Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com 

It is always a pleasure to discover a new and enjoyable eating spot. I have added the Sea View Snack Bar in Mystic, Connecticut to my list of go-to roadside clam shacks, after giving it a try a couple of weekends ago.

Tarter sauce for a fried whole belly clam roll.

This is a place I have passed many summers en route to downtown Mystic or the Mystic Seaport Museum, and I took note of the fact that the parking lot was always full. Now I understand why.

Food quality is of course the best reason to patronize a restaurant. However, ambiance comes in as a close second. The Sea View Snack Bar offers both when casual is desired. The restaurant has received positive ratings from YELP and TripAdvisor, and those certificates are proudly displayed on a window.

Sea View’s picnic area was very clean and tidy with benches available either under a shaded pavilion or in the sun; also available were round tables with umbrellas. All are situated beside the Mystic River with a glorious view of sailing vessels moored at the nearby seaport. Old Rock n’ Roll songs were being piped out at an ideal decibel level.

On the menu are seafood choices including a cold lobster salad roll, New England Clam Chowder, plus fried items such as whole belly calms, flounder fish, sea scallops and crab cakes. According to the Sea View website, “all seafood is caught and delivered fresh daily.”

The plump whole belly clam rolls got good reviews. A nice feature is a self-serve condiment space where you’ll find canisters of barbecue sauce and chilled tarter sauce which is kept on ice. Rather than being handed a small, side dollop of sauce, it’s easy enough to squeeze on as much as you want. And the rolls were soft and especially tasty.

Take the short stroll over to Twisters and enjoy some ice cream.

On the menu as well are burgers, foot long hot dogs, fries, onion rings, cole slaw, salads, milkshakes and more.

A few steps down an adjoining pathway is Twisters ice cream bar – also good.

Sea View Snack Bar is located at 145 Greemanville Avenue, Mystic, CT 06355, serving lunch and dinner Sun-Thur 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Fri & Sat 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 860-572-0096 seaviewsnackbar.com