Fair Haven Oyster Company

Refined unique dishes with excellent execution. Definitely not what I was expecting but such a great find! Service was wonderful as well. Must try: Torrija, Caviar Basque Cheesecake (weird but so worth it.)

Fair Haven Oyster is a cozy, little spot right on the water. Nautical themed with a beautiful bar, plenty of deck seating. We had made a reservation a while in advance, and were super excited to try it out! We started with several cocktails- the velvet undertow that tasted like a wonderful berry smoothie! The medicina Latina was mezcal based with ginger and lemon, very flavorful. We then shared several small plates. The anchovy toast with the pepper relish was insane! We ended up ordering a second plate of those. Fried dough and caviar was decedent and super fun bite sized portions. We then split the lobster tartine, which was a beautiful take on a lobster roll of sorts! Super fresh and light. We then tried the oysters- everything was fresh and local, all different but incredible. Overall, it's totally worth a visit and you will have one of the best meals!

Well, I would give 3.5 stars but that's not an option. Ambiance is great, very nice location. Service is a bit intrusive. We were talking and the server abruptly interrupted and spouted off instructions on how service would take place. Food was mostly excellent actually although quite over priced. 2 people had $26 burgers which were both overcooked and served with frozen fries. At least get the temp right and make fresh fries at that price. Portion sizes varied from plate to plate on the same dishes, but flavors were good and it's right on the water. Probably wouldn't go again, although if they got a couple of things fixed it would have been a great experience.

When we have an excuse to celebrate something, we come for Fair Haven Oyster Co. While we are fans of Tavern on State, we really enjoy seafood, so Fair Haven was on our radar as soon as the announcement was made and construction began. The menu at Fair Haven Oyster Co rotates regularly, so it's fun to try new dishes and all kinds of raw oysters with each visit. We keep returning to the tuna crudo and the cold lobster roll though. They seem deceptively simple, but are well-executed and hit the spot when you're looking for a refreshing, summery seafood bite. Also, the cocktails here are delicious! If you like spicy ones, I highly recommend the Bad Alibi, but we've also liked every drink we've tried so far. Make a reservation ahead of time if you can - this place gets packed, and rightfully so.

Cocktails are amazing,dishes are so creative , I am a foodie, I want to go out and get something I don't make at home , the raw bar was superb, you will see things here that don't exist in other resturants, I am highling Clam chowder clear broth with miso and kelp,baby butter lettues with fried oysters pickled shallots & Bonito,anchovy toast, and mussels paprikash, Go for it ,you will not be diappointed !

Nice riverbank view seating with different oysters to choose from.. service is good, but a little pricey if you'd like to try a couple different foods.. easy $140 for 2 people who's not even hungry..

Oops--I can't believe I didn't write this review sooner!! My fiancée and I came to Fair Haven the week they opened and I've been dreaming of it ever since (we live in Florida, so won't be able to make it back for a few more months). The location is superb--you can take a nice walk on the docks after dinner and enjoy the view! The service was fantastic, the ambience is so chill, and the food was just outstanding. We of course had some raw oysters to start, along with some snazzy cocktails (they have a wonderful list). For my entree I had the grilled black bass, and my fiancée had the lobster roll. If I tell you I wanted to order everything on the menu, I wouldn't be lying. This was some of the best food I've ever had in my life. I cannot WAIT to return!!

We've returned a few more times to this great spot on the southern end of the Quinnipiac River, thoroughly enjoying the experience. Service during Our most recent visit was attentive & accommodating. When we asked that a dish on the menu be modified for my pescatarian partner, our server & house management made it happen with a smile. Noise level can be a challenge as Bar & restaurant are busy, even at 5:30. My only disappointment on this visit was that my eagerly awaited frosty martini that was requested served 'up' , arrived to table close to tepid/room temperature . Better to sit at the bar if frosty cocktails served up are your thing. The halibut & the skate that evening was impeccably fresh with the skate wing meaty & rich, enough to be shared by two. I'd love it if they could showcase additional oysters from Maine. Damarriscotta area oysters are the bomb, especially Moondancers & Pemaquids.

I like handing out 5 stars here. I WANT to hand out 5 stars here. And WILL hand out 5 stars whenever I think appropriate. I will not hold it against a restaurant that they are take out only. I rate according to what your "niche" is. Fair Haven Oyster Co. is 5 Stars against all comers, in every category. PEAK DINING EXPERIENCE: food, service, setting, VIBE. Wow. My parents took me to Fair Haven Oyster this past week. My parents raised me up to dine out boldly and bravely and to LEAN INTO the experience. We ate in the garden of a vineyard in St. Paul de Vence the month James Baldwin was dying in that same town... We ate Bouillabaisse seaside in Marseille. We ate at Gordon Ramsey's Chef's Table at The Savoy in London (WOW!! On every level.). We ate (repeatedly) at Giambelli's 50th back in The Actual Day. IYKYK I would put our meal at Fair Haven Oyster Co. up against ALL these. And then I would award Fair Haven 5 Stars. Wow. Just. Wow. This spot is small. Just a bar and a row of 2 tops behind it. But! If the weather is okay there is dining outside on the deck. Dad made a reservation online (you MUST) for "the bar" at 6:30pm. We were out and about and so just headed over extremely early. Which was a GREAT idea because we discovered that "bar" actually means BAR. LOL ("Dining room" is the 2 tops.) But, we were early early and the weather was FINE, so they asked if we wanted to sit outside. YES. Again. WOW. Just WOW y'all. Fair Haven Oyster is located at some little boat/yacht/whatever club on The Quinnipiac River. So the deck looks out over the river and the boats and across to lovely/historic little houses/hamlets/churches and even off, in the semi distance, to the cars/trucks on 91. LOVE. The weather was PERFECTION. The tide was going out. The water was crystal clear. The sky was BLUE BLUE with fluffy clouds. I was a little worried when they gave us tiny water glasses. I drink water. Plenty of it. But they kept those little glasses full. Which is no mean feat when the place just got progressively busier and also, keeping water glasses filled is a common "weak point" when I eat out. The service here was ON POINT. While Dad was griping about the QR code menu I ordered a Hendricks and Tonic. Because their bar looked kinda legit. Gurrrlllll. A gin and tonic is a "test" drink for any bar. Most fail. Miserably. Not Fair Haven. My G&T arrived in the PROPER highball glass FULL of tonic bubbles. Gauntlet. Thrown DOWN. I feel like the staff had their "doubts" about us when we arrived and then, as we continued to order and ORDER they got "on board" with all that We Bartners ARE when we dine out...Good Times. ALL the food, ALL the wine ALL the vibes. We do NOT come to play. And neither should you. The menu is broken into Raw (they have an impressive oyster selection and caviar service, if that's your thing), soups and salads, small plates and large plates. My plan was to eat my way through salads and small plates. I did order Scallop Crudo (olive oil, lemon, salt, herbs) and Tuna Crudo (over foie gras mousse on a brioche cracker) for the table. But then I ate them... Dad ordered Gildas to share (tiny skewers of anchovies, piparra peppers, castelvetrano olives & Mahon cheese). Super fun bar type snack. Things I ate: Fair Haven Clam Chowder. Which really tasted like a very good escarole (it was actually kelp) soup with clams. Baby Butter Lettuces (w/fried oysters, green goddess, bonito). This is EVERYTHING a salad should be. Delicious, filling, fresh, UMAMI. The fried oysters make it a legit meal. Heirloom Tomatoes (w/bottarga): beautiful, delicious tomatoes served in the most Umami-forward way possible. Uni Toast (w/ white shoyu, sesame & chive). I eat A LOT of Uni. Because I eat A LOT of Omakase and Kaiseki in NYC. So, for me? There are better ways to savor Uni. But, again! UMAMI BOMB. And I am always here for the Umami. Mom and Dad ordered the Grilled Black Cod (over cucumber & snap pea salad w/ kelp ponzu & shiso). SNAPS to them for stretching outside their culinary comfort zones after I explained o them that Black Cod is one of the most delicious fish out there and ponzu us right up their alley! This dish is just glorious: Perfectly grilled fish adrift in a sea of incredibly fresh and delicious vegetables. The snap of those snap peas was perfection. For dessert we ordered Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with honey fennel pollen & wild fennel. I. LOVE. Fennel and will eat it in any form. This really did not taste of fennel. But! This was one of the best cheesecakes I've ever had and I am PICKY about my cheesecake. It better be NY Style. We also got the Black Cocoa Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich. HOLY CRAP PEOPLE. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this might be the best dessert I've ever had.

This was our second experience at this restaurant. We drove up from Fairfield because it is that special. Delicious, uniquely prepared, exceptional dishes; thoughtful, special wine list; welcoming, kind, attentive staff; great vibe / decor. We will certainly return!

This place will transport you into the Westbrook lobster area for sure! Cozy tavern vibe, located right on the Quinnipiac River with docks and boats galore. Fresh seafood and a friendly neighborhood setting all add to a great time. A must visit to quench your seafood thirst without having to trek up to the westbrook/clinton area!

Fair Haven Oyster Co is so freaking good!!! This area has a ton of seafood restaurants, but none of them beat the taste and flavors at this restaurant. It's actually the best chef prepared seafood I've had in CT (and possibly anywhere). Yes...it's that good. We tried several different dishes and everything was absolutely delicious. I'm still thinking about the roasted clams with the gochujang butter (yum)! In terms of service, our waitress sucked and had a terrible attitude but the manager (Lauren) noticed the issue and quickly jumped in and took care of things to make sure we had the best possible experience. The restaurant is nestled in the marina yard on Front Street in a cozy, intimate space. Reservations are highly recommended especially for parties of 4 or more. Definitely check it out!

It's a cozy, small place off of the water. The food was good, smaller portions than I'm used to and the service was excellent. They're not really a kid friendly place because of their size they didn't have high chairs or a children's menu but they were accommodating. It's a place worth trying and I plan on returning to try some appetizers!

Waitress Patricia was great! So attentive and gave great recommendations. Although a bit chilly, I did enjoy sitting outside under the heater. Food was great, would absolutely come again.

First meal two years ago was inedible, both dishes were too salty, and expensive also freezing. Soup and fish sandwich somewhere in the $45 range! Sliding door to patio didn't close properly creating a unwelcome winter breeze. Decided to give it another try recently. Front door had a hand written sign warning "guests" to shut the door quickly due to the arctic breeze. Good grief! Why are patrons responsible for the comfort level at this place!? Was then seated near the door with a slatted wood divider that did nothing to keep the draft at bay. Kept my coat on but could not feel my feet at the end of the dinner. Again the food was subpar, still too salty to finish and too expensive in light of the quality. The experience feels abusive starting with the door sign directive and ending with a $$$ bill. Will not be returning.

Delicious oysters, delicious meal, delicious drinks and perfect attentive service! A most definite return and high recommendation!

This is a mixed review. We made reservations for the bar area but, upon arriving, found that meant sitting at the actual bar. However, to make us feel better they gave us the corner of the bar and the four of us were mostly able to feel like a group. A text message on the day of the reservation told us that tables for 2 get 90 minutes and parties of 4 get 2 hours so the clock felt like it was ticking before we sat down. No paper menus were available according to our server (smart phone necessary). We wanted a salad with our meal but the green salad had fried oysters on it for $24 so we asked if the salad could be ordered without the oysters; the answer was yes after checking with the chef...but when asked the price it would still be $24. Overall, the service was responsive and friendly. The food was generally great though the serving size of the scallops was small, the skate was a bit mushy and there were no greens available as a side dish. The skate and the (delicious) Branzino was over salted. Also the tangerine sorbet was without a discernible tangerine, let alone citrus flavor. All this might be less concerning if the prices weren't top tier.

Emily M. is a genius! What a perfect GEM of a restaurant! The service was exceptional, attentive, kind and considerate. They administer to your every whim. My water glass was constantly filled. Plates that were finished were whisked away. Now, the food, it was absolutely divine. My grandson loved the crab dip so much that we ordered a second round, which he devoured all by himself! The roasted clams were tender and flavorful, as were both the butter lettuce salad and the chickory/bleu cheese salad. The amount of bleu cheese was sinful and creamy, just what you want. The blackfish with sunchokes was original and beautifully presented, every bite was exquisite. The whole branzino was bigger than the plate and perfectly seasoned. There were more dishes to gush over but this is a "must go to" place. Put it on your list at the top. Thank you Chef Emily!!!

Food and service didn't reflect on prices presented. Wouldn't recommend but decent location.

Exceptional new spot. While the area has some solid seafood, nothing has existed at this level. This place is an instant classic. It reminds me of some of my favorite spots in Portland, Maine--which I'd consider one of the best seafood cities in America. Tinned sardines and oysters were great. The sea bass was phenomenal. Hake "fish and chips" were spot on. Tuna crudo fantastic. And the cocktails were also excellent. Service was on point, but approachable and friendly. The view is perfect and the whole place feels cozy and well designed. I'm glad it's bringing attention to this cool little historic neighborhood too, which I believe has been due to "pop" for a while. Highly recommend!

Love every single thing about this place. Feels like a hidden gem in this old building. Bartenders made amazing craft cocktails and know the menu well. I had these items off the menu (tuna, oyster salad, lobster toast, and clams); highly recommend all of them.

Recently got a chance to check out FOH with my bestie and fellow food lover! We've frequented TOS so we're excited to check the newer place out. We were running a bit behind on our resos due to a unforeseen emergency, and the staff didn't make it a big deal which was great. We chose to sit at the bar. I had my usual wine and my bestie had the no snow in Mexico cocktail which she raved about. For food we decided to split a bunch of entrees like we usually do. First we had the wedge salad. It was great and had a nice smoky flavor. Next we split the burger. Omg. 10/10. Sooooo juicy and good and the shoestring fries with it were perfect. Next we shared the beer batter hake. Huge portion but wished it were a little crispier but it was still good. Also appreciated the 'chips' to differentiate our fries for the evening. Round it all of with the most friendliest service from the bartenders and we will be back!

Great food and awesome bartenders. The atmosphere is unique, since it sits on a marina.

Everything looked great and we ordered twice our usual amount! The service is good, the food very tasty, and the sights pleasant. Highly recommend! Sorry it took us a year to find this but we'll be back!

Cute restaurant right on the river. I'm not a drinker but the cocktails were amazing ! and the food , fresh seafood ( of course oysters) but very very inventive and delicious . Service was excellent too considering how busy it was and the server was very helpful with helping us pick which oysters to sample . Really top notch!

I've been wanting to try Fair Haven Oyster since I first heard about them opening this past summer. My mom and I finally went a few days ago. Holy moly, a wonderful restaurant experience. We reserved a table in the greenhouse, which, being an uninsulated greenhouse in late January, was chilly despite two heaters running at full blast. HOWEVER: We left our coats on and it was delightful. As many others have said, the restaurant is small. You'll want to reserve even on a "quiet" night. It was a Tuesday evening, and though not completely packed, it was pretty full. The service was professional but not formal. Perfect. My mom and I are not drinkers, but we wanted to try one of FHO's cocktails since we'd read such good things about them. Our server was great about listening to our lightweight requests, and the drinks were delightful. The food was some of the best we've ever had. The menu changes often, but this is what we had: Lobster bisque: Complex, not overly creamy, and just freakin' out of this world. Roasted little neck clams: Scrumptous; could have had 30 of them. Lobster Tartine: Wonderfully clear clean flavor with a little kick from smoked trout roe. Goat cheesecake: Unreal, never had anything like it. Flourless chocolate torte with raspberry coulis: Absolutely lovely. I cannot wait to go back to this wonderfully welcoming restaurant with truly great food prepared with love. Next time will be in warmer weather to take advantage of the outside dining and the beautiful view on the river. Note: My mom has very limited mobility and uses an upright walker. The main part of the restaurant is accessible, however there is one step down into the greenhouse. Didn't think to call about that (reserved online), but I can say pretty confidently that they would have switched us to another table if my mother could not manage the step. But, unless I missed a way in from the outside dining area (?), the greenhouse is not wheelchair accessible at this time.

I decided to make a reservation and head down to New Haven on a whim one Saturday and I am so happy that I did! I'm a big fan of trying lots of small bites off the menu and Fair Haven Oyster Co did not disappoint. I tried the fluke crudo, anchovy bruschetta, umi toast and had their homemade lemon and strawberry sorbet to end. Everything was so so delicious. I could have stayed for hours but they are a busy spot! Make a reservation for sure and you won't be disappointed.

Amazing atmosphere perfect for a summer evening! Delicious food and amazing drinks and great and accommodating staff! Can't wait to go back!

First time tonight, and we had a great time. You can tell the crew at Fair Haven Oyster really put a lot of pride into their restaurant and food. From the brand new interior, to the beautiful ceramics and gunmetal cutlery, you can tell right off the bat that they pay a lot of attention to detail. Our food was fantastic. The raw bar was pretty extensive for such a tiny place, and our party loved all the selections (and they were also shucked wonderfully). For entrees, we had both the hot and cold lobster rolls, and they had a ton of flavor and personality. Some of the best we've had, and the crispy fries and dipping sauce were addictive. The skirt steak was cooked perfectly tender, super flavorful, and the chimmichuri was delicious. Definitely recommend! It is a very small place, so make sure you utilize their online reservation system before you visit. Congrats on the new place FHO!

Delicious food and excellent service! Its hard to not fall in love with Fair Haven Oyster after your first visit - highly recommend.

Great spot in the summer (anytime really we just love the outdoor seating) great food great service. We have some food allergies and the server was extremely helpful and the kitchen even adjusted how they prepare it for us.

The only concern I have with giving Fair Haven Oyster a five star review is that readers of these reviews will more likely go there and it will become harder to get a reservation! The restaurant is cozy, warm and friendly. Their menu has some interesting offerings that you don't often see. There were four of us and we started out by sampling six different oysters, all were super clean and delicious. We then shared a couple appetizers - grilled mackerel and roasted littlenecks. For dinner, we had grilled monkfish with roasted rutabaga, skate wing, salt cod brandade, and seared scallops, all cooked to perfection. Our server (Lauren) was super friendly and is familiar with everything on the menu and behind the bar. If I had my own restaurant, I would try to poach her! If you are looking for anything from a light meal and a seat at the bar or a full on delicious seafood dinner, this is a great option. It seems that this place will become our go to seafood restaurant in New Haven. I am looking forward to going back!

Charming restaurant on the water. We had a lovely meal here. We sampled several small plates and enjoyed the selection of beer and N.A. beers. The menu options were eclectic and incredibly fresh! Everything was delicious! Even though the restaurant was filled with diners, the atmosphere was very comfortable. Friendly staff and top-notch service. We can't wait to return.

We had a wonderful experience. What a special spot. The service, cocktails, and food were exceptional. There is an ease and expertise that the staff carries and the food was perfection!

AH MAY ZING Literally one of the best meals I've ever had. We had the oysters (beausoleil, kushi, & Stratford point), uni toast, tuna crudo, the scallops entrée, and the skirt steak. Everything just got better. The service was amazing. I didn't love my drink so they got me a new one with no hassle. They have bus people walking around all the time cleaning up constantly and filling waters non stop. You never go thirsty. And I promise you won't go hungry. Everything was perfect and I highly recommend this cute place. Perfect date night!

Delicious, fresh, inventive and well composed dishes. Service is very friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. Will definitely return!

Always a nice place to go for food and drinks. It is pricey but for me it is worth it. Many restaurants are cutting corners but this place is good. Make sure you call for a reservation 2 wks in advance because seatings are limited. Don't even think about the bar seating availability, you will be disappointed. Drinks are excellent and service, in my opinion is very good.

Make no mistake about this restaurant. Fair Haven Oyster Co. is the epitome of elevated New England seafood. It is just simply perfect. This is certainly not a surprise as it is the sister restaurant from the people at Tavern on State. I don't give many 5 star reviews on here but FHOC deserved every single one. The atmosphere is full of moxie and elegance while still very much reminding you of New Englands charm. I loved the little port hole style windows too. What an incredible selection of oysters and tinned fish which is always cool to see on a menu. The cocktail program here of course is 10/10. Filled with inventive and balanced drinks that make the food that much better. I had the fried hake and the wife went with the scallops. Both were perfect. Best "fish and chips" I've ever had, seriously. The batter was fried to perfection and fish was so fresh. Scallops tasted like heaven on earth and went perfectly with the grilled sweet potato. My mouth is still watering and I can not wait to go back. I'm going to be here A LOT.

Make a reservation to be able to get a seat in this cozy and intimate setting at your preferred time. Service was attentive but not overbearing. Suggestions and descriptions of selections were spot on. The menu is full of new and interesting choice but anchored by fresh seafood entrees that could satisfy any taste. The drinks were professionally crafted with perfect balance of flavors. Wonderful!! The bar keeps took pride in those concoctions. The jumbo shrimp cocktail was out of this world! JUMBO, clean and tasty. The Six-Penny oysters were ocean fresh, served with perfect complements. We shared small plates so tried the ooni toast, lobster and anchovies small plates. Everything was seasoned perfectly and stayed true to the freshness of the seafood. I can't wait to go back!! Love love love

New Haven needed a place like this. The food, the drinks, the service, the atmosphere are all 10/10. Yesterday was my second time here and it just keeps getting better. The cocktails are all crafted with a unique blend of flavors. The tomato salad appetizer is an absolute must (just don't wear white while you eat it!). The fresh corn and heirloom tomatoes are a perfect summer appetizer. I cannot say enough good things about the scallops: perfectly cooked, unique flavor profile, great texture. This was such an interesting dish and combination of flavors. Can't wait to go back!

Another excellent addition to Chef Emily's growing empire! The building/location is so quaint and charming, with such a beautiful view on their deck. The design is very modern and elegant. The oysters were fresh and delish! Highly recommend the uni toast and tinned sardines with olive oil. The black bass was out of this world amazing. The Bad Alibi cocktail has a nice smokiness from the mezcal. If strawberries are in season, would highly recommend the strawberry shortcake to finish of your experience! Will be back here many a time :)

Went here specifically to have their hot and cold lobster rolls. Well that is not on the "very limited" menu. Walked in on a around 5:30pm. Was told we need reservations. Not a mention of it on their website but ok, they managed to find a two top all the way in the back of the deck outside. The hostess hands you a card to scan as the menu, and bolts like we were such an inconvenience as a walk in. Ok so the pretentious vibes are starting to show, but hey the food looks good on Yelp so I will put up with a subpar attitude. As our waitress arrives I as inquire about the lobster rolls, well those are no longer on the menu. Ok I then ask if there are any specials. She politely explained that the menu is updated daily and that since they are building a food truck next door for the lobster rolls are no longer available. Fair enough I guess it was not meant to be. It is a shame because I would constantly check their pictures on Yelp and I could not get those lobster rolls out of my head. I believe the hours have updated since I saw they are open on Tuesday's and Wednesday now. This may be a seasonal thing which is understandable. Will I come back, yeah I will give it a shot again. To be honest I will show up with a little better attire(I thought flip flops, shorts and a t-shirt at an oyster bar would fine but who knows) Also trying to make reservations and requesting a certain table on the deck so I can enjoy the experience of the establishment will part of the process. Ultimately I left...so the one star is just an honest account of the experience. It is what it is... I look forward to returning.

The oysters were great but my artic char and broccoli rabe with anchovies were insane!!!! Such a treat. And our waitress couldn't have been nicer. We will be back!

Amazing dinner tonight. The scallop crudo is the best in town, as always, and the tomatoes with dashi were even better than last summer's version. I fell in love with the restaurant when I first had the salad with bonito flakes, and the addition of fried oysters has made it even more decadent. The (new) bay scallop tostada was so good that we almost ordered a second, and the mackerel pate was completely ballsy as a dish (somehow made light and not too fishy by a good dose of herbs and peppers). Don't miss the roasted peppers with whipped ricotta and warmed by toasted nuts (pistachios, I think) -- it was completely different from anything else but just as delicious. I usually avoid dessert, but the chocolate mousse leavened by the slight bitterness of candied orange peels was excellent. Every single dish was distinctive, interesting, and well thought out. The service is always friendly, and the manager is spectacular -- she's all pro and brings enormous warmth to the evening.

One of the best meals I've ever eaten in a restaurant, period. Excellent service, truly unique and creative dishes, and a charming view of the water.

Seeing the article in CT Magazine this month and reading that the chef is CT chef of the year, I felt the desire to try it. We had a very early reservation on a Saturday night (4:30). I was a bit perplexed when hostess sat us at a table near the front door - away from any water views. I moved 3 tables down and had stunning water views, but she said 'if you'd like to sit here at this table, you'll have to be finished with your meal in 90 minutes'. I was ok, sure... but 90 minutes is a long time... you mean you had this table reserved for someone who asked for a nicer view and you granted it and sat me at a less desirable table? I didn't quite get that bit of discriminatory action, but didn't let it bother me. Just thought it was odd. The menu is highly concentrated on raw mullusks, which is fine, and there was some diversity, yet it makes me wonder how this chef is state chef of the year? We enjoyed the beet salad - a bit eclectic, but chunks of red beets are so basic. How about thin sliced yellow and or red beets to add to plate. The burger was cooked to liking, nothing spectacular though, and the Lobster Roll was very odd. As Lobster Roll snobs, we were glad to see both hot and cold. Cold is New England - hot buttered Lobster is CT. We opted for the Cold Lobster Roll. I just returned to the website to read the description, but neither Lobster Roll is on the menu - odd, because the cold roll was served with smoked lobster which was not pleasant. We also had some very large shrimps to start, but the cocktail sauce was very unusual. It was so overpowered with worchestershire sauce, it was rather unpleasant and left quite N aftertaste. With all due respect, I appreciate and understand that this is marketed as a oyster bar, and I'm pretty honest and a well known foodie. I though the service was pretty good, hence the 4 stars.

Awesome! My husband and I ate here last night and would go back tonight if we could - everything was delicious. This is a date night restaurant, or 2 couples, imo. Its small and cozy and the food is special, unique. We ordered some of the oysters first - so fresh and well shucked. The tuna crudo was my favorite dish of the night. It was so fresh, expertly sliced and seasoned. I could eat it every day! We also had the prawns and the grilled squid. The sauce with the prawns was a little spicy but so flavorful, and they were perfectly cooked. The squid was also delicious and prepared 2 ways. For entrees we had the clack cod and the arctic char. The fish is so fresh and well cooked but the sauces elevate the whole dish to another level. Finally we had the chocolate date cake for dessert. We didn't need it, but it was very good and rich. The dates are not noticeable if that is an issue (like it was for me) its just a think rich, slightly gooey chocolate cake. Also the bar - the drinks are all delicious and exotic sounding. We had the Yuzuol Suspects and the River Maiden and if it weren't a work night we would have dove deeper into the cocktail menu. We already loved Tavern on State and now we are FHOC lovers too. Emily M and her people really know what they are doing.

First time at FHOC will not be our last! From the location to the exceptional service to the BEYOND delicious food, this restaurant is New Haven's newest little "pearl"! A wonderful selection of oysters and peel-and-eat shrimp as big as your palm, other standouts were the tomato ricotta salad and the beer battered Hake with fries...worth a trip back just for that! Can't wait to go back and try some of the other deliciousness on the menu! See you soon, FHOC!

Great food, lovely service. I don't like griping about entree price/portion size, but 40 bucks for 6 (admittedly delicious) scallops is a skosh much. I should have ordered the fish and chips. At the risk of sounding like an old crank, please print menus, I loathe looking shit up on my phone.