[[HIGHLIGHT]]Amazing servjce, great food in a gorgeous spot![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The fish tasted very fresh and we all enjoyed our orders- got the salmon, bass, shrimp pesto. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The beautiful waterfront seating outside was an extra plus.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Highly recommend! read more

An utter disappointment from the start. We made a reservation and asked for outdoor seating as this was a special event. We were told they would try their best but couldn't guarantee as outdoor is on a first come basis. When we arrived on time for our reservation, the hostess said it would be at least 45 minutes for outside because so many other parties had just sat down. We took an indoor table near the door to the patio. Within 10 minutes of sitting, she proceeded to then put four different parties of all different sizes who arrived after we did, outside. We asked why we were told it was a long wait but now she was allowing others parties. There was a fumbled answer, a few instances of walking away from us mid sentence acting busy but she took little responsibility. We then firmly asked to be seated outside at an open table for 6 (we were 5) but she said it was reserved. Which made little sense because the policy is "first come, first serve" for outdoor seating. How can it be reserved? At this point, our current (indoor) server saw the lack of customer service and took control to ensure that the customer is satisfied. He had us seated outdoors and stayed with us as our server all night. Here was a true professional at his craft doing the right thing. Mgmt take notes! Moving on...the food was also a complete fall down. Fried calamari appetizer was close to raw. Not totally raw as it did require a quick bath in oil to get the breading to fry, but the calamari itself was like eating rubber bands. The theme of undercooking seafood continue to my entre, the warm seafood salad. Calamari raw, scallops.... disgustingly raw and clams... hard to tell but they smelled like they just came out of low tied. Luckily, we were smart to not take more than one bite and sent it straight back. Other dishes like the lobster roll were below the quality you'd get at a fast food fish fry. Overton's next door could do better. This all from a restaurant that holds itself to be a premium venue. The market price for the lobster dinner that night was almost $80. I can only imagine how that would have been presented. In the end, the only thing that saved the entire evening (and why I give 2 stars) was our server, Sean. He was top quality but sadly he had to work double overtime to make up for where most of the other staff fell short. I have been harsh in this review but think it fair to also be constructive. I simply suggest that mgmt. invests more time in training the entire staff. From the kitchen to front of house. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The location is premium and their outdoor seating is a hot ticket. But there are many other waterside restaurants from Stamford to Westport[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. We wish you luck but we won't be back. read more

Absolutely in love with Harbor Lights! We had a fantastic dinner sitting by the water. The staff was attentive and professional, and the valet parking was appreciated. The view was stunning at sunset, and all of the food was delicious! We tried oysters Rockefeller for the first time here and were impressed. Beautiful presentations and a really nice menu with many more things we hope to come back and try. We'll absolutely be keeping this in mind for beautiful water view restaurants in the state! read more

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I would consider our dinner to be a 3.5 for 7/3/23. Not too full so not sure why it to9k so long to get anything. Drinks or food, with our nice waiter making the fried calamari himself. The calamari was perfectly cooked and not oversalted. Small portion for.the price which was consistent with all our food. $18 for the grilled oysters which were tasty. The shrimp stuffed with crab was king of bland for 3 shrimp with 5 asparagus spears and very plain sticky rice for $30. Almost no sauce to speak of which would have helped season the rice. The seafood with linguine was good, but similar to Jordan's which would.be less. I guess we pay for.the view. The noise level was super loud as there was nothing to absorb the noise and only the sunroom was full. The Interior of.the restaurant was empt. I won't go back for a meal, but would go back.for drinks and sit outside. read more

Excellent food, incredible outside deck on water and a great overall venue! The butter lobster roll is simply the best that I've had in a long time. Surprisingly, the fries were just as good! Go when you are not in a rush and enjoy the view. read more

Loved the food, ambiance and service. The only weird thing was there were no oyster forks with the oysters. When we asked for an oyster fork, they gave us a regular fork. Cocktails were great. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]We arrived at 4 PM on a hot July Saturday to a lovely table on the water.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The seafood was excellent, but our water glasses never got refilled, my husband had to ask for bread four times before it finally arrived, and our waitress checked in on us only at the very end of our meal. We felt a little abandoned. I hate to write anything put positive reviews because I know restaurant work is hard, but this was our experience. read more

Disappointing, lobster was oddly dry, it was a whole lobster not sure what they did with it to prepare but i have never had a whole lobster taste stale? the butter they served with was not real butter but some odd tastless oil. Their MP is pretty high not sure why a restaurant on the sound is selling stale lobster at such a high MP. read more

Overlooking Norwalk Harbor, Harbor Lights offers year-round dining. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide a breathtaking panoramic view of the harbor, a highlight of dining here. I imagine that if one comes here during the summer, one will enjoy a glorious sunset, whether dining indoors or on the seasonal outdoor patio. Unfortunately, I went during winter when it was already dark at dinnertime, but it was a lovely view nonetheless. I dined with a group of eight and we had a great time. The staff was friendly and attentive to our needs and requests. Great drinks. The food is just OK. A bit bland. I started with a bowl of lobster bisque. It was creamy and rich and ended up not sitting well with me (which is my own fault because I should have remembered my stomach doesn't do well with heavy creams). But what was also surprising was that the lobster was "sprinkled" onto the soup rather than cooked in it--which is a bit suss when I think of it in retrospect. The broiled salmon in a caper burre blanc was good, but the citrus farro served with it was uninspired. No citrus flavor (other than a very little glaze around the helping of farro); it was just farro, diced carrots, and celery. The staff was kind enough to bring out a piece of tiramisu with a candle when everyone mentioned it was my birthday. Dessert may very well be another highlight here besides the view! Harbor Lights isn't a bad place. Its views and ambiance coupled with its friendly staff certainly make it worth visiting. I would go again, especially once the weather is nicer so I can enjoy watching the sunset over the harbor out on the patio. read more

Harbor Lights Restaurant - Lobster bisque - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Definitely nice scenic outdoor dining , but that's about the only good thing about it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food was very mediocre, but not terrible. Expensive for the quality I think. My tuna tare tare app was bland so I asked for some soy sauce. It was the manger that i asked. She never came back with it. My Linguini with clam sauce came out cold and politely asked them to heat it up. It came back the same temperature. Told the waiter, I'm not going to send it back again, but it's still not hot. I paid the bill and left a 20% tip. On th way out I spoke to the manager about my experience and she initially said she couldn't take it off my bill because I already paid. No offer of any kind to make up for it, but got plenty of attitude from her. Then reminded her she forgot to bring the soy sauce. On my way out the door, she was talking to my waiter, and i said to the waiter, i did tell you it was cold the second time. He said, well you ate more than half so we can't do anything about it. ( truth is i didn't eat more than half). The problem with this place is that they have very young people running it and have no idea how to talk to a customer who just paid $35 for a cold plate of spaghetti. This is my first time there and would not go back. Terrible experience with the manger and ultimately the waiter. If the owner is listening and cares about his business, he or she needs better people to run it. read more

Food was average for what you pay. The Salmon was DRY as the shrimp but the additional fish was good. The rice was good as well. Portions were small , price was $44. The service was excellent and the ambiance was as good. Being a SAT. night or early evening the place was full. reservations are a must. Valet parking only. read more

We travelled by boat early on a Friday evening. After docking (and tipping) we were told the 30 tables that were open were all for reservations. Although we said they would be quick, they insisted that all tables were spoken for. We remained in the harbor for over a half hour and still the majority of tables were empty. Mismanagement at it's finest. Will not be going back. read more

Wonderful Restaurant, wonderful service, wonderful food! Wonder view!Tuna Tartare Tuna Tartaren read more

Harbor Lights Restaurant - Barbour - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Was looking for a waterfront place for lunch so we decided to try the Harbor Lights. The food was really good. I ordered the crab cakes which was seasoned nicely and a broil Lobster which was cooked perfectly. We also had the stuffed shrimp which tasted as good as it looked. I also ordered a glass of Sangria which had a smooth taste without being too sweet. The wait staff was very professional and since we are in a Pandemic, they wore their mask properly. The Harbor Lights had a nice relaxing view, I would love to visit again in the evening to enjoy the view and some more good food. read more

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Stay away - they are very rude to all potential customers. The front of house has no consideration of people. All they do is sit behind the bar eating gummy bears and not doing their jobs. Overall, terrible experience. read more

I had an amazing time celebrating my 6th year anniversary. I was able to get outside seating right as the sun was going down so it was a beautiful sight. Service was amazing and the food was delicious read more

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Harbor lights is one of our go to places on the water. You can have an excellent quiet meal with a water view, enough bustle to be really pleasant. We really started going to places on the water during COVID and we've kept it up. The service and food here is excellent,. If it's on the menu it's good. Wait staff has been consistently good. read more

Unfortunately it's really gone down hill. We have gone here for years and enjoyed the food and view, but hadn't been in a while. On a recent visit a number of unfortunate things happened. First we were arriving in two cars and I arrived first. While I was waiting in my car for my friend to arrive the restaurant staff came out and yelled that I couldn't park in their lot. It was fine when I told them I'd be eating there. But the lot was more than half empty so there was no reason to be yelling at anyone. After being seated the service was very slow even though there weren't many people there and most of the food was just ok. Finally, I made the critical mistake of ordering raw oysters in a not very busy restaurant. They tasted ok, but I spent the night paying for my mistake. I'll be avoid this place in the future. read more

Amazing food, service was top-notch, and the view from the outdoor deck is the best view anywhere on the Norwalk Harbor. Highly recommend Harbor lights. read more

From the horribly designed dining room to the watered down cocktails this place is to be avoided. Everything about this place screams the owner doesn't care or have any idea how to run a restaurant. Great setting spoiled by the amateurish restaurant operation. read more

I love this place. Right in front of the water! It makes it so cozy and fancy at the same time :)

My family and I have been coming here for years and it keeps getting better. The food has always been good but the service is even better than it used to be and their new outdoor deck is a major boost. Nothing more beautiful than sitting outside on the water during the summer and enjoying the gorgeous view of the boats in the harbor during dinner. read more

Harbor Lights Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Food took a long time to come out, and came out cold. Had to send back the appetizer. Then the main took forever to be served. Had to ask to refill water, and we were not asked if we wanted another drink. Basically, the food was decent, but the service was atrocious, with no apology from the server. Atmosphere on the water was nice, but views are not everything. Poor service takes away a lot from a dining experience. read more

On our travels towards Boston, we chose to stop at Harbor Lights for lunch since we were interested in a restaurant that had scenic views of the seashore. It was our wedding anniversary luncheon. From what I read, Harbor Lights has daily fresh catch and follows the refined flavors of the Mediterranean. The outdoor seating and views of the Harbor were wonderful. Their deck is an umbrella seated table patio with specific staff from the restaurant that service you. I ordered the tuna carpaccio dish while my partner ordered the lobster roll sandwich. The tuna carpaccio dish was excellent, but we thought the lobster roll was slightly skimpy. Regardless, they were both particularly good and the views were perfect for our wedding anniversary lunch. read more

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Picturesque on a summer evening. Parking can be crazy but they have valet. Drinks are delicious and food was great. I had the broiled salmon. Crab cake app was good. Glad we tried this place on a whim. Would go back! Check out the ice cream shop next door on your way out too! read more

Harbor Lights Restaurant - Spicy margarita - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Food and service are mediocre at best. Very over priced. If you want a nice view bring your own food to the beach. It will cost a lot less.

This place is so Cozy and just relaxing. I'm a big fan of sunsets and anything on the sea. The food was epic the service was amazing. I loved the breeze as I watched the boats drive by and even small Crabs playing on rocks. I really recommend this place for a date night or just a simple dinner. read more

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Great food & drinks - we had the crab cakes, stuffed shrimp and fish & chips - all were delicious. Good service and a beautiful view of the water read more

Harbor Lights Restaurant - Sauvignon blanc - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

came here for a work diner with a reservation for a group of 20. Overall, the restaurant was obviously just understaffed with one waiter attempting to handle 20 peoples orders/drinks etc. so things moved relatively slow. Not the servers fault he was extremely kind and professional he just wasn't set up for success by his management. Appetizers were great but unfortunately the main dishes were sub par across the board. A bunch of us got lobster rolls that were horribly dry and flakey. The tuna was unseasoned (although the wasabi potatoes were yummy). And other dishes ordered had a similar reaction by the group. I think this is all likely just a product of them being really understaffed for this size group in the kitchen and with wait staff. The view however is beautiful so maybe just come for apps and the sunset and ditch before the bugs come out! read more

Long overdue review. This is my favorite spot to visit whenever i'm back home on the east coast. The views are absolutely beautiful. Best cocktails, amazing food, and friendliest service. This is the perfect spot for a lunch or dinner overlooking the water. They have the most beautiful patio right along the boats, but if it's too cold or the weather isn't ideal, they have plenty of space inside with floor to ceiling windows so the view's just as pretty. They're taking all of the covid precautions with tables spaced out, servers in masks, etc. The food is outstanding. Highly recommend any of the raw seafood- oysters, clams, shrimp, etc. The caesar salad and calamari are delicious and our go to appetizer items. The fish dishes are full of flavor and always cooked to perfection. And the lobster roll is not to be missed- on a buttery roll, filled to the brim with large chunks of lobster (claws and all). 10/10. From a nice casual lunch with a beer and some seafood, to a romantic dinner date with a glass of sancerre and one of their unique specials, Harbor Lights is the spot. read more

Ideal for a casual day to catch the sunset! The vibes are great, food delicious, and the view breathtaking! Highly recommend. Kristine was our host, she is amazing! read more

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Had dinner the other night it was amazing!!! We were the only ones there as it was super early but it was great. I recommend the calamari!

I've had this restaurant bookmarked for quite some time and I am so glad I chose to come here for dinner. One of the best things about this place is your water view as you dine. By the time we got there it was already getting dark so we could not experience the view on a sunny bright blue sky day but what we were able to see definitely makes us want to come for lunch or definitely during the summer. The restaurant has a small bar area with two separate dining areas. The area we were seated in was close to the water view which was excellent. We called to make reservations and as a result we were seated next to a window. Although to be quite honest the dining area was all windows on three sides so you could not miss the view from wherever your table was at in this area. As far as the service-it was top notch. Our server was Silvano (sp?). He was really helpful in discussing the items on the menu and he expertly attended to us all night; making sure our meal was perfect and getting whatever items we needed to make the meal perfect. He kept coming back to top us off with our wine,always coming back at the right time. By the way he had a great sense of humor as well. For starters we had a half dozen oysters which was perfect! The oysters were served without Tabasco or horseradish but when we asked for them our server immediately took care of it. The oysters were a perfect start of the meal. For our entrees I had the Frutti de Marre. The entree had littlenecks, mussels, shrimp, calamari, tuna and salmon in a tomato broth. The seafood was outstanding!!! The broth was amazing! So much so that I had to ask for extra bread because I could not let the broth go to waste. The seafood was cooked perfectly, not over done so it became chewy. It was a big portion but it was not overwhelming. It all went down! My girlfriend had the mussels and she loved them as well. So much flavor. Overall we loved everything about this place and will definitely go back to try other items but I think we will try lunchtime so we can enjoy the water views. read more

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Very unsanitary! I went here with my family a couple nights ago and 2/5 of us went home sick to our stomachs. One had the shrimp scampi and the other had the pastrami smoked salmon. We had a lobster bisque as well which had HAIR in it. I am extremely disappointed by this establishment. read more

It's a solid yes from me. The view is unbelievable, good service, and the food was pretty great. We had the stuffed shrimp with crab, the spaghetti Congolese, and calamari to start. Very happy and will be back ;) read more

Harbor Lights Restaurant - Stuffed shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

On March 28th I held a family wedding shower luncheon for our granddaughter and her fiance. The room overlooking the Norwalk River is lovely even though it was raining outside. Sebastian and Nicole were very helpful, attentive and welcoming to our guests. The food was delicious and plentiful. Everyone remarked how nice everything was and what a good time they had. I didn't rent the entire room, but we had enough space to move about and quietly toast the bride and groom to be. I highly recommend Harbor Lights Restaurant for an evening out or an event. Jane Graham Norwalk read more

Harbor Lights Restaurant - Alyssa and Cody's wedding shower March 28, 2021 - Seafood Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Beautiful view. Most outdoor seating has no awning or umbrella so you're in the full sun. Cocktail prices are NYC prices. Lobster in lobster roll was half of it over cooked. Barely any fries came with it. Raw oysters okay. Salmon pastrami only had 2 small toast points and not even 1/2 a hard boiled egg. It was delicious but not enough accoutrements. read more

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What a tranquil way to spend a fall afternoon eating dockside. There were several gluten free options, including salad, 'sandwiches,' entrees and one pasta. They don't have gluten free buns, but the presentation of my chicken, roasted pepper, arugula, and tomato 'sandwich' was nicely done. They had a good prix fixe for lunch. The staff was friendly. read more

Harbor Lights is one of the best restaurants in Fairfield or Westchester County. The food is fresh, flavorful and expertly prepared and served by a friendly and professional waitstaff. The location and harbor views are truly exceptional and if you like outdoor dining this is the place to go. We have been dining at Harbor Lights for over 10 years and have always had great food and service and have never been disappointed. read more

Someone with great culinary expertise and an innovative approach to food needs to buy this place and overhaul it. It's a great space, with wonderful water views, but the food is way below par. Won't be going back unless that happens. Way too many great places to eat great food in the area to spend any time here. UPDATE: 5/19/22 - It's been a while since my visit mentioned above, and I'm happy to say so much has changed!! First of all, the restaurant has added beautiful, much needed outdoor space along the water. Secondly, and more importantly, the food was OUTSTANDING. Service was a little slow, but it was pretty busy for a Wednesday, so perhaps they just weren't fully staffed. I dined with four other discerning older ladies (you know how picky they can be!) and they all raved about the food. Two of us had the crab cake sandwich and it was flavorful, moist and a healthy portion. I had FOMO over the fish and chips ordered by two of the other's in our party, and the greek salad ordered by the last person looked great as well. I really am very happy that this restaurant has improved because it's right in my neighborhood and in a great spot. Can't wait to go back with my husband! read more