Guilford Mooring To Close After 24 Years In Business

GUILFORD, CT — The Guilford Mooring, the beloved waterfront restaurant at 505 Whitfield St. overlooking Guilford Harbor, announced Friday that it will be closing its doors after 24 years in business.

"It is with a VERY heavy heart that I must say, after 24 years we will be closing our door for good this Saturday," the restaurant posted to Facebook Friday morning.

"Whether you came in for a quick bite, celebrated special occasions, or made us a part of your regular routine, each visit has been an integral part of our story. We are truly honored to have been a part of this community, and we will cherish the friendships we've made along the way," the post continued. "While our doors may be closing, the memories and experiences we've shared will stay with us forever. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served you, and we hope to cross paths again in the future. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being a part of our journey."

Residents flocked to the comments to express sadness at the news.

"So sad. Guilford can’t lose this wonderful location as a restaurant," one commenter wrote.

"Oh no. I'm so sorry to hear this. Anytime I ate there, the food was always amazing," wrote another.

Owned by Mike Romei and Fran Pellegrino, and with chef Anthony Pellegrini, the restaurant has offered salads, tacos, soups, sandwiches, entrees, and of course, delicious seafood for over two decades.

"The perfect ambiance to make your dining experience exceptional. Our menu is specially crafted to provide an array of options that cater to different tastes and dietary needs," the restaurant says on its website. "Whether you’re in the mood for seafood, steak, or vegetarian dishes, our chefs will prepare a meal that will leave you wanting more."

The restaurant was reviewed by The New York Times in 2016.

"Any restaurant set directly on a harbor — where docked fishing boats and moored sloops bob just beyond the windows — makes certain implicit promises. The first, of course, is: Good Seafood Served Here. However, an equally important assurance of a harbor-front spot is: Jolly Times Had Here," the NY Times said. "Set on a marshy point in Guilford, amid floating piers piled with lobster traps, Guilford Mooring has, for most of its 16-year existence, largely made good on both of those unspoken pledges."

Guilford Mooring overcame damage from Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Hurricane Sandy in 2013.

It's unclear what caused the sudden closing. A new menu was just debuted on Nov. 1.