Ripka's Beach Cafe is now Luca's Beach Kitchen as of summer 2026. Looks like someone already made a Yelp listing for the new place. read more

Ripkas Beach Cafe - Luca's Beach Kitchen - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

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Ripka's is permanently closed - owner passed away- hears new spot is coming . You need a beach pass to go here unless you're willing to walk a bit read more

I rarely ever leave one star reviews in all the years my wife and I have been dining but this place deserves it. Absolutely atrocious !! Yuck ! Buyer Beware !! We decided to try Ripkas at the Norwalk Beach and as we walked in there a line of 9 customers with only one cashier. (You may want to hire another counter person) during peak times. We waited about 40 mins for two sandwiches. Upon glancing at the food I couldn't believe it. Burger wasn't cooked med-well as ordered. The other sandwich had what appeared to be old Elmers wood glue all over it. See photos. Philly steak looked frozen then warmed up as greasy meat. Fries were maybe the one star if not I wouldn't rated this place a zero. Wait it gets better; the price was $42 bucks for that is embarrassing. You guys were so cheap you couldn't add a bit of fries as a combo meal? You had to charge extra. We took a couple of bites and through the rest in the garbage. We absolutely DO NOT recommend. We're local but would ever go back there again. Spend your money and enjoy a good meal elsewhere. read more

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Horrible Food. If you like Instant Potatoes in Chicken Slop Gravy for your New England Clam Chowder which tasted about 2 or 3 days old - this is the place for you. Avoid the Lobster Roll Sandwich. It is way overpriced and has about 3 Ounces of Lobster Meat and most of it is from the Claw Tips which are chewy and rubbery and usually never served anywhere. Staff stated it was 8 Ounces of Lobster Meat. NO - it was not! That was untrue? And they put grilled onions and warm lettuce on there. Really? That is NOT the way New England prepares Lobster Rolls or Lobster Sandwiches, whether they are Hot or Cold. Disgusting and paid nearly $50.00 for Crappy Food. Be sure to park in the correct parking space. Staff told us if you fail to do so - you will have to pay a $150.00 Parking Ticket Fine. Large Parking Lot located outdoors and lots of parking spaces. NO Refills offered here on $4.00 Iced Tea Beverages. Plastic Cutlery is offered here. Bread here is so so - NOT great and has hardly any flavor to it. AVOID this place if possible. It's a Nightmare and a big mess. They need to focus on quality and less items on the menu. This location fails to provide edible food. Staff smoking or vaping indoors behind the Counter was also a HUGE Health Code Violation!!! Connecticut State Law prohibits Staff from Smoking or Vaping indoors at ALL Food Establishments. This location should be issued a Citation for non-compliance of State of Connecticut Law... read more

VERY RACIST!!!!! very bad customer service targeted towards me. i ordered a single pina colada and 20 minutes later it isn't made. i mentioned it and they blew me off. i immediately asked for a refund when i watched him make multiple pina coladas that were ordered after mine and he gave me a look every time he gave someone a drink. never again. read more

Unfortunately, my experience at Ripka's was not great. I was served undercooked pork, and when I brought it up, I was told, "that's how we make it here" -- which didn't sit right with me at all. On top of that, the service was generally poor, and I overheard staff answering phone calls in a really unprofessional, disrespectful tone. Definitely not what I expected from a beach café in a great location. read more

This is a cute cafe on the resident beach of Norwalk. The menu is extensive for a " beach shack." However today was not their best day. We ordered 2 Caesar salads with grilled shrimp and we were told they were out of Caesar dressing and offered balsamic or oil and vinegar as substitutes. The balsamic was good. They then were out of the grilled shrimp so we substituted with grilled chicken and the other salad substituted 2 crab cakes- also good. The soups were delicious, cold gazpacho- clam chowder creamy version and the lobster bisque which I think had the claws of 3 lobsters sweet and tender. The other meal was whole belly clams and French fries- decent portion and crispy. My frozen mango was delicious and refreshing on this hot summer day. Norwalk allows alcohol on their resident beach. read more

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I was searching for a tiki bar type of joint to stop in for lunch during an 8-state summer road trip. Ripka's had great reviews and looked like just the place to get a cocktail near the water. What I found was a small walk up with outside seating near a park. Beyond the park was the beach (for families - lots of children). It wasn't the vibe I was looking for, but the food was surprisingly good and so were the drinks! The frozen pina colada was refreshing and tasty on a hot day. The Tilapia Tacos were very good. Lots of pico and crema over large portions of grilled fish. The tortillas were grilled and yummers. The shrimp basket was also delicious with plenty of fries to share. I'd call this a successful pit stop, considering I didn't even know what state I was in (literally, where was I? figuratively, the pina colada). read more

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The food is good. Crab cake sandwich is a 4/5. Tilapia wrap similar. There are no signs or clear lines to order food, only a place to wait for your order is marked. Very slow counter service and a long wait after ordering. Credit card purchases suggest 15%/20%/25% tip for waiting in line in a cafeteria setting. Prices are lower than a sit down restaurant and the view is nice. They need to work on the premises. They are over run by large horse flies and regular flies. I was bit twice while eating. If you sit outside, chairs are randomly scattered about and there are people sitting there that clearly are not eating there. The seagulls are a problem. They congregate and stalk a few yards away as you eat. Twice we saw people temporarily get up and immediately have the seagulls overrun the food. Your call on whether this is what you would like to experience. read more

This is the only place that sells food at the beach here. They have a very basic beer menu and are priced decently ($$). They have a huge sit out place to grab your bite. It's a quick self serviced place. I'd definitely visit back. read more

Always spot on with their fried clam strips platter!Wow! Traveled 20 miles to get these and they did not disappoint. Hands down my favorite clam strips anywhere. I asked if the included fries could be truffled and for a small, reasonable upcharge they obliged. And they were absolutely phenomenal!! So worth it. Friendly staff, great management. Love Ripka's! read more

Ripkas Beach Cafe - Fried clam strips - killer! - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Beach Day when it is 75 in November! Topped off with a perfectly delicious hot buttered lobster roll with sautéed shallots! YUMMMMM read more

Ripkas Beach Cafe - Lobsta roll - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

We came upon this place because of traffic on I95 and searched for waterfront dining on Yelp nearby. The place is counter service and there's parking marked for Ripkas visitors. We ordered clam chowder and lobster rolls. I didn't love the chowder - too much bacon and lemon for me, but could see why some might enjoy it. I can say that the lobster roll ruined me for others. Honestly I think it's the best I've had - of many many lobster rolls. Big chunks sautéed with shallots, butter, and herbs, served on a roll rather than hot dog bun. Service is polite and efficient but slow. They were out of cole slaw which would have accompanied lobster but didn't offer any substitute. Will definitely return. read more

Ripkas Beach Cafe - Lobster roll and chowder - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

A great place to grab seafood in the Norwalk area. This isn't your high end seafood place, but a quick beach cafe that covers your basics: fish and chips, fried shrimp, lobster rolls, and more. Their menu is actually really expansive! Ripka's is right on the beach and near some play areas with swings on the beach. They've got plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a private parking lot adjacent to the restaurant. The service is pretty fast and you can tell it's a popular place during the summer. Prices are reasonable. Overall, the food was solid. The fish and chips and the lobster mac and cheese were the highlights for us. The lobster mac and cheese had a lot more lobster than I thought it would have, so definitely try that out if you're into lobster. A solid place to grab a quick bite if you're strolling the beach in the Norwalk area! read more

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This place and it's owner are fabulous! The cafe has a tremendous variety of quality food and beverages, including: seafood, delicious sandwiches and wraps, pizza from a pizza oven, ice cream, coffee, and beer. I love the curry chicken wraps! Mr. Ripka is a man of many wonderful ideas and knows how to create a fun, cozy ambiance. He often has live music out in the tent. In the fall each outdoor picnic table has a fire pit. He even offers traditional clambakes. There is often live music in the tent. I could not recommend this place more highly. It has really changed the entire atmosphere at Calf Pasture! ! read more

I've always loved Ripkas and was looking forward to a wonderful Father's Day dinner. I've always loved their lobster Mac n cheese and clam chowder soup. They had a special Father's Day dinner- smoked brisket. I saw a chunk of fat on it but assumed that was just the outside- unfortunately the whole thing was more like bacon than brisket. It was almost all fat. I also ordered the clam chowder- My son and I always LOVED the NE clam chowder but this NE Clam Chowder was a thin almost clear broth, with NOT ONE piece of clam- not even a potato- I could identify a piece of celery or two and some onion. My daughter's clam strips were good as were the French Fries. I hope Ripkas returns to their prior ways- what a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT:( read more

Only one caveat. Make sure you park in the one row of spaces that are clearly marked as being for this establishment or you are looking at $150 fine. If you get a parking space, this place is worth the drive from anywhere. I have never had lobster rolls as good as this place, the lobster mac & cheese is really good also. I can't recommend the hot lobster rolls highly enough. They are beyond anything in my experience. I will drive a couple of hours to get here just to have lunch. Just watch out for the parking. read more

Ripkas Beach Cafe - Hot lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Everything here is what you expect and would ever need at the beach. Aloha Fridays are amazing. Outdoor pizza oven. Bar and great grill and seafood make the beach the best of experiences. read more

My husband read a great article on the place and wanted to support the owner's business. Ordered two, $26 Lobster Rolls. Hot. The lobster meat was so over cooked it was tough, chewy, and stringy. VERY UNAPPETIZING! Likely, they have the lobster sitting in hot butter all day poaching the crap out of the meat (and we had lunch at 12noon!). The shallots we're totally unnecessary. The buns were grilled nicely, but that was the ONLY redeeming quality for a $26 roll. Any restaurant that serves lobster needs to have a chef who understands how to prepare lobster. read more

One of the highlights of Norwalk. Cannot imagine going to the beach without grabbing some clam sandwiches or oyster platters and eating by the water or outside at the tables. read more

Excellent excellent excellent. Delicious food with a beautiful view. I never was a fan of lobster until I tried their Hot lobster roll. Amazing I had to bring my wife the next day for her to try . Nice people well run establishment. read more

Ripkas Beach Cafe - Hot Lobster roll. Delicious. - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Food was ok. view was nice. parking was intense. read reviews that mentioned $150 parking tickets for parking in the wrong spot. So i checked parking attendant to make sure i was parked in the right spot. he confirmed but then told me he was tracking me and had 1.5 hrs. Sure enough he was at my car and waiting for me with 5 minutes left. Did i mention that i was the only car in the entire lot?! obviously a money maker for the town. read more

When visiting Norwalk or calf pasture beach you must stop by Ripkas. The service and food are excellent. They are quick to service you and they make some great drinks. I have been coming here for years and I am yet to have a bad experience l. Clyde does a great job keeping his staff engaged. By the way try the clams they are fresh and the best on the beach!! read more

Perfectly adequate beach snack bar. Staff are very nice, fried food was way too heavily breaded and sadly under-seasoned for our taste, but not inedible. Clam bellies were decent but there were only 4 or 5 of them- price was very high for what was essentially a plate of (very good) French fries with a tiny serving of clams. If you're at calf pasture anyway, it's fine. Certainly not a place to drive to just for the food. read more

RIPKA'S RIP-OFF! I came here with high hopes for fried clams (bellies) based on the positive reviews. I was sorely disappointed! The basket of clams was a joke. It was 90 percent french fries, with maybe 10 or so fried clams sprinkled in a thin layer along the top. The kids working here were either stoned or just generally clueless. What a disappointment! read more

I was really excited to discovered that this place on East Norwalk's Calf Pasture Beach wasn't just a burger-and-fries joint. They serve an extensive seafood menu. The bar and other beverages were just as plentiful. I confess, the hot lobster roll was...different. Sautéed onions and green pepper on a Texas z toast bun, downplayed the shell fish. The truffle fries were FLAWLISJ!!/ read more

Great food for on-the-beach grab and go. Been to many beaches in CT and haven't had as good beachside food anywhere else. Fish tacos are amazing and the seafood is local/fresh. Lot of events held at Ripkas on holidays and perfect for getting food during the summer night concert series. Around the area there is plenty of space to barbecue and shade under trees on grass right before Calf Pasture Beach. Clean bathrooms, playgrounds for kids, Pier for fishing and overall a fantastic summer spot in Norwalk! read more

Ripkas Beach Cafe - Fish tacos and crab cake sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Had a fantastic beach barbeque wedding at Ripka's this August. Clyde and his staff literally handled every single little thing, from the ceremony site, to the table settings, all the food, down to the wedding cake. I didn't want to deal with any of the picky details, just told him to make it nice, and it was beyond amazing. Our guests could not stop raving about the food, and so many said it was the best wedding food they'd ever had. We wanted a casual but delicious menu, and we got it. We had burgers and hot dogs, which we wanted, but also upscale appetizers like bruschetta, an amazing raw bar that people went crazy over, and some excellent entrees and sides. Clyde also basically functioned as a wedding coordinator in addition to being the reception site. He handled setting up the ceremony site in the park itself, which was gorgeous, and right next to the reception which was so convenient. He worked with outside vendors to do flowers and the cake so I didn't have to handle any of those issues. He coordinated with Norwalk and the beach staff to make sure my guests could park. His staff also went above and beyond, catered to all the guest's needs, refilled drinks without being asked, and were very pleasant and helpful. The location was beautiful and provided us with a great opportunity for gorgeous wedding photos. Our guests also loved being able to walk around the beach, pier, playground, and other areas during the wedding. I've added a bunch of photos to Ripka's to show the food and the wedding/ceremony location. I highly recommend Ripka's and Clyde for a casual but excellent beachside wedding. read more

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Great shell fish and beer spot at the beach sometimes entertainment too. Can be crowded so be prepared.

Great location, views, food, and its right on the beach! Having been here several times the food is consistently very good. I've had everything from the staples of hot dogs, hamburgers to the fried shell fish to just ice cream. They only have 3 or 4 beers on tap, however the choices usually include an IPA or toasted larger or something else equally as good. They also have several bottles to choose from as well. Serving sizes are good and prices are reasonable. Expect to wait when they get slammed though. This is especially true during an evening concert or holiday weekend lunch. It's just a numbers thing, can't expect immediate service when you have 50 or more people all ordering at once. Suggest you order a couple of beers and enjoy the views while you wait. read more

Ripkas Beach Cafe - View from counter - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

After an afternoon on the beach with friends we settled in at Ripka's for a clambake followed by a concert. It was the best way to spend a beautiful summer day. The staff here are friendly and polite, the food was tasty. We will be back. read more

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Had a wonderful time here at a Sprite Island Yacht Club spring event .... the raw bar and pizzas (red and clam) were sublime the cash bar was reasonably priced and all the other stuff was fine as well. A beautiful setting in the water and everything I saw served on the regular menu looked very good. I think four star easily within their grasp but I can only score on what I see - some reservation confusion and a ridiculously long line to the bar (we're all light drinkers ) forced a downgrade but I will be back ! read more

Staff was not friendly. Lobster on a stick Portion was incredibly over priced and very very small. It was the size of a single mini corn dog for over $30. Also they charged more than the prices on the menu. read more

Maybe the best fries I've ever had? And the lobster roll is excellent--love the drinks as well.

Really cool atmosphere. Right on the beach. Got the pulled pork sandwich to share but was honestly not a fan. The meat was like rubber and there was a lot of fat on it. On the plus side, the drinks were great. read more

Great, fresh food and awesome location facing the beach. Owner/manager is also super nice and went out of his way to help us.

Favorite beachside joint with delicious food. Their pizza is amazing, along with lobster rolls. Seriously, the lobster is delicious. They are almost open year round and it's a fantastic spot to go to have a meal and a cocktail. Best beach restaurant for miles and miles! read more

Ripkas Beach Cafe - Lobster rolls and local MugShot Green Tea - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Beautiful night at the beach! The truffle fries were amazing, the lobster bisque had large pieces of seafood, the piña colada was delicious. Nothing to complain about. read more

We used Ripka's catering for our wedding at Sheffield Island. We booked this with them in January of 2020 and through all the uncertainty they stuck with us and put together an incredible event. Since we did not have dancing due to COVID, the food was the main focus (after the bride, of course). Clyde put together passed appetizers plus a 5 course meal, with wine pairings and it was some of the best food we've had. Our guests were raving! The staff that day couldn't have been more accommodating and made sure we had everything we wanted. Would absolutely recommend for catering and can't wait to spend more evenings at the beach cafe. read more

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The grilled-chicken sandwich and corn on the cob was good and reasonably priced. The clam roll sandwich was a lot of bread and not much clam. The seafood items seemed kind of pricey for the type of "restaurant" this is. That said, it did seem like they try to make good quality food and there is a descent selection. Many things are fried. Some are grilled. What is the place like: you place your order at a counter, and there is a grill behind it. There are some inside counters to eat at and picnic tables outside. There is a somewhat confusing/disorganized ordering process (and cashiers are not friendly). The pick-up process consists of your number being yelled out. We found the park to be good for adults and kids, as it is comfortable with nice views. While there is regular sand, that ends as you get closer to water where it's mostly rocks. So it's not much of a beach to swim in. The park does have BBQs and tables if that's your thing. It's hard to rate it 4-5 stars given the limitations of plastic knives and forks, but 3-4 is probably in order. 4 for the food and 3 for the venue. read more