B-Ack Yard BBQ, Nantucket, MA

 

B-Ack Yard BBQ, Nantucket, MA

This salty and thick number sticks to the classic recipe, done competently and with generous helping of clams. If you're craving chowder, this will not disappoint, but otherwise, we suggest that we skip it and use the space and calories for the best BBQs we had in a long while. Half-a-star for the true chowder and another half-a-star for the friendly and re-assuring COVID-compliant service.

Queequeg's, Nantucket, MA

Queequeg's, Nantucket, MA

Fresh with plenty of clams, but a bit too thick and too boring for wanting to order it again. Try if you must, but okay to skip too. One star.

Spanky's Clam Shack, Hyannis, MA

 

Spanky's Clam Shack, Hyannis, MA

Classic thick, salty and mushy clam shack fare. Normally, it would not get even a half-a-star, BUT it was the first dish of the first restaurant meal in more than six months since the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown. And for being there at the right time and the right place, after hours long drive on our way to a short vacation at Nantucket, and for the fast and re-assuring service with a smile (under a mask), this dish and this restaurant and its staff deserve no less than a star!

P.S. Incidentally, the last time we went out was on March 1st at the Original Joe's Westlake, also documented on these pages.

CajunSea and Oyster Bar, New York City

CajunSea & Oyster Bar, NYC

I didn't expect much when I ordered this cup of New England-style clam chowder in the Cajun place and I was pleasantly surprised by how well the soup texture and saltiness were balanced. A solid one-star and if it would have more clams, I'd give it two. But, honestly, the Cajun offerings in this place are too good to waste room on a soup that doesn't really belong there.

Legal Seafood, King of Prussia, PA

Legal Seafood, King of Prussia, PA

Reasonably well balanced and well articulated! Which is surprising, for something produced at scale by a chain than emphasizes safety over taste, offered at a mall-based location, for a lunch at a random Wednesday. This chowder doesn't break any records, but it is competent enough for a star.
If you're there you may as well order a small cup.

Duke’s Seafood & Chowder- Bellevue

Duke’s Seafood & Chowder- Bellevue

I really wanted to like this "award-winning" entry... Sadly, mushy and salty, this offering was sub-par at best. The wrinkled sheen on the surface (see picture) betrays having too much flower, albeit a gluten-free variety.

But perhaps it was an off-day or we got something from the bottom of the barrel. My friends liked it on their previous visit and this deserves a star.

P.S. The other chowder depicted on the photo is "Lobster Monster Pernod Chowder". It was sweet, but mushy with no sign of any seafood in it.

We are back!!!

Lilly's Bistro, Louisville, KY

Very convincing and not too bad.
Goes exceptionally well with one of local's favorite cask-strength Angels Envy Rye.
One Star: 1/2 for presentation + 1/2 for being there.

George's Bistro, Santa Monica

At George's Bistro, 3rd Ave, Santa Monica, CA

Very fresh! Too bad it had almost no clams or anything seafoody...

Still, 1 star for exemplary freshness.

Cross Eyed Clam, Montauk, NY

Cross Eyed Claim

Fresh, salty and heavy, it was heaven-sent to settle the stomach after nine hours in a rocking fishing boat.
One star for being at the right place at the right time. Otherwise, not too exciting.

Mansion Clam House, Westport, CT

Leon, Kostya and I took a break from work joining Olya, Max and Irene for a lunch at the Mansion Clam House by the Saugatuck river bridge in Westport.
I think this clam chowder was not bad, one or two stars - lots of fresh clams and not too salty. Leon thought that it's "like the Stew Leonard's one, on a good day". Okay, we'll make it a one star then.

Tia's, Boston Harbor

Big family outing in Boston yesterday (all of us + parents + Alik). The main course at Tia's was lobsters, but we tried their clam chowder first. It was fresh with enough goodies in it, but way too rich and creamy, at least for me. Maybe one little star.

Trader's Joe Crab & Corn Chowder

Spicy, too much corn, but plenty of real(!) crab meat...

Would I buy it again - probably not, but as far as store brands go, it deserves one star.

Bear Mountain Base, Killington, VT

Lunch at the Bear Mountain base in Killington. This year chowder is different - milkier and thinner, but still, no stars. Okay, may be one little star...

Applebees, Greenfield, MA

A traditional stop on the way to Killington. Salty and thick, but one star for lots of nice, firm and chewy clams with some gritty sand.

Dressing Room, Westport CT

Seafood chowder, way too milky. Overpriced. Pictured is a half-portion for $13.

Whole Foods Store Brand

Not as bad as Stew Leonard's or Costco's and perhaps as far as store brands go, so far the best. Too thick and salty, but it didn't stop Leon and me finishing the quart in one sitting.

Outback Steakhouse Takeout

Pretty, pretty good. A bit too thick though.

Jamestown Oyster Bar, RI

So far, the best in R.I. Fresh, not as thick and salty.
Rest of the sea fare in this establishment sucked. Lobster cake was mostly oily bread and so was the soft shell crab. Real bad. Avoid the place.

Five33 Lounge, Hyatt Regency, Goat Island, RI

Light dinner at the deck of the hotel. Good service and decent food. The chowder was not too bad, but still too thick and salty for my taste.