624369 Mon Jun 01 19:37:39 -0700 2009 30 12 Greater Boston Area 0 4734341 Searching Boston and North Shore for your 5 favorite clam shacks (and they need not literally be shacks). Especially love fried clam strips. Mon Jun 01 19:37:39 -0700 2009 99181 SASSYMI2 1 4734384 No particular order: Farnham's Clam Box Woodman's Red Wing Brown's Btw, liking clam strips is just wrong...... :-) Mon Jun 01 19:55:42 -0700 2009 4734341 325019 Chris B. 1 4734513 no particular order also. Ceal's Clam Box Farnham's Land and Sea Agawam Diner Mon Jun 01 20:40:04 -0700 2009 4734341 11222 Infomaniac 1 4735162 The Clam Box is always a runaway favorite with locals, though I also suggest trying Dube's in Salem. Fabulous light crisp breading and excellent onion rings, too. http://www.northshoredish.com/ Tue Jun 02 06:57:11 -0700 2009 4734341 285543 NSDishGal 2 4735337 Dube's is a true gem. Ever have the chowder that is only served on Friday, and usually is gone by 7 pm?? Foir clam spots, the Black Lobster (Stromberg's) on the Salem side of the Beverly-Salem bridge has a great fried clam special. Not sure if the price is still $11, but it had lots of whole clams, ff, o-rings and slaw. Can't beat it. And surprisingly, the fried seafood spot in Salem Willows, Cappy's, has always had good clams. Tue Jun 02 07:54:33 -0700 2009 4735162 38176 hoohah 1 4735171 Just to be different (and mostly because I simply cannot wait in the long line at the Clam Box): Causeway Bob Lobster Village Restaurant Tue Jun 02 07:00:04 -0700 2009 4734341 11301 Science Chick 2 4744678 Thank you - couldn't agree more - the long line a the Clam Box is a total mystery to me. You stand in line in the asphalt parking lot in the hot blazing sun. Then you place your order at the window and sit in dark (well, very dimly lit) dining room with absolutely no character to get very mediocre fried clams. The last time my husband and I went will indeed be the last time we go. There are so many other places to get good fried clams on the North Shore - places that the may have a long wait but at least they have some sort of decent view (think Farnams). Fri Jun 05 06:56:07 -0700 2009 4735171 181555 dreaminfood 1 4735334 For my money the best fried clams (alas, not strips) are served at the Park Lunch in Newburyport. Tue Jun 02 07:52:13 -0700 2009 4734341 207735 montuori 1 4735770 In my fav order: Clam Box Causeway VIllage Rest. Lobster Pool Woodman's Tue Jun 02 09:56:35 -0700 2009 4734341 147961 treb 1 4744831 For something very close to home, don't forget Royal Roast Beef near Orient Heights in East Boston. Its friend clams are well regarded by people who realize you don't always have to travel far for goodness. Fri Jun 05 07:35:43 -0700 2009 4734341 13819 Karl S 1 4745480 in order of favorite - Lena's - Salisbury Ceal's - Seabrook Woodman's - Essex Markey's - seabrook foote's - salisbury center Fri Jun 05 10:22:43 -0700 2009 4734341 27795 MABMAQ 1 4752673 I can't eat fried clams myself but my wife, who grew up in Ipswich and knows a thing or two about friend clams, says the Lobster Pool in Rockport is the best she's ever had. Mon Jun 08 08:23:57 -0700 2009 4734341 75936 resipsaloquitor 1 4764603 Connected to the Clam Box topic: Does anyone know what happened to the Dairy Queen down the street? Best combination. Thu Jun 11 15:35:39 -0700 2009 4734341 51986 djd 2 4764771 i think they're just doing a re-model/upgrade. Thu Jun 11 16:32:45 -0700 2009 4764603 12603 ScubaSteve 2 4765257 White's is a MUCH better option than DQ for that area. Thu Jun 11 19:24:49 -0700 2009 4764603 325019 Chris B. 3 4765501 White's is better ice cream, but it's a much less iconic experience. I'd rather do the DQ any day, and I'm slightly disappointed to hear they're remodeling it. It's hard to find those old-fashioned walk-up ones anymore. Thu Jun 11 21:28:56 -0700 2009 4765257 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 4 4766117 "White's is better ice cream, but it's a much less iconic experience." —exactly. I don't even want great ice cream after fried clams or the beach. I want chocolate soft-serve with chocolate sprinkles in a sugar cone. I haven't changed my DQ/Carvel order in... at least 25 years. I think I ONCE got a Brown Betty like my mom did. No dice. And I actually do like the way it tastes! Fri Jun 12 07:01:58 -0700 2009 4765501 51986 djd 5 4766144 I agree, the DQ option puts the Clam Box even farther over the top than it was, though my choice is a chocolate chip blizzard made with the cone dip as the chips, ummmm melt in your mouth yumminess! 1. Clam Box 2. Lobster Pool 3. Essex Seafood 4. The Village restaurant 5. Woodman's- on volume alone, they manage to stay somewhat more consistant Fri Jun 12 07:08:52 -0700 2009 4766117 196033 justbeingpolite 3 4766262 i really never want DQ when i crave ice cream. Soft Serve is in a different category for me. but you're right about White's being the best in the Clam Box area. Fri Jun 12 07:39:46 -0700 2009 4765257 12603 ScubaSteve 1 4768279 Thanks to a recommendation on here last year, we now go to Seafood, Etc in Haverhill. Delicious, and no line (but no view either). Fri Jun 12 17:32:16 -0700 2009 4734341 86747 jrmd 2 4812472 Despite putting a ranking on this list, I continue to maintain that getting a good batch of clams is sometimes "luck of the draw". Case in point: my daughter and I stopped at Essex Seafood last evening on our way home from Cape Ann. Chatting up the kid at the counter I confirmed that they still use lard to fry their clams. Woodman's used to, but I don't know if they still do. Not the healthiest, but if the lard's fresh,. ummm. The kid told me they change out the lard three times a week, and had done so the night before. He also told me, depite the local red tide, they had native clams, not sure where from. The upshot.... a nearly perfecty small box of clams: nice sized clams, with solid neck and not to stringy, with bellys that were large and meaty, not full of liquid, but juicy and "oceany". Fried to a very light brown crispy and with a nice "snap" to them (you could bite the clam in half easily, so not rubbery at all). I'm not sure how they make their tarter sauce, or if they get big tubs, but they have out lots of plastic containers, not little "ketchup packets" of it, all you want. Nice flavor I thought. Sweet enough to complement the clam nicely ("you're a very good looking clam!") All in all, a fine clam experience. I'd been having second thoughts about Essex Seafood, but this put them back high on my list. Sun Jun 28 06:46:39 -0700 2009 4768279 196033 justbeingpolite 1 4813438 Thought I'd throw some links up here for folks who want to know where exactly these joints are. Sun Jun 28 15:31:48 -0700 2009 4734341 47694 litchick 2 4813566 You Hounds are amazing. Coming to New England mid July. Looks like I have some decisions to make. So many clams--so little time (one week). Thanks for all of your time and expertise! Sun Jun 28 17:03:53 -0700 2009 4813438 99181 SASSYMI2 3 4923334 Take note! Dube's is closed on Sundays. Favorite clam places -- no particular order as most restaurants have variables from time to time Bob's Famous Fried Clams - Salem, MA Foote's - on Salisbury Beach Ceal's - Seabrook, NH (Great scallops, too) Sir Cricket - Orleans, MA JT Farnams (but avoid the scallops) Thu Aug 06 12:18:54 -0700 2009 4813566 290378 oceanview 4 4923682 i enjoy the scallops at Farnham's, did you have a bad experience? Thu Aug 06 13:53:39 -0700 2009 4923334 12603 ScubaSteve 2 4924655 When I search for The Clam Box in google, Yelp gives me a place in Quincy, MA, which is a lot closer to Boston. The yelp reviews are good as well. Has anyone tried the Clam Box in Quincy? Is it comparable to the one in Ipswich? Thu Aug 06 19:30:15 -0700 2009 4813438 1099798 lardyda 3 4925452 If you search these boards, you will find a number of discussions of it. It is well regarded. It is not the same, just has the same name. Fri Aug 07 06:45:01 -0700 2009 4924655 13819 Karl S 1 4925989 Clam Box Farnham's Essex Seafood The Village Tom Shea's (awesome clam chowder) Fri Aug 07 09:31:59 -0700 2009 4734341 292936 sweetsgirl 2 4927807 gotta say, I think Woodman's is overrated. A bit of salt and pepper in the batter and/or after the fryer would do worlds of good! Fri Aug 07 21:24:44 -0700 2009 4925989 156939 nomadgirl 3 4961300 Agh! I just went to Black Lobster on the recommendation of these comments. Fried clams - yes. Overpriced, but DELICIOUS bloody mary - yes. Steamers - hell no. Someone needs to tell these folks t use salt, onion & some ind of seasoning. A dead mollusk & water does not make the meal! Wed Aug 19 22:19:06 -0700 2009 4927807 12814 luckycat 4 4961666 Where is the Black Lobster, and who recommended it on this thread? Thu Aug 20 05:58:04 -0700 2009 4961300 196033 justbeingpolite