There’s nothing more perfect on a warm summer’s night than alfresco dining on a deck of a hotel, as at the Wharf-Madison Beach Hotel on the Sound.

We began with a grilled Caesar salad – half a Romaine heart drizzled with dressing in the company of one lonely anchovy and topped with a Parmesan crisp cooked so way too ahead of time that it was impossible to either cut or bite into. Happily, the meal was uphill from there.

We first split an order of cioppino ($36) — the Italian-American seafood stew originating in San Francisco — with tender sea scallops, shrimp, mussels, clams and chunks of lobster bathing in a saffron-tomato broth with just enough heat to tickle the palate. It also included a roasted garlic crostini to dip in the broth. Next, we split succulent swordfish ($27), wild red rice and roasted corn + asparagus over a smoked paprika aioli. I highly recommend either.

My friend ended with a childhood treat of root beer with vanilla gelato floating in the soda ($8).
– bonnie

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The Wharf-Madison Beach Hotel
94 West Wharf Road
Madison, CT 06443
(203) 245-1404
The Wharf on Urbanspoon