I wasn’t expecting to discover a new restaurant last night. Instead I thought I’d be dining with friends at their restaurant. But smartly — they chose to actually enjoy dinner instead of jumping up every two seconds to deal with something. I’m glad they did.

That’s how we ended up at Liv’s Oyster Bar on Main Street in Old Saybrook with its small — yet interesting — space that was a former movie theater.  As foodies often do, we shared everything, including a golden beet salad with goat cheese, an heirloom sliced tomato salad, Crispy Fried Panko-covered Lemon Sole Fingers  and — cooked medium, as requested — scallops  and wild salmon entrees.  To end, we finished with a warm, vanilla-ice-cream-topped blueberry cobbler served with four spoons. The only disappointment: was the arugula appetizer salad that I found a bit too vinegary.

When I got home, I flipped through my 07/08 Connecticut Restaurant Zagat just to see what was written about it. Nothing. That is yet, as you can be sure when I vote this year, Liv’s will be one of my write ins.

Liv’s Oyster Bar, 166 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT 06475  860.395.5577, www.livesoysterbar.com