My first time at Shanks..and my last. I ordered a simple caesar salad with grilled chicken and no parmesan. Over twenty five minutes later it came out with parmesan so I sent it back. It comes out again still with parmesan and this time with peppers and tomatoes ? I never asked for a garden salad..there also was no caesar dressing never mind any dressing on the salad at all. I then found raw bacon in the salad. The croutons were extremely dry and tasted like bread rolled in breadcrumbs topped with paprika. Very disappointing.. read more

Great service and incredible Bacon Egg and Cheese. Definitely making Shanks a mandatory stop every time I come to Clinton!

The food was good, we had fish sandwiches which didn't come with tartar and lemon, but came with bbq sauce(?), shrimp tacos and ahi tuna tacos. The onion rings were thin broken pieces of greasy strips, and the sweet potato fries were sub par. The ahi nachos, which were as appetizer, were so so as the nachos were soggy and flavorless and looked like they dumped them onto a dish from the bottom of a bag, but the ahi was good. They didn't serve it as an appetizer though and brought it with our meals. They said they bring all the food out together, which was different. No one came to the table to bring us water and we had to get up twice, once to find someone to clean our table after sitting there for quite some time, and once to get napkins. My biggest complaint is that it's byob, but they don't tell you until you've opened your can of beer, that there is a $3 charge per person. For what? They said they can offer a bucket of ice or plastic cups, but we didn't need ice or cups. We had cans of beer. Very strange policy. The table near us had wine and brought their own glasses and were quite upset when the waitress told them and after speaking to the manager got the fee waived. This was our third attempt because we really wanted to like this place as the views are beautiful, but basically that's what you are paying for. read more

This was not our first time here. We were very disappointed in the quality of the food. The food was cold and misrepresented. The French fries were delicious and with great taste and crispness. My husbands salad was fresh and never saw one avocado! Too bad he loves them. My chicken was not marinated like the menu said and came room temperature. Most likely will not be back again! read more

This is one of my favorite places to get good seafood on the shore! There are so few restaurants with a good water view in this area and this is one of the best. First off, they are BYOB which is awesome & makes the visit cheaper!! There are great water views and a friendly, chill atmosphere. The staff offers blankets if it gets chilly when the sun goes goes. Even though you are not assigned one particular waiter, all of the waiters check on you frequently and make sure you have everything you need! The shrimp tacos are our favorite food on the menu!! read more

Ok so after my initial review I interacted with Angie the manager and my god the portions were immense and satisfying. This was especially true when brought guests with us and one of them remarked best fish tacos he'd ever eaten. Great job and look forward to eating there next year read more

The food was fresh and amazing. The service was friendly and fast and the view can't be beat! Will be going back when in Clinton next.

The BEST fried seafood on the Ct. Shoreline!! I had the fish tacos which were amazing and fresh! I tasted the fried scallops and shrimp which were both light and crispy without the greasy heaviness, incredibly delicious! I was not a fan of the lobster bisque....it had an unusual taste of lemon and thyme, not my thing. The place is perfectly situated on the water in Clinton overlooking the harbor and Cedar Island. A Stunningly beautiful place and excellent seafood.....what more could you ask for?! This is my new summer spot! read more

Shanks Waterfront Dining - Fish tacos - New American Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

Very good food and great environment right on the water. Go there frequently and have never been disappointed.

$17.50 for my sad little lobster roll... I wish I had taken a picture. My friend had the clam strips, and they were pretty good. Walked over here because the menu at Lobster Landing was pretty limited, but LL knows how to made a lobster roll. read more

Went here for the first time this weekend. We were looking for a relaxing place to have lunch on the water. It's BYOB, so we had soft drinks while we waited on the upper deck for our food. The view is lovely and the time passed quickly. We had the fried clam roll, which was incredibly fresh and tender. Also had the salmon sandwich. It was cooked great. The person who took our order suggested slightly past medium and it was perfect. We both opted for the Brussel sprouts which were amazing. Crunchy in the outside and sweet and tender insider. Sprinkled with crunchy bacon and then drizzled with sweet aged balsamic. My husband had blue cheese on his as well. It was all great. We will be back when we are in the area. Nice afternoon meal in a lovely spot. read more

You know the sort of summer place that just looks like a good time? That's what you'll find at Shank's. Order your fried seafood platters or fish tacos from the folks inside the lobster boat (with a fully functional commercial kitchen), then head to the upstairs deck for a stunning view of Clinton Harbor and sailboats bobbing on their moorings. We spent a perfect Wednesday night, grateful for long days and lazy sunsets, watching paddlers and kayakers ply the calm waters. Mammoth platters of fat belly clams and crispy steak fries arrived at our table from an earnest staff who genuinely aims to please. The fish tacos are a winner here, served either grilled or fried, but you won't go wrong with any of the fried offerings. The New England style chowder is a tasty one, studded with clams and potatoes and not too gloppy. Paleo peeps will be happy with piles of greens topped with giant grilled shrimp. Kid friendly and BYOB. 131 Grove Street, Clinton read more

My husband and I had heard about Shanks from a few friends, and this past Sunday afternoon we finally got there. It was a bit difficult to find, but once we saw their signs, we found it easily. We ordered at the boat and the lady there taking orders was patient and kind as we figured out what we could order off the menu (we follow a very low carb diet). We got the medium lobster roll, sans roll, and some buffalo cauliflower as an appetizer. It was expensive, but worth it! We did bring a bottle of white wine and as we ordered at the boat, the woman announced to the crew up top (where you can sit overlooking the sound) that table #9 would need a set up (ice bucket and glasses). The kids working up top didn't have it ready, and we needed to ask for the ice bucket and glasses, but it was ok. At only $2 per person, this was a very reasonable price to pay for the lovely view and sound breezes. Overall, it was a lovely afternoon late lunch/early dinner and I recommend it. By the way, there are marine/camper type facilities should you need rest rooms located in a trailer on the ground level. read more

Excellent food, great service and a fantastic view! Had the fried clam platter and some shrimp tacos and everything was delightful. Thank you! read more

Today was the first time my husband and I tried Shanks and it was awesome! We got there at 11:30 and ordered 2 large lobster rolls and lobster nachos. Everything was so delicious we sat a table near the water . The staff was great and they all had masks on and I noticed as soon as the table near us left the waitress washed the table down immediately . Can't wait to go back. PS the lemonade was so delicious!! read more

We've been here twice this summer, and will try to come down (from the center of CT) once more before the crappy weather hits. Food is always great. Outstanding fish tacos and clam chowder. I don't like lobster, but the rest of the family chows down their lobster rolls every time. Brink your own adult drinks, eat outside near the water. And please add a tip when paying your bill up front! The people work hard and are quite friendly. Just because it's not "traditional service" doesn't mean they don't deserve something extra. read more

Came here when my girlfriends and I were looking for an outdoor spot to finish our beach day. The food and service were great and the view was unbeatable. Plus it's BYOB! If you're looking for a casual spot to end your evening (particularly around sunset) definitely look this place up! Also They have complimentary sunscreen for the lunch crew and blankets for the evening visitors!! read more

I love this place. Go there to chill and eat outside by the water. Don't go here if you're in an uptight mood, in a big hurry, or you're expecting some gourmet chef to amaze you with their food. It's a very nice, relaxed atmosphere. The food is good, but it's not the main attraction. Think along the lines of a really good food truck, but with a boat instead of a truck, and with a beautiful and relaxed atmosphere. I've been there probably 20 times now and the people have always been great. Never had a bad experience. read more

Location great-food fair and overpriced. Started out with a bang but, as many places do, the quality slid backward and relies on the waterfront view. We won't be back. read more

The Lobster Tacos were tasty and stuffed with lobster & the fried scallop platter was delicious! Venue is Beautiful , right on the water! Overall the food exceeded our expectations!!! We will definitely be coming back. read more

What an amazing, special place! It has an amazing view and the food was delicious! I can't believe I'm saying this but better than Lenny and Joe's and a better view, of course! They did a great job with this place. Service was good and a lot of tables available. I can't wait to go back! read more

Awesome salmon sandwich and crab cake sandwich. Great place we will be back. Friendly staff, very attentive. Nice view of the water.

Love this place!! Food quality is great, amazing location. The staff is friendly and attentive We can not wait to come back. We have been to so many restaurants in this area and this one is at the top of the list!!! Relax and spend time watching the boats and listening to the music!!!!! BYOB.. read more

Decided to take a last minute ride to the shore and wasn't sure how crowded it would be on a holiday weekend. My son wanted to try somewhere new for dinner and insisted we find a place on the water. We googled the shoreline restaurants and he saw Shanks. Read the reviews and checked out the menu and we knew we had to try it. Well we each ordered an appetizer and the three of us split the seafood fried platter. So delicious and we had leftovers to take home. If you want good food at pretty reasonable prices and a beautiful view of the water and boats please try Shanks. I'll be going back for sure! read more

Waited 20 min in line to order and over an hour for our food once we sat. Complained to the wait staff and everyone was a teenager, needless to say nothing was done to accommodate us. read more

2 stars for the seating with a nice view. Zero stars for the food. Ordered Calamari which was undercooked and soggy. Also ordered New England Clam Chowder. That had to be the worst I've ever eaten. If There was a can of Campbells soup available, I would have definitely made the trade. Clearly the cuteness of the place brings people in..at least wt my experience, it's definitely not the food. read more

Went to Shanks for Sunday's lunch. We had to order outside, which was fine. The menu was very small, they ran out of chicken tenders, strips and clam chowder, and one other I don't recall, which left not many options for my children. When we asked for waters and my husband asked for an iced tea, they told us they couldn't supply us with tap water and that we had to purchase bottles. When I asked where restrooms were, they pointed to the porta potty behind us. We left without getting anything. Everything started off too wrong here. read more

I was enjoying the local outlets and decided to grab a bite to eat on the ocean...WOW this place is amazing and the portions are huge!! The rooftop deck is beautiful and ideal for couples, singles or families. I enjoyed watching the ocean and boats go by while eating a clam strip platter. Definitely could've split it because there was so much food. I decided to take my lobster bisque home and it was also off the charts...ENJOY!! read more

My wife's scallop roll was was delicious,the view from the deck was outstanding and the service was attentive. So why 3 stars? My clam strip dinner was over cooked and so hard chewing that after a few bites I could not eat any more. The fries are more like potato wedges and I did not find them tasty. read more

The oysters were served warm and had turned. Rotten smell. Lobster on the lobster roll was dry.

Great view. Nice friendly service. There. That's the good stuff. Lobster bisque to throw out. Strange taste . Clam bellies were my first of the season. they were overcooked and just okay. And overwhelmed in number by the fries. Maybe they were low on them, as it seemed like the scraping of the bottom of the pan for the few there were. If you want food to match the view, go to Aqua or the ever reliably great Lobster Landing! read more

The seafood platter we ordered was great and plentiful. Prices are reasonable. Definitely worth a visit.

Went for a baby shower...a gorgeous view! The food left something to be desired....the clam chowder was amazing but other than that it was just ok at best. I'm not sure if the food is better if you order from the regular menu. Helpful staff and a great dining area. read more

Was pretty excited to try this place out. Went tonight- Saturday 8/26 around 7pm. Ordering is done at a counter outdoors. Seating is a mixture of outdoor picnic tables and a covered deck. While in line to order I noticed there was a chalkboard that read "most orders ready in 30 mins". We ordered the shrimp tacos and the fried shrimp plate which cost approx $29 before tip. The place was moderately busy; many tables were occupied but we had no problem finding a spot to sit. Waited 55 mins for two small tacos and approx 8-10 shrimp. Left the place still hungry, unwilling to wait another hour for mediocrity. TLDR: Food is bland and overpriced. Portion size is small. Service is terrible. Will not be back! read more

The view alone is worth the trip to Shanks. Our lobster sliders, clam strips, and salads were all incredibly fresh and tasty. The staff was very friendly and the owner came to check on us twice. read more

My sister-in-law recommended that we dine at Shanks, so my family and I stopped by for lunch this past Sunday after docking our boat. The view was lovely and the wait staff was courteous and friendly, but the food was disappointing. My husband's oysters on a half shell were the worst he's ever had and very warm -- not chilled. My fried clams were so over cooked (burned, in fact) that they were inedible. In addition, both the clams and fries seemed to be fried in old oil. The fries were drenched and soggy. Unfortunately, we will not be back. read more

Extremely disappointed. Previous visits were good but today was not. Two orders of whole belly clams, one fountain soda and one bottle of water came in at just under $65. Pricey, even for shoreline places. Clams were fried in oil that should have been changed out. All dark and greasy. Accompanying fries were done the same way. No golden color just dark brown. They can be better. I hope they can work it out. read more

Our first time here and we were all happy with the experience! Food was great,a tad pricey if your looking for a super casual quick bite to eat, but portions were great and the lobster nachos were the best I've ever had! The staff was excellent, super nice! Kids meals come with an Icecream cup and it was huge! There was corn hole set up on the side to play too, We will be back ! read more

Upon arrival you place your order at a docked boat. Cute concept. From there you choose your seating on the upper or lower levels which overlook the bay. The bathrooms are porta potties. Don't laugh but they were the nicest and cleanest I've ever seen. That said, let's move onto the meal. There was a 40 minute wait which was stated upon ordering. Ok, no problem, we enjoyed the view. When the food came, the fried calamari was all tentacles and c o l d ! The fried avocado was lukewarm. The lobster Mac & Cheese was lukewarm in temperature and mediocre at best in taste. It did however have some nice meaty pieces of lobster in it but clearly not worth its $22 dollar price tag. Two out of the four of us received their lobster roll order (again lukewarm). The other two did not. Somehow we were forgotten about. They said they'd get ours right away... By now our friends were long done with their meal. We then cancelled ours. We shared our feelings with a wait staff named Mia. She was extremely professional and took every step to right the wrong. She was a very impressive for her young age. She's a keeper Shanks! Next we met with the manager, Angie. Another A+ employee! She refunded our whole table even though we said it wasn't necessary. She was profusely sorry aside from being super sweet. If I could, I would give 5 stars for the staff. They were all truly a nice, caring, professional bunch. read more

Boat place. No bar, you order and they bring it to your picnic table. Not my idea of "dinning"on the shore. Limited menu. No lobster rolls on men. read more