Fried Clams
Now that the weather is starting to improve, minus the rain, I want to take my mom out for some fried clams. I was reading some reviews here and it seems like the Clam Shack, Farhnams, and Agawam Cafe keep popping up. Any preferences? She likes the big bellied clams. I will probably stick to fried haddock, scallops, or maybe calamari myself. I'd also like to get a good cup of clam or fish chowder. Other recomendations south of the city are welcome too. Thanks.
Ali G
Apr 02, 2005 12:53PM
Never been to Farhnams, but have heard that the fried clams are excellent. The Clam Box in Ipswich has excellent fried claims, but my favorite is Kelly's on Revere Beach. If you mom likes the big bellied clams, Kelly's is the place. Enjoy!
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Wow, I'm really surprised a couple people prefer Kelly's to the other main clam places. I always used to think they were okay, but the last two times there, it has been an average fry job at best, kind of chewy clams, darker batter, not nearly as good as the big three (Clam Box, Essex, Farnham's).
There's a place in Hull that's supposed to be good (Bridgeman's I think) and the two places on Wollaston Beach are okay (Tony's and another Clam Box) but not as good as the north shore IMO.
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The place in Hull is Jake's.....outstanding! Right behind the carousel at Nantasket Beach.
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I like the fried clams at Clam Box best (big bellies, please!) and their fried scallops are pretty good as well.
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Second Kelly's for the fried clams. They also have excellent clam chowder - the thin kind, which I prefer. They do fried scallops and fried fish - don't know if it's haddock - that are also quite popular.
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My recs are Essex Seafood and Farnhams; Clam Box is good too for big bellies, but more touristy, with longer lines (esp. in the summer).
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Eseex Seafood, Clam Box and Farnhams are my 3 favorite..haven't been to Agawam and Kelly's only after a 20 minute drive for delivery to our office..not a fair comparison.
My sentimental favorite is Farnhams; partially because if the weather is nice, the outdoor tables are such a nice setting...but you won't go wrong with any of the 3.
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Well, just got back from Essex Seafood. The clams, while not huge bellied, were done to absolute perfection. The definitive fry job, excellent tartar sauce, and perfect onion rings.
Actually walked into Farnham's first, but it smelled like fish that has gone off. Having once had bad scallops there about a year ago I am on a short leash with Farnhams. When it smelled definitively "fishy" I just had to leave. By the way, where is the Clambox?
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Clam Box is in Ipswich..a little north.
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Dirty little secret: to some extent, everybody's right. Clams are not like farmed beef: they can vary a lot in quality (flavor, size, texture, et cet.). So what's fabulous one at shack X may not be so fabulous the next week; and vice versa.
While there are certainly quality dimensions in the kind of breading or batter, freshness and hotness of oil, the biggest variable is the quality of the clam.
And most of our fried clams -- even in Ipswich -- aren't from around here anymore; the demand outstripped supply (though the shoulder seasons may be better than the peak of summer).
I love many of the Essex places. The drive up there itself is a tonic.
But Kelly's can turn a mean fried clam when it gets the goods in stock. And it's chowder is first-rate: the properly thin kind, full of clam broth flavor rather than overladen with dairy and thickener.
So, my word of advice is don't go out of your way unless you want to for its own sake.
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Let me put in a good word for Billy's on the Melrose/Wakefield line, on Main St. They also do a nice job on fried scallops, which is my daughter's favorite.
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I've tried the clams at Clam Box, Essex Seafood, Kelly's, and Farnham's. I'd recommend them in that order. I can't bring myself to return to Farnham's, which I've been to twice. The first time, the clams there were top-notch, but the service was beyond-belief slow (and it wasn't busy at the time). The second time, the clams were merely average. I can't bring myself at this point to make the drive up from Boston to chance Farnham's. Clam Box and Essex Seafood, on the other hand, have never disappointed. Kelly's is my choice if I don't want a long drive - Kelly's clams at their best are as good as those at Essex, not quite at the level of Clam Box.
I'd also like to throw in The Barking Crab (especially convenient), where they serve excellent clams, in addition to everything else seafood.
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Not to mention that Farnham's uses Miracle Whip for their tartar sauce.....ugh.
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i'm all for the clam box, myself. i went the week they opened this year, and it was as good as ever. essex is def. a good bet as well.
i also like jake's in hull, which is nice to combine with a ride on the historic paragon park carousel which i think is open on weekends now if the weather's nice enough.
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Woodman's in Essex was very good on the one time we went there last fall. The lines on a nice Sunday evening were a little on the long side.
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My favs are Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery, Maine, Jake's in Hull and The Lobster Pound on 3A in Hingham.
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Thanks for the suggestions. I was wondering about Kelly's since I haven't been there in a while and the trip is a lot shorter. I'll plan a Saturday up to Ipswitch or Essex while the weather is nice, but not necessarily peak season.
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The best Ihaveever had are at Petey's in Rye NH. They change the oil twice a day,and there is nary a molecule of fat on them. Therestaurant is comfortable, and other items, suh as the fried lobster, are to die for.
Alain
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Twinn Seafood in West Concord, MA has excellent fried clams. They are an old fashioned fish market, with top quality fresh and cooked fish. I have been going there for years.
Mark G
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Just had some of Kelley's fried clams (the one at Revere Beach). Cost ~$16 each (two of us) for takeout - LOVED them while we were eating them, BUT we both felt queasy (sour stomachs) afterwards, which we both feel is due to bad oil.
Won't order their clams again because of that.
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Lots of people have been recommending Kelley's for clams. I have to admit I do go but mainly because my daughter likes the place. I order the clam roll with out the roll. For about $9. it's a good deal. But their clams don't really do it for me, I just get them because I'm there. I grew up within 200 yards of the place and knew the owner's daughter. As a teen, I would hang out in the back room and eat roastbeef sandwiches. Later it bacame a regular meal when a clam plate was $1.95. Then I started going to Ipswich and Essex. that spoiled me forever. Hint try the lobster roll and share it with a friend, or try the crab meat roll.
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Kream n Kone has the BEST fried clams i have ever had, 2nd is Woodman's, and 3rd is Bob's in Kittery
location at the corner of Route 28 and Route 134, in West Dennis, MA
http://www.kreamnkone.com/
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