Monahan's Clam Shack by the Sea

Absolutely love this place; from it's waterside location, to the friendly staff, but most importantly - the food. I had clam cakes and some stuffed quahogs and already I was smitten. Thankfully I was visiting from our of town or else I'd be eating here every day. Definitely a must-visit, hopefully the lineup isn't too long as I've seen it get.

Really awesome place. Great food. Get the clams! The ice cream was great too. The waffle cones were so fresh, they were still hot! Good selection of beer to keep you company as you wait in line, but don't worry. It's worth the wait, just drink more beer!

I was a little bit concerned about certain reviews that I seen. And I was standing in line about to get my food. Once I received my food, all of those bad reviews went out the window. Was banging? Everything was delicious, loved it. Loved the 5 love the wine slushy drinks the sangria, the rose The drinks was hidden. I definitely would do again.Let me show you a pick on my food cause it was banging

Well, the seating is arguably one of the best. We got to sit by the open waters. Loved their clam chowder and crab cakes. I had the lobster roll and it was very stuffed. We also had the tuna melt and that was amazing too! Parking is a little difficult to find, but you can wear on the street and walk for 2-3 mins to reach the place easily.

Food was great and thats about it. Be prepared to wait a long line. Ended up waiting in line for almost 2 hours. We purchased our food and only to find that there were limited seating because people who have not purchased their food was allowed to seat down and wait for their family members to order while they are still standing in queue which is very unfair in my opinion. This is the first and last time we are coming here.

Had a tasty lobster roll and onion rings, though definitely not worth $42 with no drink. The tip starts at 18% for someone to yell your name and bring you a cardboard basket and no real table service. Good yet overpriced for what u get. Enjoyed the experience, though once might be it for me.

We went on July 3rd and were pleasantly surprised to experience the firework show while we had our meal. Monahan’s deck was a perfect place to eat and enjoy the view. The staff are great and food is delicious and reasonably priced!

I’ve been here multiple times over the last 20 years. I make the trip from Ct every year for their whole belly clams. Today is September 20th and the clams were very disappointing- first time I’ve had this experience with their clams all the years I’ve been coming here. The clams were more like clam strips as they barely had any belly. The clam chowder and clam cakes were outstanding as always.

Awesome fresh food Fast efficient and courteous service A clean well maintained outdoor patio seating area with a convenient little bar highly recommend a visit there if you're in the area

Monahans is awesome. Yes, it is totally touristy, but I also met a bunch of local standing in line. I have been more than once and there is a really good mix of both. They have a pretty extensive menu with something for everyone. The best part about it is the location. It is right on the water with beautiful views of the ocean. Great overall chill vibe. Picnic tables, and umbrellas, refreshments, and even a nice bathroom. You can order online or in person, and the food comes out pretty quickly. I had the fish and chips and it was delicious. The flounder was perfectly cooked. I would highly recommend this place and I will definitely be back.

Positives: Location - fun clam shack by the water Service - generally good. You placed your order by the window and they have runner that walk around yelling your name with your food in their hand Ambiance - good crowd, clean place Negatives: Food are so so. I ordered clam cakes - but it's so hard to find the clam. The swordfish is a bit overcooked. The lobster roll is a bit dry.

Catching up on a yelp draft. We came here in the summer of 2023. Just happened upon this little shack and we really enjoyed the lobster rolls! Would definitely recommend this location.

This roadside restaurant is located near the water Bay and a very popular spot for both locals and tourists. The hot lobster roll with butter was exceptionally delicious. We also had a cup of white clam chowder. A winning combination. The self service very good and casual setting perfect!

I have been going to Monahan's for years and it never disappoints! I usually get the cold lobster roll, clam strips and white chowder! Best combo on a cold day by the ocean! It is a little pricey but the seafood is always fresh and great quality. The service is fast and friendly. It's a great casual place for friends and family to hang out for lunch and dinner!

After reading good reviews, we decided to get lunch to go here today in Narragansett. We came here once before two years ago, and the food is remembered as okay. Not today! Two lobster Rolls at $28. each. One cold and one hot. Rolls were too bready, and NOT toasted. Buttered? Why not use traditional New England hot dog rolls typically used for making lobster rolls? Lobster in hot roll was dry and had no butter flavor and no butter served on the side. It did not taste good. Not eaten. Sadly, tossed out. Clam strip roll. Greasy clams. Over fried. Not eaten. Fried fish plate. Over fried dry fish. But the Onion Rings and coleslaw were excellent. Huge Clam Cakes were greasy and fried too long! Outside was too crispy. Very disappointing!!! We are annual visitors to the area. If you want much better food by a mile go to Iggy's in nearby Narragansett and Champlins in Galilee. We will not go to Monahan's again. There were too many problems with the food. Waste of money! Check out my pics.

We were camping close by the gentleman inside the guard desk gave us a clam shack location, which we saw on the way in, but we couldn't remember the name I looked up the location and found this place which we were so happy. It was amazing they gave you a lot for your money. We ordered the whole belly clams also ordered coconut shrimp and the flounder dinner

What an awesome spot.. Beautiful view of Narragansett beach, perfect weather, and delicious seafood? SIGN ME UP! This was our first time trying Monahan's and is now one of our favorite spots to go to towards the beaches for seafood. We had mozzarella sticks, onion rings, calamari, popcorn shrimp, clam strip plate, & clam cakes w/ chowder. All were delicious. The service was friendly and fast for having a decent size line. There is several pic nic tables on the side of the building along with in the back of the building as well. The menu had plenty of great classic seafood options that will please just about anybody along with a small ice cream shop connected in the back for an after lunch treat. 10/10

A yummy, casual spot with a very positive staff. You can't beat the views & the prices aren't bad either. I'm an out-of-towner and I just loved the experience. I thoroughly enjoyed their fish Reuben which was crunchy & creamy. Onion rings were pretty standard. I would encourage anyone to stop by for a bite!

Love the view from our outdoor seating. Pleasant busy seaside casual restaurant on the water side at Narragansett Beach. Birthday lunch for 2. We equally liked all the fried food here clams, calamari and onion rings. Rhode Idland clam chowder is so good I want to come back again. You can find parking on a summer day. No worries.

On our Rhode Island trip, we wanted to try Monahan's Clam Shack. There is a parking lot and a seating area in the back. We ordered a Bowl of White Chowder ($7.50), 1/2 pint of Grilled Sea Scallops ($25.99), Clam Strip Roll ($12.99), and Fried Fresh Flounder Tacos ($11.99). White Chowder was creamy and flavorful. There was a good amount of potatoes inside, but wish there were a little more clam pieces. The sea scallops are usually served fried, but they were able to just grill them for us. Scallops were meaty and tasted nice with lemon juice. We never had clam strips before, but it was okay. You taste more of the batter than clams. There was no sauce that went along with it, so as a roll it was plain. Fried Flounder Tacos were overflowing with fish, over a bed of lettuce, topped with mango, and what tasted like a horseradish sauce. I enjoyed this. My only regret was not ordering the lobster roll to try here, because another place we went for lobster rolls was very disappointing.

Great waterfront location, clam cakes and chowder very good, biggest hot lobster roll I've had in a long time , didn't mind paying extra for the sides, crispy fries and fresh coleslaw It was Labor Day so the long line was expected, moved quickly, staff delivered food to our table with a smile.

Long line moves super fast with plenty of seating, after we ordered the food came out insanely fast. The NE clam chowda was much better than some other places that claim they have the best of the best! This was the highlight for me. The clam strips were crispy and greasy but I needed more flavor from the breading. My partners fish and chips portion was MEGA! That meal would of been enough for two of us with leftovers. There was plenty of specials that spoke to me too.l but we wanted to try some classics. Casual, right near the beach and reasonable prices for the area.

This is definitely one of the many gems in RI that are constantly overlooked. The food is cooked perfectly. The flavors blend perfectly. The workers are pleasant to deal with and very friendly. I love being able to sit outside to eat with a beautiful ocean view.

Great little place on the water with usual New England seafood menu. Their lobster rolls and sea scallops are off the chart good as is their chowdah.

A takeout sit down outside with bench seating with an ocean view doesn't get any better. Had a short line but ordering quick and easy. Had soft drinks. Ordered Rhode Island style clam chowder and it was delicious. I had the clam fritters which were very good and wife had the tacos which were excellent. Only downside is parking can be challenging and patience a must

This is a famous clam shack right on the beach with spectacular views. We were there at 4 and there was already a line. Parking is challenging on a warm day. There is very little parking right by the establishment so be ready to park a ways down the street. My husband ordered the lobster roll which had plenty of lobster. I ordered the fish and chips. The fries were not very good. Too hard and probably not freshly cooked. But the fish was delicious. We also got three clam cakes which were also very tasty. The view and friendly atmosphere makes this a wonderful experience.

Delicious from start to finish. We started our Rhode Island getaway stopping at the Charleston location for lunch. Enjoyed the Rhode Island clam chowder and clam cakes as well as a most delicious fish Ruben. To continue our last meal in Rhode Island a few days later was at the Narragansett location where a fish and chips dinner, which was enormous was enjoyed. Just love the fresh seafood and the coleslaw is delicious and plentiful. Both locations have outside seating on picnic tables, you order at the window and your food is delivered hot by smiling staff members. Narragansett is right on the ocean and the Charleston location is a lovely area Off of Route 1 very pleasant.

Worth every drop of sweat mid summer. Phenomenal quality. You see all walks of life here for a reason. Great food. Great quality. Happy employees and beautiful views.

The driest lobster roll I've ever had. It had great reviews. Maybe it was an off night. But for the price of dinner for two it's hard to go back.

The long line waiting to order gave us the feel for how good the food might be. We ended up having the Rhode Island chowder (clear), the New England chowder (creamy) and a dozen clam cakes. The cakes were large, cooked perfectly, and super moist inside. The chowders were super tasty as well. Given the length of the line, they also were giving out some samples of the beers they have. Very cool of them - made it fun. The outdoor seating was great when we go our food.

Classic New England experience. Monahan's is a casual lunch or dinner spot right on the water in the heart of Narragansett. While there will likely be a line it is worth the wait. We got the following: Lobster Roll - very fresh shellfish. Comes hot or cold. We opted for cold. Great serving size for the price. Crab Cake Dinner - came with fries and slaw. The slaw was excellent in my opinion. The fries were good too, but you could definitely taste that they were fried in the same oil as the fish. The crab cakes tasted great, much better than they looked. Large Onion Ring - must get 2x Narragansett Lagers - OBVIOUSLY! Would recommend to someone coming in from out of town for the first time.

Wonderful night here. It is a walk up stand with tables in the back and side. Don't let the deter you. It will be long, but we did it with three kids 10 and under. It's fine and goes fast. Everything we ordered was delicious! The scallops were so perfectly cooked. We had a wonderful musician playing with a john Mayer vibe but was perfect. Not loud and overwhelming. We will be back!

This placed nailed the warm lobster roll. Fries and a cold beer with the breeze and water view. Worth the wait. Worth the drive.

Monahan's on a hot summer afternoon is a must. Laura and I have been here a few times for their fish tacos and have thoroughly enjoyed them. This past Friday we took a leisurely drive up route 1A and stopped at this tasty eatery for a late afternoon meal. I ordered RI Clam chowder and fish Reuben sandwich and thoroughly enjoyed it. Laura order swordfish tacos and a lobster roll. All quite tasty. Service with a smile and we sat in the back outdoor table while enjoying an ocean view. Check out Monahan's and enjoy the views. Salud!

This place is a little hidden gem in Rhode Island. It's right on the water with great views. The clams were fresh and tender. The clam cakes were all cake and not much clam. But I guess you're supposed to eat it with the chowder. I do recommend this place if you're in town.

We love the food at Monahan's Clam Shack & eat there when we are in Narragansett, RI We took friends from Ithaca, NY there. They liked the food, too. On our last visit they processed someone else's bill against my credit card. I called them, explained the situation & they agreed about the error & refunded the difference.

The food is good here. Fresh seafood quickly served. The scallops were cleaned well but a few of them did have some grit on them, the clams were tasty but I would've appreciated lemon with them as well. In the peak season it can have a huuuuge line and parking is not ideal. But the view is nice and so is the food.

First time here, love it. Great food, options and Ocean View. Line to get the food, run fast. Then sit and they call when the food is ready. Sitting outdoor in a casual setting. Wonderful place to get yummy food and relax a bit. Ahi Tuna tacos are delicious, lobster roll is one of the best, delicious lobster but for me would be perfect if the bread roll is softer and more tasty - sweeter. Nevertheless five stars. Thank you.

Food was okay, but I also don't eat shellfish so I probably missed out on the good stuff. Staff was nice and location is gorgeous.

I'm a clam cake nut and have been around this state and even MA looking for the perfect clam cake...and I have my favorites. Since my original review regarding the lack of clams in the clam cakes, I decided to give Monahan's another try and, this time, they were much better. There were clams, not too greasy, crispy and light, and fluffy. So, I'm bumping up my one * review to 4*'s. Had the special: 3 w/a cup of white chowder which was excellent. I feel confident I can return here when I want my visitors to have a good clam cake...and chowder.

Easy dining, can come straight from the beach and not worry about dress code or kids being too loud. Its counter service and the food was good.

Over-rated and overpriced! I ordered the 2 stuffed claims, and they were very SMALL, not at all what you would expect. My friend ordered the fried scallops and said they were bland. She only ate a few. The staff all seemed dead, no personalty at all! I am giving 2 stars because they have nice outdoor seating. Save your money and pick something else!

The best sea food I've ever had in my life. I wish I could give the service a tip. The prize is okay

This past weekend, my wife and I took a trip back to my home state. Having memories of Narragansett as a kid, I checked Yelp for a lunch spot by the water. The first place I found, Monahan's Clam Shack, was a great choice! The setting was perfect....wait in line to place your order, then find a table in back by the water and your food is brought out by a server. They have a small bar off to the side for cold beers. The food was delicious! I went with a cold lobster roll and a side of quahogs. For those not familiar, quahogs are like stuffed clams. My wife had clam chowder and clam cakes. While I thought everything was delicious, the clam cakes stole the show for me. Wow! Fantastic and just as I had remembered them! Washing it down with a Narragansett made for exactly the lunch I was looking for. If you're around Narragansett and looking for a true taste of Rhode Island, I wholeheartedly recommend you stop here. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Really enjoyed the food - had some chowder, coconut shrimp and French fries - quick service - the location was nice but took the food to the beach to eat. Will definitely be going back for more.

They let us go to the trouble of compiling an eight person order on-line, enter credit card info, AND THEN advised they no longer accept on-line orders! Very unprofessional!

This is my favorite lobster roll. It was true two years ago the first time I had one here, and it's still true now. The bun is perfectly toasted, the meat is so tender, and they dress/season it absolutely perfectly (not too much mayo, justtttt right). Their ice cream is great, too! I got a scoop of the coconut almond and a scoop of the campfire smores, the latter of which was even better than I expected! Can't beat the location, and their food is so fairly priced -- $24 for a lobster roll right now, where other establishments are charging $30+, and two scoops of ice cream for under $4. Get here before 6:30 -- the line gets soooo long after that!

I heard horror stories about how long the lines are and how tiny the parking lot is, so fortunately I arrived 15 minutes before opening and considered this brunch! Problem solved. Someone parked their Bentley next to my 2012 Toyota Rav 4, which was good for a laugh. Coming early meant the bucket list item of eating my first ever real lobster roll guaranteed a hot and fresh one. Soooooo good! I ate slowly and savored every bite as I sat and enjoyed the water views from the picnic table.

Food was awesome! And quick service. Their fish & chips was flounder. Truly loved it! We had white clam chowder too. Far better than we had to other night at a pricier place. Would definitely recommend

Be prepared to stand in line but it is worth it! If you look through past reviews you will notice a trend, everyone orders the lobster rolls. Why, because they are that good. They serve the entire lobster on the roll. It is worth it! I got the hot and couldn't eat it fast enough and my sister got the cold and didn't leave a morsel. We ordered a side of large onion rings, they gave us six pretty good size rings. They were well breaded and okay but the lobster was write home worthy. Now while you eat there is a back porch that has a great view of the water. Very nice and great lobster roll!

Delicious food. Fresh seafood. Reasonable price. Friendly staffs and professional. They also sell ice cream.

Had the lobster roll and coconut shrimp and it did not disappoint. The food was good, staff was super helpful and it all came out very quickly.

Took the advice of others and tried this place. Lobster roll (June 2024) was $26.99. Hot was the way to go here. Absolutely fantastic and well filled. #1 item we tried. Second favorite was the white clam chowder. It was a special with three clam clamps (fritters to other parts of the country) which none of us had had before. Chowder was excellent and other than a little salt, well-seasoned. Fish tacos were liked, but not the ultimate favorite. One in the party really enjoyed them, the rest were neutral. There is a lot going on the top of the tacos and I think it detracted a bit from the fish. A salsa plus two sauces and some other toppings was just a lot going on. Clam cakes were the lowest rated thing. All breading. They were giant hush puppies. Only one person found a peice of clam and it was not chewable. The dough parts were tasty though and the oil was fresh, we were just hoping for actual clam in the cakes. We'd all return again for the lobster roll and chowder so 5 stars for that. Staff was friendly. Seating outside was picnic tables (clean and some shaded) plus they also own the ice cream place at the back.

Sad to create this review. I had the whole belly clam dinner with onion rings instead of French fries. It comes with coleslaw. I've had their clams before and always good and the batter is light and not greasy. The downside is the coleslaw and onion rings. They were meh. Coleslaw lacked flavor and the rings were over-battered and too big. It also depends on what you like but I'd stick with just the clams and maybe a side of fries.

-They are well known for their lobster rolls. The prices are higher than Iggy's but you get more lobster (usually). -Fried clams and calamari were light and delicious as well. -The salmon burger was great (would recommend getting just the chipotle aioli or the pesto oil but not both) and a good size. -Fish sandwich was okay, too much breading for thin layer of fish -Swordfish tacos were okay, the chipotle aioli packed a nice punch, but not sure why pesto was also in the mix. Downsides, the portions for the sides like fries and onion rings are not very big. We went there three or four times during a week and have noticed that sometimes the lobster rolls came in different sizes. Overall, the seafood is pretty good and you get a very nice outdoor seating area, especially in the back where the ground is layered with seashells and you have a view of the ocean. Pretty fast service and they have people who come by to wipe down tables pretty quickly.

Great food, incredible spot! Ice cream and drinks also! The line to order is long but the food is worth your wait. Patience is required for a table but eventually people do leave. Once you've ordered the food does arrive at your table fairly quickly. Lobster rolls are all meat and delicious.

This restaurant is a traditional place for us to kick off the summer season. The food is good, the spot is great, but those lines!!! The long lines and limited parking is why I can't rate it higher.