Chapter One - Guilford

Had 4pm Saturday reservation, which was during the happy hour we weren’t aware of and turned out great. $1 oysters and drink specials were on point. We sat outside on the patio and the heaters kept us plenty warm. Great atmosphere, good service, and the food and drinks were awesome. We will be back.

The food is delicious not overpriced and make the bartender is so attentive to all the details for his customers. We just love this beautiful restaurant.

Francine was behind the bar, super friendly, exceptional service, highly professional. Thank you, thank you

The food was delicious. Our server, Linda, was so friendly and wonderful as well! Thank you so much for a fantastic visit.

Made reservations for the family 6 adults and 4 children for brunch. The server was excellent, and great with the kids. The food and drinks were great Very nice place. Will definitely be back.

It really bothers me to have to write this review but our dinner tonight was a huge disappointment. We have been here a couple of times for lunch on the back deck and it was excellent. Trinity and Crystal are great - absolutely love these young ladies. So sweet and attentive. We loved their lobster rolls and burgers. We went tonight for dinner. We ordered the Pasta Fagioli and Onion Soup for appetizers - excellent! After that - that is where things went wrong. The presentation of the Honey Shrimp and Arugula Salad were pathetic. My wife’s salad was drenched in dressing and sun-dried tomatoes. The best thing about the salad was the grilled chicken. My Honey Shrimp looked like it was tossed in the bowl with undercooked asparagus on top. So disappointing. We usually go to Prime for dinner but wanted to go to Chapter One because we really enjoyed their lunch. To charge what they charge for dinner - they really need to step up their game. We won’t be back for dinner. I appreciate the offer from Shana for a free dinner - but that is not why I wrote this review. My wife and I will be back on our own dime. Thank you Shana - we will be back and will give you all a second chance - but we will not let you know when we will be back. My wife and I came back the other day. The meatball soup, lobster roll, and pesto panini were excellent. Shana has taken our review to heart and has made the necessary adjustments to propel her restaurant to our 5-Star review. Thank you to the staff for a great experience. Love those Black Cherry Cosmos!

Great experience at Chapter One! We decided to try it out tonight and will be back! Our server, Aida, was genuinely friendly and attentive, making sure everything was perfect. The scallops risotto was amazing and the yellowfin tuna was fresh and perfectly prepared. The Old Fashioned was one of the best I’ve had, perfectly balanced and smooth. Overall, great food, great service, and a relaxing atmosphere. I’ll definitely be back!

A True Guilford Gem If you haven’t yet made your way to Chapter One, do yourself a favor and stop in. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, you’ll leave feeling right at home—and that, my friends, is the mark of a truly great Guilford establishment. Ah, Chapter One. Now there’s a place that understands what it means to welcome folks. Nestled right in the heart of Guilford, this fine establishment feels like it’s been part of the town’s fabric for ages, even if it’s a newer addition. Step inside, and you’re greeted like an old friend. Here, they take their time in the best way, making sure you’re comfortable, your glass is full, and your meal is just right. The atmosphere? Well, it’s just what you’d want for a relaxed evening in our fair town. Warm lighting, just the right hum of conversation, and a sense that you could sit for hours without feeling rushed. Whether you’re stopping in for a drink at happy hour or settling in for a full meal, you’ll find yourself at ease. Now, the food—oh, the food! Every dish is prepared with care. And don’t even get me started on the cocktails always served with a smile. But what truly sets Chapter One apart is the service. It’s the kind that makes you feel like you belong, like you’ve been coming here forever. The staff is attentive without being intrusive, quick with a recommendation, and always ready to ensure your experience is nothing short of excellent.

My husband and I had such a wonderful time here. The food was delicious. I had the deep fried french toast, cooked perfectly. We went in for brunch with a large group and the servers did a great job keeping up with us all. They were very accommodating. Hayley the hostess was absolutely a delightful young lady. Welcoming us with a big smile and great conversation. Thank you for a great experience Chapter one.

Lovely lunch with a dear friend. Menu selections accommodated different dietary and styles of food. Food very good and service was excellent.

My wife and I were coming back from an appt. in New Haven and looking for a great lunch spot around Guilford. She quickly scanned the restaurants on google…we decided on “Chapter One Food & Drink” Much too our surprise our experience was fabulous!! After some quality conversation with Giovanni while seated at the bar, we ordered scallops wrapped in bacon…. Delicious!! For lunch we ordered Rubens and sweet potato fries…WOW!!! Nice size sandwich with a large helping of fries!! Once again, delicious!!! Having only eaten half a sandwich each, we were set for dinner, later!!! We will be making a trip back to sample other offerings on their menu!!! See you soon!!!

We had a lovely time, the brunch menu was amazing! Joe and Linda were super attentive and accommodating, will be back ASAP. Ask for the Harvest Bloody Mary with added bacon and shrimp cocktail, you won’t regret it.

My husband and I came here for cocktails and appetizers. The food was amazing. One of the best cosmopolitans I’ve ever had. The wait staff is so warm and friendly. They make you feel like family. We love coming here alone and with family!

Excellent experience! 6 ladies for a celebration lunch. Great food and our server Linda was attentive and accommodating!! The manager recognized our celebration with a very kind gesture! Will definitely be back! Thank you again!!

Picked this restaurant on the spur of the moment for a dinner with some extended family members. Service was excellent, food was very good. It was a slow night, but they let us talk for a while after our meal, and we never felt rushed. Everyone in my party enjoyed the experience and said they wanted to return.

We had 2 espresso martinis and calamari for an app. Service was quick, staff was super friendly and drinks were delicious and strong. Visited during the T-giving weekend, nice little stop after shopping. Will visit again!

Loved the Lobster eggs Benedict! Gio and his team really stepped up for me and my family this past weekend! Linda our waitress was super attentive to my family’s allergies. Looking forward to coming after church in the near future!

I had an amazing experience at Chapter One!!! The staff was extremely welcoming, the service friendly and attentive, and the food tasted great! Overall the atmosphere was very inviting and it is perfect for both a casual dinner and a special night out!

Great food and amazing staff! Francine was so great and prompt with such kind service. The Mac and cheese along with the Chapter One wings were top notch! Half off apps before 6pm were also a great perk to getting there before the dinner rush!

Cajun chicken pasta was definitely a favorite. Francine was an awesome server and Ava visited our table too and she was lovely! We are for sure coming back!

This was a great place for two couples for dinner. Great views of the green and nice setting. The food was excellent. The waitress was lovely and didn’t mind that we arrived on the later side.

Food was amazing! Been there a while back and got ok food. Went back to give it a second try and boy was i surprised in a good way. Clean area, good service, wait time was on point, and food was great. Definitely going back.

I stopped by Chaptrr One anf had my dog with me. We sat out by the fire pit and my server also brought a bowl of water for my dog. We had a lovely experience.

11/13/25: Very nice staff - allowed us in even though it was close to closing time. Did not rush us out. I had clam chowder. It was delicious!

We took our family to eat here tonight and had an amazing time! The service was phenomenal and our waiter Wes was very attentive and charming. He gave us a great recommendation to try the bacon-wrapped scallops, which are to die for. The food was incredible and came out fast despite how busy it was, which is always a plus. We will definitely be coming back for the delicious food and friendly waitstaff!

We had a wedding rehearsal dinner (24 people) on the outside patio but a severe thunderstorm occurred an hour before. I was amazed to see that everything was dry, tables were set, looking lovely and ready to go. The staff was amazing! The waiter service impeccable. They brought the right orders to the right people no matter that the guests had moved about. The food was great and the experience was joyful. Most incredibly, unlike most other venues I had checked, Chapter One accepted reservations for outside seating on the patio! Many thanks to Brian, Shannon & the staff !

I recently dined at Chapter One Food and Drink and overall had a great experience. The rigatoni bolognese was absolutely delicious — rich, hearty, and perfectly cooked. The calamari was also exceptional, crispy on the outside and tender inside, one of the best I’ve had in a while. The mussels, however, were a bit disappointing; they had an off taste, almost as if they weren’t completely fresh, which threw the dish off a bit. On a brighter note, the arugula salad was fresh, and balanced. The drinks were great, and the waiter’s service was attentive and friendly, adding to the positive atmosphere. Despite the hiccup with the mussels, I’d still recommend Chapter One for its welcoming vibe and standout dishes like the rigatoni and calamari.

I came for lunch and sat on the back patio. It was a lovely sunny day so the patio was the perfect setting! Lindsey was our server and she was so friendly and attentive! I had the Drunkin Pumpkin Martini which Lindsey created and it was delicious! I would definitely come back again.

Edit: after emailing with the manager we were invited to come back. Everyone was hesitant initially and a couple of people declined. A group of 6 of us decided to take a chance. 1- Service was excellent. Our server Rebecca was attentive and handled our orders like a Pro. We were seated right away and our app order arrived promptly. 2- The food was outstanding! The pastrami was good as was the lobster roll. The chicken quesadilla looked really good too! Everyone in our group was pleased with the service and the food and agreed that Chapter 1 had redeemed themselves in our eyes. I will most definitely be going back and will recommend this restaurant to other co-workers. The wait was almost and hour and a half for food. We waited almost 20 minutes for our order to be taken. I've enjoyed the food and atmosphere before at this restaurant. I don't know what happened this time. When the food finally arrived my soup, French Onion, was burnt. I was so hungry from the wait that I started to eat it anyway. The wait staff brought me a new soup and stated that the original one had been sitting under the lamp a long time (???) When I asked if our food would be out soon I we were told it would be just a few more minutes. It was actually about 35 minutes later. No one apologized for the long wait or seemed concerned that we waited so long. One member of our party had to leave because they had a meeting and could no longer wait. This place has been scratched off of my list of lunchtime restaurants.

Friday night dinner for two in a pleasant, contemporary atmosphere of white/black/gray decor. Smiling, efficient waitress served wine in glasses without stems but quickly transferred wine to stemmed glasses upon request. Older male server uncomfortably placed dinner onto table. My husband's filet mignon, ordered medium rare, was unfortunately well done and dry. Mashed potatoes were average. Brussel sprouts were very good. Broiled cod was ok but a very small portion. Baked potato was over cooked and very dry. Although we liked the atmosphere and waitress, the food was not good.

Husband and I had a nice light dinner at Chapter One. Clam chowder was a little thick but quite delicious. I had the mussels in a spicy broth. They were very good. Husband had the Mac & Cheese. He said it was very tasty. Our server, Ava was lovely! We haven’t been to this restaurant in a while and we will return. Thank you!

This place has had serious ups and downs. Constant employee and manager turnover. Didn’t go here for almost 2 years! Finally was convinced to give it another try. Apps were fabulous! Main courses were too expensive for what you get. The Scallop Risotto had only 3 scallops! Unacceptable! The bolognese had minimal meat! Just not satisfactory. The drinks were fun! Very expensive for what u get. Still need to improve.

Great atmosphere and comfortable seats. Everything I ordered tasted great but was cold. The clam chowder was cold, the steak was cooked perfectly but cold and the hot lava cake was indeed served to me cold.

We went in with decent expectations, but overall were underwhelmed.., Menus - dirty/sticky Service - Fine I guess Food - burger too small but tasty, wings cold, fries: ordered truffle got regular… was this an upcharge? Pricing: Extra charge for ranch with the wings, dollar for a refill on a fountain drink. Maybe we went on an off night, but we might be back to have a beer on the patio.

Went with a group of 6 with a reservation. The gentleman who seated us was very indifferent, no smile , no welcome. Meals were mediocre at best. They were out of lobster rolls. We ordered the seared cod with a tarragon sauce. It's not a sauce, it's a lump of seasoned butter on a small piece of cod. The cod was lukewarm, so it never melted into a sauce. The fish and chips were just okay. The fish was fine, the chips had an odd old tasting flavor. The pasta salad was good as was the street corn appetizer. The other meals, a Reuben, a chicken sandwich were again, just okay. Nothing screamed , wow we have to come back here.. The service was average.

Will never return. Waited 25 minutes for water. 35 minutes for drinks. Our mussels were served uncooked, I'm fearful of food poisoning. I sent them back but they were still on my check. Sébastien, our server, was excellent. As was Robin, the bartender. My dirty martini was delectable. The yellow fin tuna was good, but my filet was tasteless. Zero flavor. They served it without the shrimp on top, apparently the chef forgot it. Nothing was seasoned properly. The manager knew of these issues and did not address them. $240 for subpar food that was not served hot, unproperly seasoned and cooked, while being served with missing items. Never again. Extremely disappointing.

I had a poor experience here 3-4 years ago. I decided to give it a second chance as my friends from out of town wanted to dine here. I made a reservation for mid October 18 people on September 2nd. I called to confirm this week on multiple days during business hours and there was no answer. I left a message on the answering machine to confirm, no one ever called back. I finally got thrmouth and they did Not have our reservation. They said they would fit us in. Then I received a text a couple hours later cancelling said reservation. Super unprofessional. I made this reservation a month and a half ago for a reason, I wanted to ensure we had an option that could accommodate our large group. Edited to add response: I did not merely request a reservation. I first called at the end of August and was told the person that could handle the large group reservation was not in and to call back the following day. I called back as instructed, and spoke to a man (on 9/2) who told me that we were all set. I had him repeat back the reservation details to me to confirm that there was no misunderstanding. I was surprised he didn’t ask me for a card to hold the reservation. I literally make reservations many times a week as a part of my job. I’m not confused about the process. Your employee did not correctly book my reservation, I don’t appreciate your lack of accountability, trying to make it look like I simply had requested a reservation. That is not the case, I confirmed the reservation with the restaurant.

I can’t say anything about the food, we didn’t stay that long. As we sat waiting for our drinks, on the table next to us my husband spotted a cockroach crawling on the underside of the table to the top of the table. And the rule of cockroaches is if you see one…there are unimaginable numbers hanging out. Also, we felt a weird vibe as soon as we entered, it was silent as a tomb, hardly anyone was in there and even with very few patrons it took 5 minutes for them to seat us. Unfortunately that’s three bad restaurant experiences we have had in Guilford during this Gilmore Girls festival.

Terrible! The restaurant is in a lovely location and has beautiful artwork on the walls. It was all downhill from there! The waitress was friendly but clearly overwhelmed. It was a cool evening but the AC was blaring, causing us to shiver. The waitress even agreed that it was unreasonably cold but it wasn’t addressed. My friend ordered the burger which was fine. I ordered the cod with tarragon cream sauce. The sauce looked more like a slab of margarine with tarragon sprinkled on top. But the main issue: the fish and topping were cold, not warm or room temperature but COLD! The waitress never came back to check on us until my friend finished her meal; I had only eaten part of my sides (baked potato and spinach). The waitress was apologetic and said she wasn’t surprised, as this has happened before. She was clearly unhappy with the kitchen. The entrée was taken off the bill. Not a fun time. They should do better if they want the business.

The food was awful and substandard - it was expensive and poor quality. We went to Chapter One for a special occasion. We arrived on a Saturday night and only two other parties were there. There was a snowstorm earlier in the day, so we thought maybe that was the reason but two other restaurants within walking distance were booked, but since it was 7:00pm, we decided to give them another try. Each of our meals were disappointing. The calamari dish was so small and the amount of calamari given was scarce - only a few and the majority were hot peppers. The mussels were over abundant as an appetizer and they had an offensive smell to them, like manure. My salmon came raw in the middle so I sent it back. It took a really long time to cook it more, and when it came, it was completely burned and dry in the middle. I cut off all the burnt sides and ate as much as I could but it was awful. The Brussels sprouts were tasty with bacon, but overcooked and soggy. I liked the crispy smashed potatoes. Another dish was steak frites, which didn’t come as bites but rather as a flank. My son ordered medium rare and it came medium well. The lobster roll tasted off and didn’t taste fresh. The fish and chips were also disappointing as it was soggy. I don’t know if this was a usual chef, but the food was terrible. We did eat it because it was $187+ tip, but wish we sent it all back. The last time we ate here my son got sick. We didn’t realize we booked at the same place until we drove up and then it was too late to find another restaurant. Lastly we went there for the filet mignon as it previously got good reviews, but when we sat down the menu was different and they no longer offer the filet mignon. It seems they should bring that dish back and get rid of the mussels. After last night, we will unfortunately not eat here again.