If it weren't for seafood, early coastal societies would have been forced to subsist entirely on salt-water taffy. Wallow in the sea's bounty with today's Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of seafood at Close Harbour Seafood in Plantsville. This Groupon also gets you 20% off fresh fish or gourmet deli items from Close Harbour's market, but is not valid for live lobster and in same visit as restaurant redemption.

Singled out for having the state's best clam chowder in Connecticut magazine's Best of Connecticut feature, Close Harbour hooks customers with a menu anchored in mouth-watering seafood. Start with crab-and-parmesan-stuffed mushrooms ($7) or pull out your scrimshaw spoon for New England, Manhattan, or Rhode Island clam chowder ($4/cup). Filet of sole stuffed with lump blue-crab meat ($18) reconciles the sea's two most notorious enemies, and swordfish cipolla parries a seasoned swordfish steak with a heaping helping of caramelized onions ($17). Resist flatware hegemony by getting your hands on a toasted roll topped with butter-sautéed lobster (market price), or give in to the powerful lettuce lobby with a pan-seared sea-scallop salad ($14). Any fish in the joint can also be baked, grilled, broiled, fried, or seared and plated with stir-fried veggies for $15.

Close Harbour's outdoor patio lets customers enjoy sea treasures while taunting snooty sparrows. Alternatively, take your meal or a market selection home, where you can wow friends with what they'll assume is fish you raised yourself.

Reviews

Connecticut magazine recently named Close Harbour Seafood's clam chowder as the best in the state. Eight Citysearchers give the eatery, which also boasts almost 500 Facebook fans, an average of five stars.

• Three classic chowders grace the menu: New England (with a delicate, silky-sweet cream base), Manhattan (in a spicy red tomato broth) and Rhode Island (a briny concoction inspired by owner Bill Close’s childhood spent clamming on the beach in East Haven). Enjoy them on-site with a superb all-claw-meat, hot buttered lobster roll or an entrée of pancetta-crusted Atlantic cod. – Connecticut magazine
• Wow what a find. Food is great and service was as well. Seafood fresh and quality is the best we seen in a while. – JohnPom, Citysearch