5 Best Restaurants in New Haven, Mystic, and the Coast, Connecticut

If you want some of the freshest lobster, crab, mussels, or clams on the half shell (there are also nonseafood options), head down to this unassuming seaside lobster shack in sleepy Noank, a few miles southwest of Mystic. Most seating is outdoors or on the dock, where the views of Noank Harbor are magnificent.

Come to this independent bookstore, café, and bakery to buy a book, have lunch (or breakfast), or have breakfast (or lunch) and buy a book. "Nourishment for mind and body" is the approach here—in the style of a European neighborhood café.

Enjoy fresh-caught New England seafood (and more) dockside at Breakwater, midway along Water Street in Stonington Borough. Dine inside or outside on the deck in warm weather; the roomy bar is a popular gathering place in winter months.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, this is the place that put New Haven pizza on the map. Try the justifiably famous white-clam pie (especially good topped with bacon), but one can never go wrong with the original tomato pie (with mozzarella)—thinking about it makes your mouth water. Die-hard fans claim they serve the best pizza in the world. 

In a gorgeous Beaux Arts dining room, this lively brasserie wins high marks for its updated French cuisine. The knowledgeable staff are happy to recommend wine pairings to complement whatever dishes you select—perhaps potato-crusted halibut with fennel compote and ratatouille, a grilled beef filet with fingerling potatoes, or the plat du jour.