Rosemary & Sage

Really good food — quite pricey for the pasta
The pâté was excellent — will return wish they had lunch specials

My parents and I had our first experience here tonight and loved it. They were happy to fit us in among their reservations. The food was excellently prepared and the service was up to par, as well. We split mussels and stuffed clams, they both got ribs and I had clams over linguini. We were all taking food off other plates because it was all so good. We somehow made room for dessert and the apple crisp was a fantastic ending to a delicious dinner. Would recommend for a fancy but not-​too-​fancy dinner, and it seemed like reservations were the way to go.

This small unassuming restaurant is well worth a visit. I dropped by early on a Friday evening and was able to get a table without trouble. This was early in «the season» so there was space, but reservations are probably needed at busier times. Many of the patrons were obviously regulars as they were greeted by name and told to go to their regular tables. The menu has a nice variety, heavy on seafood as is appropriate for this area, but with a good balance of other options. Daily specials complement the regular menu. I enjoyed a well made martini followed by the scallops in lemon butter. The scallops were perfectly cooked, warm through but still tender and soft. The daily stewed vegetables were nothing special, but the house-​made whipped potatoes were fabulous. Since this was a special occasion I indulged in their house-​made carrot cake. At first I was terrified by the size of the cake slice, but it turned out that it had a lighter texture and good flavor. It was generous for one but would have been perfect to share. I should also note that the staff was very friendly and attentive and didn’t make me feel unwelcome because I was dining alone. I rarely give five stars but this is a special place.

Enjoyed lunch today at Rosemary and Sage. I am new to the area for work and was very happy with the menu, the service and the atmosphere. The scallop appetizer was shared with a friend and then I had the lobster croissant and she enjoyed the lobster pasta. We will be back.

My favorite little restaurant in this quaint beach town where my sister lives. Every year after Black Friday shopping traditionally we stop for the scallop bisque and yummy cocktails. We had the wings this time which were crisp and delicious. A New England favorite!

If I could give then 6 stars I would. Food. Incredible. Better than that. Amazing to infinity. Nice atmosphere. And the best part absolute top of the line customer service. Nancy herself will often serve guests. Her staff are also so kind and polite and the chef well he knows what he is doing alright!!!
The blacked salmon w steamed veggies is my favorite. Apple crisp is amAzing. So is the chowder. So is the warm bread and spread. Just can’t say enough about this place. Excellent.

A jewel of a restaurant, don’t let the outside fool you. The atmosphere is quite and pleasant, the staff including the owner are extremely friendly. The dining is small but set up beautifully and very spacious. Now for the food, it was so amazing it truly took us by surprise. Anytime you are traveling down Boston post road in Saybrook I highly recommend you pull into this little gem for a tremendous meal.

Had the worst stuffed shrimp of my life the other day. Left the shell on. Tasted like corn bread and didn’t devein the shrimp. The aioli was off that day too for the dipping sauce. We got salads with our meals and didn’t even finish them it tasted dirty like the greens weren’t washed and spun. The other plate was the filet mignon and it wasn’t good either. Tough, not medium, and underwhelmed.
This place was so good in the winter. Did they change chefs?

We were poking for a casual ace to eat on a Friday night. It was about 7:30. After rising Route 1, we elected to go to Rosemary and Sage. The parking lot was full and we waited for a car to leave.
A signboard listed 3 specials that sounded wonderful. Customers departing said «it was excellent».
My husband reviewed the menu and loved the growing white lights at window level. Fresh flowers dressed up the glass topped tables. We were quickly tucked into a corner table that had s commanding view of the dining area. It was not too dark nor too light for our middle aged eyes. The crowd was 40 – 90! Waitresses were signing Happy Birthday to a 9 year old while in the background we would hear lively conversations an laughing coming from the bar area. The tables are a comfortable distance from each other offering privacy.
I loved my Cosmos. My drink offer was followed by the scallop bisque with peppers which was rich and very tasty. And served very warm! ¹⁰⁄₁₀. My husband had the onion soup and was surprised that it was not beef broth based. It was still loaded with cheese – served nice and hot.
We followed this with a Lobster and artichoke fondue! This was a treat and the crock of fondue was very generous and ful of tender lobster morsels. Now we are stuffed.
The entrees –most of them-​come in small or large versions. The smaller minus the salad. The sides this evening were string beans and potatoes.
I loved the mashed potatoes and the green beans were beautifully prepared and presented with my surf and turf filet with 2 stuffed shrimp.
Had I not been stuffed, I would have loved to share a dessert. My husband — pickier than me raced about his selection the special Salmon Picatta.
Our hostess made us feel welcome. Our waitress Barbara was very attentive. Our water glasses were constantly refilled. Everything arrived hot! The ambience was very nice. We were thanks for coming.
We will return again.

This quaint yet classy restaurant is perfect for a first date. Good service, good food, cozy bar. I’ve had overall very positive experiences here.

Was very excited to come and try this restaurant with my parents. Before driving down to Old Saybrook we checked the hours on their website which says the restaurant is open seven days a week. This must have changed because when we arrived the restaurant was closed. Hours now are Monday-​Saturday 11:20-close
Don’t make plans to come on a Sunday.
I hope they update their hours.

The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, and the service is not consistent. But Nancy is a sweetheart and the food is consistently good! My favorite is the salmon with citrus butter, whipped potatoes and key lime pie! The desserts are homemade and absolutely delicious.

GREAT RESTAURANT!!! I live in California and my dad lives in old saybrook. This is his favorite restaurant. It’s awesome to know I can order a gift card over the phone and it arrives with no problem.

Have to say, this was a pleasant surprise! The food, I had the surf and turf, was excellent, ambiance was good, service was as good as you can ask for. Greeted immediately at the door, offered my choice of table, she immediately got me a drink, then my waitress showed up, think it was Barbara, very sweet, and genuinely wanted to make sure i had a good meal and experience. Filet was perfectly cooked and felt like butter on your tongue, was awesome! The shrimp was done and presented well, slightly overcooked and a little rubbery but flavor was outstanding! Crabmeat stuffing on shrimp was above average. Salad was fresh, with homemade ranch dressing that was divine! Quiet atmosphere, very relaxing, pleasant experience, would definitely go back when in the area.

I have been to this restaurant on several occasions and have never been disappointed. The food is tasty and expertly prepared. The waitstaff is always friendly and accommodating. Nancy herself makes all her patrons feel welcome. I highly recommend.

If you are looking for great food and a friendly atmosphere, this is the place for you. After reading some of the not so nice reviews I was confused. The owner Nancy always goes out of her way to come into the dining room to check on things. Our usual server Kim has an amazing memory. She knows our favorites and always makes great recommendations when there are specials being offered. This place is a little hidden gem on the shoreline. Prices are reasonable and you have the option of choosing your portion size. The wine list is pretty good too. There are value choices as well as some splurge items. Save room for dessert because they are all home made recipes by Nancy’s mom. Great food, even better service and a nice homey vibe. So what if the décor isn’t trendy and over the top. It’s clean and friendly. Make a reservation because it is a small space.

The food is consistently great at Nancy’s Rosemary & Sage! The food is great and the staff make you feel like family… Every time I am in Old Saybrook I have to stop by and now most of my friends feel the same way! Nancy makes a mean cocktail to boot… Had baked stuffed lobster this past Saturday that was tender and sweet. Started off with the Stuffed clams that were fabulous… Where else can you go and get a great salad included.
You should try their Fried Shrimp club, YUMMY!

Pretty standard old fashioned dated food with a even more dated atmosphere. We were disappointed by the lack of freshness of the salad and a menu that is from the nineties.
I give it two stars only because they were very friendly and trying so hard. Not a place to eat though.

**3.5 stars**
Popped in yesterday for «happy hr» which consists of whatever Nancy has on hand. She brought us out mini meatballs with a cup of marinara and drinks. While sitting outside enjoying the sunny afternoon and ignoring the gas station view Nancy talked me into ordering the steamers. I’m glad she did because I’ve never ordered them before and now I’m hooked. They were «very clean» and just in from Maine, according to her, and the broth that came with them was superb!
On another note if your interested in trying the WORLDS BEST tomato soup then look no further.
Eat on its own, pour over pasta or even use as mussel broth, yum…

We stopped for dessert after the movies.
Immediately I liked the ambiance. Candles on the tables, table cloths, low lighting, a limited view of the salt marsh inlet off the Sound, small but quaint. The bar area is small too but the vibe was relaxed. jazz playing over the speakers. A mixed (age) crowd with locals/​regulars on a busy week nite.
The owner was both waitress & bartender (is there a theme here in Old Saybrook?) She proudly stated that her Mom (in her 80s made all of the desserts served there from scratch.
We did not have dinner. We had VERY fresh delicious coffee which is served in individual pots– I loved this as I didn’t have to wait for a refill.
I had the Coconut tort. It was OK but here is why: the short bread crust was too thick because the coconut filling wasn’t enough to support all that crust. And a cream of coconut reduction was heated & poured over the tort which made it too sweet. The whipped cream was real but out of a can.
All in all it was OK. However, I am willing to go back for dinner & to give dessert another try.
Private small parking lot.