Johnny Ad's is a modest, family business in Old Saybrook, CT. We stopped for lunch on our way home from the Coast Guard Academy and will definitely go back. The offerings are what you would expect to find near the shore; fried clams (whole and strips), fish & chips, lobster roll, etc. You have a choice of platters (come with a roll, coleslaw and a heaping serving of fries) or a side order (main item without the extras). After ordering, your meal will be brought to your seat when ready. I ordered the side of whole fried clams and couldn't finish my portion. The prices were comparable to what we've seen elsewhere, and the customer service was exemplary. Even though it was February when we ate here, there was a decent line behind us (which moved quickly). I'm sure during beach season, the line is much longer. There is plenty of parking (front and back). The dining room is small, around 10-15 tables, and has a small bar. There are picnic tables outside for warm weather dining as well, and if you still have room for dessert, there is an ice cream window. read more

Not the cheapest place in the world, but not bad by any means. I had the fish and chips and my partner had the chili dog. Was surprised to find a more homemade chili instead of a can poured on. Fish tasted great. All in all we were satisfied with our meal and would come again. read more

Hot buttered lobster roll Yeah, Johnny Ads has been here forever in one form or another and just about everybody that has lived or vacationed on this part of the Connecticut shoreline has been here. Probably many times. Johnny Ads started out as a little shack and now it's grown into a bigger shack, but still retains the classic seafood shack ambiance and feel. You can get all kinds of the typical fried seafood stuff like calms, scallops and seafood platters as well as the usually dogs, burgers, onion rings, shakes and fries. And of course you can get lobster and lobster rolls. But be warned, the lobster rolls aren't the "traditional" cold Maine lobster rolls goopped with mayo, but but the heratic Connecticut lobster rolls served hot and with butter. I remember my friend Richard from Ga went up with me to Maine looking for the perfect lobster roll. Since I grew up in Connecticut, eating the hot, buttered lobster rolls, I just assumed most were served this way. Little did I know that asking for a hot lobster roll in Maine was considered blasphemy. Richard finally had to ask special for a hot, buttered lobster roll and received viperous stares along with his sea bug. Yeah, Johnny Ads has been around forever and you can still get all kinds of different seafood here and the place still gets insanely crowed in the summer. But if you want a lobster roll you will get a Connecticut version, not the Maine one. And this is probably what most people outside of Maine want anyway. read more

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We FINALLY got to this place we have wanted to go here for a while. It was good not out of this world, but good. My husband and I had lobster rolls the hot one and don't know what it is about the bun, but it gets soggy and falls apart and the last thing you want to do is loose lobster meat! Most places has the same bun and the same problem, the cole slaw was good and fries were nice and crunchy. My son had the hot dog and it looked really good. Not bad... not great but good solid place. read more

Good food, but pretty pricey - we were surprised to spend $40 on a lunch for 2 after reading the reviews that said pricing was very reasonable. Our lunch was a grilled cheese & fries, lobster roll ($20 alone!) and fries with 2 sodas. Friendly servers & our food was ready within about 5 minutes of ordering. We'd come back again for a lunch - minus the lobster roll. read more

Johnny Ads - Lobster roll & Grilled cheese for lunch - Seafood Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Sun 11/3/13 2:30PM 1 Hot Lobster Roll 16.50 1 Soft Crab Plate 14.50 1 Clam Strip Plate 13.25 6 Fritters 5.95 4 cans of domestic beer 16.00 The beer was in the 45-50 degree range, which is too warm for American macrobrews. I wished they were in the 35-40 range to wash down all the fried foods we ordered :( The lobster roll was the smallest I've had in the New England region; which made it a bit disappointing. Overall, it was an okay experience. read more

Lobster roll and fried seafood was excellent. They have a wide variety of seafood on the menu, both grilled and fried and their tartar sauce is very good - which to me is a true qualifier of a good clam shack. The service is self serve and they have seating outside and inside which is a plus. Prices are about average compared to other places that we have visited along the shore. This place is a great option for an informal seafood fix if you dont want to bother with the wait for a sit down full service meal. read more

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Had a fabulous lobster roll, EXACTLY LIKE I WANTED IT. It came with a little mayo and celery in a large hot dog style bun. I did not eat the bun, but did love the side of Cole slaw. I believe it came to $21.00. read more

Johnny Ads - Seafood Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

I came yesterday for lunch with my mom. Growing up in Westbrook and moving to Fairfield County i forgot how dang amazing Johnny Ad's was. We each had a clam strip roll with coleslaw and sat outside. They played 60s jams outside on the speaker system and quickly called our number for the food. It was amazing. So fresh. The clam strips were huge and meaty, so fresh, and so delicious! I will make sure to stop here when i am in town more often. It came to about $20 with a soda and both rolls. But the rolls were MASSSIVEEEEE! So much bigger than you would think. The bun was fresh and soft ugh I want another right now!!! read more

Johnny Ads - Seafood Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Went here for lunch today. I ordered the fried whole belly clam platter and New England clam chowder. The whole belly clams were basically just lumps of greasy batter. There were hardly any bellies. The soup was literally just broth with chunky, unseasoned potatoes. I could not find a clam in there if my life depended on it. Not to mention I witnessed all of the food being handled and cooked by people without gloves behind the counter. read more

Johnny Ads - Greasy lumps of batter (aka fried clam bellies) - Seafood Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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After landing in Hartford, we headed straight to the shore for some seafood. The Yelp reviews and prices seemed right so I chose Johnny Ad's. As always, Mom got her lobster roll. She chose the hot one with butter, which she seemed to like, but I could tell it didn't blow her out of the water. I opted for a fried clam strip roll. I got a New England hot dog roll that was absolutely overloaded with fried strips. They could have been hotter in temperature, but they tasted very crispy and tender. I added a little tartar sauce, that added an extra layer of flavor. Their crinkle cut fries were good too. I also like the condiment bar and that I could take all the pickles I wanted! There was a mix-up with our drinks. I ordered two sodas and the owner charged us for them but I noticed we didn't get them with our food. I went back to the order window, and asked for them, and she said we never then said she didn't. We kind of went back and forth on that issue before they realized they did charge us for them. Everything was friendly, it was just kind of a confusing situation. It's a pretty good local spot, not sure I'd return though. read more

In the current state of CV-19 world crisis, there is no better time to support your local businesses. Take out and car dining is pretty much how Johnny Ad got started. We've been a few times during the past few weeks, grabbed a few hot dogs and onion rings and relaxed in our car while maintaining social distances. Thank you for staying open during this difficult time. read more

This place is a perfect, funky roadside shack serving up fresh sea food, burgers and dogs. We only had the hot lobster roll and it was the best we ever had so I don't think we well be trying anything else off the extensive menu. $20 lobster roll was well worth the price. Only 1 mile off of Rt. 95 read more

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Obviously a popular place! Food was ready quickly. We ordered lobster rolls, calamari and shrimp. The shrimp platter was by far the best. read more

This Route 1 clam shack with the unique name has been passed from one family to another family over the years. The current owners are not the original owners, so don't ask to see Johnny or Mr. Ad. The fried seafood is fairly consistent and very good. They offer unique platter specials that you typically don't find at other clam shacks. For example, on occasion I'll order their grilled swordfish sandwich special. It's a tad bit on the dry side but I kinda like it that way. It's a nice departure from the usual fried clams that I traditionally order. Another example is the salmon platter. One other unique thing about this place is that they serve a small dinner roll with every fried food platter. Yup, a dinner roll. You're thinking how classy, right? Well, not exactly because everything is served on paper plates. But I must say the dinner roll is a nice touch. They even provide butter for it. Yes, it's fine clam shack dining at its finest. You can eat indoors or outdoors. Cash only, however there is an ATM inside of the building. read more

Fried whole belly clam plate came with fries, coleslaw and small bun for $30 and some change with tax. Very good! Solid portion. Slaw was a pinch dry. Very nice amount of outdoor seating too! read more

Went to Johnny Ads in April and it was terrible. I actually returned the soup it was like water and the clam strips and my husbands clams were so few it was ridiculous. I'll never go again. read more

Connecticut is known as the place that specializes in the unique food category of hot buttered lobster roll. If you go north to Maine it is generally served cold: salad style mixed with mayo and garnished with lettuce. That's how "purists" say lobster rolls should be done and judged. Nonsense! I love melted butter and if I'm ordering a lobster roll it's got to be dripping in the stuff. The purists can have their version. This is better. In Connecticut there are a lot of places that do this roll well but, for my money, nobody does it better than Johnny Ad's. It's the best because it meets all my personal criteria that makes a great hot lobster roll. One, it is generous on the butter but doesn't drown the meat and roll. Two, the lobster chunks are huge. There is no skimping on quantity here. Three, the roll is a New England style bun that is foot long, perfectly grilled and able to absorb the butter just enough to allow the roll to melt in your mouth. Case closed. This is the best! I've yet to have a hot lobster roll anywhere else in New England that beats Johnny's version. I'd love to find it but I don't know that it exists. But as good as the lobster rolls are they aren't the only reason to visit Johnny's. The fried seafood and hot dogs are also excellent. Johnny's also has some outstanding fried seafood rolls (clam and scallop) that you also should not miss. Again, the beautifully toasted bun is a big reason all their seafood rolls are so great. Johnny Ad's has been a Connecticut shoreline institution for decades. Based on the quality of the food it is easy to see why people keep coming back for more. read more

I have been going to Johnny Ads for years. There is NOTHING like a beach day and Johnny Ads. Pricey but delicious -- stick with the classics. Fried scallops piled high with fries and a diet coke make the perfect meal. I love their tartar sauce. Place is small but outside seating adds to it. Can't wait for summer to go back! read more

My husband and I were reluctant to go here after reading the reviews but decided to give it a try anyways since the weather was so nice and we wanted a place to eat outside. We were glad we did. We ordered the clam strip dinner, a lobster roll and onion rings. We ate every last bit. It was all wonderful. My only complaint was that the lobster roll wasn't quite enough to fill you for dinner and for the price, we really think it should've had fries come with it. We also order the fries well done since we read on here a lot of people saying they were mushy. Definitely a good idea. We will surely be back! read more

Johnny Ads - Onion rings, clam strip dinner(fries well done) and lobster roll. - Seafood Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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Only go here if you want to burp up old grease and get lied to. I ordered the fish sandwich, when I asked what kind of fish it was, the lady at the counter said it was cod, when I got the sandwich it looked like flounder, again they told me it was cod. when I got to the table and pulled back the greasy breading you could tell it was talapia. Don't lie to customers, alot of us who know are fish and know cheap frozen talapia when we see it. I did eat it, because I was hungry, but three hours later I'm burpping up old oil. Never again read more

I searched where to get a real lobster roll and this is what I came up with. Although I wish the roll was a little bigger (because I was splitting it with someone else), the amount of lobster you get is enough. The lobster pieces were big too. I thoroughly enjoyed my half. We also ordered a cup of Rhode Island Clam Chowder which was delicious. I had to brag to my mom because we can't find Rhode Island Clam Chowder in Florida. The fries were cooked seriously fresh and sizzled when I put the vinegar on them. I would absolutely recommend this place to someone looking for a good new england meal. read more

Good was pretty tasty. Ordered the lobster roll platter. I'm not very experienced with lobster rolls, but this thing was jam packed with lobster meat. I guess for $18 there should be a lot of meat. Also ordered the clam chowder...it seemed tasty enough for five bucks. The clam fritters were really good, and just like everything else in this world, they're even better with a bunch of tartar sauce. The place is really cute, and the 1970's decor and rotting taxidermy gives the place the proper hole in the wall feeling that we were going for, and it's part of the reason we'll return when we're in the area. If you want to feel like you're on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, you should go here. read more

Johnny Ads - Lobster roll and clam fritters - Seafood Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

typical shoreline joint. Prices are sky high and they still only accept cash. Come on, cash only? What is it, 1953? Get with the times. Food- All the usual fried stuff. Soup was bland. My iced tea tasted like water. read more

Yeah. I would give this place an 'ok'. I mean It was pretty delicious but nothing extraordinary. I had the hot lobster sandwich with a side of fries. Lobster was great but bread was soggy. Fries were hot and very thick..a little too thick for me... I like mine thin and crispy. All in all.. It was an 'ok' experience. read more

Great spot, take my daughter there all summer for cheeseburgers and ice cream, it's like going back in time. Friendly employees take orders then we sit at picnic table in the sun or shade depending on the day and listen to great music from the olden days. Could t be a nicer spot to take the kids & family on a summer night read more

This is a great place to get your Lobster-Roll fix on. A tad pricey; and they really play off the whole oldies theme; but seriously this is a great place to grab a roll. Giving this a 3/5 solely bc I'm a huge fan of the Lenny/Joes lobster roll; I think they use more claw meat and is more delicious honestly. But the debate shall ensue for years to come which is better.... read more

Came here for lunch while cruising the shoreline. Typical seafood shack with a variety of items. Open kitchen looked very clean and organized. Half dozen clam cakes. Burger, hotdog and cheese fries. All hot and fresh. Very tasty. Under $20 for all. Will return! read more

Not your fancy shoreline selection for a restaurant but its a great place to stop in and have their award-winning lobster roll. BYOB and sit out on the picnic tables and enjoy a nice summer lunch. Definitely check this place out if you are looking for a quick/casual lunch along the shoreline w/ impressive tasting food. read more

Friendly faces at order window. Terrific hotdog recommended by tire store guy, Thu, who was changing my flat tire. Just right for informal meal on the way to somewhere else. read more

I do not get to New England very often, so when I do, the first thing I track down is a fried clam roll. This place was recommended to me by a cousin who lives in the area. We drove up to the cute picnic tables and the cute restaurant, and I knew the food was going to be delicious. So I order myself a nice fried clam strip roll, and brought it outside to enjoy the perfect September day. Under those striped umbrella's I enjoyed one of the best fried clam rolls of my life. If you ever visit this area, I would demand you come here!! It's just SO GOOD!!!! So good in fact, I went twice during my 4 days there!! Next time I'm back in CT, I will be hitting up Johnny Ad's for another delicious fried clam roll. read more

My go to place when I'm in town. Love their hot dogs and lobster rolls. The best hot dogs however are at KAMP DOG in New London (see my review). The lobster rolls are served HOT. And the buns are toasted which is always a good sign. read more

The food here is fairly consistent and is served year-round. They have a pretty big menu, but the healthy choices are very limited. FIVE caveats - 1. most of the food is fried, 2. the portions are small, 3. almost no broiled or baked options, 4. the food is pricey for what you get, and like Bill's Seafood - 5. CASH ONLY (but they do have an ATM on site). Overall this place is a safe bet for fried seafood, has the best fish taco I've had in a while, is pretty consistent and is very clean. read more

Quaint little fish shack. Clam roll was absolutely delicious. They have real tartar sauce too, chunky and delicious. The clam chowder was atomic and burned my mouth. A little bland for my tastes too, but not bad. They're pretty pricey though, so I would find a cheaper place if you're on a budget. It's not like you are want for fish shacks in New England. read more

There's no point in my going on and on. It's a clam shack. It's a hot dog stand. It's hands down, the best soft shell crab sandwich I ever had. The chowder was very good. And the T-shirts say "Frankly Scallop, I don't give a clam..." read more

Nostalgic for our family but the quality is gone. Either it's frozen food or too greasy, it's just gross now. It's unfortunate

I love the fish & chips here! They give you a very generous portion of fish & chips, and I usually have to share it or take some home. It seems that the lobster roll is highly recommended. I guess I'll have to try one of these soon! :) read more

Good local grub, sandwiches and seafood for a good low price. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Ordered a crab cake sandwich which came out bigger than the picture and it was super delicious with tarter sauce. My boyfriend ordered a hot lobster when it's out of the season but he said it wasn't as bad. Fried Calamari was good too! read more

Johnny Ads - First time coming here! - Seafood Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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Discovered this place after another awful experience at the fish market across the street. Been to Johnny Ad's now 5 times in two months! I'm wow'd how they're always perfect. Staff always smiling, freshest seafood outside of the coast of Maine. Keep up the great work! read more