The real Clam Castle is back and better than ever! We've been here twice since the reopening and I can't wait for a few more visits over the summer. The fried cod was some of the best I've ever had. Fish tacos were very good - love the red pepper remoulade it comes with. French fries and fried clam strips are both excellent - though I agree with another reviewer who mentioned that the clams could be a bit crispier. The two times we've gotten them, they needed just a touch more crunch and golden brown color. Still very good and the best around!!! But feels like they would benefit from a bit more time in the fryer. Glad you're back, Clam Castle!! read more

The Clam Castle - Fried cod and fried clam strips, delicious - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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We decided to try a new place for soft-shell crabs this year after seeing several positive recommendations. The service was quick, friendly, and attentive, and the restaurant had a casual atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite live up to our expectations. The soft-shell crabs tasted good, but the portions were extremely disappointing. The crab itself was so small that it was dwarfed by the romaine lettuce and standard tomato slices on the sandwich. For a dish that's supposed to be the star of the meal, it felt underwhelming. We also ordered the whole belly clams. They were good, but not exceptional, especially considering the price. I personally prefer them a bit crispier, and the batter lacked that crunch. The portion size was average. Our bill for two soft-shell crab sandwiches, one order of fried whole belly clams, and two Diet Cokes came to about $80. I understand that dining out is expensive these days, but the value simply wasn't there for us--particularly when it came to the size of the soft-shell crabs. Overall, the service and atmosphere were positives, but based on the portion sizes and price, I'm not sure we'd return. read more

The Clam Castle - Whole belly fried clams - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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Nice surprise- was thinking this was going to be more of a tourist trap with the food being less than expected- lobster rolls and onion rings were excellent! Fantastic friendly service too! We will return soon! read more

Got the blackened fish tacos platter - fish was fresh but could have been better seasoned. Cole slaw is good. Fries also could be better seasoned- BYOB and sat outside read more

Every summer I get a craving for fried seafood. Normally it's Lenny and Joe's in Madison. I'd read good reviews about the Clam Castle so I finally stopped in. Fried calamari and fries. Every single piece of calamari was exactly the same size,& not a single tentacle. Made me wonder if they weren't out of a bag from Sysco instead of a local seafood monger.Breading just ok and slightly under cooked. The abundance of fries would have been far better if they too had been cooked longer so they weren't all so floppy. For all the calories and $20 ,i wish I'd just drove home. Next time, back to L&J's.. The 2 teenagers that took the order were very pleasant. read more

Pricy but properly seasoned fried seafood joint. A good fallback. Was here for a beach day and wanted to get some seafood by the shore. There were obvious options, but I opted for the lesser known place right next door. The place is very much a clam shack. Small dining area with a little smoke, small booths and rapid fire orders coming out of the kitchen. This location prides itself in being a Mexican/seafood fusion place, do we get a smattering of their dishes and give them a full try. We get the chips and salsa first. And the first impression is lackluster. 3 bucks for a small bag of chips and 3 bucks for a single small container of salsa? That's a little much. 3 bucks for both is okay, 6 is high, The chips are good, but needed the salsa. Salsa was weak, barely tomato water. The rest of the food came out, we got tacos, scallops, lobster, the works. The lobster was a very well executed hot lobster roll. Butter had that coyingly butter extract flavor to it, but the lobster was perfect and the bun grilled properly. The fries were pretty good too but picked up the seafood flavor from the fryer. The scallops were very blackened, which to me is great. I want promised flavors to be there, and these scallops delivered. They were cooked to perfection and the best bite. The tacos were lackluster. The meat was seasoned but tough, a big bite but dry. The tacos were not so great. The Mexican inspired fare was ho-hum, but the seafood was delectable. Price was high for all of it, but the seafood justified the price while the Mexican side did not. It's not bad especially given its location. It's a good seafood shack, with cooks who can pull that type of menu off. The Mexican side of things is okay, but pricy for the portion and just not good enough to justify it. If the other famous seafood place is jam packed, then this is a solid fallback. Stick to the seafood, and you should be good read more

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Visited the "revived" Clam Castle twice thus far. The first time I sampled their clam strips- fresh clam strips with a thin coating which was crisp, served with crispy, nicely flavored fries. The next time I ordered a bowl of their New England Clam Chowder. It had nice flavor, with fresh clam pieces and small potato chunks in a thin, creamy soup. Service is over the counter and friendly and efficient. The chowder is served ed piping hot. Prices are reasonable. A nice place of a casual lunch. read more

Immense butter taste, tender and buttery and Cole slaw is delicious! Service was excellent!

Great time visiting the new Clam Castle. We had the hot dogs, onion rings and tater tots. All very good but the tater tots were especially great! Welcome back. Friendly staff and service, ambiance was great, and will be back to try everything else! read more

The Clam Castle - Hot dogs with chili, onion rings and tater tots - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Fritters were awful, heavy, doughy, basically not eatable. NE chowder was filled with extra spices, leaves, who knows what, but not traditional NE clam chowder. It wasn't even white. My wife's chicken "in a bag" looked really good, but lacked taste. All in all the experience was a disappointment. read more

This is our second attempt to come here, we finally made it. Our first attempt, the line was out the door, and every outdoor table was taken on a hot summer day. This time around, there was ample seating outside, but it was way too hot to sit outside, so we settled for inside, which was pretty comfortable. Menu offered your typical seafood variety of fried foods, as well as some soups, and hotdog. No Fox and park over here, unfortunately, and that was an absolute buzz kill! Regardless, we stayed hopeful since we've heard some great things about this place. Ordered the flag cramp strips with tater tots, 6 ounce lobster roll and an order of clam fritters. I was really excited to try the clam fritters as I had never had them ever. The weight was manageable, we waited maybe about 15 to 20 minutes for our food. They bought it over to our table, and the initial site, the lobster roll was a nice copious amount of lobster on a rather beefy hotdog roll. The fright clams were also a nice amount, but they did not look fried enough, there was no golden aura to them as typical clams look, and this look concerning. The clam fritters consisted of six balls of clam fritters, and they looked beautifully, golden, a color that's so lacked on the clams. Now let's talk about the food and flavor... The lobster roll was pretty solid. My one source of contention here is the amount of bread on the roll, a little too doughy compared to what I am used to. But the lobster itself was nice, flavorful, and sweet and not overkill with butter. The clam strips were got awful! No crispiness to them, no flavor, they were actually soggy, and even the tater tots, which are generally delicious, there was no flavor to the tater tots as they needed a little more cooking time to them. The clam fritters were surprisingly good, it wasn't just fluff of filling, they were actually clams in there, and the breading definitely had clam juice flavor to it. This is a hike for us, and I don't think it's worth it for us given other places like the mottos in New Haven, which is always consistently good. We tried once and we're good... And if we're in the area sadly we won't be back unless I come with some lobster, loving friends to try that. 2 foot lobster roll for $190! We saw that, and that was quite the sight!!! read more

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Friendly staff, fast service, but the prices are for the serving sizes, particularly the 3oz lobster rolls which were $17 for something slightly smaller than an egg McMuffin! The calamari platter was generous but soggy and the clam chowder had an unusual tint and aftertaste. It was worth the trip to see what the lobster roll fuss was about (another party ordered one that looked like was 4 ft long), so patrons should manage their expectations accordingly. read more

Very good from the creamy cole slaw to the crunchy french fries to the stuffed 6oz lobster rolls/claws Definitely will go back Solid choice read more

The food is just ho hum! Lobster roll only has claws in it not the tail. 6 oz for$36 for that! Fried fish was just ok and fish tacos were terrible!Also had an outhouse for a bathroom. I will not go back there! read more

The Seafood is very good. I always order a lobster roll at this restaurant. They have Lots of outdoor seating. Food is made super fast and out before you know it , even when they are packed with customers. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely a good pick when in this area. Always good vibes here. read more

The Clam Castle - Hot butter lobster roll with fries - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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Had the best belly clams ever. A huge portion of sweet clams fried to perfection with great fries and Cole slaw. Not cheap... but you get what you pay for. The "Castle" has been renovated from floor to ceiling. The place is spotless and fresh looking. There's an amazing assortment of Lucious deserts topping off a huge menu. Go! read more

We were hoping the food would go back to what it was before the last owner. It was utterly disappointed. The onion rings were cold and soggy. The clam strips were rubbery, the breading was clumpy and under fried. The coleslaw had absolutely no flavor. We are done, back to the seafood restaurant across the street. Sad! read more

Summer by the shoreline means fresh seafood and fish, and The Clam Castle does not disappoint. It's your classic no-frills seafood place, but they execute it so well! Portions are in line with what you'd expect (or more -- look at my photo of the fried fish!) and the prices are typical for the Connecticut shoreline. I can't say I've tried the tacos, because nothing beats fried seafood, but I saw a plate of tacos a few tables over and they look quite good. read more

The Clam Castle - Whole Belly Clam Roll (left) and Fish & Chips (right) - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

I shared the 4 foot lobster roll with my brother and my dad, it was hands down the best I've ever had in my life. Not only was the lobster meat cooked and seasoned perfectly, but I especially enjoy the great quality of the bread. It was delicious, crispy outside, soft as a cloud inside, this place was remarkable. We will definitely be back. The two working the counter were also lovely, they had a great sense of humor and were very welcoming. That place is lucky to have them! read more

After hearing about their giant lobster rolls, I figured that we would give this place a try again. We got two 6oz lobster rolls and the lobster was very fishy which means its old. The lobster was dry and i could not finish the whole thing because of the fishy tase. Ive had numerous lobster rolls and this was the worst one I have ever had. I also got fried calamari and the batter was very heavy which ruined the flavor of the calamari. The service its self was quick, and the remodel of the place looks very nice, but I do not want to pay over $30 for a lobster roll that I could not even finish. read more

Told us it was a 45 minute wait which was fine. Our buzzer broke, they told us they would bring out our food. Completely forgot about us two hours later. We asked about our food, to which they said it would be out in ten minutes. Food came out wrong and then refused to correct it. read more

Great food amazing. Would have loved to have a drink as well. Anyways still my favorite

Excellent food. Fast, friendly service. Great place to stop after a day hanging out near the water. From their beach decor to the friendly and inviting picnic tables, it's the no nonsense seafood that makes this place a must try. Favorites include the lobster roll, clam strips platter, chicken nuggets in a bag (kids love this, grown kids too) and the castle dog. Seafood not your thing? No problem, they have tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salad, salsa from Taco Pacifico too. read more

This is a true "clam shack" located on Route 1 in Madison, CT. Nothing fancy, just great fried clams. The girls working here were exceptionally nice. This is our grandson in Columbus. OH, favorite restaurant in this area (his mother grew up here and he and his parents visit Madison. We ordered take out so we could drive out on Hammonasset and sit along the shoreline while we had our clams. read more

The Clam Castle - Eating or food from the Clam Castle on a porch at Hammonasset State Park. - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

The fried fish we received was rotten! The putrid decay smell was noticeable after cutting into the fillet. After sending it back the kitchen said that cod just smells a little. Excuse me, but this isn't my first rodeo nor my first fried cod. There are serious health concerns with dining here. Eat at your own risk and check all food for spoilage. Also the food is too salty, but not enough to cover up the decay. read more

I had heard really good things about this place and it has been on my list for so long. I decided to go one day after the beach! Fried clams are one of my favorite summer foods. I'm going to be honest I was a little disappointed. The clams were a little soggy and cold. I ordered tacos too and those were okay. A lot of people I know love it here so I am going to give them another try next year. The staff was very nice too. read more

The Clam Castle - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Saturday morning stop, right after beach day. A little bit after 11AM. Maybe the first customers that day not sure but we haven't stopped in a while and we were craving fried clam strips. The best choice! The clam strips were fresh and served with lemon wedges. I got a small order with a house lemonade and my husband went for the large order with a side of coleslaw and some Mexican soda. We sat ourselves outside in the shade after we ordered indoor and the tray was brought and our name called very soon after. Happy and satisfied with my small order but I wouldn't recommend the house lemonade ( tasted like it was made with the lemon juice from the bottle and not fresh squeezed lemons). The atmosphere is very casual and the service was very nice. read more

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Old school seafood shack that did not disappoint. It looks like it has been there forever with coastline charm. You order inside and meet the server at the door to go outside once your buzzer goes off. Great substance with the clam strip roll, not too heavily coated in batter. Crispy fries that went well with malt vinegar. read more

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First time coming here. Food came out pretty quickly. Fried cod was crispy on the outside but quickly fell apart, like the inside was too juicy. Fries were fresh and crispy. Fried shrimp was probably the best as they were crunchy but not soggy at all. Fried calamari was the second best. The fried scallops got soggy very fast. The New England clam chowder was thicker than any other clam chowder I've had. Kind of threw me off when I tried it. You can sit inside or outside of the restaurant and they will bring your food out to you. You'll get a little beeper when your food is ready. read more

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This is the quintessential shoreline stop for fried seafood or burgers. Great service, good food, summertime vibes.

We ordered four items. The chicken nuggets in a bag were basically inedible -- in our opinion, the batter may have been spoiled. We took the item back to the store. The chef was very polite, but did not acknowledge the issue. However, he did offer to remake half of the order. The other items we received were average. read more

Great all season seafood shack/restaurant!! Indoor and outdoors!!! I'm very picky with seafood and I would come here over and over again! The portions are huge and the clam chowder and lobster bisque is to die for!!! The clam strips are simply amazing!! Worth a shot if you're in the area!! Looks are definitely deceiving so don't pass this one up!! read more

Clam Castle is a wonderful stop before or after a day at at the beach. Although they have picnic tables outside, we opted to sit inside because we wanted the air conditioning. The menu has a variety of hot and cold items including fried clams and also clam tacos. There are non-seafood items too like burgers or chicken or veggie tacos. The food was fresh and delicious. You order at the counter and the friendly staff bring you your order when it is ready. You clear your own tray when you finish. read more

The Clam Castle - Clam strip roll - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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Definitely gone downhill as others have stated Overpriced for what you get confusing when ordering told French fries included but cost extra no i for bathroom facilities , just outhouses the place needs a remodel to modern times check other comments on other sites including trip advisor and local sites not very good ratings the 4-5 star ratings are from 2-3 years ago before it changed hands now not so good a rating read more

The Clam Castle - The 10 scallops for $27 dollars thief large portion ?? - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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Had been here a loooong time ago (pre-Yelp), but was in the area (less than 3 miles from Clinton Outlets), and was feeling like good seafood. So.. . So many choices, so little time. Finally opted for 2 fish tacos and 1 shrimp taco, all three broiled. Currently, not allowed indoors, but plenty of outdoor seating (covered and naked, ie, uncovered). Couple of port-a-potties. The tacos really hit the spot. Very excellent. Also, the house made coleslaw was a huge hit. Everything very fresh. And they serve Foxon soda, both bottles and fountain. Finally, they advertise BYOB (I might bring some Ronas for those lonely lime wedges they provide). Will def return and sample some of the other items. Busy for a reason. Worth the trip. And thanks to fellow Yelper, Elisa, for her on the money review which clinched it for me. read more

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Trying new food so as not to repeat any other dishes was my challenge eating in CT on this trip. Had a lobster roll already and can get fried food at home so I went with a "Lobster grilled cheese." It was stuffed with cheese AND ample chunks of lobster. My only disappointment was the sliced tomato since it added moisture but not much else. Tried SOs blackened seafood and found it to be cooked correctly and tasty. Staff were very fast to cook and deliver food. Also a shout out to staff who brought a bowl of nice cold water for my dog. Nice! Good food, nice people, good parking. Next time we're visiting CT, it should be on our list of re-visits. read more

The Clam Castle - Lobster grilled cheese - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Delicious! We ordered some seafood, hot dogs, salads, a burrito, fries and coleslaw! All Delicious!! I love that they have Mexican!! The veggie burrito was amazing!! The pico and guacamole amazing!! The coleslaw was also amazing!! So glad they are on DD now!! We enjoyed EVERYTHING and will DEFINITELY be ordering again!! Plus they got every aspect of the order correct!! read more

I will never ever go back to this place "The Clam Castle"! Every time it gets new ownership, the prices go higher, but this took the cake when I ordered this multi-seafood dish. It was $45 for a takeout and when I got it, it was absolute garbage so I paid $45 for junk! I know this is Madison and all but the stuff that they were trying to pass as food was such a disappointment! ... expensive crap at that!! Never again! That's why I don't go to Donahue's because their stuff is overpriced garbage as well! By the way, it was only a couple of miles down the street where I opened up the bag of crap just a couple of minutes from the "Crap Castle" so it wasn't like I opened it the next day, just minutes later. Plus they give you a crap load of fries to take up space in the tray to make it seem like they gave you something when they gave you nothing! The breading on the fish made it look big, but when you took the breading off it uncovered a small piece, that's not even what I ordered! Neil Young said it the best in this situation... "You paid for this but they gave you that!" read more

Probably the worst food I've ever eaten. The soup was terrible and the clam fritters were absolutely awful when you can't eat the food. It's really bad. read more

Amazing fresh food. The service was amazing. You can sit indoor or outdoor. It was really clean and fresh and served with a smile! So glad we found this little gem! They have a great menu not just seafood but also tacos and fresh corn chips ect! Def worth the stop! read more

The Clam Castle - Clam strips - French fries - whole belly clams - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut