The Best of Eastern Connecticut

By guest blogger, Elise Hanks

As a girl who loves burgers and fries by the water, I feel compelled to write about my all-time favorite place to go for that taste of summer.  Fred's Shanty in New London, just a few miles down the shore from Ocean Beach, is famous for its food.  More sophisticated summer shack connoisseurs love their clam chowder, lobster rolls, and fried clams.  As an individual who doesn't eat much seafood I can only vouch for the burgers, fries, and chicken... and I love all of them!  Shoestring fries that have been fried to just the right golden brown can't be beat.  In addition to seafood and grill fare, Fred's also has an ice cream window. 

Located overlooking the Thames River, Fred's Shanty has a dock perfect for boaters to pull up to for an afternoon or evening snack.  The outdoor, covered seating allows customers to enjoy the picturesque scene of boats bobbing in the water, birds whirling overhead, and the water making its way into the Atlantic.  Fred's boasts being famous since 1973, but for me it was famous the night my parents read me Mark Sasha's Night of the Moonjellies, a book about a young boy who helps his Gram at the summer stand by the sea.  At the end of the night, the boy is rewarded for a day of hard work with a surprise outing on the boat.  He is amazed to see the water water beneath him filled with tiny, shimmering moonjellies.  As a childhood book, Night of the Moonjellies was one of my favorites.  The amazing illustrations and the reality of the story made the book real to me.

It is certainly true that one may enjoy Fred's without the book and the book without Fred's, however for me, a perfect evening was a late dinner at the Shanty and then reading the book with my family while staring at the water, trying desperately to see the moonjellies.

Fred's is open for lunch and dinner spring through October, however the best time to spot moonjellies is in August and September.

(Photo of Fred's used with permission from NewEnglandSite.com)

Elise Hanks, 2007 graduate of Ledyard High School, is a summer employee at RE/MAX Realty Group and weekly contributor to the Eastern CT Real Estate Blog.