Fair Haven Oyster Co. absolutely lived up to the hype. The restaurant is small, intimate, and has a beautiful deck overlooking the water that makes for the perfect date night. The service was outstanding from the moment we arrived - friendly, attentive, and never overbearing. The food was the real star. I ordered the skate wing which came in a buttery piccata-style sauce with capers and a few blistered tomatoes, and it was honestly some of the best fish pI've ever had. It was perfectly cooked, incredibly tender, and the sauce was so good I wanted to soak up every last drop. They served it bone-in and de-boned it table-side, which I loved. My husband had the whole fried dorade and couldn't stop talking about how good it was. We finished with the pot de crème, which was everything you want in a dessert - rich, silky, and absolutely delicious. From the setting to the service to every bite of food, this was a perfect meal from start to finish. Highly recommend! read more

Fair Haven Oyster Co. - Bone-in skate wing - absolute perfection - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

We went to Fair Haven Oyster for my birthday. The service was phenomenal and right on the mark--the staff was incredibly attentive and always there when we needed a drink. The view from the deck was also excellent, and the cocktails themselves were delicious. A lot of the appetizers were very good. The tuna tartare and the mussel curry were both inspired dishes; the mussels in the sauce had great flavor, though the portion sizes overall felt small. The blistered snap peas with preserved lemon were also delicious. That said, for a place with "oyster" in the name, we expected a wider or higher-quality selection, perhaps including some from Canada, rather than the fairly standard options from CT and MA. Unfortunately, the main dishes missed the mark for us and didn't offer enough food. The sea bass was overcooked. the accompanying lima beans weren't cooked all the way through, and the dish lacked depth of flavor. The shrimp main also fell short, with the shrimp having a very odd, mushy bland flavor. To finish, the pot de crème had so much cream and so little actual chocolate that there was almost no chocolate flavor. On a separate note, navigating the QR code menu was pretty obnoxious. Restaurants should really just offer traditional paper menus; people stare at screens all day and come out to engage with each other, not look at a phone again, and constantly have it on the table. While I appreciate Fair Haven Oyster's creative concepts, their tinned fish with pickled sides, and their great starters, the execution on the mains and the portion sizes left something to be desired, especially at these price points. This was probably our sixth time going to Fairhaven Oyster. We've been going over the past few years and my overall takeaway is that I will definitely return for the drinks, the great atmosphere, and some appetizers, but will not be ordering mains. read more

If I could give 10 stars I would do it easily. The food and the service were exceptional. I had the shrimp served over polenta. My girlfriend had the whole fried dorade which she absolutely loved. For dessert we had the angel food cake and it was absolutely delicious. The service at this restaurant was exceptional just like the food. Lastly the restaurant had magnificent views, they have a deck where you can get some really great water views. I will definitely be back to try other items on the menu. read more

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Regrettable meal. Soup filled with sand. Warm raw oysters. Watery martini. Frozen tater tots sprinkled w fish roe and fresh dill for $22. Tomato sprinkled with a couple of bits of feta and a single toasted piece of bread (not shareable) for $17. Grilled cucumber sounded better than what it was. Outrageously overpriced for what you get. Maybe we happened to order all the wrong dishes? I'll never find out. read more

The atmosphere is on the water and calming, the server, Patricia, was great and our pup Odie, loved her and she was so sweet with him. The raw bar, salads and skate were all fresh, tasty and seasoned perfectly. Drinks were nice and cold and Tommy's martini was perfect (which is good because he is so picky). Pet friendly, which is always a plus for us. Also, all the other guests were so nice and were so welcoming of us and our pup. Overall, a great experience! read more

Trying to find the best way to describe this place. I really do like this place; the service is great/ friendly staff BUT the food is not composed. Don't get me wrong it is good BUT it is microscopic portion. They serve everything which makes the menu not collusive. The ambiance is beautiful as it is waterside. read more

Nice setting, great service, but you will leave hungry after spending high end prices. We ordered the muscles as a starter. It is literally six muscles out of the shell, with a few bits of eggplant and potato, laughable portion for the price. The broiled little necks were the same...Just silly portions for the prices charged. This place portents to be fine dining but missed the mark. read more

Nice ambiance but poor service, took over 2 hours to get the food after ordering, small portions, average food, overpriced oysters.... Very disappointing. Will not go back read more

Really amazing food. Try their skate. My favorite dish. Truly delicious. Impeccable service and cool vibe. Great drinks. read more

The drinks and seafood at this place were absolutely amazing. The service was so friendly, I was seated at the bar and I loved talking to the bartender and the wait staff. I love the water view as well, the rustic wooden decor, and the fact that the playlist there is awesome. read more

Fair Haven Oyster Co. - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Great setting with cool intimate vibe. Great cocktails. Good food - strong raw bar selections. read more

Fair Haven Oyster Co. - Pan Toasted Halibut - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Rose & I dined here a few nights ago. I had Skate Wing which was really good! Rose had a slightly smoked Mackerel dish & she loved it. We then had Mousse for dessert & it was delicious. We both ordered a bubbling wine called Cuava & it worked perfectly with our food. The service was great & we enjoyed the view of the water from our deck seating. Please try this place. It's a great experience! read more

Really nice ambiance to sit by the water and distress. Food was fantastic ! I reccomend the whole fish entree! Servers are awesome and really accommodating ! read more

Refined unique dishes with excellent execution. Definitely not what I was expecting but such a great find! Service was wonderful as well. Must try: Torrija, Caviar Basque Cheesecake (weird but so worth it.) read more

Fair Haven Oyster Co. - Torrija - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

When we have an excuse to celebrate something, we come for Fair Haven Oyster Co. While we are fans of Tavern on State, we really enjoy seafood, so Fair Haven was on our radar as soon as the announcement was made and construction began. The menu at Fair Haven Oyster Co rotates regularly, so it's fun to try new dishes and all kinds of raw oysters with each visit. We keep returning to the tuna crudo and the cold lobster roll though. They seem deceptively simple, but are well-executed and hit the spot when you're looking for a refreshing, summery seafood bite. Also, the cocktails here are delicious! If you like spicy ones, I highly recommend the Bad Alibi, but we've also liked every drink we've tried so far. Make a reservation ahead of time if you can - this place gets packed, and rightfully so. read more

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After a delicious meal here about a year ago half ago, we were excited to return for another, however, this time our meal was honestly terrible. Our three appetizers were overdressed with no distinct flavors, the sole stuffed with shrimp was on par with a Swanson TV dinner or a cheap diner - a mushy and flavorless glump with soggy, bland fish - and the mackerel and lentils were another mushy mess with oversalted lentils. No artistry or finesse with flavors and ingredients this time, merely food that you wish you had not eaten at all. We will no longer be recommending this place and will not be returning. So sad that their quality has fallen so much. read more

Oops--I can't believe I didn't write this review sooner!! My fiancée and I came to Fair Haven the week they opened and I've been dreaming of it ever since (we live in Florida, so won't be able to make it back for a few more months). The location is superb--you can take a nice walk on the docks after dinner and enjoy the view! The service was fantastic, the ambience is so chill, and the food was just outstanding. We of course had some raw oysters to start, along with some snazzy cocktails (they have a wonderful list). For my entree I had the grilled black bass, and my fiancée had the lobster roll. If I tell you I wanted to order everything on the menu, I wouldn't be lying. This was some of the best food I've ever had in my life. I cannot WAIT to return!! read more

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I was so impressed with the food presentation and flavor. There were 6 of us so we were able to try so many menu items. You need to go there and enjoy the view and the food yourselves and only then will you appreciate all they have to offer! read more

Cocktails are amazing,dishes are so creative , I am a foodie, I want to go out and get something I don't make at home , the raw bar was superb, you will see things here that don't exist in other resturants, I am highling Clam chowder clear broth with miso and kelp,baby butter lettues with fried oysters pickled shallots & Bonito,anchovy toast, and mussels paprikash, Go for it ,you will not be diappointed ! read more

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I like handing out 5 stars here. I WANT to hand out 5 stars here. And WILL hand out 5 stars whenever I think appropriate. I will not hold it against a restaurant that they are take out only. I rate according to what your "niche" is. Fair Haven Oyster Co. is 5 Stars against all comers, in every category. PEAK DINING EXPERIENCE: food, service, setting, VIBE. Wow. My parents took me to Fair Haven Oyster this past week. My parents raised me up to dine out boldly and bravely and to LEAN INTO the experience. We ate in the garden of a vineyard in St. Paul de Vence the month James Baldwin was dying in that same town... We ate Bouillabaisse seaside in Marseille. We ate at Gordon Ramsey's Chef's Table at The Savoy in London (WOW!! On every level.). We ate (repeatedly) at Giambelli's 50th back in The Actual Day. IYKYK I would put our meal at Fair Haven Oyster Co. up against ALL these. And then I would award Fair Haven 5 Stars. Wow. Just. Wow. This spot is small. Just a bar and a row of 2 tops behind it. But! If the weather is okay there is dining outside on the deck. Dad made a reservation online (you MUST) for "the bar" at 6:30pm. We were out and about and so just headed over extremely early. Which was a GREAT idea because we discovered that "bar" actually means BAR. LOL ("Dining room" is the 2 tops.) But, we were early early and the weather was FINE, so they asked if we wanted to sit outside. YES. Again. WOW. Just WOW y'all. Fair Haven Oyster is located at some little boat/yacht/whatever club on The Quinnipiac River. So the deck looks out over the river and the boats and across to lovely/historic little houses/hamlets/churches and even off, in the semi distance, to the cars/trucks on 91. LOVE. The weather was PERFECTION. The tide was going out. The water was crystal clear. The sky was BLUE BLUE with fluffy clouds. I was a little worried when they gave us tiny water glasses. I drink water. Plenty of it. But they kept those little glasses full. Which is no mean feat when the place just got progressively busier and also, keeping water glasses filled is a common "weak point" when I eat out. The service here was ON POINT. While Dad was griping about the QR code menu I ordered a Hendricks and Tonic. Because their bar looked kinda legit. Gurrrlllll. A gin and tonic is a "test" drink for any bar. Most fail. Miserably. Not Fair Haven. My G&T arrived in the PROPER highball glass FULL of tonic bubbles. Gauntlet. Thrown DOWN. I feel like the staff had their "doubts" about us when we arrived and then, as we continued to order and ORDER they got "on board" with all that We Bartners ARE when we dine out...Good Times. ALL the food, ALL the wine ALL the vibes. We do NOT come to play. And neither should you. The menu is broken into Raw (they have an impressive oyster selection and caviar service, if that's your thing), soups and salads, small plates and large plates. My plan was to eat my way through salads and small plates. I did order Scallop Crudo (olive oil, lemon, salt, herbs) and Tuna Crudo (over foie gras mousse on a brioche cracker) for the table. But then I ate them... Dad ordered Gildas to share (tiny skewers of anchovies, piparra peppers, castelvetrano olives & Mahon cheese). Super fun bar type snack. Things I ate: Fair Haven Clam Chowder. Which really tasted like a very good escarole (it was actually kelp) soup with clams. Baby Butter Lettuces (w/fried oysters, green goddess, bonito). This is EVERYTHING a salad should be. Delicious, filling, fresh, UMAMI. The fried oysters make it a legit meal. Heirloom Tomatoes (w/bottarga): beautiful, delicious tomatoes served in the most Umami-forward way possible. Uni Toast (w/ white shoyu, sesame & chive). I eat A LOT of Uni. Because I eat A LOT of Omakase and Kaiseki in NYC. So, for me? There are better ways to savor Uni. But, again! UMAMI BOMB. And I am always here for the Umami. Mom and Dad ordered the Grilled Black Cod (over cucumber & snap pea salad w/ kelp ponzu & shiso). SNAPS to them for stretching outside their culinary comfort zones after I explained o them that Black Cod is one of the most delicious fish out there and ponzu us right up their alley! This dish is just glorious: Perfectly grilled fish adrift in a sea of incredibly fresh and delicious vegetables. The snap of those snap peas was perfection. For dessert we ordered Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with honey fennel pollen & wild fennel. I. LOVE. Fennel and will eat it in any form. This really did not taste of fennel. But! This was one of the best cheesecakes I've ever had and I am PICKY about my cheesecake. It better be NY Style. We also got the Black Cocoa Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich. HOLY CRAP PEOPLE. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this might be the best dessert I've ever had. read more

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Fair Haven Oyster is a cozy, little spot right on the water. Nautical themed with a beautiful bar, plenty of deck seating. We had made a reservation a while in advance, and were super excited to try it out! We started with several cocktails- the velvet undertow that tasted like a wonderful berry smoothie! The medicina Latina was mezcal based with ginger and lemon, very flavorful. We then shared several small plates. The anchovy toast with the pepper relish was insane! We ended up ordering a second plate of those. Fried dough and caviar was decedent and super fun bite sized portions. We then split the lobster tartine, which was a beautiful take on a lobster roll of sorts! Super fresh and light. We then tried the oysters- everything was fresh and local, all different but incredible. Overall, it's totally worth a visit and you will have one of the best meals! read more

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Charming restaurant on the water. We had a lovely meal here. We sampled several small plates and enjoyed the selection of beer and N.A. beers. The menu options were eclectic and incredibly fresh! Everything was delicious! Even though the restaurant was filled with diners, the atmosphere was very comfortable. Friendly staff and top-notch service. We can't wait to return. read more

This used to be a really special restaurant. One of those places that never misses--where the food is not only excellent, but innovative and delightful every time, and where the host and servers and bar tenders make you feel cared for. I went there a few weeks ago and was surprised both a the quality of the food and the service. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. The service was scattered--for example, our oysters arrived in the middle of the meal rather than at the start, as they should--and our server seemed distracted. For an average place, that would have been ok, but not for this place, where both food and service were always precise and stellar: you felt taken care of by the staff and the food seemed made especially for you. And this is how it should be, given the price (last night we spent $200 on 2 drinks, some small plates, and dessert). I went again last night thinking I might just have experienced an off night. But it was significantly worse. We had booked an 8:45 table, but there were also 9:00 seatings available on Resy. We were stuck in significant traffic, so we called to say we'd be 10-15 minutes late. We were told we'd better review the menu and have our order ready as soon as we were seated. When we arrived it was clear that service was going on and there was no need to rush--our server didn't seem concerned about timing, and wasn't particularly attentive. My drink was fine, but my friend's drink was poorly mixed and not sufficiently chilled. We ordered half a dozen oysters. We received 9 oysters, and when we pointed this out to the server, instead of saying "oh, our mistake, go ahead and enjoy them!" she yanked the plate away, took it to the kitchen, and then it came back with 3 oysters gone and big holes around the plate! Charming. And I guess those 3 oysters were going to be served to someone else? Classy. Several of the dishes were ordered were sold out. Fair--it was late. Those we could get were slapdash, over salted, and poorly presented and delivered. We ordered a roasted pepper, crab, and chorizo dish that was awful--chorizo overpowered the whole thing, there was very little crab (which couldn't be tasted anyway because there was so much chorizo), and the peppers were tasteless and watery. We ordered an angelfood cake for dessert. It was drowning in a cloyingly sweet strawberry slurry (like you'd get at a boy scout picnic or something), with a mountain of whipped cream on top. I could have done much better buying an angelfood cake at the grocery store. Really, really disappointing. This was one of my favorite places, and I won't be going back. read more

Delish. Started with some cocktails, oysters and shrimp. Highly recommend the bob salad with oysters, roasted clams and tots with caviar. Great service 10/10! read more

Fair Haven Oyster Co is so freaking good!!! This area has a ton of seafood restaurants, but none of them beat the taste and flavors at this restaurant. It's actually the best chef prepared seafood I've had in CT (and possibly anywhere). Yes...it's that good. We tried several different dishes and everything was absolutely delicious. I'm still thinking about the roasted clams with the gochujang butter (yum)! In terms of service, our waitress sucked and had a terrible attitude but the manager (Lauren) noticed the issue and quickly jumped in and took care of things to make sure we had the best possible experience. The restaurant is nestled in the marina yard on Front Street in a cozy, intimate space. Reservations are highly recommended especially for parties of 4 or more. Definitely check it out! read more

It's a cozy, small place off of the water. The food was good, smaller portions than I'm used to and the service was excellent. They're not really a kid friendly place because of their size they didn't have high chairs or a children's menu but they were accommodating. It's a place worth trying and I plan on returning to try some appetizers! read more

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Nice riverbank view seating with different oysters to choose from.. service is good, but a little pricey if you'd like to try a couple different foods.. easy $140 for 2 people who's not even hungry.. read more

Fair Haven Oyster Co. - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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This place will transport you into the Westbrook lobster area for sure! Cozy tavern vibe, located right on the Quinnipiac River with docks and boats galore. Fresh seafood and a friendly neighborhood setting all add to a great time. A must visit to quench your seafood thirst without having to trek up to the westbrook/clinton area! read more

Delicious oysters, delicious meal, delicious drinks and perfect attentive service! A most definite return and high recommendation! read more

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Exceptional new spot. While the area has some solid seafood, nothing has existed at this level. This place is an instant classic. It reminds me of some of my favorite spots in Portland, Maine--which I'd consider one of the best seafood cities in America. Tinned sardines and oysters were great. The sea bass was phenomenal. Hake "fish and chips" were spot on. Tuna crudo fantastic. And the cocktails were also excellent. Service was on point, but approachable and friendly. The view is perfect and the whole place feels cozy and well designed. I'm glad it's bringing attention to this cool little historic neighborhood too, which I believe has been due to "pop" for a while. Highly recommend! read more

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We've returned a few more times to this great spot on the southern end of the Quinnipiac River, thoroughly enjoying the experience. Service during Our most recent visit was attentive & accommodating. When we asked that a dish on the menu be modified for my pescatarian partner, our server & house management made it happen with a smile. Noise level can be a challenge as Bar & restaurant are busy, even at 5:30. My only disappointment on this visit was that my eagerly awaited frosty martini that was requested served 'up' , arrived to table close to tepid/room temperature . Better to sit at the bar if frosty cocktails served up are your thing. The halibut & the skate that evening was impeccably fresh with the skate wing meaty & rich, enough to be shared by two. I'd love it if they could showcase additional oysters from Maine. Damarriscotta area oysters are the bomb, especially Moondancers & Pemaquids. read more

Well, I would give 3.5 stars but that's not an option. Ambiance is great, very nice location. Service is a bit intrusive. We were talking and the server abruptly interrupted and spouted off instructions on how service would take place. Food was mostly excellent actually although quite over priced. 2 people had $26 burgers which were both overcooked and served with frozen fries. At least get the temp right and make fresh fries at that price. Portion sizes varied from plate to plate on the same dishes, but flavors were good and it's right on the water. Probably wouldn't go again, although if they got a couple of things fixed it would have been a great experience. read more

Recently got a chance to check out FOH with my bestie and fellow food lover! We've frequented TOS so we're excited to check the newer place out. We were running a bit behind on our resos due to a unforeseen emergency, and the staff didn't make it a big deal which was great. We chose to sit at the bar. I had my usual wine and my bestie had the no snow in Mexico cocktail which she raved about. For food we decided to split a bunch of entrees like we usually do. First we had the wedge salad. It was great and had a nice smoky flavor. Next we split the burger. Omg. 10/10. Sooooo juicy and good and the shoestring fries with it were perfect. Next we shared the beer batter hake. Huge portion but wished it were a little crispier but it was still good. Also appreciated the 'chips' to differentiate our fries for the evening. Round it all of with the most friendliest service from the bartenders and we will be back! read more

Fair Haven Oyster Co. - Burger and beer battered hake - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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This was our second experience at this restaurant. We drove up from Fairfield because it is that special. Delicious, uniquely prepared, exceptional dishes; thoughtful, special wine list; welcoming, kind, attentive staff; great vibe / decor. We will certainly return! read more

Love every single thing about this place. Feels like a hidden gem in this old building. Bartenders made amazing craft cocktails and know the menu well. I had these items off the menu (tuna, oyster salad, lobster toast, and clams); highly recommend all of them. read more

Fair Haven Oyster Co. - Tuna dish off the raw bar menu - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Everything looked great and we ordered twice our usual amount! The service is good, the food very tasty, and the sights pleasant. Highly recommend! Sorry it took us a year to find this but we'll be back! read more

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Amazing atmosphere perfect for a summer evening! Delicious food and amazing drinks and great and accommodating staff! Can't wait to go back!

This is a mixed review. We made reservations for the bar area but, upon arriving, found that meant sitting at the actual bar. However, to make us feel better they gave us the corner of the bar and the four of us were mostly able to feel like a group. A text message on the day of the reservation told us that tables for 2 get 90 minutes and parties of 4 get 2 hours so the clock felt like it was ticking before we sat down. No paper menus were available according to our server (smart phone necessary). We wanted a salad with our meal but the green salad had fried oysters on it for $24 so we asked if the salad could be ordered without the oysters; the answer was yes after checking with the chef...but when asked the price it would still be $24. Overall, the service was responsive and friendly. The food was generally great though the serving size of the scallops was small, the skate was a bit mushy and there were no greens available as a side dish. The skate and the (delicious) Branzino was over salted. Also the tangerine sorbet was without a discernible tangerine, let alone citrus flavor. All this might be less concerning if the prices weren't top tier. read more

I've been wanting to try Fair Haven Oyster since I first heard about them opening this past summer. My mom and I finally went a few days ago. Holy moly, a wonderful restaurant experience. We reserved a table in the greenhouse, which, being an uninsulated greenhouse in late January, was chilly despite two heaters running at full blast. HOWEVER: We left our coats on and it was delightful. As many others have said, the restaurant is small. You'll want to reserve even on a "quiet" night. It was a Tuesday evening, and though not completely packed, it was pretty full. The service was professional but not formal. Perfect. My mom and I are not drinkers, but we wanted to try one of FHO's cocktails since we'd read such good things about them. Our server was great about listening to our lightweight requests, and the drinks were delightful. The food was some of the best we've ever had. The menu changes often, but this is what we had: Lobster bisque: Complex, not overly creamy, and just freakin' out of this world. Roasted little neck clams: Scrumptous; could have had 30 of them. Lobster Tartine: Wonderfully clear clean flavor with a little kick from smoked trout roe. Goat cheesecake: Unreal, never had anything like it. Flourless chocolate torte with raspberry coulis: Absolutely lovely. I cannot wait to go back to this wonderfully welcoming restaurant with truly great food prepared with love. Next time will be in warmer weather to take advantage of the outside dining and the beautiful view on the river. Note: My mom has very limited mobility and uses an upright walker. The main part of the restaurant is accessible, however there is one step down into the greenhouse. Didn't think to call about that (reserved online), but I can say pretty confidently that they would have switched us to another table if my mother could not manage the step. But, unless I missed a way in from the outside dining area (?), the greenhouse is not wheelchair accessible at this time. read more

I decided to make a reservation and head down to New Haven on a whim one Saturday and I am so happy that I did! I'm a big fan of trying lots of small bites off the menu and Fair Haven Oyster Co did not disappoint. I tried the fluke crudo, anchovy bruschetta, umi toast and had their homemade lemon and strawberry sorbet to end. Everything was so so delicious. I could have stayed for hours but they are a busy spot! Make a reservation for sure and you won't be disappointed. read more

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