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    Ripkas Beach Cafe

    3.6 (87 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Ripkas Beach Cafe Photos

    RIPKAS BEACH CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Ripkas Beach Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Hazpacho
    Nancy F.

    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.

    Pina Colada and IPA
    Mollie W.

    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).

    Fried clam strips - killer!
    Tari Lynn D.

    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!

    Lobsta roll
    Lisa W.

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

    Lobster roll and chowder
    Carol S.

    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.

    Exterior/Outside- Outdoor Seating Area

    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!

    Hot lobster roll
    Mark R.

    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.

    Hot Lobster roll. Delicious.

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    Clyde R.

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    5 years ago

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

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

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

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    11 years ago

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    6 years ago

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

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    Ask the Community - Ripkas Beach Cafe

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    Jacob’s Pickles South Norwalk - Nashville chicken & biscuits

    Jacob’s Pickles South Norwalk

    (289 reviews)

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    Damn what a night this has been!…read more So a friend and I decided to come eat here after going to a funeral visitation for a co-worker. It was the first time in 18 years I had been to anything funeral-related, but harkening back to my childhood, we'd have food after funeral services to celebrate the life of the lost loved one, so it was a piece of me I wanted to share with my friend. Another thing that contributed to my wanting to come here is that this is a place I've been wanting to come to ever since this restaurant opened, and it went doubly so when it was named the Best Restaurant in Connecticut for 2024. The fact I finally got to go in of itself was a blessing, and I have to say that I am glad we came here. We were seated immediately upon arrival, and service was quick from start to finish. Our waiter was excellent. He was great making recommendations in effort to get us to save some money, took any questions we had with a smile, and made ordering an easy-peasy affair. Ambiance was very casual, great for any occasion really. If I ever had a date and this was where they took me, I'd be wanting a second date already. They're great for family get-togethers too. Oh, and the bathroom walls made me laugh with their witty one-liners like "Don't be a Gherk" or "Just Dill With It". So based on the recommendations we were given, we shared both of the appetizers we'd ordered: the fried pickles and the biscuits and fix-in's. The fried pickles that this place is known for were really good, very comparable to what you might get from a true Southern state. It comes with a spicy mayo, and paired together, it's divine! The biscuits & fix-ins are two large biscuits accompanied by four types of butter: salted, maple, vanilla, and the strawberry. They were all good, but we both agreed that the vanilla one was out-of-this-world, and the maple one had an authentic Vermonter taste to it. The strawberry one tastes like a strawberry cream cheese which is a good thing here, and even the salted butter was good. We each also got an entree, and I was the only one who ordered a drink. My friend had the Classic Mac & Cheese, and I had the Southwest Meat Platter as well as a Dirty Aphrodite. I love me some good ribs when I eat Southern food, and having the meats all in one, I couldn't say no to that. If I'm being honest, I came close to picking the Kentucky Porch Sipper for my drink, but the call of the Dirty Aphrodite was too big to ignore. And boy oh boy do they make the combination of pickle brine and vodka work with this drink! I don't think I've ever had vodka quite like that before, but Jacob's Pickles does it so well here! The entrees were also great. I saw the cheese pulls as my friend ate and I could tell I probably would have enjoyed that version of the classic dish. As for my dish, the ribs were tender and fell clean off the bone, tasted like a true BBQ wonder. The pulled pork was succulent, ratioed perfectly so nothing overpowers in the dish. The sausage tasted superb. The Nashville Hot Chicken was crispy, juicy, spicy without being overwhelming. The Pickle Slaw was some good Slaw. Is it the best I've ever had? No. But it's competent and definitely deserves to be called a slaw. Jalapeños and corn were great, and I even got another buttermilk biscuit to use the remaining butter we didn't use on our appetizers. All-in-all, one of the best outings I've had in a while. I mean it when I say this: Jacob's Pickles is a MUST-GO! It's that good! You won't regret it.

    Staff is so friendly and helpful! Food is amazing! Very…read morelarge portions and I recommend the chicken dishes, especially the ones that come with biscuits! They pay for parking, just see host.

    Coals - Heaven Scent Pizza

    Coals

    (78 reviews)

    First and foremost, Coals had several other locations and they shut down, but I'm honestly not sure…read morewhy (could be due to the stove necessary for making this specific type of pizza, just brainstorming here). My mom had insisted on going here on Mother's Day. Fortunately, their Connecticut location was open and we went. Bianca, I believe as a manager and was super accommodating with my mom's 100 questions haha. We started with one of the salads and the brussels sprouts. Both were great, but the brussels sprouts stood out to me. As for the pizza, we got the Margherita, Rustic, & Bayside. All of them were great, but the Bayside had to be my favorite. The pistachio pesto and goat cheese went very well together. The Rustic was a close runner up- mushrooms and truffle oil are always a match made in heaven. The Margherita was a classic but with the style of super thin, almost cracker-thin pizza I preferred the other two more. All in all, my family and I would definitely make it out to Norwalk again just for this place (& we live in Long Island). Thanks Bianca for making my Mom's day!

    This was my first visit to this location and it turned out to be a excellent experience. The taste…read moreand the texture of the pizza was spectacular. The pizza crust is very thin and crunchy good and the ingredients were fresh and delicious. Hailey was very welcoming and friendly. She was an exceptional hostess. The establishment also has a bar area with televisions to enjoy your visit. This is a place that I highly recommend for good food and great service.

    Ripkas Beach Cafe - seafood - Updated May 2026

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