Yes, they may have gotten carried away with the Mason jars that contain everything from Bloody Marys and oyster crackers to a deconstructed key lime pie (absolutely worth the calories), but that’s not such a bad thing. The new Red36 is a welcome addition to the restaurant lineup in Mystic. Smack on the marina, this new indoor/outdoor spot, brought to you by the folks who own Olio, Bravo Bravo and Azu, is sticking steadfastedly to a nautical theme, but in a modern, contemporary way. Lucky for us, they’ve eschewed dusty fish nets and buoys for white adirondacks, navy captain’s chairs, and a gray, navy and white decor with pops of red. It’s all very fresh and reeking slightly of Pottery Barn.

The food is crowd pleasing, with a smart menu of standards: burgers, fish and chips and fried clams to more exotic fare like beef Bulgogi. We shared everything: a couple of grilled fish tacos were light and delish, we loved the enormous raw Ahi tuna salad brightened with tart grapefruit and smooth avocado on a mound of sticky rice. Panko fried oysters were served with an interesting and spicy cucumber Kim Chee and we couldn’t resist the cornmeal battered onion rings. I had a bit of burger envy when I saw the brioche-wrapped patty pass by with its pail of hand-cut fries, but we’ll be back!  Word is out, so expect a wait, but you won’t mind too much while you’re sipping the house Bloody Mary, spiked with bacon vodka and topped with a few crisp slices.

See the menu here: red36.com 

Previous posts you may also like: Matunuck Oyster Bar.

Tags: outdoor dining, waterfront dining, mystic restaurants, raw bar, seafood