Stowe's in West Haven

View out to West Haven Beach from Stowe's

Last weekend's catch was from Stowe's in West Haven.  Old standby, from a long ago era on an urban beach.  Urban beaches are interesting to compare to the quaint, more resort-y beaches up the Connecticut coast.  The elements of sand, water, and long boardwalk are still present, but the urban beach has dented aluminum guardrails, broken concrete, and a certain unkemptness all around it, in greater quantities.  There's not a lot of trash or anything, so maybe it's the just the gestalt of broken concrete and dents in the aluminum that gives the urban beach its gritty quality, or maybe it's the lack of a seaside pavilion or fishing shack with beadboard trim and wood walkways.  The difference in the feel of the beach in West Haven versus the beach in say, Westbrook, are stark.

Arrrrrrgh.   rrrrr.  rrr.  r.

Stowe's has a nice pirate theme going on.  It's an odd piece of Caribbean island-ness, surrounded not by water, but by residential development and a somewhat industrial asphalt road wrapping around the corner. I liked the shellacked picnic tables underneath a wood canopy of sorts, sort of an island pergola. It faces the beach at West Haven and you can imagine on a hot day, eating tasty fried food and feeling beach breezes blow on you.  It's also at one end of a beachside walkway that takes you from Savin Rock to Bradley Point Park, about a half mile or so away.  There used to be an amusement park in between, along the lines of Coney Island, back in the early part of the 20th century. Pictures line the walls of a rest area along the path showing ferris wheels, rollercoaster rides and such.  It looks like it was once quite the scene.  Now, it's just beach, walkway, and areas where trees grow almost right up to the beach.  There is a slightly pirate-esque atmosphere to it all - a lost world.

Stowe's lobster roll was decent.  It was the most buttery thing I've ever eaten.  Butter was literally dripping off my hands as I ate this lobster roll.  For around $15, you just get a lobster roll, so it's not the best value, but it is a tasty little treat.  The meat was in good sized chunks, and both tail and claw.  Most people go here to get the "Treasure Chest" which is a large box (think the shoebox that boots come in) with a mess of fried seafood.  Heart attack chest, perhaps.  This place does not believe in the Surgeon General of America's advice.  

Hey!  I think that claw is still wiggling....