As Waterford residents, we go to Filomena’s. It is a great atmosphere with great food. After a long week, we like to meet our friends enjoy some good food and drinks. It is an added bonus when there is music! Always a good time where you can unwind and have a great night.

– Melinda Bousquet

Great Neck is a beautiful venue inside and out. It is open to the public for fine dinning or just a quick bite and cocktail while enjoying some quality time with friends and family. Enjoy its indoor restaurant or take a seat outdoors on their pristine outdoor patio in the fall (especially during the foliage season), spring and summer. The beautiful panoramic views that overlooks the course and it’s magnificent surroundings are breathtaking.

Also for the golfer it’s a great walkable but challenging course to test your skills at the great pastime known as golf.

Well worth the visit!

– Bill Satti

To enjoy the great outdoors - the Niantic River is an amazing spot for many in the community. With the busiest boat launch in the state, you can launch your boat and cruise the river or head out under the bridges and be in Long Island Sound in mere moments.

You can rent a paddle board or kayak at Three Belles Marina (in Niantic) and spend the day exploring the river – visiting Grimsey or Kiddie Beach, hang out at Sandy Point, watch the abundance of wildlife on the river, including our resident pair of bald eagles, herons, egrets, ducks, fish, crabs, horseshoe crabs – to name a few.

You can have a picnic in Cini Park or Mago Point Park overlooking the river, read the historic placards with information about the river, launch your kayak from the kayak dock or drop a line from the fishing piers, or just relax and watch the steady stream of boats coming and going under the bridges.

You can arrange a charter to take you out fishing with the renowned Captain Bob of the Sunbeam Fleet – who has been doing this since he was born – or book the Blackhawk or Tartan II – or many others.

For a nominal fee, you can get a shellfish permit and collect clams, oysters, scallops when the requisite seasons are open.

You can sit at The Dock Restaurant or the soon to open Fat Tuna and enjoy food and cocktails overlooking the river, as well as a pop-up event space that opens seasonally with food, drinks and music.

And the crowning jewel to a day spent on the river are the famous Niantic River sunsets that are truly spectacular and never disappoint. The local news is known to feature them through the year. As summer turns to fall and winter, the colors deepen and intensify in a way that is hard to describe and breathtaking.

Whereas other rivers in the area (Thames, Mystic, Connecticut) are filled with industrial businesses, ferries, submarines, mooring fields that consume open recreational space or long stretches of no wake zones – the Niantic River is a rare spot where families can enjoy a day of recreation in a beautiful, sheltered, safe location.

Fishing, swimming, boating, kayaking, tubing, jet skiing, windsurfing, relaxing, shell fishing, breathtaking sunsets – it is truly a rare and most sacred spot in our community.

– Terry Lineberger

My wife, daughter and I enjoy going to Filomena’s for dinner and to listen to great music for a night out in Waterford! In addition, we also enjoy spending time outdoors at Waterford Beach Park! The summer music series is a great event in which our family can relax, enjoy great music, and atmosphere!

– Paul, Monica, & Madison Goldstein