Jia Mei Asian Kitchen

The real Clam Castle is back and better than ever! We've been here twice since the reopening and I…read morecan't wait for a few more visits over the summer. The fried cod was some of the best I've ever had. Fish tacos were very good - love the red pepper remoulade it comes with. French fries and fried clam strips are both excellent - though I agree with another reviewer who mentioned that the clams could be a bit crispier. The two times we've gotten them, they needed just a touch more crunch and golden brown color. Still very good and the best around!!! But feels like they would benefit from a bit more time in the fryer. Glad you're back, Clam Castle!!

Serving fried steamers, passing off as whole belly clams. Photos of past reviews show clearly that…read morethey know what an actual whole belly is. Just be warned-- before you shell out MP, what you are getting. Pro Tip: whole bellies do NOT have a "neck" like steamers do and this was clear as day a steamer. Clam shack staff confirmed when I held it up to inquire why they are frying steamers that this was, in fact, a steamer. And as a side note, fried steamers are terrible. They did reimburse for two orders however, won't return if this is what the kitchen/owner tries to serve! I guess the "clam" castle has shifted focus to lobster sandwich boats. You can't delete my review here!!

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

6oz lobster roll

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Rhode Island clam chowder--excellent

L&J’s Fish Tale

3.6(331 reviews)

2.1 mi

Let's talk about THIS lobster roll ‍…read more Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale did NOT come to play. That buttered lobster roll is fresh, loaded, and worth the market price--every bite hits. I've had a lot in CT... this one is top tier. So good I finished it and said "yeah, I need another one to go" Friendly staff Indoor/outdoor seating Open year-round Now don't leave without dessert. The ice cream is a MUST Oreo sundae for me, Reese's sundae for the kids... no regrets. Summer = ice cream shack outside Off-season = still inside This place is the whole experience.

Food isn't very tasty…read more This place is great if you have a family and don't care what the food taste like. Lobster roll is bland. $30 for an experience that makes you crave biting into a lemon for flavor. My wife's fish was so dry and flavorless that you would think you are eating a fish sandwich in Arizona. Clam chowder is an insult to New England. It's soupy and not creamy. Only come here if you don't care about spending $$$ for food that genuinely makes you question your life choices. The atmosphere was nice. Service wasn't great but that was understandable given the dinner rush. Owner: i respect that you read feedback and respond. I wanted to love this place but was disappointed. Please include a lemon with your fish dishes. That little of a difference may change a lot of opinions about the food quality here. I'm only writing this because this was my first lobster roll in 2 years and I was heart broken.

Plenty of souvenirs

Westbrook location

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Lobster Landing

4.3(685 reviews)

3.5 mi

•$$$

Firstly, the weather was perfect! Boats, sun and 70 degrees made for a great day…read more Secondly, the service bar made a great accompaniment! Bloody mary complete with a lobster claw was delectable. Thirdly, Lunch was terrific. The lobster rolls were SO good. Lemony drawn butter, cooked to a perfect soft and not rubbery texture on a great toasted roll; just as it should be. The bisque was tasty and so we're tge sides. Just a perfect lunch stop.

I hesitate to review Lobster Landing because it is so good. I fear too many people will go there…read moreand create longer lines. This is a great place for a lobster roll. Fresh warm and tender lobster quick-serve style on a hot dog bun in a tent. Tasty lobster bisque maybe lacking lobster chunks but really good. For the land lubber they have salad (hahahahaha), Hummel's hot dogs snd sweet Italian sausage and peppers on a bun.

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Overcast in Connecticut - 4/19/2026

Donahue's Madison Beach Grille

3.9(196 reviews)

2.2 mi

Place hit the spot!…read more Needed a wellness meal and I came across Donahue's during my travels of the coast. Could have eaten a bowl of the chowder, so good. Blacked Swordfish and asparagus were delicious, could have substituted another vegetable for the rice and would have been just as happy. Carrot cake was good. Dense which is how I like it, icing made it too sweet. Cream cheese filling, yummm. Will certainly be back.

Welcoming atmosphere, my meal was very good and I felt the prices were reasonable…read more My waitress was friendly however my food took a very long time to come out. Then again with the check it took a long time waiting. I will try it again because the food was very tasty.

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Aqua

3.7(277 reviews)

3.4 mi

The service was painfully slow the night we went. They were packed. It was crowded. The ambiance…read moreis loud CT shoreline crowded. I'd be willing to be they do a good business because of the location. It is a nice location. The food is typical nothing interesting sysco national food supply crap is the general vibe. Maybe the fish is fresh but everything else was just normal expensive swill. I'll not bother to return this year (2026) unless they pick up their game and do better. One FINAL nail in the coffin, is they don't take reservations for larger parties and they don't have a call-ahead seating list. The choice not to take some kind of reservation is just... well inconsiderate and stupid but shows their willingness to feed the herd as fast as possible (slow service not withstanding) .

I used to LOVE this restaurant and visited frequently. However my experiences within the past year…read morehave been disappointing. For one, I ordered a lobster roll and a week later I got another. The second time I was given about half the amount of lobster. Same price, of course! I was able to get that resolved but they have to be consistent in their serving sizes. Get a damn scale in the kitchen! Went there this past Monday (Memorial Day) and ordered some calamari. The portion is about half of what it used to be but the price is high. I'm done.

Bar

Seafood Bisque

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Perfect spot!!

Shanks Waterfront Dining

3.2(248 reviews)

3.5 mi

We had the Lobster Bomb and it was definetely the masterpiece! We ordered a side of lobster bisque…read moreand added more to the Bomb dish and it was everything! We also tried the bang bang shrimp and it was amazing! The view of the harbor was great. Picnic tables and BYOB makes this a nice casual afternoon. Although you order and sit yourself a waitress comes and checks on you to see if you need anything additional. We will definitely be visiting again!

Cute spot by the water in Clinton. There is some parking which is helpful, and it's nicely tucked…read moreaway to the side of a building with plenty of picnic style tables next to and above the restaurant. We ordered two lobster rolls, a chicken sandwich, fried clam strips, fried shrimp, and lobster nachos. This wasn't cheap (I didn't see the total as someone else paid). The chicken sandwich was basic but no one's there for the chicken haha. The fries were crispy, the clams were fresh and the shrimp was deliciously jumbo and lightly battered. The lobster rolls were ok, they didn't have much flavor even with the butter, but we were served good sized chunks so that was nice. The lobster nachos were more impressive to look at than to eat because it was basically cold lobster, a corn salsa, and dry tortilla chips. There's nothing else served other than a spritz of lime so the dish is pretty dry on its own. I would probably come again because it's a pretty view and it's BYOB, maybe get the lobster rolls, but I'd definitely come back for the jumbo shrimp!

We ate in this dining room under a tent

Lobster roll w chips

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Freshly made lemonade

M & J Beach Grille and Seafood

3.6(29 reviews)

1.4 mi

We called in advance--on a Saturday night--to double check their hours and we were told they were…read moreopen until 8. We arrived at 7:53 and were rudely told that they were closing early and we could not get ice cream. When I mentioned to the owner that we had called in advance, he rudely told me that he didn't care and wouldn't be serving us. I suppose it's his prerogative to close early, but he was unnecessarily nasty and completely unaccommodating. I won't be returning, there's no need to treat customers with disrespect.

Service was good. Seafood was gross. Disgusting everything was either undercooked or overcooked.read more

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Guilford Lobster Pound

4.4(190 reviews)

3.8 mi

Now I see why this place won first place for their lobster roll!!…read more So delicious. The lobster bisque was so tasty. The service was kind and knowledgeable The outside overlooking the water is such a vibe

I really enjoyed this lobster roll!! It was a medium sized roll and a good amount of lobster…read moreinside. Keep in mind it's cash only but there's an ATM inside. The patio area is very cute to sit on outside and the views are so nice. They told us our rolls would come out in 30 minutes but they came out in 10. Would come again!

The Lobster Pound - Guilford,CT (actual pieces from a lobster)

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View from dining area

The Wharf Restaurant

3.3(220 reviews)

1.1 mi

The manager, Anthony, is a classy, gracious, gentleman who takes time from his busy schedule to…read moremeet with many customers for feedback. Matt the bartender - a great guy and talented bartender. He is very personable and can make you laugh. Our server, Nichole, was a sweetheart and very attentive. A great place to dine, and what a view. I highly recommend it.

My wife and I ordered two dishes: Fish and Chips and Steak Frites. The prices were certainly not…read morecheap, and we found the portions rather small, especially for a place that presents itself as a luxury, high-quality establishment. The Fish and Chips was good. Unfortunately, the Steak Frites was a completely different experience, and it was the most expensive course in the menu. I ordered the steak rare, but when it arrived, it was immediately obvious that something was not right. The texture and appearance of the meat made it seem as though it had either been reheated or had been sitting out for some time. The juices appeared cooked onto and into the meat, which is certainly not what you expect from a freshly prepared steak ordered rare. I explained the problem to the cook and mentioned that I have worked as a chef, so I know what properly prepared meat should look and taste like. I was told that they would prepare a new steak for me. I then waited approximately 40 minutes. By that point, my wife had completely finished her meal, and I was actually about to cancel my order when the replacement finally arrived. Unfortunately, the second steak was overcooked. At that point, I told the waitress that I no longer wanted it. She was polite, apologized, and seemed to completely understand my decision, which I appreciated. My complaint is not simply that one dish was prepared incorrectly. Mistakes happen in every kitchen. The real issue is how a restaurant responds when something goes wrong. Waiting around 40 minutes for a replacement steak while the other person at the table has already finished eating, only for the replacement to arrive incorrectly cooked as well, is far below the standard of service I would expect from an establishment in this price range. Quality is not simply about charging premium prices or presenting yourself as a luxury establishment. Quality has to be demonstrated through the food, the kitchen, the service, and especially through the ability to correct a problem when one occurs. Unfortunately, based on our experience, the prices and the image this establishment tries to project were well above the actual quality we received.

Beautiful views

ZACAPA FALL PUNCH Zacapa Dark Rum, Apple Cider, Maple Syrup, St. George Pear, Grenadine

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SALTY DINGHY Belle de Brillet, Cointreau, Fresh Lime

Bill's Seafood Restaurant

3.4(560 reviews)

6.5 mi

The food was very good. Had NE clam chowder (they also had RI) and a halibut plate. Everything came…read moreout as planned, but the cup of chowdah was pretty small. We sat at the bar and had a great conversation with the bartender. We were surprised that they didn't take plastic. That was posted on the door and the menu, but we missed it. Unfortunately, I was there as part of a work trip, and now I have to submit an expense report!

The lobster roll was disappointing, but the service took the experience from mediocre to completely…read moreunacceptable. The manager actually told my husband that our potty-training two-year-old daughter needs to WAIT to use the men's bathroom with him because the men's stall was occupied, rather than allowing him to take her into the empty women's restroom with an available stall. I was tending to our five-month-old at the time and unable to take her. Apparently, basic common sense and accommodating a toddler who urgently needs the bathroom were too much to ask. What a ridiculous and unnecessarily difficult way to treat a family. We will absolutely be taking our business somewhere else next time.

Bar area

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16 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Virginia T.

8 years ago

I would not recommend going to this restaurant as it turned out to be not a child friendly place. My two year old son was on his little gadget watching his shows and the owner came over to us to ask him to turn it off because it was too loud for our neighbors. I've been to many fine restaurants like for example Nobu, and I've never been treated this way. Is it a crime to step out to grab dinner with your family? At the end of this, the owner was incapable of using his merchant service for charging my credit card, he kept on humiliating me by saying it declines, I kept on insisting I need to put my PIN number since it's a debit card and he kept on using it as a credit card. The food is tasteless, I would definitely recommend taste of China, family oriented and food is delicious. Please don't waste your time and money here. read more

Jay N.

13 years ago

Excellent Food! FRESH, light, and delicious. Finally Chinese Food that doesn't leave you feeling tired and crappy after you eat it! We have had take out from here, several times since Jai Mei opened and have found it to be consistent every time. The pork fried rice is the best we have ever had, large pieces of pork running through out. Some of our other favorites include the spring rolls, Singapore Rice Noodles, Five Spiced Prawns (spicy), and Peppercorn Beef. The owner and staff are very friendly. The prices are a little higher than other area Chinese Restaurants but you are paying for MUCH better quality food. read more

Ron B.

13 years ago

I had all but given up on Asian food until I stumbled across this cozy little Asian fusion restaurant. It seats maybe 25 people or so and has been busy every time I have been there. Quite a bit of take out. I live in Norwich but it is well worth the drive; doesn't take that long to get there. The sauces are like none I have ever tasted; delicious. The Crab Rangoon is to die for. You won't be short changed on the crab. Everything I've ate I have enjoyed. Been there a half dozen times and haven't had a bad meal. As busy as this place is it is spotless. If you want wine or something you will need to bring your own. Ron read more

Chris W.

13 years ago

Jia Mei has changed the food landscape in Madison. Small, quaint and family style. I love the menu. It is healthy and "real" asian food. The lunch prices are so affordable my wife cannot say anything if I am eating out during the day instead of packing and bringing from home. The fact that the Husband and wife are always right there taking your order, cooking, asking how everything is and treating you like a real "guest" and not just a customer. Favorites: Chicken Pad Tai and their Garlic Shrimp ... great stuff! read more

Austin H.

12 years ago

Jai Mei Asian Kitchen in Madison, CT is the best Asian food in town. Kevin and his staff are very generous to the Madison Senior Center and have sponsored many activities and luncheons for our seniors. Stop by the Senior Center at 29 Bradley Road, for a taste of the amazing spring rolls and egg rolls at our Health and Wellness Fair on Thursday, May 29th. Jai Mei is my families go to spot for Asian cuisine and the staff make you feel like you are part of their family. read more

Jamie M.

11 years ago

Great Chinese food. It is honestly a step up above the usual take out Chinese. I go tthe crab rangoons for an appetizer. Usually, you get a few and they are tasty. However, here you got a whole meals worth and they are incredibly. I got the General Tso's Chicken (I know I am boring), but it came out incredible. This is my go-to order and I thought that it was extraordinarily good here. I will definitely be back.... Soon! read more

Rich L.

13 years ago

All of our experiences having dined there many of times, is FANTASTIC!!! The owner Kevin runs a very tight ship, the Restaurant is extremely CLEAN, the food is Tasty and fresh..the portions are nice size. Last of all very reasonably priced... Kevin will recommend signature dishes like Beef chow Fun, Peking pork chops, sweet and sour chicken, spring rolls and the wonton soup.... A must visit.. I recommend dining in... read more

Georgia C.

11 years ago

Best Asian restaurant in the area. Delicious food, clean and wonderful staff. Kevin (owner) and his staff really devoted to provide the best customer experience, fast service and reasonable pricing. I order there at least once a week and never one time being disappointed! read more

Keeks B.

11 years ago

Love this place. The workers are very friendly and I have to say that after living in Asia for several years, it's nice to find a place that serves the most authentic, non-greasy Chinese food I've had in the area. read more

Cindy S.

13 years ago

We Love Jia Mei Asian Kitchen!!!! Food is always good, friendly fast service...great prices...clean...I'd give it 6 stars if I could! Try it, you'll love it read more

Bob M.

13 years ago

best food ever... everything there taste amazing and fresh.. seasme chicken with rice and veg. rool is the best lunch on earth

Jocelyn B.

11 years ago

Great place Very fresh and always friendly Def recommend I hate doing review for fear it will be even more busy lol! read more

Bill C.

6 months ago

I have been eating here for years and everything is delicious. Very high standards. Would most highly recommend.

Terry K.

4 years ago

Eh. Hard to find good Chinese food in the area. Went by reviews but was disappointed.

D D.

11 years ago

Really good, fresh ingredients. We order take out all the time.

Melanie D.

10 years ago

i like the new room and stuff and the food and staff

Jia Mei Asian Kitchen - chinese - Updated October 2026

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My husband and I recently dined here on our anniversary. We love sushi and have heard great things…read moreabout Mr. J's. Overall, we had a great experience. We ordered the Ruby Red Dragon and Tokyo Sour drinks which were both yummy. For food, we had the Lover Boat and Philadelphia roll. A salad and soup came with the meal. Everything was delicious and we would definitely come back!

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Not five star but pretty decent. I like the pork egg foo young and the chicken lo mein was good…read more Chicken fingers are random sizes but tasty in that rubbery. I'll upload some new pictures of the menu that the one on there seems dated.

If I could give a zero I would, ordered from here and had take out....they showed up late and food…read morewas very cold. Called and was told they would comp the order which was fine. Then called today to order and was told no comp was available, owner was argumentative and was happy to reject my business. Heads up below average food and owners don't care for your busines!

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been going here since a kid, the nicest people with the best chinese food in CT! for sure best egg…read morerolls and dumplings there are.

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New Star Chinese

3.6

(28 reviews)

I have been here many a times Brian & Wendy could not be more kind they talk give you absolutely…read moreamazing food and always extras. The place is spotless and great decor if you have not been your missing out.

Interesting and different. We ordered New Star to be…read moredelivered for dinner one night via DoorDash. The overall feel was modern and Americanized. The side of white rice was in a plastic container (not the traditional oyster pail box). Due to the heat, the plastic lid got warped and had me thinking if it released hazardous fumes into the food.... The order of chicken and broccoli was different than the typical chicken and broccoli commonly found elsewhere. The chicken....was actual chicken. As if it was an actual chicken breast cooked and cut up. It didn't have that soft, spongy and almost boiled feel that we are used to. The flavor was a little bland as well. The roast pork lo mein was decent. The crab rangoons were shaped like purse pouches (not the usual triangles elsewhere). Those rangoons were probably the best ones I've had in a long time and they were accompanied by a good amount of dipping sauce. Would we order again? Not sure. That chicken and broccoli was too weird and unfamiliar for us.

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We went Friday night as I wanted curry. Again we were not disappointed. Starting with the spring…read morerolls, which had very good sauce . My vegetable curry was fantastic and was enough to give a lunch the next day. The vegetables were were cooked to perfection. My wife's orange chicken was also excellent. We will be back soon

Loved the Siam dumplings. The shrimp was perfectly fried with sweet chili sauce. Loved the fried…read morebasil on top. Nice presentation!

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The staff were able to take a quick order over the phone. It was ready in good time. I didnt eat…read morethe chicken fried rice, but my family said it was tasty and less oily than expected. I had the broccoli and it was fantastic! The store is small, but there is plenty of parking.

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Gourmet Wok is right next to Exit 55 on 95. It has a counter where you order for take out or eat…read morein. They had a lunch special which comes w fried rice or white rice. The restaurant is very clean and the people are helpful. The food was hot and fresh -- tasty and predictable. The broccoli was not overcooked. The chicken had a bit too much sauce but I bet most people like it that way.

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