Wright’s Steakhouse - Essex

I visited this restaurant for lunch to celebrate the end of summer. We began with calamari, which was delicate and crunchy, paired beautifully with smooth aloe. I could definitely have more of that! For my main course, I had the seafood pasta, which was generously loaded with calamari, scallops, steamers, and shrimp. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, but the rest of the seafood was also done to perfection. The BBQ ribs were just the right amount of sweetness, accompanied by a delicious sauce. As a master BBQ enthusiast myself, I can appreciate that. The meal came with fries and coleslaw, both of which were fresh and crispy. The restaurant wasn't very busy during lunch, making it a wonderful spot to relax. Overall, it's a fantastic place!

I visited this restaurant for lunch to celebrate the end of summer. We began our meal with calamari, which was delicate and crunchy, perfectly paired with a smooth aloe sauce. I definitely could have eaten more! For my main course, I had the seafood pasta, which was generously loaded with calamari, scallops, steamers, and shrimp. The shrimp were cooked just right, while the rest of the seafood was prepared to perfection. The BBQ ribs were delicious, not overly sweet, and came with a fantastic sauce. As a BBQ enthusiast, I truly appreciated them. They were served with crispy fries and fresh coleslaw, which added a nice touch. The restaurant wasn’t busy during lunch, making it a great spot to enjoy a meal. Overall, I highly recommend this place!

The positives: We were promptly seated for our reservation at 6 PM by friendly staff. Our server was gracious and professional, and both our appetizers and entrees arrived quickly. We shared a spinach salad, followed by filet mignon, fried chicken breast with prosciutto, and potato au gratin. The salad was delightful, featuring fresh spinach leaves lightly dressed, just the right amount of salty blue cheese, crispy shallots, generous pieces of bacon, and delicate ribbons of pickled red onion. The meats were cooked to perfection, and the accompanying sauces showcased the kitchen's skill; the potato au gratin was exquisite. While we enjoyed every bite and could have easily eaten more, the portion sizes were just right. The wine list was impressive and reasonably priced, and the wines we selected were lovely. The bar area was inviting and well-lit, with ample seating. On the downside: The bar seemed to struggle with timely drink service, which diners typically expect. Bread was only provided upon request (I only asked because I noticed the table next to us enjoying some). Unfortunately, the bread arrived without oil or butter, making it quite hard and dry. While considering the menu, we posed several questions to our server, who honestly admitted she couldn't answer them because the staff hadn't yet had the opportunity to taste the dishes. Additionally, the decor came off as oddly minimal and incomplete. Exposed electrical cords were visibly hanging from the ceiling, and the walls, while painted a rich red, remained bare. There were large areas of unused space both at the front and back of the restaurant, which detracted from the overall warmth and character that could have been created with the existing hardwood and metal features. The not-so-great: Behind the restaurant, there’s a beautiful greenhouse that had previously been used by another establishment to grow their own greens. Unfortunately, Wright’s has neglected this resource, missing an opportunity to incorporate more local ingredients into their offerings, which is part of their mission statement. In summary, Wright's has made a promising start! I would happily choose exceptional food and service any day, even with a few rough edges in decor and details. I look forward to returning in a few months once any initial challenges are resolved.