It's Andy Fish!

Without a gallbladder working full time (or at all) fried foods are supposed to be avoided, but that doesn’t stop me from my annual pilgrimage to get some whole belly fried clams. Since it’s a once a year thing I am extremely picky about where I get them from. I’ve had occassion to be in Ipswich MA, birthplace of the very concept and they were exceptional.

My wife who has eaten chicken hearts on a skewer does not like them, she does not like them at all. I usually opt to take my mother and #2 son who both share my same affinity for them. First step, plan on spending a lot of money– they likely won’t even be priced and simply say “Market price”.

Cape Cod has some good options but there are also a ton of touristy spots that offer sub par– I recommend SPANKY’S in Hyannis Harbor for any of their seafood.

Central Ma has some excellent options–

Pinecroft Dairy in West Boylston– don’t trust me, it comes up as #1 in a search for best whole belly clams. It’s an institution which just so happens to be less than three miles from me. It’s also not dog racist so bring Fido.

The Clam Box in Brookfield MA, I’ve been there many times. It should probably be called the Clam Shack but if you want the Cape Cod experience while sitting on Route 9 in a dirt parking lot you’ll get it there.

Kimball Farm in Lancaster– this is a beautiful setting, I can’t remember if it has outdoor seating or not, but I agree the clams were excellent.

Eggroll Lady in Worcester on West Boylston Street. Another institution that is less than a few miles from me but I’ve never been. It’s been recommended to me a dozen times– I’ve seen people coming out of there with bags dripping with grease– now supposedly perfectly done, not old crusty batter, not over battered, but lightly done. It’s like when I get a pizza and the box is wet, I know that means they use real cheese, you can tell me that a hundred times over, but that doesn’t mean I like taking a paper towel and tapping off the grease.

Eggroll lady is a place about the size of your backyard shed, I don’t think she has any seating, but I could be wrong.

Harry’s Restaurant in Westboro – a favorite diner of mine, I love thier baked haddock, which is really saying something since the nearest ocean is about 40 miles away, so their clams are usually top notch. It’s a cash only very casual place, if you like the kind of place where the waitresses are folksy you’ll like this.