I think I might be biased because I'm from New Orleans where fried seafood and fried food in general are of a different caliber. This place is straight up mediocre. It seems they use a mixture of pre made frozen stuff and some prepped on site stuff. Meeeeeeeeh, what a disappointment. read more

Great lobster rolls with a yummy side of cole slaw at the standard shoreline price of $15. I will return for the soft shells and the fried clams. No atmosphere but who cares! read more

Ho hum. Neither good nor bad. We stopped here for some road food. There were few customers, but we were here in the winter. The facilites are old and the service was with a frown. I don't think the young lady taking my order wanted to be there. The hot buttered lobster roll was so so. The texture of the meat was overdone and the taste was on the salty and fishy side. The fried calamari roll was also just OK. Slightly overcooked. The kids dishes were standard hot dog, chicken nuggets, and fries. Perhaps the lobster roll is tastier in the summer time when the turnover is better. read more

Great lobster roll! Fish tacos were very good, spicy sauce! Fast service and CASH ONLY

Good fried seafood. Has been there forever. The fried oyster roll is tremendous! The dining area and outside are a little dirty and not where we eat. If you go here, get it to go. Drive to the end of Main St and sit by the CT River. read more

My first experience with the lobster roll, and I was impressed. It did make me realize the simple fact that lobster is too expensive for how I think it tastes, but I like the idea, and it was pretty darn tasty. Also, the fries were big and crinkle-cut, just the way I like them. Now that I live down the street, this may be a frequent dining spot. read more

We have been here several times....but tonight. Not so good. Nothing worse than an expensive lobster roll that was soggy and frozen leftover meat. So disappointed... read more

Awesome fried seafood. Wonderful fries and hot dogs! Clam chowder is a little watery, not a thick chowder. I've been coming here for years but it has gradually gone down a little. I hope they pull it together. read more

Lobster rolll decent size. Clam strips on small side. Burgers good. Cole slaw dry. Average mozzarella sticks.

I love this place . Food tastes great and service is fast. Gracious staff. Definitely coming back again. read more

Johnny Ads has always been good. However, TJ's is going to give them a run for their money - the fried clam strips at TJ's rocked. Johnny Ads maybe should not cook theirs so long. read more

Amazing fresh seafood fast...sat outside on picnic tables in the sun and ate delicious fresh food...lobster, cod tacos, fresh clam strips. So yummy. read more

Off their game tonite. Being in the food service business I can tell when it's time to change the oil in the fryer. Bitter tasting clams.

Ordered fish and chips for takeout. It was cod and I think had a cornmeal breading. It was very good. Customer service was excellent, again. read more

Overpriced for what it is. Good clam strips and hit-or-miss lobster rolls. Sometimes you get a great lobster roll other times you get a soggy one with a pathetic amount of meat. read more

Very busy place. Got the chili cheese got dog. Very got. Chili coil have used a little more spice, but had lots of meat. read more

Johnny Ads - Chili cheese hot dog - Seafood Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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Only good part of my lunch was the Cole slaw. Calamari roll is not good. Was deep fried a bit too long and couldn't really taste the calamari, just overcooked breading. Also only contained rings which usually means it's frozen. The fries were undercooked, kinda like eating a mushy potato. To wash it down I got a gross tasting diet coke that was either watered down or flat. read more

We have been coming to Johnny Ads for 30 years. Even after moving away we make sure we visit on each trip back to the area. The last two times, one in February 2016 and two weeks ago, we were so disappointed in the fried clams. Both times over cooked and greasy resulting in tasteless hard pieces. Only thing you could taste was the oil they were cooked in. This has been our go to place for fried clams and before were always fantastic! In past would give 5 stars but not now. read more

My parents wanted to try this place so we went there. We heard that it had good food. I had the hot lobster roll, iced tea, and clam chowder. Maybe it was due to the hype, but I felt very disappointed with the quality of the food. The lobster roll was OK but the lobster felt chewy and tasted like it wasn't fresh. The coleslaw was a bit tasteless. The clam chowder was also kind of bland and the broth tasted like it was out of a can (it may have been home made). However, the iced tea was good! Added to that, when I politely thanked the young girl at the order window for giving me an extra plastic fork for my mom, she replied with, "whatever." I thought that was an odd response to a thank you. How about a "You're welcome" next time? Too much to ask? Anyway, I felt this place warranted two stars. Next time, I'll be going to Lenny & Joe's Fishtale up the street in Westbrook. read more

I love the fish sandwich here, it is a meal. The fish is always fresh and tasty. If you call ahead it is always ready. I love sitting outside in the nice weather. Fresh, friendly and reasonable priced. read more

Been coming here for years and order the same thing every time - fried clams platter with fries. Fried perfectly and the homemade tartar sauce is the best! read more

Absolutely disappointed...we stopped in knowing our favorite place was not open near us and we ordered the Whole Belly Clams, ugh small and lots of fried pieces not clams...left a terrible after taste our order was over $50! Never again... read more

***SOS***SOS, this ship is sinking. Had not been to Johnny Ads in a couple years and heard that it had suffered at the hands of well intentioned but out of their depth new ownership that took over about when we moved. Having been a regular for several summers, the memories of what used to be the best whole belly clams on the shoreline brought us back. The décor and ambiance hadn't changed an iota, nor had the menu in general (see other reviews) but the first sign that something was amiss was upon ordering the whole belly clams, the cashier paused, told me they were $37 and shared that other customers had been upset at the price so she wanted to be upfront about it. $37 for clams!!!! I did a double take, were these magical clams? I took the plunge and stuck to my order. I could not have been more disappointed. The order consisted of perhaps 5-6 real whole bellies, all of which were small. The rest were essentially strips and the whole thing was fried just a little too long so the crunch was hard and clams had lost their hallmark succulence. I felt like some direct feedback was in order but given the sparse crowd on a lovely summer Saturday evening, I sensed that the public had already spoken. On the way home, we stopped at Lenny & Joe's in Mad for soft serve and I took it upon myself to check on the MP for whole bellies. A whole platter, which includes fries and slaw was $18.99. JA's was essentially double. Any whiff of nostalgia is obliterated by the stink of a rip off. Not sure how long they have been operating in this fashion, but can't imagine its sustainable. Hopefully a new captain comes aboard soon because the good ship Johnny Ad's is listing badly. read more

Although the food was good , I was not pleased with the amount I received for a full order of whole belly clams. When I questioned the person that was in charge ,she told me the order was smaller than normal because it was the last of what they had . The basket was not full and contained clam strips which is not what I ordered. I paid over 28 dollars for the order and did not get my money's worth. The woman did not deduct anything off my bill ,but said she would take care of me next time I went there. That may be in a year ,since I don't get down to Saybrook that often. This was a very poor business decision on her part . I hope she was not the owner because I plan on calling to complain. read more

The worst clams I have ever had. Signed up just to give this review!!! $35.00 for whole belly clams!!! Could barely find a belly!! Went there today! The should be embarrassed!! read more

After a beautiful day on the Connecticut River riding the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat we were looking for a place to get some seafood. So we headed to Johnny Ad's. The order taker was friendly although a little flustered so we ordered our food and went out to the picnic tables outside to wait. I ordered the Softshell Crab platter and Toni ordered the fish sandwich. I received a crab cake sandwich, but was too hungry and not picky enough to go back inside and complain. The crab cake had a lot of crab in it, but was seasoned in such a way that you could not tell. Not bad, just not like I like a crab cake. I expect to taste crab. Toni's fish sandwich was large. That is about all it had going for it. The fish was very thin and tasteless. The steak fries were crispy, but nothing special. All in all not fantastic, but not horrible. If you are passing though Old Saybrook, and looking for an old school drive in seafood experience, Johnny Ad's might be for you. We won't be back. Sorry. read more

I'm sorry to say it, but Johnny Ad's isn't that good. The lobster rolls are extremely fishy and inedible. Personally, I love lobster rolls. They are one of my favorite foods. But I was very disappointed when I tried Johnny Ad's lobster roll. It just wasn't good. Also, the clam chowder is very watery. I don't recommend going to Johnny Ad's, even if it's your only option. I hate to criticize someone like that, but Johnny Ad's needs improvement. I look forward to a new and improved (hopefully) Johnny Ad's. read more

I think that Johnny Ad's is a great place to go for a great foot long hot dog or a burger! I will definatly always say good things about this place read more

Johnny Ad's is a solid, roadside seafood shack with an authentic feel. You walk in, place your order and wait for it to be called. It is a cash-only place, but there is an ATM on site. They also serve wine and beer. We got a lobster roll, which was $15, the whole belly clam platter with fries and cole slaw, which ran about $19 (we went in the off-season), New England clam chowder, a can of Blue Moon (I thought was a bottle, but turned out to be a can) and a birch beer. The interesting thing is that they bring the alcohol out to you. Not sure if this is a blue law thing or what. The food comes out of the frier/cooker piping hot and is served on paper plates. We brought it outside and ate at the picnic tables to the side of the building. The lobster roll was very tasty and well-prepared, and the wholebelly clams were to die for. The fries were normal frozen fare, nothing to write home about and the coleslaw was good. The clam chowder was ok. It seemed like it might have been homemade. It was thinner than most and wasn't chock full of clams. It tasted ok, but there are many other places out there with much better chowders. Overall, you got what you paid for. Great fried food and lobster rolls. If you are looking for healthy options go elsewhere. I will definitely go back for the whole belly clams, and my husband said it was one of the best lobster rolls he had ever had. Don't expect any frills, this is a clam shack. read more

Been coming here for years, always reliable fresh seafood with just the right mix of quantity and quality. Fried Clams are the best! Good selection for kids as well. Can get pricy but well worth it! read more

Staff was nice and attentive. Did not care for the clam chowder. Fish and chips loved the cornmeal. Chips are sad crinkle fries. Very expensive lunch for one. Disappointing!! read more

The best lobster rolls around. Absolutely delicious. The fried shrimp platter is also an excellent choice. This food is consistently good. Worth every penny. CASH ONLY. read more

Went here on Sat night 10/7/17 for the first time. I asked the girl taking the orders about the portions for the shrimp platter versus the individual shrimp order. She told me there are 6 shrimp in the individual order and 8 shrimp in the platter. After confirming the portions with her twice, I ordered the platter which came with french fries and coleslaw,and I substituted onion rings for the french fries for an additional charge of I think $0.95. The total came to $20 plus change. When I received my food, there were only six shrimp instead of 8. I asked why they were only 6 and I was told that she was wrong and the platter came with 6, not 8. I asked if they would add two shrimp because that's what I was told I could expect, and after checking with someone behind the counter, she said they could cook two extra shrimp, but they would have to charge me. Really??? And this statement came without an apology for being incorrect. In the interest of customer service, integrity, and accountability, the manager or whoever was making the decision should have honored what she said and given the additional two shrimp at no additional charge. So, I gave them back their 6 shrimp, 9 onion rings, and coleslaw and they gave me back my $20. read more

The best lobster roll in New England - We take take our children and eat outside on the benches. The wide menu variety of menu makes it a perfect location. The kids have hot gods and we eat the lobster rolls. Prices are the best in town !! read more

Delicious food and the staff are incredibly friendly. I always get 2 hot dogs and fries and they're awesome. Highly recommend.

We had a rare midweek day off and top on our list of things to do was lunch at Johnny Ad's. We'd been there several years ago for fried seafood rolls & it wasn't disappointing. Our second visit was even better! We ordered a fried oyster platter & a side of fried scallops. Everything was perfect, right down to even the coleslaw! The scallops were better than the oysters, but I'd still order them again. The thick crinkle cut fries are great, and I'm somebody who thinks fries are pretty much just filler that not much thought is put into--I could've eaten a million of these! The batter on the seafood was light & not overpowering. Johnny Ad's has been operating since 1957, & it's not a mystery why they're still there. The place itself is extremely unassuming & casual, with indoor & outdoor seating. They play '50's classics which adds to the experience--I can't figure out why restaurants don't play music to fit their fare, but Johnny's does! Definitely stop by next time you're in the mood for delicious seafood & nostalgia. And the staff are very nice, too! read more

I think my first time to Johnny Ad's was in 1973 when I 'should' have been in school. Up until then, I never had liked seafood. My date and I shared a Clam Strip Roll here and I have loved them ever since. I have lived down South for 23 years now, but each summer when I return to CT, I make Johnny Ad's one of my MUST GO places. We love eating outside on a picnic bench. read more