The Gris has outstanding food, and is a favorite place to dine or lunch even without Survivor's Night (the Monday after the Fest). It is also an interesting place, with a wide variety of old pictures and artifacts, mostly maritime. You will definitely need a reservation for dinner. There is generally live music several nights a week; on Monday it is the Jovial Crew. This used to include Cliff Haslam though he is not there often any more. Later on (nineish?) the Crew sings, then typically calls up any SMF performers who are there, and there are always a number, of those who have come so far they have not left, and those who are regional or local. Connecticut has no smoking in restaurants, and the Gris does not have things like darts, but there are multiple rooms and the noise level is always high.