Seems like lots of new restaurants have popped up over the last few months.

The Oyster Club in Mystic opened on Water Street about 6 weeks ago. They specialize in farm- and sea-to-table cuisine and the menu changes daily. I visited last week on a rainy night and was immediately drawn to the warm, cozy dining room. The walls are covered in rich wood paneling and flattering lighting and the small, intimate setting will make for some memorable dining moments. Special occasions anyone?

The bar is also adorable, done in a whitewashed clapboard. Very nautical. They also have some outdoor seating right up against Water Street for when we get warmer weather again.

Food is pricey but delicious. As the name implies, their raw bar offers up oysters and clams and we started with a half dozen oysters. Perfectly shucked (no grit), with the traditional cocktail sauce and a tart mignonette.

I had an expertly prepared monkfish wrapped in speck (they also do a bit of charcuterie) with roasted carrots and my husband thoroughly enjoyed fried chicken with sweet potato puree and hushpuppies. The chicken breast was off the bone, which thankfully made it a little easier to eat. Who wants to go out for a nice dinner and then eat with your hands? Regardless, we both cleared our plates.

We were too stuffed for dessert, but the options were tempting - I'll be back to sample that bread pudding.

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Panera recently opened a second location in our area, in the Stop & Shop plaza off Route 12 in Groton. They are in the former Blockbuster storefront.

The new location is markedly less crowded that the Waterford restaurant (yay!). They have the same menu - bakery, sandwiches, salads, soups, etc.

The employees are still learning the ropes, but the food is consistent with what I've had at other locations. I enjoyed the Cuban Chicken Panini - I'm a sucker for a pressed, warm ham and cheese sammy with pickles. They also have several special turkey-themed options right now for the holidays.

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In the Asian cuisine area, I'm eagerly anticipating the opening of a new Vietnamese-Chinese restaurant in the Big Y plaza on Long Hill Rd. in Groton. There has been a banner up over a storefront for several weeks now. We could use some good pho and banh mi in this area!

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Across the street, a new Chinese restaurant has popped up, Rice Box. I haven't been in yet, but I did get a menu in the mail. It looks like typical Chinese/American take out. I may have to get an order of their special Jalapeno Crab Rangoon. Sounds interesting.

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Also opening soon is the new Buffalo Wild Wings at the Crystal Mall in Waterford. I've been to other locations of this chain in the past. They offer more than a dozen flavors of wings, as well as other typical bar food. The location I visited was very much a sports bar-type environment - loud and lots of TVs. We would go there to watch football games.

I've become a fan of Hod Rod's wings in New London and I'm not sure these will measure up, but I'm willing to give them a try.

Have you visited any of these new spots? What did you think?