U.S.S. Chowder Pot

U.S.S. Chowder Pot
560 E Main St
Branford, CT 06405

This top family-owned seafood restaurant rooted from the 1977 Armstrong Rubber Tire Strike. This worker’s strike forced Jonathan Smith (Former Owner) to get creative and find another source of revenue.

Jon and his wife Debbie started a small seafood drive-in in Madison, also known as USS Chowder Pot I. Due to popular demand, Jon and Debbie expanded to USS Chowder Pot II in Clinton where they took on John Bencivengo, Jr as their Executive Chef. Throughout the years, the response to the Smith’s menus and dining experience allowed them to grow their restaurant into bigger and better quarters. Chowder Pot I and II quickly blossomed to the current establishment, one of the state’s premier seafood restaurants where John Bencivengo, Jr. traveled with them.