 |
| Photos by/of Muffy Aldrich |
A reader question:
What is the best clam chowder in New England? And for those who can't make it, what is the best canned clam chowder that you have tasted? Any recommendations?
 |
| At the Black Pearl |
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I'm a huge fan of the RI clam chowder served at The Commons Lunch in Little Compton, RI.
ReplyDeleteIf you prefer New England clam chowder, LaSalle Market and Deli in Collinsville, CT serves a stellar one!
(My homemade is pretty good, too...)
Spent many summers in LC in my youth. My grandfather used to make fish chowder with the Tautag he caught off Tappan's Rock. He used a thin broth. Best I've ever had!
DeleteMmmm. I’m a big fan of good chowda. But I much prefer the lobster bisque at Lenny’s on Indian Neck in Branford Conn.
ReplyDeleteWell, now you're making me terribly homesick. Yes, Lenny's lobster bisque is heavenly....and the clam chowder divine. Sigh...
DeleteThe Causeway in Gloucester, MA has the best chowder.
ReplyDeleteThe Causeway is pretty good, although I would say that J.T. Farnham's in Essex is probably better. It's thinner, in the Northshore style. Anything in a can is an abomination, as are the RI (which is just clam soup) and Manhattan varieties varieties. The only "real" chowder is the New England variety, in the thinner, Northshore style.
Delete100% - Farnham’s is the best in New England. Maine knows Lobster; Essex, MA knows clams. But I will put in a word for Larsen’s RI fish chowder in Menemaha.
DeleteBeing a Virginian, I enjoy oyster stew for breakfast on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm ashamed to admit it, but Campbell's makes a decent oyster stew!
ReplyDeleteAhem. What in God's name is 'canned clam chowder'?
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly it is clam chowder that comes in a can.
DeleteThat’s a surprise ?
DeleteMy wife maintains that Ivar's in the Seattle are makes the best chowder. Not a fan of chowder myself however. I know. I know.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Heinz-Ulrich
We spent about a decade in Seattle and I can vouch for Ivar's. I don't know if it's canon or not, but their clam chowder is fantastic. BTW, H-U, I grew up in Pinehurst; it's nice to see somebody else with that connection.
Delete-Mike
I have been to Ivar's often when staying with my parents in Medina. It is quite good. Down the coast to Oregon, I enjoyed Mo's. For some reason I like it best at their cozy spot at Otter Crest. Mo's has bacon. I enjoy pretty much all clam chowder and prefer it not too thick and loaded with clams. Ditto for oyster stew. I like both with ground pepper and a pat of butter. My dad frequently commented when eating canned chowder, "I got the duty clam."
DeleteHands down, it would have to be Mildred's Chowder House in Hyannis. RIP
ReplyDeleteThe Celebration Town Tavern, Celebration, FL
ReplyDeleteI live in Idaho. There is no clam chowder here (other than canned and, just no). I do use canned chopped clams to make pasta and clam sauce. It's passable. In Oregon and Washington, I've been to a few restaurants that make decent NE clam chowder. Ivar's in WA and Mo's in Oregon were both decent years ago but I haven't been to either of those states in some years so no idea what they serve today. The only thing I miss about living back east is the seafood.
ReplyDeleteBest clam chowder I ever had was a “northwest” chowder at an outdoor festival in Bend, Oregon about 8 years ago. I had a hint of shitaake mushroom and it was to die for. Have not been able to find it since.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I travel all over New England. If we are at a restaurant and they have clam chowder, we try it. Lobster Bisque, too. The best clam chowder we've found is at Schooners in Hull, MA. Second place is The Snug in Hingham, MA. The Snug's chowder is a very close second, but it is not as consistently good as Schooners. I'm a fan of the Sail Loft in Boston. I don't love all that dill, but the presentation is fun and we love sitting in the restaurant. Gilbert's Chowder House in Portland, ME is pretty solid. We both liked Woodman's in Essex, MA. It's the slightly thinner, North Shore variety, but still very good. The Black Pearl in Newport, RI is worth trying. The chowder at Newes from America Pub in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard is very good, but we are biased as that is one of our favorite restaurants. Those are all the places that we've think are memorable.
ReplyDeleteI like everything about the Bar Harbor canned clam chowder, except the taste lol. I haven't found a canned chowder that I like yet.
I second Schooner’s in Hull. Very good chowder!
DeleteSnow's with extra Snow's clams. Add a pat of butter.
ReplyDeleteWoodman's sells their chowder base. We usually have a quart in our freezer.
The Sea Grille on Nantucket has the best clam chowder in the known universe. Full stop. More broadly--both chowder-wise and geographically--The King's Head in Galway serves a "Wild Atlantic Seafood Chowder" that is magnificent. Now I'm hungry.
ReplyDeleteÀ conversation snippet often heard once upon a time around a certain dinner table in Hyannis, “mmmm good chowdah Bobby.”
ReplyDeleteHas anyone ever tried the Bar Harbor chowder pictured? Their tinned fish is really good.
ReplyDeleteI use the condensed version and doctor it with sauted onions, celery, and a bit of carrot. Then I add half and half, butter, and some crisp chopped bacon. Salt and ground pepper to taste. If you can’t find their clam chowder, I’ve done the same with their corn chowder and just added a little can of clams. I always get compliments on it.
DeleteI haven't tried their chowder, but I have purchased their fish stock for making my own chowders and found them to be very good!
DeleteIt’s edible…if doctored up a bit.
DeleteThank you. Good suggestions. The bacon is a very good idea. Do you use store bought bacon?
DeleteYes, never bacon bits. And though it seems blasphemous, a couple of dribbles of hot sauce adds to the depth of the flavor without imparting a decidedly hot flavor to it.
DeleteThe Sea Grille!
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for the Black Pearl!
ReplyDeleteI have no complaints about the chowder at the Black Dog on MV (except for the crowds).
ReplyDeleteMy Grammy made the best and would run the clams through a hand cranked meat grinder. She made the classic New England chowder that was just delicious. Shed always made stuffed clams on the same day. The best commercial chowder is either Bar Harbor or Blounts.
ReplyDeleteCan't resist. Raised my sailing kids in Coastal MA & my youngest kept a summer Chowder Chart while competing. #1: chowder served on the Woods Hole--Vineyard ferry.
ReplyDelete