Abbott's Lobster In the Rough (Noank)

Famous hot lobster roll was delicious! So was the lobster salad roll - no wrong choice here! Service super friendly and plenty of seating. Would definitely come back. Recommended.

This was an amazing stop on our east coast road trip. We started with a steamed artichoke, steamed shrimp and some delicious clam chowder. My wife got a Tuna Salad Roll and I ordered their Famous Hot Lobster Roll, and that Lobster Roll did not disappoint us. I don’t care for tuna fish but my wife loved her Tuna Roll. Will definitely stop by again next time we are in the area.

Stopped at Abbott’s on our way home from a Rhode Island getaway. I was disappointed in the “lobster deviled eggs.” The amusingly teeny tiny dot of lobster certainly wasn’t worth the $3 up charge. The deviled egg filling was very dense and not really a deviled egg. Ok that aside, the lobsters were cooked beautifully but it did take a solid 35 minutes and we were order number 16 for the day. Got there 10 mins after they opened. The staff was friendly and lots of great seating options.

I really loved this place. The OMG Hot Lobster Roll was packed full of lobster meat. The clam chowder was very light and lemony. Oysters weren't my favorite - whichever variety they were didn't taste great to me. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in the area.

Abbott's is a lovely spot to enjoy seafood by the water. From ordering to enjoy my meal, the experience was fantastic! I ordered their famous hot lobster and lobster deviled eggs and I see why people frequent them. The delicious food and beautiful location are definitely worth the visit!

My family always makes it a point to stop at Abbott’s every time we pass through Connecticut. It’s been our ongoing tradition for over a decade! We typically get a hot lobster roll smothered in hot butter, a New England clam chowder, some shrimp cocktail, and a whole lobster. This time we changed it up and ordered additions: the Lobster Feast (compromised of a lobster, steamed mussels and clams, small shrimp cocktail, and an Abbott’s clam chowder (in broth)), shrimp tacos (wouldn’t do again), and half a dozen shucked oysters. It’s always a beautiful day at Abbott’s, so come on down and join us seaside.

Eating by the bay was the best part. Expensive and totally underwhelmed when the food arrived. Had Abbttotizer Special, steamed clams and a lobster roll (sandwich). The cheese & carrots were slimy- Not fresh made - maybe a day or 2 before? Coleslaw was tasteless, lobster meat didn’t have any taste, clam were average at best. Not sure what the plumbing issue is but there’s a horrible smell of sewage outside the bathrooms but not actually in the bathrooms. Eat at the dock in the back to get away from it. Realized after we ate they raise their own oysters so that’s the way I’d go next time - however there won’t be a next time. Cool location - get a pic and then go somewhere else for lunch.

Lobster and crab cakes were amazing and bonus points for being able to eat it by the water! Clams and mussels were good (a rinse in the clam juice helped).

I've been going to Abbott's since I was a kid every time my family visited Mystic. It is the quintessential New England seafood shack. Even after all these years, Abbott's is still one of the best seafood restaurants I've been to. Obviously, the New England Lobster Feast is a must. The lobster is cooked perfectly as well as the steamers. The chowder is light and a great start to the meal. Don't pass over the tuna salad roll! Still my favorite tuna salad. It is magic. The great view and amazing food is a perfect stop when in Mystic.

It's been 16 years since I was last in this area and ate here. Thank goodness we had Google maps. Not sure how we found this in the past! The place seemed its same colorful self but of course the prices have gone way up. We arrived right when it opened at 11am since we were on our way to Newport. We placed our order for two of their famous hot lobster sandwiches which comes on a hamburger roll. $24 each! You also get a bag of chips and a shot glass of cole slaw. After a short wait we grabbed a table outside with a nice view of the harbor. I forgot you can bring in your own alcohol but not your own soda. The lobster roll was very good but seemed small for the price. We didn't opt for any clam chowder or lobster bisque. They are open May through Columbus Day in October. Definitely worth going out of the way!

Man I dont know what happened. Back in 2016 we discovered this place. And it was great. Lobster was cooked great, the steamers were tasty and fresh, and the sides were great. We wemt back several times over the years, and it was always good. Our most recent trip before yesterday was in 2022. But man, yesterday was bad. The chowder tasted like canned chowder. No lobster in the lobster bisque. The Mac and cheese was bland. They served us shrimp which was slimy and smelly, and when brought up to the server, they looked at me like I had three heads. The lobster was cooked fine. But honestly if they screwed that up, id probably give them ine star. The worst part... the mens room had no soap. Im worried about what the food handling situation is like if staff cant wash their hands.... Im hoping this was a one off. But proceed with caution.

I like that it is BYOB. The food is good, its not great and that smell is intense from the septic system.

11 out of 10 for atmosphere! Adorable lobster shack right in the water! There is plenty of seating and sun/shade options. The bathrooms are cute and so is the little separate dessert shack! Service was friendly and food came out very quickly. The hot and cold lobster rolls are very tasty and their New England clam chowder is great! Lobster rolls come with a bag of chips and a side of coleslaw (also good). The garlicky artichoke was a bust, but I guess it's not that kind of place. Will return.

A must-visit summer seafood spot! Abbot's in Noank is everything you want in a classic New England seafood experience. The location is unbeatable--right on the water with plenty of outdoor seating and even docks if you're coming by boat. We started with the lobster bisque and clam chowder, both rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. From there, we dove into a full seafood feast: buttery warm lobster rolls, lobster mac and cheese, mussels, crab cakes, and the surprise favorite--lobster deviled eggs (yes, you read that right... and yes, they were amazing). Everything is fresh, flavorful, and served in generous portions. Will absolutely be back!

I wanted to love this place. In principle, it checks all the boxes: local fresh lobster, scenic location, off the beaten path, good reviews. On arrival, your impression is one of honest, authentic fishing village character, complete with boats in the harbor. But take a closer look and you realize there is a tourist trap vibe that can be ignored, from the upsell on the lobster roll (you don't even get a hot dog bun on the low priced version) to the cash discount to the bouys strung up along the fence for photo ops. Service is friendly with summer kids at the counter. Food comes out fast. Soup is hot and tasty with oyster crackers. But that famous lobster roll truly did disappoint. The lobster tasted like it had been twice boiled and the butter wasn't enough to bring it back to life. I made the mistake of ordering a wedge salad that I couldn't even photograph it was so sad. The Abbotts branded bag of chips were obviously Lays. Come here if you want to take photos by the bay but don't come with high expectations for the lobster, cause like the name says, it's a bit rough.

Last Saturday I took a friend from Australia to Abbott's for his first American lobster! I have been going to Abbott's for almost 20 years and had only one disappointing experience. This trip was exceptional! We started with the stuffed artichoke which we both enjoyed. Then had a 2-2.5 pound lobster and the 3-3.5 pounder. Both were the best lobsters I have ever had!! Mind you I go to Maine every year. Service was extremely helpful and sitting under the tent near the bay was extremely pleasant ambience!

Spectacular lobster rolls- amazing setting- will be hard to beat this place. We ordered the clam chowder and corn in the rough. Clam chowder was excellent- corn wasn't great as its not corn season. Parking can be a hassle so don't be late to lunch

Revisiting a place that I went pre-Covid, and was excited to go to again. This place screams summer and seafood! Abbott's has a great lobster roll, and a great clam chowder. Unfortunately I didn't have time to try the desserts or shop. The views are top notch, and I can't wait to go back but with more time.

So parking sucks. But once you're past that, you are rewarded with a fast moving line and a culinary experience! We each ordered a feast and it was great since different parts are ready in sequence. You get the chowder and cocktail shrimp first and then they call your number for the steamers and mussels. Then you get the call for the lobster. The lobster was absolutely the star of the show. Succulent and tender and amongst the sweetest lobster meat I've ever had!

We drive 1 hr to go there, place is pretty Food the steamer well room temp water and butter cold. When I asked them for warm Butter and water, they said they don't have any hot water or butter. This made a bad impression on a restaurant. They need better customer service

Went there with my daughters on a Friday night. I ordered the hot lobster roll, which was a disappointment.... The lobster was dry (even though it had butter on it) and tasteless,,,, I imagine they shuck the lobsters out of the shell earlier in the day, therefore the meat is dry. Both of my girls ordered cooked lobster, steamers, mussels, clam chowder and lobster bisque. The lobsters were the way to go, delicious! Bisque was ok, but no meat in it, steamers and mussels were excellent. If I were to go again, I'd get the lobster dinner...

Food was great. If you order lobster, there is a little bit of a wait. The view of Beebe Cove is lovely. The prices are reasonable. The coleslaw is really good, nice and creamy mayo based. I tried the Lobster Mac & Cheese but wouldn't buy it again. It was kind of dry, maybe it was the time of the day.

Place was good. The Hot Lobster roll might be enough for some but I'd opt for the OMG Lobster Roll next time. Some of the best crab cakes I've ever had and the the coleslaw was really good. Many tables outside to view the water and boats, inside or under a tent if you don't want to deal with the heat.

Hit lobster roll- great... Lots of lobster. Also ordered the shrimp taco to try... not a fan.. the shrimps were very small...I didn't like the flavor either. The clam chowder was good had a good flavor but it was quite watery. And the lobster roll comes with potato chips not french fries

We made this our last stop on our trip to Mystic. I have seen this place on food shows and everyone says they have the best lobster roll. Check hours of operation before coming. Right now they have fall hours which are Friday through Sunday 11am to 7pm. Last day of the season is Columbus Day. They have a lot of parking, however, we came in October. I am going to assume the parking lot gets very crowded in the summer for their busy season. It's not fancy by any means. It's a lobster shack with great outdoor seating and great food. You can sit on the dock or waterfront seating. There is seating indoors also. The employees are very friendly and knowledgeable. One of the employees saw me taking a picture of the lobster tank and took one out so I can get a better picture. I didn't ask, he offered which was very nice. He estimated it to be about 5 pounds. The food was great. I started with lobster bisque. Very good price and delicious. My only criticism is that it did not have pieces of lobster chunks. Any great lobster bisque that I've had in the past has always had it. I also had the crab cakes. Seasoned and cooked perfectly. Also a very good price for two crab cakes. Finally I got to the lobster roll. When ordering, remember there are three different sizes. I mistakenly ordered the smaller one which I regretted later. It was hot and buttery when I got it. The butter dripped down into the plate as I took a bite. I don't know if I would say it's the best I've I ever had, but it's right up there. The overall experience was great. A wonderful way to end our trip to Mystic. I highly recommend coming here.

This will be almost bullet points, since it's not Food & Wine. The season's ending in a few days, and if you can go, you must. Nothing I can say will make you change your mind about lobsters or lobster rolls, but I will insist that you get the corn and the Rhode Island-style clear clam chowder. I think I went several decades without having a Shirley Temple before Abbott's. Maybe the last time was a Bar Mitzvah: Transportation note: three-something miles from Mystic. If you're using Uber/Lyft the risk of being stranded is low as New London has many cars but it will take longer to leave than arrive. Unscientifically, as of press time Lyft is around $15 to Mystic (mine was around $22 on perhaps a busier day) and $25 to New London.

My family enjoys coming here for the lobster! The seafood is fresh and portions are generous. We got the seafood feast - which included clam chowder, lobster, clams, mussels. It's waterfront and so we enjoyed the ambiance.

We were very disappointed with our order. We both ordered the famous hot lobster rolls. It was served on a stale hamburger bun and I had quite a few pieces of lobster shells in my order.

Delicious lobster rolls!! Service was quick when I went! Love the options for different roll sizes! Plenty of seating around the property too! It's the perfect summer spot for sure!

I had a really enjoyable experience! The oysters were delicious! Incredibly fresh. I had the OMG lobster roll. They give you the butter on the side so it doesn't make the roll all mushy until you want to put it on. The lobster bisque was a pretty large bowl and fantastic. The view is beautiful and there are lots of tables. It's a seasonal location but def check it out when it's open. Plenty of parking as well.

For the high prices the quality was not that great. Alot of shells in our small oysters, mussels were small and dried out. Lobster Mac and Cheese, the Mac and Cheese was dry with a little lobster thrown on top. The New England clam chowder was good but like everything else overpriced. The famous lobster roll was just a McDonald's sized hamburger bun with lobster meat. Was a decent meal but for the high prices it was not worth it.

Our family and I were excited to try Abbot's Lobster in the Rough because they offered some GF options on their menu. Their GF lobster rolls were a little soggy but their GF New England clam chowder was delicious. However, my son ordered the lobster dinner and we waited 45 minutes for the meal to be ready. It wouldn't have been that big of a deal but my brother got his order in 10 minutes and then had to wait and watch us eat our dinner. The water view was very pretty. There were lots of nice sail boats to look at that were coming and going. However, their lavatories were not kept very clean. The floors were covered in toilet paper and the toilet seat was a bit damp. I wouldn't dare sit on them , if you know what I mean. Overall, the food was okay, but I'm not sure if we would go back again in the future.

Was able to get one more visit in by the summers end! We usually try and go off peak hours for the best experience! Sat right on the dock over looking the water and ate pounds of amazing seafood. One of us that was maybe me, ate the chicken and rib combo. It was delicious however, WAY too much sauce. I'd ask for it on the side or none at all next time. The meat was plenty good on its own. (I've had the herb roasted chicken before and that was fire!) Believe it or not they have options for just about everyone! Grab yourself one of the lobster pens. THEY'RE fun.

A hidden gem right by Mystic! We stumbled upon this on the water location. Their food was delicious and provided us a classic New England summer. The location was ideal being on the water and sitting on picnic tables. Absolutely add to your itinerary

I love mussels and ordered them at Abbotts. View my 5 second video to see why I gave a 1 Star review.

The last time I visited Abbott's, I was a kid and I barely have any recollection of it. My fiancé and I took a drive down for a nice summer afternoon out and fell in love with this spot! It's easy to see why it's so iconic. I was impressed that for such a popular spot, there was plenty of seating and the line moved quickly! Everything was delicious, and we were even surprised at how good the lobster Mac and cheese was. We enjoyed our table by the water and could have easily spent a whole day here. So cute that they have a spot for desserts too! We've vowed that we won't let so much time pass until our next visit!

I had the best meal and experience visiting Abbott's on my birthday recently. We arrived right around lunch time and while it was starting to get busy, we were helped very quickly and the food came out so fast! I love the location right on the water and I could have just hung out there all day and watched the boats sail around the harbor. I had the OMG lobster roll and it was divine. I also got the lobster deviled eggs and the Abbotizer which were also both excellent. My husband had their clam chowder and he loved that too. We didn't love the corn but I think we are spoiled by the fresh corn at the farm stands near us. I can't wait to return and try more fresh seafood!

Oh. My. Goodness. My steamed lobster was perfection. I love that they crack it for you so when you are renting a house you don't need to stress about not having hammers. Delicious. Not as impressed with the oysters. The cost justified them but they were small. Super small. But you also don't want to forget crunchy coleslaw and drawn butter.

We left a day early just to eat here. We were here in 2016 and fell in love. This meal did not disappoint. We had two lobster rolls, one hot and one lobster salad. Both were fantastic. They do not skimp on the lobster and their New England roll is fresh. They also don't drown the bread or hot roll in butter- which is great!! The lobster salad was a tad too sweet for me, but Tim liked it. There was just enough celery to give it a slight crunch but not enough to make it taste like celery. We also had local oysters. Tim said they were delicious- good enough that he went back and ordered more! I tried the roasted artichoke appetizer. It was good, but I decided I don't really like artichokes! Not their fault, as theirs was good. It has feta cheese and garlic butter drizzle- I think! Anyway, the flavors were good, it's just not my thing. They serve coke which is great for us. We sat inside because the wind was crazy (tropical storm Debby) but went out to enjoy the views. It is so pretty there. They have wires up to keep the birds away. The staff were efficient and friendly. We did not have dessert. We are going there on the way home as well :)

Abbotts is great. Went a few times recently & the food was delicious & good service. Nice back area on the water

Been coming up here with my husband every year for 38 years n it's still the freshest most delicious lobster roll ever. We even use to bring the lobster pot dinner home to cook. Deserts are hit or miss but we come to sit by the water n eat delicious lobster. Yes it gets crazy busy n it's expensive but lobster is expensive n they give you a nice amount.

I make sure to always make a pit stop here whenever we're in the area. Super fresh seafood and a view to die for. I love the lobster rolls and the lobster bisque. Staff is always friendly and helpful. Stop in and check this gem out.

Abbotts is the best lobster in the rough place on New England! Great service from ordering to delivery. This is the place you want to go for the best lobster dinner you will have all summer. Went on Memorial Day weekend, will be back many more times. Great food and view. It's BYOB. Great bike ride dinner!

Don't believe the pictures on the website. We got steamers and a cold lobster roll and their "giant" hot lobster roll. The steamers had been pre cooked and then warmed-they were shriveled and dried. We stopped after eating two. The lobster rolls were primarily the claw tips, which are spongy with no flavor and should be never used in a lobster roll. There was no knuckle or tail meat and the lobster had no flavor-like it had been cooked the day before and left in fridge. My Wife is a professional chef and we've been going to Maine for 25 years so we know crap when we see it. That was a $100 rip. Steer clear.

Not open for the season yet. But we are planning on going there for the opening day of the 2025 season. That's coming up on Friday, May 2. Enjoy a lobster by the water to kick off summer!

Had never been to Connecticut in my my life and now I've gone twice in 3 months. Specifically for the Lobster. Just terrific.

Had the OMG lobster roll. Good not great. Daughter had chicken salad on gluten free bun. View of the water is excellent. Order at counter and call your number to grab it.

Casual spot we went to over the summer. Had a great meal but note very casual. I'd for sure go back. Friendly staff.

We originally stopped at ford's lobster first and they had a 2 hour wait so we decided to take a walk and check out Abbott's Lobster. The line was pretty long but it seemed to be moving. While we were waiting in line an employee came out to announce they are short staffed and they have had a consistent line all day so to please be patient. I appreciated the openness and it allowed us to decided if we wanted to leave or wait. The lobster roll was smaller than I expected but the flavor was good. My parents enjoyed the whole lobster. They had plenty of outdoor seating by the water with an additional sheltered area. People were consistently coming in and leaving so we really did not have any problems finding a seat.

The very best Lobster Roll! Authentic New England sea food with a smart, comfortable atmosphere on the water ! HIGHLY recommend!!!

Ending the day the Abbott's is great, you can never go wrong with the view and popularity. However, each time I come here, there's just something about the food being "just okay". Like not even "OKAY" but okay all lowercase. I was able to try their hot and cold lobster rolls this time around. The hot lobster roll was fine, not sure if they forgot to give me extra butter or if I was supposed to ask for it but anyways, I didn't get any. Anyways, the lobster itself was fine. As for my cold lobster roll (lobsert salad/Maine lobster roll), I NEEDED lemon or salt or something. It was super bland. Sure we all want to taste the lobster but I've had better on multiple occasions. On top of that, their buns looked crispy but I was litterally bamboozled. Like, I now have trust issues. I've never seen a bun look so PERFECT, it litterally looked like it was beautifully toasted with butter and nothing could go wrong. I could just imagine the sound of my butter knife scraping against the toasted side of bread just by looking at it. However, I believe it sat out too long or something because it was litterally soggy and dry at the same exact time. I just remember it falling apart extremely easily as it was soggy in the middle while leaving dreadful crumbles of it on my tray after each bite. That beautiful toasted bun appeared to be gone like 30 minutes ago. I don't know what happened! Anyways, the view is impeccable. Under the tent, inside, on the dock, on the grass, gravel, doesn't matter. It's just a happy place to be when the weather is cooperative. I know they can serve better than this, I just don't know why I got unlucky with a bland batch of lobster salad and an awful good looking bun. I was litterally catfished I can't stop saying it. Anyways, the line was shorter in a good way, food came out quicker than last time and parking wasn't as stressful this time either. Has the food stayed the same? Sure, I guess it was one of my least favorite lobster places five years ago on my first visit but this was still an improvement over the last. I guess I'm a sucker for an "okay" lobster roll when the view is straight eye candy. I love the water.

I've come here a couple times before and I'm a little disappointed in it now. The portions have gotten smaller and the price has gone up. The space is great and on the water and the service is great but it's not like how it use to be. I went to one of the cousins Maine lobster trucks recently and it was the same price as here but had bigger portions. Really bummed about this place now.

Probably the worst time I've ever been here. While this is a traditional experience for us after two decades, I fear it may have been the very last time. We arrived at 3:07, waited in line until 3:50, received our food 50 minutes later at 4:40. It was just two orders of 1.25lb lobster dinners. That's it. No corn. No chowder. Nothing else. The dirty awning is what you got to look at the whole time while roasting out in the sun. "Baking potatoes, baking in the Sun!" Watching two dozen orders being filled after yours was absolutely nerve-wracking. We were number 18 and they got past number 38, with larger more complex orders taken 24 people after us...and they got served before us! It was a real shit-show. Someone got their lobster roll on a hamburger bun, and since they keep the lobster meat in a cup, the lobster still had the shape of the cup when they flipped over the cup and put the meat on the bun. They could have at least flattened it and made it look better. Everyone pointed and laughed. A complete embarrassment. The worst part after $60 was the lobster. It was wayyy over-cooked and hard as a rock. So disappointing. After waiting nearly two hours!, I was tempted to ask for my money back. But I was trying to be positive and respectful, at MY expense. Why do people keep celebrating this place when it's gone to pot, and not in a good way? There's birdshot all over the tables, nobody comes out after hours and hours to clean anything up. The tables were gross. When we wiped them with our hand sanitizer the napkins were Black! The drinks sit at the counter with no lids while others are leaning all over them to get theirs. Health codes, people! There are so many places that are better. So many. Don't get stuck in tradition and habit. If Abbott's isn't going to hold up their part of the deal, then try somewhere new! May never go back. :(

I was really excited for Abbott's since it looked super promising but I was quite disappointed. My family and I arrived right at opening time so we didn't have to wait long, but during the time we were there, it filled up quickly. I can definitely see wait times of more than 30 mins - 1 hour happening here. We ordered the shrimp cocktail, clam chowder, green garden salad, steamed shrimp in old bay, crab cakes, steamed mussels in white wine, steamed littleneck clams, 2 of the 1 3/4 lb lobsters, and the ribs & chicken combo. The only redeeming items from this meal were probably the shrimp cocktail and steamed lobsters. The mussels and crab cakes were decent at best, but still edible. In comparison, the other items truly just missed the mark. Clam chowder was ridiculously salty and inedible, steamed shrimp were so overcooked it was impossible to chew, green garden salad had limp lettuce and was quite sad, & the clams had SO much sand in them. The ribs & chicken combo were also just sad looking and quite dry as well. Honestly can only bring myself to give Abbott's 2 stars for the lobster and shrimp cocktail. And maybe for the view, which truly was beautiful and relaxing.

Meh. It was good. Not stellar like I had imagined. We took a cook tiki cruise on the mystic river and saw this place from the water. Come to find out it's apparently famous! I ordered the OMG lobster roll and some oysters. The lobster roll was plain af. All they do is steam it and give you butter to pour on it. I've had many many many lobster rolls all over the country but the majority being in New England and to be honest this was good but just so average. Nothing about it stood out. The oysters were pathetic as well lolllll. I was hoping for some juicy filled shells but sadly it was about 1/4 of what I was expecting. Our food was also served with a bag of chips...would have preferred fries instead for the price. All in all I wouldn't go back.

Great ambience! Mussels were watery and lobster roll was a teaspoon on a terrible bun. So disappointing

Oh baby! Abbott's is a great spot for fresh seafood right on the water, and it doesn't come with the same big prices as some of the other similar restaurants in the area. The counter service and outdoor dining is great. The staff is always super friendly. Loved the deviled lobster eggs, I've never had that before! I could go here everyday :) Alsoooo while the cost of lobster seems to have all these other restaurants jacking up their lobster roll pricing like crazy, abbots still has affordable lobster dishes, and they sure are delicious!