Best linguine and clams?

[joschus]

Hi everyone.....the title above says it all. I haven't had a decent linguine and clams in as long as I can remember. We're coming to Boston for the holidays and hope someone can offer some ideas! Please advise!! Thanks.

[BlueTrain84]

Yet another vote for the baked linguine and clams at Antico Forno, my bf gets this dish every time that we go.

[gyppielou]

wow old thread. I adored my pasta with clams at the lydia shire place at the liberyty

[lulatula]

Had a great one for lunch at Rabias in the North End a couple weeks ago. It had pea's in it also which tasted delicious . And it was under 10 dollars.

[crabbypatty]

The linguini and clams is all I order at Jumpin Jay's in Portsmouth NH--outta sight!

[bostongal]

Limoncello in the NOrth End has a decent linguine with clams

[pondrat]

Top 3 from a linguine & clams snob:

Daily Catch on Hanover
Terra Mia in North End
Alta Strada in Wellesley

[Wannabfoode]

Anchovies has a yummy garlicky linguine & clams

[AHan]

Looking for red or white?

[Stride]

Pescatore has linguine and clams. I haven't tried it, but since my experience there always been excellent, my guess is that their linguine and clams is also worth a visit.

[phatchris]

Lucca has a good rendition and If you eat it at the bar you can get a half order for like $15.

[ghostcat]

Over the years, I've had linguine and clams at the Daily Catch locations in Brookline, which has been closed for years and at the one on the waterfront at the Moakley Courthouse. By far, the best plate of a dish that is always hotly contested, was at Al Dente on Salem St. in the North End

[catsmeow]

Brookline's been closed for years?

[BobB]

Yes, but it looks like it's about to reopen: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/574103

[CookieLee]

Still not open, sigh

[Carty]

I enjoyed the linguine with clams at Antico Forno very much.

[jfung77]

I posted a similar query about a year ago. Here are the recommendations and my personal preferences:

My recommendations:
Giacomos - North and South End locations: Sometimes they are better than other times, but they usually have perfectly al dente linguine, along with chopped clams and whole fresh little necks in the shell. Their sauce is usually quite clammy and incredibly garlicky - dont' go if you don't like garlic. The thing I like most about them is they have a clammy sauce - I only ever get the garlic and oil based sauce. I don't know if it is canned clam juices, but it really makes for a clammy yummalicious sauce. The downside of Giacomo's version is sometimes they overwhelm it with olive oil or butter. The butter is fine, but the olive oil can be overwhelming at times.

My runner up so far is Antico Forno's - as many recommended in my original post. Their version is great because they let the juice from the roasted clams drip onto the covered pasta.

I have tried the linguine and clams at all these other places and none stand out as good as the two places above:
- Daily Catch in the North End - didn't like an odd flavor in the sauce
- Villa Francesa's in the North End - Fresh clams, nothing special
- Pagliuca's - Fresh clams, nothing special
- Vinny's at night - okay, not memorable
- Gran Gusto - small clams in shell, good al dente pasta, but nothing outstanding
- Alta Strada in Wellesley - better than the rest but not as good as Antico Forno or Giacomos.
- Il Paninos on Parmenter st. - good with tomatoes in sauce
- Moulton's in Medford - fresh clams, also just okay.
- Village Fish - the closed one that used to be in Arlington - not the recommended on in Needham - okay with cherrystone clams, but nothing memorable.

Recommended, but not tried by me:
- Terramia's in the North End
- Roccas in the North End?
- Massiminos in the North End
- Jumping Jae's in Portsmouth, NH

[whats4dinner]

Giacomo's in the North End -- I agree, the best.

[MC Slim JB]

Vinny's at Night, Massimino's, or Terramia for a traditional Italian-American version.

Fancier ones at Rocca, Terramia, and Avila (tiny clams and chile flakes, very nice).

[BobB]

Mmm, tiny clams - reminds me of all the Spaghetti alla Vongole I ate last year in Sicily. Which is your favorite?

[LeoLioness]

I'll also say the Daily Catch, but I am also a fan of the dish at Out of the Blue in Davis Square.

One quibble with the latter though: the past two times I've ordered it, one time the clams were in the shell and one time they were not. I seriously doubt that place is using canned clams, so is there a reason (seasonal?) of why there would be a variation?

[pamplemouse]

I had a very good version at Via Matta a while back, and although this doesn't help your situation much, my all time favorite rendition is at Black Eyed Susan's on Nantucket.

[powerfulpierre]

Is Black Eyed Susan's still in business? I haven't been there in several years but still remember it as a wonderfully enjoyable experience.

[fmcoxe6188]

As soon as I read the title Black Eyed Susan's on Nantucket was my very first thought! They are still open and do an amazing job!

[bakerboyz]

Not the Village Fish in Needham!!

[Dog Boy]

I'll have to second the Daily Catch. Defintley underated in the sea of mediocre italian restaurants in the north end. Pasta with squid sauce is also ridiculous.

[Foxy79]

The Village Fish in Needham. No contest.

[9lives]

No contest?

sorry but this board doesn't work that way. things get contested all the time.

BTW, I see the Needham Village Fish is related to the 1 in Brookline Village that was started by a Daily Catch alum...and was turning out pretty poor food in it's last few years

[Foxy79]

Contest all you want, but this board is about opinions and in mine, there is no contest. Obiviously there's no right or wrong answer to anything posted on this board.

Village Fish!

[9lives]

I like Daily Catch on Hanover St in the NE. Very good Sicilian seafood in a "no frills" environment.

[catsmeow]

I second the Daily Catch. They have another location between Harvard St and Comm Ave near Coolidge Corner.

[Taralli]

Maybe, FYI: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/574103