Stowe's Seafood — Restaurant in West Haven

After seeing raving reviews, I decided to go here on my last day visiting Connecticut . I was excited to try here because this would be my first experience ever having both a lobster roll and stuffed Scallops. Stowe's is located right on the corner of beach st. And Washington Ave. Not too hard to find. I did go on a Saturday morning so parking was limited with a full parking lot and street regulations, so be ready to park near by, which was not an issue at all.

With the amount of people + the huge line, + all the tables filled...  I felt confident that this place had to be as good as the reviews.... Unfortunately, I felt as if,  the food was just alright. Nothing spectacular and nothing to rave about.

A 5 star review for me, would be contributed to several factors, such as: If the food is actually great -like I want to come back here again "great," - the ambiance, price point of the food -if it matches the food quality/size/taste,- experience, & customer service, to name a few.

Some of which that were lacking was the 'WoW' factor of the food, and the price point. I can only give this place a 3 star because, again the food was alright... I would never succumb food quality for price... But I thought for the portion and how underwhelming the taste of the food was, the price of these dishes did NOT equate. The bread for the lobster roll was super soft (soggy like) it broke apart in my hands by just lifting it up to take a bite. The stuffed Scallops was a singular shell (see picture)  with a mixture of stuffing, shrimp and scallops.. the flavor of both these dishes were just alright, I had taken some hot sauce packets which helped...

Because, it's right across from the water I grabbed my food and a blanket -I luckily had one in my trunk- and ate on the beach. I made the best of what was a close to a $30 "just alright" meal and went enjoyed the views .

... I don't think I would [intentionally] come back or recommend specifically for the food itself... Maybe if I was back in Connecticut and was at that beach (very serene/quaint), had nothing to eat, was so hungry and needed something [expensive] to hold me over, ONLY THEN, I would consider...

Worst experience in recent memory. First of all, they have so much junk around the place that it is difficult to figure out how to enter the place. When we did, they didn't seem happy, because we were supposed to order at the window.

Since this was our first (AND DEFINITELY OUR LAST!) visit, we weren't sure what to do.

But we ordered whole belly fried clams ($22.00) which comes with EITHER fries or cole slaw, a lobster roll and onion rings. We paid $42.50 for this meal.

Since they don't have anywhere to sit inside, the outside patio table with attached benches were wet because of the rain. We had to ask for a towel to wipe off the area, and a guy came out with a squeegee and a cloth. Still, the seats were damp. I went to my van and found a rag. Since it was kind of misting still, I asked if he would put up the umbrella. "No, we never to that in the rain." OK, so I guess our choices were to eat in our van, or out in the rain. They DO have a front area with is covered, but, there were no tables there, just chairs.

The food? UGH! I opened up the container to find a very SMALL portion of stuck together belly clams almost lost amid the fries. I counted the belly clams - there were 7 pieces, that's it.

The onion rings, apparently done on premises, were another disaster. Onions sliced way too thin, broken, most of the breading fell off, and VERY VERY GREASY!

Onto the lobster roll. What a joke. Small roll, piece of dried out lobster, no claw or tail meat, the lobster was chewy, not tender and stringy. Plus, it should have been served with melted butter. Hardly anything on the lobster or the roll.

I had such high hopes for this place, but.... our experience today was such a turn off, the food was gross and the utter lack of provisions for seating was unfortunate.

NEVER,...

Stowe’s Seafood is the kind of place that reminds you why fresh, well-prepared seafood is unbeatable. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, the staff are friendly and efficient, and this spot takes pride in serving high-quality food. Everything feels fresh, from the service to the catch of the day.

The highlight of my visit was the Treasure Chest, which truly lives up to its name. It’s a seafood lover’s dream, packed with a generous variety that gives you a little bit of everything: shrimp, scallops, clam strips, sole, haddock, and a perfectly made crab cake, all served alongside toast. The seafood was cooked just right, crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside. Every bite had that “fresh off the boat” taste, and the portion sizes were more than satisfying.

The Treasure Chest also comes with golden French fries, creamy coleslaw, fresh lemon, and tartar and cocktail sauces. The sides complemented the seafood perfectly, especially the coleslaw, which added a refreshing balance to the richness of the fried items. It felt like a complete seafood feast in one basket, and it’s an excellent choice for anyone who wants to sample a wide variety of what Stowe’s does best.

Between the friendly service, relaxed coastal vibe, and outstanding food, Stowe’s Seafood is a must-stop for anyone who loves seafood. The Treasure Chest alone is worth the trip. It’s indulgent, delicious, and the kind of meal you’ll think about long...