New Abbott’s Outpost in Mystic to combine highlights of Abbott’s, Costello’s seafood menus

Fans of Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough and Costello’s Clam Shack in Noank know the drill: Abbott’s specializes in lobster, with whole lobster dinners and lobster rolls in three sizes, and Costello’s is where you get your seafood fried goldenbrown. But starting this week in Mystic, you can find both restaurants’ specialties under one roof.

Deirdre Mears and Chelsea Leonard, the mother and daughter who own and operate both Noank restaurants, are opening Abbott’s Outpost in Mystic June 18. The new eatery, which will feature highlights from both menus along with new creative additions, is located in The Standard, a new mixeduse building at 3 Water Street.

Leonard said the new restaurant has more of a downtown feel than its seafood-shack siblings, and will have a full bar — a change from the Noank restaurants, which have always been popular spots for BYOB.

“It’s in a really exciting part of town now,” she said of the location, which joins other Mystic destination restaurants on the street like Sift Bake Shop and Mix, its seasonal rooftop bar; Pizzetta and Oyster Club.

Leonard and Mears first began considering the new restaurant back in 2019, Leonard said. The pandemic and resulting uncertainty delayed the project, and Leonard gave birth to her first child in the spring. But they ultimately moved forward, working on the buildout and the menu.

“Now we’re only a few days away, and that seems impossible and crazy and exciting and scary all at one time,” Leonard said.

A sample menu features favorites from each spot. From Abbott’s, you’ll find raw oysters and clams on the half shell, clam chowder in creamy New England or clear Noank styles, and lobster bisque, along with lobster rolls: a standard size with a quarter pound of buttered meat; the OMG roll with nearly twice the amount of meat, and the LOL, with a full pound of lobster and “all the butter you need.” There’s also a lobster salad roll.

Costello’s clam strips are represented in Mystic, along with Pearl Street tacos, with cabbage and mango salad and choice of chicken, shrimp, grilled or fried fish, and lobster. A “Home Run” melds tradition from both spots, with clam strips topping lobster salad on a brioche bun.

Abbott’s Outpost also has plenty of new menu items that will be specific to Mystic. Snacks and appetizers include seasoned popcorn, with Old Bay, parmesan garlic and buttered lobster flavors, and hand-cut crispy chips with dips: lobster, kicked-up crab, roasted red pepper garlic and bleu cheese. Lobster loaded “tater bombs” feature bacon, beer cheese dip and chives.

The Outpost also offers crepes, including a lobster version with butter, ham with white cheddar and two sweet options: butter and sugar or Nutella. Deviled eggs and “Trip’s Street Corn,” named for Leonard’s newborn son, can both be upgraded with lobster meat. Other non-seafood items include a hot pastrami sandwich, Coney Island hot dogs and salads, along with a kids’ menu.

The new restaurant will offer beer, wine and a cocktail list, and service is fast casual, where guests will order at a counter and receive a table pager to alert them when their food is ready. There is seating for approximately 70 people, Leonard estimates.

“We're excited,” she said. “We definitely a lot to look forward to, being downtown, and it's a nice open, clean, crisp sort of space that we have here.”