Liv's Shack — Restaurant in Old Saybrook

I am not a local but visit the area often enough. Perhaps an outsider’s view and non-Old Saybrook opinion to keep it honest. First of all the menu is very limited as compared to typical seaside shack style seafood places from here to New London. No cold option on lobster roll. Now I have learned that the “Connecticut” lobster roll is billed as hot but for the working class in nearby areas this is not true. The place leans more towards eastern Long Island than southeast Connecticut average joes. After the limited menu you have the price which is not so out of line until you see the small portion sizes. Next, we waited 55 minutes for a 4 person table at 3:30 pm. Soda comes in bottles and priced accordingly. Many of the customers drove up in private golf carts to eat before getting on their mega boats. No offense intended, but if you value good food served quickly at reasonable prices to regular people then I would look elsewhere up the coast. Polite staff but little space to sit and all outdoors. I guess the regulars don’t care about time and value.

Addendum to owner based on response:

First kudos to you for responding to reviews as you take our comments seriously. The 55 minute wait was for the food, I should have specified that. I think that is way too long for say someone passing by. Don’t forget, it is not just locals who may come by and know all the ordering intricacies you have established. After all, non-locals may come by based on the same reviews you look for. Perhaps some capital investment is needed? No where on your white board was there anything about cold lobster rolls and no staff asserted that when asked. Your 20 items do not include a lot of tried and true favorites and sorry to say the food we did get was ok. Just ok. I had four shack style meals from Saybrook to Niantic to New London and all had more options albeit also way overpriced. Making money in the Summer is ok but not price gauging and I do not mean mkt rate selections. I think your primary customer base doesn’t care that you are priced high but I do, especially for what you get.

I do have the correct location…right there in front of the marina. The one with inadequate parking and awkward set up. The one with picnic tables with empty condiment bottles on them and seaside view blocked by a fence. One and...

I’ve been meaning to post this for a few months now and was reminded to after a wonderful dinner at the main restaurant Livs Oyster Bar, last night.

That said, my family and I LOVE Livs shack! They made some really great improvements this past season, adding games for kids and always have a fresh bowl of water available for my dogs, who are greeted with smiles and fawning.

The food is delicious and the wait never terribly long despite how busy it is. I do try to order ahead on super sunny weekends because I know the lines tend to be longer.

I’m a huge fan of the truffle fries, fish taco and of course the LOBSTER ROLL. You will not find a fresher, more meaty lobster roll on the CT coastline. Believe me, we’re avid mariners and have stopped at just about all, if not all, the places around you can get one. We made the mistake of ordering a lobster roll from a local competitor after Livs Shack closed for the season and were so disappointed when all three of us bit into shells. So yeah. Three different orders. Three different rolls. All inproperly prepped. We’d ordered through Shoreline Menus and they were apologetic but the restaurant did absolutely nothing. Needless to say, we will wait for Livs Shack to reopen before we have lobster rolls again.

I did notice the most recent review mentioned over salting and I’m thinking it’s an incorrect location review. I’ve been going to Livs Shack for a few years now and I’ve never ever ever had an issue with my food. Not once. In fact, they’ve done special orders for me on occasio, and brought my dogs some choice treats once or twice. I’m fairly sensitive to salt. They leave it on the table so you can salt your food to taste. Maybe someone got over zealous? Who knows. I can only speak from my own experience and that experience has always been top notch.

Great location. Great menu. Great service set up. Great improvements. I can’t wait to see what changes they make this year!

Sorry it tooo me so long...

Liv's Shack: A Solid Catch, but Abbott's Reigns Supreme (Just my opinion)

Nestled along the coast, Liv's Shack offers a solid seafood experience. With high hopes, I embarked on a journey to savor their highly acclaimed lobster roll. While Liv's Shack managed to reel me in with its own distinct charm, it ultimately found itself cast in the shadow of the legendary Abbott's Lobster Shack.

Let's start with the good news—Liv's Shack does deliver a commendable lobster roll. The combination of tender lobster meat and the gentle embrace of a perfectly toasted bun make for a satisfying bite. The flavors, though not extraordinary, exhibit a pleasing balance that is bound to please most palates. However, the true test of any seafood haven lies in its ability to outshine the competition, and this is where Liv's Shack falters.

Abbott's, lobster's are plucked from their habitat at the peak of perfection. The resulting delicacy is a testament to nature's bounty, exuding effortless sweetness coupled with a luscious buttery touch. Abbott's lobster roll is a symphony of flavors that elevates the entire experience to a level of unparalleled excellence.

While Liv's Shack might be considered a strong contender in its own right, it falls short in a couple of areas. Firstly, the texture of their lobster roll can be a bit chewy, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Secondly, my roll had a faint metallic undertone to it that lingered in my mouth longer than I was comfortable with...

Nevertheless, Liv's Shack still holds its ground, offering a solid lobster roll that is bound to appease those seeking a decent seafood fix. The staff was very sweet and certainly contributed to an enjoyable dining experience. Liv's is very much a worthy stop for those...