Second time having the hot lobster roll! Absolutely amazing! Best on the shoreline! Check it out!

This Friday night's meal was highlighted by the popular beachfront location of Ocean Avenue in West Haven, CT. For many years prior to Rip Tide, Oyster River Tavern called the site home. Now, under new management, Rip Tide is continuing the tradition of serving seafood classics alongside other traditional dishes. I had the Bowl of Lobster Bisque followed by Thai Chili Salmon.Both outstanding and delicious choices delivered by Allyson, our server. read more

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I hate leaving negative reviews because I've had good experiences here in the past, but my Father's Day visit was extremely disappointing. I stopped in by myself for oysters on the half shell, clams, a beer, and a lobster roll to go. I was first told rather abruptly that I couldn't sit outside because it was reservation-only seating, which I understood, so I sat at the bar instead. Unfortunately, I then waited about 15 minutes before anyone even took my order. Once someone finally came over, I ordered everything at once a beer, oysters, clams to enjoy there, and a lobster roll to go. After waiting over an hour, the only thing I had received was my beer. No one checked in, gave me an update, or acknowledged the delay. Since I was on a tight schedule, I finally asked for my check, paid for the beer, and left without eating anything. Looking around, it seemed like several other tables were also waiting on food. I'm not upset because the kitchen was busy. I understand holidays are hectic. What was frustrating was the lack of communication. A simple update or acknowledgment would have gone a long way. This has never happened to me here before, which is why this experience was so disappointing. read more

Amazing food and terrific staff. Great place for drinks. Caters to a laid back crowd.

Food was decent. Salmon did not have any extra flavor. Could have used some. Fried calamari was good. Lobster bisque was okay but needed some additional spice. Sort of bland. Service was very good. read more

Delicious food at Riptide! I had their tasty lobster roll (which I was glad I ordered in the end!) which was stuffed with lobster! We ordered fried calamari for the table which were tasty but nothing special. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and when asked, got us a list of the prices for the many, many items on the menu listed at MP. I do wish they had this readily available to customers given that the majority of the menu is MP. My companion was upset because she asked our waiter to bring a slice of chocolate cake for our friend who's birthday it was and they forgot but the wait staff was apologetic. read more

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My family and I visited Riptide on Father's Day. There were six of us, and although we were seated together, we requested separate checks. We were surprised to see a 20% gratuity automatically added and divided among the checks. While I understand restaurants may have policies regarding gratuities for larger parties, my issue was not the gratuity itself--it was the overall dining experience. I fully understand that Father's Day is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, and I expected it to be crowded. However, that is exactly why restaurants should be properly staffed and prepared for the volume of guests. Unfortunately, that did not seem to be the case during our visit. We waited an unusually long time for our food, and when it finally arrived, several orders were incorrect. Some members of our party received their meals while others continued waiting, so we were unable to enjoy Father's Day dinner together as a family. The most disappointing part of the evening involved one member of our party who is a vegetarian and eight months pregnant. After placing her order, she waited approximately 45 minutes before being informed that the restaurant was out of the item she had ordered. Had we been informed sooner, she could have selected another option. Instead, after waiting nearly an hour while already very hungry, she ultimately was unable to get a meal at all. Once food began arriving, service continued to be frustrating. We repeatedly requested simple items such as ketchup, mustard, and extra napkins. Rather than bringing everything at once, the items arrived one at a time after multiple requests, causing further delays while our food continued to get colder. I understand holiday crowds can create challenges, but the combination of long wait times, incorrect orders, poor communication, unavailable menu items, and delays in receiving basic table necessities made for a very disappointing Father's Day experience. We chose Riptide to celebrate a special occasion with family, and unfortunately the experience did not meet expectations. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and uses it as an opportunity to improve communication, preparation, and overall service during busy holidays. read more

So I went to RipTide this weekend - it's literally right across from West Haven Beach which is super convenient if you're spending the day there. The place itself is really cute, kind of quaint with indoor and outdoor seating. Inside has tons of windows and light walls with beach themed stuff everywhere. Very bright and airy feeling. The menu looked promising with lots of good sounding dishes. I ended up getting the lobster bisque and shrimp tacos. For the tacos I went with fried shrimp which... big mistake lol. The shrimp was SO bland. Like literally no flavor at all. I asked our waitress about it (she was really sweet btw) and she told me they don't season their breading because people have complained about seasoning before?? So now they just don't use any salt, pepper, nothing. I get wanting to please customers but this seems like going too far in the other direction. The lobster bisque was the complete opposite problem - way too salty! Plus it only had like two tiny pieces of lobster in it. For the price I was expecting more than that. My friend got the lobster grilled cheese and really loved it, but we both had the same issue with our fries - no salt on them either! Seems like this no-seasoning thing is happening across the menu. Location is awesome and the atmosphere is really nice, especially if you get a table by the windows. Our server was great too. But the kitchen really needs to figure out their seasoning situation. Would maybe give it another shot for the location but definitely ordering something different next time. read more

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Was visiting a friend in West Haven earlier today and was craving clam strips, so we decided on Riptide, despite my friend having a bad dining experience on her last visit. We ordered takeout so I didn't have an opportunity to see the food prior to getting back to my friend's house. When I opened my takeout container, it was very obvious that my meal was grossly overcooked. The clams were so overcooked that the batter just cracked off of the fossilized clam and retained the hollow cavity where the clam previously resided. My friend had the stuffed clams, which were also a bit overcooked, but not nearly as bad as my meal. Needless to say, we were both very disappointed. Even more disappointing than the awful food was the fact that they served it without any hesitation and with zero consideration for the good money spent on their absolutely subpar food. Clearly, food quality is not the only issue they need to address. I will not return! read more

RipTide Restaurant & Bar - Clam strip after th rock hard batter broke off. - Seafood Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

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The lobster roll is so good here that I went back two weeks in a row for it! Loaded with tender lobster. Their onion rings are excellent too. There is a parking lot next door that belongs to a store plaza and parking spaces are tight. It is located directly across from the beach. There is a dining room as well as an adjacent screened in enclosure for dining. read more

RipTide Restaurant & Bar - Lobster roll and onion rings - Seafood Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

This place has great seafood! My family tried the broiled scallops, broiled scrod, the grouper, and the thai chili salmon. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. Our server was so great, and everything came out quick. The drinks and the sides were mediocre but I'd come again just for the seafood! read more

Monday/Tuesday raw bar with a bowl of chowder and a Maine lunch! Perfection! Breeze and view of Long Island Sound. Waitresses are the best!! read more

RipTide Restaurant & Bar - Raw bar and Maine lunch - Seafood Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

With new management their lobster roll is amazing. I think one of the best. Love this place and their staff. Always good service and nice people. And always good drinks. Cucumber and pear martini are my favorite. read more

RipTide Restaurant & Bar - Lobster Roll Hot - Seafood Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

Love this place! I have always had a great meal and you get a ton of food for a cheap price compared to other local places. The service is great and the ambiance is welcoming. It is family friendly, our 2 year old loves it, too. read more

Quality Sea food great menu selections. Grouper was delicious and lobster was crisp and tender. Coleslaw is sweet and the fries are unseasoned but the vibe is a 9 out of 10 read more

RipTide Restaurant & Bar - Lobster roll with an ocean view! - Seafood Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

Located right across the street from the water, this is a great place to stop for a bite on a nice day. The interior is super clean and updated with a beach feel. The server was nice and attentive even on a busy Saturday night. Best dish of the night by far is the eggplant tower. The eggplant was thin and crispy with a good ratio of breading. The mozz and tomato tasted fresh. For seafood, we tried the seafood linguine and hot lobster roll. Fairly priced for the portion and cooked well. The brussel sprouts were a special and perfectly crispy. The chicken caprese was a large portion and all the vegetable tasted fresh as well. read more

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We were visiting West Haven and stopped here for dinner and all the food was AMAZING! Our waitress had the whole back room by herself ans she was very attentive and just Fabulous! My daughter had grilled cheese, my mom had the Shrimp Coctail, Lobster Bisque and Linguine with Clam Sauce which was absolutely delicious and I had the eggplant appetizer (enough for a meal alone) and a salad which were also very tasty. All portions sizes were large and fresh. I would highly recommend going here if you are in the area. Parking situation is a bit strange and we ended up at a bar/restaurant that is right next to Riptide at first but they directed us to Riptide when we realized we were in the wrong place. read more

Located across the street from Oyster River beach, waterfront dining is the word. They offer freshly shucked oysters two days weekly for a buck and a quarter! There are outside and inside dining options in a casual and upbeat atmosphere. Cocktails around a friendly bar where locals meet is always fun. Staff will make you feel right at home with their friendly service. The food is good and the menu has several seafood and land options including daily specials. It's worth checking out. read more

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Absolutely the Best New England Clam chowder in Connecticut, hands down. Their Lobster roll was very meaty and flavorful, you get your money's worth. The staff was excellent, very personable. I'll definitely refer friends and family. read more

Very good food, great view of the beach, and outdoor dining is available as well. The calamari is delicious.

Food was great but the service was slow. We also had two families with separate checks. We were charged a 20 percent gratuity. My family had four adults and one child. The other family had one adult and two children under four. I live in New York and we don't even get charged this astronomical rate. So uncalled for! read more

I experienced good service from the waitress who was manning the bar and tables by herself. She was friendly and receptive. The food was delicious, flavorful and fresh. read more

RipTide Restaurant & Bar - Baked Shrimp Casserole - Seafood Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

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Really mediocre/not good food but amazing indoor open air patio! Had ok soggy bland fried food and separated frozen drinks. read more

RipTide Restaurant & Bar - Seafood mix - Seafood Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

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The food here is mediocre. From its appearance to the blandness, the food is underwhelming. There is nothing special on the menu. I hope this place can up its food game because I'd like to see them survive. read more

Riptide, across from OysterRiver Beach has the view going for it & a great staff. The place is clean too & not overly loud inside. Having eaten here over the years the one thing that is consistent is the fish tacos. Fried seafood is competently prepared if under seasoned. The french Fries look fine but are bland without much flavor. Caesar Salad is good if slightly overdressed. Sometimes the raw clams & oysters can be roughly shucked so a mouthful of shell may be an unwelcome surprise. read more

WHO RAISED YOU??? Ok, I can agree with the other reviews that the scenic views here are decent. The location of this restaurant near the water has potential when it is not low tide. I arrived at low tide and seen strands of water but more sand than old school playgrounds and so the view was about as basic as my Lobster Roll that I will get into later. I began with their New England Clam Chowder that was made earlier in the day and that is fine. I will say that my chowder was well seasoned with herbs, salt and pepper laid about like folks tanning on the beach. Plenty of small clams that did not have too much chew, creamy and filled with potatoes. A very warm and hearty bite. Inviting to your tastebuds like a welcome mat at ones front door. Add in the nice touch of the oyster crackers for premium bite and now you are playing with a full deck of cards fresh out the box! I felt like the Chowder would be setting me up lovely for the Lobster Roll and so when it arrived at my table, I started with their light saber fries. Fresh oil and so you definitely caught more potato on the bite and a nice crispiness though they refused to hold any salt and they needed salt!!! They came out rather bland and borderline basic and I tried to apply salt but it refused to adhere, much like a child refusing to go to sleep. My fries were a subtle disappointment but I was not here for the fries, I was here for the Lobster Roll and if sheer and utter disappointment came packaged up in. food form, this would be it! I will say that the bun was nicely toasted and buttery but my lobster meat was definitely on the stand and in question for a jury of its peers to listen in and dissect the upsetting reality that this lobster meat may have been sent in frozen and or canned for the lack of freshness and overall taste. My lobster was oily and had far too much chew going on to be freshly sourced locally. I could only stand to take one bite. A one and your DONE son! I know, you can't win them all and that is fine. Maybe I should had ordered a burger because Lobster and Lobster Rolls are not part of the winning team here at RipTide. read more

So waitstaff took forever to take order yes the business was busy order went to other tables so owner should hire more help and train staff, others walked out after getting meal, would do the same but hungry, now to the food waitstaff dazed and confused by simple order. Food was fresh and well prepared and really was very good the only one reason to keep this place open. read more

RipTide Restaurant & Bar - Shrimp crab casserole - Seafood Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

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A great summer place but food is good all year round. Great staff and welcoming. Ambiance is nice and the restaurant is located across from the beach/water. read more

Came in on Valentines and had the greatest time. All the employees were so sweet. I got the shrimp casserole (which was a risk for me) and it was the best thing I had on our whole trip! Can't wait to come back! read more

Neighborhood bar for the older segment. The younger crowd is next door in Dive. You have your regulars plastered on by the window seats that faces the beach. Food is blah, wait times is long especially the summer or a nicer day. Ambiance is a small neighborhood restaurant facing the beach. Once you look at the water, it is a nice view. Huh, wait I was here to try the restaurant. read more

Went here again because I had a gift card. I had the fish and chips for takeout. I was charged a take out fee again. I asked on the phone what kind of fish they used and I was told cod. Instead I got some type of flat fish. It was mostly breading and didn't taste good, like it was not very fresh. I suspect it was frozen. I expected a thicker piece of fish but it was like a half inch or less thick. I will say that the portion was big but it was pretty much terrible. I really wanted to say something nice about this place since it's a local restaurant but I can't find much good here. Disappointed. read more

I want to like Rip Tide. I really do. They have the nicest staff. But every time we try again, the food is just so blah. Could be what we order. The calamari this time was just rings, no tentacles and was soggy and chewy. Fried artichokes, which I love were fried beautifully but had no sauce--usually they have a buttery sauce, but the spinach it was on was delicious. My broiled scallops were swimming in so much liquid (not wine or butter), I had to pour it out of the ramekin (prepared from frozen?) when I come again, I will stick to their raw bar, sandwiches, salads that look fresh and delicious as do their dressings and onion rings! read more

If I could give more than 5 stars I would! A cozy, beachfront restaurant that is clearly loved because it was so busy. We o ly waited about 10 minutes for a table and it was earth the wait. I had the raspberry lemon drop martini and it was pure heaven. The masterpiece chicken sandwich was perfectly made. Would definitely go again and again read more

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Great food & service! Great views! The Lemon Pepper Grouper was delicious, the eggplant tower was great! Oysters were fresh, buffalo chicken dip was amazing! read more

2nd time at Riptide in 3 years and it's as good as I remember. Though I live on the Pacifuc coast I prefer Atlantic oysters and clams and theirs are fresh. salty, and perfect The whole fried clams are a must here. The sautéed spinach that is served under the fried artichokes should.be served on its own - so good! As of 05.22, the oyster and clam.shooters are $1.25 each on Monday & Tuesday! read more

RipTide Restaurant & Bar - 6 oysters at $1.25 a piece! And Caesar salad. - Seafood Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

This a cute restaurant and bar just off the water with pretty good views and food. It's nothing fancy but the food is good and portions are huge. I've been here twice. The first time was better than the second but that was party due to our waitress we had each time. The first time we visited it was for lunch and the second for dinner. Our waitress was a lot more attentive to our needs during our lunch visit. During my first visit I ordered the blackened shrimp tacos and they were amazing. There was a nice kick in flavor and the slaw/toppings really balanced the flavor. I ordered a side of onion rings instead of the fries and they were lightly breaded and fried to perfection. The onions were more on the sweet side but were probably some of the best cooked onion rings I've had. To drink I had the pirates punch and this could be one dangerous drink if you like a beverage that's sweet and can't taste the alcohol. My boyfriend had a bowl clam chowder and said it was very tasty along with some fried calamari. On my second trip I had the blackened mahi mahi wrap (with onion rings as well). It was just as tasty and had the same seasoning profile as the shrimp tacos. The rest of the family was present for this meal and they ordered the shrimp tacos, clam chowder and fish and chips. The fish and chips plate was huge! It came with 2-3 very large pieces of fish and lots of fries. Overall it's a solid place to eat with plenty of food items and beverage options and specials. I'd say for the type of restaurant it's a bit more on the pricy side for some things but you have good food and some nice views of the water. I would visit again. read more

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A friend recommended this lovely restaurant. My family enjoyed a delicious meal for Father's Day. The food was fresh and served promptly. The wait staff was friendly. The menu had a good variety of options to meet many diners preferences. read more

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So we ended up at Ripetide because we were ignored at Dive Bar which is right next door. Riptide is nice and bright inside with a nautical theme and a view of the sound, no matter where you sit. We were seated promptly, it was a Saturday about 5pm. Our server came over and took drink orders. She didn't return for quite a while. When she did, she didnt have drinks yet. She proceeded to tell us the specials then took our order. Soon drinks followed. We started with the buffalo chicken dip, which seemed like we werent going to get it. Tables around us were getting food despite being seated after us. Finally the dip arrived. Essentially it was served with Tostitos, so the chips were sturdy. The dip itself was really good. Not very spicy, but full of chicken, very hot and cheesy. A good choice! And seeing as we planned on bar food originally, we stuck with sandwiches for dinner. I got a burger and onion rings. My husband the lobster roll. He also had a cup of NE clam chowder, which, although was full of clams, it was also very peppery. I ordered a burger. What I got was a cheeseburger. Strange because the server didnt ask what type of cheese I wanted; they had 3 or 4 to choose from. I prefer no cheese, but I left it. The burger was over done and bland. I was kind glad to have the cheese for flavor. The onion rings, although thin and crispy, were also bland. No salt on them or in the batter. I was a bit disappointed. My husband's lobster roll was a good size and stuffed! Depsite being full from the dip, he refused to leave a bit of lobster behind. All in all it wasnt a bad meal. Food was mostly good. Service wasnt terrible. I'd go back and try something other than a burger. It seems like they do fish right here. read more

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This is a great place with a nice view of west haven beach ! It's always crowded or either a wait. The food is good they have many options to choose from , plenty of seating indoor , outdoor and the bar. It's the beach version of Cheers. read more

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Not impressed. Our group had takeout seafood- the fish and chips and fried scallops were just ok. The calamari we all sampled and threw away along with the coleslaw. Maybe it was a bad night--but I won't go back. read more