This CT Restaurant Is Among 50 Best In U.S., New York Times Says In New Ranking

NOANK, CT — A classic New England seafood shack is getting a big boost: Haring's in Noank has been named one of the 50 best restaurants in the U.S. by The New York Times.

The waterfront spot on the Mystic River offers fresh lobster, smash burgers, seafood, farm veggies, and more.

The Times described Haring's as "the New England seafood shack you’ve always wanted, whether you knew it or not."

The review goes on to note that it's "the kind of place where you can put your feet up on the wooden railing, spread some smoked bluefish on Ritz crackers, eat a fried cod sandwich or demolish a succulent steamed lobster."

To develop The Restaurant List, 14 New York Times and editors took 76 flights to 33 states, where they ate more than 200 meals, the publication said. The sleuths showed up unannounced and made reservations through a smartphone app.

“We pay for all of our food, and we don’t accept freebies. We eat like you do, with the same hope for a meal to remember, to be welcomed and delighted,” The Times wrote.

More than half of the restaurants have opened since the 2024 list was published, The Times said.

Haring's chef Chris Vanasse and Port of Call's Renee Touponce are chef-partners in the Mystic-based 85th Day Food Community, which operates the restaurant and, according to The Times, is "glowing up the area." It also runs the Oyster Club, Port of Call, and the Engine Room in Mystic.

Many of the other restaurants on the Times' list are located in major cities like Chicago, New Orleans, Miami, Boston, and Houston.

See the full article from The Times by clicking here.

Haring's is open daily. Check out their website for more info.

The seafood shack is located at 15 Riverview Ave., the former site of Ford's Lobster.