One of my absolute favorite spots for an outdoor lunch, Cafe Flo at the Florence Griswold Museum, is open for dinner on Tuesday nights through August. If you’ve ever wondered why Old Lyme became an artist’s colony, it’s crystal clear from your terrace table. The winding Lieutenant River in the dappled evening light is exquisite. You can almost imagine Childe Hassam, Henry Ward Ranger, Willard Metcalf, and the gang of artists who lived at Miss Florence’s boarding house capturing this vista from the banks of the river and establishing the colony as the most important in America at the time.

Oh, yes, and then there’s the food! Gourmet Galley has been behind the scenes at Cafe Flo since it opened, and they continue to nail it with fresh and seasonal salads, apps, and entrees. We quickly cleaned our plate of a bright burrata salad with local peaches and cherries to start. Uncharacteristically I allowed my dinner partner to order my go-to: the composed lobster salad with avocado and corn, while I chose the special for the evening, fat mussels with toasted buttered baguette for sopping up the garlicky broth. We shared a strawberry shortcake for a sweet and salty finish. A perfect summery meal on a gorgeous evening with an extraordinary view. Hoping they extend the dinner season through September!

Good to know: Dinner on Tuesday nights only; reservations a must. Lunch: Tuesday – Sunday 11:30am to 2:30pm, through October 29th. Children’s menu available.

Call 860.434.5542 x126 for reservations.

Find the menu here: https://florencegriswoldmuseum.org/visit/museum-campus/cafe-flo-menu/

Currently at the Museum: Object Lessons in American Art features four centuries of works from the Princeton University Art Museum that collectively explore American history, culture, and society. Inspired by the concept of the object lesson—the study of a material thing to communicate a larger idea—the exhibition brings groups of objects together to ask fundamental questions about artistic significance, materials, and how meaning changes across time and contexts.

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