Connecticut
Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale | The Best Lobster Roll in Connecticut?
Between three restaurants they’ve served over a million lobster rolls. Could this be the best lobster roll in Connecticut?
By Katherine Keenan|Aug 26 2019|
The New England style bun comes piled high with fresh, hot, buttered lobster.
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Is Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale the Best Lobster Roll in Connecticut?
Come summertime, people travel far and wide to find New England’s best lobster rolls. For many, that means journeying to Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale for a “Connecticut–style” hot buttered lobster roll.The Background
The “tale” of Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale goes like this: Brothers Lenny and Joe Goldberg grew up in a New Haven suburb and spent their early careers working in food service. After they graduated from college with degrees in political science, they began to dream of entering into the restaurant business together. In 1979 the brothers opened a seasonal clam stand along Route 1 in Madison, Connecticut, with a dining area that consisted of four picnic tables on a screened-in porch. After 10 successful years, they expanded and built the Madison “Drive-In” restaurant, which still stands today and is open seven days a week, all year round.
The Experience
According to longtime Yankee contributor and resident lobster roll expert Mike Urban, this “shoreline favorite still hits it out of the park with its generously portioned and buttered hot lobster roll, which is served on a toasted split-top New England–style hot dog bun with butter on the side.” Although the age-old argument over hot and cold lobster rolls may never find resolution, Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale has found a clear winner in the eyes of patrons. As Mike put it in his recent NewEngland.com roundup of favorite lobster rolls in Connecticut, they “serve a good cold lobster roll here, though the hot version outsells it 10 to 1.” I ordered the hot buttered lobster roll, which rang up at $17.95 and came with all the trusty sidekicks: coleslaw, thick french fries, ample butter, and a lemon wedge.
The Verdict
This lobster roll lets the meat take center stage. If you advocate for soft, warm, nothing-but-butter-and-lobster rolls, you’ll be a fan of Lenny and Joe’s. The meat was fresh and generously portioned, especially considering the price tag. If you’re looking for a breezy, oceanside experience, try one of the other Fish Tale locations, since this spot doesn’t offer any seaside views. That said, even though the family-style restaurant was packed and there was a substantial wait for a table, the lobster roll arrived at my table in less than 10 minutes. Whether hot and buttered or cold and crisp, any affordable lobster roll that arrives quickly gets a thumbs-up from me. Have you ever been to Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale? Which location is your favorite?SEE MORE: Best Connecticut Coastal Towns Lobster Landing | The Best Lobster Roll in Connecticut? 12 Coastal Weekend Getaways in New England
we are fortunate to live only a few miles from Lenny & Joe’s , so we dine there often! Can’t speak highly enough of the quality of their food. It’s very worth a day trip or a long weekend just to get your fill on fresh seafood… we always end up at their place in Westbrook… always very welcoming and service is a “never wait long” experience. Plus they have the best selections of T Shirts, caps, hats, and baby bibs to take home for gifts. ( Think now of
Christmas gifts: long sleeve T Shirts etc!) So don’t wait! Enjoy a great
meal if you want to experience New
England at its best!!!
Ate at Joe and Lennys Fishtales years ago while passing through Westbrook. Noticed the line outside the restaurant. So, thought it most be good since it appeared so popular. I had fried clams which were excellent. Dream of being able to go back. Live in VA and haven’t been north since then.
As a lifelong Connecticut resident, and longtime Middlesex County resident, I certainly miss the quality of Lenny and Joe’s. I moved to central Georgia nearly 8 years ago. They try here to replicate what we’re used to in New England, but don’t come close. Whenever I come “home”, I go to The Fish Tale for my favorite meals. Whole belly clams and the super sweet shrimp at The Fish Tale are head and shoulders above all others.
I have been to Lenny and Joe’s quite a bit over the past 20 . I beg to differ on their having the “best” lobster roll in CT. Really? The person who stated it, have they bothered going to any other lobster stands? Lenny and Joe’s will fill the bill when all the other shacks are closed for the winter. But friends and I have gone to MANY other places. And we agree that Lobster Landing in Clinton and Livs in Old Saybrook are a tie. Hot, lots of lobster at both places. But we love the hot lobster rolls at Abbotts not only for the amount of lobster but the view is great and no one is hovering over you for a table so you get to relax and enjoy. I have always wondered, if you boil a whole lobster and serve it with melted butter why the heck do other states insist on serving it cold and in mayo? I guess to each his own but lobster should be served hot.
Not only is it the best lobster roll, in our eyes, it’s the best seafood restaurant in all New England. We live in Memphis and going to Lenny & Joes is always one of the highlights of trips home.
Lobster landing Clinton Ct. The best of the rest!!!!!!!
I grew up in Connecticut. My Mom and I would go to Lenny and Joes every weekend. On a trip home with my daughter took her to Fish Tale. Now she knows why I would always talk about it. There is nothing to compare. Hands down the best. Coming back in October and I will definitely go back.