The 7 Best Oysters in Connecticut

If your passion is seafood, you may feel like you have to hop across the pond to Europe in order to find some truly delicious oysters. However, if you’re living in or visiting Connecticut, there are plenty of great spots around the city where you can find exceptional oyster dishes. With so many options out there, how do you choose which ones will satisfy your cravings? Read on to discover our pick for the 7 best oyster bar in Connecticut!

The 7 Best Oyster in Connecticut

Rowayton Seafood Restaurant and Market in Connecticut

Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock

Address: 80 Hamilton St, New London, CT 06320, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.6 (2963)
Phone: +1 860-439-1741
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Thursday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Friday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Saturday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Reviews:

This is a little hidden gem. I ordered the Lobster Roll that was packed with lobster! I seasoned it myself with a lil bit of old bay and old bay hot sauce from the condiments bar and squeezed on the provided lemon and butter and it was perfect. The lobster was so tasty you probably could’ve done with out the condiments. My mom had the shrimp and fries and it was also delicious! This place sits on the water with lots of outdoor seating so you can watch the boats pass by. The line is usually long but I got there around 11:20AM and luckily just beat the line. If you’re in the area I recommend giving it a shot!

✭✭✭✭ By Briana C (3 months ago)

My mother in law took us here because it’s one of her favorite places for a fish sandwich. It was Wednesday during lunchtime in September and it was fairly crowded. The staff was very friendly and the food came out quickly. There is no inside seating as this is strictly an outdoor eatery. They do have a roof over some of the tables though in case of rain. My clam strip roll was overflowing with clams and it was served with a lemon slice, tarter sauce and a bag of chips or Cole slaw. My husband’s steamers and clam chowder were delicious as well. A very pleasant place to watch the boats (and the train) and have some good seafood.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Kathy M (2 months ago)

This place is a hidden gem. Cute atmosphere and adorable outdoor seating. Has a condiments bar, so you add what you like. Fast and friendly service as well. Only bad is the seagulls aka beach chickens. They need to use more protection against them. One flew up and landed on the table and then gave me a face like “what chu got there?” Other than that, amazing place!! Highly recommended

✭✭✭✭✭ By Steffryz (3 months ago)

Definitely a place to hit when in the area. Go early unless you like crowds. Yes, it’s pricey, but worth it. I went around 430 on a Thursday. Perfect time. By the time I left around 630 there was a pretty good line forming. Couldn’t imagine this place on a Friday or weekend. Menu is pretty large. Do your research and be ready when you arrive. I picked up the lobster grilled cheese and bacon wrapped scallops. So good!! Highly recommended. If I’m back in the area I’m sure to return and try another couple menu options.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Scott O’Brien (5 months ago)

I had lobster grilled cheese. Bread toasted perfect. Lots of lobster. And steamers. Just a little gritty but good. Hubby had grilled chix salad. Dressing was never offered either at ordering or pickup. So he went and asked for it. Niece had lobster bisque. Large chucks if lobster in it. Prices about average for seafood. All tables outside next to a marina. Train tracks run next to location. The location is off beaten path and the road leading to place could use a little tlc. Not sure how parking would be on a busy day. Plenty today but only about 1/2 dozen tables used. Has covered area.

✭✭✭✭✭ By kathy marsh (6 months ago)

S&P Oyster Restaurant and Bar

Address: 1 Holmes St, Mystic, CT 06355, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.5 (2333)
Phone: +1 860-536-2674
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Thursday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Friday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM

Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM

Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Reviews:

My wife and I made reservations to eat at S&P Oyster for our Wedding Weekend. S&P did not disappoint. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The servers were attentive and kept our drinks filled while we dined outside next to the water with shimmering lights overhead. We will be returning to S&P should we visit Mystic again.

Bravo! It was an extraordinary evening presented by an excellent restaurant.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Jason Paradis (11 months ago)

Best restaurant in Mystic. The location is breathtaking, especially at night. It feels magical with the lights hanging overhead, the colorful plants and flowers all around, and the moonlight reflecting off the water. Soft romantic music playing in the background. You cannot make a bad choice on the menu and it was all cooked with so much perfection and flavor. We had tuna tartar, salmon, beef filet, a cup of soup and cheesecake. Spent 153.00. A few critiques that keeps this from a five star review. 1. We were never offered to have our drinks refilled 2. We ordered coffee and cheesecake for dessert and got our coffee first and then the cheesecake 15 minutes later. So, our coffee was cold and, once again, no one offered us refills. I also had to get up to look for some sugar for the coffee. 3. I am not a fan of the BBQ sauce with the steak. A good steak does not need BBQ sauce. Overall, it was very good and it felt special. However, when you spend a good amount on one meal, you do expect to be offered drink refills.

✭✭✭✭ By Leah Nowicki (a month ago)

My wife and I spent the day in the Niantic/Mystic area today. Lunch we stopped in at the S & P Oyster Restaurant. Beautiful setting on the Mystic River with great view of the Mystic drawbridge and the boats and kayaks going to and fro. Our waitress Justine greeted us and we ordered. We started with 6 clams on the half shell. My wife ordered the special, blue corn tacos with cod, I ordered the seafood ambrosia. The clams were superb, sweet and tasty. The seafood ambrosia was great albeit a little on the smaller portion size (could have been an appetizer), but very good, a 3 scallops, 3 small shrimp and a small piece of cod fish with a crusty stuffing served with a vegetable medley. All good. My wife’s blue corn taco’s couldn’t be eaten as a taco because the tortillas were so soggy and mushy they fell apart in her hands, the fish was cold so I’m thinking they may have been sitting a little too long before serving. Aside from the fish being cold and the soggy tortillas this dish was mediocre at best. in the end, nice atmosphere, beautiful views and somewhat pricey for portion size.

✭✭✭✭ By James Fox (4 months ago)

We were walk ups after a storm, No reservation. My bad. The hostess told us it would be an hour and we asked if the bar was available. Best decision ever! One of the most fabulous bartenders (Kit?)!!! Attentive and kept our drinks full as he ensured other customers were taken care of too. The other staff took care of him, good restaurant family.

The food was delicious and presented well. Especially the stuffed seafood poblano. We will be returning to S&P should we visit Mystic again.

It was an excellent evening on super short notice. Thanks for making these tourist happy.

✭✭✭✭✭ By A ML (3 months ago)

A great experience! Lunch on the 2nd floor overlooking the bay & drawbridge. Staff was professional with consistent steady service throughout. We opted for a table of small plates & cocktails and enjoyed everything. Every plate was delicious & we left no crumb behind. Drinks were made perfectly. Thank you S&P for a fantastic afternoon!

✭✭✭✭✭ By SE Stack (2 months ago)

Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill

Address: 100 S Water St, New Haven, CT 06519, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.5 (2088)
Phone: +1 203-787-3466
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM

Tuesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM

Wednesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM

Thursday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM

Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Sunday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Reviews:

The restaurant is on a pier looking out into the bay. There’s great views from almost any seat in the restaurant. Indoor/outdoor seating. Being able to see, hear and smell the ocean really adds to the experience here. You can also see all the gulls and sea birds flying around for a chance at their own meal. The food is great. The clam chowder is packed with flavor. Oysters are very fresh and sourced not far depending on the day. We had brunch and there was a lobster roll on the menu so I had to get that. It was a warm version which I like just as much as the colder versions. Smaller beer list but lots of wines and specialty cocktails too. Great seafood spot in New Haven right on the water!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Chai A (a month ago)

We stopped here for lunch on a road trip and loved it so much that we stopped again on our way back home. We were lucky to have great weather and enjoyed our meals on their deck. The food was excellent across the board and exceeded our expectations. The quality of the seafood was evident and each dish had a creative spin that set it apart from the usual. The scallops were noteworthy and probably the best I’ve ever had. Another surprise was the amazing French fries, which were not only prepared perfectly, but were seasoned in a way that made them completely addicting. The wine list has some nice selections and my wife loved the creative and delicious mocktails. Absolutely worth the visit. If it was closer to home, we’d be back frequently.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Kenneth Cleary (5 months ago)

As always this place never disappoint us! Everything has always been amazing! We came in celebrating our 1 year anniversary and was so happy our server was the same person 2 years ago when we came to celebrate our engagement! Hannah was phenomenal. The manager had also come to our table making sure we were taken care of. All the staff was great! We were very relax and we enjoyed our time. I love this place and definitely love my Bouillabaisse!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Ann Shelley De Castro (10 months ago)

Beautiful view, delicious food and great service! Came here for a birthday celebration on a Sunday afternoon. The place was packed and super busy. We had a fairly large group (9 ppl) and I was sure that we’d have to wait a long time to be served but our server took our order quickly and brought everything pretty quickly, as well. From soups, appetizers, to dinners and desserts, everything we ordered was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious! We will definitely be back again!! They have an outdoor patio that I can’t wait to use in warmer weather!

✭✭✭✭✭ By E S (10 months ago)

Fantastic location and atmosphere with outstanding food & drink. Location is prime overlooking the water and marina, enjoyed watching boats coming in and out. Staff was especially pleasant and knowledgeable about the food and drink. Raw bar fresh and well done. Dinner to dessert was delicious and presentation was on point. Looking forward to going back again!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Denise & Vinny Curcio (2 months ago)

Stowe’s Seafood

Address: 347 Beach St, West Haven, CT 06516, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.6 (1847)
Phone: +1 203-934-1991
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Reviews:

We were a party of three. The day was perfect for dining outside. We each placed an order, 1 order of fried scallops, 1 order fried haddock, 1 lobster roll with a side order of fries.
The fried scallops were excellent, sweet and fresh tasting. They were fried perfectly.
The fried haddock was excellent as well, cooked perfectly. The fish was moist and fresh tasting and the coating was delicious.
The fries were crisp and seasoned.
The portions were very generous.
I got the lobster roll. I was disappointed with it because it was mushy and tasted over cooked. It seemed as though it was left in the butter a little too long because it tasted greasy to me. The lobster meat looked off white. They put lots of lobster meat in the roll but I did not enjoy it. My husband tasted it and agreed that it didn’t have the right consistency. I wish I had ordered the scallops! I have gotten the lobster roll several times in the past and had been pleased with it so this time may have simply been a fluke. I suppose I could have brought it back but it wasn’t that bad. It was market priced at $24.00 but not worth it.
I recommend Stowe’s because it is a nice place to eat outside with the Long Island Sound view. It is clean inside the restaurant and outside where the tables are. Parking is tricky because their lot is small and they are very busy. Cash $$$ is the only way to pay.

✭✭✭✭ By Pamela McCuen (3 months ago)

The place is good. The food was delicious, but we wanted to bake the lobsters a little differently. And in fact, we chose baked lobsters like fries with a piece of toaster (white bread) and olive oil. We also ordered green peas, also baked in fries. The place is good, calm. The downside of this place is that this cafe only accepts cash! This is a real and very inconvenient minus. Why only cash guys? This is an additional commission of about $ 6 more on top .. That is, I could not pay at all from the phone, such as Apple Pay. For two, we paid about $60 for dinner. Near the ocean, and a long pier. True, the water is very dirty in the ocean. And the fishermen are fishing all around.

✭✭✭✭ By Alexander Mizeu (2 months ago)

I have been coming here for years but have not been in a few and I will start off by saying the fish is fresh and delicious like any true New England seafood joint worth its salt should be. The ambiance is wonderful too…right on the shore with plentiful outdoor seating.

Unfortunately, they have changed significantly since I last ate here. The menu, portions and pricing scheme completely ruined the meal for me. I understand inflation is high, but c’mon, they are charging $20 for a piece of fish. I don’t want any of the extras that come with a “boat” or meal so I ask how much is just the fish and they say $1 less. So the meal is $21 and just the fish is $20. The portions are small, the pricing is higher than any casual seafood restaurant I’ve seen, even in pricier markets like NYC, Boston or LA. Also, the menu is very consolidated. They do not tell you all the fish they have or options for your meal. You have to ask at the counter and hold up the line behind you. They have plenty of good sides but only offer you fries OR coleslaw with your meal. It just seems stingy. Those sweet potato fries in the picture were $7 and the small portions of fish were $21.

Overall, I am very disappointed. I feel ripped off and won’t come back here until something changes.

✭✭ By Chris Gerak (5 months ago)

By far the best seafood place in Connecticut. Highly recommended, the Lobster Rolls were phenomenal, I’d say best I’ve tried in my life & we also liked the onion rings. Good atmosphere and nice staff. Not too far from the ocean! Will definitely be back again.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Bilal Alsaify (a month ago)

Got the fish and chips which they called the boat. But so much fish! So good! We sat outside no inside seating. But plenty of tables and decor outside. Def going again!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Rosanne Cross (5 months ago)

Max’s Oyster Bar

Address: 964 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, CT 06107, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.5 (1203)
Phone: +1 860-236-6299
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Thursday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Friday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM

Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM

Sunday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Reviews:

Lovely place with outdoor seating. Since the weather is still nice, we grabbed a table outside and spent a couple of hours lunching.

The service was outstanding. Lovely people!

We had the Cajun oysters in their special menu which were the highlight of the dining experience. The crab cake and sauce was also good. The lobster roll was almost perfect but it did need a bit more seasoning. The Max’s paella was too watery and lacked flavor. I wouldn’t get that again.

Tips:
– Easy to get a reservation for lunch during the week but after 5pm it gets busy and I’m guessing for dinner it’s packed
– Sit outdoors if the weather allows for it

✭✭✭✭ By Brayden Ainzuain (2 months ago)

One of my favorite restaurants in West Hartford. It never disappoints. Love going in the warm months so I can sit outside. Seafood is my favorite, I love that you get a small card where you can check off what type of seafood from the raw bar they can bring you. Drinks, of course, are great. Plenty of space to accommodate larger parties.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Yachai Reilly (11 months ago)

This place is one of my favorites. I love coming here with my clients, with my friends and with my family, all year long. The food is absolutely delicious. I don’t have a favorite dish here because EVERYTHING tastes so good! The decor is always on point, and atmosphere is very welcoming… Highly recommend it! Your realtor Tatyana.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Tatyana Makarov (11 months ago)

Mediocre experience, a bit disappointed considering all the glowing reviews.
Our waitress was absolutely wonderful. However, our server, the girl who brought us our food, had the most sour look on her face and was very curt. No idea what happened to her but gosh, I hope she feels better.
The shellfish sampler platter was good, could use a less stingy portion of tuna tartar. The clam chowder was good, kind of standard. The calamari was probably our favorite part. I was really looking forward to the Seafood Paella but it was so underwhelming. The rice was flavorless and plenty overcook. The seafood amount in the dish was pretty generous but even that didn’t save the dish. I only ate a quarter of the paella. The cocktail was also not that strong. Overall, a disappointing experience for such a hyped up place.

✭✭✭ By Natalie Kasipol (a month ago)

This is my new favorite spot. The oysters and clams were fresh. The service was amazing and thank you to our waiter Ronald!! The drinks were good and my favorite was called “Always Sunny” they make them strong. I highly recommend this restraunt for seafood and steak you can not go wrong here. They also have beer from local breweries and the seafood is also local. Highly recommend you stop by and give them a try!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Zoey Hodge (a year ago)

Crab Shell

Address: 46 Southfield Ave, Stamford, CT 06902, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.1 (944)

Boca Oyster Bar

Address: 10 E Main St, Bridgeport, CT 06608, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4 (934)

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