Red 36 (CT)
Article by Sam Dostaler
Red 36 in Mystic, Connecticut was the perfect way to end a summer evening. Located along the Mystic River, a short drive or walk from the Mystic River Bridge, Red 36 provides diners with a casual and relaxed experience that is perfect for all ages.
Our party of three arrived a little after 5:00 on a picture perfect Friday evening and the relaxed waterside vibe of the restaurant was immediately apparent. After putting our names on the wait list we were told it would be a 35-minute wait for patio seating but no worry as the sights and sounds of the Mystic Downtown Mariana made for an enjoyable wait. While watching boaters dock their crafts for the night you can meander over the to large bar and enjoy a drink from their extensive selection of options.
After enjoying the Mystic River views and idly chatting our phone rang to notify us that a table was ready and our wait was rewarded as we were led onto the beautiful spacious wood deck with views of the Mariana and river surrounding us. Moments after sitting down we were greeted by our friendly waiter and after receiving the menus we quickly went to work reading through our options.
After looking through the numerous choices we settled on lobster carbonara, a clam roll, and seafood paella for our three dishes.
The lobster carbonara served, in a parmesan cream sauce with bacon bits and peas was delicious from the first bite. Each bite was filled with large chunks of fresh lobster meat making the meal worth every cent.
Sold at market price, but very affordable, the clam roll was overflowing with lightly battered strips (you can order whole belly clams as well) on a perfectly buttered and toasted brioche bun. The clam strip helping was so large that you have to eat a number of clams before you can even think of sampling this tasty dish in the traditional way. In addition, to the roll the dish comes with house cut french fries, coleslaw, tartar sauce and the choice to add chipotle aioli or have it on the side.
If you’re looking for a meal that includes a little bit of everything then the seafood paella is the dish for you. Served on a skillet your meal comes with a healthy helping of shrimp, clams, mussels, and roasted chicken; all of which are served on a bed of saffron risotto, English peas, and roasted tomato. The amount of seafood allows you to evenly distribute the selections throughout the meal and ensures that each bite is bursting with flavor.
Of Note: Red 36 offers three different menus. During the week they offer lunch, happy hour (4-6), and dinner menus while on the weekend they offer their lunch and dinner options.