Tips for Dining, Eating, and Food Shopping in the SF Bay Area (including Berkeley, Oakland, Napa, Sonoma, Marin, and San Jose)
Start New ThreadFormer Massachusetts resident is seeking a Bay Area place that serves top-notch whole-belly fried clams like you get in Marblehead. Any recommendations?
By ClamDigga
on May 19, 2003 12:20 AM
Story
10 Spicy Snacks
Story
Three Rare Red Sodas with Andy Sturdevant
Story
Farewell, Foie Gras: I'm Not Sorry to See You Go
Recipe
Emilia Terragni's Basil Pesto
Recipe
Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork
Recipe
Patty Melt
View »
The only place I've found in this area is Yankee Pier. It has two locations, one in Larkspur and one at Santana Row. The clams are large and pretty good, but I thought the portion was kind of skimpy. Their Clam Chowder is pretty good too. Your going to find the prices quite a bit higher than in MA.
Permalink | Reply
Here's a link to a discussion some months ago. Not sure if the question resolved...
Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...
Permalink | Reply
Just checked that thread from last year--seems like there was a chowdown organized, but I can't seem to find the link to the report? Could any of those involved point me to it or perhaps give a quick summary on the locales involved (especially the Sabella & LaTorres site at the Pier)? Sincerest thanks!
Permalink | Reply
Just riffing here, but I hope that one can never find a true Massachusetts-style clam strip here, or a New York Style bagel, a Philadelphia-stype cheese steak, Shanghai-style xiaolongbao, or a Chicago, New Orleans, Kansas City or Tsbilisi-style whatever, wherever. If you can get a "just like home" something anywhere you go, is there still a connection to "home"? You'd have lost a small reason to go "home" and the rest of us would have lost a small reason to visit your "home."
Let's leave the Global Village to McDonalds.
Permalink | Reply
What do transplanted San Franciscans miss when they leave home?
By the way, I'd give up NY bagels for the rest of my life if I could find a great slice of pizza here.
Permalink | Reply
Sometimes when you have a built-in craving for things, you just want them. To add: Ivar's in the Westfield Valley Fair Mall in San Jose serves clam strips like the ones you'd get in New England. I also thought there was a Lobster roll place in Redwood City that had whole fried clams?
Permalink | Reply
the place in Redwood City is Old Port Lobster Shack ..... they have whole belly fried clams ...... why settle for the clam strips? is that the same Ivar's from Seattle?
-----
Old Port Lobster Shack
851 Veterans Blvd, Redwood City, CA 94063
Permalink | Reply
Yeah I noticed how old the post was after I pulled the trigger, but now that we are rolling, the Ivar's is the same as the Seattle Ivar's. The reason to go for clam strips and not whole clams is that I just can't get into the whole clams, and really well done clam strips and good tartar sauce have positives all their own. I find really good clam strips are just as satisfying as good fried calamari and better than popcorn shrimp.
Permalink | Reply
That post is from 2003. OPLS didn't open until 2006.
Permalink | Reply
Marblehead? I thought they only eat caviar in Marblehead? Just kidding. I was born in Beverly and had some wealthy relatives from Marblehead. I'm going back to Boston this Thursday for my sister's wedding. On Saturday my immediate family has lunch plans to go to the Clam Box on Wollaston Beach (Quincy) for fried clams, which in my opinion, is as good or better than what you can find in Essex. I never actually had them in Ipswich, as close to that little town as I grew up. Should I bring some back?
As far as fried clams in the Bay Area go, I've read the posts about Yankee Pier and Sabella & LaTorre, but I'm afraid to try them. I'm about 98% sure they'll be a letdown. I hope I'm wrong, but I need a New Englander to give me the green light to give them a shot.
Permalink | Reply
Grew up in Connecticut, college in Boston, resident of Swampscott and Rockport. I recommend the clams at Yankee Pier. Yes there are only about 10 clams, but they are big juicy clams.
Here's my post about the clams at Yankee Pier. Actually I ate at Turks in Connecticut in November and preferred the Yankee Pier clams.
Looking forward to Gordon's post tonight about a closer source than Yankee Pier.
Fried clams are also on the menu at Sam's, but never heard anyone who has tried them.
If you have a desparate need for a clam fix, there are a few places on Pier 39 that serve clam strips for $5. Haven't tried them though. Under NO circumstances, no matter how desparate you are, NEVER, NEVER order the clam strips at Red Lobster. The question is "Where's the clam?" All batter and I'm afraid to think about what that tread-like meat is in those things.
Anyway, here's my post and, uh, I got the name of the clam stand in Ipswich wrong.
Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...
Permalink | Reply
Sorry, but as a transplanted New Englander (25 years), I just don't think that the Yankee Pier version makes it, or even really comes close.
When I had them at YP the dough was too thick and not at all crisp enough. Then, when adding in the cost of the dish, I decided to abstain and wait for my at least annual trip back east to try them on the North Shore or Cape depending upon my itinerary.
It would of course be very welcome news if Gordon's trip to Sabella yields positive reults.
Permalink | Reply
Was this recent? Did they change the batter? I had a lightly breaded clam, the only complaint being they tasted like they could almost be healthy due to the light coating. My old favorite in CT tasted leaden by comparison. Price-wise they are comparable to what is being charged on the East Coast. Last year when I was looking at YP I was shocked by the price and asked around the NE board about clam prices. The only thing is you get fewer clams. Hope YP didn't change the coating because I'm relying on them for my clam fix.
Better still though if there's a place in the city.
Permalink | Reply
It was at lunch approximately a year ago. Perhaps I had a bad day, but I was sufficiently disappointed/turned-off not to have gone back.
Based upon your report, perhaps I'll try again when I'm over that way later this week.
Permalink | Reply
I have to work in SF today so I'm going to have a late lunch at Sabella and Latorre today - maybe 2pm? anybody want to split a plate of fried clams? they have validated parking according to their website. email me if you're interested. I'm from Massachusetts so I've eaten a few fried clams - I'm lowering my expectations but will report back tonight.
Permalink | Reply
so it's 1:40 now.
did you go yet gordon?
how was it?!?!?
i need to know since i work close by and if you say it is good, then on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being jack in the box and 10 being the clam box at wollaston beach) what would you give it?
Permalink | Reply
Gordon Wing deserves a large humanitarian award for using the terms "share" and "fried clams" in the same sentance. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting on that fried clam verdict, whoo boy howdy ...
Permalink | Reply
We drive 300 miles R/T about once a month for excellent authentic whole bellied fried clams, sourced from Ipswich , Mass, at Woodhouse Fish Company 2073 Market St., San Francisco
Seekonk, MA/UMass
http://woodhousefish.com/
Permalink | Reply
You bumped a very out-of-date 2003 topic. In the meantime, several places have opened that specialize in East Coast-style seafood. There are dozens of reports in the archive.
-----
Old Port Lobster Shack
851 Veterans Blvd, Redwood City, CA 94063
Napa Valley Lobster Shack
806 4th St, Napa, CA 94559
North Beach Lobster Shack
532 Green St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Woodhouse Fish Company
2073 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Permalink | Reply
Have you tried Old Port Lobster Shack? They use the same source and IMO, the Lobster Shack restaurants are better ... though Woodhouse is excellent too.
Permalink | Reply
Last night , with some trepidation I went out with my crack team of fritologists in search of the clams of my childhood. I say trepidation because previous attempts (e.g. Woodhouse and also this very same venue) offered meals disappointing in quality and quantity, and what else is there in fried clams?Nonetheless, the N.B. branch of OPLS (Green St. bet. Col. and Grant)really came through. Perfect Yankee style cornmeal coating and almost too much to eat. To complete the authenticity of the experience, beer and wine are equally unavailable. Non-fritologists gave hearty endorsement to lobster rolls. Chase it all down with a nice Moxie. Big food for 5 for $125 + tax and tip. Wine and dollar oysters next door at Sotto Mare. A great seafood crawl.
Permalink | Reply
Is fritology appropriate for fried clams? I Googled it as referring to fried potatoes as in pomme frite.
Permalink | Reply
Obviously with poetic license he has expanded the definition!!!
You Googled 'fritology'!!! I thought little big al had newly minted the word!
Kudos to you both..
and thanks for the review...love those clam bellies!
Permalink | Reply
Note that the top Google hit is titled, "10 words that don't exist, but should."
Permalink | Reply
Who knows what words may make into the next edition of the Concise OED?
http://www.askoxford.com/worldofwords...
Permalink | Reply
Robert..I am totally in awe of your ability to glean such such incredibly esoteric information! You make me very happy!
(and that quote about the Tenderloin native who would have liked to have eaten at Joe's...priceless!)
Permalink | Reply