Place hit the spot! Needed a wellness meal and I came across Donahue's during my travels of the coast. Could have eaten a bowl of the chowder, so good. Blacked Swordfish and asparagus were delicious, could have substituted another vegetable for the rice and would have been just as happy. Carrot cake was good. Dense which is how I like it, icing made it too sweet. Cream cheese filling, yummm. Will certainly be back. read more

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Service was great. Really loved the French Onion Soup and Triple Decker Turkey Club was delicious. Ambiance was well suited for a pub. read more

Donahue's Madison Beach Grille - French Onion Soup - American Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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After the beach in Madison we stopped by Donahue's for dinner. The interior is very pretty, there are so many family photos everywhere, the wood interior gives it a classy feel. There's a little stage, and a piano where local musicians perform. We were seated quickly, given waters and menus. Based off the menu, the seafood items are much pricier then everything else. My friend got the lobster roll and I got the Smoked Salmon Sandwich. Her lobster roll looked super fresh and tasty and it reminded me of when I devoured them on my trip to Maine. My Salmon Sandwich was a bit less exciting, but still tasty. It came with horseradish, lettuce, onion and tomato on Rye Bread, and a generous serving of salmon. This was tasty, but a bit dry. The service with water refills was a bit delayed. We had a nice time at Donahue's, I would return here for their chowder. read more

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A friend and I went to Donahue's for an early dinner before an event in Madison. We were seated promptly and our drink orders taken without delay by our friendly waitperson. The place is small but not crowded, even though most tables were occupied. May friend opted for their big salad with blackened shrimp, and I had the pasta special, which was cheese ravioli with a lovely artichoke cream sauce. We received our meals with dispatch, and both of us enjoyed them The portions are very generous. I would definitely come back here, especially to look at the photos of famous people lining the walls and hear the backstory of the establishment. read more

Random choice on way to Providence. What a great choice !! Nautical feel in the best way with great specials. Raw bar superb. Chowder pretty much the gold standard. Perfectly done seafood. read more

Just brought home from DONAHUE's Madison Beach Grille their Nachos with House made Chili (Appetizer) & ordered everything on side so house made chips wd stay crispy as too much for one meal for myself anyway....It was prepared perfectly as requested from Server Ashley who's sweet & better yet very competent especially checking all be4 I leave as I am a frequent customer. Can't thank the staff for their courtesy & helpfulness in wanting to please! Ms. Lonnie S.***** read more

Came here last minute with a few friends to grab a bite to eat. Service was fast and friendly. Food was fresh and tasted great. Will come back in the future. read more

Donahue's Madison Beach Grille - American Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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Great place for lunch! We've been there several times, the food and service have been great. The ambiance may be pub-like, but the seating is comfortable and the noise level tolerable. So, what's for lunch? How about a bowl of clam chowder, creamy, full of content, served with a dash of sherry (upon request).? Absolutely delicious. Pair this with a generous side of garlic baguette. Flavorful. A special of pot roast was sheer delight. The roast was tender, nicely flavored, and fat free, and the mashed potatoes were flavorful with garlic and the veggie sides perfectly cooked. When in the mood, I love their nicely grilled burgers, nice and thick and juicy served with crisp fries. A special of shepherd's pie was sheer delight with nice flavors from the ground lamb and beef. And their desserts are sinful. We split an order of banana cream pie, full of banana flavor and fresh whipped cream- and a nice crust to boot. We'll be back again and again for lunch. read more

Prices are too high for the adults and children's menu Women's bathroom is filthy Menu items are close to diner style read more

Came in with a few friends that I've been telling about the amazing clam chowder that is served here. Well everyone was very impressed and happy with the delicious clam chowder, so many clams!! Service was adequate though it took a bit too long for the first contact by our waitress. The restaurant decor is fabulous and nautical with the families pictures lining the walls of them and their beautiful sailboats. Thanks for making me a believable critic. Love that chowder!! read more

Had a very good meal at Donahue's Madison Beach Grille on 1/19/2026. There was three in my party and we all had the same thing (onion soup and Atlantic Glazed Salmon). The food was delicious and the service was warm, pleasant, and attentive. These people care about what they are doing and it shows throughout the restaurant. read more

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Recently visited Donahue's Madison Beach Grille for the first time and I can't wait to go back. The restaurant was clean, the staff were friendly and the service and food were great. I ordered the cod piccata and the flavor was delicious! Additionally, the portion size was much larger than expected which was also a nice surprise. I look forward to going back and trying another item off the menu. read more

Donahue's Madison Beach Grille - Cod Piccata - American Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

My husband and I ordered the special St.Patrick's Day corned beef sandwich. I usually make my own but thought it would be a change. Well it was awful!! It was full of fat and not cooked thoroughly . We were really disappointed because we thought Donahues would be great on St.Patrick's Day . I will go back to making my own. read more

A Yelp search for area lunch spots led me to Donahue's. Yelp indicates Donahue's is an American and seafood restaurant, but they clearly have some Irish flair and influences as well. Case in point -- dishes like Fish and Chips and Shepherds Pie, and the sign in the bar that says "God invented whiskey to keep the Irish from ruling the World." Sounds right. I didn't make it past the bar area, but I noted a nice dining room as well. Cool place. Lots of wood. Service was friendly and attentive. A definite selling point. I ordered clam chowder, an off menu Fish and Chips and fries oyster combo and a NEBCO Sea Hag. The Sea Hag tasted freshly tapped and was very carbonated. The chowder was good thick, creamy and loaded with clams and potatoes. In a first for me, the bartender asked if I wanted some Sherry poured on top. I responded yes if he recommended it. So he drizzled a bit on top and I swirled it in. Loved this chowder. Very tasty. In the top tier for CT for me. I also loved the fried oysters. They tasted very fresh and had good texture. The fried fish had a different vibe than I'm used to in a pub. I'm used to a well battered, thicker piece of fish. Donahue's coated theirs with Panko bread crumbs so that it was crispy. I'm not sure what fish they used and the menu doesn't say. It was a thin, white and mild fish that reminded me of tilapia. But I don't know. I prefer a more traditional pub style of Fish, but I can see how certain people might prefer this. The fries were pretty good. I was happy that I had the chance to visit Donahue's. I would eat there again if I was in the area. 4.25 Stars read more

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For the Friendly Neighborhood Restaurant it represents, it's a 5 Star. Everything is good and many items are exceptional. Their theme menus ((OctoborFest, Holiday etc) and monthly Specials are SPECIAL! They had a Lamb Stew that was Gourmet at its best. Comfort food like a Sophisticated New Jersey upscale Diner - and that's a high compliment. Very welcoming . read more

Food price / quality (value) rating 8. The atmosphere is typical contemporary pub / tavern style. I had a Chicken Caesar Wrap with fries. A good amount of chicken in a large whole wheat tortilla. It was very good. The wife had the nachos, which was a very large serving of chips with the cheese and other ingredients just placed on top of the pile, which I'm not a fan of. They have about six beers on tap. Service was excellent and friendly. read more

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I had specifically ask the owner if their $30 tuna steak was dark red (sushi Grade) And tell me it absolutely wasn't that I would be pleasantly surprised. However, when it came out, it was a pre-frozen light pink piece of tuna. When I complained about it he said to me, it looks red to me. And then he indicated he would take it off the bill when I said that to the waitress, he had the audacity to come to the table and tell me that he never said he would take her off the bill The food there was all mediocre and eventually it was taken off the Bill with my insistence read more

Great food, warm and relaxing atmosphere, and friendly service. Our regular go to place!

Excellent, food and service. Great ambiance though a but noisy. I felt for me server. He felt overwhelmed , new to this restaurant. Liked the carolers. Great touch. read more

Can't say enough positive things about Donahue's. We recently hosted an short notice party for 30 people. Dave and the team were amazing. Food was great, drinks outstanding, the vibe awesome, but ultimately it was the people and the service that made the event such a success! Thank you! Since the party, we have been back twice - Notable food: The French Onion soup, the wings and the burgers are outstanding. Love love love this place. read more

nice and peaceful in the evenings, service was really sweet. perfect place to go with family and friends. read more

Donahue's Madison Beach Grille - French Fries, american burger - American Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

My wife and I went to Donahue's last night with my brother in law and his two kids. This is probably our tenth time being here for dinner and Donahues's has never disappointed us. I rated 5, but I wish that I could rate a 10, because that deserved it. I highly, highly recommend this restaurant to all read more

After the pandemic, the place reopened, different menu and is now mostly a bar. Food was just ok.

Stopped by for a quick dinner on my way home. I was warmly welcomed and quickly served a fantastic hot lobster roll. Glad I stopped by and looking forward to coming back again soon. read more

I walked in expecting very little, to be honest. A non-descript gray restaurant off a state highway didn't inspire much confidence. There's seating in a bar and dining room, both seeming a little dated in decor but clearly enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Then came the food - Oh. My. God. The mashed potatoes are amazing. Warm, rich, smooth, and creamy, they are everything you want and I would have been happy just eating a bowl of them. And then taking another bowl to go. The lobster bisque had lobster floating on the top, just in case you worried it would go without. The chicken skin was crispy, and more than enough skin on the bone. If you're on vacation, Donahue's is a great way to get some vegetables into your diet. I didn't start my day picturing beets, but they went so well with everything else. It was a gourmet family type dinner, and I would love to dine again! read more

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Service was great. Staff very friendly and welcoming. Food was awesome! We tried the Lobster Roll and Ahi Tuna Steak, and were more than satisfied with both. I would definitely return when I the area. read more

Our favorite on the shoreline! Good food excellent service. Best Martini in town. See Taylor at the bar. Meet George a regular.. did i say Sant! You'll know. Have the bisque with Harvey's Bristol Cream. You know!! Enjoy! read more

Service was so good! Very friendly, very knowledgeable and super efficient! Classic Iris pub ambience, comfortable with great music. The food was delicious! read more

Everything it was great. Great service great food great people service great bartenders

Excellent Lobster Bisque (it is rich). We all enjoyed Caesar Salads with Blackened Salmon, Grilled Chicken, and/or Grilled Shrimp. All were excellent. Kids: Grilled Cheese was perfect. People forget how important it is to have something that picky kids love. It is one other reason we we will be back! read more

Food was fresh, warm and delicious, service was prompt, friendly and serviceable . Ambiance was one of relaxation and comfort, never felt rushed despite being very busy. read more

Outstanding consistent high quality food. The servers are attentive and pleasant. Any time of year this place does a great job, but Oktoberfest is not to be missed. Try the special Oktoberfest beer! The sauerbraten is amazing. The potato pancakes are just like mom's... if mom was a great cook. The bar area is very pleasant and the dining room next door is beautifully appointed. Best restaurant in Madison! read more

Raw turkey sandwich and overpriced.. no thanks. Avoid this place and go to other better food places in Madison/Clinton

My entire family loved Donahue's. The service is reliably excellent, with all servers being eager to please. This doesn't change depending on the shift. The menu isn't as big as other places, but I think that results in consistently delicious food. Lately I've enjoyed the Megan (a Thanksgiving type sandwich) and their French dip sandwich. My family has tried their tuna nacho appetizer (spicy!) and a burger. Everyone always loves their food and the generous portion of fries which are cooked to perfection. I do find the dining room can be a bit loud when full. For whatever reasons, the acoustics are just not great. Keep that in mind if you're dining with people who are hard of hearing. read more

Food very good Service very good Ambiance very nice. Restaurant dining room comfortable Bathrooms pretty dirty . They really need a deep clean. read more

Had the best visit recently. We do visit occasionally and the server was busy but took care of us. The salad was fresh and on point, can't bypass the chowder! We had the best carrot cake I have had in a long time! read more

Donahue's Madison Beach Grille - American Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Nice Salad! Good. Bloody Mary! Professional service! A nice added touch was home made Russian dressing for our Ruben Sandwich! read more

Outstanding Reuben, great fries! Just good all around! All had good meal, portions large prices ok, taste was excellent presentation was good a 4 star experience!! read more

DO NOT DO TAKE OUT HERE. They are simply incapable of getting an order right. Trust me, I tried, and tried and tried and tried again. Now I quit. I kept coming back because my meals have always been great when eating at the restaurant. But they just can't duplicate take out. And it is just carelessness and incompetence. You don't get salad dressing with your salad, but you're at the beach, so you eat your $20 salad dry! You get well done burgers even if you order medium rare. You get honey-mustard salad dressing on the side when you actually requested spicy mustard on the side for a burger! You get blue cheese on your cheeseburger, when you hate blue cheese and asked for Swiss cheese. And on and on. This is not one or two visits. This is every take out. They just can't get it right. So if you spend $25.00- $100.00 plus on takeout, consider going elsewhere. The ship has sailed on Donahue's quality control. The young ladies that serve there, just want to hang out and do as little as possible. You feel like you are crashing their party if you need them to focus. Good riddance. Madison deserves better! read more

Have been here a few times for the fried clams over the past several years. I'm a Boston native who grew up eating fried clams all over eastern Mass. and RI. I know the difference between "Ipswich Style" clams from sandy areas under the sea, and mud clams from muddy areas under the sea. These two clams are the same clam, just living in different habitats which affects their taste. Every time I've been to this restaurant in the past 5 years, the fried clams have been sand clams, characterized by a nice delicate briny flavor. This is the type of clam usually encountered in a restaurant or clam shack. When I ate here on June 24, they were serving mud clams, which have a much huskier flavor, and which are in my opinion, much less enjoyable. I've found these a lot at lower end establishments, and was disappointed to find them here. Now here's the thing, I'm not sure who to blame for this. I'm thinking that sand clams are priced higher than mud clams, and the restaurant is looking to save a few bucks and cheaping out. My clam plate was $34, and the serving of clams wasn't generous, which was also irksome. Maybe the restaurant owner can't specify between sand and mud clams from his supplier, and has to just take whatever is delivered. But, there are multiple places I went to for fried clams regularly for 25 years, and was never served a mud clam, so I am suspicious. Doubly irksome is that the clams weren't hot when they were served, and my two dining guests ordered them also, based on my recommendation. The French fries were plenty hot, and I assume the kitchen let the clams sit as they were making the fries. This is just poor practice. If you do try the fried clams here, ask for them to be cooked lightly. I did have them overcooked on a previous visit here, and had to send them back, which I hate to do, knowing how high the price of clams is. On the positive side, the service was good, the bar and dining room are attractive, and the clam chowder was good. As a bonus, which I've never encountered before, they offered to put a dash of sherry in my chowder, which I accepted, and which was delicious. read more