After the beach in Niantic we stopped by Dad's Restaurant for a late lunch. Dad's has been a staple in the area for over 60 years. They must have relocated to a new property because this restaurant looks brand new. We were seated outside, depending on which way you're turned you may have the view of the Niantic Bay. Here there's no table service, you order at the counter, then they call your order number, then you can pick up your tray. I got the Chowder and the fish tacos. The others got the Fish and Chips. This Chowder was very good, super fresh, flavorful and not too salty. The fish tacos were very generously filled, but they were very bland in flavor. Squeezing some fresh lime juice helped bring out a bit of the flavor. The Fish & Chips came out in huge portions. There was a sign that they had free ice cream. I was pretty impressed by the flavor options. We got strawberry cheesecake, some type of Oreo with peanut butter and chocolate. This ice cream was super flavorful, rich and creamy. Maybe they're giving it away to make room for some new fall flavors. We enjoyed sitting outside on the patio. I would recommend dining at Dad's. read more

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Since I was very young, my parents would bring me here on our trips down to the shore. I loved it. Over time, the meals at Dad's deteriorated to the point of being super expensive, and not good at all. Skippers a few doors down, was a better choice. So here I am three years later at the newly reopened Dad's in Niantic. Newly remodeled, this restaurant has a fresh look with a beautiful outdoor dining area overlooking the Niantic Bay Unfortunately, that's where all the good stops I came here specifically for the whole bellies. Whole belly clams that is. What I received were almost like clam strips with a little bit of belly attached, almost like they were super small or babies. These were not cheap. An order plus a soda was over $23 with the tip. I bet there was 4 ounces of clams in this order Huge disappointment in the seafood. Dad's, you need to step it up. Too much competition in the Niantic area for you to fall short in a beautiful environment and with a beautiful restaurant. I will return in the fall before you close for the season to double check and see if you were improved Until then, I don't see any reason to stop here for a bite to eat read more

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Came back for a second time, and as promised, I tried the fried shrimp. It is AMAZING, no tails!! Honestly, it was so much food that I needed to take three shrimp home with me. I also tried the Shipwreck's Daughter, which is an IPA and paired nicely with the meal. I am a huge fan of Dad's and whenever I go, there are quite a few people there! Food came out in less than ten minutes. Make sure you sit on the deck!! read more

Dad’s Restaurant - fried shrimp and fries - Seafood Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

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Nice place to grab a bite, big deck with about 15 tables overlooks the water. Very clean. read more

Dad’s Restaurant - The outside - Seafood Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

Me and my family went here a couple days ago, and we ordered the fish and chips platter and the fish sandwich. The portions were huge, but the fish was not as fresh as Skippers fish, and chips, which is just down the road. The fries were not salted at all and had a yellow color to them. Although the atmosphere was very good and their new patio is amazing. The staff were very quick and even double checked our order for us and read it out loud. Also the food came out in 15 minutes. Overall, I would come back again. read more

Dad’s Restaurant - The newly renovated front of restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

We've been going to Dad's for years and so we decided to take a ride to see the newly renovated restaurant. It's obvious that the owner put a lot of thought into the renovation and the results are beautiful; especially the indoor restrooms. The inside dining area is light and open and the Al Fresco dining on the deck is lovely. It's still a casual place to eat, where you order at the counter and they call your number to pick up your food. Hubby had the whole belly clams and he dove in before I could get a picture of his full platter. Served with excellent, crispy fries and a small side of coleslaw. I'm not a fan of whole bellies, but he loves them. Although they were a tad on the larger size (he likes them somewhat small to medium), he said they had great flavor. Market price that day was $32. The coleslaw is really good. My sister had the cod tacos which had generous sized portions of delicious cod, battered and fried. I had the shrimp tacos. 3 fish tacos for $16 was a bargain in my opinion! The fish & shrimp were fresh and perfectly cooked. The tacos had a nice, spicy sauce on them. We would definitely go back again just for these! Plenty of off street parking and a nice family place to eat. Well done to the owner! read more

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Clam chowder was super good, the fish dinner very fresh and not greasy -we sat outside and enjoyed the trains going by and the water view - friendly staff ! Clean place and a nice remodel read more

Dads JUST opened. The place is very spacious, with pretty glass fixtures. Inside is a bit noisy because of echoing. We sat on the clean outside deck with a view of the bay (past the road and train track). It was very pleasant with a cool breeze from the water. They serve burgers, fried fish and icecream type-fare. We were there for a hotfudge sundae with softserve. They had 8-9 flavors but we had the standard vanilla and hotfudge. We'd go again and hope a lot of people try this place to give it a good start. read more

The grilled chicken sandwich was good. Thr clam fritters were burned, and if that had been the only issue, it would have been forgivable. Unfortunately, the fish was extremely salty and the clams did not taste fresh. I would be shocked if any of the food served here was prepared fresh. At the prices they are charging, this is unacceptable. Captain Scott's in New London is much better and only 20 minutes away. Skippers is close as well, and though they are somewhat hit-or-miss, they've never missed this badly. read more

Great food and service. The people working there are really nice. Highly recommend! The view from the deck is fantastic and we'll definitely be back. read more

The lobster bisque and clam chowder both had great consistency; really good flavor. Minimal bear options. The ambiance inside had a view of the ocean with the options of outdoor seating. Overall it was a pleasant experience and would come back. read more

Always enjoyed the food at Dads. Always fresh and great proportions. Closed last year due to owners retirement. According to the current issue of CT Magazine (April 2025) Dad will reopen under new ownership this May. read more

Great summer stop for lunch. Not the best view but the ocean is across the street. The menu is pretty extensive for a shack and the food is good. The ambience inside embodies summer fun. I had the tuna salad roll which was was pretty tasty and a decent size. Don't forget to feed the animals! read more

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Food was fresh and tasty, great atmosphere! Will be back again! Service was great and the place is clean and brand new.

Excellent cod tacos, lightly fried cod with tasty sauce. Try them, you'll love them! Great spot overlooking the Niantic Bay

Heard from the boss about this place and said we had to try it out. I must say that I wasn't disappointed! Plentiful food at reasonable prices. I got the seafood strip dinner, and boy did my eyes bulge. I'm a certified member of the clean plate club, but I had to tap out for this one. I must note that they were not very strict with customers and masks during this pandemic. I understand that patrons should not have to wear masks at their tables (duh) but I noticed several people taking off their masks as they were coming in. Let's be smart, guys! read more

Dad’s Restaurant - Seafood strip dinner- INSANE amount of food - Seafood Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

We went there to give them a second chance after a horrible meal there in 2022. they were closed. Maybe that was the answer

Great to see a business open during covid and the staff was extremely friendly but unfortunately when it comes down to the food, we're giving this place 2/5 stars. I ordered the small fish and chips dinner and my boyfriend ordered the clam chowder and clam fritters. The portion sizes were fine and the wait for our food was around 15 minutes. The fish and chips dinner was pretty bland. Not much seasoning. The coleslaw was decent. My boyfriend's fritters were so over fried he could barely stick a fork in them and half of the batch was inedible. The chowder tasted like it came out of a can. Overall, the meal cost me around $28 and I left a tip for the friendly service. I would not come back nor recommend this place to anyone in the area if you're looking for some decent seafood. read more

Dad’s Restaurant - This is where we ordered our food. - Seafood Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

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A little pricey the lobster rolls they were good there burgers are very good we like there French fry's

I wish seafood places would venture out into using more spices! Dice food is being prepared to order over heat, sweet, salt whatever.

Might be a bit tough on this establishment but here me out. The prices were average to high. Not OVERLY outrageous, but I have found better. Many of the clam specials were in the $30 range. I ordered a large drink. They gave me a 16oz cup and only filled it 2/3rd full (so maybe 12??) then I needed a bun WITHOUT sesame seeds...which they didn't have. We were able to...some what manage (nice enough to give us two bottom buns) but I wouldn't have ordered it had I known. Most places put this info on their board FOR allergy purposes. Tartar sauce was okay at first, but a spicy aftertaste left me done. Even the French fries left me desiring better. And the salt...was thick sea salt that couldn't break through the cheap $2 canister. So much for that. Look they DID cook a good chicken sandwich and cheeseburger. Maybe I've been spoiled at other places better. I just found the prices high and the food subpar. The crew was polite but very busy and some looked confused...so it could have been an off night. Thought about the other clam shack place down the road. Will make them consider them even more next time we visit. read more

Apparently there is a reason that Skipper's up the street is busy, and they are not. I was expecting big gulf shrimp like they have at Skipper's..."big mistake" as Julia Roberts would have said. The onion rings were cold and the slaw had too much mayonnaise, and not much taste. read more

Dad’s Restaurant - Fried shrimp, onion rings and cole slaw. - Seafood Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

The best clam strips we ever tasted. Tender, and delicious. The hot lobster roll was succulent and delectable. The restroom was clean. The staff was kind and professional and the service was excellent. The owner was very personable and we'll definitely return. read more

Dad’s Restaurant - Clam strip dinner, 2 hot lobster rolls - one with chips, one with fries. Delicious. - Seafood Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

Fish and chips were too greasy. Fries were not good at all. Fish was fresh tasting enough but overall we weren't too happy with our lunches, sorry to say.. Had higher hopes for this place. read more

On vacation and stopped at Dads. It was really really bad. I had the scallop plater and the scallops had no flavor. The breading also had no flavor. The fries were undercooked. The onion rings also had no flavor and even the tarter sauce was terrible. read more

I've been a huge fan of Dads but the past few years they've gone downhill. Watch your credit card statement for inaccurate tip calculations. 'Waitstaff' are angry and grumpy (understandable re COVID) but not ideal. Food has degraded as well. There is a place just down the road that serves much better CT Shore fare like Dads used to. read more

Dad's is my favorite casual lunch place when I'm in town. The window ordering is easy, the preparation is quick and the food is delicious.

Went in for a late lunch. We both ordered the lobster club on grilled Texas toast special. The sandwich came out on toasted white bread. Didn't say anything because I didn't want to upset the young workers. I didn't see an apparent manager. It is great that they are working but may need some more training on specials and/or informing customers if they are out of an ingredient. read more

Lobster roll is pricey and full of inclement meat so it is a little tough. It was okay.

Food was... almost flavorless. We ordered fish and chips and had to salt the fish because it literally had zero seasoning. Ordered chicken sandwich that my daughter didn't eat, and the lobster roll which my son ate less than half of. $70 and we ate less than half. So disappointing. It definitely lives up to its Yelp reputation. Also, there really is no view of the water... maybe just like... a little but a good view of the train if that's your jam. Oh, and since we were hungry we grabbed ice cream and milkshakes on the way out. Threw them in the trash too. How you can mess up ice cream I do not understand. read more

Poor service, way understaffed. It took a long time to get our food and the oder wasn't right when we finally got it. We live a couple of blocks away and will not go back. read more

Have been going there for almost 20 years, don't think we will be back. Over priced, things not available or accurate on menu, rude staff.

We were very excited to try Dad's, but feel let down. Counter service was friendly, but slow. Be prepared to wait awhile for your order. The food looked good, but was unseasoned. It was remarkably bland. I got a large lobster roll (not that big) and the whole clam seafood platter. The whole clams were awesome, but just unseasoned. Had to add salt when I got home, but by then the dish was steaming in the box and soggy. There were 2 other orders in my group and all were the same. read more

It's a nice touristy spot that offers an adequate amount of food for the price. I had the lobster roll, which entailed of 4oz. of lobster meat, served on a lightly crisped sourdough roll. The fries have a nice golden color and were crispy as well. They offer two Hi-C fountain drinks, iced tea, and Coca Cola products. They also offer Barefoot wine, several draft beers and twisted tea if you're looking for an adult beverage as well. The bathrooms are located outside, which is outhouse style with a full sink and private bathrooms. It's a nice little spot to spot by and grab something to eat. read more

Dad’s Restaurant - Lobster roll with fries - Seafood Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

Ordered a cheeseburger and fries. The fries were decent but the burger must have been previously cooked and then just warmed up on grill. After I placed my order my food was done in under 5 minutes. My order consisted of a grilled chicken sandwich, cheeseburger fries and coleslaw. No once did I smell a burger being cooked on the grill and the burger was dried out and brown inside. I did take it back and got my money back but when I was back inside another person ordered burger. I saw the cook take something out of a container and place on grill like the already cooked burger that they are just reheating. If you are marking a burger fresh you would smell it and it would be juicy. Definitely not the case. Skippers down the road was definitely fresh and you can see them making everything when ordered. read more

The hot lobster roll was out of this world!!!! You need to come down and grab one! Friendly staff and lots of parking!!! The breeze from the water is so refreshing!!!! read more

Dad’s Restaurant - Hot Lobster roll was delicious - Seafood Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

Great food and friendly service! The place is spacious and clean. Would definitely be back!

Great service, even better food. Food was beyond expectations. Amazing lobster roll and clam strips roll - definitely recommend!!! read more

Dad’s Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

This was my first visit to Dad's I ordered a hamburger and fries. The hamburger was great! A real "Old fashioned " down to earth hamburger! Nothing fancy but obviously hand made and cooked to order. The fries were the perfect accompaniment. Dessert was a hot fudge sundae with a pile of whipped cream and a cherry. I am happy to say that Dad's is a great place to stop this summer for good eats at reasonable prices. read more

Lobster hippos and nukes Dad's has been around forever, or at least it seems that way. It was actually started in 1963 and has hasn't change all that much over the decades. The decks have expanded and they've cleaned up the interior a bit but it still has that pleasant seafood shack appearance. Dad's has burgers and dogs but people primarily come here for the seafood. Whole belly clams with the guts oozing out, lobster rolls, scallops, kraken and the huge seafood platters. The lobster rolls are always good and fresh but they could be a bit larger. The portions of all the items have shrunk over the years but that's true for every seafood place. The atmosphere is very casual and you can eat at one of the picnic tables inside or better yet take your food outside and get the sea breezes and watch the trains go by right across the street. And for something a bit different while you're eating, there are views of the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant only a short distance away. Dad's has been around for a long time and many people in the area grew up eating at Dad's. It might be a bit cleaner and neater now but it still has the same feel to it. In fact they still have the cool hippo and elephant trash cans inside and kids still seem just as fascinated by them as they were decades ago. Nice to see that some things don't change. read more

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