Hot Spot Mystic: Sea Swirl

30 Williams Ave., Mystic, CT

seaswirlofmystic.com

Today Jake and I went to the Mystic Aquarium and were pretty much the only people there without strollers.  It was smaller than I remembered from visiting as a kid, but I enjoyed the Beluga whales and the sea lions.  

After, we went out to lunch at the Sea Swirl.  This roadside stand was once a Carvel ice cream shop and now serves up fried seafood to order, grill fare of the burgers and dogs variety, and soft serve ice cream.

We both had cod sandwiches that came straight out of Stonington Harbor, hot and crunchy, served on a soft potato roll with lettuce and tartar sauce.  The white board out front listed the day's specials as well an announcement for the birth of the owner's granddaughter.  The place has been written up by the New York Times and the Boston Globe and is a local gem.  Come by and grab a seat at the picnic tables soon!