Favorite Summertime Seafood Shack/Restaurant

[Kitaman]

We're so fortunate by the ocean to have so many choices: Fried, Backed, Broiled - Plate/Tray:

I've tried local seafood in RI, MA, even Maine. My go to is City Island NYC (traffic warning) followed by Captain Jack's in New London. The beauty about the area is you don't have to go far to enjoy fresh oceanic food.

So where is your go to seafood NYC to Boston? Who do you think consistently has the freshest catch (or never frozen)? Looking to drag my wife around the state and beyond on hot breezy days.

 

[superjohn]

We're so fortunate by the ocean to have so many choices: Fried, Backed, Broiled - Plate/Tray:

I've tried local seafood in RI, MA, even Maine. My go to is City Island NYC (traffic warning) followed by Captain Jack's in New London. The beauty about the area is you don't have to go far to enjoy fresh oceanic food.

So where is your go to seafood NYC to Boston? Who do you think consistently has the freshest catch (or never frozen)? Looking to drag my wife around the state and beyond on hot breezy days.

You should tag @Fishy, he knows all the spots for the best lobster rolls.

 

[Lafayette]

I used to love the Seafood Shanty in Martha's Island in Edgartown - drinking mudslides on the roof watching boats go in and out - fresh seafood. Good way to burn a few hours chilling.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Outside of the range, but one of my favorite meals of all-time was at the Thames Street Oyster House in Baltimore.

A dozen oysters, stuffed crab and a Manhattan.

We're so fortunate by the ocean to have so many choices: Fried, Backed, Broiled - Plate/Tray:

I've tried local seafood in RI, MA, even Maine. My go to is City Island NYC (traffic warning) followed by Captain Jack's in New London. The beauty about the area is you don't have to go far to enjoy fresh oceanic food.

So where is your go to seafood NYC to Boston? Who do you think consistently has the freshest catch (or never frozen)? Looking to drag my wife around the state and beyond on hot breezy days.

Last year, I drove around City Island following a 4th of July Yankees game, just to see what it's like. Any recs?

 

[Apollo]

Ford’s in Noank - get the Lobster Bomb. The coconut curry mussels are really good too.

 

[Waquoit]

followed by Captain Jack's in New London.

Don't know that one, but we like Cap'n Scott's. I like Mike's Clam Shack in Wells, ME. You can buy a Chowder kit that's perfect for tailgates. And Brown's Lobster Pound in Seabrook, MA.

 

[Lafayette]

Outside of the range, but one of my favorite meals of all-time was at the Thames Street Oyster House in Baltimore.

A dozen oysters, stuffed crab and a Manhattan.


Last year, I drove around City Island following a 4th of July Yankees game, just to see what it's like. Any recs?

Oh my sister in law lives in City Island - Imma gonna say avoid the main restaurants you see coming in on the right and left.

I would say try Artie's or the Lobster House. Sammy's fish box if you like fried shrimp.

Note: sis in law worked as greeter at Arties - unsure if it's open right now.

 

[Drame]

Lobster Landing in Clinton for Lobster Rolls and Bills Seafood in Westbrook for the food and hang.

 

[Kitaman]

Don't know that one, but we like Cap'n Scott's. I like Mike's Clam Shack in Wells, ME. You can buy a Chowder kit that's perfect for tailgates. And Brown's Lobster Pound in Seabrook, MA.

Capt Scott is it, not Jack's.

 

[Peacefrog]

Don't know that one, but we like Cap'n Scott's. I like Mike's Clam Shack in Wells, ME. You can buy a Chowder kit that's perfect for tailgates. And Brown's Lobster Pound in Seabrook, MA.

The Marky's v Brown's debate. I slightly prefer Marky's but both are great.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Living in Norwalk, there aren't a lot of reasonably priced seafood spots, but I have to shout out Ripka's at Calf Pasture Beach.

It's pretty rad that the concession stand serves local and freshly shucked oysters.

 

[Sphinx]

When I think of summertime dining, I thnk of a great lobster roll with outdoor on-the-water seating and table-side service. I find both right here in CT -- at Breakwater in Stonington and (surprisingly) at the new Tate's Restaurant at Harbor Park, Middletown. The latter was the great find of last summer -- a bit pricey but the best lobster roll we sampled in a summer of diligent sampling.

 

[KryHavok]

Yeah Captain Jack's in New London is good. The previous year we headed there before watching the the fireworks for Sailfest, that was good eating.

We make a yearly trek or two to H&H Seafood in Cape May, NJ...crabs, clams, oysters, doesn't matter. Give me a marina, fresh seafood (as in right off the dock), and BYOB, and I am in heaven.

 

[AD DB Burner]

Ford’s in Noank - get the Lobster Bomb. The coconut curry mussels are really good too.

The OG Fords is closed and was replaced by a similar place called Herrings. You can still get the lobster bomb at Fords Black & Blue which is just a few minutes from the original location in Noank as you head towards Esker Point beach and Groton Long Point.

 

[Fishy]

You should tag @Fishy, he knows all the spots for the best lobster rolls.

Thank you. Yes, I can help.

I’ve compiled a list of the best lobster rolls in New England

1. Every BYOB lobster roll place on the New England shoreline
2. Every not-BYOB lobster roll place on the New England shoreline
3. The McDonald’s on 95, near Clinton

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The Black Duck in Westport is more dive bar than seafood shack, but it has excellent fish tacos and will occasionally have a fish sandwich special that is very good. Don’t drink too much if you go because the floor is very uneven and kind of slants toward the river, and one can wipe out off even a mild buzz.

 

[Dibbie]

Capt Scott is it, not Jack's.

Thank you for this, I was beginning to doubt myself. Wife and I take at least 5 trips to various places each year. While not the best view/location, it’s the best fried seafood IMO.

 

[Deepster]

The Black Duck in Westport is more dive bar than seafood shack, but it has excellent fish tacos and will occasionally have a fish sandwich special that is very good. Don’t drink too much if you go because the floor is very uneven and kind of slants toward the river, and one can wipe out off even a mild buzz.

Fish tacos are for people too cheap or poor to order a lobster roll. And just as easy to make.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Fish tacos are for people too cheap or poor to order a lobster roll. And just as easy to make.

Not arguing with any of that. The fish tacos are still very good.

 

[Samoo]

Buck a shuck at the Beachhead on BI.
Is The Place still open in Guilford?

 

[dvegas]

The Black Duck in Westport is more dive bar than seafood shack, but it has excellent fish tacos and will occasionally have a fish sandwich special that is very good. Don’t drink too much if you go because the floor is very uneven and kind of slants toward the river, and one can wipe out off even a mild buzz.

You must have drank too much, the Duck (food) has been horrible since the ownership/staff/kitchen issues when they reopened, then closed, then reopened, post-Covid, actually dating back to when Mike (Wolfie) passed away almost 10 years ago

PS Westfair Fish & Chips at the back of the Westfair Shopping Center just west of the Fairfield line (across from Stop & Shop) fries up seafood on par with any of the Shoreline seafood shacks.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I was a fan of the Barking Crab in South Boston, but it has really fallen off. Catering to the the "Seaport" crowd now. Likewise, Chapins (Bayside) in Dennis isn't what it used to be.

At this point my favorite is more dive bar - Quahog Republic in Falmouth. The Quarterdeck in Falmouth is good in a more traditional seaside restaurant. Captain Parker's in South Yarmouth, but it gets crowded.

 

[Fishy]

Not arguing with any of that. The fish tacos are still very good.

They are.

Taquerio in Mystic has three or four that are very good, but mostly, we go there as an excuse to have their cocktails.

At some point, if deep asks nicely, I will share the world’s easiest fish taco recipe. It has been perfected by toddlers working tirelessly in our test kitchens and is ready for sharing.

 

[Waquoit]

The Marky's v Brown's debate. I slightly prefer Marky's but both are great.

I've never been to Marky's so I cannot participate. When I was a kid we went to Brown's, period. So it's a family thing for us.

 

[Magic32]

Bill's Seafood in Westbrook is our favorite spot, we've been going for 40 years. One of the few places I can find excellent RI chowder as well as top notch lobster rolls. Drinks are always nice and the place often has live music. Casual for sure.