By Olivia Damavandi
Tucked along the Five Mile River in Norwalk’s coastal neighborhood of Rowayton, the family-owned restaurant, Rowayton Seafood, is the kind of place that reminds you why classics endure.
Like a beloved cashmere sweater, it’s luxurious without pretense, dependable in its quality and comfort, and steeped in a reassuring sense of familiarity — the kind that only comes with time, care, and superior ingredients.
Kevin Conroy with his catch. Contributed photo
Kevin Conroy, founder of Rowayton Seafood, stands outside the restaurant shortly before its debut in 1996. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
With spring in full swing, the five-decades-old waterfront favorite is alive with the sounds of clinking glasses and laughter drifting across its sun-splashed deck. The awnings have been pulled back, sea breezes weave through the tables, and diners bask in the rare thrill of eating al fresco without a jacket.
Summer feels close enough to touch — and at Rowayton Seafood, it’s just the beginning of what’s to come.
Kevin Conroy, founder of Rowayton Seafood, 1978. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
“I started this place as a humble lobster co-op and seafood market in 1978, before opening the restaurant in 1996,” said owner Kevin Conroy, reflecting on the origins of what has since grown into the Rowayton Seafood family of brands.
Pearl, the restaurant’s restored oyster boat, invites guests aboard ahead of its summer season launch.
That original spirit of community and quality still defines Rowayton Seafood today.
The restaurant and beloved seafood market continue to thrive on the same property, soon to be joined by Pearl, a reborn oyster boat, as well as the freshly renovated Bait Shop. Both additions are well poised to enhance the waterfront experience.
Pearl, a 1946 Peterson vessel docked beside Rowayton Seafood, carries decades of salt and story.
Once a Navy ship, she spent more than 70 years dredging oysters and clams from the waters of Long Island Sound. Now lovingly restored and reimagined as a floating oyster and clam bar, Pearl — designated as a U.S. Coast Guard “vessel of historical interest” — opens in mid-May and offers the perfect spot to mingle on warm summer nights.
With its swiveling seats along the port and starboard sides, guests can easily turn to chat and enjoy the lively, relaxed atmosphere. A six-seat high-top table provides an ideal setting for groups to gather, sip cocktails, and savor fresh bites.
The boat’s casual yet stylish design invites easy conversation and makes it the perfect place to spend a summer day or evening surrounded by friends, delicious seafood, sweeping views, and the gentle rocking of the river. Pearl is an endearingly rare convergence of history, atmosphere, and flavor.
In June, Rowayton Seafood will unveil The Bait Shop, an authentically restored piece of its shoreline story. The small building, which has stood on the property since the 1960’s but was recently acquired by Conroy, is being thoughtfully reimagined — not as a relic, but as an extension of the restaurant’s coastal spirit.
“We’re breathing new life into it while keeping the historical elements,” explained Conroy, who sees the renovation as a way to honor the past while elevating and diversifying customers’ experience in more modern times.
Once a simple supply stop for local fishermen, The Bait Shop will soon offer a full tackle store, fishing gear and repairs, and RS Supply, a new line of maritime-inspired clothing. Set to open in June, the shop is more than a nod to Rowayton’s seafaring roots — it’s a way for guests to carry the restaurant’s easygoing elegance and connection to the sea long after the last oyster has been slurped.
And if you’re not done slurping?
Step out of The Bait Shop and into Rowayton Seafood Market, where the commitment to quality continues behind the gleaming seafood counter. Pristine fish, shellfish, sushi and ready-to-cook favorites are available for home kitchens, boat coolers, or catered gatherings.
Beyond the catch of the day, the market also stocks a curated selection of provisions, maritime-inspired apparel, and the beloved A Touch of Salt cookbook — a collection of unfussy, elegant recipes drawn from the Rowayton Seafood family’s own table (which sometimes includes fresh blue fin tuna caught by Conroy, an avid fisherman, off the Montauk coast).
Provisions and prepared snacks fill baskets at the market, catering to locals and summer day-trippers alike. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
A gleaming display of oysters, clams, and fillets at the adjacent seafood market, where freshness is the first promise. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
The market’s pantry shelves brim with culinary staples, coastal-inspired home goods, and nautical apparel. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
Freshly rolled sushi—now a welcome addition at the seafood counter—offers a grab-and-go refinement. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
If you’re ordering off the restaurant menu, the lobster bisque, kissed with sherry, is rich but restrained — silky enough to feel indulgent, yet light enough to enjoy on a sweltering summer afternoon.
The lobster roll, a perennial favorite, arrives on a warm brioche bun that subtly amplifies the sweetness of the meat with its buttery crumb.
The signature lobster roll, lightly dressed and buttered, served on a toasted split-top bun—an enduring classic. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
The fire pit on the main dining deck offers warmth, atmosphere, and a natural gathering place as the sun goes down. (Photo credit Olivia Damavandi)
Diners linger outdoors, taking full advantage of the breeze and brine on a sun-washed afternoon. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
A boater’s point of view of Rowayton Seafood. Photo credit: Olivia Damavandi
The restaurant’s riverfront entrance, framed by boats and blooms, evokes understated charm. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
From the main dining deck, an unobstructed view of the Five Mile River sets the tone for a leisurely meal. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
Hamachi crudo, bright with citrus and chili, channels the kitchen’s raw elegance. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
Even the Brussels sprout salad defies expectations: bright, crisp, and refreshingly bloat-free — a godsend for anyone eyeing the raw bar with cautious optimism.
The hamachi crudo is pristine, cool and clean on the palate, with none of the telltale sharpness of lesser cuts.
Roasted oysters offer a clever alternative for the raw-averse: bathed in garlic, butter, parsley, and a lacy crust of Parmesan, they arrive bubbling and fragrant.
But it’s the crab cocktail that lingers in memory — a marvel of simplicity and freshness.
An impressive cocktail and mocktail menu rounds out the experience, offering a well-balanced range of flavors — from sweet to tangy, subtly bitter, and everything in between. Be sure to try Rowayton Water, the restaurant’s own rosé — it’s crisp, breezy, and so easy to drink that you might eventually forget it’s not water.
Rowayton Water, the house rosé, pairs effortlessly with oysters and open skies. Photo credit: Rowayton Seafood
It’s difficult to picture Rowayton Seafood without Kevin Conroy and his family at its helm — the heartbeat behind its charm and steady course. Charismatic and instinctively hospitable, Conroy steers the ship with his children Grace, Wilson, and Henry by his side, along with Brand Manager Barbara (who also authored A Touch of Salt). Together, they guide every detail, from the integrity of ingredients in the kitchen to the visual language of the brand — shaping not just a restaurant, but an ever-evolving coastal world of their own.
“Whether you arrive by car or by boat, Rowayton Seafood is your vacation for the day,” said Nicole Glor, Rowayton Seafood’s public relations director.
In an age when trends come and go with the tide, Rowayton Seafood endures — not by chasing novelty, but by deepening its roots.
It is both a destination and a ritual, a place where locals and day-trippers alike gather not just for a meal, but for a moment of shoreline stillness, buoyed by impeccable seafood and a sense that time, somehow, moves a little more gently here.
Whether you dock your boat or park out front, the experience is the same: gracious, unfussy, and touched with salt air — the kind of summer day you wish you could bottle and take home.
Rowayton Seafood is located at 89 Rowayton Ave, Norwalk, CT 06853.
Tel (203) 866-4488
More information on Pearl.
More information on the Market.
Two empty Adirondack chairs await company on the dock at Rowayton seafood on a beautiful day. Photo credit: Olivia Damavandi