Best Clam Chowder in Mass (Fall River, Newton: loft, buy, restaurants)

[tysmith95]

I apologize if this thread has already been posted but I'm wondering, where do you guys think is the best cup of clam chowder in the state?

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by tysmith95

I apologize if this thread has already been posted but I'm wondering, where do you guys think is the best cup of clam chowder in the state?

Not a big chowder eater, but I dont recall anyone bettering Legal Seafood's. Doesn't mean no one has...

[sawyer2]

The Sail Loft and Island Creek are both great

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Not a big chowder eater, but I dont recall anyone bettering Legal Seafood's. Doesn't mean no one has...

Legal Seafood chowder comes in a huge plastic bag from a supplier in Fall River owned by the same parent company. It's pretty good chowder if you buy it at a Legal's restaurant or at the Blount outlet in Fall River because it hasn't been frozen. Lots of other restaurants buy from Blount so I see it in various non-Legal's restaurants. It's better than frozen Sysco truck bagged chowder. Personally, I prefer clear broth chowder that skips the dairy and flour but that's more of a Rhode Island thing.

The thing that makes Legal Seafood chowder distinctive is the herb blend. A vanilla New England clam chowder doesn't have any herbs in it. It's an Herbes de Provence blend. You can do the same flavor with Sysco truck bag chowder or canned Snow's when you heat it up but the potato won't be as good as the non-frozen Blount stuff.

[Boston_Burbs]

Skippers in South Yarmouth, MA

[bohemka]

The New England Soup Factory at the Brookline Village T stop has a nice one if you want something quick and easy, or to go. I think they have locations in Newton and Salem as well.

[bostonguy1960]

Isn't Captain Marden's out of Wellesley considered decent? Do they have a shop there for takeout or is there a sit down option also?

I often see their small trucks in the region.

Foodies Urban Market (Southie, South End, Duxbury and soon Belmont) have their product at their soup bar sometimes, as well as selling some of their refrigerated/(frozen?) fish dinners.

What do people think of Whole Foods Market's chowder at their hot soup bar?

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by bohemka

The New England Soup Factory at the Brookline Village T stop has a nice one if you want something quick and easy, or to go. I think they have locations in Newton and Salem as well.

There's definitely one in Newton on Needham Street. I go there often during the winter. Their soups are EXCELLENT. They have a cook book too that I've made a few soups from and the recipes are great.

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

Isn't Captain Marden's out of Wellesley considered decent? Do they have a shop there for takeout or is there a sit down option also?

I often see their small trucks in the region.

Can't say I've had their chowder but Captain Marden's on one side is a seafood store and on the other side it's a sit down restaurant.

[thenewtexan]

Captain Parker's - West Yarmouth, MA. The spoon stands up by itself. I like The Skipper in South Yarmouth, MA, too. Those two battle it out every year.

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

Captain Parker's - West Yarmouth, MA. The spoon stands up by itself. I like The Skipper in South Yarmouth, MA, too. Those two battle it out every year.

I have a different opinion, it should only be thickened by the starch from the potatoes. This is a more traditional style with a thinner broth. No flour, no spoon standing up, but to each his own. My favorite used to be Bob Briggs in Dennis Port but they changed the recipe when he died.