New Mystic Restaurant Open For Business

The signs were out for months announcing a new eatery with a curious name. And despite false starts the Savin Rock Roasting Company opened its doors last weekend in Mystic.

The restaurant, with headquarters in West Haven and locations in Hartford and other communities, shares its location with the beleaguered .

“The power’s on, so we’re happy,” said Keith McDonald, general manager of the new Mystic restaurant. “But I want [people] to know we’re the Savin Rock Roasting Company not the Ramada.  The property has amazing potential. It’s been mismanaged, but it’s a great location. We’re the restaurant, not the hotel. We’re here to stay; whatever it takes. We’re working on it, like trying to figure out if we can separate the electricity to start with.”

McDonald is referring to the troubles at the on-again, off-again Ramada Mystic Hotel, which has faced , seen its power shut off due to non-payment and a myriad other issues that has meant the restaurant, which started promoting its presence with signs and banners more than three months ago, was , until this past weekend.

“It was a very, very soft opening,” McDonald said. “I just unlocked the door. We’ll have a more formal grand opening probably next week, but we needed to get our feet wet this weekend and it went pretty well.”

More than once members of the Planning and Zoning Commission complained about illegal banners and other signage at the Ramada Hotel in Mystic. Initially it was the voluminous and garish banners advertising Coors beer and then, in the past several months, it was the signs and banners promoting the Savin Rock Roasting Company. A town zoning violation was issued.

When the restaurant opened this past weekend, the banners were removed and in their place was a smaller, regulation-friendly sign.

“I removed them,” McDonald said. “I went to the town and said give me a list and I’ll make sure the things get done. I’m a breath of fresh air for the town because I am in compliance with everything. I always want to stay in good standing with the town.”

McDonald said that the eatery received a “phenomenal” health inspection and a certificate of occupancy from the fire marshal.

“Everyone has been very supportive,” McDonald said. The restaurant features “a new kitchen, new servers, new everything.” McDonald proudly pointed out the restaurant’s décor and “amazing menu with phenomenal prices” as he vowed to cater to “locals.” He said that the first night he was open “lots of locals came in.”

“I live and die by the statement that I would never make a local pay what a tourist pays just because of the town they live in,” he said. “We’ll always be economy-friendly and people won’t have to break the bank to come and eat and enjoy.”

The restaurant chain is named for a section of West Haven, Connecticut, the Savin Rock neighborhood, the location of a seaside amusement park popular in the late 19th and into the mid-20th century.

It features, and prides itself on, its “slow-roasted” meats. The restaurant includes a separate bar and game room.