From the people that brought you Massachusetts Top Clam Shacks, comes Rhode Island‘s Best Clam Shacks! Are you into bellies or strips? I can taste the homemade tartar sauce right now.
Variety R Us
The ocean state has a variety of amazing seafood opportunities. Do you want large scale, sit-down family dining? Or how about right off the beach, or pull-over clam shack style, eat-in-the-car joints? Little Rhody has em all.
Sentimental Eating
Hitting the favorite family clam shack was the extra prize, after a day at the beach. Growing up, Dad would take us to one of my favorites, a place called Georges of Galilee. It is right off of Salty Brine Beach. Georges provides delicious seafood, sit down, or outside at the stand, with the marina backdrop of beautiful Galilee Rhode Island. After your fried clams, lobster roll, or clam fritters, we’d top it off with an ice cream cone right across the street at Champlin’s Seafood Deck. Then, a ride home of bliss full sleep in the back seat took the edge off the hour, forty five minute ride.
Clam Cakes
One of my favorite local restaurant chains in Rhode Island, is the famous Chelos. It’s family owned, serving happy seafood eaters in Rhode Island for over forty years. If you love clam cakes (deep fried clams, with a dough batter, formed into fried balls of heaven) Chelo’s is second to none.
So, with Summer in full gear, let’s head south to find Rhode Island’s BEST Clam Shacks.
Aunt Carries-Scarborough Beach
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
It’s also one of the few spots still serving the traditional Rhode Island shore dinner, a set meal that begins with a bowl of clam chowder, clam cakes, and steamers, followed by fried local flounder served with fries and slaw. If that isn’t enough, there’s an option to add a pound of fresh lobster, which, at this point, you might as well. Shore dinners are not meant for humble eaters.
Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/695331/rhode-island-clam-shacks-quahogs/
Just saying the name Scarborough Beach takes me back. Aunt Carries according to Tasting Table:
It’s also one of the few spots still serving the traditional Rhode Island shore dinner, a set meal that begins with a bowl of clam chowder, clam cakes, and steamers, followed by fried local flounder served with fries and slaw. If that isn’t enough, there’s an option to add a pound of fresh lobster, which, at this point, you might as well. Shore dinners are not meant for humble eaters.
Georges Of Galilee
(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images for Richard Mille)
This is one of my favorite Summer memories. We’d spend a day at Salty Brine Beach. After the fun of the beautiful Rhode Island shoreline, we’d walk up to Georges for some delicious clam cakes, or clams! Plus, if you’re a boat person, the view off Georges is spectacular!
Champlin's Seafood Deck-Galilee
(Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Right across the street from Georges, is another famous place called Champlin’s Seafood Deck. Your lobster, clams, or haddock was probably caught an hour before you arrived. The view outside is as almost as tasty as your food! They have been at it for 69 years.
Flo's Clam Shack Drive-In-Portsmouth-Middletown
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NOW, we’re talking. With the word, drive-in you got my attention! Food Network’s Chris Cosentino named the fried clam roll the best thing he’s ever eaten.
According to Tasting Table: Even after weathering several hurricanes since its opening in 1936, Flo’s Clam Shack Drive-In is genuinely keeping the shack in clam shack. The original drive-in location is little more than a shingled shed in Portsmouth’s seaside Island Park neighborhood. What it lacks in the way of seating, it makes up for with location — customers can cross the street with their take-out boxes full of fried clam strips, scallops, or calamari; climb over the seawall onto a narrow strip of beach overlooking the waters of the Sakonnet River; and dig in. For an even more impressive waterfront view, drive south across Aquidneck Island where Middletown meets Newport. There, Flo’s second, larger location offers two stories of seating, lots of nautical kitsch, and a veranda that overlooks Easton’s Beach (or First Beach, as we locals call it)
Iggy's Doughboys & Chowder House-Point Judith or Warwick
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Iggy’s is also known for their scrumptious doughboy. I’ll turn the other cheek, if you don’t want clams. Buy a doughboy for me!
Blount Clam Shack-Newport
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O
f course we can’t forget Newport! According to Discover Newport:
Named the best cheap eats in RI by Travel & Leisure, Blount Clam Shack‘s menu may lack dollar signs, but nothing else. The award-winning, waterfront seafood shack opened back in 1943 and has since been serving up seafood favorites with a twist, like clambake chowder crafted with all the best parts of a clambake in a delicious soup; or their giant lobster roll made with 1/2 lb. lobster chunks. Not to mention, the quaint shack is located right on Warren’s scenic waterfront.
Evelyn's Drive-In-Tiverton
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According to Discover Newport, Evelyn’s Drive In is a 40 year mainstay with amazing clam shack style food in Tiverton. Also, they have a BIO BUG:
Keep an eye out for Evelyn’s BIOBUG, a diesel VW Bug powered by clam cakes and Newport Biodiesel. Newport Biodiesel picks up the used fry oil produced by Evelyn’s fried offerings, processes it, and then fills the BIOBUG with biodiesel. In 2010, Evelyn’s recycled 27,000 lbs of fry oil!
The lobster chow mein sounds interesting!
Monahan's By The Sea-Narragansett-Charlestown
JayBeau Jones
If you’re near the Charlestown part of Rhode Island, no doubt you know about the famous Monahan’s. The website pictures make me want to eat this laptop. The Maui Coconut Shrimp starter looks amazing, almost as nice as the waterview.
Benny's Clam Shack-South Kingstown-Narragansett
JayBeau Jones
While this is a clam based story, Benny’s also features the famous New York System Wieners, the kind you can only find in Rhode Island.
Chelos
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While not a traditional clam shack, family owned Chelo’s is a Rhode Island institution. Serving amazing food for well over 40 years, Chelo’s NEVER disappoints. I had my wedding rehearsal dinner there, at the Warwick Chelo’s on the water. I have been eating there since 1979, and have NEVER had a bad meal. In fact, it’s still better than ever! The seafood is as fresh and delicious as any Rhode Island seafood restaurant. In the summer months, they have a banana cream, strawberry, blueberry pie that is the dessert that tops all desserts! In fact ALL of their desserts are amazing. The clam cakes are to die for, and the view is wonderful. The outdoor seating overlooks Masthead Marina and features live entertainment.
