Lindsey’s Household Restaurant, East Wareham
This unassuming spot received a number of love from readers like Eddie Doherty of Mattapoisett, who calls Lindsey’s fish chowder “a piping sizzling bowl of happiness,” chock filled with potatoes and “an enormous portion of scrumptious recent haddock, served in a tasty, creamy broth.” After a fact-finding expedition to Lindsey’s, we agree with Doherty: that is some fantastic chowder. Their clam chowder (really useful by reader Linda Breen, who brings her out-of-town visitors right here for a style of New England) can also be worthy. It’s pleasantly thick, and each spoonful yields a beneficiant portion of diced day-boat clams and potatoes, with a kiss of salt pork for taste. We’ll return to strive the corn chowder and seafood bisque. In enterprise because the Truman administration, Lindsey’s has the chowder factor down. 3138 Cranberry Freeway, E. Wareham; 508-759-5544; www.lindseysrestaurant.com.
Captain Parker’s Pub, West Yarmouth
This one is not any secret; it has been featured on the Meals Community and was even a query on “Jeopardy.” (“Captain Parker’s in Yarmouth is a 2-time winner of Boston Harborfest’s competitors on this creamy soup…” Ken Jennings had the right reply.) As well as, Captain Parker’s has participated within the Cape Cod Chowder Pageant, the Newport Chowder Prepare dinner-Off, and different occasions, taking house 18 first-place trophies and even incomes the title of triple-crown chowder champion. That’s no small potatoes. Really, it’s — small potatoes, chopped celery, onions, salt pork, and recent sea clams are among the many substances on this fan favourite, made in small batches. (Many small batches, to maintain up with demand.) Yow will discover Captain Parker’s clam chowder in some native supermarkets, but it surely’s not precisely the identical. “Go to the supply. You gained’t be sorry,” says Paul Kelley of Marstons Mills. 668 Route 28, West Yarmouth; 508-771-4266; www.captainparkers.com.
Saltie Lady, Boston
In terms of good chowder, Boston’s cup runneth over. Authorized Sea Meals, Yankee Lobster Firm, and Union Oyster Home are among the many go-to spots to sate a chowder craving. However some native chowder-hounds are hooked on Saltie Lady, a relative newcomer higher recognized for its wondrous assortment of tinned fish (and people lofty seafood towers). Home-cured pork stomach and salsify root add intriguing taste notes to their clam chowder, and the tender, skin-on child potatoes present welcome texture. Chef Kyle McLelland makes use of three forms of clams, together with cockles, which bestow a tasty sweetness. The sprinkling of recent chives exhibits that chowder isn’t an afterthought right here. “This chowder has a richness and complexity of taste,” mentioned Connor Bair-Cucchiaro of Charlestown. “It’s a complicated dish. And the fried clam garnish is a pleasant, crunchy contact.” 281 Dartmouth St., Boston; 617-267-0691; www.saltiegirl.com.
Gilbert’s Chowder Home, Portland, Maine
After practically 30 years in enterprise on Portland’s waterfront, the Gilbert household is aware of a factor or two about chowdah. Simply ask followers like reader Brandie Cottrell, who deems Gilbert’s clam chowder her all-time favourite. “It’s made simply the best way I prefer it, thick and creamy, with loads of clams and potatoes. It’s wonderful,” she raves. In keeping with normal supervisor Jamie Gilbert, “Utilizing the freshest merchandise out there is the primary rule of chowder making.” Effectively, that, and the household’s secret recipe. Within the busy summertime, Jamie’s uncle Ed, the restaurant’s chowder-maker, would possibly put together as many as 75 gallons for the day. The recipe hasn’t modified since Gilbert’s opened in 1993, and it has gained awards from quite a few publications, together with Down East and Yankee magazines. 92 Industrial St., Portland, Maine; 207-871-5636; www.gilbertschowderhouse.com.
The Causeway Restaurant, Gloucester
“We don’t know the way they do it, however we hope they by no means cease!” We heard a number of variations on this theme from Globe readers, who raved in regards to the prime quality and big portion measurement of the fish chowder at this no-frills, BYOB joint. There are not any water views at Peter Zappa’s place, however who cares when there’s practically a pound of recent haddock in that overflowing bowl of deliciousness? And it’s a discount at $10 a bowl. We dare you to complete all of it. Any doubt that the opposite dishes served listed below are equally beneficiant, have a look round. The seafood marinara is served in a wok. Now that’s jumbo. You’ll convey some house for positive. 78 Essex Ave., Gloucester; 978-281-5256; www.thecausewayrestaurant.com.
Fishermen’s View, Sandwich
Would you drive all the way down to the Cape only for chowder? A few of our respondents do precisely that, lured by the clam chowder at this mix seafood market/restaurant situated alongside the Cape Cod Canal and Sandwich Marina. “Fishermen’s View is my go-to place,” says Susan G. of North Studying. “The chowder is chock-full of clams and it’s so thick, you may stand your spoon up within the center.” Owned by brothers Bob and Denny Colbert, long-time industrial fishermen, Fishermen’s View makes their masterpiece chowder with recent sea clams from Massachusetts waters, and an inventory of substances that features applewood-smoked bacon, white wine, recent thyme, and a splash of Tabasco sauce. “The bacon balances the sweetness of the recent clams with a contact of salt and smoke,” says COO Elizabeth Colbert. We took house a quart from the seafood market (“comes out of the identical pot we use for the restaurant!” a staffer informed us) to see how effectively it might maintain up. Thirty minutes later, this traditional chowder was nonetheless heat, buttery, and redolent of the ocean. Yum. 20 Freezer Street, Sandwich; 508-591-0088; www.fishermensview.com.
Honorable mentions: Listed below are a couple of extra chowder spots to place in your listing, as really useful by our readers: Bob’s Clam Hut, Kittery, Maine; Cabby Shack, Plymouth; Choate Bridge Pub, Ipswich; Vanilla Bean Café, Pomfret, Conn.; Wilson Farm, Lexington; Turk’s Seafood, Mattapoisett; Ned Devine’s, Boston; Skipper Chowder Home, South Yarmouth; The Take Away, Norwood; Jake’s Seafood, Hull.
Notice that some locations could presently be closed for the season.
Diane Bair and Pamela Wright may be reached at bairwright@gmail.com
