Red 36
2 Washington Street, Mystic, CT
Imagine Boston’s Cheers, set on the Mystic River. That, my friend, is not Cheers at all. It’s Red 36, and it’s in your back yard, right on the shoreline.
You cannot beat the view. You cannot beat the drinks: Rarely will the house suggestions of even a hip new joint cause such dilemmas. Will I have the Pistol Point Rum Runner or the Fisher’s Island Lemonade? Would I prefer a good old-fashioned Manhattan straight up or a nice, dry gin Martini with an olive in an elegant glass? You cannot beat ending your day at Red 36 with your best mates or a select group of coworkers.
A visitor feels Red 36 before seeing it. Walking into an open floor plan with a buzzing bar scene brings its own contagious energy. The Seaport Marine unfolds beyond, and you are in like before you order your first drink or enjoy your first appetizer bite. A full raw bar and inventive list of starters kicks decision-making into high gear about as quickly as Red is likely to lift your mood.
The chili at Red 36 is endearingly and deceptively named. The generous plate of chips, sour cream, salsa and fresh guacamole will not disappoint. Of genuine note is the chili itself, capable of standing alone as its own appetizer or light dish, ingeniously flavored with subtle south-of-the-border spices along with a broth hinting of a pork essence that makes you want to skip the chips and attack the bowl with a fork.
You’ll be cheating yourself if you stop there. The grilled avocado with corn salsa, fresh, plump plum tomatoes and lobster can only be described as one of the most perfect appetizers you’ll have eaten to date. Flavorfully accented with a mild vinaigrette, the delicate, perfectly seasoned contents finish with a pleasant – yet wholly unexpected – little kick.
Of note are the salmon chips, smoked chunk salmon served on home-made
potato crisps with capers and red onion. Like small boats, each of four large chips and contents comes drizzled with a chipotle pepper remoulade. Not better than the grilled avocado, but a nice change from many of the predictable appetizer menus dotting the coast.
Dinner Menu. A shore dinner, crab cakes, burger boxes – Red 36 offers pleasant variety for meat-lovers and seafood seekers alike. But despite two visits, one caution: Two requests for rare … once with a burger and once with a New York strip … left this diner disappointed. If you really like rare, stick with the seafood. It’s fresh and delicious. There are a few places to get a perfectly cooked steak in Mystic. More on those in future reviews.
SPECIAL NOTE…
Atmosphere. At the risk of downplaying the food, which really is excellent and showcases a creative menu, it is difficult to articulate the joy to be found in a visit to Red 36. If you need a pick-me-up, make it your business to get to Red. From the clever drink selections to the finger food to the cheerful bar crowd, there are few better places to indulge and have fun.
