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We've compiled the best of the best in New Haven, Mystic, and the Coast - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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.
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.
Don't be put off by the long line waiting to order classic fare like lobster rolls (hot or cold, small or large), steamers, fried clams, homemade clam fritters, "chowda"—plus foot-long hot dogs. This outdoor restaurant on Shaw's Cove—where you eat at picnic tables (BYOB) alongside the marina—is a great place to eat and a great place to spend time on a hot summer day.
Seafood is the draw at this harborside restaurant—clam chowder, oysters or clams on the half-shell, "dogwiches," fish-and-chips, bouillabaisse, roasted cod, Stonington scallops, and more. Alternatively, choose a grilled chicken sandwich, flat-iron steak, burger, or soup and salad. Sit inside or outside and enjoy the view.
Dog Watch Mystic, a sister restaurant, has a similar waterfront location and menu at 20 Old Stonington Road in nearby Mystic.
Started as a fish market in 1983 by a young couple with a baby on the way, Flanders has grown into a popular restaurant and bar with awards for its seafood—especially the lobster roll—and appearances in local media and national TV. The Market's 40-year history landed it a spot in the Connecticut Restaurant Association "Hospitality Hall Of Fame," and locals come for the raw bar, seafood platter and sandwiches, brunch, and "Cappy Hour" specials.
Located on the ground floor of The Whaler's Inn, Shipwright's Daughter immediately rose to statewide recognition for delicious, tremendously creative fare sourced from local farms and the crisp, clear waters where eastern Long Island Sound meets the Atlantic Ocean. Expect daily specials where the catch of the day was actually just caught, plus pasta, imaginative meat and vegetable dishes, and breakfast daily. Chef David Standridge was recently named Best Chef in the northeast by the prestigious James Beard Awards, so reservations are recommended, although drop-ins may often find comfortable seats at the bar.
