Worst Dining Experience Ever! We went for the first time tonight and were very excited to try it out. Unfortunately it was an utter fail. Ok it was a busy Sat night but we couldn't help but feel like our waitress was either rushing us or was no where to be found. The shrimp cocktail was not 100% cleaned (mega gross), my tuna entree was rare when I asked for med rare and we had to ask two times for the bread basket (because I was starving). They had very few accommodations for my gluten-free boyfriend (they didn't have a single sauce in-house that didn't have flour in it). Our waitress thought that we didn't leave the signed copy of the check so she literally ran after us in the parking lot to ask for it. When we told her we didn't have it she didn't even believe us until we showed her that we only had the customer copy. Then I noticed she had a paper hanging out of her apron. Voila - it was right there. So we actually went back in and spoke to the manager but again was greeted with hostility. Ugh. I almost never write reviews but we were so disappointed that I felt this was a must. This place gets 1 star at best. read more

Had lunch there today. Let me start by saying the location and view are great, but too bad there is no outdoor dining like they had years ago. The room where the patio was is now a closed-in dining room that was very warm and stuffy. Too bad. As for the food, we had chicken souvlaki, which was pretty good, a warm mixed seafood salad which had slightly undercooked mussels and calamari as well as some spongey octopus and a bland dressing on a bed of arugula, and finally a lobster roll which consisted of cold lobster salad on a brioche type roll. Not bad, although a little too salty and served with a small handful of very mediocre shoestring fries. We only had one glass of wine each for a total of two drinks and the bill for lunch was $72 before tip! I won't rush back. read more

Pleasurable dining experience with a small concern... I took my family here for my wife's birthday dinner. The view of the harbor was nice, the vibe amongst the diners warm and the food was excellent. The bar made a good mojito, and the raw bar was traditionally presented and satisfying. My wife had the Salmon with the beurre blanc sauce that comes with asparagus and rice and she enjoyed it. I had a few small plates - the salmon tartar and the lamb lollipops which were both great dishes and as tasty as I'd hoped they'd be. We found the meal to be delicious in every way. No complaints at all with the food. Our server was knowledgeable and polite and our bus boy was friendly and professional. There was one problem... Our server seemed to be handling all the tables (six - which is a lot, considering a party of six was having him split their check six ways...ugh), and the other servers seemed be doing nothing, which included responding to my repeated attempts to summon their attention so I could pay our bill. After sending my wife with the kids next door for ice cream (kids get restless), so I could remain for a moment and pay the bill, I realized no one cared to acknowledge me. Ultimately I got up and found the manager (owner?) at the bar so I could tell him nicely that I'd been waiting for ten minutes to pay my bill to no avail. I told him I am a chef at a successful restaurant and I was happy with the food, but was concerned about the service. Just a little helpful tip from an industry insider about an issue that probably should be addressed. He acknowledged me, but didn't appear to give a damn about my concern as a diner or restaurant colleague. In fact he just seemed annoyed. Okay. I told the server he was doing a good job and what concerns I'd addressed to his superior, and told him I hope he didn't get in trouble, but I feared he might. The staff there seem to be professional but walking on eggshells in fear of their boss and I can understand why. He was cold and unfriendly. Not the ideal type of personality conducive to creating an overall pleasant dining experience. In any case, the food was good. read more

Both entrees were overcooked. The 1 1/2 lobster has a cheesy stuffing that was heavy without being tasty, not worth the calories. Our waitress was pleasant but certainly did not have a command of the menu. I am disappointed, the only redeeeming feature is a spectacular view of the Norwalk River. read more

It was a very disappointing meal. We went with friends for Sunday brunch. Food wrong and lukewarm with bad service. The whole reason for going was to sit in the harbor front room which we reserved 2 days before. When we got to the restaurant there was a baby shower in the room so we were seated in the main dining room instead. The staff was way more focused on the big party which was very loud. read more

Not worth the price for the view. Food is meh and the service is also meh. This review based on several times dining here- to see if the first time was a fluke. It wasn't. I have not been back in over a year and don't plan to be. read more

We were there for Thanksgiving and had the two most disappointing meals of our life. The turkey was mostly dark meat trimmed in fat, no stuffing, no cranberries, no gravy, & no sweet potatoes. Three shrimp over angel hair had sauce (?) that tasted like Campbell's tomato soup. When we asked for the cranberries (on the menu) we were told that the watery pink juice on the turkey was the cranberry sauce. The pumpkin pie was dry. Everything but the salad was almost un-edible. All this for $142.84 for two. This was not our first visit--but it was the last. I gave you one star because it was required to submit. read more

We have been here a few times, but on a rainy, cold, windy spring night, we decided to return. What a delight! Food was excellent, but we will come back to spend more time with Jimmy, our bartender. (We sat at the bar - always our favorite.) The octopus was spectacular. We will be back - maybe even next week. Save a seat for us, Jimmy! read more

Just recently we had Easter dinner at Harbor Lights! I must say I will never go back to this place again! The experience was awful food was cold and blend , the place was dirty! I felt like I was in a dinner! Coffee cups were stained and dirty! There was a waiter that was constantly walking and hitting my chair so annoying! This place needs a serious renovation and new experience staff that knows what they are doing! read more

Been here several times with large and small groups. The food, service, and view have always been great. It's not cheap, but a fun treat on a nice afternoon read more

We held my parents' anniversary celebration at HL last week. Group of 14 people ranging from their 20s to 90s. We booked a 5 pm reservation given the size of our group. The food and service were excellent. Standout appetizers were the blue point oysters, lamb lollipops, and calamari. Everyone was happy with their meal. The server even helped the gluten-free vegetarian family member find a couple of choices. Thanks Harbor Lights. read more

We were driving and googled seafood restaurants and came across Harbor Lights. We made a reservation, and decided to stop in for dinner. Everything was AMAZING! The service was top notch. We had the Harbor tower for appetizer along with the crab cake. So fresh and tasty. Definitely recommend it if you like raw seafood. My son is very picky , ordered the strip steak and he gave 2 thumbs up! I had lobster risotto, the best I've had in a long time. My daughter had the salmon, and can't stop raving about it. Lastly , my husband had the surf and turf. He could not finish it all, but loved every bite. The Cosmos were perfect! Definitely recommend this restaurant! We will be back ! read more

I have been to Harbor Lights a few times --- actually every time I was in the area. The first time I went to this restaurant, I had a grilled octopus appetizer that was above outstanding. Since then, I kept going mainly because of this appetizer --- grilled to order, the presentation and test were unmatched. However, today, June 1st, the appetizer was a huge disappointment --- totally mediocre, in a stew like sauce. Most likely it was slightly grilled hours before it was served, put in some tasteless stew sauce and then just reheated before being brought to the table. A $15 appetizer that I will never order again. Such a major disappointment! However, because our waiter was extremely attentive and the overall service was great I gave the restaurant three stars. read more

Great views. Very attentive servers. Food was not great. Chef seems clueless how to cook different fish. Manager's ability to sort out problems is zero. Very overpriced for what you get. Someone should buy this restaurant and improve the dining experience. read more

Had a wonderful delicious dinner on Harbor Lights new outside deck. The view was spectacular and the food and service perfect! I had a pan fried grouper with veggies and potatoes that was a special. The fish was cooked just right-tender and flavorful. I first indulged in some fresh blue point oysters and finished the meal with the delectable key lime pie. It was a lovely evening and I can't wait to go back! read more

Lovely, reasonably-priced seafood (did not try non-seafood meats though) and charming, amiable service. And if you go on a quiet night you can get a seat by the window, where you can see the Sound and the sunset. My only complaint is that their selection seems a bit small compared to other seafood restaurants--no soup or crostini for example--but then the restaurant itself is quite small. Will definitely be going back! read more

Maybe Mother's Day not the best time to try. Beautiful view but service was horrific. Fixed menu. Enjoyed my meal...stuffed shrimp was very good, but beyond that, I would never recommend. The Bloody Mary was horrible (and I love a Bloody Mary). Tasted like cocktail sauce. Will never come back. read more

I would love to dine here often but it is so loud, I walk out with a headache. Can't even talk to the people at my table without shouting. Dining out should be good food, good atmosphere and good conversation. This one has food and a view but no conversation because of the noise. Owners should consider some sound absorbing improvements. read more

In order of experience. First, a friendly welcome. Secondly, beautiful view: dining on the water is a rare treat. Thirdly, very friendly and professional service. Fourthly, well thought out wine list. Fifthly, food, which breaks down into parts; A, is for appetizers. Calamari, crisp and perfectly tender. The chipolte sauce has an excellent kick. Lobster bisque, oooh. Mussels, lots and taaasty. Oysters Rockerfeller, a wealth of deliciousness (sorry, had to use that line). But the table next to us ordered the raw bar selection and it looked amazing! It was a tower of seafood! E, is for entrees. Lobster, duh, on the money. Snapper, clean delivery that made the fish perfect. Sole Francese, dipped in egg, sautéed, consumed with glee. Cowboy Steak was a special (Bone in Ribeye), reminded me of the opening of the Flintstones where the car tilts over from the weight of the ribs. My pal asked for MR, and got it that way, which is usually not the case; a win. D, is for dessert. Talk about not having room, but we forced ourselves to share an Ekmeck (I'm guessing at the spelling), a greek dessert with a vanilla custard filling, yummy! Also a classic tiramisu, also yummy! Sixthly, go and dine there! read more

I called about 20 mins before we got there because we didn't realize we needed reservations, but we were seated immediately. The atmosphere is rather pretentious, but I think that's what they are going for. The food was delicious,and I don't even like seafood! I had octopus and it was cooked perfectly. If you order two apps instead of an entree you can save quite a bit of money. read more

Harbor lights is one of the best seafood places that I have being ! The service was excellent and the view is incredible .

Beautiful ambiance for lunch. The staff is friendly and courteous. Our food was delicious. Would definitely visit again if I'm ever in the area. read more

Went here last night with a group of 9. The location is beautiful, right on the water, and the restaurant is filled with windows giving you a wonderful view of the boats and the sunset. Before the meal we asked for separate checks which they did without an issue. Drinks were refreshing - I had a mojito and my boyfriend had some vodka drink with kiwi nectar which was yummy. I was disappointed to see the menu was different than what they advertised online (of course what I had been eying wasn't on the menu in the restaurant). Appetizers were solid - Caesar salad was crisp and garlicky and no shortage of Parmesan shreds which I loved. Calamari could have been cooked a tad longer but the escargot was the star! My brother had oysters which he said were awesome. I ordered the shrimp Mykonos which was shrimps mixed with rice, onion, pepper, and mushrooms. The shrimps were plentiful and cooked perfectly, however the dish has a whole was a tad salty. My boyfriend had the lamb which he devoured and said was delicious. They even made my uncle shrimp scampi which wasn't on the menu. We skipped dessert and went to the little beach shack outside where we had cheap, delicious soft serve (only $1.00 for a small, which wasn't so small!). The only issues I had was the service was a tad slow. The restaurant wasn't too crowded however it took forever to order. They also kept taking our drinks and asking if we'd like another before we'd even finished our current drink. The table we were at was directly in the sunlight and it was hard to see everyone at the table without squinting/wearing sunglasses. This also made the table very hot. I wish they would have had half blinds or something of that sort. All in all we had a wonderful time and would likely recommend this place to friends. read more

Just finished eating and the food was awesome. Service was excellent. Everyone is so polite and friendly. You can't ask for a better place to eat. You get great food, excellent service and a fantastic view of the water. read more

It was our first time to Harbor Lights and we will be back. We were met at the door by a friendly and attentive host named John, who escorted us to our table. Sebastian or waiter who had a cute French accent proceeded to describe the evening specials and was able to suggest wines to go with dinner selections. The meal was superb. The view breath taking. The evening unforgettable. read more

Just had a wonderful and delicious dinner at Harbor Lights. We were a table of 8 with ages ranging from 6 to 81 and everyone had an enjoyable night. Our food was excellent and service was very attentive. The gorgeous views and salt-water air was icing on the cake. Highly recommend! read more

Price-Fix menu, on Mother's Day, turned out to be nothing but an excuse for mediocre cuisine and abhorrent service. Meats were over-cooked and dry, drinks disappeared after the first round (even water service dried up by dinner), and the waiter didn't even offer coffee/tea with dessert. For $69/pp you figure maybe mom gets at least a complimentary mimosa or margarita - nope those are $11 each, and poorly made at that. Menu was set, but inexplicably strict ( Not even mashed potatoes for fingerlings with the steak - must order the chicken if you want mashed, sorry... "no substitutions"!!). With young children at our table, total service time was 3hrs!! Waitstaff seemed pre-occupied serving a party of 12+, probably since they knew there was a guaranteed tip, waiter never even came back to check on how our dishes were. Will not return, and will warn off as many others as possible! Stay away!! read more

A reviewer can't give zero stars? Great news for this dump. Greek diner with table clothes. Not to insult Greek diners. A seafood place on the water, in New England, with frozen fish. Wtf? Service was an absolute nightmare. Decor dated and tacky. It seems I was suckered in as so many others have been because of this restaurants location on the water, which is beautiful. I suppose the owners though that it ends there and they can serve garbage. When my wife and I inquired about the freshness of the fish dishes we ordered the waitress actually said she would check if the fish was fresh or frozen. Why would she not know that a seafood place on the water in New England served fresh fish automatically? This was close to the worst meal in my life. Fish frozen, undercooked sole, smelly crab, under seasoned, no care with presentation, old and dated...like McDonald's opened a seafood place. Taco Bell has better food. I can't imagine what kind of person gives this dump a good review. Someone in awe of water? There are much better places in CT on the water that serve FRESH seafood! read more

well i finally decided to try this restaurant after seeing the commericals on tv so many times...we were celebrating fathers day and my birthday...As upon entering the atmosphere and views were spectular... we decided to start with a few appetizers... i ordered the arugla salad and asked for some gorgonzola when the brought it to the table there was hardly any. spending this amount of money for a salad.. the fried calamari was good and tender... as for our dinners...my dad ordered the lobster and scallop risotto which was cold the lobster was tough the dish had no flavor and tasted like wallpaper paste.. my sister had the red snapper which had no flavor and was cold ..the other person ordered the shrimp stuffed with crabmeat which was also cold had this wierd flavor which no one like... and i had the cioppino which was cold the clams were like rubber the shrimp was tough and overcooked and the swordfish and snapper were very dry and didnt care for the broth as well...it almost seemed that all our dinners were precooked and the heated them up in the mircowave..even though they came out cold...overall will i give this place a second chance....absoltuly not...i believe in first impressions unfortunatly we did not get it....and spending a $200 or more bill what a waste i could have made the meal better myself... read more

Worst experience in a dining establishment in a VERY long time. Went tonight for Valentine's Day. When we booked our reservations, they never mentioned having a price-fixed menu of $100 for two people w/ VERY limited choices. The portions were VERY small and my steak was ordered medium and came out rare. I did not send it back as it took almost an hour for the meal to come out after we were done with our very small appetizers and bread (that we had to ask for). The service was beyond terrible, as they never asked what we wanted to drink. My girlfriend doesn't drink and I'm on medication so I can not have alcohol for the time being. We ordered a Peligrino water and a small coke. This was an extra $15 added onto the $100 fixed price menu. The whole in and out experience took over 2 and a half hours, and we almost missed our movie. Also, they sat us on TOP of a heater so hot air was blowing on us the whole time. Our deserts took 40 min. to come out (but the spoons came out after 20). Our waiter came over just once to say "Oh, you didn't get your desert yet?" Only the bus-boy kept coming back (who worked his tail off, he should be recognized). So in total I dropped $140 w/ a 15% (normally I drop at least 20% but even 15% was generous) tip on a small salad, two small dinners, a water, small coke, and a very, very tiny desert not to mention the steak wasn't cooked properly, service was rude and we sat on top of a heater. I am NEVER stepping foot in here, and nobody I know will as I've already spread the word to people who were interested in coming there. I feel like I lost out on $140 and am still hungry, and it basically ruined our Valentine's Day experience... read more

If you get a seat by the window, the view is amazing. The food is very good and the service was fine. We started with the mussels and the octopus. I would pass on the mussels, they were very small and nothing special. The octopus was great. Then I got the lobster bisque which was flavorful and a good portion size. My husband got the caesar salad which was a typical salad. For the entree, I got the seafood casserole. It was fantastic minus the mussels again. The fish was all prepared correctly (nothing chewy or rubbery). My husband got the shrimp and scallop risotto and he said it was very creamy and again a good size portion. The server was ok, he was attentive but very distant. We never even learned his name but he did his job (drinks refilled quickly, plates cleared in a timely manner, brought the check once we were finished). Overall it was a very good experience. I would go back because the food is really good. read more

I had been looking forward to going to this restaurant for a while now. I went on Sat. May 13 (to celebrate Mother's Day one day early). I wasn't blown away and will not go there again. At first, I didn't like that the waiting area to be seated at your table was right in front of the kitchen where all the plates/entrees are picked up from by the wait staff. We were not seated in the section by all the glass windows. The lighting in the 2nd seating section was too low. The main section seating had much better lighting. The bread was cold. I thought that for this caliber restaurant they should serve EVOO with the bread instead of butter or give you the choice. The meals were fine. My daughter had the Lobster Risotto and it was delicious. I ordered the Vanilla Crème Brulee for dessert and was disappointed. It was not spectacular. We also ordered the grilled lamb lollipops as an appetizer. They were good but very pricey for the 2 lamb pops (that were small) with a small side salad. Expected more overall. read more

We were at Harbor Lights for the first time today for Mother's Day.There were four in our party and my daughter had selected the restaurant and made the reservation. My husband and I had reviewed their special Mother's Day menu this week on-line and read some of the reviews which were listed on this site. The fixed menu for Mother's Day and the prices were clearly advertised so there should be no need to be surprised.The parking lot and restaurant were at full capacity, however, we were seated quickly, and the waiter showed up immediately. After placing our orders, our beverages were quickly served and it wasn't long after that the appetizers arrived. The wait staff and bus boys were polite, friendly and did their jobs well. Each of us had selected different entries, and the presentation, taste and quality were perfect. Our table was cleared quickly between courses, and each desert was a home run! The weather was perfect and the scenery out the windows was breathtaking. I would recommend Harbor Lights as a delicous, pleasant, dining experience. read more