Recently we’ve been seeing more of the Cousins Maine Lobster truck making stops in our area. If you’re not familiar, Cousins Maine Lobster was an idea proposed on Shark Tank at least ten years ago or so. Their original business plan was to bring the experience of fresh Maine lobster rolls to California. And it was great that they got the funding; now they have over 50 food trucks and a bunch of brick-and-mortar restaurants across the country.
Not gonna lie though, getting a lobster roll from one of their trucks is a hard sell for me. Adam and I went to Outer Light Brewing’s Winterfest over the weekend and they had a Cousins Maine Lobster truck there. We asked our friends who got some food from the truck how it was, and they basically said it was “meh” and overpriced for the portions. We saved ourselves about 50 bucks and spent it on take-home beers instead.
It’s a bold move trying to offer lobster rolls to an area where the locals probably already have their favorite place to get a lobster roll.
So if you’re in our area here in the southeast corner of Connecticut, here’s my list of where we’ve gotten lobster rolls and various other seafood dishes. I also asked friends who live all along the shoreline from Westerly, Rhode Island all the way to Stratford, and they had good suggestions that I haven’t tried yet, so i’ll drop those at the end of the list as well.
One thing that I kind of love about some of these spots is that they only open seasonally. So it forces you to wait to get it when it’s good. The beautiful part of being on the shore is that you can still get lobster in all your local fish shops, but it’s just soooo damn New England-y to have it when the weather’s warm. It’s very perfect outdoor dining/picnic food IMO.
I guess I should also mention- in Connecticut, our usual lobster roll is served hot with butter, on a toasted New England-style hotdog bun, with fries or a bag of the crispiest chips on the side. but most places will offer a cold roll if you prefer.
I should also say that these places were good all the last times that we’ve went, but it’s totally possible that any of them might be having an off-day or just aren’t as good as they used to be. So if that’s the case, drop a quick note in the comments to let me and others know.
We live in Waterford, so I’m just going to start next door in New London and head east and back around-
Just a little bit outside of the downtown New London area is Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock. It’s been our spot for lobster rolls for the last few years. Even when we lived in Rhode Island we made the drive down here to get our fix. The lobster and clam rolls have always been generously served on the classic roll, that I actually fill up before I finish my fries. And I love their fries, but that’s a story for another day. Keep checking their Facebook page, they open in the Spring!!
80 Hamilton St.
New London, CT 06320
Okay yes there’s Mystic, but don’t ever sleep on Noank!! These next two are excellent-
Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough is lobster roll city, population everyone who gets in line. Hands down any of the seafood items on their menu are worth it. They open on May 2nd!!! through October.
117 Pearl St
Noank, CT 06340
Costello’s Clam Shack is Abbott’s sister restaurant, around the corner. They offer fried seafood on their menu so if you’re craving something like fried clams, head directly there. They open in May!!
at the Noank Shipyard
145 Pearl St
Noank, CT 06340
Also- keep Haring’s in mind. It’s fabulous for outdoor dining in the summertime, and cozy indoor dining (amazing date night spot if you ask me) if you prefer not to get too much wind in your hair while you eat. They open on April 3rd!
15 Riverview Ave
Noank, CT 06340
And- Ford’s Black and Blue’s sister restaurant Ford’s Lobster is temporarily closed, but at Black and Blue they serve the same great seafood lobster rolls and chowder. It’s so delightfully tucked away, but only minutes from downtown Mystic.
at Spicer’s Marina
65 Marsh Road
Noank, CT 06340
In Mystic I love the clam shacks-
Sea Swirl and Sea View Snack Bar both sell lobster rolls, fish and chips, clams, calamari, chowder, and so much more. Seriously great for family trips. Plus they both look out onto the water, which make for awesome vibes on a warm summer evening. They both open sometime in late March/April!
Sea Swirl (Facebook)
30 Williams Ave
Mystic, CT 06355
Sea View Snack Bar (Facebook)
145 Greenmanville Ave.
Mystic, CT 06355
For locations with a dining room, you can basically go to any restaurant in Mystic in the summertime and they’ll have seafood on the menu. It’d be weird if they didn’t. Just a short list off the top of my head are- Captain Daniel Packer Inne on Water Street, The Mariner on W Main Street, S&P Oyster on Holmes Street, and Red 36 on Washington Street. (these aren’t my only suggestions for Mystic dining, but if anyone asks, I will happily tell you about others)
In Westerly you can’t go wrong with any of the roadside spots down by Misquamicut Beach. If you’re closer to the downtown area, I highly suggest River Bar. and they have a great oyster raw bar selection, too. (I also have massive love for Westerly’s food scene so I have many other fave spots I can tell you about any day)
River Bar
37 Main Street
Westerly, RI 02891
Okay, back to CT and going west. Our most recent go-to spot in Niantic was Skippers. They’re open year-round. The outdoor seating has a great view of the water. On a chilly autumn night, a platter of clam strips hit the spot. I also love the fries here.
167 Main St
Niantic, CT 06357
Other suggestions that I haven’t confirmed, but friends and various Reddit users have decided these are also great-
- Lobster Landing in Clinton
- BRYAC Black Rock in Bridgeport
- Seven Seas and Lobster Hut in Milford
- Lobster Pound in Guilford
- Blue Lobster on the Berlin Turnpike
Okay, one more thing – if you have a Big Y grocery store (or any grocery with a seafood counter) near you, you can buy a lobster at the seafood counter and they’ll steam the lobster for you. Grab some butter and New England hotdog rolls before you leave, and you can have hot lobster rolls at home anytime. Pieces from one lobster could feed two people very nicely. I also love to get fish & chips from there. I don’t know if any other grocery stores do this, but it’s an affordable way to get a lobster roll!
Let me know if you fell in love with one of these places, I want to hear about it! In similar fashion, pleaaaase let me know if you think any of these places fall short of expectations.
[ image credit and heartfelt thanks to Seb Reivers on Unsplash ]