Dad’s is long-time favorite of people who have flocked to the seaside resort town of Niantic. Owners Patricia Waddington and daughters Dede Waddington and Dawn Londregan have ensured that the fried seafood emporium has remained a “shoreline tradition since 1963.”

Picnic tables flank the covered dining room, which is strictly order-at-the-window. Table service is a rarity at casual New England seafood spots like Dad’s. In the summer, so are employees over the age of 18.

Niantic Bay resides just across the train tracks. Along the bay, you’ll find a walking path, a beach, Millstone Nuclear Power Plant and a green hilltop park called McCook’s Point, former home of the WWII era “fighting McCooks.”

We ordered two Whole Belly Seafood Dinners ($22.95 each) , which included onion rings, French fries, cole slaw, fried bay scallops, clam bellies and strips, shrimp and Pollock. For dipping purposes, we received tartar and cocktail sauces. The juicy shrimp and scallops paired well with the crispy batter. Unfortunately, the clam bellies weren’t cleaned as well as I’d hoped, with spots of dirt and sand build-up. The fries were respectable, and the cole slaw was very good, not too creamy and seasoned with spicy horseradish.

We also ordered the Hot Lobster Roll ($12.95) with drawn butter. The succulent claw and tail meat was recognizable, but what was up with those chewy pieces that looked like bay shrimp?

New England Clam Chowder (cup, $3.25) was voted unauthentic by the locals I was dining with, who thought the clams probably came from a can.

For when you’re finished, near the twin entrances, there are open-mouthed animal shaped garbage can covers, an elephant and a hippo, with signs reading “Please feed the animals.”

Dad’s was a classic New England seafood spot. Some of the sea creatures could have tasted better, but the total effect was positive, the setting was terrific and it was fun to be there.

Related Posts

1. Sea Swirl – Mystic, CT – September 1, 2008
2. U.S.S. Chowder Pot III – Branford, CT – November 17, 2008
3. Flanders Fish Market – East Lyme, CT – Friday, November 28, 2008
4. Summer Shack – Uncasville, CT – November 30, 2008
5. The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene – Mount Pleasant, SC – Thursday, May 11, 2006

1. mattatouille, September 8, 2008:

   ah! we must find a good lobster roll in LA.

2. ryan londregan, April 5, 2009:

   BEST PLACE EVER

3. J.P., July 13, 2009:

   Unfortunately Dad’s has lost some of it’s quality in their preference for clams, I was very disappointed. It was very pricey for a pint of whole belly clams, and most of it was
   strips…I won’t be rushing back.

This entry is filed under New England, Seafood.