While heading down to the Clinton Outlets a quick search on the Yelp app and we discovered Rocky's Aqua. It is located right on the water in Cedar Island Marina . A 5 min ride from the outlets. The place is nicely done and has both an indoor bar / dinning area and an outside one in a connected permanent tent. Sit at one of the high top tables over looking the marina for great views. If I rated it just on food and not overall atmosphere I would prob go with 3 stars. But it's got a lot going for it , great location and we had a great server. Now on to the food , we started with 6 clams on the half shell, very good , fresh tasting. We also tried a bowl of their clam chowder. Being big chowder fans this wasn't our particular favorite. It was nice and creamy with potatoes cooked perfectly. But we didn't like was finely chopped clams, I had to pull out 3 bay leaves I almost ate and their seasoning/ herb mixture was a little different than traditional . A nice spin on it from their end just not our cup of tea. We also ordered the fried scrod sandwich served on a roll with lettuce tomatoes and pickles . The bun to fish ratio was a little off. A little too much bun. I ordered the flank steak wrap served with grilled onions, lettuce tomato, Swiss cheese and horseradish sauce. It was well done and hit the spot with my Bloody Mary. Just remember it's flank steak so it's a little on the chewy side. But not a prob. Def will return and try new thing next we are in the area. Great spot and great staff members . read more

Aqua - Flank steak wrap - Seafood Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

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We decided to have dinner here based on a recommendation from friends. The ambiance is great, it's on the water and you can watch boats coming and going. I'm assuming because of the covid precautions they have picnic tables set up and that is where we were seated. I asked to be seated on the patio area but they didn't have anything available- no big deal. I Ordered the riverside runner which was delicious. It took a long time for our server to greet us. Once we ordered drinks and apps they came out in a reasonable amount of time. Over an hour after we ordered our entrees we finally started to eat! We asked what was taking so long, since she never checked back in with us, and was told that the chicken takes a long time to prep. What?! If that's the case then guests ordering it should be made aware. We started with calamari which we really enjoyed. My daughter had a burger which was good. My husband had the clam strips which were good. I ordered the chicken lemon garlic which I thought would be somewhat light. It was swimming in sauce and very heavy and the mashed potatoes were drenched as well. I had a few green beans but not a good sized side. Apparently I ordered their least favorite entree and they prepared it as such. Overall I would have been more positive about the food quality if the remainder of the service was at least acceptable. After dessert we were still waiting for the bill to close out as our server was chatting with a table she clearly knew. I had to take my keys out and plop them on the table for her to pay attention to us. Not my style but we are now 2 hours into a meal and just want to leave. In the end they took dessert and a round of drinks off the bill. They could have eliminated the need to take this off the bill and made us repeat customers with basic communication. We won't be returning and will instead patronize restaurants who provide exceptional service. read more

Yo Adriaaan! Eat at Rocky's. This restaurant really gets a hopping during the summer weekends because it's right on the docks in beautiful Clinton harbor. On one side is the Cedar Island Marina and on the other side is the town docks. Lots of summer vacationers, both boaters and land lubbers alike, frequent this seafood restaurant. During the winter months Rocky's is open but it quiets down a bit. The inside is nice. It's not fancy at all. The front section with the new bar is nice. I think they Should remove the tired looking carpet and just put in 100% hardwood flooring. That would make a big improvement. Rocky's has a couple bars; one indoors and one outdoors. The dining section is nice because they have open views of the docks and marina. It's just a good summer place in general. Food is OK. The appetizers and sandwiches are reasonably priced but the entrees are kinda pricey. But hey, it's seafood. Seafood is pricey. Oh yea, and if you don't like seafood, then you're kinda out of luck (except they do have one or two beef and chicken dishes). read more

Aqua - Nice view from the restaurant. - Seafood Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

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I just hosted my parents 50th Anniversary party at Rocky's Aqua. It was a surprise party with about 40 guests, and as everyone who has ever arranged a surprise party knows - it's a lot of work to get every thing to go well. Fortunately Rocky's Aqua turned out to be an ideal venue and Sam and his staff did an amazing job. The room they set up for me was perfect, with nice views of the water and marina, the food was great, the staff was friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this restaurant for dinner or your event. read more

Wow. What a great place. Right on the water. Beautiful view of Cedar Island. Crew was fast, courteous, knowledgeable. Food was delicious. Had the clam strips and calamari. Both were cooked to a T. Not greasy, calamari was extremely tender and melted in the mouth. Banana peppers were crisp and crunchy. Definitely coming back! read more

Went today to the Aqua Restaurant as it was their opening day for the 2023 summer season. I've been there several times before and was looking for, yet, another good meal. Well, I was definitely not disappointed. My fried cod was fresh and lightly breaded. The onion rings were light and crisp. The best part was the flourless chocolate cake. It was so smooth and creamy. I have never tasted a cake like that, ever, and it's made on the premises. I could go on and on. It's worth the trip and any amount of time waiting. read more

Nothing to complain about...staff was attentive, food was tasty and the prices were decent. What more can I ask for?

I was in search of a new place to grab lunch before grocery shopping and decided to try this place out. It was just starting up when I got there. The bar outside was pretty empty as were the tables, but within 20 more minutes they were packed. The view here is beautiful and definitely what does it. There is a bar and some tables outside under a covered patio area and a bar and tables inside as well. I had a cocktail and a pretty good ahi tuna wrap. Overall, everything was ok. Aside from the view, I was not overly wowed though. More than willing to give it another shot though. read more

Aqua - Ahi tuna wrap and a river runner - Seafood Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

The treatment of us by the hostess was completely unacceptable. She was very rude. We waited for an outdoor table, we were buzzed and walked inside. She has given away our table and asked if we wanted to sit at the bar, our answer was no. Another table got up and she seated a second couple before us. I've worked in restaurants and I've been a hostess, this job is not that difficult. She was extremely rude, we left and we will not be going back. read more

Wonderful shoreline location with really attentive and friendly staff. Thoughtful menu and great drink list too. The oyster salad was perfect with buffalo shrimp as an app. Great burgers too read more

This restaurant has created so much safe, open spaces fir dining - including a covered outdoor room w wide open windows. Amazing views. Very good food - we liked the fried oyster salad. Fantastic staff. read more

I've eaten here several times and have never had a bad meal. Went on a very busy night and was told there were five parties ahead of us. We decided to wait and am so glad we did as we were seated in about twenty five minutes. Our server, Katie, was lovely. The food is fabulous. Super fresh and served nice and hot. My boyfriend had the tuna appetizer (he loved the wasabi dip it came with) and I had RI chowder. Great herby flavors in the broth! He then had blackened scallops and I had the mahi tacos. Again, cooked well and excellent flavors. I don't think it's intentional, but the food comes out so fast, it's almost too quick. I like to let my food settle in between courses, but here it comes out super fast. Of course there could be worse things, right? I also found it to be really pricey. The menu is so good, I'd like to add it to our regular rotation, but sadly we just can't afford it. If I could, I'd give 4.5 stars! read more

Our first visit to Rocky's was disappointing. Ordered a Mojito while waiting for a table, made incorrectly- TOO sweet, [no lime juice, I suspect double syrup]. When we got to our table ordered a Coconut Bay Breeze, different bar, also made incorrectly. Seafood Bisque, flavorful but too thick, almost pudding. Salad was good. Ordered swordfish with pineapple salsa, fish overcooked, dry. What ever was on the top had pineapple but was not salsa, it was cooked and thickened- perhaps to hide the dry fish? Did not bother finishing the fish. Fresh green beans were undercooked. French fries were good. Husband ordered Scallop and shrimp saute. Scallops were the best, shrimp over cooked. The view was spectacular from the lovely deck, the wait staff was working hard and were attentive. Website menu has not been updated since spring 2021. read more

Whenever I am in my home state of Connecticut, I love going to Aqua. Rocky and Sam are so accommodating and treat me like family! They were instrumental at being at my disposal, helping during a challenging time after my brother's funeral by catering to whatever was needed and opening the restaurant just for my family and mourners. I just have to give credit where it's due; even if it is an unusual situation. Rocky was available even though he was out of the country. I will never forget how both he and Sam made a difficult time so easy and yes, pleasant! The food was perfect and the attention helped so much! On a regular note....love the food, atmosphere and ambiance and will continue to patronage the establishment. What a wonderful place to call home! Thank you all for everything you do! You deserve 10 stars! Sincerely, Mickey read more

Started with Fried Calamari and steamed clams. Steam clams were fresh, but very plain. Smaller portion and tons of chopped raw garlic. Probably the best thing we ate. Fried calamari was all grease, and absolutely no flavor or salt. The marinara tasted like water. My fried fish sandwich was gross and bland. No salt and fish still had skin in it. Also roll was stale. Fries were fresh cut, but greasy and no salt. Lobster roll was small and burnt bun. Friend ordered ahi tuna wrap which had no flavor at all. She asked for no onions and ended up getting extra onions. Only good thing are drinks and location. Will not eat here again! read more

Aqua - Disgusting! - Seafood Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

The perfect late lunch, topping off a weekend to BI. Food, atmosphere and service were great. A really enjoyable afternoon by the water

Food is wonderful, however add in the amazing staff plus the gourmet eats = hand's down win. Truly no joke- the ONLY place for seafood, friends, and laughter. read more

So really the only reason I ever go to this place is that it is within walking distance of my parents house and I need a place to have a drink when I'm down visiting them. The food has always been mediocre at best, hence why I don't eat there. The reason i'm writing this review is that I came down this past weekend with 20 people for my engagement party. I called ahead to make sure they were open, and they said they were. When we got there, we all waited FOREVER for drinks, then they immediately closed the bar. It was 11. We spoke with the management who clearly did not care at all about making money (we were all about drinking $10 ketel one drinks that night and easily would have run up a HUGE tab) and they were frankly quite rude. We went to the dive bar formerly known as the driftwood and had a fantastic time. All that Aqua really has going for it is the location, but you can get better food a 5 min drive away, and just as nice of a view at dozens of other shoreline restaurants. Maybe I've just lived in a city too long, but when I show up to a place (after calling, mind you) with 20 people in their late 20's who are looking to drop literally hundreds of dollars on drinks, you don't just close up shop. read more

If I were just talking about the view from the deck: 15 stars. Sitting out on the side deck, having a glass of wine and some good conversation is one of the things I like most about living on the shoreline. Unfortunately, to get that experience, you have to put up with poor service and mediocre food. I wish they'd make the whole restaurant be like the deck - where you can sit outdoors and enjoy the gorgeous view. The real estate on the deck is prime and hard to come by - if you're NOT eating dinner, they don't want to let you sit at a table. If you get up from the bar, even after ordering a drink, they'll let someone else take your seat. Then, down a seat at the bar, when you try to sit at an empty table, you're reminded that tables are for food-orderers. We need more seaside restaurants, Shoreline CT! And hopefully you'll treat your customers better than they do at Rocky's Aqua. read more

Great restaurant, Rocky and the staff are very friendly and courteous. Clams casino are good and a lot of great other items on the menu as well. Good place if you're looking to get a full course lunch or dinner and aren't in a rush to eat. read more

Took my parents to Aqua and let's just say it was quite underwhelming as far as service, menu and comfort--the location and view of Harbor is outstanding; but we got... 1-Flat beer on tap; and had to wait forever for a fresh one 2-Student waitress when asked 'tell me about the Chicken Parm dinner'--reply: ''ahhh, it's real good'; (and i had to ask her for bread with it)...note: the chicken parm was fine; portion rather meager and the pasta was drek 3--the tables by the window are wedged together and the chairs extremely uncomfortable 4- prices for entrees way overpriced for the food you get Give it a shot though; maybe it was just a bad night for the Aqua folks; they also take 5% off for cash which is smart business read more

This is the restaurant/bar I go to most often and for good reason. Their service is exemplary and their food is beyond measure. Eat/Drink at this establishment. Now. read more

Great atmosphere right on the water. Super attentive and friendly staff. I had the Mahi Mahi fish tacos... Good... I probably would have recommended adding slaw and maybe some lime to the tacos. The hand cut fries were pretty tasty. My wife had the fried clam dinner.... Really outstanding.. Some of the lightest and tastiest fried clams anywhere. By the way... A nice selection of local brews on tap and great cocktails.... A definite plus for waterfront casual dining.... read more

This is a great on the water restaurant. We eat here 3-4 times a week as it is next door to our marina. We have yet to have a bad meal. The food is usually a bit under salted. The Oysters Aquafeler, lobster bisque and the Cobb salad are my favorites. Service is great with an expected lag during busy weekend meal periods. Update this place has went down hill. Over cooked food and when you tell rocky you steak was over cooked for the third time he says sorry you still need to pay for it. This was a wolf in sheeps clothing. I won't delete my original review as it's how we felt the first 3 weeks coming here. STAY AWAY!!!!! read more

This place is ok. Not great, not terrible. Been a few times, and the patio bar is a nice place to sit and have a drink, but the food has always been a miss for me. The only memorable thing I've had off the menu was the clams casino. Very tasty. Otherwise, nothing has hit home. Lobster roll was forgettable. The amount of lobster in the roll was barely enough to cover the bottom of the hotdog bun, maybe a scant 1/4 cup of mainly knuckle meat, with practically not butter. Broiled seafood plate was beyond small in size, and bland. Burger was boring...Just not a spot to spend your time if food will be the main attraction. If you're more interested in the outside bar and view, and a couple of standard apps like french fries and fried mozz, then this is a good spot for you. Service was good, hence the 3rd star. Otherwise, a sold 2 star for me. Just meh. read more

Aqua is the establishment I frequent the most during the on-season. With it's incredible staff, fantastic harbor views and delicious food, Aqua will not disappoint. Although the prices for some of the entrées are a little expensive for me, they are quite good and deliver a high caliber of quality. Friday nights, Rocky brings in live bands from around the area to entertain while you eat and long after as well! The staff really make the experience work for me. Bartenders are top notch and will usually remember your name and beverage of choice. I'm a regular there, I can't tell you if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I enjoy having my drink poured before I even order it! Overall a great place during the summer months, my favorite actually... good people and good fun! read more

Did take out for my family of four. I was at the restaurant early to pick up the food so it didn't sit and we are on a boat right next door. The food was awful. My husband and son loved the roast beef wraps last summer, this time the meat was subpar, very tough. I got sweet potatoes fries and the french fries with another meal tasted like they sat in grease for an hour. My son was sick to his stomach all night. I appreciate the difficulty with the virus but a total waste of money. read more

All I found the food tasty. But the dinner plate burnt my wife if it were are 2yr old I would very upset. Warning plates are burnwd with a torch mgr was like that is how it was done in 70s well bud we are in 2011. This needs to be fixed read more

Awesome views. Awesome views. Awesome views. That being said...the food was a bit overpriced for the mediocre quality. The lobster roll was not good at all-- only claw meat (not as desireable as tail meat), overcooked and rubbery. The mussels were fresh, but you could barely taste them because the chef prepared them with this spicy sausage mess that totally detracted from the mussels, which should have been the star of the dish. So it's hard to rate Aqua-- 10 stars for the view, probably no better than 2 stars for the food. I think if I went back (which I probably will), I'd go for drinks and appetizers-- then head to the lobster shack (about a block away) for my meal. read more

A restaurant with such a nice view you'll want to live there. A Friend and I shared a late lunch on a glorious sunny hot July afternoon. We ate on the outdoor patio just steps from the water and the gently bobbing boats. A cool breeze played upon our happy faces and the mostly empty restaurant and kept us cool on what was an oppressively hotter day inland. For starters we had the creamy almost ice cream like buffalo mozzarella / tomato plate. Excellent cheese simply done with the perfect ripe tomato with olive oil and seasoned with salt pepper and some diced basil. Amazing; very refreshing to eat gresh light fare out on he water like that, washed down with mouthfuls of a crisp chilled Sauvignon blanc. We shared the swordfish -perfectly pan fried, and juicy and it melted in my mouth like some hybrid streak / seafood fillet mignon. Also ordered was the clan strip dinner which had a mountain of lightly fried tender clam strips and delicately cut French fries and a rather nicely made rustic coleslaw. All in all a great place to dine in the summer with amazing views and great ambience. read more

I live right down the street from this restaurant, however, do not go here for just the convenience factor. The food is great and the service even better. If you are looking for dining on the CT shoreline this is the place to go. The owner just redid the interior of the restaurant and its wonderful, with panoramic views of Cedar Island and Long Island Sound. If you are from Clinton or the surrounding town this is probably the place to go where 'everybody knows your name.' The service is wonderful and friendly and the food is wonderful. Though I am a steak and potatoes type of girl, I hear that the seafood is amazing. I personally enjoy the chicken parm and steak w/ gorgonzola crust and mashed potatoes. If its been a while since you have been - get back and check out the NEW MENU. The owner, Rocky, did a fabulous job updating w/ more lite eats and more options for the non-seafood lovers. There is also an outdoor patio w/ a bar for the warmer months and live band on the weekends. Aside from that, Rocky just created another side patio which is ideal for private parties and gathers. We just threw my mother a surprise 55th out there and it was fantastic. The views for a private party are untouchable from the other venues we considered before deciding on the Aqua. If you are looking for lunch/dinner, drinks or a private party venue w/ a view of the water and beautiful boats cruising by the windows I highly recommend dining here. read more

Not too bad. We sat outside 6/9/13 and had a great view of the water and Marina. The weather was perfect. Aqua's rebuilt outside dining was very comfortable, and clean. Cob salad was fresh and tasted good...little on the small side, and I ordered blackened Salmon but they gave me grilled Chicken...was good anyway. Spicy shrimp in Coconut sauce was fantastic, drinks were fine, Onion rings was told tasted good. Little pricey, but almost all restaurants are these days. 3.75 stars read more

Rainy afternoon, looking for a place for mid afternoon lunch. Aqua was the perfect stop! We had chowder, lobster roll and fried oysters. They all were excellent, especially the fried oysters, a favorite of mine. It was fairly empty due to the weather and timing, but the waiter was very pleasant and attentive. I would definitely go again! read more

We went here for dinner tonight. Food was pretty good. Service ok. I must say that my son REALLY enjoyed his chicken finger platter (huge serving for a kid's plate). The owner, I think his name is Rocky, was actually there tonight and had a kind word and warm smile for everyone. Others reviewers are correct, as the food is a bit pricey, but nonetheless it does warrant a return visit. read more

The hubs and I were here Memorial day weekend to kick off the summer. Weather was perfect, views were great. We did wait an hour to get seated but the food was worth it. We had the lobster ravioli and the clam strips. ravioli was ahmayzing...had chunks of lobster in nearly every bite. Clam strips were lightly battered, crsipy and not greasy...sooo good. However, the fries were just fries not as spectacular like the menu says. Will def go back again. read more

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Lovely environment. Extremely friendly staff. Food was delicious, fresh clam strips and light flaky fry on the fish and chips. One improvement I would say was that they were a little busy on a Saturday lunch, and it was tough at times to grab our waitress at times. However the beautiful view, super friendly staff and delicious food far outweighed that. My sister and I took our sometimes not-so-easy to please grandmother out for lunch, and she even said it was "lovely" which that in and of itself is a big deal! read more

Wife and I have been staying at a rental in Westbrook and wanted some good seafood. We tried Bills cause it was always packed and wanted to see what the deal was. Gross and not worth it. Found Rockys on Yelp and am glad we did. We have been here 4 times and the food is always great. The Lobster sliders were a go to but they are no longer on the menu. So sad. The New England chowder is great and doesn't taste like Progresso like Bills. The tuna wrap is tasty and pretty much all the appetizers. The Prince Edward mussels weren't the best but that was the only dislike I had on their food. read more

Aqua - Awesome oysters - Seafood Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

Slow friendly service Good food Decent atmosphere Nice views Great for seafood Tip: Ask what the price of the "special" is. It will be good, but you WILL pay for it, and they don't mention the price unless you ask. read more

If nothing else, this place has wonderful ambiance. The patio is beautiful on a nice summer night. The food is good for sure-not fantastic, but definitely satisfying. Portion sizes are also good for the price. The service was a little slow but overall very friendly! read more

Aqua - Beautiful ambiance here! Definitely come at sunset! - Seafood Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

Stopped in for a burger. I had a blue cheese burger and fries. Very tasty. Sat in the outside bar area. Very nice view!