Ripka's Beach Cafe

Unfortunately Ripka’s continues to go down hill year over year (since moving to CT in 2020). I used to love everything about it - the food, the staff/service, and the atmosphere. Last year I ordered the buffalo chicken burger and it seemed like it wasn’t fully cooked, but I let it go. This year (2025), there’s two young women running the cashier and food delivery and they lack serious service skills - talking to one another over acknowledging customers. At least last year’s help was friendly and engaging, and made up for what was lacking YOY. It’s a shame because Ripka’s is in a great spot and the concept of a beach cafe, especially with their offerings, could be five-star for sure.

Update - the prices do not reflect the poor service (that continues to decline).

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 2

Wasted opportunity. Great location, should be a fantastic place to have a meal while enjoying the beach, or even to come down in the evening for a beachfront dinner. But, the food is severely subpar. It’s really a shame, because they’re not selling haute cuisine, It’s typical snack bar food, and they just take come up short across the board. Honestly, the French fries are the only decent thing they sell. And to top it off, the staff are either miserable, inattentive or a combination of both. This review does not come after a one and done visit either. Have given them more than enough chances to get it right, because I really wish I could like this place. Maybe time for a new operator?

Very underwhelming food quality. Employees definitely don't seem interested in being helpful or friendly. Big let down.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 1

Fun place to sit and look at the park and the water. Big disappointment: they had no lobster. Having a lobster roll was on my Norwalk must do list. Now I'm back in Colorado.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

The food was excellent! I had the lobster mac, my younger sister had the chicken tenders and fries (she had the regular size, but there’s a kid’s version for that too), and my mother had a hot lobster roll! Initially, my mother was terrified when I bought an entire lobster for her, so I returned it, and while I couldn't get a refund on the same day due to the fireworks event, I returned a few days later to get the refund with the help of the manager, Clyde Ripka! Thank you for understanding about the refund I requested!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

For a beach concession stand, they have a great selection of food including one of the best hot lobster rolls in Norwalk. Non-residents can park for up to 2 hours in the spots for Ripkas and not pay. Stay longer or park elsewhere, unless your car is registered in Norwalk, and you may get a parking ticket.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Fine for Norwalk.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 4

Veggie burger too peppery. Salad excellent. Sanitary conditions
distressing. The outside area where the tables are had the plastic utensils, napkins all over the ground. I complained to a couple of young men behind the counter and they gave me the “up yours” look. We stayed over 30 minutes and no attempt was made to rectify the situation.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 2

Service: 2

Love this spot-been going for years. Great options to choose from.

I want to love Ripka’s but in recent visits 2 things have soured me a bit-

1) Prices are not listed correctly. For instance, cheesesteak is 12 dollars, not 10 as listed. At start of summer I let it slide - however upon return in mid June.. I mentioned the disparity. “Oh yea we haven’t had the chance to update the sign” - mind you this isn’t a billboard, it’s a sign hanging 6 feet in the air. A stool and a sharpie should do the trick. And I’m not even saying the prices were unfair, they were just not clear and obviously that’s going to continue all summer.

2) There’s a big jug of water at the end of the counter where patrons can pour a free cup. Much appreciated and necessary at the beach! However at my last visit the water tasted like someone dropped an onion in the jug and let it sit for a few days. I alerted the woman behind the counter “there’s something wrong with the water, it tastes disgusting and you shouldn’t serve it.” She smiled and offered me water from the soda fountain. Which was delicious. But… the water stayed. I’m not sure how you take that feedback and don’t do a thing about it. The speed in which the fountain water was offered made me think I was the tenth person to mention it that day.

So, that’s two bad things. And yet I think Calf Pasture beach is better with Ripka’s offering their food and drinks. I love their fries, and drinks, their small concerts and cookouts, and I want Ripka’s to succeed. It just seems like it’s sleepwalking a bit - listing prices and drinkable water are not minor things to consider.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 3

I rarely ever leave one star reviews in all the years my wife and I have been dining but this place deserves it. Absolutely atrocious !! Yuck ! Buyer Beware !! We decided to try Ripkas at the Norwalk Beach and as we walked in there a line of 9 customers with only one cashier. (You may want to hire another counter person) during peak times. We waited about 40 mins for two sandwiches. Upon glancing at the food I couldn’t believe it. Burger wasn’t cooked med-well as ordered. The other sandwich had what appeared to be old Elmers wood glue all over it. See photos. Philly steak looked frozen then warmed up as greasy meat. Fries were maybe the one star if not I wouldn’t rated this place a zero. Wait it gets better; the price was $42 bucks for that is embarrassing. You guys were so cheap you couldn’t add a bit of fries as a combo meal? You had to charge extra. We took a couple of bites and through the rest in the garbage. We absolutely DO NOT recommend. We’re local but would ever go back there again. Spend your money and enjoy a good meal elsewhere.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Went there today, Mother’s Day, to have a picnic with my family. I waited over an hour for the food while my parents played with my son and I missed out. One of the workers who appeared to be in charge (middle aged man with dirty blonde hair and a beard) screamed at multiple customers just in the time I was there waiting for my food. It was extremely unprofessional and sad to see how he spoke to these customers. I also witnessed him yelling at the staff. The condiment and utensil area was disgusting. No utensils, no more paper cups for the condiments. It was my first time & I can’t say I would return, mostly due to the shocking way the “manager“ acted. I don’t know how he lays his head on his pillow at night.

Went there today, Mother’s Day, to have a picnic with my family. I waited over an hour for the food while my parents played with my son and I missed out. One of the workers who appeared to be in charge (middle aged man with dirty blonde hair and a beard) screamed at multiple customers just in the time I was there waiting for my food. It was extremely unprofessional and sad to see how he spoke to these customers. I also witnessed him yelling at the staff. The condiment and utensil area was disgusting. No utensils, no more paper cups for the condiments. It was my first time & I can’t say I would return, mostly due to the shocking way the “manager“ acted. I don’t know how he lays his head on his pillow at night.

This is a very nice place but BEWARE. It’s used by local authorities to ticket your experience to death. Like fishing in a barrel. We parked at the designated spots by the restaurant. Less than 30 minutes later we had a $60 ticket because our tire was over one of the white lines on the lot. There were maybe about 10 cars in the whole lot. It’s an obvious scam and left us with a bad taste on what was otherwise a lovely day.

Delicious food, cool atmosphere, great service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5