Go to Mystic. There are some waterfront restaurants that are pretty tasty and nice. You can tell the tourist traps from the "real restaurants" in Mystic. Avoid New London and Groton...the restaurants will be packed and they are not good, mostly the normal chain restaurants. We went to a nice place in Mystic on the water with good food and good service, but I'm sorry I can't remember the name of it, just that it was on the right-hand side of the main drag as you came through Mystic, once you were in the town a bit. I remember there was a parking lot across the street from it. They seemed to really like the cadets and cadet families who were coming in. Hope that helps.