Where to Feast on Fresh Fish & Seafood this Summer near Southport, CT
It’s that time of year that we most crave fresh, straight-from-the-sea summer seafood. From delicate crudos and freshly shucked oysters to creamy lobster rolls and decadent fish dishes, the Southport area has you covered when it comes to fabulous meals of fruits from the sea.
Read on for our pocks for top local seafood spots:
Home to effervescent ambiance, innovative cuisine, and casual fine-dining, our own Artisan Southport delivers some of Connecticut’s most beloved summer seafood: New England-inspired American cuisine with an emphasis on sea-to-table dining, celebrating the bounty of summer with lobster cobb salad, New England seafood, Maine lobster rolls, and chilled Connecticut oysters, caught just off our own coast.
Sustainably caught seafood and New England produce shine at The Whelk, an upmarket restaurant and seafood bar in Saugatuck. Served in an airy indoors or the breezy outdoors, the menu offers everything from your standard (and impeccably prepared) fish sandwich and seafood stew, to more creative offerings like the Union Jack oysters (gin, crème fraiche, and caviar) and whole griddled octopus.
After a warm day on or by the water, there are few better refreshers than the raw bar at 348 Oyster Bar. This modern restaurant serves contemporary fare in a Mediterranean setting, with a focus on local ingredients and fresh seafood: everything from comfort-food favorites like shrimp scampi and fish and chips, to more elevated offerings including fried oysters, tuna tartar, Montauk calamari, and Maine crab cakes.
For summer seafood with a fiery twist, head to Mr. Crab for Cajun favorites and New England standbys: Whether you’re craving shrimp tacos or a Connecticut lobster roll, an oyster po-boy or soft-shell crab sliders, you’ll find it here. Build your own feast with an authentic Cajun-style seafood boil (a favorite): choose your seafood – king crab, lobster, crawfish and other choices, among them – then designate your sauce and spice level and devour the best of New England seafood.
There’s nothing quite so New England as a lobster shack and nothing quite so New England summer as a lobster roll. Enjoy both at The Lobster Shack, a takeout-only restaurant specializing in our famous local shellfish. From Maine-style chilled lobster rolls to Connecticut-style warm lobster rolls, from gruyere-and-cheddar lobster mac-‘n’-cheese to whole boiled lobster, this casual spot has our lobster-loving hearts. (FYI, they also serve fried shrimp, fish and chips, shrimp tacos, and an angus burger.)
Hot butter and fresh, meaty lobster have never looked better than when they top a freshly toasted bun. At least, that’s the working theory at Lobster Craft, a local restaurant serving epic lobster roll combinations, including the serrano-and-habanero infused Heat Wave and the Coastal, an award-winning take on Connecticut’s state sandwich – a hot, buttered lobster roll.
Bon appétit!
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