Where to Eat and What to Do in Mystic, Connecticut - Eater Boston
"As evening arrives and you start to get thirsty, head to the Port of Call. Pick your vibe at two separate bars in the space: Upstairs offers the timeless elegance of a captain’s quarters, with light filtering through red velvet curtains across warm wood paneling and onto the centerpiece, a majestic curved bar made from salvaged ship wood. Downstairs at Dive Bar, there’s neon signage, a vinyl record collection, vintage games, a photo booth, and a diving suit in the corner. While Dive focuses on cold beer and simple cocktail builds, Port of Call’s upstairs drink list, led by director Jade Ayala, is more complex and tropical. Try the smooth Boozy & Honest featuring mezcal, cachaca, and banana justino — a fruit-infused rum — or Ancient Medicine, a floral play on the Penicillin. On both levels, find the same top-notch food menu created by 2023 James Beard nominee Reneé Touponce, who works magic with cured local fish in particular. Order the bacalaitos — a golden, Puerto Rican salted fluke fritter served with ephemeral cilantro lime foam — tender adobo-marinated beef tongue, and a snappy smoked hot dog dressed with bonito aioli and kimchi in a light and tangy double-fermented bao bun. The Port of Call also hosts performances almost every night, from sultry jazz to disco drag shows; it’s a lively draw for visitors and locals alike." - Stasia Brewczynski
