I wish the new owners the best and hopefully they can make it the seafood restaurant it used to be. Dad's just really went from a great place to eat to a place I wouldn't recommend anymore and it had been a favorite of my family for years. Last meal there 2023 was terrible sadly.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Fish
Charles Cooper
Just about every seaside town on earth has a place like Dad's. A lowbrow fried seafood and chips joint in an aging old building with a view of the water. They'll serve burgers and hotdogs and onion rings too, and may even have something fresh if the local waters are known for their clams or oysters or salmon or crab or lobster. These places are popular for their big menus that are popular with large groups, and for their nostalgia, especially when they've served a popular vacation spot for years. But too many of these spots aren't very good, and unfortunately, this place is no exception. Dad's falls into the same trap that so many restaurants do and treats frying as if it's just dumping stuff in oil. The result is food thats too dense, too oily, lacking in any flavor, and that gets soggy quickly.I know some people like this spot, but at the risk of being a total snob, I think it's because they haven't had good fried food before. Fried food can be amazing with the right training and expertise. Like any other cooking skill, knowing how to prep your food for frying, create a seasoning that flavorful and compelling, and use the technique to produce something light and will stay crispy. I only wish more people could experience the output of an exceptional fry cook because their expectations would push seaside staples like Dad’s to do better.Now, even though I didn’t like the food, there’s ample parking, a decent view, and the service is solid if unremarkable. the people who enjoy this place seemed to really like it, so they’re doing something right. It’s just not for me.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Barbara Morrison
Bathroom 4 ladies is very low to the floor. The steps are also steep...Thank You.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fish
John Lodato
Great hot lobster rolls. The main problem is that it is not open all year long.
Kimberly Scott
This review has been a long work in progress. In the beginning I started out with 5 stars and became increasingly disappointed as time went on, to which I am now down to a 2 star rating.Let me start with, this past year 2023 they stayed open an extra week to "just get rid of the food" no new orders or anything, can't imagine how fresh the food was at that point.My husband and I looked forward to their opening every year, but this past year things just seemed to have taken a turn drastically for the worse. Everytime I tried to order take out they never had certain foods, for example their clam Fritters, each time I was always and I mean ALWAYS given a different excuse, either the batter was too difficult to make (you can't make this up) and they didn't have enough time, or oh we are only doing them on the weekends (check on the weekends and told oh sorry next weekend we ran into an issue), check randomly and told oh we haven't started making them yet we will be doing that tomorrow and I check the next day oh we don't have a cook that is familiar with making them. Sadly this was only one issue with them, their food was soggy when we would finally break down and eat, not to mention the clotted New England clam chowder that looked like paste from elementary school they tried to pass off. Then constantly being told the credit card machine was down so you had to pay cash, however wouldn't be informed of that until after you order.I wish I could say something better about this place as they have been around for some time now, but it is appearing that the only thing they are truly interested in, is storing boats for the winter in their parking lot!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Wendy
It has been many many years since I have been there, 30+ whole belly clams. Dinner was very rubbery. Could not hardly eat had to throw most of it away. Onion rings were very hard they were not batter dipped like I was told pretty much the two dinners, one in the trash but like I said, I have not been there for 30 years so a whole different people had owned it just wanted to check it out see if it was the same good food and it definitely was not.Parking: I ordered the whole belly clams dinner. My daughter had ordered vegetarian hamburger. She said it was very over cooked dried would not go there again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Georgia Mislick
A bit of a tough handicapped entrance, but we were outside facing the Sound. Food was good and plentiful and our servers, Sarah was excellent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Donald Zongol
excellent food, large portions...unfortunately out of soft serve and cherry dip, not really their fault i guess.. ( probably because busy Saturday)parking is always a little tough.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bonnie Marquez
Dad's still has best seafood around!! Service was fantastic!! Can't wait to go back ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Sandwich, Grilled Cheese
margo d.
I wish seafood places would venture out into using more spices! Dice food is being prepared to order over heat, sweet, salt whatever.
This is the way fried fish and seafood should be! With so many crispy and delicious items, it's hard to pick just one!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dawn R.
Ordered a cheeseburger and fries. The fries were decent but the burger must have been previously cooked and then just warmed up on grill. After I placed my order my food was done in under 5 minutes. My order consisted of a grilled chicken sandwich, cheeseburger fries and coleslaw. No once did I smell a burger being cooked on the grill and the burger was dried out and brown inside. I did take it back and got my money back but when I was back inside another person ordered burger. I saw the cook take something out of a container and place on grill like the already cooked burger that they are just reheating. If you are marking a burger fresh you would smell it and it would be juicy. Definitely not the case. Skippers down the road was definitely fresh and you can see them making everything when ordered.
Kimberly S.
Food was... almost flavorless. We ordered fish and chips and had to salt the fish because it literally had zero seasoning. Ordered chicken sandwich that my daughter didn't eat, and the lobster roll which my son ate less than half of. $70 and we ate less than half. So disappointing. It definitely lives up to its Yelp reputation. Also, there really is no view of the water... maybe just like... a little but a good view of the train if that's your jam. Oh, and since we were hungry we grabbed ice cream and milkshakes on the way out. Threw them in the trash too. How you can mess up ice cream I do not understand.
The B.
stay clear! clip joint , who serves canned clam chowder at the ocean..?????? who serves gritty cornmeal on clams? who wants to drain there bank account on one meal? if you answered yes then this is your place!
Karen A
Upper deck has a view of the Ocean. Absolutely good workers. The Best of every seafood they sell . Oysters better than any other place to get and clams . Onion rings top notch home made not frozen..Better than the Rhode Island and Massachusetts m. I grew up with seafood living with my grandparents in Niantic during summer months. To the owner of Dad’s keep up what your doing your place is spot on on cooking Seafood . Proud to eat there when I can
I wish the new owners the best and hopefully they can make it the seafood restaurant it used to be. Dad's just really went from a great place to eat to a place I wouldn't recommend anymore and it had been a favorite of my family for years. Last meal there 2023 was terrible sadly.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Fish
Just about every seaside town on earth has a place like Dad's. A lowbrow fried seafood and chips joint in an aging old building with a view of the water. They'll serve burgers and hotdogs and onion rings too, and may even have something fresh if the local waters are known for their clams or oysters or salmon or crab or lobster. These places are popular for their big menus that are popular with large groups, and for their nostalgia, especially when they've served a popular vacation spot for years. But too many of these spots aren't very good, and unfortunately, this place is no exception. Dad's falls into the same trap that so many restaurants do and treats frying as if it's just dumping stuff in oil. The result is food thats too dense, too oily, lacking in any flavor, and that gets soggy quickly.I know some people like this spot, but at the risk of being a total snob, I think it's because they haven't had good fried food before. Fried food can be amazing with the right training and expertise. Like any other cooking skill, knowing how to prep your food for frying, create a seasoning that flavorful and compelling, and use the technique to produce something light and will stay crispy. I only wish more people could experience the output of an exceptional fry cook because their expectations would push seaside staples like Dad’s to do better.Now, even though I didn’t like the food, there’s ample parking, a decent view, and the service is solid if unremarkable. the people who enjoy this place seemed to really like it, so they’re doing something right. It’s just not for me.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Bathroom 4 ladies is very low to the floor. The steps are also steep...Thank You.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fish
Great hot lobster rolls. The main problem is that it is not open all year long.
This review has been a long work in progress. In the beginning I started out with 5 stars and became increasingly disappointed as time went on, to which I am now down to a 2 star rating.Let me start with, this past year 2023 they stayed open an extra week to "just get rid of the food" no new orders or anything, can't imagine how fresh the food was at that point.My husband and I looked forward to their opening every year, but this past year things just seemed to have taken a turn drastically for the worse. Everytime I tried to order take out they never had certain foods, for example their clam Fritters, each time I was always and I mean ALWAYS given a different excuse, either the batter was too difficult to make (you can't make this up) and they didn't have enough time, or oh we are only doing them on the weekends (check on the weekends and told oh sorry next weekend we ran into an issue), check randomly and told oh we haven't started making them yet we will be doing that tomorrow and I check the next day oh we don't have a cook that is familiar with making them. Sadly this was only one issue with them, their food was soggy when we would finally break down and eat, not to mention the clotted New England clam chowder that looked like paste from elementary school they tried to pass off. Then constantly being told the credit card machine was down so you had to pay cash, however wouldn't be informed of that until after you order.I wish I could say something better about this place as they have been around for some time now, but it is appearing that the only thing they are truly interested in, is storing boats for the winter in their parking lot!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
It has been many many years since I have been there, 30+ whole belly clams. Dinner was very rubbery. Could not hardly eat had to throw most of it away. Onion rings were very hard they were not batter dipped like I was told pretty much the two dinners, one in the trash but like I said, I have not been there for 30 years so a whole different people had owned it just wanted to check it out see if it was the same good food and it definitely was not.Parking: I ordered the whole belly clams dinner. My daughter had ordered vegetarian hamburger. She said it was very over cooked dried would not go there again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
A bit of a tough handicapped entrance, but we were outside facing the Sound. Food was good and plentiful and our servers, Sarah was excellent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
excellent food, large portions...unfortunately out of soft serve and cherry dip, not really their fault i guess.. ( probably because busy Saturday)parking is always a little tough.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dad's still has best seafood around!! Service was fantastic!! Can't wait to go back ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Sandwich, Grilled Cheese
I wish seafood places would venture out into using more spices! Dice food is being prepared to order over heat, sweet, salt whatever.
Restaurantji Recommends
This is the way fried fish and seafood should be! With so many crispy and delicious items, it's hard to pick just one!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ordered a cheeseburger and fries. The fries were decent but the burger must have been previously cooked and then just warmed up on grill. After I placed my order my food was done in under 5 minutes. My order consisted of a grilled chicken sandwich, cheeseburger fries and coleslaw. No once did I smell a burger being cooked on the grill and the burger was dried out and brown inside. I did take it back and got my money back but when I was back inside another person ordered burger. I saw the cook take something out of a container and place on grill like the already cooked burger that they are just reheating. If you are marking a burger fresh you would smell it and it would be juicy. Definitely not the case. Skippers down the road was definitely fresh and you can see them making everything when ordered.
Food was... almost flavorless. We ordered fish and chips and had to salt the fish because it literally had zero seasoning. Ordered chicken sandwich that my daughter didn't eat, and the lobster roll which my son ate less than half of. $70 and we ate less than half. So disappointing. It definitely lives up to its Yelp reputation. Also, there really is no view of the water... maybe just like... a little but a good view of the train if that's your jam. Oh, and since we were hungry we grabbed ice cream and milkshakes on the way out. Threw them in the trash too. How you can mess up ice cream I do not understand.
stay clear! clip joint , who serves canned clam chowder at the ocean..?????? who serves gritty cornmeal on clams? who wants to drain there bank account on one meal? if you answered yes then this is your place!
Upper deck has a view of the Ocean. Absolutely good workers. The Best of every seafood they sell . Oysters better than any other place to get and clams . Onion rings top notch home made not frozen..Better than the Rhode Island and Massachusetts m. I grew up with seafood living with my grandparents in Niantic during summer months. To the owner of Dad’s keep up what your doing your place is spot on on cooking Seafood . Proud to eat there when I can