The Port of Call in Mystic: Drag Shows, Global Coastal Cuisine, and an Inclusive Kitchen Culture

by Nick Gilham

The Port of Call adds something different to Mystic. It is not just another coastal restaurant leaning on the town’s maritime setting. It is a place that takes that history seriously, builds a full experience around it, and pairs it with nightlife, drag programming, and a kitchen culture shaped by inclusion.

Located at 15 Water Street in Mystic, The Port of Call opened in 2022 as part of the 85th Day Food Community, the restaurant group also known for Oyster Club and Engine Room. From the start, the concept has centered on global port cities, coastal food traditions, and a cocktail program that treats the bar as a major part of the experience rather than an afterthought.

A Maritime Concept That Actually Feels Specific

There are plenty of restaurants in Connecticut that use nautical decor. The Port of Call goes much further than that. The main floor was designed as a refined ship-style saloon, while the lower level, called Dive, has a looser late-night feel with its own identity.

The details are what make the place stand out. The bar top includes reclaimed wood from the Charles W. Morgan, and the design draws from Mystic’s maritime history in a way that feels intentional instead of staged. That gives the restaurant a point of view that fits Mystic without feeling predictable.

Why It Belongs in an LGBTQ Connecticut Guide

The Port of Call earns a place here for more than atmosphere. It has built visible, recurring LGBTQ-inclusive programming into the life of the business. The restaurant’s official events lineup includes Sea Queens drag shows on select Sundays, alongside live music and other nightlife events. In a shoreline town where many people still think first about tourists, pizza, and drawbridges, that kind of programming matters.

It also matters that this is not a one-off Pride Month gesture. The drag programming is part of the venue’s public identity. That helps make The Port of Call feel like a place where LGBTQ locals and visitors are not just tolerated, but actively considered in the way the business shows up in the community.

Leadership That Shapes the Culture

The restaurant is led by Executive Chef Renée Touponce, Beverage Director Jade Ayala, and General Manager Nancy Hankins. That leadership team helped define the concept from the beginning, and it is a big reason the venue feels distinct from many other restaurant openings that come and go along the Connecticut shoreline.

Touponce is one of the most respected chefs in Connecticut. Her work in Mystic has drawn major attention, and the broader team around The Port of Call has earned national recognition too, including Esquire naming it one of America’s Best Bars in 2022. More recently, the business has also highlighted James Beard recognition connected to its beverage program, which says a lot about how seriously the food and drink side are taken here.

Reneé is the first to say that “there's no gender in food,” but admits to a time when that wasn’t the case. As a queer woman, she believes that things are changing for the better, with the industry becoming more aware and educated. Her kitchens are healthy, equal and safe, where no one has to feel out of place, while also cooking some of the most innovative and thoughtful food in New England.

Renee Touponce, Executive Chef

That quote gives you a direct window into why this restaurant matters beyond the menu. In a state where LGBTQ-friendly spaces still tend to cluster around a handful of cities and nightlife anchors, it is meaningful to see a chef in this position speak so clearly about safety, equality, and belonging in the workplace. It gives the whole restaurant a stronger foundation than a rainbow sticker on the door ever could.

Food and Drinks With a Clear Point of View

The Port of Call was built around the idea of moving from port to port through food and cocktails. That global coastal perspective gives the menu more range than what many people expect in Mystic. The restaurant has framed its culinary identity around ingredients, recipes, and drinking traditions inspired by waterfront communities around the world, while still staying grounded in southeastern Connecticut.

On the beverage side, Jade Ayala’s work has been a major part of the draw. The official team bio describes a program built on original techniques, local sourcing, and cocktails designed to work as part of the full dining experience. That matters because at The Port of Call, the drinks are not filler. They are part of the reason people go.

What stands out most about The Port of Call:

It works on multiple levels at once. It is a serious restaurant. It is a destination cocktail bar. It is a nightlife venue. It hosts drag shows. It feels rooted in Mystic without becoming a tourist cliché. That combination is rare in Connecticut, especially outside the biggest city centers.

A Different Side of Mystic

Mystic already has name recognition across Connecticut and beyond. People know it for the seaport, the drawbridge, the aquarium, and the postcard version of coastal New England. The Port of Call adds a more current layer to that identity. It shows that Mystic is not only historic and picturesque, but also capable of supporting stylish, queer-friendly, culturally relevant spaces.

For LGBTQ people living in southeastern Connecticut, and for anyone considering a move to the shoreline, places like this matter because they make a town feel more livable. You are not just looking at scenic streets and good restaurants. You are looking for signs of community, signals of openness, and businesses that make it easier to feel at home.

Why It Deserves Attention

The Port of Call deserves attention because it reflects a version of Connecticut that more people are looking for. It is local without being small-minded. It is polished without feeling stiff. It embraces nightlife, creativity, and drag programming while still functioning as a serious restaurant with a strong culinary identity.

That makes it an easy fit for this guide. Anyone exploring LGBTQ-friendly places in Connecticut should know that Mystic has more to offer than scenic views and summer crowds. The Port of Call is part of that story.