Saybrook Fish House

Food was excellent, it’s a small place call ahead. A small place with a big heart.
Thank you!

It is always disappointing when a favorite restaurant drops the ball. Sadly, I am witnessing a slow decline. While each of the things that makes this place distinctive continues to be present, the degree to which they succeed in each has diminished. What used to be a bread basket filled with tasty fresh baked breads, crackers, and breadsticks is now a couple of slices of bland bread. The salad is the sole survivor of the downhill slide, still fresh and served with delicious dressings. The king crab legs, our favorite, have gone up in price, doubling over what we paid a mere 18 months ago. At 45 dollars, I still would expect the same four jumbo claws we got back then, not an overcooked meal of smaller size legs and portion. The soggy vegetables that rounded out the meal furthered the disappointment.
To cap it off, the fruit bowl no longer has nuts and chocolates. A couple of slices of melon, a generous portion of grapes, and an apple are a nice touch but pales in the memory of what once was. Sadly, my excitement in coming here has also become a memory. Time to move on.

I came here on a groupon and as soon as we walked in, we noticed the old seafood restaurant feel. There was a chalkboard in the annex with the daily specials and when we sat down, the table was covered by a sheet of paper and had a set of crayons on it. The sofas were nice and comfy, but it seemed a little dated. Not bad, just different.
With our groupon, we really got a ton of food. The bread arrived at our table and came with breadsticks and butter. They were alright, but nothing amazing. We ordered the crab cakes that came with a apricot horseradish chutney. The crab cakes were delicious but the horesradish in the chutney was a little jarring. It probably would’ve done well with just the apricot chutney. We also got soups. She got a clam chowder — her favorite, and I got the lobster bisque. The lobster bisque was creamy alright and was full of lobster. The clam chowder was also full of clam and was similarly creamy. After the crab cake and soups, we were already getting quite full, but we still had quite a bit to go. We got a complimentary house salad. The salad was a huge bowl and came with a couple of dressing choices. My girlfriend didn’t touch the salads but I made myself feel healthy, even though I doused my veggies in the dressing. I wasn’t able to finish the entire bowl of salad because there was just so much, but the waiter was so nice in asking me if I wanted to pack it up. I’m not one to waste food, so I took that up in a heartbeat.
After the salad was packed up nicely, the main entrees came out. We knew we weren’t going to finish, but we were determined to try the mains. She got a seafood platter, with fries, stuffed shrimp, stuffed sole, and scallops. I got the bouillabaisse. The bouillabaisse was very rich and flavorful and I found myself eating most of it before I needed to stop. I didn’t remember if I tried much of the seafood platter, but it didn’t leave a very strong impression on my mind though. Nonetheless, we eventually packed it up too. But then, the waiter comes over and tells us that there’s also a complimentary fruit course. We were soo full at this time and he got the hint we were in no condition to eat any more, so he graciously wrapped that up for us too.
Overall, this was definitely a good meal. I was really impressed with the service and the food. The groupon made this a great deal. Would definitely consider coming back again.

What a charming place! I went to eat here with my mom after craving seafood and the place we originally planned on going to being closed Bc it was raining. The food was quite good with nice sized portions and the service was great. Our waiter was very nice and personable. The décor is really cute with its sea/​boat theme. I’d definitely go back.

After a long absence we ate at the Fish House last night and found it to be excellent. Our server, Chris, was great and the food was prepared to perfection. The escargot, which many kitchens prepare poorly, were perfect. The seafood Florentine was piping hot and well seasoned and the salmon was delicious. The salad was exceptionally fresh and crisp and their signature creamy garlic dressing was as good as ever. Even the drinks were great albeit a bit pricey. As someone who eats out often and is often disappointed at even very expensive restaurants I look forward to a return visit. Keep up the good work.

I’m so upset I never take pictures whenever me and the family eat here. We’ve been dining at this establishment since 2009 and we absolutely love it. Never one complaint. Food is always fresh, especially the salad. My lobster is always cooked to perfection. My kids love the king crab legs, and this is the only place where I can get lightly battered fried oysters. Celebrated my sons 21^st birthday last night and everyone made it special by singing to him. Fun was had by all.

Came here for date night and the ambience was perfect! We got the seared ahi tuna starter that was, so to say, seared to perfection! It was good enough to tide us over until our entrees arrived. We also got a bottle of their Moscato to hold us up and soak in the nautical theme and the character of the restaurant. It is lit dimly (if you’re into that) and has etchings in the wood of the wall and it’s beautiful. My friend got the lobster roll special of the day and it was truly special! Little on the buttery side and at some parts it drowned the briney lobster taste but some people like their lobster all buttered up! I got the blackened salmon, and it was my first time eating salmon cooked that way and I couldn’t have picked a better place to have tried it! I definitely recommend the calamari because it looked sooooo good on a table to our side (isn’t it the rule of the restaurant world that someone else’s food always looks better than your own?!) and the seared ahi tuna starter at Saybrook when you’re in Rocky Hill or near Hartford next time!

Didn’t expect alot but was suprised from the bread basket, family style salad and decent seafood sampler entrée it was good. Then fruit basket and almond scented towels. Only downside was the service very slow.

Great Seafood restaurant, and the amount of food they give you is great! The cool thing about it, is that they give you a lot of extras that you can take home with you. Bread before the meal, then apps, following a large portion f a meal, and then a fruit basket and almond smelling towels to wrap up the dinner with. I was come here, 100%. Too bad Ashley Daniels still doesn’t work there, she was an asset to the restaurant.

Can’t say I was impressed — saw restaurant advertised on living social thought I’d give it a try. My beer was cold and appetizer was hot. I should have stopped there.
Ordered the stuffed sole with brown rice. Rice was ice cold and I’m not sure my stuffing was cooked. My fish was warm in the top but cold on the bottom. I kinda think it was leftover from the night before.
I don’t send food back to the kitchen anymore — never know the mood of the cook — so I had coffee and dessert before heading home hungry.

Saybrook Fish House is an old school seafood place in its décor and menu selection. No arugula and quinoa in sight!
I decided to order a traditional seafood plate of stuffed shrimp and fries since I have not had stuffed shrimp in 21 years. The shrimp plate was huge and I had a huge doggie bag to take home. Part of the reason why I did not finish my plate was because of the huge family style salad I had. The veggies were simple and fresh and the house-​made champagne vinaigrette perfectly complimented the salad! Also, there was a huge bread basket with breadsticks and Cabot butter. My husband had the stuffed sole which made him stuffed as well.
As waiter, Scott, was very gentle, warm, and attentive. He made my husband and me very welcomed. I loved the fresh fruit we received at the end; a very sweet and healthy treat.
Thank you Saybrook Fish House for participating in Groupon and LivingSocial. Thank you Groupon specifically for my 20% promo code. :)

It’s a 4.5. Not so mind blowing as to demand an immediate return, but a well above average experience from a restaurant that’s been around for quite some time. The 70’s if I’m not mistaken. The inside sure looks like it was opened in the 70’s… the dingy confines are perhaps intentional, though doesn’t exactly remind you of Carmen Anthony’s.
Scott our server was great. Really friendly, upbeat, genuine… provided everything we needed, from refills, to doggie bags, to help selecting our favorites.
Don’t be intimidated by the prices… entrees start at around $ 22. But what you get for that isn’t just an entrée. A big fresh salad to start, with romaine lettuce, mozzarella, tomatoes and cucumbers, carrots and mushrooms, and individual bottles of their homemade dressings. Hot bread too.
And dessert… fresh fruit?! Yeah, fresh fruit! Strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew. All included in the price.
So while I’m sure they have a lovely appetizer and dessert menu, you can have a reasonably priced three course meal by just ordering entrees alone. Last thought: if you get the Sole, definitely get it stuffed… love that stuffing with whole shrimp in it!

This place could have easily received a 5 star review, but it just didn’t quite reach the top!
Plenty of free parking, plenty of specials to pick from as well as a nice menu. Pricing was very good and service was ok. Speed of service and overall cleanliness was good, but could be improved.
However, all that wasn’t the reason for 4 stars — the reason was because my colleague could have easily suffered a more major incident on a heating equipment issue.
A restaurant — even mom and pop places, need to ensure that there is nothing a customer could be injured on and in this case — a heater under the table wasn’t in good condition and almost cut my colleague’s foot! This needs to be repaired and while they are at it — they should take a look around the place to ensure there is nothing else that has gone past a good maintenance program!
Having said that — I should mentioned that they do serve bread family style along with the salad as well as the fruit basket at the end. Therefore, this is a strong 4 star rating that could easily be a 5 star!

We looooove it here! The huge king crab legs are perfect every time. The ample fresh starter salad & breadbasket can tempt you to fill up, so pace yourself carefully. You can always buy a special from either groupon, living social or local flavor. Check local paper coupons, also. The price is right & kitschy casual atmosphere is like being in a seaside bar restaurant. Our usual server is Jim, who has never steered us wrong. What a guy!

I go here all the time with my hubby and the mother in law. we usually seat ourselves to the right in the lounge area as soon as you walk in. We are promptly greeted by the people behind the bar area and they are quick to hand us the specials and our menus.
One time we actually arrived kind of late, towards closing hours, and they stayed open for us. They get big kudos for that because we weren’t expecting them to.
If you enjoy fresh bread while you wait, it’s offered and it’s good. Pumpernickel, wheat and white. I have no favorite, it’s all so good. If you like soup as an appetizer I highly recommend the fish chowder. Yes, it’s all fish no filler. Some places you just get broth and bits of the good stuff, this is all good stuff.
The fish is always fresh as are the vegetables. I have gotten the blackened salmon, talapia, and stuffed sole. All have exceeded my expectations. As you know if you enjoy seafood, it’s on the pricey side, but it’s of par with the market. Definitely a place to sit down for some great seafood.

It is much easier to write a great review than another kind. This place may need to be on tv to be renovated, or at least evaluated appropriately.
«Hey, I’m talking to you.» was the waitress’(name known) comment to me.
More than once she asked about an order she took, and wrote. Food came out timely, the meals were not fresh. Oily.
Sometimes the ambience counts. The walls were old, and had old splashes of ‘I dunno’ on them. White dots on old blue paint.
My party heard three other wait staff ask about dessert, we were told nothing.
Three wait staff were talking about customers near the entrance/​exit. Our Unilocalers already knew that.
The food was «fine». The experience was not
I will never go there again. The dining experience was awful.
And so sad to write.

Reason: Went here for my wife’s bday dinner. What a let down. Have been here once before. Both times sat in the bar side.
Food and beverages: Serviceable food, but small portions for the price point. Paid $ 40 for surf and turf and got half a lobster tail. Limited beer taps 8, maybe? All macro brews, as well.
Décor: We’re in our 30’s, and we were easily the youngest patrons by 30 years… Which works well; because the décor hasn’t been updated in easily 30 years as well. Paint on the window was cracking, plates were all scratched up, just dingy feeling overall. Too bad, because there is potential for a nice place with a face lift. Was a cold night, and had too keep my coat on due to draft in the eating area.
Service: First time, was a solid experience. Second time awful. The girl forgot our app, and made it a small deal that my wife asked for an easy substitution. Ridiculous response to an average question. Waited over half an hour for food (minus app) to come out.
Overall: Salad and fruit are nice additions, but I would probably pick Chuck’s next door instead next time. More of a 1.5, but if I had to choose 1 or 2, then I’d go solidly with a 1 star. Keep driving past this place.

I what brought me here is the mistake of buying a living social deal thinking it was for a restaurant with the same name in another town. If you go here I suggest you order from the lounge menu. Almost exact as the regular but the prices are more reasonable. Ordered the ahi tuna to start which was good and sushi grade. However, it was not seared before It was served to me. It was a short cut that did not reflect any benefit to the customer. The food didn’t come out faster and the service wasn’t any better. There were short cuts seen with the stuffed sole and the lobster roll. This restaurant needs to update its décor and menu. I don’t need to see a giant sea shell or embroidery of the the restaurant’s name to know where I am.

On our road trip to Vermont, this restaurant is well worth the stop.
The food and service were better than expected. The varied menu has something for everyone and the seafood dishes were a nice surprise this far from the sea.
We would not hesitate to stop in again!

Saybrook Fish House is literally in my back yard but for some reason it’s been a few years since I have patronized this establishment. I always drive by it on the way to do errands on the Silas Deane Highway and think to myself — «Self — remember the last time you and Mark were hear and what an awesome dinner you had (clam strips and sweet potato fries).
So I did what any good Unilocaler would do before writing a review about a place they had not been too in a while and went back before composing my review. :) Tough work I know.
And what can I say — the food was just as I remembered it From the family style salad served with your choice of two house made dressings to the fruit basket served at the end of the meal (and which Mark C and I ALWAYS have to bring home) — this cozy and well worn restaurant has never disappointed my palette.
I am not normally a creature of habit — I am the type of person whom always wants to try something new BUT this is a place where I get the same thing EVERY SINGLE TIME — fried whole belly clam strips with sweet potato fries. I have always been greeted with tender and succulent whole belly clams that are complimented by crisp sweet potato fries. It is my version of seafood comfort.
Some have written that it is a bit pricey and to retro but I have to disagree. Yes — its’ one of the last «soup to nuts» restaurants in the area and Yes — the décor is well worn but sometimes the best food is served in the most unpretentious settings.