142 Ferry Rd # 5
Old Saybrook, CT 06475-1440
(860) 510-0282
www.backporcholdsaybrook.com/
Price Guide: $$$
This was my first visit to the Back Porch and the day was perfect for an outdoor lunch on their spacious deck. We were greeted promptly and seated quickly. Our waitress was delightful and attentive. Our drinks came quickly and we placed our orders. I chose the Crab Cake sandwich special; my guests had a burger and baked stuffed shrimp.The burger was cooked perfectly to my guest's desire. However, the bun was over sized for the burger and the cheese was a typical processed yellow cheese that did little for the overall taste. The burger was $11 but with the cheese and bacon, it came to $13. Ummm...
The baked stuffed shrimp was a little better. There were four good sized shrimp but a bit overcooked. The stuffing, which included crab, was uninspired and gummy. I could not find the crab. The dish came with tasteless rice and limp green beans. At $24, it was well over priced.
My special, and I say special only because that is what it was billed as, was inedible. The crab cake appeared to be a frozen patty rather than a hand formed thick patty of crab meat. It mostly resembled a tofu chicken patty that you throw into the microwave. The sandwich was over slathered with a sauce and served, like the burger, on a bun way too big for the crab cake. Two bites and I sent it away. Our waitress, Rebecca, was great about me sending the crab cake back and took it off my bill. That saved me $16. And yes, I tipped her well. I finished my guest's shrimp - out of hunger.
Regardless of the quality of the lunch, we chose to have coffee and dessert. Coffee was fine and the desserts were ok but nothing special. Our overall bill for three people with drinks, coffee and dessert came to $88.
Overall, I was very disappointed. The Back Porch has excellent atmosphere. Especially if you are pulling into the dock and want to sit around the open fire pit for drinks. The BP is kid friendly.
I will go back one more time for dinner to see how that fairs. But, thus far, I would not recommend what we had for lunch.
Recommendation: I need to go again. But, for now, cool for drinks.