Rowayton Seafood Restaurant
In 1978, Kevin Conroy was a young man with a vision, who purchased an old fishing shack in 1978 and created the market. He purchased the restaurant that was on the same property in 1996 and turned it into a sought-after seafood restaurant. A dedicated recreational fisherman, Kevin’s latest vision is to partner with the “Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Seafood Watch Program in an effort to support healthy oceans and promote species regeneration.”
Family-owned, The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood and the Rowayton Seafood Market continue to make their mark not only on diners’ palates, but also on making a difference in the world. To appreciate the Conroy family’s dedication to the business and its inspiring history, you might like to read, A Touch Of Salt written by Barbara Bates Conroy published in 2023.
We met with the Conroys, Kevin and Barbara, over the course of a fabulous lunch at the restaurant on a very sunny and beautiful Friday, on January 5, 2024. Sitting at a table by the window, the light-filled restaurant was bustling with patrons, the food was outstanding, and the service was spot on.
The restaurant has a cozy bar, with interior tables, as well as tables located in the light-filled dining room overlooking the water. There is also another dining area in their new addition located directly over the water which has roll-up sides to bring the outdoors in during the warmer months. For special events or small parties, there is a private dining room option upstairs over the main restaurant that can accommodate 22-25 people.
The menu is divided into the following sections: Raw Bar, Soups & Salads, RS Flatbreads, RS Classics, Appetizers, Fried Favorites, Sandwiches, Entrées, Signature Sides, and Conservas (Tinned Fish). While the menu is seafood-focused, the menu does include an RS Burger, and a Steak Sandwich for those that prefer meat.
The restaurant has an excellent selection of Signature cocktails, wines by the glass and by the bottle, a large wine menu that was awarded a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in 2023, and an impressive, curated spirits menu to appeal to diverse palates. The restaurant also has a creative selection of “Zero-Proof” cocktails for those abstaining from alcohol.
We opted to pair our lunch selections with wines from their Wines By the Glass selection, a glass of Frenzy, Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and a glass of their featured Red wine, a Cabernet Franc, both of which were very good.
Roasted Oysters
From the RS Classics section, we shared an order of the Roasted Oysters, which were six locally farmed Copps Island Oysters with garlic herb butter and topped with Parmesan and Panko breadcrumbs. Golden and delicious, the Roasted Oysters were a perfect introduction to the restaurant’s style. Interesting to note about the Copps Island Oysters is that they have been farmed by Norm Bloom, LLC using traditional methods since 1994 on oyster beds in the Norwalk area. Copps Island Oysters are slightly briny, plump, and delicious, which were enhanced with the garlic herb butter, Parmesan, and Panko breadcrumbs for a delectable treat.
Maine Pemaquid Mussels
We continued by sharing two selections from the Appetizers section, the Maine Pemaquid Mussels, and the Hamachi Crudo. The mussels were presented in a large deep bowl accompanied by slices of toasted bread to soak in the rich and tasty garlic and white wine broth. Fresh, tender, and delicious, this was another outstanding selection.
Hamachi Crudo
The Hamachi Crudo was five paper-thin slices of Yellowfin presented with Truffled Ponzu, Blood Orange, Crispy Shallots, and topped with microgreens. The pairing of the raw Yellowfin with the tang and the acidity of the ponzu and blood orange gave this dish a rich complexity of complementing flavors, elegance, and style.
Shave Brussel Sprouts
From the Soups & Salads section, we ordered the Shave Brussel Sprouts Salad, which was a lovely mélange of Brussel sprouts, chopped cucumber, tomatoes, goat cheese, cranberry, pomegranate, and lemon vinaigrette, which was healthy, delicious, and satisfying.
Rowayton Lobster Roll
As a finale to our dining experience at The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood, we shared the Rowayton Lobster Roll, one of three lobster rolls listed on the menu in the Sandwiches section. The two other lobster rolls on the menu are their Maine Lobster Roll, made with cold lobster salad, and their Chipotle Lobster Roll made with cold chipotle lobster salad.
The Rowayton Lobster Roll was Connecticut-style, meaning that it was poached lobster served warm and dressed in warm butter nestled in a toasted New England roll. As we had a choice of potato chips, a side salad, onions rings, or French fries to accompany the Rowayton Lobster Roll, we opted for the onion rings which arrived delicately coated, golden, crispy, and delicious. A portion of coleslaw also accompanied the lobster roll.
The menu has many interesting items that will inspire us to return to the restaurant. In the “something to try next time category,” a few of the items we will want to order will be the Signature Side of Clam Chowder Poutine with French Fries, Cheddar Cheese, and Pork Belly, the Lobster & Shrimp Spring Rolls from the RS Classics section, and the Grilled Line Caught Swordfish with Mushroom Risotto, Crispy Artichokes, and Roasted Red Pepper Sauce from the Entrées section.
See you at Rowayton Seafood Restaurant
In addition to The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood, they also own Rowayton Seafood Market, located next door to the restaurant. The market receives fresh fish and seafood and preps them for the restaurant. It is also a gourmet seafood market that offers a take-out menu of cooked and raw seafood, as well as prepared food to take home, or perhaps bring aboard your boat, or enjoy as a picnic at the beach or at the park.
The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11:30 am until 9:00 pm, Thursday through Saturday from 11:30 am until 10:00 pm, and Sunday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm.
Rowayton Seafood Market is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm, and on Sunday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm.
Upcoming Events at The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood: Tinned Fish & Tapas Tuesdays beginning January 9th, Wednesday is Pizza Night at Rowayton Seafood beginning January 11th and a special Pemaquid Mussels Dinner is coming in late Spring, so be sure to watch their website as well as their Instagram page: @rowaytonseafood.
Parking: The restaurant has valet parking.
Want to arrive by Boat? Those who wish to motor to the restaurant by boat for a perfect day on the water and on land will appreciate that there are a limited number of boat dock slips that can be reserved with a restaurant reservation for an additional fee.
For more information on the restaurant or to make a reservation, please visit their website: www.RowaytonSeafood.com or call them at +1-203-866-4488.
A Touch of Salt by Barbara Bates Conroy
You might also like to read our review ofA Touch of Salt by Barbara Bates Conroy in ourLuxury Products – Gifts section where Barbara graciously shares a recipe for Seared Salmon with Orange Sauce to provide a tasty glimpse of her stunning coffee table book and the history of The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood.
Until next time, Bon Appetit!
The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood 89 Rowayton Avenue Norwalk, CT 06853 United States Telephone: 203-866-4488 Email: info@rowaytonseafood.com Website: www.RowaytonSeafood.com Instagram: www.Instagram.com/rowaytonseafood
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