MYSTIC — I’m picky about cocktails and don’t like maraschino cherries. So, I was thrilled to find an amaretto-soaked cherry atop my Pirate’s Punch on a recent visit to Mystic Seaport Museum. Constellation Culinary Group, a company known for its work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Carnegie Hall, debuted an elevated food service at the museum in June.
First stop: Schaefer’s Spouter Tavern. The building is a re-created exhibit, built by the museum in 1956, as an integral part of the 19th century sea-faring village that is Mystic Seaport Museum. The tavern building includes a hideaway bed in the corner intended for a hired barman, who slept there to admit late travelers, and also to keep an eye on the supplies.
From the new menu, we started off with a Mexican street corn dip, a spicy blend of roasted corn, cilantro, lime and chili served with tortilla chips ($10).
Chicken salad sandwich on a potato roll is pretty classic with mayo and celery and cranberries ($12). Barbecued chicken flatbread is a little sweet, a little smoky with BBQ sauce, cheddar jack cheese and bacon onion jam ($15). A local IPA ran $9. Other lunch options include New England clam chowder, hot dogs, quesadilla, and a burrata caprese salad. A swordfish BLT was offered as a seasonal special. This menu is definitely a step up from typical museum fare.
The staff tending the counter and bar are professional and friendly. They’ll bring your order while you sit at outdoor tables in the shade with a beautiful view of the Mystic River, the Charles W. Morgan and other boats and yachts docked nearby.
The museum will serve about 55,000 meals over the summer season alone, said Morgan Bedore, vice president of marketing at Constellation.
Greenman’s Landing, a larger dining venue, offers just what you’d expect for a day by the water in New England. Fish and chips ($24) and a deluxe burger ($14) are the two most popular items, Bedore said.
“We want to make sure the lunch experience is delicious and exceeds expectations,” she said. “We are giving people what they want, fast, hot and with great quality.”
The new menu, which is updated seasonally, also offers a vegan teriyaki pulled mushroom sandwich with cucumber kimchi on a pretzel bun ($14), a lobster roll (MP) and a fried seafood platter ($29) as well as beer and wine. Greenman’s has a kids’ menu with hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders and the like.
For coffee, lattes and espresso, head to the Propeller for locally roasted Fuel America brand coffee as well as baked goods.
“The idea is to make sure people have a little bit of something throughout the day,” Bedore said. “You can get lost for hours in this fisherman’s village, and our dining options give you a moment to sit and reflect at each part of your day. You can start at Propeller and have a latte for breakfast, then break for lunch at Greenman’s. You can end your day and reflect on your experience with a cocktail at Spouter’s. It really gives you that bookend.”
Constellation is also offering catering for special events at the Mystic Yachting Club.
Margaret Milnes, vice president of visitor journey at Mystic Seaport, said the museum is welcoming a variety of visitors from the new Delamar hotel next door as well as day trippers and luxury travelers.
Perhaps the best way to get to the museum and avoid the traffic on I-95 is by boat.
Dockage is based on space required. Museum members receive discounted rates—$4.40/ft (weekdays) and $4.80/ft (weekends)—including museum admission for guests arriving aboard. Non-members pay $5.50/ft (weekdays) and $6.00/ft (weekends). Multi-hull vessels incur an additional $1.00/ft. Dockage includes Museum admission, Wi-Fi, power, water, and more.
Pirate’s Punch
2 oz The Real McCoy Madeira cask aged rum
.5 oz house made ginger simple syrup
2 oz pineapple juice
2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
Shake & serve over ice
Garnish with an amaretto cherry
(Courtesy of Constellation Culinary Group)