Rowayton Seafood: Waterfront Seafood & Our 11th Anniversary Dinner

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For our 11th anniversary, Ben and I headed to Rowayton Seafood in Rowayton, Connecticut—a restaurant that somehow manages to feel casual and cozy while still being upscale enough for a special occasion.

This wasn’t our first time here. On our previous visit, we sat outside along the dock, and the setting was gorgeous. Right on the water, boats going by, that quintessential New England waterfront feel…it was incredibly scenic and romantic.

We were hoping to sit outside again for our anniversary, but outdoor seating isn’t guaranteed with a reservation and there wasn’t a table available when we arrived. We could have waited, but we were hungry and decided to sit inside instead.

And honestly, we still had an amazing experience.

The dining room is bright, cozy and nautical, with plenty of windows and a relaxed upscale feel. It’s the kind of restaurant where you can come fairly casual but still feel like you’re having a special night out.

They also brought us a little postcard wishing us a happy anniversary, which was such a sweet touch. ❤️

Starting With a Pepperoncini Martini 🌶️🍸

I started the night with a Pepperoncini Martini, which immediately caught my attention on the cocktail menu.

I ordered mine without the olives or olive juice, so it was really all about that pepperoncini flavor. Tangy, slightly salty and a little different from your typical martini—it was such a fun way to start dinner.

Then came the food…and this is where Rowayton Seafood really delivered.

Smoked Branzino Dip

Just WOW.

The smoked branzino dip was intensely smoky in the best possible way—creamy, savory and completely addictive.

I also loved that it came with more than just chips. The romaine and cucumber gave you a lighter, fresh option for scooping up the dip, although let’s be serious…the crispy chips with that smoky branzino were pretty hard to stop eating.

This was an immediate Must Order.

Fluke & Shrimp Aguachile

If the branzino dip was rich and smoky, the Fluke & Shrimp Aguachile was its perfect opposite.

It reminded me of a ceviche, but the passionfruit sauce made it stand out. It was incredibly fresh and bright, with a little heat from the jalapeño and crunch from the plantain chips.

I loved the combination of the seafood with the tropical passionfruit flavor. After the smoky dip, this was such a refreshing contrast.

Another dish I would absolutely order again.

Cherrystone Clams

Of course, at a restaurant called Rowayton Seafood, we had to hit the raw bar.

We ordered the Cherrystone Clams, which were beautifully plump and fresh. Simple, classic and exactly what you want from a raw-bar order.

Clam Chowder Poutine

Then things got a little decadent.

Clam. Chowder. Poutine.

Yes.

This tasted amazingly close to eating a bowl of New England clam chowder—in French fry form.

The sauce was creamy and delicious, and I loved the salty, crispy pancetta throughout. My one disappointment was that there weren’t actually pieces of clam in it. With “clam chowder” in the name, I was hoping we’d find some actual clams mixed throughout.

That said? We still loved it. The clam chowder flavor was completely spot-on.

The Special: Soft-Shell Crab

And then came the dish of the night.

We ordered the soft-shell crab special, served over a fresh slaw with jicama, mango and onion with a citrus dressing.

WOW.

The crabs were beautifully crispy on the outside, and the fresh, crunchy slaw underneath was exactly what they needed.

Instead of pairing fried soft-shell crab with something heavy, the sweet mango, crisp jicama, onion and bright citrus dressing cut through the richness and made the entire dish feel surprisingly refreshing.

Ben and I agreed: this was the best soft-shell crab we’ve had in forever.

If this is on the specials menu when you visit, ORDER IT.

Must Orders ❤️

🥇 Soft-Shell Crab Special — The standout. One of the best soft-shell crab dishes we’ve had in a long time.

🐟 Smoked Branzino Dip — Smoky, creamy and addictive. Don’t skip it.

🍤 Fluke & Shrimp Aguachile — Fresh, bright and almost ceviche-like, with a delicious passionfruit twist.

🍟 Clam Chowder Poutine — Rich, creamy and indulgent. I just wish there had been actual pieces of clam!

Final Thoughts

Rowayton Seafood really hits that sweet spot I love: great food in an atmosphere that feels special without feeling overly formal.

Our first visit gave us the beautiful waterfront experience, while this dinner reminded us that the food itself is absolutely worth coming back for.

From the smoky branzino dip and fresh passionfruit aguachile to that decadent clam chowder poutine, there wasn’t much we didn’t love.

But that soft-shell crab?

I’d go back for that alone.

Add in a pepperoncini martini, fresh seafood and a sweet little anniversary postcard, and I’d say 11 years was celebrated pretty deliciously. ❤️🥂