Do you have a favorite place?

[bassballer]

Originally Posted by cheferson

Matunuck Oyster Bar, buck a shuck for necks and matunuck oysters from 4-6

ive heard nothing but amazing things about this place. I need to get over there.

[basswipe]

Middletown Flo's.

Portsmouth Flo's(aka "the grease shack") sucks.

[Back Beach]

Not a big clam guy, but the Chieftan in Plainville is at the top of my list when I decide to dig in...not exactly a seafood place, but the steamers rock.

[Sea Dangles]

Red Wing

TDF, what about Woodmans?

[TheSurfcaster]

1.) Marshland
2.) Seafood Sam's
3.) Arnold's
4.) Sir Cricket's

[Bronko]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

Red Wing

TDF, what about Woodmans?

Chris, I haven't been in the Red Wing to eat since I was young. I pass it a lot and there are always a bunch of cars there. Is it still good?

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

TDF, what about Woodmans?

Only if Farnhams is closed......alway preferred farnhams over woodmans.

the clambox in Ipswich is also good

[DeadlyRichard]

I guess it depends on exactly what you mean by "salty atmosphere" If you simply mean a place by the water with the salt air in your hair(assuming you have some...probably have nose hair@least) there are a lot of choices, all good for their own reasons and depending on your mood/level of fish-guts smeared on your shirt...

Matunuk Oyster bar is great, for...Oysters. Buck a shuck is great. But it's not exactly a clam shack, it gets confused and thinks it's fine dining sometimes. Stick to the raw bar and clam shack favorites and you can't go wrong. The fried clams I have had there have been small, but perectly cooked. Had one of the best afternoons in a while w/a buddy there having beers and oysters on the deck, watching the tide rush out of the pond beside us. Guy's pulling their skiffs up and unloading fresh oysters.

Back Eddy in Westport is awesome. great raw bar, absolute top-notch kitchen. It gets a little fancy. Not a clam shack. It's my favorite place to go to with my girlfriend, once I am showered and have a clean shirt on. Almost every ingredient is sourced locally and sustainably(and you will PAY for it, but it is prepared so well that you can't complain!) Also, I always hope that there is a long wait for tables because then I can hang on the dock and have a few beers and raw bar items while I wait. they usually have a Weber grill goin' out there too with meat-on-a stick, shellfish and other delights.

As for straight up fried clam type places my all time favorite is Woodman's in Essex, MA (credited as being the "inventor" of the fried clam. I know this is silly as people were no-doubt frying those little guys long before Woodman's existed but this is the lore) They are the big guys and certainly have their detractors, but it is my sentimental favorite and in my opinion, PERFECT. Have been named best in country by many food magazines etc. For the record I have never had a bad clam ANYWHERE in Essex or Ipswich, MA! Farnhams!

Jim's Dock in Jerusalem, RI(duh) it's BYOB and CASH only! it is a hidden gem. Just down the road from Matunuk Oyster, but a world away. Surrounded by boats, great view, laid back, old school. I think they run a charter boat or two also... so you can show up fresh from fishing and not get dirty looks. If anything, it might help!

Quito's in Bristol has amazing fried clams and cold beer, haven't experimented beyond that there.

Bayside in Westport.

Spent a few good rainy afternoons drinking beer and eating stuffies/fried clams etc @Champlin's. in PJ. Old school, salty, no frills. Kinda the anti-Georges'. (which is fine, but good luck w/the tourists)

Ok, I gotta stop now. Sorry, started to get carried away. I have so many favorites, all for different reasons... There are many, many more. I am the type of guy that gets a little obsessed and plans road-trips for fried clams. Obviously, these are just the opinions of a contradictory whack-job w/multiple personality disorder. cheers.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by DeadlyRichard

As for straight up fried clam type places my all time favorite is Woodman's in Essex, MA (credited as being the "inventor" of the fried clam. I know this is silly as people were no-doubt frying those little guys long before Woodman's existed but this is the lore) They are the big guys and certainly have their detractors, but it is my sentimental favorite and in my opinion, PERFECT. Have been named best in country by many food magazines etc. For the record I have never had a bad clam ANYWHERE in Essex or Ipswich, MA! Farnhams!

Woodman's

(I would not want to upset my Rhode Island hosts where I've chosen to make my home but Ipswich clams are better - there, I said it)

[Driftwood1]

[QUOTE=DeadlyRichard;782438]

Jim's Dock in Jerusalem, RI(duh) it's BYOB and CASH only! it is a hidden gem. Just down the road from Matunuk Oyster, but a world away. Surrounded by boats, great view, laid back, old school. I think they run a charter boat or two also... so you can show up fresh from fishing and not get dirty looks. If anything, it might help!

Jim's Dock I'm not going to rate it. It does not sell raw clams on the half shell so I tried the special steamers or mussels, I picked steamers made with garlic and some bell peppers ($19.99) and an order of Fried Calamari ($8.99). My son had Fried Clam bellies (8.99). It was about a dozen and half steamers if that many and most should have fell back thru the clam rake they were that small.

I will have to try some of the other places.........

[Blitzseeker]

For out on the Cape, I agree that Arnold's is great.