For your basic stuffie, head to Amaral’s. This shop prides itself on letting the seafood shine through: delectable clams seasoned with onion, celery, and spices, crispy on the top from baking in a hot oven. 4 Redmond St., Warren. 401-247-0675; amaralsfishandchips.com
In Rhode Island, stuffed clams are a delicacy that can be catered to any taste, though the basic ingredients that make them “stuffies” always stay the same. Although you’ll find many versions of stuffed clams around New England, it’s only in Li’l Rhody that they’re called “stuffies,” and there are as many variations of them […]
This tiny North End eatery serves some of the best seafood in Boston. The chowder trades the usual thickened base for a vibrant, intensely clammy broth. The secret? It’s lightly enriched with milk, cream, and potatoes and accented with a hint of oregano. 63 Salem St., Boston. 617-742-3474; neptuneoyster.com
For a place that branded itself on its meat, Kelly’s does surprisingly well with seafood. We found a sprightly, creamy broth, rich in potatoes; it’s a bit lighter on the clams, but fully aromatic and delicious. Locations in Allston, Danvers, Medford, Natick, Revere (where it all began), and Saugus. 781-233-5700; kellysroastbeef.com
As long as there have been fishing and cooking, there has been chowder. In one form or another, over many centuries, coastal cooks have served up some variation of local seafood simmered in a thick liquid—a dish more stew than soup. On the northwest coast of France, 17th-century fishermen cooked their concoctions in large cauldrons […]
J’s may be the last of Portland’s salty, divey seafood houses. Casco Bay and the urban working waterfront are right outside the door: condos, cruise ships, and bait houses. 5 Portland Pier, Portland. 207-772-4828; jsoyster.com
For 60 years folks have been slinging seafood, fried and steamed, from a little red-and-white shack perched on a hilltop overlooking the tidal Bagaduce River. Watch for eagles fishing in the falls. 145 Franks Flat, Penobscot. 207-326-4729, 207-326-4197
A lobster roll is a simple thing: basically, cold lobster meat stuffed into a warm bun. It’s the street food of the rocky Maine coast–a vernacular masterpiece served high and low, at lobster pounds, cookhouses, and seafood shacks, at supermarkets and gas stations, at fast-food chains and in home kitchens. But for a lobster roll […]
BEST CHOCOLATE INFUSION Chocopologie Cafe, South Norwalk No apologies for sweet-tooth temptations from breakfast to bedtime: cocoa-intensive baked goods for dessert and candies such as ginger-passion fruit. There are savory offerings, too, and a French-accented menu that includes cocoa-braised short ribs. Entrées: from $15. 12 South Main St. 203-854-4754; chocopologie.com BEST CITY CHIC Firebox, Hartford […]
BEST BAKERY Sofra, Cambridge It doesn’t sell French breads or chocolate layer cakes, but this Mediterranean-inspired pastry shop from Oleana’s Ana Sortun and Maura Kilpatrick has elevated the Boston sweets scene with orange blossom-scented morning buns and the best falafel wraps in town. 1 Belmont St. 617-661-6131; sofrabakery.com BEST CHINESE East by Northeast, Cambridge Phillip […]
BEST RAFTING Deerfield River, Franklin County Outfitters haul their yellow rafts to the banks of the Deerfield River in the spring and summer months to tumble down two stretches: the exhilarating Class IV rapids in the Dryway and the family-friendly Class II and III rapids farther south, in the deep pools of Zoar Gap. Zoar […]
BEST MEAL WITH A VIEW Bascom Lodge, Mt. Greylock Reservation The 1930s lodge atop the state’s tallest mountain is a hot new sunset-dining destination. Chef John Dudek’s three-course menu, which changes nightly, might include herbed white-bean soup, grilled beef, or gorgonzola walnut gnocchi. Wine is served, and you can spend the night in either a […]
