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    Ripkas Beach Cafe

    3.6 (87 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Ripkas Beach Cafe Photos

    RIPKAS BEACH CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Ripkas Beach Cafe

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    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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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Ripkas Beach Cafe

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    What a meal and drinks and the breeze and sunset were perfect!…read more Had a scallop salad rest of us had lobster or shrimp rolls, all excellent! The breeze made eating so pleasant because it had been very hot today, great views, great drinks, great food what else do you want?

    Two stars is being generous. The best thing about this place is the very helpful hostesses when we…read morefirst sat down and it went downhill from there. We had reservations for 5:45 and didn't get our main course until two hours later. When it came to refills for drinks (soft drinks, not even alcohol) it was around 20min wait. Either they need more servers or less tables, something has to give. I ordered a chicken Caesar salad and asked if they could chop it and the server acted like I was asking her to move another planet into orbit, saying "I'll see what I can do" lol. I then received a salad with more chicken than lettuce, fatty pieces + all, easily had to be over a pound of chicken on my salad, generous with the protein I guess. One of the members of my party ordered the mussel pasta (was supposed to be a white wine sauce) but it had the consistency of dish water and the taste of it. The ambiance was nice, the view was beautiful, at least it was a distraction from the food. Also make a note that any 5 star you see, they literally have a sign incentivizing giving them 5 stars and noting something along the lines of "we'll hook you up" if you prove your 5 star lol. Take them with a grain of salt. I would recommend selecting a different restaurant. And if you're interested in the views, park and take a walk, not worth it.

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    Harbor Lights is your choice for the more formal dining room approach to seafood in Norwalk. Good…read moreindoor or outdoor options although the sun and heat had us choose indoor more than once. The seafood is fresh, well presented and tasty. Definitely runs traditional but not in a tired way. The crab stuffed shrimp (see picture) had real connection with the spinach and beurre blanc and as a result the jasmine rice was not dry or incidental to the dish. Service was good although we may have benefited from being a welcome no drama reprieve for our waiter. Given this is Norwalk and next to the harbor, it is perhaps not a shock to learn that entitlement could be on display. It literally was the "a lobster for you, a lobster for you, a lobster for you" kind of approach to ordering at the next table. And then come on man, really? The lobster is served and then you decide you want a sandwich instead and send it back? Showing off for both your kid and for your friend? Perhaps it my Midwest background that makes this so cringe worthy, but let's just say there is a risk of running into more money than sense.

    I wish I could leave this place negative 100 stars. We…read moreordered one glass of prosecco, six oysters, a steak sandwich, and shrimp on a croissant. Thirty minutes later, the oysters finally arrived. One was just an empty shell, another looked like it had already been chewed and put back, and the rest were completely dried out. We immediately sent them back. Then, instead of my steak sandwich, I received the wrong order entirely. My wife's $30 croissant had what looked like one tiny shrimp cut in half, while the rest was mostly celery and mayo. After waiting even longer, we asked to speak with a manager, who took another 15 minutes to come over. We explained that we were unhappy with both the food and the service and that we wanted to leave. Shockingly, she told us they prioritize serving their "important clients" first and that we were not a priority because they had a party spending more money. We honestly could not believe what we were hearing. She then told us we had to pay or she would call the police, even though we did not touch the food. Then she asked us to pay $12 for the prosecco. We gave her $20, waited for our change, but she never returned. We left very disappointed and appalled, and we will absolutely never come back.

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    Ripkas Beach Cafe - seafood - Updated May 2026

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