Dad's Restaurant of Niantic — Restaurant in East Lyme

Just about every seaside town on earth has a place like Dad's. A lowbrow fried seafood and chips joint in an aging old building with a view of the water. They'll serve burgers and hotdogs and onion rings too, and may even have something fresh if the local waters are known for their clams or oysters or salmon or crab or lobster. These places are popular for their big menus that are popular with large groups, and for their nostalgia, especially when they've served a popular vacation spot for years. But too many of these spots aren't very good, and unfortunately, this place is no exception. Dad's falls into the same trap that so many restaurants do and treats frying as if it's just dumping stuff in oil. The result is food thats too dense, too oily, lacking in any flavor, and that gets soggy quickly.

I know some people like this spot, but at the risk of being a total snob, I think it's because they haven't had good fried food before. Fried food can be amazing with the right training and expertise. Like any other cooking skill, knowing how to prep your food for frying, create a seasoning that flavorful and compelling, and use the technique to produce something light and will stay crispy. I only wish more people could experience the output of an exceptional fry cook because their expectations would push seaside staples like Dad’s to do better.

Now, even though I didn’t like the food, there’s ample parking, a decent view, and the service is solid if unremarkable. the people who enjoy this place seemed to really like it, so they’re doing something right. It’s...

Dad's has been an iconic restaurant for years. Unfortunately it's gone downhill and would never reccomend this place to anyone. To those who have read the 1 star reviews are all correct. I had the codfish sandwich which was extremely bland and the breading falling off. I also had onion rings as they were out of clam fritters. The onion rings had no flavor at all. How in the world can onion rings have no flavor????? My wife is allergic to seafood and had a BLT. The sandwich she had only had 2 small pieces of bacon and was also flavorless. We passed numerous restaurants that were packed and decided to eat at Dads as we didn't have a lot of time. Our mistake happened when we pulled into the parking lot and only saw a few cars. After eating there we now understand why it was empty. The food is awful and people don't go there! Please read the rest of the 1 star comments, all of them are true. Do yourself a favor, run, don't walk away from dad's, there are so many true seafood restaurants in Niantic. One thing to consider, ask any restaurant if they serve "Stonington scallops". If so, they will most likely have very good food. Dad's only has frozen bay Scallops. I give them until this fall to shut their...

I’m so excited to be writing this review—Dad’s is back, and better than ever! For years, I looked forward to its seasonal opening because it meant one thing: spring had officially arrived in New England. It used to be one of my favorite spots, though I’ll admit, a couple of years ago it lost some of its charm.

But now? It’s under new ownership, and let me tell you—they’ve brought the magic back.

The place has been updated and renovated, and it’s clear the new owners put a ton of love and effort into restoring Dad’s to its former glory. While it may look a little different (and a tad less nostalgic), they held onto the touches that made Dad’s feel special in the first place.

The food I fell in love with is back, and everything we ordered was delicious. The portion sizes felt just right to me—though my husband was eyeing a second helping! Prices are a bit lower now, which makes the smaller portions feel fair.

I can’t wait to spend sunny afternoons out on the patio, listening to the water and enjoying great food in good company. If it’s been a while since you’ve visited Dad’s, this is your sign to go back. With the new ownership, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Welcome...