With COVID-19 still alive and well, you may find yourself (still) cooking more at home. If you didn’t already know, one of the greatest perks of being stationed in New England is access to fresh seafood. Being from Seattle, my heart has a special place for Pike Place Market. And while I still need to explore more area farmer’s markets, my husband and I have been pleasantly surprised by the fish and meat markets near Groton. Many of them charming, roadside stands.
If you want to switch up your usual routine and buy fresh and local meats, here’s six great local businesses to try:
Grass & Bone
One part butcher, one part restaurant, Grass & Bone quickly became one of my husband’s favorite places when we first moved here. The Mystic eatery is open daily from 10am to 8pm for indoor/outdoor dining and take out, with happy hour from 3pm to 6pm. Due to COVID restrictions, Grass & Bone currently offers an online market with locally-sourced grocery goods and prepared meals for curbside pick-up. You can still shop inside, as well.
Westerly Packing Co.
Westerly Packing Company is located just over the Rhode Island border, and brings in generations of meat cutting experience . Their fresh specialty items consist of their family’s beloved sausage recipe to create hot and mild Italian sausage, breakfast sausage, chicken sausage and a meatball mix. They also specialize in smoked items, including their own hams, bacons and smoked sausages.
Westerly Packing also carries a large selection of imported Italian products, including specialty pastas, imported olive oils and vinegars, sauces, Italian water, cookies and candies, cheeses and olives. The retail shop is open Mondays-Fridays, 8am to 6pm, Saturdays from 8am to 5pm and Sundays 8am to 2pm.
Salem Prime Cuts
Located in New London, Salem Prime Cuts is known for their custom butchering, smoke house, slaughtering and retail meat market. The shop and deli sells a variety of meat packages, prepared foods, locally famous grinders, catering and grocery. Salem Prime Cuts is open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 8am to 6pm.
The Mystic Fishery
The Mystic Fishery has two convenient locations in Mystic and Westerly, and specializes in fresh and local catches. Their fish include Swordfish and Tuna from Point Judith, seasonal white fish like Flounder, Cod and Haddock, along with Blue Fish, Black Fish, Black Sea Bass and Striped Bass. The fishery also sells goods from Maine, such as Steamers, Mussels and Lobsters. The market also offers prepared foods such as stuffed clams, salads, fish cakes and steamed lobster. For daily specials and updates, check out their Facebook page.
Sea Well Seafood
Sea Well Seafood is a fisherman owned and operated retail and wholesale seafood dealer, lobster pound and neighborhood fish markets. With locations in Stonington, Pawcatuck and Mystic, Sea Well specializes in locally caught fish, lobsters and shellfish from their own boats, as well as other local fishermen. Their friendly & knowledgeable staff are always happy to assist you with the kind of “small town” customer service you’d expect from a small town. For the latest updates, check out their Facebook page.
Flanders Fish Market
One part fish market, one part restaurant, Flanders Fish has been a local institution since 1983. Paul and Donna Formica opened their business out of renovated single-family house in East Lyme, and today it’s Connecticut’s largest full-service seafood market, restaurant and bar. Either swing by the market for fresh fish, or stay awhile and dine at their restaurant and bar. Their cuisine has many accolades, most notably their Fish & Chip was featured on the Food Network’s “Best of Fingerlickin’ Favorites” and their Lobster Pot Pie was selected as the national award winner by Rachael Ray Magazine.
Ok, did we capture all of them? What other markets would you add to our list? Comment below and let us know!
You should add J&R Scallops! It’s in the velvet mill in Stonington.