Outdoor dining is an experience: it’s casual vibes, beautiful views, and, of course, delicious food! Connecticut has a variety of outdoor restaurants that will give you a true taste of The Constitution State. From lobster shacks to delicious burgers, you won’t go hungry at any of the state’s outdoor dining establishments. Here are eight outdoor restaurants in Connecticut you need to visit — ASAP!
- The Blue Oar, Haddam
Facebook/The Blue Oar
Facebook/The Blue Oar Arrive by car or boat to this colorful riverfront restaurant. There is plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy the American classics and seafood served up with a water view. Appetizers and sandwiches are served all day at The Blue Oar, one of Connecticut’s very best waterfront dining establishments.
- Lobster Landing, Clinton
Facebook/Lobster Landing
Facebook/Lobster Landing The menu is admittedly a bit limited, but the expansive coastal views at this seafood shack on the coast make up for that. Enjoy a fresh lobster roll (the house specialty), hot dog, or sausage and peppers. Three items to choose from, but they will keep you coming back for more! Find Lobster Landing, a seasonal ‘shack, in Clinton.
- The Place, Guilford
TripAdvisor/Hamilton T
TripAdvisor/A Trip Advisor Member Enjoy food cooked over an open fire at this roadside restaurant. Lobsters, clams, roasted corn, and BBQ chicken are just a few of the offerings on the menu. Grab a seat on a tree stump and get ready for a true outdoor dining experience. Learn more about what makes The Place special in our recent feature.
- Harry’s Place, Colchester
TripAdvisor/NCurl Experience 97 years of nostalgia at this long-standing favorite in Colchester. Burgers, hot dogs, and fish ’n chips are menu staples here, but make sure you save room for ice cream after your meal – it’s spectacular!
- Stowe’s Seafood, West Haven
Facebook/Stowe’s Seafood
Facebook/Stowe’s Seafood Find seafood classics at this funky pirate-themed shack on the shoreline. Enjoy lobster rolls, chowder, fried clams, and more while the shoreline breeze keeps you cool. Visit Stowe’s Seafood next time a craving strikes for lobster rolls!
- S&P Oyster Company, Mystic
Facebook/S&P Oyster Company
Facebook/S&P Oyster Company This upscale spot on the Mystic River has a spectacular view of the bridge. Dine on fresh food with a South American flair. Shrimp, scallops, steak, and of course, oysters are carefully prepared to please your palate. One of the very best seafood restaurants in Connecticut, S&P Oyster Company is a must-visit.
- Abbott’s Lobster In The Rough, Groton
Facebook/Abbott’s Lobster In The Rough
Facebook/Abbott’s Lobster In The Rough For lobster rolls, steamed lobsters, and other delicious seafood, visit this dockside spot with sweeping water views. Serving up a variety of seasonal offerings since 1947, locals await the opening of this summertime spot each year.
- Shanks, Clinton
TripAdvisor/JourneyRV
TripAdvisor/honeydoll272 Shanks in Clinton is a seasonal dining establishment that’s open May through the end of summer (closing dates vary!) You’ll place your order at this dry-docked boat and then dine at a picnic table overlooking the harbor– you’ll find all kinds of yummy seafood and sandwiches on this delightful food boat.
How many of these outdoor restaurants in Connecticut have you dined at before? Which one do you plan on heading to next? Share your fave outdoor dining spots in the comments below — we’d love to hear about them!
Facebook/The Blue Oar
Arrive by car or boat to this colorful riverfront restaurant. There is plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy the American classics and seafood served up with a water view. Appetizers and sandwiches are served all day at The Blue Oar, one of Connecticut’s very best waterfront dining establishments.
Facebook/Lobster Landing
The menu is admittedly a bit limited, but the expansive coastal views at this seafood shack on the coast make up for that. Enjoy a fresh lobster roll (the house specialty), hot dog, or sausage and peppers. Three items to choose from, but they will keep you coming back for more! Find Lobster Landing, a seasonal ‘shack, in Clinton.
TripAdvisor/Hamilton T
TripAdvisor/A Trip Advisor Member
Enjoy food cooked over an open fire at this roadside restaurant. Lobsters, clams, roasted corn, and BBQ chicken are just a few of the offerings on the menu. Grab a seat on a tree stump and get ready for a true outdoor dining experience. Learn more about what makes The Place special in our recent feature.
TripAdvisor/NCurl
Experience 97 years of nostalgia at this long-standing favorite in Colchester. Burgers, hot dogs, and fish ’n chips are menu staples here, but make sure you save room for ice cream after your meal – it’s spectacular!
Facebook/Stowe’s Seafood
Find seafood classics at this funky pirate-themed shack on the shoreline. Enjoy lobster rolls, chowder, fried clams, and more while the shoreline breeze keeps you cool. Visit Stowe’s Seafood next time a craving strikes for lobster rolls!
Facebook/S&P Oyster Company
This upscale spot on the Mystic River has a spectacular view of the bridge. Dine on fresh food with a South American flair. Shrimp, scallops, steak, and of course, oysters are carefully prepared to please your palate. One of the very best seafood restaurants in Connecticut, S&P Oyster Company is a must-visit.
Facebook/Abbott’s Lobster In The Rough
For lobster rolls, steamed lobsters, and other delicious seafood, visit this dockside spot with sweeping water views. Serving up a variety of seasonal offerings since 1947, locals await the opening of this summertime spot each year.
TripAdvisor/JourneyRV
TripAdvisor/honeydoll272
Shanks in Clinton is a seasonal dining establishment that’s open May through the end of summer (closing dates vary!) You’ll place your order at this dry-docked boat and then dine at a picnic table overlooking the harbor– you’ll find all kinds of yummy seafood and sandwiches on this delightful food boat.
And we’d be remiss not to include dessert options in this roundup, too, so be sure to check out these ice cream stands in Connecticut. Rumor has it that they serve up some the very best milkshakes in the state!
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Address: 16 Snyder Rd, Haddam, CT 06438, USAAddress: Lobster Landing, Clinton, CT 06413, USAAddress: The Place Restaurant, 901 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT 06437, USAAddress: 104 Broadway St, Colchester, CT 06415, USAAddress: Stowe’s Seafood, 347 Beach St, West Haven, CT 06516, USAAddress: 1 Holmes St, Mystic, CT 06355, USAAddress: 117 Pearl St, Noank, CT 06340, USAAddress: 131-c Grove St, Clinton, CT 06413, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Outdoor Restaurants In Connecticut April 18, 2021 Sarah Does Connecticut have any waterfront restaurants? Waterfront dining is the ultimate outdoor dining experience, and Connecticut has some incredible places where you can do just that. The aptly-named A Waterfront Restaurant offers a spectacular view of the Connecticut River along with a gourmet array of tantalizing recipes that will fully satisfy. Located in Putnam Park in Wethersfield, enjoying the view of the Putnam Bridge and Connecticut River is a magical way to spend lunch or dinner. There are no “bad seats” here: each seat at River is the best seat in the house! Whether you prefer to enjoy a scrumptious dinner on the outdoor patio or have a preference for indoor dining, every table has a gorgeous waterfront view that will make your experience memorable. Of course, the food is incredible here, too: high-quality Mediterranean cuisine with antipasto, salads, soups, seafood appetizers, flatbreads, grilled steak, fresh seafood, and pastas. This waterfront restaurant is one you’ll never want to leave! What are some of the best restaurants in Connecticut? Connecticut is home to several bucket-list-worthy restaurants. Some of our favorites include Swyft, an unassuming little restaurant in Kent that with crave-worthy burgers and Neapolitan-style pizza. Famous 50’s Diner is another legendary place with nostalgic decor and dishing up classic American flavors like burgers, onion rings, and milkshakes. And Lenny’s in Branford is a delight; this long-standing restaurant serves classic New England dishes in a vibrant and welcoming setting. Their clam chowder, fresh lobster, and smoked ribs will make your mouth water uncontrollably. Are there many places to dine outside in Connecticut? Absolutely! In addition to the above list of outdoor restaurants in Connecticut, you’ll find a number of seasonally operated lobster shacks and ice cream stands sure to have you coming back for seconds! One of our favorite places to dine outside in The Constitution State is Fresh Salt. Tucked inside the lovely Saybrook Point Resort, Fresh Salt offers an exceptional, and romantic, dining experience. This exquisite eatery offers breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner; no matter when you come, you’re certain to be impressed. The meals are fresh and delicious – you’ll find exceptional seafood dishes like raw oysters, grilled swordfish, and pan seared sea scallops. It doesn’t get any fresher, or more delicious, than this! And the cherry on top are the views: the panoramas from the back deck are sublime, especially as the sun begins to set. Definitely one to check out ASAP! You can read about more outdoor dining options in this guide, too.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Outdoor Restaurants In Connecticut
April 18, 2021
Sarah
Does Connecticut have any waterfront restaurants? Waterfront dining is the ultimate outdoor dining experience, and Connecticut has some incredible places where you can do just that. The aptly-named A Waterfront Restaurant offers a spectacular view of the Connecticut River along with a gourmet array of tantalizing recipes that will fully satisfy. Located in Putnam Park in Wethersfield, enjoying the view of the Putnam Bridge and Connecticut River is a magical way to spend lunch or dinner. There are no “bad seats” here: each seat at River is the best seat in the house! Whether you prefer to enjoy a scrumptious dinner on the outdoor patio or have a preference for indoor dining, every table has a gorgeous waterfront view that will make your experience memorable. Of course, the food is incredible here, too: high-quality Mediterranean cuisine with antipasto, salads, soups, seafood appetizers, flatbreads, grilled steak, fresh seafood, and pastas. This waterfront restaurant is one you’ll never want to leave! What are some of the best restaurants in Connecticut? Connecticut is home to several bucket-list-worthy restaurants. Some of our favorites include Swyft, an unassuming little restaurant in Kent that with crave-worthy burgers and Neapolitan-style pizza. Famous 50’s Diner is another legendary place with nostalgic decor and dishing up classic American flavors like burgers, onion rings, and milkshakes. And Lenny’s in Branford is a delight; this long-standing restaurant serves classic New England dishes in a vibrant and welcoming setting. Their clam chowder, fresh lobster, and smoked ribs will make your mouth water uncontrollably. Are there many places to dine outside in Connecticut? Absolutely! In addition to the above list of outdoor restaurants in Connecticut, you’ll find a number of seasonally operated lobster shacks and ice cream stands sure to have you coming back for seconds! One of our favorite places to dine outside in The Constitution State is Fresh Salt. Tucked inside the lovely Saybrook Point Resort, Fresh Salt offers an exceptional, and romantic, dining experience. This exquisite eatery offers breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner; no matter when you come, you’re certain to be impressed. The meals are fresh and delicious – you’ll find exceptional seafood dishes like raw oysters, grilled swordfish, and pan seared sea scallops. It doesn’t get any fresher, or more delicious, than this! And the cherry on top are the views: the panoramas from the back deck are sublime, especially as the sun begins to set. Definitely one to check out ASAP! You can read about more outdoor dining options in this guide, too.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Waterfront dining is the ultimate outdoor dining experience, and Connecticut has some incredible places where you can do just that. The aptly-named A Waterfront Restaurant offers a spectacular view of the Connecticut River along with a gourmet array of tantalizing recipes that will fully satisfy. Located in Putnam Park in Wethersfield, enjoying the view of the Putnam Bridge and Connecticut River is a magical way to spend lunch or dinner. There are no “bad seats” here: each seat at River is the best seat in the house! Whether you prefer to enjoy a scrumptious dinner on the outdoor patio or have a preference for indoor dining, every table has a gorgeous waterfront view that will make your experience memorable. Of course, the food is incredible here, too: high-quality Mediterranean cuisine with antipasto, salads, soups, seafood appetizers, flatbreads, grilled steak, fresh seafood, and pastas. This waterfront restaurant is one you’ll never want to leave!
What are some of the best restaurants in Connecticut?
Connecticut is home to several bucket-list-worthy restaurants. Some of our favorites include Swyft, an unassuming little restaurant in Kent that with crave-worthy burgers and Neapolitan-style pizza. Famous 50’s Diner is another legendary place with nostalgic decor and dishing up classic American flavors like burgers, onion rings, and milkshakes. And Lenny’s in Branford is a delight; this long-standing restaurant serves classic New England dishes in a vibrant and welcoming setting. Their clam chowder, fresh lobster, and smoked ribs will make your mouth water uncontrollably.
Are there many places to dine outside in Connecticut?
Absolutely! In addition to the above list of outdoor restaurants in Connecticut, you’ll find a number of seasonally operated lobster shacks and ice cream stands sure to have you coming back for seconds! One of our favorite places to dine outside in The Constitution State is Fresh Salt. Tucked inside the lovely Saybrook Point Resort, Fresh Salt offers an exceptional, and romantic, dining experience. This exquisite eatery offers breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner; no matter when you come, you’re certain to be impressed. The meals are fresh and delicious – you’ll find exceptional seafood dishes like raw oysters, grilled swordfish, and pan seared sea scallops. It doesn’t get any fresher, or more delicious, than this! And the cherry on top are the views: the panoramas from the back deck are sublime, especially as the sun begins to set. Definitely one to check out ASAP! You can read about more outdoor dining options in this guide, too.
