Best Seafood in Old Saybrook, CT
Old Saybrook, CT, a historic shoreline town, is (as you might expect) home to an excellent variety of seafood restaurants. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or you find yourself there frequently, we’ve narrowed it down to a few favorites that focus on preparing and serving the best of ocean fare in a few different styles and at a few different price points.
Blue Hound Cookery & Tap Room – From washing dishes in Martha’s Vineyard to staffing kitchens in Vermont to learning from renowned chefs in New Orleans, Matt and Tracy Carrol have been working towards restaurant ownership for most of their lives in one way or another. In the early 2000s, they opened a southern-style restaurant in North Carolina, but they were drawn back to New England about a decade ago and opened the Blue Hound Cookery shortly thereafter. They specialize in Creole and Southern American coastal-inspired cuisine, which includes a variety of delectable seafood dishes. I usually start with the Grilled Shrimp Remoulade and then order some New Orleans Seafood Fra Diavolo Pasta, which comes packed with shrimp, salmon, mahi-mahi, and crawfish.
Liv’s Oyster Bar was opened in 2006 and quickly became a dining destination. Inspired by his love of family, owner John Brescio named the restaurant after his daughter and crafted an environment that is welcoming and a menu that is simple yet inviting. Seasonal options abound based on the availability of fresh, local ingredients and it makes all the difference. They offer a vibrant raw bar and a lovely variety of classic dishes, but my personal favorite is the General Tso’s Fried Shrimp Taco’s, which is a fun twist on the more traditional fish tacos you can find elsewhere. These ones are built up with a bok choy slaw, ginger-carrot dressing, and scallion mayonnaise.
Skipper’s Seafood is a mom & pop seafood restaurant with outdoor seating and water views. Here you’ll find lots of options for fried seafood and rolls that are affordable and enjoyable for the whole family! If whole belly clams are your thing, rejoice because they have them available as their own plate or part of the Fisherman’s Platter, or as a fresh roll, which is what I usually order.
Johnny Ad’s – what started as a small weekend food shack in 1957 is now home to some of the region’s most popular seafood, named after the owner John Adinolfo. Here you can dine on what many have called the Best Lobster Roll, filled with chunks of warm lobster meat. If lobster rolls aren’t your thing, don’t miss the seasonal soft shell crab when it arrives as a special treat. Despite its shoreline location, Johnny Ad’s is open year-round so you can enjoy your favorites whenever you like!
Nancy’s Rosemary & Sage is a contemporary American bistro featuring “dazzling” dishes in an upbeat and friendly environment, beloved by locals who gather together regularly. I’m crazy about the Lobster and Artichoke Fondue and the Coconut Shrimp as my starters, and then I never miss the Scampi Bianco, which is linguini topped with sun dried tomatoes, artichokes, fresh spinach, and jumbo shrimp cooked in garlic butter.
