Connecticut Eats · New London, Connecticut
New London restaurants: apizza & lobster rolls
In and around New London, our lists hold 1 apizza place, 18 lobster roll and clam shack stops, 1 hot dog and burger icon, and 7 diners and dairy bars, each checked in business in October 2026. Beyond the lists, the Connecticut Eats app's directory covers 101 restaurants, cafés, bars, and bakeries in New London, nearest first.
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New London at a glance
In the app's directory, New London has 101 places to eat and drink. Bar & Pub (16), Coffee & Café (11), and Bakery & Sweets (7) lead the mix. We matched 40 of them to an active state liquor permit. 12 belong to chains with five or more Connecticut locations. 3 made our hand-checked lists; longest at one address: Fred's Shanty, there since 1972.
On our lists in New London
Every place in New London that made our hand-checked lists, most honored first. The order comes from honors and years at the address; it isn't a rating. Honors are reported as facts from the James Beard Foundation's own records and other named sources. Longest at the same address: Fred's Shanty in New London, there since 1972; Captain Scott's Lobster Dock in New London, there since 1996. See Connecticut's oldest restaurants for all 55 with a year at the same address.
Fred's Shanty
262 & 272 Pequot Ave, New London
Lobster rollClam shack Known for: whole belly clams; clam strips; hot lobster roll; cold lobster roll; clam fritters; Hershey's hand-dipped ice cream · At this address since 1972
Waterfront take-out on Pequot Avenue for fried seafood, pizza, subs, hot dogs and hand-dipped ice cream.
Captain Scott's Lobster Dock
80 Hamilton St, New London
Lobster rollClam shack Known for: hot buttered; hot lobster roll; lobster salad roll; fish and chips · At this address since 1996
Dockside lobster shack on Shaw's Cove with outdoor seating, an ice cream window and a fish market.
Michael's Dairy
629 Montauk Ave, New London
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: 32 flavors; Coconut Almond Bar; Graham Central Station · Season: March to October (Connecticut Buzz, 2025)
Old-fashioned ice cream parlor on the Mitchell College campus that holds sock hops and concerts in season.
Apizza in and near New London
Nearest first, out to 10 miles. The statewide guide lists 27.
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville (Montville) · 10 mi from New London
ApizzaAt Mohegan Sun Known for: white clam pizza · A branch of Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, New Haven
Pepe's branch with 110 seats in the eastern part of Fidelia's Market inside Mohegan Sun casino, on Mohegan tribal land.
Lobster rolls and clam shacks in and near New London
In New London itself: Fred's Shanty and Captain Scott's Lobster Dock (above). 16 more are within 15 miles; here are the 5 closest. The statewide guide lists 58.
The Dock
9 First St, Waterford · 4 mi from New London
Lobster rollClam shackSeasonal Known for: hot lobster roll; cold lobster roll; raw clams and oysters; Cajun shrimp · Season: Opened May 1, 2026; Friday–Sunday only from Sept. 11, 2026 (its own site)
Seasonal picnic-table seafood spot on the Niantic River with a tented bar, raw bar and fish market.
Dad's Restaurant of Niantic
147 Main St, Niantic (East Lyme) · 5 mi from New London
Lobster rollClam shackSeasonal Known for: fried clams; lobster roll; onion rings; burgers · Season: seasonal; check before you go
Seasonal seafood spot on Niantic Bay near the Niantic River bridge, known for fried clams and lobster rolls.
Skippers Seafood
167 Main St, Niantic (East Lyme) · 5 mi from New London
Lobster roll Known for: lobster roll; fresh local seafood · Season: Open year-round
Year-round family seafood restaurant on Main Street in Niantic.
Flanders Fish Market
22 Chesterfield Rd, East Lyme · 6 mi from New London
Lobster roll Known for: hot buttered; hot lobster roll with butter, scallion and sherry; cold lobster roll; lobster pot pie; clam chowder · At this address since 1983
Family-owned fish market and restaurant that serves its lobster roll hot or cold.
Abbott's Lobster in the Rough
117 Pearl St, Noank (Groton) · 6 mi from New London
Lobster rollClam shackSeasonal Known for: hot buttered; hot lobster roll; steamers; clam chowder; stuffed clams · Season: Seasonal; its site says it is open daily 11–8 for the 2026 season · At this address since 1947
BYOB waterside lobster shack on the Mystic River in Noank; no reservations, first come first served; its biggest hot roll carries a pound of buttered lobster.
Hot dog and burger icons in and near New London
Nearest first, out to 10 miles. The statewide guide lists 21.
Engine Room
14 Holmes St, Mystic (Stonington) · 7 mi from New London
Burger icon Known for: burgers; bourbon; craft beer
Burger-focused comfort food, 16 craft taps and a deep bourbon list in the restored Lathrop Marine Engine building on the Mystic River.
Diners and dairy bars in and near New London
In New London itself: Michael's Dairy (above). 6 more are within 10 miles; here are the 5 closest. The statewide guide lists 45. 1 more place in New London has “Diner” in the name but hasn't been checked by hand: find it in the web search.
Norm's Diner
171 Bridge St, Groton · 1 mi from New London
Diner Known for: pancakes; omelets; breakfast sandwiches; maple waffle fries
Long-running Groton diner serving breakfast and lunch from early morning; closed Tuesdays.
Cowlick's Creamery
521 Boston Post Rd, Waterford · 4 mi from New London
Dairy bar Known for: 40+ hard ice cream flavors; soft serve; frozen yogurt; Italian ice
Route 1 ice cream stand with dozens of hard ice cream flavors plus soft serve and Italian ice.
Gumdrops & Lollipops
334 Main St, Niantic (East Lyme) · 5 mi from New London
Dairy bar Known for: homemade ice cream; soft serve; fudge · At this address since 2008
Candy shop and creamery in a yellow house on Niantic's Main Street near Hole in the Wall Beach.
Kitchen Little
36 Quarry Rd, Mystic (Stonington) · 7 mi from New London
Diner Known for: scrambled eggs with fresh crab; lobster Benedict; pancakes; omelets
Breakfast-and-lunch spot at Mystic River Marina with a patio deck overlooking the Mystic River; diners arriving by boat can dock for up to 3 hours. Closed Tuesdays.
Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream
2 W Main St, Mystic (Groton) · 7 mi from New London
Dairy bar Known for: Mystic Mud; Seaport Salty Swirl; Kahlua Mocha Fudge · Season: Open year-round · At this address since 1991
Homemade ice cream shop beside the Mystic River drawbridge; opened a second shop in Old Mystic's former general store in July 2026.
What New London eats
The 10 most common kinds among the 101 listings in New London, from open map data and the state's liquor-permit list. Tap one to search New London for it.