We LOVE this place. We travel from Atlanta to Massachusetts a couple times a year and we always stop in Meriden so we can eat at Westbrook. Started with steamers and raw oysters. Both were fresh and excellent but the steamers are really a star. They are cooked to perfection not a bit of sand sooooo good. I could just eat a couple of buckets of those. But we moved on to the pan roasted lobster. This is the best Lobster I have ever eaten. The sauce is a Bourbon butter sauce and it is out of this world. You can get lobster a lot of places but you can't find this lobster anywhere but here. Well worth the trip. The service is always spot on and the drinks are strong. Great place definitely worth a trip. read more

The ownership of this building has changed hands yet again. I've been to its most recent incarnations since I was a kid (Q River, Trout Brook, Britannia Spoon) but all of them have fallen short in some way. It is currently (March 2008) known as Westbrook Lobster. It is now primarily a seafood restaurant, but the owner is also trying to pitch it as a night life spot to draw some of the crowd from Archie Moore's and the surrounding area. Extensive remodeling work was done on the interior, and the bar area is very nice (complete with a raw bar). They used to have a seafood store front too, but have since closed it. The food is mostly good, however I've found the sides of vegetables are almost always overcooked and mushy. Any seafood dish is likely to be great. I can't really speak for the rest of the menu. They have excellent happy hour specials. A lot more info on their myspace profile: see http://www.myspace.com/westbrooklobster During warmer months they have a nice outdoor patio area. The one serious knock I have on this place is that the large dining room area is absolutely freezing in the winter. Like, so uncomfortable that you have to ask to be seated elsewhere. read more

Brother and I come once a week for lunch. From the clean taps lines, craft beer selection, fresh oysters (buck a shuck Blue Points), fish or shrimp tacos, buffalo chicken sandwich...it's all spot on. Clean, roomy, comfortable in a unique brick and beam old factory completely remodeled with a huge outdoor, multi-tiered deck on a running stream. As for service, we've had Liz behind the bar many times who's amazing and we've seen, spoken to a dealt with the owner Michael several times and he's been nothing short of professional, personable, and even inquisitive as to how to make his restaurant better. The new guy Andy is great waiter who knows his craft beer better than anyone and I'm pretty terrible with names but we've never had even a remote negative encounter with any staff. To the contrary, my brother and I feel like home there. There are a lot of choices in Wallingford eating, but this Westbrook Lobster House (not shoreline one..there is a difference) is simply a great restaurant that's reasonable, inviting with fresh high quality food and drink. Great job guys. read more

Hard to believe that I went to the same place as some of these other reviewers. I stopped in around 8:00PM on a Thursday night. The dining room was empty. There were a few in the bar room having dinner. The atmosphere was pleasant, the staff attentive. I ordered the Grilled Salmon salad. It was great! The portion large, the dressing tasty. There was nothing to complain about. I will VERY willingly return. read more

Would not rate any star. Worst service ever had. Tried new place and wasn't even recognized so this is for locals only. Even the manager by passed our table for another right next to us. We had 1 drink while the table next to us ordered drinks and food. They received their food before we even ordered second drink. I will never come back for anything here. read more

It's a beautiful building with a horrible kitchen staff. I live nearby and have been dragged there dozens of times. Besides the fact that I have gotten sick there twice there is still more to complain about. The food on the menu does not adequately describe the meal you order. Once I ordered the chef specialty of seafood paella, granted I've never been to Spain but I know what a paella is. What I got was the same boil-in-a-bag minute rice that comes as a side dish, a handful of salad shrimp, some funky smelling scallops and closed mussels. I sent the meal back in disgust and when I refused to order something else the waitress became annoyed. I asked to speak to a manager but no one came to see us and we left soon after. Maybe the original in Westbrook is better but I'll never find out because you won't catch me in there again until it becomes another restaurant. read more

If you like local craft beer this place is the bomb!!!! Draft beer selection is best I've seen. Yes, I'm putting this place above cask republic, prime16, Rudy's, etc. etc. All big beers from nebco, beerd, Kent falls,, 2roads, outer lights. Food very good as well. Lobster flatbread was banging. Definitely coming back to try the happy hour. read more

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Took my elderly parents for lunch. My mom is in a wheelchair. Due to COVID and outdoor dining they had ONE wheelchair accessible table on the entire patio. Everything was a high top bar height table or down several steps( which is difficulties a wheelchair) The table is in the direct path of the kitchen do every staff walks by you- and they don't walk - but stomp. It's very unpleasant. We ordered our lunch and the pleasant waitress asked us if we wanted to Substitute a salad for the fries. My mother chose to substitute the salad. To me that means - you get the salad instead of the fries. When the bill came... to my surprise there was an additional charge of $4.50 for the substitution! That's not a substitute- that's an up charge! Not once did the waitress say there was an additional fee for her so-called substitute! What a rip off! Lunch for 3 without beverages was $100! The $100 included a very generous tip. The laws require you accommodate the handicapped- so please don't discriminate against my elderly mother in a wheelchair! The $4.50 upcharge for the substitute salad was a surprise at the end and never explained. I did not complain about the price of the seafood. Just the misleading salad the was a bait and switch. read more

Friday night Dinner. Yes they were busy. 20 min wait. Not bad. Three of us. Jumbo shrimp (more like cocktail). Fried clams ( had to find them buried in between plenty of onion rings and fries). Chicken Frances: asked if it could be served over pasta (she had to check as it was busy and they don't like special orders). Really? Shame she had to fight me on that one? They offer other dishes with pasta and who serves chicken France's with rice or mashed potato? Overall experience -moderate. We left somewhat satisfied but Would't run back. read more

Had a great experience last Friday at Westbrook Lobster. Everything was so fresh, and the server Liz went above and beyond to provide friendly and extraordinarily fast service. It was nice to get such good food and service under one roof, and legitimately get an experience like you're eating on the shoreline. Raw bar was fresh, and the bang bang shrimp were incredible as usual. Props to Liz for being fast, friendly and knowledgeable, and Westbrook Lobster -- I will be back for sure. Anthony read more

First time and i will definitely go back. Both the food and the service were very good. The place was very busy, as it should be on a Friday night, when we first arrived. The waitress did a very good job checking in on us and making sure we had what we needed. The lobster flat bread pizza app was delicious. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I had the fish & chips, the fish was excellent. Great job - Westbrook Lobster in Wallingford - Keep it up! I"m a local Wallingford resident and I'm always happy when a local business is doing well. read more

Lobster Mac N Cheese is Awesome...... I'm not sure if the rest of you are going to the one in Clinton CT, but the Wallingford one has been terrific for years and has always been Westbrook Lobster and is absent of Juicehead Guidos. Fantastic seafood at reasonable prices. read more

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We were fortunate enough to find this restaurant on an overnight stay in town on our car trip out East. Unfortunately, we missed happy hour. But, no problem, we still sat in the bar. The waitress, Karalyn, was extremely helpful, patient, and friendly. She introduced us to steamers! So glad we took her recommendation. Coming from Michigan, we had never had these. Not only did she deliver the food, with a smile, but also showed us how to eat steamers. These became a new favorite find for us. I am gluten free, and they were very accommodating. I had the scallop and cannellini dish. Wow, how interesting. It was so good! Hubby Had the lobster bisque and the bread, and the appetizer. Oh, and some of mine! He really enjoyed his as well. read more

Ok, this is one of those times when I wonder if some of the reviews on here are by competitors. THERE WERE NO, I repeat NO service issues at this restaurant. The staff were very helpful, and quick to acknowledge me. The food was wonderful. This view from my table was over a river. It's beautiful. I will, absolutely come here again, and so should YOU! read more

Westbrook Lobster - The view from my table! - Seafood Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

Came here for an early lunch during the week. Ordered cup of lobster bisque which was amazing! It was thick and had I think even two claws of lobster in it, plus other lobster meat as well! I've never had lobster bisque with that much lobster in it! I wish I ordered that for lunch in a larger portion as it would have been perfect. I opted for clam strip roll with fries, all delicious hot and fresh. Clam strips were not chewy at all, bun was perfectly toasted and not overly buttered and a really good size, I must say not like the smaller hot dog rolls you typically buy for yourself at the store, fries were good too. Service was a bit slow since it wasn't that busy at the time we were there- that being said it wasn't a horribly long wait just noticeable. I'll be back for that bisque! read more

Westbrook Lobster - Delicious lobster bisque - Seafood Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

Just had an awesome experience at Westbrook Lobster. The meal and service were excellent. I had the baked cod entree with sweet potato wedges and veggies. My wife had the fried cod fish. We also started with soups which were also excellent. I had the Rhode Island and my wife the New England clam chowder. Our server was Karalyn and she was a sweetheart. The owner stopped by and asked us how everything was. Very impressed. We will be back. There are a lot of menu items we would love to try. Especially the lobster rolls!! read more

I can only comment on happy hour, but based on that experience I would gladly return! Interior is dark and swanky. Great local beer list. Happy hour wine pour was incredibly generous for just $6 and pretty delicious for a house red. Had I stayed for dinner I could have ordered everything off the menu. Nice outdoor seating too. read more

Amazing restaurant. The food had great flavor is lots of selection and a nice environment. Wait staff was extremely attentive.

We love this place!! Never disappointed! The beer list is exceptional. The food is even better! My husband almost always gets the CT lobster roll and it is delicious! We love happy hour and all the bat bites! Although it isn't by the seashore the seafood is always tasty and the specials are phenomenal! A must try! read more

This is a good place for Happy Hour. They have great drink and appetizer specials which includes a $1.00 raw bar special. The bar inside has limited space, but this place has a huge outdoor setting area. read more

I live in the area and have been to Westbrook Lobster many times over the years. The food used to be decent, then it took a sharp nosedive for a few years. We'd go back occasionally for fundraisers and things but either left disappointed or feeling kind of sick. Sometime in the past year they slowly started to improve the menu but I didn't have a chance to go back until last night. Several restaurants we tried first were closed for the week, no one in our party was very excited to go to Westbrook Lobster but it was getting late. I'm so glad we went. The menu was brand new and simplified, awesome new dishes like lobster lollipops, lobster fritters, several lobster rolls, lobster carbonara, and amazing surf and turf options. Even the special margarita I had was possibly one of the best drinks I've had in my life. Our large party was seated quickly, our waitress was attentive, a manager walked around to check in on diners, even the bread rolls were outstanding. There were also several new side dishes (remember the awful "rice pilaf" and pitiful mixed veg?) now there's fingerling potatoes, brussels sprouts, etc. I am so happy they turned things around, obviously a new chef is really loving their job and bringing this restaurant a place to look forward to going. read more

I haven't found too many spots in the Hartford area that offer the quality of seafood like Westbrook Lobster. The menu is diverse and full of different seafood options and unique dishes. My personal favorite has to be the Pan-Seared Salmon that comes with bacon swiss chard and red-skin mashed potatoes. Everything about this dish is amazing and the brown sugar bourbon-butter glaze adds a sweet top notch taste to the salmon..reasons why is has to be the best salmon I have ever tasted. The restaurant is cozy and inviting. It's never been too crowded the times I have been there. The waiting staff is great, everyone's nice and entertaining. Overall it's a good time. read more

Westbrook Lobster - Pan-Seared Salmon with brown sugar bourbon-butter glaze, bacon swiss chard, red-skin mashed potatoes. Heaven on a plate ! - Seafood Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

One of my local favorites. Westbrook has great food, a great bar happy hour and a great bar staff. I an not a fan of the manager though, on multiple occasions we've tried to complement him on his staff, but he couldn't be bothered to stop and listen. read more

Westbrook Lobster was a delightful surprise! Expectations were not very high given the 3 Stars on Yelp and some of the negative reviews. However, everything important was wonderful. We were a party of 6 and were pleasantly greeted and immediately seated. Our very upbeat waitress Kristen ("with a 'K'") was pleasant and prompt and eager to please. She was patient and informative and answered all our questions about the menu. When someone in our party wanted some changes to the meal (no cheese sauce and a different vegetable on the cod dish, the substitution was agreed to immediately by the waitress - no "I have to check with the cook" which was refreshing). I was also very pleased and impressed that the owner of the restaurant, Michael Lariviere, came over to us twice to make sure that everyone was happy and that everything was satisfactory. (It certainly was!). As for the menu, it was a simple 2 page menu with a broad range of seafood and some meat. There was also a children's menu which was very reasonably priced and had all the standard kids fare. As for the adult options all I can say is that they had all the classic options and between the six of us we got most of them. Particularly good were the steamed clams (fresh and delicious) and the mussels (the sauce was so delicious that I asked and got a spoon to get every drop of it). I had the seafood Fra Diavolo which was fantastic! It had such a great mix of shellfish and a wonderful (but not too spicy) sauce that a new standard was set. We also had the cod (delicious) the lobster pot pie ("the best pot pie I ever had" according to the one who ordered it) with HUGE chunks of lobster, and the fried seafood - tender and crispy. In short, the food was as good as I've ever had. Westbrook Lobster is now my go-to seafood restaurant. read more

Went in for dinner a few times, recently I had the pleasure of sitting in Brandy's section. If you go in request her! Very prompt and personable, best service I've had in a very long time. read more

Sat outside on the deck... Nice relaxing atmosphere... Had a great stuffed lobster and the wife had some good stuffed shrimp... Can't beat happy hour till 7 too. read more

Westbrook Lobster - 1 & 1/4 lbs stuffed lobster - Seafood Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

Hands down this is such a great place to eat out. The atmosphere, the service, the food; I was pleased with everything. The prices area very reasonable and the cocktails are delicious. I am definitely going back. Our server Ashley R. The best server I have ever had. She knew what I wanted before I even told her. Awesome!!! read more

Best seafood and atmosphere in the area! Even a negative got turned into a positive and is a credit to their management. My girlfriend and I go here all the time and wanted to bring her parents there to try it out. Once we were seated, it took a bit of time to get a server to us and the hostess realized we were frustrated. However, the manager came right over and apologized profusely, and even gave us a free round of drinks. After that, we had the best service for the rest of the night. It's so great when a restaurant realizes their mistake, fixes the mistake, and concentrates on making the situation better. Would recommend to anyone who is in the Wallingford area! read more

My son took us here on our trip to Middletown. Based on the good reviews, he chose this restaurant. I ordered the soft shell crab with capers and I couldn't even eat it. The food had no taste whatsoever. Neither of us liked what was ordered. Very disappointing experience! read more

Went on Friday night with my mom and husband for dinner. The menu selection is diverse, so even if you don't want seafood, they'll have something for everyone. Love the rustic feel of the restaurant, and the pricing is great for the meal that you get. We did not leave hungry or disappointed. Friendly, attentive staff - the manager even walks around to check on the tables, which is very nice to see. Great restaurant for a romantic dinner, especially with the outdoor seating. Can't wait to go back! read more

Went here on Sunday August 2 a little disappointed with food portions.First off we got fried calamari which was pretty good and was a nice size portion. For entries I got fried shrimp and whole bellies (3 shrimp 5 clams) they were good size but for 21 dollars could of been a few more. My wife ordered alobster roll which looked nothing like the picture they show. Really wanted to like this place as it's really close to home and we really love seafood but I don't think we'll be going back. Waitstaff was really attentive and deserves good reviews. read more

Horrible experience. Ordered the salmon special...took 45 min to show up. One bite and I knew they were using frozen fish. It was tough as leather...chewy and disgusting. Don't go to this place...ever! read more

Always great food and service! Never had anything that I didn't like. Clam Chowder is good. Lobster Rolls are great. Fried fish, clams, shrimp, etc. - all good! Definitely worth a stop. Go for lunch, usually quieter, and a bit cheaper. read more

I have been here twice and I am not impressed. The restaurant has a smell when you walk in, and I don't think the food is worth the prices. For my husband and two kids - our bill was $120. I think you can find quality seafood for less. read more

This place was a pleasant surprise ... The shrimp Asian skewers were light flaky and fantastic The salmon was to die for and the dessert ( a seasonal pumpkin cheesecake with the freshest restaurant coffee that I've had in a long time ... We say it's a surprise because we hadn't heard great things about any of the Westbrook chain ... Just goes to show you can't always trust what you hear or read .. Shout out to Gemmina our waitress as pretty as can be and an even better waitress !! read more

This is a bad experience, the second time in this way, but this service makes me feel very angry (do not know to have the manager) and no one came to take us to sit down for a long time, even a greeting all have no, but the guests who after us with a sit down first, today not to complain the food, completely was so disrespectful treatment was very angry read more

Omg I wanted lobster mac and cheese and there's was everything. Inside and outside dinning, warm atmosphere nice staff.

Decided to try this establishment yesterday and boy am I happy we did! We ordered the Fried Calamari and Mussels for the apps, both were fantastic! Mega lobster rolls definitely did not disappoint! I wish I remembered the name of our server but unfortunately I don't, she was awesome!! Looking forward to returning again! read more

We have been going to Westbrook lobster for years now, they have a great happy hour that extends to include "Sunday" as well, great happy hour menu and fresh prepared fish. If your looking for the ordinary Lobster Roll, find another place.. The lobster Rolls here are huge and over stuffed, you'll need to start them with a fork. Very user friendly, great staff, see ya soon! read more

This place is a gem. They play the best music. It's never too bright in here. The beer selection is local and masterfully selected. The cocktails are balanced and calculated. The food is unreal and the service is on point. I one time came here with the most excruciating hangover and they took extra special care of me. They have a fabulous outdoor seating area surround by trees overlooking a pond with lots of turtles. Makes you feel like you're in a tree house. It is also kid friendly.... but I'd encourage you not to bring your kids here so I can vibe in peace read more