Very good from the creamy cole slaw to the crunchy french fries to the stuffed 6oz lobster rolls/claws Definitely will go back Solid choice read more

This is our second attempt to come here, we finally made it. Our first attempt, the line was out the door, and every outdoor table was taken on a hot summer day. This time around, there was ample seating outside, but it was way too hot to sit outside, so we settled for inside, which was pretty comfortable. Menu offered your typical seafood variety of fried foods, as well as some soups, and hotdog. No Fox and park over here, unfortunately, and that was an absolute buzz kill! Regardless, we stayed hopeful since we've heard some great things about this place. Ordered the flag cramp strips with tater tots, 6 ounce lobster roll and an order of clam fritters. I was really excited to try the clam fritters as I had never had them ever. The weight was manageable, we waited maybe about 15 to 20 minutes for our food. They bought it over to our table, and the initial site, the lobster roll was a nice copious amount of lobster on a rather beefy hotdog roll. The fright clams were also a nice amount, but they did not look fried enough, there was no golden aura to them as typical clams look, and this look concerning. The clam fritters consisted of six balls of clam fritters, and they looked beautifully, golden, a color that's so lacked on the clams. Now let's talk about the food and flavor... The lobster roll was pretty solid. My one source of contention here is the amount of bread on the roll, a little too doughy compared to what I am used to. But the lobster itself was nice, flavorful, and sweet and not overkill with butter. The clam strips were got awful! No crispiness to them, no flavor, they were actually soggy, and even the tater tots, which are generally delicious, there was no flavor to the tater tots as they needed a little more cooking time to them. The clam fritters were surprisingly good, it wasn't just fluff of filling, they were actually clams in there, and the breading definitely had clam juice flavor to it. This is a hike for us, and I don't think it's worth it for us given other places like the mottos in New Haven, which is always consistently good. We tried once and we're good... And if we're in the area sadly we won't be back unless I come with some lobster, loving friends to try that. 2 foot lobster roll for $190! We saw that, and that was quite the sight!!! read more

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Great time visiting the new Clam Castle. We had the hot dogs, onion rings and tater tots. All very good but the tater tots were especially great! Welcome back. Friendly staff and service, ambiance was great, and will be back to try everything else! read more

The Clam Castle - Hot dogs with chili, onion rings and tater tots - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Pricy but properly seasoned fried seafood joint. A good fallback. Was here for a beach day and wanted to get some seafood by the shore. There were obvious options, but I opted for the lesser known place right next door. The place is very much a clam shack. Small dining area with a little smoke, small booths and rapid fire orders coming out of the kitchen. This location prides itself in being a Mexican/seafood fusion place, do we get a smattering of their dishes and give them a full try. We get the chips and salsa first. And the first impression is lackluster. 3 bucks for a small bag of chips and 3 bucks for a single small container of salsa? That's a little much. 3 bucks for both is okay, 6 is high, The chips are good, but needed the salsa. Salsa was weak, barely tomato water. The rest of the food came out, we got tacos, scallops, lobster, the works. The lobster was a very well executed hot lobster roll. Butter had that coyingly butter extract flavor to it, but the lobster was perfect and the bun grilled properly. The fries were pretty good too but picked up the seafood flavor from the fryer. The scallops were very blackened, which to me is great. I want promised flavors to be there, and these scallops delivered. They were cooked to perfection and the best bite. The tacos were lackluster. The meat was seasoned but tough, a big bite but dry. The tacos were not so great. The Mexican inspired fare was ho-hum, but the seafood was delectable. Price was high for all of it, but the seafood justified the price while the Mexican side did not. It's not bad especially given its location. It's a good seafood shack, with cooks who can pull that type of menu off. The Mexican side of things is okay, but pricy for the portion and just not good enough to justify it. If the other famous seafood place is jam packed, then this is a solid fallback. Stick to the seafood, and you should be good read more

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After hearing about their giant lobster rolls, I figured that we would give this place a try again. We got two 6oz lobster rolls and the lobster was very fishy which means its old. The lobster was dry and i could not finish the whole thing because of the fishy tase. Ive had numerous lobster rolls and this was the worst one I have ever had. I also got fried calamari and the batter was very heavy which ruined the flavor of the calamari. The service its self was quick, and the remodel of the place looks very nice, but I do not want to pay over $30 for a lobster roll that I could not even finish. read more

Had the best belly clams ever. A huge portion of sweet clams fried to perfection with great fries and Cole slaw. Not cheap... but you get what you pay for. The "Castle" has been renovated from floor to ceiling. The place is spotless and fresh looking. There's an amazing assortment of Lucious deserts topping off a huge menu. Go! read more

The Seafood is very good. I always order a lobster roll at this restaurant. They have Lots of outdoor seating. Food is made super fast and out before you know it , even when they are packed with customers. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely a good pick when in this area. Always good vibes here. read more

The Clam Castle - Hot butter lobster roll with fries - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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Told us it was a 45 minute wait which was fine. Our buzzer broke, they told us they would bring out our food. Completely forgot about us two hours later. We asked about our food, to which they said it would be out in ten minutes. Food came out wrong and then refused to correct it. read more

Summer by the shoreline means fresh seafood and fish, and The Clam Castle does not disappoint. It's your classic no-frills seafood place, but they execute it so well! Portions are in line with what you'd expect (or more -- look at my photo of the fried fish!) and the prices are typical for the Connecticut shoreline. I can't say I've tried the tacos, because nothing beats fried seafood, but I saw a plate of tacos a few tables over and they look quite good. read more

The Clam Castle - Whole Belly Clam Roll (left) and Fish & Chips (right) - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Great food amazing. Would have loved to have a drink as well. Anyways still my favorite

Excellent food. Fast, friendly service. Great place to stop after a day hanging out near the water. From their beach decor to the friendly and inviting picnic tables, it's the no nonsense seafood that makes this place a must try. Favorites include the lobster roll, clam strips platter, chicken nuggets in a bag (kids love this, grown kids too) and the castle dog. Seafood not your thing? No problem, they have tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salad, salsa from Taco Pacifico too. read more

The fried fish we received was rotten! The putrid decay smell was noticeable after cutting into the fillet. After sending it back the kitchen said that cod just smells a little. Excuse me, but this isn't my first rodeo nor my first fried cod. There are serious health concerns with dining here. Eat at your own risk and check all food for spoilage. Also the food is too salty, but not enough to cover up the decay. read more

This is a true "clam shack" located on Route 1 in Madison, CT. Nothing fancy, just great fried clams. The girls working here were exceptionally nice. This is our grandson in Columbus. OH, favorite restaurant in this area (his mother grew up here and he and his parents visit Madison. We ordered take out so we could drive out on Hammonasset and sit along the shoreline while we had our clams. read more

The Clam Castle - Eating or food from the Clam Castle on a porch at Hammonasset State Park. - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

I had heard really good things about this place and it has been on my list for so long. I decided to go one day after the beach! Fried clams are one of my favorite summer foods. I'm going to be honest I was a little disappointed. The clams were a little soggy and cold. I ordered tacos too and those were okay. A lot of people I know love it here so I am going to give them another try next year. The staff was very nice too. read more

The Clam Castle - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Saturday morning stop, right after beach day. A little bit after 11AM. Maybe the first customers that day not sure but we haven't stopped in a while and we were craving fried clam strips. The best choice! The clam strips were fresh and served with lemon wedges. I got a small order with a house lemonade and my husband went for the large order with a side of coleslaw and some Mexican soda. We sat ourselves outside in the shade after we ordered indoor and the tray was brought and our name called very soon after. Happy and satisfied with my small order but I wouldn't recommend the house lemonade ( tasted like it was made with the lemon juice from the bottle and not fresh squeezed lemons). The atmosphere is very casual and the service was very nice. read more

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Old school seafood shack that did not disappoint. It looks like it has been there forever with coastline charm. You order inside and meet the server at the door to go outside once your buzzer goes off. Great substance with the clam strip roll, not too heavily coated in batter. Crispy fries that went well with malt vinegar. read more

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First time coming here. Food came out pretty quickly. Fried cod was crispy on the outside but quickly fell apart, like the inside was too juicy. Fries were fresh and crispy. Fried shrimp was probably the best as they were crunchy but not soggy at all. Fried calamari was the second best. The fried scallops got soggy very fast. The New England clam chowder was thicker than any other clam chowder I've had. Kind of threw me off when I tried it. You can sit inside or outside of the restaurant and they will bring your food out to you. You'll get a little beeper when your food is ready. read more

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This is the quintessential shoreline stop for fried seafood or burgers. Great service, good food, summertime vibes.

We ordered four items. The chicken nuggets in a bag were basically inedible -- in our opinion, the batter may have been spoiled. We took the item back to the store. The chef was very polite, but did not acknowledge the issue. However, he did offer to remake half of the order. The other items we received were average. read more

Great all season seafood shack/restaurant!! Indoor and outdoors!!! I'm very picky with seafood and I would come here over and over again! The portions are huge and the clam chowder and lobster bisque is to die for!!! The clam strips are simply amazing!! Worth a shot if you're in the area!! Looks are definitely deceiving so don't pass this one up!! read more

Clam Castle is a wonderful stop before or after a day at at the beach. Although they have picnic tables outside, we opted to sit inside because we wanted the air conditioning. The menu has a variety of hot and cold items including fried clams and also clam tacos. There are non-seafood items too like burgers or chicken or veggie tacos. The food was fresh and delicious. You order at the counter and the friendly staff bring you your order when it is ready. You clear your own tray when you finish. read more

The Clam Castle - Clam strip roll - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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Definitely gone downhill as others have stated Overpriced for what you get confusing when ordering told French fries included but cost extra no i for bathroom facilities , just outhouses the place needs a remodel to modern times check other comments on other sites including trip advisor and local sites not very good ratings the 4-5 star ratings are from 2-3 years ago before it changed hands now not so good a rating read more

The Clam Castle - The 10 scallops for $27 dollars thief large portion ?? - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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Had been here a loooong time ago (pre-Yelp), but was in the area (less than 3 miles from Clinton Outlets), and was feeling like good seafood. So.. . So many choices, so little time. Finally opted for 2 fish tacos and 1 shrimp taco, all three broiled. Currently, not allowed indoors, but plenty of outdoor seating (covered and naked, ie, uncovered). Couple of port-a-potties. The tacos really hit the spot. Very excellent. Also, the house made coleslaw was a huge hit. Everything very fresh. And they serve Foxon soda, both bottles and fountain. Finally, they advertise BYOB (I might bring some Ronas for those lonely lime wedges they provide). Will def return and sample some of the other items. Busy for a reason. Worth the trip. And thanks to fellow Yelper, Elisa, for her on the money review which clinched it for me. read more

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Delicious! We ordered some seafood, hot dogs, salads, a burrito, fries and coleslaw! All Delicious!! I love that they have Mexican!! The veggie burrito was amazing!! The pico and guacamole amazing!! The coleslaw was also amazing!! So glad they are on DD now!! We enjoyed EVERYTHING and will DEFINITELY be ordering again!! Plus they got every aspect of the order correct!! read more

Trying new food so as not to repeat any other dishes was my challenge eating in CT on this trip. Had a lobster roll already and can get fried food at home so I went with a "Lobster grilled cheese." It was stuffed with cheese AND ample chunks of lobster. My only disappointment was the sliced tomato since it added moisture but not much else. Tried SOs blackened seafood and found it to be cooked correctly and tasty. Staff were very fast to cook and deliver food. Also a shout out to staff who brought a bowl of nice cold water for my dog. Nice! Good food, nice people, good parking. Next time we're visiting CT, it should be on our list of re-visits. read more

The Clam Castle - Lobster grilled cheese - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

I will never ever go back to this place "The Clam Castle"! Every time it gets new ownership, the prices go higher, but this took the cake when I ordered this multi-seafood dish. It was $45 for a takeout and when I got it, it was absolute garbage so I paid $45 for junk! I know this is Madison and all but the stuff that they were trying to pass as food was such a disappointment! ... expensive crap at that!! Never again! That's why I don't go to Donahue's because their stuff is overpriced garbage as well! By the way, it was only a couple of miles down the street where I opened up the bag of crap just a couple of minutes from the "Crap Castle" so it wasn't like I opened it the next day, just minutes later. Plus they give you a crap load of fries to take up space in the tray to make it seem like they gave you something when they gave you nothing! The breading on the fish made it look big, but when you took the breading off it uncovered a small piece, that's not even what I ordered! Neil Young said it the best in this situation... "You paid for this but they gave you that!" read more

Probably the worst food I've ever eaten. The soup was terrible and the clam fritters were absolutely awful when you can't eat the food. It's really bad. read more

Amazing fresh food. The service was amazing. You can sit indoor or outdoor. It was really clean and fresh and served with a smile! So glad we found this little gem! They have a great menu not just seafood but also tacos and fresh corn chips ect! Def worth the stop! read more

The Clam Castle - Clam strips - French fries - whole belly clams - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

I remember going to Clam Castle as a kid, teenager and young adult. It was always a dive, but food was good and inexpensive. Took my family there last week when back in Madison. It's still a dive and food is OK, but prices are crazy. For three of us to sit on dirty picnic tables outside, eat fried food and have to bus our own tables it was well over $60 without any drinks! The food was good, not great and included a lot of delicious fries. Generic ketchup in tiny packets was a true pain. Cole slaw and tarter sauce were nothing special. The young woman behind the counter was friendly and helpful when ordering. She even brought our food out to our table in the parking lot when our buzzer went off. Overall, things change and expectations need to be held in check. For the money, I think there are better options. read more

While both the seafood items were fresh and hot, we found the iced tea was rancid and the coleslaw was very old, nearly to the point of being spoiled. You place an order at the counter, then find a seat. The tables were in need of a little attention, as well as the porta potty (the only restroom facility at this location) It was long past needing emptied, with no hand washing facilities. With so many other good seafood choices in the area, in the same price range, we likely won't return. read more

Wow.... Not the old Clam Castle. Had the fish tacos and not good.... dripping something out and very little fish. 2 tacos and fries were $25. The Saybrook diner had better for $10... Went on a Friday night and not that busy, before you couldn't find a parking spot. Please don't ruin my favorite restaurant. I can see you went from 5 stars to 3 stars in just a couple months read more

In the midst of all the other "well known" seafood restaurants on the shoreline is Clam Castle. We were on the way to a brewery nearby when we wanted to pick up clam strips and seafood on the way. Friends of ours joining us had just went to Lenny & Joes the week before, so we knew we wanted to go somewhere new. Up pops Clam Castle highly rated on Yelp...and right across the way from the Lenny and Joe's in Madison, CT. From the outside, this place doesn't look like much. We called in our order (which was pretty large) and pulled up into the designated curbside pickup spots. The inside is still not open due to COVID but I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of seating outside. You could tell a lot of their business as of late has been takeout due to all the designated parking spots. We ordered everything from the clam strips, sweet potato tots, NE clam chowder, cheeseburger, fish tacos, and lobster bisque. Everything was incredible and every one in our group agreed! This was the perfect food to take to a brewery and it was the perfect amount to share with friends. I thought the NE clam chowder was phenomenal. The amount of bug pieces of lobster in the bisque was impressive. The clam strips were crispy and not too greasy. I always rate my clam strips by the tarter sauce (I hope it was homemade) and it paired perfectly. All in all, great meal. And great prices too. For 6 people our bill was under $100 - impressive! We will absolutely be back!!! read more

The Clam Castle - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

I decided to take a ride by myself to the Clam Castle in Madison yesterday as it recently opened under new management. The staff was incredibly nice and they were all trying their very best. I ordered 3 items: 1/2 order of whole belly clams: $16 very nice - small and tender. You dont get a lot for the price. 1/2 order of calamari $9.50 The ones on top were good - but the larger rings on the bottom tasted undercooked. I dont understand why - as the batter was nicely cooked on all the rings , 1 Quesadilla $9.50 ( $18.50!) I got the shrimp version and I didn't realize I would be paying an EXTRA $9 more for a few shrimp. So I ended up paying $18.50. The overall bill after tax was $47.23. I found it to be VERY SMALL portions for TOP DOLLAR. I have no intentions to return. read more

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The service was friendly, but the food and cleanliness of the restaurant was not the best. We live near the "Clam Triangle" in Ipswich/Essex Massachusetts and the clams at Clam Castle are nowhere near as good. I agree with other reviewers that the not very crispy clams are quite expensive to not come with fries. I got takeout, but while I was waiting for the food, I noticed dust and dead flies in the window sills. Not the most appetizing thing to see in a restaurant. I can see why they weren't that busy in the middle of the summertime at dinner time. read more

I was hesitant to try this place because the menu felt so off to me. But I'm so glad I did. I got clam strip platter but subbed onion rings for fries. Clam strips were fresh and fried perfectly. Onion rings were freshly made and salty and crispy! Husband got soft shell crab dinner and he said they were prepared excellently! I really enjoyed the tarter as well. It was slightly thicker than most snd had excellent flavor w just enough pickle crunch. We sat outside on picnic tables covered by a pavilion. Inside has some seating snd us setup for fast casual dining. Service was friendly and fast! And I ended up w churros for dessert even though I originally thought the menu was so funny! We will definitely be back read more

The Clam Castle - Clam strips, soft shell crab platter, onion rings - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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TL;DR What to order: - Golden Fried Combo Platter ($26) What to watch out for: - long lines/wait time - make sure you call ahead to order - if you like generous amounts of tartar sauce, make sure to ask for extra! ===== Went here in the early evening after spending some time sitting around on Hammonasset Beach (the beach and park are beautiful - highly recommend! It did take a bit of skulking around in the sand to find a somewhat empty patch to sit in, though.) We called ahead to place our order and were told to pick it up in 45 minutes. We ordered the Golden Fried Combo Platter ($26), Lobster roll ($21), and Clam strips ($15). Between three fairly gluttonous people, we finished the combo platter, lobster roll, and a small bit of the clam strips. The combo platter was really good, and I especially enjoyed the large, juicy scallops, but the shrimp, clam strips, cod, and fries were also good. The cod comes in two large fillets, so if you don't like large pieces of fried fish I would go for something else. The portion was reasonably generous and could feed two people heartily on its own. The lobster roll was also good and not over mayo-y, brimming with large chunks of fresh lobster. As is generally the case with lobster rolls, it was quite small (and expensive). The extra clam strips we ordered were fine and the portion was about half the size of the platter, but they tasted more smoky than the clam strips in the combo platter. Not sure if it was on purpose, but I don't think it improved the flavor. This is no health restaurant, but I really enjoyed our fried-seafood-by-the-beach dinner from Clam Castle! Would love to come again, and if I did, I would probably order the Golden Fried Combo Platter again, or maybe try the slightly more healthful-sounding Broiled Combo Platter ($24). And I would ask for more tartar sauce, because the three small plastic rounds of it that they gave us were not enough for my saucy soul. read more

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9.10.21 Here's another favorite of mine for seafood. I've been here too many times to count. I have been coming here literally for dozens of years. This is a childhood memory from when I started eating and trying different seafood. The Clam Cassle is more of a fast casual place to eat. There are plenty of picnic tables to sit at. Some are further away from the building in the parking lot. It's nice. The staff are always a delight. They have been very kind most recently with pick up orders. Although they were a little unorganized when I did a pick up order recently but still not a bother for me. The quality of the food has been consistent for years upon years. There are a lot of fried foods here so the faint of heart need to be cautious. Lobster rolls are good. The whole belly clams are awesome. They're decent size and they squish, gush & burst in your mouth after, of course that you dipped it into tartar sauce. The clam explodes in your mouth with flavors that are hard to put into words. But there's some umami foodgasm going on in your mouth. It's a pretty unforgettable amazing experience to say the least. They're not for everyone though. Many people only opt for the clam strips. The strips are a hard pass for me. There's another favorite which i can't forget. The clam fritters are to die for. Yes they are. They're deep fried light pillowy round balls of dough with chopped up clams and clam juice mixed throughout the dough. There's a nice light crisp slight crunch to the fritters. Then the inside is extremely light, soft and pilliwy dough & clams. Even though they're fried they're not heavy and greasy. Just the opposite. They are nice and light and not greasy or oily at all. Don't forget to squeeze some lemon on the fritters before dipping them into the tartar or cocktail sauce. See attached pic. To die for fritters. OMG. The Clam Cassle is a return trip year after year throughout the summer. You won't be disappointed. Be careful and take your time when you first receive your order of fritters. They are very hot. Don't burn your mouth. Can you say Yummers ;-)) read more

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Small seafood shack with a few tables inside and a bunch of picnic tables surrounding it outside. I came with my GF (who used to work here back in college) and we both got clam chowders and split an order of clam strips. Both were phenomenal and were prepared very quickly. We were given a buzzer to notify us of when our food was ready, and it rang within 5 minutes of us placing our order. The inside is nothing special, but the food is 8.5 read more

We noticed the ClamCastle was open for the 2023 season and decided to stop by for lunch before it became so busy for the year. There is now new owners and the menu has been expanded. It's a casual, order at the counter and pick up food when ready,side of the road place that families have flocked to through out the years. There is all your typical, fried seafood, lobster rolls,hot do hamburgers and sides and now some texmex choices. You can choose to eat inside on dreary days or at the large selection of outdoor tables. Service is quick and the new owner came by to check on our table. Food was great, exactly as you expect from a seasonal, shoreline drive in. We will definitely try to get back. Everything was cooked well and was fresh and hot. We tried some fried fish sandwiches, hot dog ,onion rings and slaw. read more

The Clam Castle - A great feast. - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

The clam castle did not disappoint. The lobster roll was tender and full of tasty butter. The loaded fries were delicious and the New England clam chowder was filled with clams, potatoes and veggies. The shrimp platter had a huge amount of shrimp and the fries were crispy and very tasty. The staff was very helpful and the choice of outside or inside seating was great. read more

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