My review addresses only the many vegan dishes here, so unless you're vegan you might want to skip my review. Nellie's is a surprising vegan-friendly restaurant in an equally surprising dockside location. Off the beaten path from downtown Branford, it is easily overlooked amid all the large pleasure and fishing boats both moored in the Branford River and dry-docked on land and in colossal hangers. Given its maritime environment, you'd expect its menu would be heavy with fish and sea animals, yet it also offers many vegan options, in fact more vegan dishes than vegetarian dishes. Don't be dissuaded by its nondescript name more appropriate for a horse, as in "Whoaaaa, Nellie." As evidenced by a streetside old signage, its more decorous former full name was Nellie's Green Restaurant, but somewhere along the way the word "Green" unfortunately got dropped from the name. Fortunately, its many vegan dishes were not dropped from the menu. They speak fluent vegan here. In addition to being marked with "V" for Vegan, the word "Vegan" stands out as the predominant first word in the names of the vegan dishes. That's Vegan 'Crab' Cakes. Vegan Layer Dip. Vegan Ceviche. Vegan Tacos. Vegan 'Crab' Cake Wrap. Vegan Burger. There's also Avocado Toast, Guacamole and Chips, several entrées marked "VO," meaning Vegan Option by omission, and two salads and several side dishes, for instance Blackened Tofu, that all happen to be vegan without making a big show of it. I recommend the Vegan Burger, which is a house-made black bean patty, not pre-fab Beyond Impossibility mock meat. It comes by default with potato fries, but faulting deep-fried food I was able to upgrade my burger with one of the several vegan side dishes, in my case the Grilled Zucchini, which was delectable. My soul-mate soy-mate lunch-mate ordered the Vegan Tacos and a side of Blackened Tofu, and she enjoyed both. The spacious outdoor patio is larger than the ample indoor dining area, is fully sheltered from the blazing sun or dripping rain, and is perched right alongside the river, though during boating season the river is so cluttered with boats that it can hardly be described as picturesque. With the recent closure in nearby Westbrook of our dearly beloved all-vegan Shayna B's by the Sea, we intend to return to experience both Nellie's and the harbor during their quieter seasons. read more

Stopped here in June one afternoon with coworkers for some drinks and a bite to eat. We sat outside and the ambiance was nice. The service was great too. I had a caesar salad (can't remember if it was the full size of side size) and truffle fries. Both were wonderful and filling. Generous amount of shaved parm on that salad too. I would definitely go back. read more

Nellie’s - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Nellie's Waterfront Bar & Grill is the kind of place people go for the location and atmosphere as much as the food. Sitting by the water gives the restaurant a laid back, summer seafood spot feel that makes it easy to enjoy your time there. That said, if you're looking for a restaurant with a wide variety of seafood options or more creative seafood preparations, this probably isn't the place to go. We started with the chips and guacamole appetizer, which tasted good, but the portion size was pretty small for the price. The raw little neck clams were one of the highlights of the meal, very fresh, clean tasting, and exactly what you'd want from a seafood spot. For entrées, the cod sandwich was surprisingly solid. It was a nice size, fairly priced, and felt like one of the better values on the menu. The ahi tuna wrap was also good overall, but it felt like it was missing a stronger or more flavorful dressing to really bring everything together. The lobster roll was decent, but for the price, there simply wasn't enough lobster in it to justify the cost. Overall, there were definitely some enjoyable parts of the meal, especially the fresh shellfish and the waterfront atmosphere. The biggest downside was the pacing of service, as there were long waits between dishes throughout the meal. Still, for a casual waterfront stop with straightforward seafood options, Nellie's delivers a decent experience. read more

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First time here. Greater very warmly. Went to the outdoor patio but it was just a tad too chilly so we chose a high top table in the bar area. The decor is adorable our waitress was right I On top of our order. The food came out right awash. Nice and fresh. No shells in the raw bar items. The clam chowder had a unique flavor. Very tasty. The slider was amazing. Looking forward to going back and trying more items. read more

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Overall a mixed bag of an experience at Nellie's. Some of the highlights - their homemade fries are very good, and we also enjoyed our lobster rolls (didn't seem as stuffed as some other local joints, and would be nice to offer a small side of clarified butter). Where they have room for growth - their dessert was not good (salted caramel cake - assuming store bought). Also the service was so-so, the meal itself came fast, but the bar is slow, and our server didn't come by to verify our order was right after food came (and it was missing sauces we asked for). All in, I'd consider coming back for a sandwich and fries, but probably look elsewhere if goal is lobster roll specifically. read more

Nellie’s - Kids fish sticks - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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Loved this place! Casual but beautiful and extremely friendly service. It felt like catching up with friends. Food was delicious!

Nellie's is another one of my favorite waterfront spots! Such a cute atmosphere whether you're sitting inside or outside, and the views make it even better. The menu has so many good options, the food is always great, and we've always had really good service. The only thing to keep in mind is that it is a pretty small spot, so if you go on a busy summer day, you can definitely expect a wait. Still totally worth it though! Definitely a great spot to check out! read more

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The menu has a good variety of lighter fare choices for seafood lovers, carnivores, vegetarians and vegans. We tried a variety of tacos - creative and fresh. The mussel appetizer was a standout! Staff was friendly - kitchen timing slightly off. read more

Wait staff was very friendly. Food was good- nice selection and gluten free options. The lobster corn appetizer was very tasty. My friends enjoyed their cocktails too. read more

Nellie’s - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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Would always come here a bunch. Good food. However, service is abysmal. Stopped in today to order some take out with the family. Hostess asked the owner and we were told to sit and then order at the bar. After waiting at the bar for 10min while the bartender made drinks and just about everything to ignore my daughter and I, we left. Didn't help that the owner (also owns life bowls in NH & Madison) was right there. Piss poor customer service and we won't be back (to either of his businesses). read more

Service was very good. Food was not. The ceviche was very mediocre, not acidic enough and meager amount of shrimp. Steak sandwich was tough, onions undercooked and not good at all. Shrimp tacos were mediocre and french fries were soggy and limp and barely edible. Very disappointing dinner. read more

A fun place! We can't wait for the patio to open. A small/medium restaurant with a varied mostly seafood menu. Street corn and lobster appetizer was delicious as were the mussels. Lobster rolls were hot and buttery Just perfect Grilled vegetables made a great side. Service was attentive. Seemed they might have been down one waiter (from the eye of someone with 40+ years of restaurant experience), this did not affect our service. Staff hustled while being polite and answered all questions A great place to enjoy a meal out! read more

Party if 4 all stomach sick after eating dinner there on 7/27/26. All 4 tasted chowder which at time seemed delicious. Overall food was good and atmosphere was comfortable. Called management to complain about illness to no avail. Was told risk from eating raw fish dies exist". I reminded ho. That I did not eat any raw fish and still got sick. Diner Beware! read more

Service was good. Ambiance outdoors was disappointing. The restaurant is in a very odd spot. Indoor ambiance was good. Clean bathrooms although the toilet paper was thinner than I've seen. Food just okay. Cod sandwich was okay, couldn't even taste the tarter. Tomatoes hard and tastless. Fries wimpy. Not a fan of pretzel buns so I didn't eat most of it. read more

I'm so happy we found this restaurant. It's located within a boat storage etc. idk but we were happy we found it. The restaurant is on the small side. But they have outdoor tables which would be awesome on a good day. We arrived at 3:30 so we had a little bit of a long wait since there was only one waiter. The food was good. We will be returning again. read more

Excellent food and the best views! I highly recommend the street corn. Very accommodating with vegetarian/gluten free.

While visiting Branford on a beautiful day, we decided to try Nellie's for lunch. We were sat right by the water and really enjoyed the views of the Branford River. I thought their menu had a great variety, full of seafood, pasta dishes, and even a cali burrito, which isn't super common to see around here! Everything was delicious, including the desserts. The server was attentive, but it did take a long time for the desserts to come out, which was kind of surprising. Definitely a low-key spot and the inside of the restaurant was really nice, I would totally visit again next time I'm in the area. read more

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The service was good. The food was amazing! Delicious salad with huge portions of salmon! Lovely view of the water. Would definitely come back! read more

I recently met up with some friends at Nellies and all I can say is, what a hidden gem! After some confusion with our reservation, we were seated in the bar area, and our server was Tess. She was friendly, attentive and answered all questions we had about the menu. The restaurant was clean and very nicely decorated. They have a large patio area as well with a bar. As far as the food, I got their lobster Benedict special and it was delicious! Both of my friends got a salad and said they enjoyed them very much. I can't wait to return and try some other dishes on the menu. read more

Nice quaint place near the water. Service was great. My wife enjoyed coconut shrimp appetizer. I had a fried chicken sandwich with salad instead of fries. Everything was very tasty. read more

Off the water, mixed in with the boats, is this hidden gem. Sitting at the bar for lunch - a delicious kale salad with a HUGE piece of grilled salmon. Got a Kiki cocktail. And Tiramisu for dessert. All delicious. Server at the bar is Tess. Very friendly. Really like this restaurant and will come back. read more

Nellie’s - Tiramisu. Bigger looking than in the photo! - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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Strong 4 stars for brunch in February. Service was attentive. Food was very good and the view of the water was nice. read more

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First time going to Nellie's. A sunday afternoon, fairly busy but we had a reservation for 4 ppl. They would not sit us until the other two ppl were there which I am not a fan of. They had one poor server handling the entire patio outside. He brought us tap water room temp in small glasses while the table next to us got 16 oz water glasses with ice. Strange. Then two drinks were brought out of the 4, about 15 mins later we had to flag the server down to find out where the rest were. One drink was a Huge Spritz which is an across the board same cocktail recipe. It does not ever include rum, this one was made with rum. We ordered the chips and guacamole for $14. I think we each had 5 chips, way overpriced for the amount they give you. The mahi fish tacos were very good. Inside was very clean along with bathrooms. But I dont think we'll be returning any time soon. read more

After spending a beautiful day on the water in Branford, my friend and I had worked up an appetite and heard about a new place called Nellie's waterfront bar. We always had good experiences in Branford and wanted to try the new restaurant and hoped it would be worth supporting. Boy oh boy, were we ever mistaken! The outdoor atmosphere was nice and the weather was perfect. The menu was limited and the service was barely satisfactory. Unfortunately, the food was a gigantic disappointment. The Caprese salad had a total of a tablespoon of mozzarella and the lobster corn had a teaspoon of lobster. There was nothing remarkable or even satisfactory about the presentation, the quality or the quantity. Live and learn. read more

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This my first time visiting and it won't be my last. A cute, quaint restaurant nestled in a marina, this restaurant has New England charm written all over it. We were able to get right in on a Saturday night despite the bar being closed for a private event. The food was good, portions were plenty. Everything was spaced out well so we didn't feel rushed. We hope to come back in the spring/ summer time to enjoy a drink outside. The string lights and outdoor seating looks so inviting! read more

We had a fantastic meal at this waterfront gem. The fish tacos were seasoned to perfection - light - not greasy - really great bites. We had the Cobb salad w shrimp which also was a winner. The food was fresh and the menu was just how I like -- do a few things really well - vs jamming too many options. Fantastic service from our waitress Ella! Sit outside if you can - big difference as your sitting by the water and marina -- saw Osprey sailing by so -- we'll be back. read more

Nellie’s - Branford has some wonderful places on the water. Nellies is a hidden gem. - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

We really liked the location. We came in for Sunday brunch and everything was good. They were out of a few things that we wanted, however which was frustrating and the menu is limited for brunch. It was also odd that we were the only ones there. But I would go backin the warmer months and enjoy the outside deck. It looked very inviting. read more

Aside from the view, this place disappointed! Food was Ok. Service was OK. One waitress refused to move an umbrella to shade our table more because she stated the restaurant was just too busy. We told our waitress who said in a minute. I stood up and moved it myself. Also side salad was upcharge which was fine but was never mentioned when we changed from fries. Refills for soda were chargeable which we were never told about. Won't go back! read more

Nellie's was such a nice spot to get dinner -- a view of the water, beautiful interior design, kind and detail-oriented service, and really good food. I had the chips and guac alongside the vegan mole tacos (with rice and beans). Portion sizes are small with the tacos, but their advice to add the rice and beans is spot on and they were cooked really well. They also offered a mango habanero hot sauce to go with my meal and it was fresh and a welcome addition. As far as the chips and guac -- they were fine to split three ways, the chips were warm and not too salty or oily, and the guac was fresh-tasting and just the right amount of limey. I am vegan, and to find a spot that has a vegan option for every part of the menu is rare and welcome (and even rarer that it's good and not just a basic burger). Their vegan menu options are thoughtful, appealing to a wide audience, and innovative. I got dinner with my parents and their fish dishes also got great reviews. Everyone who works here was so nice, from front of house to servers to bussers. They clearly put heart and pride into their work. Highly recommend. read more

Anytime we are near water we look for food :) Nellies was easy to find situated between boat storage and the water. Outdoor seating with boats all around you, both in the water, on the blacktop and in the huge brick boat storage facilities that line the opposite side of the parking lot. I had fish and chips. Fries were hand cut and they were hot and crispy. They were seasoned very well (malt vinegar salt). The classic batter used with the cod created a bite of crisp and flaky fish. It was one of the better fish and salad I have had. My wife's burger was great too. Sloppy. Mushrooms, caramalized onions, cheddar cheese and bbq sauce on. Pretzel roll. Can't beat that. Ask what is available for kids, those offerings are not on the menu. read more

Visiting my sister in New Haven and she took me to this little secret place. So nice! We sat outside on the water and it was a beautiful day. Service great! Started off with the clams casino. Then she got a burger and I got fish tacos. Both excellent. Highly recommend but don't tell too many people haha we don't want it to get too crowded! read more

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Nellie's is a nice spot to have dinner, especially in the summer when we can sit outdoors comfortably, enjoying the views of water. They have a limited menu with some good vegan options. I tried all of it and the vegan crab cakes are my favorite. My family likes the sea food and meat options and they are super impressed too. The vegan mole tacos seem to be of a very unique taste, something that comes from using cocoa beans. I am a big fan of good old bean burger and it's so hard to get a vegan bean burger now since everyone started using the beyond/impossible burgers, the bean burger they have here is delicious. All the entrees come with French fries and their fries are some of the best I had. I am grateful they also have a side of rice and beans which my son loves to have. My family likes their lobster rolls, special chicken quesadillas and fish and chips. Overall, it has become my family's one of the favorite dinner spots. The service here is spot on and the employees are so warm and friendly. The only point I would like them to change is that I just wish they expanded the menu and added a few more options. Nevertheless, this is my favorite vegan friendly place in Connecticut. read more

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Calamari started was best I've had in a decade melt in your mouth. Great unusual choices with excellent wait staff

Came here on a date and it was so nice! :) For the seating outside you can sit by all the boats, such pretty scenery :) was not a big wait time but also quite a popular place, more middle-aged couples rather than young people, anyway a really nice ambiance. But, beware there were some small gnats flying around outside (so then we moved inside). I got a really cute-looking red fruity cocktail which I loved and drank on the seafront, and then for dinner a tuna steaks main dish which was also delicious!! Lots of fun and a really nice time here, would recommend (or maybe even return someday myself)! read more

We were here for dinner on 5/24/24, party of two. Ambiance - out door seating was fantastic. The service...HORRIBLE...here's why: (1) An appetizer should come out first, not after the entrée (2) When you give the server a list of your allergies, the entrée should not contain an allergen (3) When you have to ask for a condiment FOUR times before you receive it, not good. This place needs to train their staff better or be more selective with who they hire. As for the food, the seafood appetizer was excellent, the wrap and vegan burger nothing to write home about. Not returning to this establishment anytime soon! read more

First things first, Nellie's has -- Hands down -- the best guac I've had in Connecticut! The staff is attentive and nice and all the food was amazing. Let's not forget, this place has an scenic view of the water! Visit Nellie's! You won't be disappointed. read more

Nellie’s - Hands down the best Chips and guacamole! - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

The salads are delicious . We really enjoyed being outside on the Branford River, very relaxing! The wait staff is wonderful! read more

Nice coastal environment if you sit outside...can look at all the boats. Very cute inside. Menu had many yummy options and fun appetizers! Got the chicken Caesar wrap...not sure if they forgot the Caesar dressing on mine, or if it's just a very light dressing because I didn't taste any. But besides that, good experience and would go back! read more

Nellie’s - Chicken Caesar wrap (center), Cali burrito (left), chicken tacos (right) - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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What a great little place! Fun/relaxing atmosphere with a cool vibe. Great menu selection, vegan layer dip slightly too spicy for my liking and the vegan burger could use a little more flavor. Vegan crab cakes were amazing! Overall, food was good snd look forward to going back to try some other selections! read more

Down a side road, in the boat yard, a fancified clam shack with outdoor tables, bar and umbrellas on the water. We had guacamole, a homemade but unusual variety with lots of lime and no jalapeños. And the lobster rolls, which came with a heap of fries. A pile of buttered claw meat, on a bun. Very tasty! Pleasant waitress also. read more