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Johnny's Clam Shack

4.2 (59 reviews)
ModerateSeafood
Closed • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Johnny's Clam Shack Photos

JOHNNY'S CLAM SHACK ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Good for groups
Dogs allowed
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Johnny's Clam Shack

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Specials board, 27Aug2024
Nicholas H.

Abundant amounts of decent seafood at decent prices. I've eaten here a few times, today was probably the poorest reception I've had because I stood at the window being told they'd be there in a few minutes the whole time before I was finally actually spoken to. It was taco Tuesday, so their fish, shrimp, clam, and calamari just tacos were 7.99. I ordered the lobster roll, a fish taco, a shrimp taco, a small onion ring, and got a half tea, half lemonade. This was way too much food, btw. Ambiance wise, it's like a food truck sprouted roots and picnic tables, but at least they have covered seating now so on a hot day there's shade. You order at the window and they'll bring you the food to the table you choose. The lobster roll had decent lobster, not the juiciest but not chewy either. It was missing some toasting on the bun, but it could have done with half the butter. Everything was so saturated that it detracted from the experience and then sat heavy afterwards. Loads of lobster, though. The tacos were each the size of my forearm. There were two overlapping tortillas so it was easy to pick one up and let any overflow fall into the second tortilla. Unfortunately there was an imbalance of dry, floury ingredients to juicy ones. The tortillas were not grilled or toasted, so just raw flour tortillas. The shredded cheese also had a moisture sucking quality. The breading on the shrimp and fish lacked seasoning, thus presenting as flour forward. It was served with a white sauce but rather than being a crema it had a sour cream consistency, and the taco was already heavy after the lobster roll was sitting heavy from all the butter. This left the coleslaw and tomatoes to do all the lifting of adding moisture and lightness to the taco, and there was just too much to overcome. Maybe without the cheese it could have been fine? Finally the onion rings were really good and the side of coleslaw was pleasant to eat. All in all, it's worth stopping in and getting food here. I come a couple times a year myself, try different parts of the menu. Nothing blows me away but nothing turns me away either.

Lobster role, clam strips, hush puppies
Mel R.

Had a short trip to Connecticut and Johnny's topped our list of favorite Lobster roll! (We tried 2 others located in Westbrook) Johnny's role had a generous amount of claw meat and was dripping with butter. The clam strips also consisted of a generous portion. Great little hidden gem in Norwich!

Johnny's clam shack, famous seafood
Suzanne C.

The food is excellent today is taco Tuesday here at Johnny's clam shack, famous seafood. I have gotten two chicken tacos with all the dressings and an order of french fries Jon. The owner and chef is amazing. Great food great service and absolutely great music stop by and visit Johnny's clam shack Norwich, Connecticut

Lobster roll
Janet Y.

I love seafood so you don't have to convince me to give this place a try. So glad we did because the food was awesome! Due to covid, order ahead and pick-up. It's a shack with a small kitchen so obviously it's going to take some time to make the food. They text you when your order is ready so plan accordingly if you're driving to pick up so you don't have to wait long. Don't be mean about waiting around if you show up and order on the spot. Their lobster roll is freaking amazing because it's served in a generous amount of warm butter and lobster meat. The meat was so juicy and sweet. The scallops were fresh and sweet. The clam bellies were a bit tough (the strip part) but still good and honestly Johnny's was one of the few places that even had whole clam bellies. The clam chowder was ok, not as thick and creamy as I would like but overall, everything was still delicious. This New England area is no joke when it comes to seafood. Amazingly fresh! Must try!

Lobster roll - warm
Karen Y.

Great seafood shack in Norwich! Small space - packs the punch! Order ahead - Park - and pick up! They will text you when your food is ready. So appreciative of these small business owners staying open and feeding us (visitors, locals, passerby, Yelpers alike)! In - times - of COVID. Let's talk seafood: $$$ Lobster rolls (2x), Whole clam bellies, Fresh scallops, New England clam chowder. Seriously, all the seafood has been so freaking fresh in this area of Connecticut... OMG. Must get - warm lobster rolls, sweet & juicy! The melted butter adds an extra layer of deliciousness. The scallops were so fresh and sweet... definitely try! The whole bellies were a bit tough but overall, still yummy. Heard it wasn't a good harvest this year... so I already feel lucky that Johnny's Clam Shack has it available! The clam chowder was ok, would have liked it to be creamier. You really can't go wrong. When in Norwich, must drop by!

Coleslaw and fresh lemon
Christina B.

Food was very good !! Hot -fresh- and fast - coleslaw good - fresh lemons and French fries were hand cut - definitely recommended - nice shelter to sit inside or they bring your food right over to your car ! Bravo Johnny's bravo -oh and the lobster bisque had nice fresh chunks of lobster not just cream - real lobster chunks

Fritters, sea scallops, fish tacos
Erin S.

Very unassuming little shack in a very unpretentious neighborhood. This is the definition of a hidden gem. There is a open air covering that you can sit under and picnic tables. Almost all the menu items are fried .. with the exception of the lobster roll and soups. We tried the New England clam chowder with fritters. The chowder was creamy and delicious. There wasn't many clams in the fritters but the flavor was still good. The fried sea scallops were good size and perfectly battered. I enjoyed the fried fish in my fish tacos and the cilantro sour cream that comes with the tacos. Overall a very yummy experience. I will be sad when they close for the winter.

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2 months ago

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21 days ago

Delicious whole belly clams at a reasonable price. The service was excellent and the servers very friendly.

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3 months ago

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2 months ago

The food is extraordinarily good. The portions are excellent. I eat there every chance that I get.

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6 years ago

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5 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Overcook ur stuff. It's greasy and gross. And clean up the area. It smells like a stale beer garden.

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3 years ago

This was the worst lobster roll I have ever had. The roll was saturated and swimming in butter. Ridiculously over priced.

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5 years ago

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2 years ago

Their fish and chips are very delicious and fresh! The staff are kind, food is delicious.

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8 years ago

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8 years ago

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8 years ago

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5 years ago

The haddock was very good and creamy, as well as the scallops and shrimp. However we noticed a lack of flavor on the fish for our tastes.

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Captain Scott's Lobster Dock - Fish sandwich

Captain Scott's Lobster Dock

4.1(1.1k reviews)
12.6 mi
•$$

Came here before visiting the New London Ledge Lighthouse for a quick bite to eat…read more We shared the create a plate and got the fried shrimp, clam strips and calamari. Everything came out hot and fresh! We also got a lobster roll. It was hot and FILLED with lobster. Just wish we had some more hot butter on the side! We also got some ice cream too at the ice cream window. I got the Nutella Sugar Waffle. The waffle was fluffy and warm with bit of crunchy sugar within the dough. All topped on 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream with the choice of strawberries or banana, I got strawberry ! I was so full I couldn't finish it all! Everything was very good. The prices are decent and the portions are big

This place is great. Beautiful setting looking over the water and boats. I got a fish taco and…read moreshrimp taco. The seafood is high quality and fresh. The taco itself was meh but the seafood is the star. I even came back the next day and I got the fried calamari and fries. The pickle ketchup was awesome for the fries. The tartar sauce was a little lacking but I mixed in some hot sauce which really helped. The cocktail sauce had way too much horseradish. The lines are LONG at peak lunch hours and it's in the open sun. Service is kinda slow with only one register so the line does not move quickly. I will be back for the lobster roll and to try all the other great seafood.

Photos
Captain Scott's Lobster Dock - Love the hot sauce!! $10 for a small bottle is kind of ridiculous though!

Love the hot sauce!! $10 for a small bottle is kind of ridiculous though!

Captain Scott's Lobster Dock - Fried oysters $17.95 if you're not getting the sides. So so good!

Fried oysters $17.95 if you're not getting the sides. So so good!

Captain Scott's Lobster Dock - Lots of seats

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Lots of seats

Dog Watch Cafe - French Onion Soup cup ($5)

Dog Watch Cafe

4.1(659 reviews)
15.4 mi
•$$

We were leaving RI and were a bit hungry. Thanks to fellow yelpers, decided to try the dog Watch…read moreCafe. From various reviews, it appeared that making a reservation was the best way for a good experience, so we made a reservation. Was seated with an excellent view of the water! They had a really nice bar, but our seat was lovely. Our waitress promptly took our beverage order and gave us menus. I got astral sandwich and the hubby got a nice cod sandwich. Both were excellent. Overall, we had a great time. A little noisy, but would definitely return, with a reservation.

We had a girls day and decided to visit Stonington with a recommendations to check out the Dog…read moreWatch Cafe. Being my first time here I was pleased with the view as it was a lovely day to be by the water. We had a 45 minute wait for our table. Though you're able to go to the bar seating around in the back where we waited for our table. We ordered our delicious drinks as we had a wait time. I ordered the pain killer drink which was so delicious and strong. Only drinks and can't order appetizers though which I was disappointed as I didn't have anything to eat prior and I started to feel my drink. Once your buzzer is called you finally get your table which they have 15 tables available. The hostess in this area escorts your party to your table. There really isn't a bad seats there. There is a separate waitress for the bar area so you have to settle your bar table before moving over to your table. The menu has a plentiful of meals to choose from. I went with the fish & chips which was a good amount of cod. Also we had the oysters to start off with. The food was very delicious. We declined with the deserts as we were full. If you haven't been to the Dog Fish Cafe you should as you won't be disappointed with the fresh seafood they serve there.

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Dog Watch Cafe - Inside the restaurant

Inside the restaurant

Dog Watch Cafe - Calamari ($16)

Calamari ($16)

Dog Watch Cafe - Beau's Baby Big Macs with onion rings, Bang Bang Shrimp & Tuna Tartare

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Beau's Baby Big Macs with onion rings, Bang Bang Shrimp & Tuna Tartare

On the Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - Eggplant Rollatini

On the Waterfront Restaurant & Bar

4.3(471 reviews)
13.5 mi
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Great food and service. Although not necessarily in the best location, it was easy to find. I…read morebelieve there is a parking area with complimentary shuttle if you can't find one of the few spots on the street. The food was fresh and delicious. Our table enjoyed the salmon , seafood lasagna, fried scallops & an appetizer crab cakes (but were somewhat small ).. Delicious. After the One of their famous desserts is a pistachio cake. It was a large piece and so delicious. I would love to go back and just eat that all by myself. Yum.

On our way to Mohegan Sun Arena to catch a concert tonight, we decided to stop by this place for an…read moreearly dinner as it has very good reviews and it's on our way toward the casino (about 25 mins away south of the casino). The restaurant has amazing views of the boat dock. While it does not have its own parking, there were ample 3 hours free parking on the street. There are a ton of tables in the dining room and there is an adjacent outdoor deck with bar and lots of tables. The wait staffs brought out freshly baked bread with homemade garlic butter and I alone almost finished it all. We started off with 4 oysters for $15 and it tasted fresh. The only minor complaint is that the size of the oysters are very mixed...some decent size some small. For entree, I got the shrimp scampi $34 which came with four large shrimps and I quite enjoyed my dish. My wife got the bacon bourbon tuna with coconut risotto, and right off the bat, she felt the sauce was too salty after a few bites. We informed our waiter, Jose, who sincerely cared about our feedback and offered to allow my wife to order a different entree. She instead asked for the arugula and beet salad for $16 and upcharged for grilled scallops for additional $16. She was glad to have gotten this replacement as the salad was vibrant and the scallops were very perfectly grilled. All in all, we really appreciate the attentiveness of our amazing waiter, Jose, and his ability to ensure the customers had a great quality meal while enjoying the beautiful scenic backdrop.

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On the Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - Inside

Inside

On the Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - Bang Bang Shrimp

Bang Bang Shrimp

On the Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - Frozen drink waterside of course

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Frozen drink waterside of course

Mr Crab Cajun Seafood - 3. Tuna Martini

Mr Crab Cajun Seafood

4.2(50 reviews)
10.8 mi

Worst crab boil I have ever had in my life! As someone who has a grasp on culinary affectation AND…read moreknows Lowcountry cuisine on account of my upbringing... No. Being located in Connecticut versus New Orleans, Georgia, Florida or Maryland does not give you a hall pass to sell over-priced seafood that is not up to edible standards/fresh. No crab seasoning dusting AT ALL. Crab was freezer burned with grit on the shell. I got the special sauce + the hottest level. Red water. So diluted and devoid of flavor. The "boil" was literally the consistency of water. That's not a boil. They likely have pots of unseasoned water that they ladle in the bag post steaming. So bland, zero love and not at all authentic. Also-- small russet potatoes were not cleaned prior to being cooked whole and are rigid/raw in the center. Over-cooked shrimp. Boil base has ZERO flavor and likely just MSG + coloring. Disrespectful. Wrong potatoes, wrong process, wrong chef, wrong seasonings, aged crab, wrong everything. My meal was 'to go'. If dined in?! Absolutely not. Nope. I would have left it on the table! Trust me-- I'm calling my bank and if they want to FaceTime the food in the trash... fine by me. I can't eat this. There is dirt in the sauce and all of the elements because they did not clean the crab, shrimp + potatoes. There were two rotten potatoes in my bag and freezer burned snow crab clusters... disgusting. Hit "The Boil" in NYC, "Juicy Crab" in MD-- even "Hook & Reel" in Orange, CT. That's where you get real Cajun flavor profiles and actual spice! This restaurant has zero business serving seafood boils. Really, really subpar.

I recently celebrated a big birthday dinner with a group of 14 friends and family at this…read morerestaurant which has been special to us for over 13 years. Even though the name (Kawa) and menu have changed a bit over time, the heart of this place has never changed--and that's what keeps us coming back. One thing that truly stands out is that this is a family‑owned restaurant, and you can feel the care, pride, and love they put into their food and service. It adds a level of warmth and authenticity that you just don't get everywhere. Our group ordered a wide range of dishes, and not a single plate was left with food on it. Several guests tried the special fried rice, while one had the chicken fried rice. Everyone loved their meals so much that I even ordered an extra fried rice to take home. We also enjoyed a great selection of sushi, including a few rolls we had never tried before. Their sushi roll prices are the best in the area, yet the quality remains consistently excellent. The sashimi we ordered was fresh, beautifully presented, and did not disappoint. One guest ordered the noodles with shrimp and said it was the best they'd ever had. To top it off, the restaurant has a surprisingly wide variety of Asian beers at very reasonable prices. The beers we tried were a big hit with the group and paired perfectly with the food. The service was another highlight of the night. Our waiter was wonderful--attentive, friendly, patient, and on top of everything our large party needed. Managing a group of 14 isn't easy, but he handled it flawlessly and made us feel well cared for. My fiancé asked him a lot of questions on some of dishes and he was very knowledgeable. After more than a decade of visiting, this birthday dinner reminded me exactly why this place has remained one of our family favorites. Delicious food, great prices, warm service, and the heart of a family‑owned business that truly values what they do. Highly recommend for both special occasions and everyday meals. There is plenty of parking for a big party and lots of space inside. They were packed and it was 5 days before Christmas.

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Mr Crab Cajun Seafood - Inside

Inside

Mr Crab Cajun Seafood - Fried rice

Fried rice

Mr Crab Cajun Seafood - Fried Catfish Basket

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Fried Catfish Basket

Oyster Club - Steamed mussels in coconut lemongrass broth with lime and cilantro.

Oyster Club

4.2(1k reviews)
13.0 mi
•$$$

The bride and I planned a pit stop on our way back from a wedding on the cape and thanks to Yelp,…read morewe found this fantastic restaurant which is located just outside of the busy downtown area. Fairly busy Sunday afternoon but we were quickly seated at the raw bar with a great view of the kitchen, which BTW is a well oiled machined and fun to watch, not quite as crazy as the Bear, but impressive. Tuna tartar to start followed by some delicious cherrystones then we split the Mussels in coconut milk with lemon grass and cilantro and some amazing sour dough bread for dipping. 10/10!!!

We were pretty disappointed with our experience, especially as a family dining with a toddler. We…read morewere told by the host that they would bring us a high chair, but after waiting, our server eventually asked "do you want me to see if I can find a high chair?" We had the request in the notes of our reservation, so it's a shame they didn't have it set up for us when we walked in or at least upon sitting down. There's no kids menu, and the regular menu is very limited if you have a child with a food allergy. My son has an egg allergy, and there were barely any options for him. There wasn't even a simple chicken option on the menu. We ultimately settled on a grilled cheese because it was essentially the only thing that worked, and no one offered to modify something or suggest another option that could accommodate him. The service overall wasn't particularly attentive, which made the limited options even more frustrating. Unfortunately, the food itself also didn't live up to the hype for us. I understand not every restaurant caters specifically to families, but a little more attentiveness and willingness to accommodate a child with a food allergy would have gone a long way. Based on our experience, I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for families with young kids or dietary restrictions.

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Oyster Club - Handpicked local lobster roll.

Handpicked local lobster roll.

Oyster Club - $6 Classic Mimosas and bloody Mary's for Sunday brunch!

$6 Classic Mimosas and bloody Mary's for Sunday brunch!

Oyster Club - $6 Classic Bloody Mary's and Mimosas every Sunday brunch!

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$6 Classic Bloody Mary's and Mimosas every Sunday brunch!

Johnny's Clam Shack - seafood - Updated October 2026

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