Come away with me on a buttery, toasty guide to the most delicious lobster rolls in Connecticut via the Connecticut Lobster Roll Trail…
Connecticut Lobster Roll Trail
Butter vs. mayonnaise? Always butter with a hint of lemon. Hot dog bun vs. hamburger bun? I don’t care as long as I’m eating my lobster roll in a shack or hut or on a landing or in the rough. I’m happy to let other people debate the ideal topping or carb-vehicle for their lobster roll.
For me, the best part of the lobster roll is the hunt for the best lobster roll. The lobster roll trail in Connecticut will take for your tony Fairfield County towns to the docks in New London and Groton. It will make you feel like you’re actually experiencing summer in Connecticut rather than just flipping through images on Instagram. And I know summer days are fleeting, so I’ve done the research and put together some suggestions for you to hunt the perfect lobster roll. I divided up the trail into three sections with lots of recommendations on where to eat and what to do nearby. (And if I’m missing your favorite, let me know in the comments!)
You can choose to sample a roll at each outpost in one day (lucky you) or divide this up over a few weekends (or a lifetime).
Before You Hit the Trail:
- Most of these restaurants are basically shacks on a dock unless noted. Expect no frills.
- That said, lobster is expensive, so expect to pay upwards of $16-18 for each lobster roll, and that does not include sides. If this seems expensive to you, I recently paid $45 for a lobster roll on Long Island.
- Please call ahead or check the restaurant’s website before you go in the off-season.
- Just to be on the safe side, bring cash!
New London-Groton Area of the CT Lobster Roll Trail
Lobster roll snobs, of which there are several, will say the New London-Groton arc of the Connecticut Lobster Trail is the most authentic and therefore the only real place to get lobster rolls. It’s certainly the most New England-y. Start your journey in Mystic or Groton and work your way up or down.
If you are staying in Mystic, at the casinos, traveling from Rhode Island or Massachusetts, or points “north” on 195, these are the most convenient places to for you to visit.
Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock
80 Hamilton St
New London, CT 06320
On the water, BYOB. Also known for their clam fritters.
Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough
117 Pearl St
Noank, CT 06340
On the water, BYOB.
Ford’s Lobsters
15 Riverview Ave
Noank, CT 06340
On the water, BYOB, expanded menu.
Harbour House Restaurant & Bar
3 Williams Ave
Mystic, CT 06355
Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.
Things to Explore Nearby:
- Chill out at Harkness Memorial State Park – one of the most picturesque beaches in Connecticut. I visited a few summers ago.
- Get a drink at the Black Sheep in Niantic where they are known for their craft beers.
- Bluff Point State Park – more for beach walking than beach lying or sitting, Bluff Point is undeveloped and raw and beautiful. Highly recommended.
- The Oasis Pub in New London is a good jumping off point for the downtown New London area. Set your GPS to 16 Bank St, New London, CT 06320.
- Explore Mystic Village, obviously. But don’t go to Mystic Pizza because the pizza kind of sucks and the whole point are the lobster rolls, right? Point your GPS to the Seaport and then just walk around and explore: 75 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic, CT 06355
Westbrook-Clinton Area of the CT Lobster Roll Trail
Here’s where things get a little crazy. There are a lot of options in this ‘hood, so I’ve starred the ones that repeatedly rise to the top of the best-lobster-rolls-in-Connecticut debate. The others are worthy options, but if you are just looking for the 2-minute version of “the best” go with the starred options.
The Westbrook-Clinton arc of the Connecticut Lobster Roll Trail straddles New Haven and Middlesex Counties. This is the area traditionally known as the beginning of the “Shoreline” and is most convenient if you’re visiting a public beach like Hammonasset or traveling from the Hartford area.
The Lobster Pound in Guilford*
505 Old Whitfield St
Guilford, CT 06437
On the water, BYOB, you can buy a fresh lobster to take home as well.
The Lobster Shack
7 Indian Neck Ave
Branford, CT 06405
On the water, BYOB.
Lenny & Joe’s Fishtail
1301 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT 06443
Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.
Lobster Landing*
152 Commerce St
Clinton, CT
On the water, BYOB, pet-friendly, closed on Tuesdays, outdoor seating and tented area.
Westbrook Lobster Restaurant and Bar
346 E Main St
Clinton, CT 06413
Indoor restaurant.
Rocky’s Aqua
34 Riverside Dr
Clinton, CT
Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.
Bill’s Seafood Restaurant*
548 Boston Post Rd
Westbrook, CT 06498
Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.
Lenny & Joe’s Fishtail
86 Boston Post Road
Westbrook, CT 06498
Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.
Johnny Ad’s
910 Boston Post Rd
Old Saybrook, CT
Indoor restaurant white outdoor seating.
Things to Explore Nearby:
- The Guilford Town Green is worth the drive itself. Set your GPS to: 11 Park St, Guilford, CT 06437 and take a stroll.
- Explore Grass Island in Guilford.
- Lenny and Joe’s is literally (I mean literally) down the road from Hammonasset State Park, Beach, and Natural Preserve area.
- Get a drink at the Madison Beach Hotel.
- Take a walk at the Rockland Preserve.
- Stroll the Madison Town Green starting at Boston Post Road at Copse Street.
- Tour Salt Meadow.
- Stroll Clinton’s quainty-quaint Main Street. Set your GPS to: 103 E. Main Street, Clinton, CT and park in front of “Old Brick”
- Stop on the CT Wine Trail at Chamard Vineyards.
- Skip the outlets and shop the Clinton Antiques Center at 73 E Main Street, Clinton, CT.
- Tour Bushnell Farm in Old Saybrook.
- If you choose to just do a day trip to Old Saybrook, a stop in Essex is always recommended.
Fairfield to New Haven Area of the CT Lobster Roll Trail
This is the “southern arc” or the Lobster Roll Trail, so if you’re coming from New York City or points south (really, west), this will be the most convenient route for you. It’s more driving, but the scenery is beautiful, and if you can avoid traffic on 95 (or really, avoid 95 altogether) it can be pleasant. If you don’t have a car, you can take Metro North.
Boothbay Lobster Company
Harbor Point
14 Harbor Point Rd
Stamford, CT 06902
Food truck.
The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood
89 Rowayton Ave
Norwalk, CT 06853
Indoor restaurant on the water with water views.
Lobster Post
222 Post Rd
Fairfield, CT 06824
Indoor fast food restaurant.
Knapp’s Landing Restaurant
520 Sniffens Ln
Stratford, CT 06615-7559
Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.
Danny’s Drive-in
940 Ferry Blvd
Stratford, CT 06614
Outdoor drive-in restaurant.
Off the Hook Bar & Grill
170 Ferry Blvd
Stratford, CT 06615
Indoor restaurant.
The Lobster Hut
826 Bridgeport Ave
Milford, CT 06460
Food truck.
Stowe’s Seafoood
347 Beach St
West Haven, CT 06516
Outdoor seating.
Lenny & Joe’s Fishtail
501 Long Wharf D
New Haven, CT 06511
Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.
Westbrook Lobster Restaurant and Bar
300 Church Street
Wallingford, CT 06492
Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.
Things to Explore Nearby:
- Stop by for a brewery tour at Two Roads in Straford.
- Shop SoNo aka South Norwalk
- Fairfield’s beautiful and colorful Penfield Beach or Westport’s Sherwood Island State Park.
- There is so much to do in the New Haven area, but let’s focus on summer-y thing: Silver Sands State Park in Milford.
Off the Connecticut Shoreline
It’s not the same experience as eating on the water (or in a town that’s on the water) but this is Connecticut, so you can get a good lobster roll pretty much anywhere in the state. Someone on the Facebook page even suggested Stop-N-Shop.
West Shore Seafood
449 Bantam Lake Rd
Morris, CT 06763
BYOB.
Hank’s Dairy Bar
1006 Norwich Rd
Plainfield, CT 06374
A’vert Brasserie
35 LaSalle Road
West Hartford, CT 06107
Deary Bros Mike’s Stand
12 Intervale St
Putnam, CT
If I’m missing your favorite, please let me know in the comments!
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