessert was just as memorable. The staff-recommended butter cake and it totally lived up to the hype 🤤and the chocolate torte was simply divine. A special shout-out to the staff! Especially Skip the bartender-he was warm, welcoming, and made the most incredible recommendations. Truly a joy to be around and the perfect finishing touch to an already outstanding evening. I can’t wait to return!!

Alleah Friedrichs

8 months ago

Wow. Heard it was good but didn’t expect it to be truly fantastic. Each dish delivered flavor, uniqueness and much thought put into it. The chef is undoubtedly talented. Highlights were the salmon belly appetizer with everything seasoning (I know), the mushroom bolognese, scallops and good lord the butter cake. I wouldn’t have ordered a cake but our server Chip (top notch service) said it was a staff favorite so who am I to not try? Dayummmn. I will return here as often as possible. This restaurant now takes my number one spot for the entire shoreline.

Joseph M.

3 months ago

Charter Oak Tavern is the real deal, and after two nights in a row we are completely sold. Night one, my party shared the pork chop, the salmon, and the carrots. The pork chop came out thick, beautifully seared, and so tender it practically gave way under the knife — rich, smoky, and seasoned with real confidence. The salmon was perfectly cooked, with crisp skin and a buttery, flaky interior that melted on the fork. Even the carrots, which can be such an afterthought elsewhere, were a revelation of an appetizer — caramelized at the edges, deeply sweet, and finished with the kind of touch that tells you someone in that kitchen actually cares. We came back the very next night because we had to. This time we worked through the cacio e pepe, the bacon and dates, the dumplings, the chicken cordon bleu, and the tuna tartare. The cacio e pepe was silky and peppery, the pasta clinging to a glossy sauce that was sharp, salty, and impossibly comforting. The bacon-wrapped dates were sweet, smoky, and savory all at once — the kind of bite that makes the whole table go quiet for a second. The dumplings were delicate and packed with flavor. The chicken cordon bleu was crisp on the outside, oozing in the middle, and a complete upgrade on the classic. And the tuna tartare was clean, bright, and beautifully composed — fresh fish doing exactly what fresh fish should do. The food was so good I went up and spoke to the chef directly to say thank you. The service all night matched the kitchen — warm, attentive, and genuinely glad to have us there. This place is a hidden gem. Do not listen to the negative reviews — they cannot be accurate, and they read like competitors or someone with a conflict of interest. The food and service are both honestly 5-star. As someone who worked in the kitchen in my younger years and carrying the passion for cooking today at home I whole heartedly apppreciate the effort of the chef and his sous chef. Incredible, incredible, incredible! We will all be visit

David Manzo

10 months ago

Had everything I enjoy in a small restaurant- excellent service - interesting menu - calm atmosphere. Went there on the recommendation of a friend. Each of the four of us had different entrees - fish/pasta/meat. All were excellent and well prepared. Portions were generous. We shared a couple desserts which were made at the restaurant. Will return.

Joel D

year ago

Charter Oak Tavern is brand new, a great addition to Westbrook. Chef Scott has a great menu and wears a Whalers cap. we LOVED the dates and bacon, and the burger was one of the best. Pamela our server gets 5 stars too. Go visit before this place gets too popular. We will probably be back next week.

Jack Greenwald

year ago

The best food on Connecticut shoreline. We had the tuna tartare and short ribs croquettes for starters. Incredible flavor, cooked to perfection on both dishes. For entrees we shared the scallops, squid ink pasta, and hangar steak. Steak was cooked to perfection with an incredible sear. Scallops were served with a delicious garlic, lemon sauce. Squid ink shrimp pasta had intense flavor. Steak with Parmesan truffle fries… speechless. And to top things off, we had the bread pudding and Kentucky cake. Both incredible. 101/10 will come back over and over again.

keira schwarz

6 months ago

What a pleasure! Stumbled upon Charter Oak. Interior was quirky and fresh while staying true to the building. Atmosphere was chill and cozy. Servers were lovely. And most importantly, the food was amazing. Had options from every course and everything was extremely well done. Highly recommend.