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    Donahue's Madison Beach Grille

    3.9 (190 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Seafood
    Open 11:30 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Donahue's Madison Beach Grille Takeout or Delivery

    Donahue's Madison Beach Grille Photos

    DONAHUE'S MADISON BEACH GRILLE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Kathleen S.

    Came here last minute with a few friends to grab a bite to eat. Service was fast and friendly. Food was fresh and tasted great. Will come back in the future.

    The best onion soup broth I have ever had. A delicious sweet warm taste that lingers in the palate.

    Had a very good meal at Donahue's Madison Beach Grille on 1/19/2026. There was three in my party and we all had the same thing (onion soup and Atlantic Glazed Salmon). The food was delicious and the service was warm, pleasant, and attentive. These people care about what they are doing and it shows throughout the restaurant.

    Cod Piccata
    Elizabeth A.

    Recently visited Donahue's Madison Beach Grille for the first time and I can't wait to go back. The restaurant was clean, the staff were friendly and the service and food were great. I ordered the cod piccata and the flavor was delicious! Additionally, the portion size was much larger than expected which was also a nice surprise. I look forward to going back and trying another item off the menu.

    The bar
    Jason P.

    A Yelp search for area lunch spots led me to Donahue's. Yelp indicates Donahue's is an American and seafood restaurant, but they clearly have some Irish flair and influences as well. Case in point -- dishes like Fish and Chips and Shepherds Pie, and the sign in the bar that says "God invented whiskey to keep the Irish from ruling the World." Sounds right. I didn't make it past the bar area, but I noted a nice dining room as well. Cool place. Lots of wood. Service was friendly and attentive. A definite selling point. I ordered clam chowder, an off menu Fish and Chips and fries oyster combo and a NEBCO Sea Hag. The Sea Hag tasted freshly tapped and was very carbonated. The chowder was good thick, creamy and loaded with clams and potatoes. In a first for me, the bartender asked if I wanted some Sherry poured on top. I responded yes if he recommended it. So he drizzled a bit on top and I swirled it in. Loved this chowder. Very tasty. In the top tier for CT for me. I also loved the fried oysters. They tasted very fresh and had good texture. The fried fish had a different vibe than I'm used to in a pub. I'm used to a well battered, thicker piece of fish. Donahue's coated theirs with Panko bread crumbs so that it was crispy. I'm not sure what fish they used and the menu doesn't say. It was a thin, white and mild fish that reminded me of tilapia. But I don't know. I prefer a more traditional pub style of Fish, but I can see how certain people might prefer this. The fries were pretty good. I was happy that I had the chance to visit Donahue's. I would eat there again if I was in the area. 4.25 Stars

    David H.

    Food price / quality (value) rating 8. The atmosphere is typical contemporary pub / tavern style. I had a Chicken Caesar Wrap with fries. A good amount of chicken in a large whole wheat tortilla. It was very good. The wife had the nachos, which was a very large serving of chips with the cheese and other ingredients just placed on top of the pile, which I'm not a fan of. They have about six beers on tap. Service was excellent and friendly.

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    9 months ago

    Great food, warm and relaxing atmosphere, and friendly service. Our regular go to place!

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    4 months ago

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    10 months ago

    After the pandemic, the place reopened, different menu and is now mostly a bar. Food was just ok.

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    9 months ago

    Everything it was great. Great service great food great people service great bartenders

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    2 years ago

    Raw turkey sandwich and overpriced.. no thanks. Avoid this place and go to other better food places in Madison/Clinton

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    Lobster Landing - lobster roll with a view

    Lobster Landing

    4.3(670 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$

    We ended up coming to Lobster Landing twice during our trip -- once on the way to Mystic and again…read moreon the way back -- which probably says everything you need to know. It's definitely a little more expensive than some of the other lobster spots we tried, but I honestly liked the food here the most. The lobster meat is lightly seasoned with what tasted like butter and lemon, and it all worked perfectly together without overpowering the lobster. The bun was incredibly soft and loaded with so much meat that it was practically falling apart in the middle. We got the half-pound lobster roll both times and would absolutely order it again, but it is $60. The clam chowder was also excellent. It's creamy without being too thick, and you can really taste all the ingredients. The hot dogs seem to be really popular -- almost everyone was ordering a lobster roll and a hot dog combo. My son loved them so much he had two the first visit! The outdoor seating and water views make it such a relaxing place to sit and eat, and there's also a market on-site where you can buy lobster and shellfish. Definitely one of our favorite stops and somewhere we'd happily return to.

    Great stop off of the highway for lunch! The views were picturesque while waiting in line. The line…read moresnaked down the sidewalk on Labor Day, but moved quickly. After ordering, our food was bagged and ready to go in no time. The lobster roll was very meaty and buttery-- probably one of the best I had on my weekend trip through CT/RI/MA. The surprisingly tasty item was the sausage and peppers sandwich. For a place known for lobster, this sausage sandwich was very flavorful and loaded with peppers and

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    Lobster Landing
    Lobster Landing
    Lobster Landing - Overcast in Connecticut - 4/19/2026

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    Overcast in Connecticut - 4/19/2026

    Shanks Waterfront Dining - Lobster Nachos

    Shanks Waterfront Dining

    3.2(237 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Alright, Shanks, you've got my summer heart…read more Stopped by this beachside gem in Clinton, and let me just say: it's the kind of spot that feels like vacation, even if you're only there for lunch. I had every intention of ordering the lobster nachos (because hello?!), but the portion looked massive. I will definitely be coming back for that with a friend. I pivoted and grabbed a lobster roll instead, which came with crunchy house made chips and coleslaw. The chips were so yummy and crispy and salty, I almost finished them before I had my first bite of the lobster roll. Even the water they brought over was crisp and cold, which I truly appreciated on a warm afternoon. Also, I tried the clam chowder, because if you're by the water in New England, it's practically a requirement. Clammy, creamy, and comforting...just how it should be. Again, almost finished and filled up before my first bite of the lobster roll! I felt satisfied with the smaller, 4oz roll. The roll was perfectly toasted and there was just enough butter to moisten up the plump lobster. I'm drooling just writing this. It started off pretty quiet, but the crowd picked up once the live music kicked off. The vibe was exactly what you'd want: easy, breezy, and full of locals who clearly knew this was the spot. The bathrooms outside are a new addition from the last few years. Very clean and practical. I just love the vibe of this place. Food? Delicious. Service? Wicked awesome. Cleanliness? Impeccable. Don't forget to add that the food came out in under 20 minutes. Already planning my return to try the ahi tuna sandwich and finally conquer those lobster nachos. And yes, it's BYOB, so bring a cooler and bring some wine. Then claim a picnic table, and make an afternoon of it!

    We've been long overdue for a trip back to Shanks! We visited on what was probably one of the…read morehottest days of the year, but the breeze was so nice from the water that it didn't even phase us. They had live music, so it was a nice vibe that night. We appreciated that the staff brought the food up to us, and it all came out quickly. I wasn't expecting so many unique options like the crab Rangoon flatbread or lobster nachos, but they were great!! Definitely keeping this spot in mind for future waterfront meals.

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    Shanks Waterfront Dining - Outdoor seating

    Outdoor seating

    Shanks Waterfront Dining - Lobster roll w chips

    Lobster roll w chips

    Shanks Waterfront Dining - Freshly made lemonade

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    Freshly made lemonade

    The Clam Castle

    The Clam Castle

    4.0(374 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Had the best belly clams ever. A huge portion of sweet clams fried to perfection with great fries…read moreand Cole slaw. Not cheap... but you get what you pay for. The "Castle" has been renovated from floor to ceiling. The place is spotless and fresh looking. There's an amazing assortment of Lucious deserts topping off a huge menu. Go!

    This is our second attempt to come here, we finally made it. Our first attempt, the line was out…read morethe door, and every outdoor table was taken on a hot summer day. This time around, there was ample seating outside, but it was way too hot to sit outside, so we settled for inside, which was pretty comfortable. Menu offered your typical seafood variety of fried foods, as well as some soups, and hotdog. No Fox and park over here, unfortunately, and that was an absolute buzz kill! Regardless, we stayed hopeful since we've heard some great things about this place. Ordered the flag cramp strips with tater tots, 6 ounce lobster roll and an order of clam fritters. I was really excited to try the clam fritters as I had never had them ever. The weight was manageable, we waited maybe about 15 to 20 minutes for our food. They bought it over to our table, and the initial site, the lobster roll was a nice copious amount of lobster on a rather beefy hotdog roll. The fright clams were also a nice amount, but they did not look fried enough, there was no golden aura to them as typical clams look, and this look concerning. The clam fritters consisted of six balls of clam fritters, and they looked beautifully, golden, a color that's so lacked on the clams. Now let's talk about the food and flavor... The lobster roll was pretty solid. My one source of contention here is the amount of bread on the roll, a little too doughy compared to what I am used to. But the lobster itself was nice, flavorful, and sweet and not overkill with butter. The clam strips were got awful! No crispiness to them, no flavor, they were actually soggy, and even the tater tots, which are generally delicious, there was no flavor to the tater tots as they needed a little more cooking time to them. The clam fritters were surprisingly good, it wasn't just fluff of filling, they were actually clams in there, and the breading definitely had clam juice flavor to it. This is a hike for us, and I don't think it's worth it for us given other places like the mottos in New Haven, which is always consistently good. We tried once and we're good... And if we're in the area sadly we won't be back unless I come with some lobster, loving friends to try that. 2 foot lobster roll for $190! We saw that, and that was quite the sight!!!

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    The Clam Castle - Clam castle and Taco Pacifica have joined together. Check them out

    Clam castle and Taco Pacifica have joined together. Check them out

    The Clam Castle
    The Clam Castle - Rhode Island clam chowder--excellent

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    Rhode Island clam chowder--excellent

    The Log Cabin - Red linguini with clams. Very filling.

    The Log Cabin

    3.9(277 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    One of the final days of the year for using the old hot rod, I venture down to the shore, leaf…read morepeeping, and wanting to go to the Log Cabin. Located in Clinton Connecticut, this mainstay restaurant came highly recommended by many of my friends. I pulled in and parking was a breeze, even though it was busy. This parking lot was big. Lots of handicapped spaces also. My friend and I went in and we were greeted warmly, and promptly seated Knowing portions were big, but not realizing how big they would be we passed on appetizer. This is where it gets good! My friend ordered lasagna, and I ordered the eggplant Parmesan. We also ordered water, Immediately out came the salads that were included with the meals. These salads were medium sized, and we're probably good enough for just a lunch! Tomatoes, cucumbers, chopped lettuce, and a very nice house dressing, consisting of a creamy garlic, which was delicious. After salad was done our fantastic waitress brought us a big bowl of pasta and sauce. I could've made a meal out of this! This wasn't just any run of the mill, this was delicious pasta and sauce. Oversized entrées were next on the Bill and I ate probably 1/5 of the eggplant Parmesan. It was huge. I think three or four people could've split this. My friend ate probably about the same of the lasagna. For dessert, we split a Reesie's chocolate pie that was very, very sweet creamy, and hit the spot with the chocolate sauce and whip, whipped cream around the plate Bag probably weighed at least 7 pounds. We brought home the pasta, the lasagna, and the eggplant Parmesan. I loved the eggplant Parmesan. I make a pretty mean Parmesan, but this eggplant Parmesan was on point. It just exploded with great Italian flavors My friend liked the lasagna, as she said it was very, very nice I'm still raving about the big bowl of pasta that came with the meal. Dinner with the tip which included the two big meals which I think were 24.95 each along with the dessert and the big bowl of pasta was roughly $80 and change. This was a deal of deals. There will be meals during the coming week. If you're at the shore and you need takeout, this will be good for the week. I love this I am now a big fan and I look forward to returning in the spring when the weather gets nice All in all, I wonder what took me so long to come to The Log Cabin!

    Tons of good food in an legit log cabin. No one leaves…read morewithout a doggie bag. Order a dinner get a huge portion of pasta.

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    The Log Cabin
    The Log Cabin - Baked stuffed shrimp so good

    Baked stuffed shrimp so good

    The Log Cabin

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    Westbrook Lobster Restaurant and Bar

    Westbrook Lobster Restaurant and Bar

    3.5(177 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    We've been here several times when out this way for the outlets. We like to sit in the bar area,…read morewhich is more our vibe. The service is always great. I get the lobster roll every time. This past time, it didn't taste fresh. The lobster was a little chewy. It's been great every other time I've ordered it, so I will try again!

    We were at the Outmets on a Friday afternoon and decided to try a new spot (for us). We randomly…read morecame here (but the place across the street looked good too!), and had a good meal with excellent service Olin a relaxed atmosphere which is exactly what we wanted. We were after lunch but before dinner (around 3:00) so it wasn't busy. We sat at a high top On the bar area and our server was the bartender. He was excellent throughout and checked in often - we appreciate that. It wasn't busy but we've all seen others just BS with co-workers when they're slow versus this. We started by sharing a bowl of lobster bisque and it was excellent! Thick, with a nice sherry overtone and small bits of lobster - lots of them. We both really liked it - better than most others we've had. I had stuffed shrimp abd liked the stuffing - not too dense with a little bit of crab, shrimp and breadcrumbs and whatever else - it all worked well! Very good stuffed shrimp BUT, just 3 shrimp. I thought that was small for an entree that I don't believe was a lunch plate or anything. Fries were good and so were the fresh julienne vegetables. My wife had the regular size lobster roll and just like mine - hers was excellent but a tad smaller than what we get closer to home. But lobster tasted fresh and not overcooked; very tender and flavorful. We had excellent food & service. The decor is a tad dated but that always seems to work and be the way it is with seafood restaurants in shore areas.

    Photos
    Westbrook Lobster Restaurant and Bar - Bar area

    Bar area

    Westbrook Lobster Restaurant and Bar
    Westbrook Lobster Restaurant and Bar - Bar

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    Bar

    Bill's Seafood Restaurant - Mussels

    Bill's Seafood Restaurant

    3.4(542 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    1.8.26 This is one very good seafood restaurant. The food is…read moregood and always fresh. What's not to like about fried seafood? Ammi right? I've been coming here for more years than I care to count, since I was a kid. Multiple years upon multiple. They're located right by the whistling bridge for those of you who know the bridge is called that. There's a large lengthy parking lot which is usually close to full. There's am ice cream place in the same parking lot which you can pass on. Please trust me in this. You're not missing anything. I've tried a few times. Not sure why I keep trying it. Anywho, Bill's Seafood is spot on. There's a very large outdoor deck with lots of tables. There's also indoor seating and a bar to sit at. Much easier to get a table a lot quicker if you opt to eat inside. I switch every now and then, depending on our preferences at any given day. The restaurant is plainly decorated. Nothing stands out. The majority of time I've been here the place is usually very busy and just about full. I've never had to wait long anytime for my food. They really whip out the food pretty quickly in the years I've been coming here. You will be pleasantly surprised at the time it takes you to get your food when you see how busy it is if you stop here. Very surprised. The restaurant is a clean as most places. They clean up well after the tables are turned. The service has never been anything remarkable as in awesome over the top and very hospitable. It's just solid, regular, good, quick service with receiving your food quickly. They must have a good amount of cooks in back. Seafood is ALWAYS fresh. I must repeat this. Never has this ever been an issue. Do yourself a favor and take a trip up here. You won't be disappointed. I truly recommend this place. A for sure, repeat spot.

    Cash only! Great…read moreoutdoor setting for the beautiful weather. The thoroughway (Boston Post Road) on one end of patio is quite loud. Tried the hot lobster roll ($28.95) which is sold ala carte. The amount of lobster filled about 55-60% of the roll. The roll was soggy and broke apart after the first bite. Would not recommend.

    Photos
    Bill's Seafood Restaurant
    Bill's Seafood Restaurant
    Bill's Seafood Restaurant - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale - Fried scallops

    Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale

    3.7(511 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    I've been eating Lenny & Joe's since the days when the only way you could get it was ordering from…read morea screen porch on a shed with high schoolers for cooks. It's still a destination and locals restaurant. Westbrook was very different from Madison when it opened and people flocked to it for the dine-in experience. I've lost count how many times I've eaten here but it's always delicious. Staff is always friendly. Everything on the menu is "can't miss."

    Whenever we visit my hubs' family in CT every year during the last week of October, we never miss…read moreto make a stop at Lenny & Joe's for our classic New England seafood favorites: the fried clams and the Connecticut-style lobster roll with warm butter (my preference over Maine-style with mayo). The fried clams were lightly battered, golden, and crisp on the outside, yet tender and briny inside. It was fresh, not greasy, and came in a portion generous enough to share and enough for some leftovers too. The side of tartar sauce was creamy and tangy, but honestly, the clams were so good they didn't need much dressing up. The lobster roll, I must say is one of the best in the area. The lobster meat was sweet, plentiful, and perfectly cooked--no rubbery bites here. (In Cali, they seem to split the lobster meat into 2 or 3 rolls as there isn't much lobster meat). Served on a toasted bun with butter, it was simple, classic, and exactly what a lobster roll should be. The service was quick even though the place was busy. It's the kind of spot that feels like summer in Connecticut, whether you're sitting inside or out on the porch. If you're visiting anywhere near Madison, Clinton or Westbrook, don't miss Lenny & Joe's!

    Photos
    Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale - Bar area

    Bar area

    Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale - Lazyman's lobster over wild rice. 5 claws and a tail!!!

    Lazyman's lobster over wild rice. 5 claws and a tail!!!

    Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale

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    Donahue's Madison Beach Grille - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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