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Here's when CT's lobster roll spots open for the 2022 season

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Leeanne Griffin

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Hot lobster rolls at Knot Norm's in Norwalk, Conn., on June 2, 2021.
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Hot lobster rolls at Knot Norm's in Norwalk, Conn., on June 2, 2021.

Lisa Nichols / Hearst CT Media

Sure, you can get lobster rolls year-round in Connecticut. But many Nutmeggers associate the sandwich with warm, sunny temperatures and outdoor seating, preferably with a water view. 

As spring continues and the weather improves, seasonal seafood restaurants are opening their doors — or setting dates for when they'll serve their first roll of 2022. Some eateries like Lobster Landing in Clinton, Ford's in Noank and Captain Scott's Lobster Dock in New London are already open, and others like Abbott's Lobster in the Rough in Noank, The Lobster Shack in East Haven and Shanks at Harborside in Clinton plan May returns.

Here's a collection of lobster roll spots along the Connecticut shore, from Fairfield County to the Rhode Island border.

 

 

Lobster Landing
Clinton
A hot lobster rolls and clam chowder at Lobster Landing in Clinton, Conn., on May 27, 2021.

A hot lobster rolls and clam chowder at Lobster Landing in Clinton, Conn., on May 27, 2021.

Lisa Nichols / Hearst CT Media

Open for the season. More information here. 

Captain Scott's Lobster Dock
New London
Cold lobster rolls at Captain's Scott's Lobster Dock in New London, Conn., on May 27, 2021.

Cold lobster rolls at Captain's Scott's Lobster Dock in New London, Conn., on May 27, 2021.

Lisa Nichols / Hearst CT Media

Open for the season. More information here. 

Ford's Lobster
Noank
Chef George adds lobster meat to a bisque bomb, which has 1/2 pound of hot lobster meat, at Ford's Lobster in Noank, Conn., on June 4, 2021.

Chef George adds lobster meat to a bisque bomb, which has 1/2 pound of hot lobster meat, at Ford's Lobster in Noank, Conn., on June 4, 2021.

Lisa_Nichols / Hearst CT Media

Now open Sunday, Monday, Thursday (noon to 7 p.m.) and Friday and Saturday (noon to 8 p.m.) More information here.

Szabo's Seafood
Shelton
Kim Morrissey, of Danbury, waits for her order of shrimp & chips from Szabo's Seafood during the Country Music and Food Truck event on the Green in Danbury, Conn, on Saturday, August 6, 2016.
Kim Morrissey, of Danbury, waits for her order of shrimp & chips from Szabo's Seafood during the Country Music and Food Truck event on the Green in Danbury, Conn, on Saturday, August 6, 2016.
H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

Storefront now open Fridays and Saturdays. More information here. 

The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood
Rowayton
A cold lobster roll and homemade potato chips at Rowayton Seafood  in the village of Rowayton in Norwalk, Conn., on June 2, 2021.

A cold lobster roll and homemade potato chips at Rowayton Seafood  in the village of Rowayton in Norwalk, Conn., on June 2, 2021.

Lisa Nichols / Hearst CT Media

Now open; outdoor dining reopening at the end of May. More information here.

The Crab Shell
Stamford
The Crab Shell Restaurant ,just across the West Branch of the Stamford Harbor from Harbor Point.

The Crab Shell Restaurant ,just across the West Branch of the Stamford Harbor from Harbor Point.

John Nickerson/Hearst CT Media

Now open daily. More information here.

The Lobster Hut
Milford
The Lobster Hut has both a "Lobster Salad Roll1" and a "Bigger Lobster Salad Roll" for lobster lovers.
The Lobster Hut has both a "Lobster Salad Roll1" and a "Bigger Lobster Salad Roll" for lobster lovers.

Now open daily. More information here. 

The Lazy Lobster
Milford
The Lazy Lobster in Milford's "The Lazy Lobster Roll" was voted one of the best in CT. Succulent lobster is piled high on a fresh baked and buttered roll.
The Lazy Lobster in Milford's "The Lazy Lobster Roll" was voted one of the best in CT. Succulent lobster is piled high on a fresh baked and buttered roll.

Opening April 19. More information here. 

SoNo Seaport Seafood
Norwalk
Sono Seaport is a local favorite for raw bar and fried seafood.

Sono Seaport is a local favorite for raw bar and fried seafood.

Lisa Nichols / Hearst Connecticut Media

Opening April 20. More info here. 

Clam Castle
Madison
David and Sloane Donahue with some of the offerings at the Clam Castle in Madison.
David and Sloane Donahue with some of the offerings at the Clam Castle in Madison.
Melanie Stengel — New Haven Register

Opening April 20. More information here. 

Guilford Lobster Pound
Guilford
Guilford Lobster Pound

Guilford Lobster Pound

Guilford Lobster Pound

Projected April opening. More information here.

Sea Swirl
Mystic
Lobster roll at Sea Swirl Mystic.

Lobster roll at Sea Swirl Mystic.

Sea Swirl of Mystic

Projected opening in "early May." More information here.

Abbott's Lobster in the Rough
Noank
An "OMG Hot Lobster Roll" (front) and an "LOL Hot Lobster Roll" at Abbott's Lobster in the Rough in Noank.
An "OMG Hot Lobster Roll" (front) and an "LOL Hot Lobster Roll" at Abbott's Lobster in the Rough in Noank.
Lisa Nichols

Opening May 6. More information here.

The Lobster Shack
East Haven
Arlene Crismale, left, and Nick Crismale, the husband and wife co-owners of the Lobster Shack, and daughter-in-law and manager Lisa Crismale, right, on the second-floor deck dining area at the new East Haven location. The Lobster Shack is opening Friday.

Arlene Crismale, left, and Nick Crismale, the husband and wife co-owners of the Lobster Shack, and daughter-in-law and manager Lisa Crismale, right, on the second-floor deck dining area at the new East Haven location. The Lobster Shack is opening Friday.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media

Opening in May. More information here.

Liv's Shack and Liv's Dockside Grill
Old Saybrook and Clinton
Liv's Dockside Grill in Clinton
Liv's Dockside Grill in Clinton
Courtesy of Liv's Dockside Grill

Both spots are projected to open Memorial Day weekend. More info: livsshack.com; livsdocksidegrill.com.

Shanks at Harborside
Clinton
Shanks, Clinton
Shanks, Clinton
Peter Hvizdak

Opening May 26. More information here. 

Stowe's Seafood
West Haven
West Haven, Connecticut - Sunday, May 02, 2021: Chris O’Brien of Stowe's Seafood of West Haven. It has at has been renovated and now has reopened and O’Brien waits to take orders.

West Haven, Connecticut - Sunday, May 02, 2021: Chris O’Brien of Stowe's Seafood of West Haven. It has at has been renovated and now has reopened and O’Brien waits to take orders.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media

Open year-round. More information here. 

LobsterCraft
Greenwich, Fairfield, West Hartford
The Heat Wave lobster roll, shown at LobsterCraft’s West Hartford restaurant, is prepared with spicy Serrano and habanero pepper-infused butter.

The Heat Wave lobster roll, shown at LobsterCraft’s West Hartford restaurant, is prepared with spicy Serrano and habanero pepper-infused butter.

Leeanne Griffin / Hearst Connecticut Media

Open year-round. More information here.

Westbrook Lobster
Clinton and Wallingford

Open year-round. More information here.

Flanders Fish Market
East Lyme

Restaurant is open year-round; a seasonal stand at Niantic's Crescent Beach is typically open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. More information here. 

Knot Norms
Norwalk
Hot lobster rolls at Knot Norm's in Norwalk, Conn., on June 2, 2021.

Hot lobster rolls at Knot Norm's in Norwalk, Conn., on June 2, 2021.

Lisa Nichols / Hearst CT Media

Open year-round. More information here. 

Match Burger Lobster
Westport
Match Burger Lobster in Westport offers burgers, lobster rolls and other seafood dishes.

Match Burger Lobster in Westport offers burgers, lobster rolls and other seafood dishes.

Thomas McGovern / Courtesy of Match Burger Lobster

Open year-round. More information here.

Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale
Madison and Westbrook
Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale booth in the Connecticut Building at The Big E in Springfield, Mass., on September 23, 2021.

Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale booth in the Connecticut Building at The Big E in Springfield, Mass., on September 23, 2021.

Lisa Nichols/Hearst CT Media

Open year-round. More information here.

Joey C’s Boathouse
Stratford
The Boathouse Lobster Roll, at the new Joey C's Boathouse restaurant on the Housatonic River in the Dock Shopping Center in Stratford, Conn. on Wednesday, August 12, 2015.
The Boathouse Lobster Roll, at the new Joey C's Boathouse restaurant on the Housatonic River in the Dock Shopping Center in Stratford, Conn. on Wednesday, August 12, 2015.
Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media

Open year-round. More information here.

Knapp's Landing
Stratford

Open year-round. More information here. 

Lenny's Indian Head Inn
Branford
Branford, Connecticut - Friday, May 15, 2020: Christopher Conlin owner of Lenny's Indian Head Inn, a classic New England seafood restaurant holds a 9-pound lobster at the new entrance on the back deck and patio to maintain an adequate entrance and egress to control social-distancing flow as people get their food as Connecticut restaurants prepare for a staged May 20th opening due to the Coronavirus / Covid-19 pandemic.
Branford, Connecticut - Friday, May 15, 2020: Christopher Conlin owner of Lenny's Indian Head Inn, a classic New England seafood restaurant holds a 9-pound lobster at the new entrance on the back deck and patio to maintain an adequate entrance and egress to control social-distancing flow as people get their food as Connecticut restaurants prepare for a staged May 20th opening due to the Coronavirus / Covid-19 pandemic.
Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media

Open year-round. More information here. 

Photo of Leeanne Griffin
Written By
Leeanne Griffin

Leeanne is the food and consumer reporter for Hearst Connecticut, handling coverage of restaurant openings and closings, trends, events and general news about CT food and beverage businesses.

She's been working in Connecticut news for more than 15 years, most recently as the food and dining reporter for the Hartford Courant. A native of Worcester, Mass., she holds a master's degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University.