Don't miss out on the award winning clam chowder. After a perfect fall day at the beach, we stopped at the Clam Castle for chowder. Not only did it live up to its award as the best chowder in the state, the customer service was outstanding. The owner was friendly, offering detailed descriptions of each dish and answering all of our questions. Thank you to the entire team at the Clam Castle. We will be back! read more

Staff was super nice and helpful. Lobster roll, fried shrimp & scallops were yummy! Cute restaurant and so close to the beach.

Between Clam Castle and Lenny and Joes across the street you'll get an order of aggravation if you ever do get to order anything. I'm all for supporting local eateries in the pandemic. But do I have to wait 15 minutes for a menu when there is no one in the restaurant and no one else waiting in the parking lot? I left because it was obvious if I ever placed an order it might be another 45 minutes to get it. No sorry-no can do. read more

The Clam Castle has some of the best seafood on the shoreline. My wife and I come here often and are always impressed with their food but consistently blown away by their fish tacos. We moved here from Southern California and their fish tacos are on the same level. Also, it's BYOB with a lot of outdoor seating. read more

This place is a go to whenever I'm down there and I don't even eat seafood!! The staff is always friendly the food is delicious and the whole small business feel is just awesome. I know people from out of state that have to go here whenever they're in town. read more

Wasn't impressed. We moved to the area in the winter and kept putting off going between the COVID pandemic and the tourists so we took a chance . Sadly it was nothing exciting. I was hoping for a great seafood meal and ended up with an over-priced grease fest . Disappointed. read more

We had delicious fish tacos and scallop roll. All of the food was prepared well. It seemed to be a long wait, especially since the numbered orders went way past ours and made us wonder if we had been forgotten. A printed menu would have been easier to navigate, as the line that we stood in to order our food felt rushed and disorganized. Would definitely return since ultimately the food was good. read more

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

If you are looking for the worlds best whole belly clams look no further than Clam Castle. They have amazing seafood and the freshest clam chowder. This is my go to place with my granddaughter for our special day trips together. Yum! read more

Absolutely AMAZING food and staff/service!!!!!!! Visiting from Hartford with a friend and found this restaurant via Yelp. The reviews, in my opinion, are low as they should all be 5+!!! CHOWDA is so tasty and the blackened fish tacos are off the chain.......... read more

The food was delicious. The clam chowder is so tasty with pieces of bacon. The blacken fish tacos was my favorite with all the fixing. The fried seafood platter had the right seasoning. We came here when it open for season and we love it. read more

Very good, fresh seafood, clean, and friendly staff. Highly recommend.The lobster bisque is delicious!!!

This place is awesome. Great fried clams and a unique selection of other food in addition to the regular drive in fair.

The food was amazing Service was great and prompt Food delivery and even during COVID-19 they have the best service that we could wish for.

Service was phenomenal. Really went the extra mile to make sure customers were satisfied and enjoyed their visit. Prices weren't bad and there were plenty of non seafood options for picky eaters and children. Perfect mix of diner and beach. read more

My wife and I moved down to Clinton from W. Hartford in Late October, 2018. We live within 4 miles of Donohue's Madison Beach Grille and have "adopted" this pub as our "go to" spot. It is consistently good and the people who own and work the place are the best. I kept waiting for the Clam Castle (also owned and run by Donohue's) to open this Spring and it finally did. In fact, I just tried a bowl of RI clam chowder (best I have ever had) and a broiled Haddock sandwich (broiled perfectly and a good portion of Haddock with fresh tomatoes and lettuce on a buttered, toasted sesame seed bun). My wife isn't a "seafoodie", so this will be my own "alternate go to place" when we don't eat in at the pub. From what I can tell so far, these Donohues have their stuff together. Great job! read more

Our Sunday summer travels in CT usually take us in search of lunch on the shoreline. After reading the reviews of The Clam Castle we decided to give it a try. Armed with our cooler of beer and water we gave this place a shot. (It is BYOB). We placed our order for hot buttered lobster rolls and clam strips expecting the average overpriced CT shoreline lobster roll but when the food came out we couldn't believe how big these lobster rolls were! So warm, buttery and seriously big chunks of lobster! And the clam strips were amazing, very tasty, light just enough crisp without tasting like day old fryer oil. The lobster rolls came with a small side of slaw which we didn't care for as it tasted more savory rather than sweet, but that's NOT what we came for. We are so happy to finally try this little place we often drive by without a second thought. This will now be our "go to" lobster roll place which is much closer drive for us than our other favorite "Abbott's". . read more

No frills. Super clean and 317.7% better than Lenny & Joe's. Simple menu executed very well. Next time you have a hankering for a fried clam roll, please come here read more

I visit Cape Cod each summer, so it's easy to be disappointed by the fried seafood at fish shacks in Connecticut. The Clam Castle, however, is close to on par with my favorite fried fish eateries on the Cape. The seafood seemed fresh. Everything was perfectly cooked. The breading on their fried seafood (shrimp, scallops, oysters, clams, cod) was crisp and light. I recommend the fried fish platter, hot lobster roll, and clam chowder. The lobster bisque was nice and thick but the flavor was just ok. read more

I love this place! When the Clam Castle re-opens for the season, my tastebuds perk up! There is nothing like deep fried seafood to mark the start of the summer season. This shoreline shack is my favorite in all of Connecticut. Let me start by saying, this place is NOT fancy! The menu is hand-written on the wall, the door slams so hard each time someone walks in that you nearly jump out of your not-so-comfy seat! That being said, that is half the fun eating here. I highly recommend the deep fried clam strips platter, and the deep fried shrimp platter. The onion rings are made fresh to order! The clam chowders and lobster bisques are also super delish! If lobster is more to your liking, the lobster rolls come hot or cold piled with a generous portion of fresh lobster meat. Put this on your list of summer musts, you will not be disappointed. It's a truly unique Connecticut shoreline experience. read more

The Clam Castle - Clam Castle Madison, CT - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

See all

I have dreams about Clam Castle. It is absolutely the best fried seafood place on the CT coast. In the 20+ years I've been going, I haven't been let down once. First, the place is a shack and it's called a castle! Irony lovers will crack up. I hope that they never relocate or upgrade the building, as the atmosphere is perfect. The clam strips are fabulous. They are big strips, not the kind where you bite it and wonder if it is just breading, or if there is really clam in there. And ooooooo, the onion rings! Previously, someone wrote that they were too thin. I love the stringiness of the rings! (Similar to those at the Glenwood drive-in in Hamden). Top off the grease with a chocolate malt and I have the perfect summer meal. This place also has the BEST warm lobster rolls, with the perfect amount of butter (no extra needed). Sure, Bill's seafood has an amazing deck and a great view, but the food can't compete with Clam Castles. And don't even put Lenny and Joe's on the list of great seafood places. Totally overrated. You can always eat at the Castle, and walk across the street to bring your kids to the carousel. The staff at the Clam Castle are wonderful. Even when ownership switch over a few years ago, the service and quality of food remained topnotch. If you're driving threw or staying for a while on the shoreline, grab some grub at Clam Castle. You'll love it! read more

My daughter ordered take out from here and it was great. We had quite a variety of seafood; from clams to oysters, and it was all very good. The batter was light and the seafood was cooked well. We'll definitely do this one again. Next time, I'd like to try the indoor seating. read more

In this weekends pursuit of the holy grail of beets, we stumbled upon the quaint town of Madison CT. While the locals were not too impressed by the roar of my badass maroon Trans Am, I found the town and people quite lovely. Even more impressive was the Clam Castle. Fish & Chips perfectly cooked and the blackened scallops were out of the battlestar galactica world! read more

Good food at fair prices. Menu heavy on fried sea food, as you would expect along the shore in Madison but plenty of items to choose from. I had fish tacos that were delicious and that I would go back to order again. Comes with slaw and a generous mound of fries foe around $14. Others in my party had fried clams, fried shrimp, chicken pieces and fries in a bag. All were happy and full at the end of the meal, with one taking some home. Seven people came to around $100 including soft drinks, tax and tip. read more

This is probably my all time favorite place for fried seafood in ct. The fried clams are perfect, never refried always hot and crispy as are the fries. You can eat inside or on nice days at the picnic tables. Always made to order fresh not frozen. Try it much better than Lenny and Joe's in my opinion. Me and my wife have been enjoying it for over 30yrs read more

Not impressed, not just divey - dirty. I don't mind a dive, but this was gross. Food was not great either

Enjoyed a lunch here last week. The shrimp was tasty, if not a little expensive. $30 for two people seemed high for what we got. But the food was good, and I liked the local appeal. read more

We loveeee the clam castle. Best fried seafood on the shoreline, and cheapest prices! Eat outside and byob! I love the lobster bisque but it can be hit or miss depending on who makes it. Their NE clam chowder is THICK so I like to order NE and RI and mix them! read more

If the sign on the door says open until 8 pm. The doors should not be locked before 7:45. At least two customers brought their business across the street and may not venture back. read more

Ate here for the first time. Clearly the best fried clams (whole belly and strips ordered) we have ever had. Batter was thin, not too salty or cakey. Oil was fresh. Service pleasant and prompt. Will be back again! read more

Deep fried everything. Slow service. It's ok if you are really hungry and not fussy

Their clam strips vs Lenny & Joes are probably on equal, but the other day I definitely had the best full belly fried clams to date. Super good fried seafood, and a totally necessary stop if you're anywhere near Hammonasset during the summer. Also, its called The Clam Castle, their logo is amazing, and their t-shirts are equally fantastic. This place is a CT Route 1 landmark! read more

Having grown up on Cape Cod, these roadside seafood restaurants were the norm, but they are hard to find around here. Clam Castle is fantastic, and always reminds me of home. I can only recommend the whole belly clams though, it's all I ever get. read more

My friend from college was visiting for the weekend and after a river cruise, we headed here for lobster rolls on a hundred degree day. Clam Castle's lobster roll was everything a Connecticut lobster roll should be: served in a toasted hot dog bun and doused in butter, no mayo in sight. They were served with pickles and coleslaw. Another of our party had the clam platter reported enjoying it and the fries were crisp and tasty. read more

Ate here on 7/24/15 and cannot wait to go back! Its a little shack type place where you order your food at a counter & they then call your number & bring it to you when ready. Outdoor picnic tables are available. I also saw people drinking wine & beer so I'm guessing BYOB is acceptable. I had the 1/2 order whole belly clams, fries and a cup of Rhode Island Chowder. My husband got the fried shrimp platter with sweet potato fries. Oh my these clams were ON POINT! So delicious and not chewy at all. 1/2 order had about 8 HUGE clams & a ton of delicious fries. The fries had a coating on them and I just could not stop! The clam chowder was fantastic and had not ONE chewy piece either. Hubby loved the shrimp & the sweet potato fries as well. Do yourself a favor and eat here! you will not be disappointed! read more

Excellent Clam Shack! Panko coated fish and chips blew me away! Great creative menu, reasonably priced. Covered outdoor picnic area. Very friendly staff. They even brought out a bowl of water for my dogs!!! read more

Great food, great service. This is a fun little place for an enjoyable, relaxing lunch. Prices are good, food is delicious! Now owned by Donahue's this place has made huge improvements on the food they serve. If you have not been here in a few years, give them another chance, they are doing right. read more

LOVE the Clam Castle, and have been enjoying it for years! Lobster bisque (heavy on the butter and sherry), clam fritters and fried fish sandwiches are family favorites. Hot lobster roll is a perfectly grilled treat, and onion rings are a nicely fried indulgence, too. You can always walk across the street for ice cream and carousel after dinner. Have always enjoyed the dive-y 50's shack quality of "the Castle," but this last visit, at the end of the summer season, I must say the cleanliness was an issue for me. There were flies inside; the doors, door handles and windows were dirty; and I couldn't bring myself to throw our trash away, as the tops of the trash bins were so filthy. C'mon Clam Castle - "shack shabby" is one thing, dirty is another - please keep up the deep cleaning - I WANT to keep loving you! read more

I'm surprised at the number of positive reviews here. I've been here 4 times, and each time was a disappointment. Although there are no lines, it takes *forever* to order your food. The food is okay for the most part, but it's not as good as Lenny and Joe's (and despite the lines at L and J's, the food comes faster there). The last straw came this summer when we went there for clam fritters. First visit they were out (at only 2 pm!). So I went back to get an order the next day. It was $7.95' and all we got was a small styrofoam box with about 8 meager fritters. I've been to restaurants where I got 6 giant clam fritters for less than half the price. The place is dirty and run-down, qualities I'm usually willing to overlook if the food is good, but I really feel like I got hosed there. Lenny and Joes is more crowded for a reason: they just do it better. read more

We were driving through Madison around dinner time so we let Yelp help us pick our seafood last night. We live in CT but aren't from the area. It's a clam shack. The lines were long and tables full. But it was Friday, July 3, on the shore - so you have to expect this. I tried to order a clam roll but they had just run out of clam strips. They said they got slammed and that had never happened before. So I switched it out to an oyster roll. We also ordered blackened fish tacos. I was told it would be about a 20-25 minute wait. The food came out after more than 60 minutes. We had debated leaving after about 40 minutes but we had already invested so much time... and we were hungry. We'd just have to go wait somewhere else. So, I was more than a little annoyed when the food finally came out. However, the food was OUTSTANDING! The oysters were the best we'd ever had from a clam shack. I'm also very picky about my fish tacos and they were right up there among the best I've had. Cooked perfectly and nice flavor. Also, we didn't know this when we got there, but it's BYOB and plenty of people were taking advantage of that. So, would I go again? Yes. Would I wait that long again? Yes, but it would have been a lot easier to deal with if they had just been honest about the length of time when I asked. I suspect that last night was way busier than normal. Four stars instead of five because of the poor communication when I ordered. read more

This was a Sunday drive happenstance and let me tell you...my husband and I are so thankful for fate!!!! :) what a DELICIOUS place to eat. As CT natives and New England seafood fans, we've had our fair share and this place can't be beat. I'd thought for sure the best fried seafood I'd ever have was in Bar Harbor but the very reasonably priced platter we shared at the Clam Castle blew it out of the water. Everything tasted so very fresh! And there was every sauce you could want, delicious cole slaw and mounds of hot flaky and crispy fries and onion rings. We can't wait til we're feelig indulgent again :) try it!!!!! read more