Shanks waterfront dining is a subpar establishment it denies customers service before they even get to the ordering window and some very nice lady who was in line told me that shanks was no longer taking orders for the night and had to recommend places the fact that they cannot even tell you themselves is despicable read more

The very best view and the outdoor dining is perfect for summer days. This spot can't be beat for the location. Very chill. Terrific friendly servers. Very easy order process. Loved my mahi mahi fish tacos w crunchy limy slaw. Fish & chips was a large portion, fresh, crunchy, and golden. Slight minus for the Porto potty & awkward parking. But hey, the view makes it alllll worth it! Can't wait to go back! read more

The main reason we love to go to Shanks is cuz of the view. Whether your on the upper or lower level. You'll get a nice view of the water. We love the food here and my fiance loves the drinks but also the byob. They sometimes have live music which we have enjoyed the first time we were here. The only negative thing I can honestly say is that some of their wait staff aren't very attentive or present the most recent time we were here and even the previous times. Some nights were busier but we had to flag down the staff to grab us cups of water, ice and a bucket for our wine recently even during a slow late lunch crowd. During these unfortunate times they've had to take some precautions such as social distancing when you're in line to order, staff is wearing masks and gloves, they clean the tables and mark them with a rock that is clearly marked Sanitized. Yes, they did get a slight negative cuz of some of the wait staff but just be assertive and flag down a staff member as the guy that we flagged down once we grabbed his attention was very quick to help us out. read more

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We always go to our favorite restaurants down here but today we decided to try a new one. We were so disappointed because the live music was great and it was a beautiful night. We waited 45 minutes for fish and tuna tacos (ordered rare) and calamari. If you told me they took the fish tacos out of the fridge I would believe you. The calamari was stale and also not even luke warm. I heard a guest from a few tables away ask the attendant out there "is this fish supposed to be cold?" Maybe I just didn't order the right thing but there are too many reliable consistent restaurants within walking distance to try this one out again. Very dissapointed read more

Great location but food and cleanliness are terrible. I stopped in here for lunch, after placing my order watched the fryer cook eating at his station with gloves on, food all over his chin. In hindsight I should have cancelled my order, fortunately the food tasted horrible so I didn't have to eat much of it. Lesson learned won't return. Rocky's aqua is right next to this, also has a great view but food is better. read more

Walked down to Shanks from our marina. Had a lovely meal on the top deck overlooking the Clinton Harbor. We each ordered shrimp tacos with fries and got an extra side of rings. Despite being busy,food arrived in reasonable time,hot and fresh. We will definitely return. read more

We sat on the upper deck-partially shady spot with a great view of the harbor. It is located within a Marina. Food is ordered and paid for and then it is delivered to you. It was the usual seafood options, mostly fried but some grilled. Our party sampled a variety of their dishes from oysters, tuna, tuna tacos to a hot dog. They offer burgers and veggie burgers for those not interested in seafood. They had interesting sides in addition to the usual French fries and sweet potato fries-cauliflower bites-plain or with buffalo sauce. I was a little disappointed in the avocado fingers which were bland and served with some sort of honey sauce that I didn't care for. This is a true clam shack-run out of a boat. Great concept! BYOB, no frills. The food didn't thrill us. The service was great-the staff was very friendly and attentive. read more

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Food is good, location is great and it's BYOB. They seem to make improvements each year. Seasonal only.

Atmosphere and waterfront vibe are what you basically get at any shoreline shack in CT... placed order with a friendly person at the counter... grabbed a seat upstairs inside; it was a very breezy cool day... 6-7 waiters/waitresses appeared to be waiting for a busy dinner shift... we were given a large wooden bouy that designated our order to be delivered to our table... We waited appx 45 mins and one of the girls finally came to the table and asked about our order. She said the ticket was lost and tried to take our order again, that I already paid for... Now instead of sitting around doing nothing like they all had been doing the last 45 mins, they are scrambling to get our order together... about 1hr after ordering our food, its delivered. Ive worked in restaurants my whole life, and been eating out just as long. Mistakes happen, im more than understanding to that, no problem. But to make the issue worse by bringing out old food is unacceptable. Fries were cold. Like cold. The calamari breading had fallen off of all of the calamari, and the lobster roll was soagy af, and def not worth 40$. They offered us free dessert, but after waiting an hour for old food, we decided it best to leave and not waste anymore time. Beyond disappointed. read more

Always wanted to try this place so came for lunch here yesterday... first off it's just the cutest place, so peaceful and relaxing. Great atmosphere. We got a table on the top deck and the view was awesome. All the Staff was also super friendly! Ok the food... we came for the lobster rolls and got the 8oz. The bun is perfectly toasted and buttered yet never got soggy. It was honestly one of the best lobster rolls I've had in the state. YUMMMM The homemade chips are crunchy as are the French fries- so good. And the buffalo cauliflower was spicy and sooooo good. Cannot wait to take my family back here! OH and BYOB so grab some wine and head on down! read more

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Clinton Marina. There are THREE lobster shacks and a restaurant all literally within a stone's throw from one another. All are sub-par. None of it makes sense. Anyway... Went for the bday. I liked the option for 3 different lob roll sizes. 4/6/8. But that's where it ends. We were the second party there at 5pm. Not sure who runs this kitchen but the place itself is run by high school kids. Got the 4 and the 6 oz. Both were identical. The roll was overtoasted AND soggy. the lobster was fishy and it was ALL claw meat. Large chunks of claw meat. I wouldn't feed a dog claw meat. Don't understand why these places don't cut up the lobster. On a positive note: They have potato wedges as fries. They were great. read more

For lobster rolls in the area, this is the place to go, for one because you have the option for the 4oz, 6oz or 8oz sizes, but also the huge lobster chunks and overall flavor really won us over. We loved it! It's right next door to the Lobster Shack and I'm so happy we opted to go here instead, not only for the ability to get a larger lobster roll but also for the seating options too -- we liked that there was an upstairs deck and a marina-level seating area. After reading the reviews, and seeing a few that were less than thrilled, I was hesitant, but all our doubts were dashed as soon as we bit into the roll. We're super picky eaters and have eaten lobster rolls from Maine down to Jersey and this was just as good as the best we've had, which is why I felt compelled to share our thoughts. Thanks for an excellent meal, Shanks! read more

My wife and I have been taking our kids here since last may. It's BYOB which is great and the views on the water are spectacular. They have live music and corn hole games to entertain the kids while they wait. Service for me has been good. I've never waited more than 20/25 minutes for our food. If the wait is long, the waitresses bring out some popcorn for the kids. Seasonal places are tricky. The Staff changes each year and it takes some time to get in sync. I always take that into consideration. Thank you for the free clams on father's day. It was appreciated. read more

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Who doesn't love a water view. Fantastic food friendly staff. Go before it gets cold again

Would know to see a little bit more variety in food and atmosphere and freshen things up a bit. The broken sink all summer in the bathrooms is concerning for health reasons. read more

Delicious food and amazing view. Classy but relaxed environment. If you're looking for delicious seafood with a great view we highly recommend this place! read more

Shanks Waterfront Dining - Fried shrimp and fried fish tacos - New American Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

Lovely spot for waterfront dining near Madison's landing. The ordering process was easy and everything came out quickly. They have a fairly wide selection of seafood, but the fried platters appear to be a local favorite. I went with the whole belly clam platter which was market priced (i.e. a little on the pricier side). I've never had whole bellies before since it's one of the few things you can't find in LA. They were good! Definitely an acquired taste if you don't normally like the taste and texture of clams. The 'chips' are actually potato wedges so the entire plate filled me up easily. A good beverage selection makes this a nice place to dine. read more

Venue is great, you order from the side of a re-purposed boat, staff super friendly. The food was pretty good overall, although quite a lot is fried etc but really you are here for the waterfront relaxed vibe. It's BYOB, so pack some drinks if you would like. read more

Great view, but marginal food. Basic side is their soggy potato chips, or you can "upgrade" for a fee. Dishes were served 10 minutes apart to the table. Pasty, cold chowder was pricey for its quality. If they stepped up the food quality, they'd be incredible. read more

REALLY enjoyed Shanks! We saw this last fall while spending a day along the Ct shoreline on our annual cousins fall crawl! This Memorial Day weekend, we were looking for a casual dining spot with a water view....BINGO! I am a fried seafood fan but for those who aren't the fish tacos and fish sandwich can both be ordered grilled. Armed with a cooler of a few alcoholic beverages to take full advantage of their byob policy, we arrived mid afternoon, found a parking spot easily and grabbed a picnic table on the lower wharf/ dock area. Order up at the Shanks lobster boat, take your numbered buoy to your table and enjoy your beverages , boating activity and the view! Ihad the fried full bellied clam platter which comes with fries and cold slaw which my hub has the fried scallop plate and shared my sides. Both were delicious. Coleslaw was meh,definitely have had better. We shared a delicious cup of clam chowder which I thought was very good and very hot ( not always the case at some take outs). Cousins had the fish tacos ( grilled) and the fisherman platter( fried). There was a request for the mango salsa for the fish tacos on the side which slipped through the cracks but she still enjoyed her choice. Fishermans platter was large with two generous fish filets ( cod or haddock), shrimp, clam strips and scallops served over fries! After some time enjoying our BYOB options, we decided to order some Ice cream. Chocolate in a waffle cone and dish of salted caramel. I thought the Salted Caramel was delicious but there were a few large chunks of ice in a small serving which doesn't scream " fresh" to me. Same with the chocolate...I'd pass on ice cream in the future. We totally enjoyed our meal with a view, never felt rushed and would definitely return ! I noticed a breakfast menu and I'd return to try that as it would be a great breakfast with a view spot!! read more

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The atmosphere was nice, staff was super friendly and truly enjoyable to be around. You walk up and order and find a seat either under the tent or up on the patio. There are blankets to keep you warm when windy. It was very windy this day so one of the girls offered me the blanket thankfully. The view was very pretty and the vibe on the patio is very nice. I certainly can picture going with a small group sitting up there with our byob choices. The lobster tasting fresh and delicious. I would have liked a little ketchup on the house made chips but not super necessary. Lobster rolls were a little pricier than other places but worth it. read more

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While looking for a nice summer weekend spot to hit up, we searched for a place that always offered outdoor dining so that eating outside would be "normal". Shanks' offers a great view while enjoying good, fresh seafood. While the wait in line to order was long, it moved reasonably quickly. The service was quick and efficient, if you're dining in they give you a table buoy after you order which will allow you to select a table and identifies where the wait staff should deliver your order. In between each party they have staff wiping down the seats and table tops with sanitizing spray. Even on a hot day, the shade provided by the outdoor tent and the breeze from the water made the dining experience excellent. We got the Lobster Nachos and Fried Clam platter. Definitely too much food for two people! The Lobster Nachos was huge with chunks of fresh lobster meat piled on top (with several claw meat sections fully intact). The nearby tables all stared and commented as the plate was brought to our table. I loved the light & fresh taste of the lobster nachos with the mango pico de gallo. It comes with a side of melted butter to dip the lobster chunks in if you please. (My only complaint, if you could call it a complaint, is the ratio of tortilla chips to everything else was off, but that's not because they don't give you enough lobster/mango/cheese/avocado, it's just that they give you a ridiculous amount of chips!) The fried clam strips were amazing. Extremely fresh and great taste! Be careful though, as I found two bits of clam shells in the clam strips. At least you know it's fresh! The fries were delicious with the clam strips, very well flavored, no ketchup needed! The platter comes with your choice of cocktail sauce or tarter sauce and a side of cole slaw. The cole slaw tasted fresh and unlike some other slaws, had enough flavor without being too sweet. Finally, the best part was being able to sit next to the water, enjoy the view of boats coming in and out of the slips and just take in a beautiful summer day while having a great meal. Other things potentially of interest: BYOB with a surcharge, otherwise they sell various types of soft drinks (with free refills!) and sodas including local options. The bathrooms are in a small trailer (which is air-conditioned), not bad at all for outdoor dining. read more

Shanks Waterfront Dining - Lobster Nachos - New American Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

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Young, on-the-ball staff are whizzing around cleaning, delivering food, running ice and glasses (byob) and condiments. Management must hire well and treat them well as they are happy and attentive to customers. Shanks sits in the marina, great spot for watching boats, Cedar Island, and catching the sunset. You order food at window, pick table and they bring it to you. Lobster nachos were amazing!! We also had a stuffed burger, a salad and coconut shrimp- all delicious! Will definitely be on our short list for return. read more

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This is a great place! Everything on the menu is fantastic. Plenty GF options and a good kid menu. The portions are big and the price is right. BYOB. The enjoy the wonderful view, watch the boats go by from the back deck. Don't follow the tourists. Go to Shanks. read more

Came here yesterday for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. Great food, great prices, and even better views. It's a bit confusing of a setup though, you walk up to the boat and order and pay and then take your number and walk around the back of the boat for seating. The deck and indoor open-air area are both fantastic. Cute, nautical theme and modern. I got a salmon burger with lemon aioli sauce and my boyfriend got the grilled chicken burger, both came with chips. They came out relatively fast and were delicious, salmon and chicken being well over 6oz portions, definitely enough food. Service was good, although the tipping situation is confusing since you pay and tip prior to eating and sitting down. You can byob and they have blankets as well for the evening when it gets chilly. Overall, this is exactly what I was looking for, great views and quick and delicious bites. read more

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Great, fresh lobster roll, one of the best on the Shoreline. Location can't be beat, definitely go to Shanks on a beautiful day!

Okay... So we came down here to go to Lobster Landing... Awesome 'no fuss' lobster rolls, that we've come to love. Being a self professed 'foodie'.... I can't resist the temptation to try something new. It's always a gamble... You never know whether it's going to be a win or lose? Well, Shanks is a WIN ! You order at the counter, which is an outfitted old boat. Very cool. Menu is simple, but hits all points... Fish, shrimp, clams, etc (no lobster, which was a little odd, but maybe they have a 'good neighbor' arrangement with Lobster Landing (which is actually understandable and pretty cool) !? We got two grilled fish sandwiches (cod). OMG, wish I took a picture before we ate them. They were amazing. So fresh and perfectly cooked...They fell apart (which is a good thing!)' Everything from the fish, toasted butter roll, tartar sauce, seasoned steak fries and the view were amazing. The decor is fresh, quaint and clean. The upper deck is awesome. They bring you your food while you watch the boats go by. We'll definitely be back. A new hidden gem in Clinton... not to be missed ! read more

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

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Came here about a week ago on my way back from the beach. (Hammonasset is conveniently just down the road.) Parking here can be a little congested since it's next to the marina and Lobster Landing, but we just ended up parking on the street since the lot was full. The first thing you see is the large boat where you place your order. I thought it was really cute and a nice touch. You then take your table number and go sit anywhere you'd like. There is a good amount of seating, between picnic tables and regular tables. We snagged a nice picnic table with a large umbrella since it was a hot day. It felt really nice being right on the water and watching the boats come and go. Now for the food. We both ordered the fish and chips plate, and while I loved the fries, the fish wasn't that great IMO. It was fresh and not greasy at all, but it lacked seasoning. I added salt and pepper but it didn't really do much since the batter was bland. The fries were very tasty and it was a good sized portion overall. I tried to come back here this weekend for the 4th of July but there was no parking. It's a great location so I'll give it another try sometime and order something different. read more

Shanks Waterfront Dining - View from our table - New American Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

I could not have been anymore disappointed with my order of whole belly clams -- dinner. Way over cooked and really greasy and the clams were unbelievably small. They did bring me another order. Unfortunately, it was worse than the first plate they served me !! I asked for a refund which they gave us. FYI... the college kids working there could not have been any nicer and apologetic. The cook however should be ashamed of themselves !!! We also had the clam chowder and a lobster roll, both of which were very good. Would I go back?? At this point I am not sure. Damn that was really disappointing. Was looking forward to some whole belly clams. read more

Great place for a quick bite to eat by the water. It's BYOB, so bring your favorite beers and enjoy the calm chowder and lobster sliders! Looking forward to coming back to try other items on the menu. We went on a cold rainy day so parking wasn't an issue, but I can imagine it being tough on a hot sunny day. read more

Shanks Waterfront Dining - Calm roll, NE chowder, Lobster bisque, lobster sliders. - New American Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

Absolutely love Shanks! The views and atmosphere is so relaxing! I love that it's BYOB and the servers upstairs will make sure you have your ice and cups if needed!!! The girls bring popcorn while you wait and take care of delivering your desserts too. They even have corn hole on the wharf to play! The food is amazing- try the whole belly clams and lobster rolls! BBQ waffle fries are so good and the fried Twinkies w strawberries and ice cream is incredible!!!!! Ohhhh and the lobster bisque is filled with lobster! If your looking for creamy clam chowder this is the place.... I order it a head and get it for take out during my lunch break! I come with the family, bring my co workers for a fun night out and have gone on a double date with my husband!!! read more

We frequently eat at Shanks and love the ambience and the food, however, our most recent visit (5/26/24) was not good, starting with the ordering process. We waited in line for approx 25 minutes (only 4 people ahead of us) while the staff figured out how to replace the paper in the register. We also paid $3.00 each for set-ups (since we brought our own drinks) but then had to ask for ice and they did not provide cups...fortunately we had our own. After waiting a very long time for our order, we received the appetizer (street corn with chips, which were stale) at the same time as our meal. We both ordered the tacos (fish and shrimp) which were supposed to have an aioli sauce but instead came out with mango salsa but no aioli sauce, both orders were cold and lacked flavor. The fish tacos were supposed to be grilled but appeared to be fried. Turns out that they are more like fish sticks that were put on a grill. We returned the food due to it being cold and no aioli. It came back out only slightly warmer and still no aioli. The ambiance is great and the wait staff was accommodating but did not clean the tables in between guests, we had to do that ourselves with paper towels. Definitely not the Shanks experience that we are used to. Staff mentioned there is a new manager...perhaps that is the problem or maybe it's just early in the season and they have some kinks to workout. We will give it a few weeks and try again. I hope it was just an off night as we really love this spot. read more

Came for lobster roll. Ordered the 8 oz one, expecting something special - what I got was a bun filled with cold, dry claw and knuckle meat as well as claw shell. Not recommended. read more

Shanks Waterfront Dining - View - New American Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

My freind and I just wanted to visit the beach and we stumbled across this gem! We had bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, those Hash Potatos (to die for) and Belgium waffles. Holy crap. This was so amazing! The wait was a little bit longer than expected, it was totally worth it though! Waterfront views, great food and cool drink selections like the Stubborn Sodas. This is my go to place whenever I visit town. Thank you for the great experience. We would have had picutres had it not been for the fact we were so hungry and scared it all down. read more

We visited shanks for the first time on Monday night. The location is fantastic and we found parking easily. The line moved quickly and we were offered waters as we waited. As we waited in line we could see into the kitchen where the employees struggled to keep their masks on... None (that we could see) had their noses covered, about half of the kitchen had the entire thing around their necks. I get it it, it's hot... Anyway, the 2 stars has nothing to do with the lack of mask wearing. The food was super disappointing. Fried clams, fries, chowder, calamari, tacos, coconut shrimp all ordered by our group. Coconut shrimp was the best (meh) and the calamari was by far the worst. They were out of fish, so if we return in the future (the view is great) maybe we will try that. Also the waitstaff/ runners working were fantastic and friendly. If you go, don't forget to BYOB read more

Some people call it a food boat. Some call it a restaurant. Personally I think CLAM SHACK is the best description for it. That's because it meets all the basic criteria for a true blue clam shack. However there's one thing that makes Shank stand out from all the other nearby clam shacks. It's located on the shoreline inside a Clinton marina. Not all local clam shacks are located on the water (i.e.: Fish Tail, Clam Castle). Shanks reminds me of Costellos Clam Shack at the Noank Shipyard. Unfortunately its menu is just like every other clam shack in the state. In fact, they have even less items. That's not surprising because their kitchen is entirely enclosed inside a boat. The kitchen must be tiny. Actually I feel really bad for the guys working in such tight quarters. The menu items are deep fried classics like fried clams, fried calamari, fried fish, french fries, hamburgers, etc.. Nothing fancy. Their prices are a tad higher than other nearby clam shacks. Bah, when living near the water you soon learn that everything is generally more expensive by the water. That's just a given for this area. No wait service. Like I said it's a clam shack. You order at the boat and then walk around to tables at the water's edge. Views are great. Lots of boat watching. My fried clams were OK. I'd had better. Their breading was a little too thick for my liking. When the breading is too thick the flavor of the clams gets lost. On another occasion I ordered fish n chips and again that was just OK. I wish the fish was cooked a littler bit more. By the way, Shanks makes for a nice spot to go after work and watch the sun set. They're open until 8:00 PM on the weekdays. Oh and they're closed during the winter months. Exactly like a clam shack. PS: To the people complaining about the lack of lobster on the menu, did you happen to see the sign for the Lobster Landing next door? Psssssst, head over there to get your boiled crustacean fix. read more

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Not happy with Shanks. Out of the four of us who ate there three of us our food came out cold. When we complained the OWNER SAID "I will take care of it" which she did nothing. Very sad I won't go back again read more

Nice place to have a casual seafood meal! We went on a Sunday afternoon in September and parking was not bad and no wait. Had the fish tacos (we asked it is cod) one grilled and one fried - liked the fried better. Huge piece of fish in each taco (perfectly cooked) topped with pico, roasted corn, mango and a chipotle drizzle. No guacamole on it though the person taking orders said there would be. These are loaded tacos - mgmt pls double up on the tortillas to hold in all that goodness. Beautiful setting not crowded - sad they will be closing Columbus Day. Pricing is comparable to Lenny & joes and it is BYOB. If someone in your group wants a lobster roll you could get one next door at Lobster Landing and eat it with your Shanks food. We'll be back! read more

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

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Heard this was a new and hot place, so I decided to check it out. Parking kinda sucks, but that's to be expected down by the water. The place is tucked behind the marina right in the water with lots of outdoor seating. I like the food truck situation, except they can't offer tap water due to local laws. You order your food at the boat (truck) and take your number to your table. Menu is on the small and simple side, not mentioning what kind of fish the fish sandwich is made with. The wait for the food was not bad considering the amount of people, which I was worried about because of previous poor reviews. The food looked like standard fair, I got the fish sandwich and my wife got the chicken tenders. The best part of the meal was the clam chowder, I personally think it was a little above average, especially when you add some hot sauce...try it. Like I said the food was just okay, nothing to write home about, you're paying for the nice setting. What will improve this place is making it a permanent operation and not just a food truck. If they can make it happen, they have a good opportunity to rock it down there. If you're in the area, and want to have some lunch with a nice view, check it out. read more

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

This is a fantastic spot to get yourself some sea air and some seafood. My friends asked if we wanted to head down to Shanks for some lobster rolls on a Saturday in July. Yes, of course I want to eat lobster rolls! We rolled up to Shanks around 2pm which was great timing. No line and plenty of tables to be had. I love the fact that the kitchen is on a boat. It's very cool. The menu is quite large, also very cool. You know what else is cool? They have various sizes of lobster rolls to choose from. My wife and I split a hot lobster roll, a clam strip platter (with good fries and good coleslaw) and an order of buffalo biscuit bites. Our bill was about $50. Our friends got nearly the same thing but they added avocado fingers to their bill. Everyone loved the lobster. It was so simple, so good. The clam strips were very tasty however they were not particularly hot. We also nabbed an employee to request tartar sauce but sadly it never arrived. The buffalo biscuit bites are exactly as they sound. Round (think donut hole) bits of biscuit rolled in some buffalo sauce. We barely touched them. We brought our own beers (yay) and played a nice round of corn hole before we left. Everyone from the employees to the fellow patrons was super nice. The porta-potties were very clean and air conditioned!! I really like that there's plenty of spots to sit, either on the deck (be warned, it's breezy up there), inside or downstairs/outside. If you get chilly they have a basket of blankets you can use to warm up. I really liked this place. I will definitely be back. read more