Lobster Rolls and Whole Belly Clams

[nbermas]

Fairfield County and freah and not an arm and a leg, But willing to go as far as New Haven, tell me how they prepart them mayo or butter, what yummy rolls and rate it from 1- 10 10 being the highest. So tell me your secrets.......

[piecrust]

The seafood, especially fried whole belly clams and oysters at the Black Rock Oyster Bar in Fairfield, off I-95 at Exit 24 is of exceptional quality. Pair them with what appears to be house-made thin onion rings or sweet potato fries and excellent-for-once cole slaw and you are set. The raw oysters are always plump, shucked on the spot and served ice cold - perfect. Don't overlook this place!

[luvarugula]

Lobster Landing, on the water in Clinton (same exit as, and, opposite direction from Clinton Crossing outlets - Kat_in_Ossining). Seriously...no frills, but, decent views. You are served from a hot dog cart (see pic), and it's fresh. Lot's of lobster on a buttered roll version. Wished I'd taken a picture of the actual lobster roll...oh well...next time. Worth the trip on a nice day. I don't exactly remember how much it was, but I'm sure it was a good deal. Can't beat the ambiance, anyway.

[Kat_in_Ossining]

I'll second the reco for Lenny & Joe's in Westbrook. Lobster rolls dripping in butter on a toasted hotdog bun--perfection! The fried whole belly clams are excellent--crispy on the outside, juicy inside. Also try the chowder--not creamy, not tomato-y, but made from a nice clam-based broth and filled with flavor. You can't go wrong here. Also, you can go to Clinton Corners outlet for shopping to make the trip more 'productive'. We're in Northern Westchester and we head to Lenny & Joe's at least 5 times a year for shopping and eating--usually lunch AND dinner at Lenny & Joe's. WEstbrook Lobster up the road also had fabulous lobster rolls. Clams not as good, tho'.

[CTburgerlover]

Beach House Cafe
220 Sound Beach Ave
Old Greenwich

Best in the area.

[amanda3571]

Osetra in sono. Lobster rolls with handcut fries, cold with mayo or hot with butter. $22. They've also got a fried clam app. All bellies.

[winston1]

Armonk Lobster House has both Lobster Rolls $16 and Whole Belly Clams $12.
.

[laylag]

Are you sure they have whole bellies winston? I just checked the menu on their website and it only mentions the dreaded clam strips. Are the bellies a special or available all the time?

[winston1]

I asked, they are available all the time.

[Veggo]

The Glenwood Drive In in Hamden, about a mile north of the Whitney Ave. exit on the Wilbur Cross, has good lobster rolls hot with butter, and whole belly Ipswich clams. And I sure do miss 'em here in Florida.

[Anonimo]

I second the Glenwood Drive In.
Here are some pics: http://www.pbase.com/panos/glenwood_d...

[Veggo]

Truly food porn. Good work!

[CTburgerlover]

Glenwood also has those elusive char-broiled burgers...mmmmm

[prettygirlingreenwich]

Lenny & Joe's is definitely worth the trip they broil the lobster it is so good. Also, Champlain's in RI which someone below mentioned is really good too. I've had the full belly clams and they are excellent.

[kattyeyes]

There's a current thread ISO fried clams and lobster rolls from NYC to Boston on the New England board that you should find of interest:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6123...

[louuuuu]

Great buterry lob rolls at Knapps Landing in Stratford, with great vista of Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River.

Their other entries are mundane, but he lobster rolls are piled high on a toasted bun, soaked in butter..

Don't go without reservations... and its first come first served out on the patio, as fishing and shell fish boats ply the waves.

this is connecticut lobster roll... not lobster salad roll as in the rest of New England.

[nbermas]

louuuuuu: I am defintely going to try Kanpp Landing this summer because i miss Mountauk's lobster rolls but this is closer and with a view can't beat that. Is it a dress up place or casual?

[louuuuu]

very casual and not upscale ...

the directions are tricky so do mapquest if you don't have a gps.

and stick with the lob rolls

[nbermas]

Thanks will do!

[Ima Foodie]

funny - I tried Knapps Landing last summer based on a recommendation from someone here and I thought the roll was tiny, overcooked, and average at best. Wonder if I caught it on a bad day? Was expensive as well - $21 I believe.

[louuuuu]

Sorry you were disappointed. I've been there about a dozen times and always found it ample and tasty and good value.

Last year it was 15 dollars, and checking their website see they've now upped to $17.

[jfood]

plenty of places on route 1 east of branford until you get to saybrook.

[LJNew]

Maybe too far up the coast...but I really like the Lobster rolls at Champlains in Galilee, Rhode ISland - just a few blocks down from the Block ISland Ferry. They butter and grill the buns, and put nice big chunks of lobster meat in with minced celery for crunch and just enough mayo. Never tried their whole belly clams but they have the best steamers I have ever had.

[LW1]

Mckenzie and donovan's in sono surprisingly has a decent lobster roll. big chunks of lobster with butter and no filler. all for about 15 bucks about a month ago. who would have thunk it...

[ChefBoyAreMe]

I've alway thought Brendan's 101 in Rowayton, just before Rowayton Seafood had a very good lobster roll, surprisingly enough. Butter, no mayo if i recall (haven't had one since last summer).

Also, Noroton Yacht Club's snack bar makes a nice one, similar, but with touch of mayo, (again, if memory serves...it was a long winter.). But the club is private, not public, so that doesn't help you.

[Ima Foodie]

Lennie & Joes for the lobster rolls (butter, no mayo) and Westfair Fish & Chips in Westport for the Belly clams

[Ora]

Good luck on this request! I think you'll have to make it yourself. Or, head to Pearl's in NYC or head to Cape Cod. I've yet to have a good lobster roll in Fairfield County. And "not and arm and leg" HA!

[nbermas]

Where in the Cape do you suggest because I want to take a drive within the next mont but don't know it that well, so what suggestions for lunch and dinner, again clean and not expensive? Thank you

[mmalmad]

As for lobster rolls, I think the best bet is to make them at home, Ferraro's in New haven often sells lobster meat for $12.00/13 oz can frozen.
Whole belly clams are pretty good at Westfair Fish in Westport, though you are eating in a parking lot.. Westville Fish in New Haven just opened and my one experience with the whole bellies was quite good, but again low on the atmosphere scale. Further north in Madison Lenny and Joe's clams are great.

[biga290]

Brax Landing on Route 28 in Harwich has the best and biggest lobster roll on the cape for $19 with excellent fries. wash it down with a pint of sam adams on the patio overlooking the harbor. nothing better!!!

[nbermas]

Harwich NY? I think it is too far , I need someplace close by Fairfield County CT as I would spend my whole eating out budget just to get there but thanks.

[biga290]

no hawich ma on cape cod. i was responding to your query about the cape.

[jfood]

brax landing brings back great memories of the cape biga. great clams. And there was that other enormous place near there that overlooked the harbor until about 1993. and while there the onion rings at nauset are still the best OR's jfood has ever tasted.

[biga290]

jfood
how about arnold's way out on route 6 next to the cemetery lower cape?

[jfood]

as jfood said memories. Been a couple of years. m&M may head outthere with another couple this summer. the 4 of us are kidless so a 2 bedroom overlooking water is within economic reach.

[piecrust]

I think it was Thompson's Clam Bar in Harwichport?

[piecrust]

The Sagamore Inn under the Bourne Bridge - fried lobster tails, oysters, whole belly clams in a worn but friendly old inn. Love the place, it's family style with close seating in captain's chairs. Reasonable prices, very fresh local fish, so if they're out, they're out. You won't get stuff pulled from the freezer as far as I can tell. Closed Tuesdays.