Best Fried Clams

[dayvsea]

Looking for the best fried clams in the Lake region...A place where I can roll up on the bike versus a sit down place... Any Ideas?

[Slickcraft]

Pop's in Alton Bay is the obvious answer.

[JADAQ]

Pop's, hands down!

You won't find them better or cheaper anywhere.. portion size too!

[BroadHopper]

In the Lakes Region, I can't think of a better place.

[rsmlp]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

In the Lakes Region, I can't think of a better place.

Opposite side of the lake, but Red Hill dairy has damn good clams also.

[Lakeflier]

Originally Posted by rsmlp

Opposite side of the lake, but Red Hill dairy has damn good clams also.

Red Hill has great clams! It's in Center Harbor.

[Janet]

Red Hill Dari...the best!

[farechofisherman]

Red Hill Diary. Right on Rt 25 Center Harbor. Great fried clams and ice cream as well. Easy with a bike, all outdoor open seating and plenty of parking..can't beat em!

[Bear Islander]

Actually the Red Hill Dari is in Moultonborough. Just over the line from Center Harbor.

[dayvsea]

Thanks All, I will visit Pops and Red Hill and post the winner!

[Janet]

Just a reminder...Red Hill Dari is cash only. No credit cards. I believe there's an ATM on-site.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by Janet

Just a reminder...Red Hill Dari is cash only. No credit cards. I believe there's an ATM on-site.

Ditto with Pop's, but Pop's will take a NH personal check.

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[elbie]

My son and I were up at the lake during bike week and the Clams at Red Hill Dari were very good. Their Onion Rings are some of the best I have ever had.

[ishoot308]

You guys got me so hungry talking about clams we decided to stop this afternoon at Red Hill Dari to get our fix!

Let me first say this was not our first time there, we have been many times over the years and never disappointed! The service is always quick and the food / ice cream is always good! The young ladies they have working there should all be commended for the service they provide with a smile which is so refreshing to see! Someone is always keeping the place spotless by cleaning up tables and making sure the condiment bar is always neat and stocked well. A quick visual of the kitchen when ordering confirms the attention to cleanliness and detail. Did I mention dogs are always welcome too?...not only are they welcome but Red Hill Dari even provides water bowls and fresh water outside for your hairy children!!

Kudos to Red Hill Dari for everything they do to provide a great and fun place to stop and eat in the Lakes Region!

Here's a pic of today's clam plate....

Dan

[FlyingScot]

You're killin' me with the photo! I need a fix!

On a slightly more sober note, I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Tamarack in Laconia. I have not been to Pop's, and I've been to Red Hill only once, but Tamarack's been by favorite in NH. Compared to Red Hill, I found Tamarack's clams a bit tastier and the outdoor seating much nicer.

Any thoughts from those who have been to Tamarack and Pop's on a compare and contrast?

[farechofisherman]

Nice looking clam plate! For all those years I pictured the welcome to Moultonboro sign well past the RHD, heading into Mouttonboro, always thought it was in Center Harbor. Be interested to hear from SAMIAM for the official town location?

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by farechofisherman

Nice looking clam plate! For all those years I pictured the welcome to Moultonboro sign well past the RHD, heading into Mouttonboro, always thought it was in Center Harbor. Be interested to hear from SAMIAM for the official town location?

The Red Hill Dari is "officially" in Moultonborough just over the line as Bear Islander stated. Considering it is in walking distance from the Center Harbor Town docks we have always considered it in Center Harbor as have many others.

Dan

[garysanfran]

Originally Posted by PeterG

You're killin' me with the photo! I need a fix!

On a slightly more sober note, I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Tamarack in Laconia. I have not been to Pop's, and I've been to Red Hill only once, but Tamarack's been by favorite in NH. Compared to Red Hill, I found Tamarack's clams a bit tastier and the outdoor seating much nicer.

Any thoughts from those who have been to Tamarack and Pop's on a compare and contrast?

Has been around for a very long time and has changed owners many times (some owners reportedly better at it than others). Great location, and an area landmark. I haven't been since I was a little kid (long time ago). My memories are very fond but it has got kind of poor reviews in the not-too-distant past and ignored for the last few years. I drove by it recently and thought I'd like to try the place again and sit at one of the picnic tables. I've never had a bad fried clam plate anywhere, just varying degrees of delicious wonderfulness.

Recently I had a fantastic fried clam dinner at Weathervanes (Lobster in the Rough), Weirs Beach. Went back three days later for the steamers...Also fantastic!

IF anyone has been to Tamarack recently, please let us know what you thought.

[phoenix]

I stopped going to tamarack about ten years ago when many posters said their lobster rolls were not lobster

[BroadHopper]

Through the years had changed hands. So food and service was up and down like a yo-yo. Last time I visit, that owner was concentrating putting a 'high end' pizza parlor in the back patio/porch area. Of course that did not last long.

Tamarack stop being a 'local' favorite decades ago. Same to Sawyer's. Locals would travel to Pop's in summer and Makris in Concord in the winter. Johnson's in New Durham is good but not great. Weathervane fell as well but I was told it is getting better.

T-Bones would have fried clams as a special, it is a treat! A truly tasty batter! I think it is panko, I'm not sure.

Avery's in Lakeport had a fried clams special last winter, and I was impress, so good!

[allmostthere]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

You guys got me so hungry talking about clams we decided to stop this afternoon at Red Hill Dari to get our fix!

Let me first say this was not our first time there, we have been many times over the years and never disappointed! The service is always quick and the food / ice cream is always good! The young ladies they have working there should all be commended for the service they provide with a smile which is so refreshing to see! Someone is always keeping the place spotless by cleaning up tables and making sure the condiment bar is always neat and stocked well. A quick visual of the kitchen when ordering confirms the attention to cleanliness and detail. Did I mention dogs are always welcome too?...not only are they welcome but Red Hill Dari even provides water bowls and fresh water outside for your hairy children!!

Kudos to Red Hill Dari for everything they do to provide a great and fun place to stop and eat in the Lakes Region!

Here's a pic of today's clam plate....

Dan

Clams look good but the portion looks to be about 1/2 the size of what I got at Dockside in Alton Bay! I am no slouch when it comes to eating mountains of fried clams but had all I could do to finish the whole plate - and they were absolutely amazing!

[joey2665]

I do like Sawyers, good potions nice and crispy and fresh

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by allmostthere

Clams look good but the portion looks to be about 1/2 the size of what I got at Dockside in Alton Bay! I am no slouch when it comes to eating mountains of fried clams but had all I could do to finish the whole plate - and they were absolutely amazing!

Can't really comment on the comparison in size but I can say is it was more than enough for me and I am not exactly a lightweight...total weight watcher flunkie to be exact! The plate was $20.00 which I felt was fairly priced for what you got.

My post was not meant to compare Red Hill Dari clams with Pops or Dockside or anywhere else for that matter. It was simply a long overdue post to commend a place I have been many times that has always served us good food with good service over the years and the clams were really good so I thought it was appropriate.

Dan

[debbyi64]

Someone told me Pops only does clam strips. Is that correct? Thank you


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[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by debbyi64

Someone told me Pops only does clam strips. Is that correct? Thank you


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No way!!!!!!!!! They do full belly clams, and they also do strips.

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[Top-Water]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

You guys got me so hungry talking about clams we decided to stop this afternoon at Red Hill Dari to get our fix! ...................(shortened)
Dan

I finally made it there a few weeks ago, kinda forgot about this thread. I ended up getting the seafood plate.

My son thought the clams were the most disgusting thing he has ever eaten in his life and politely spit it out back into a napkin and went back to his hamburger. I could not have been happier knowing I wasn't going to have to share anything more from my plate.

The food was beyond great. We both really enjoyed our meals. While I don't usually get all that excited about the haddock on a seafood platter and tend to look at it as a filler item that makes the plate look bigger and a substitute for less clams and scallops I was amazed at how good the Haddock was. Probably about the best piece of fish I have ever had.

A couple of thumbs up for the Red Hill Dari.

[BroadHopper]

Last week the clam plate was a special entrée. I have to admit it was very good. Fresh slaw and tarter sauce. More full belly clams than FF. A huge onion ring top the plate! The batter was perfect, not dry or greasy. It was a bit overcook for my taste, so it was a little 'chewy'.

Otherwise the best clam plate I had this summer in the Lakes Region.

[Meredith AK]

Stopped by on Monday afternoon for my annual fix of clams at the Red Hill Dari. There was a group of 9 in front of me and I thought I'd have to wait a long time to get my large clam strip plate.
Surprise to me, they announced my number first, so a total of 4 minutes and my order was ready. A big heaping plate full of clam strip goodness; crisp fries, tasty coleslaw. Clams were crisp, not greasy. I will be back again next year.
An even bigger surprise was only a few minutes later the large party of 9's order was ready as well. Someone in there has the right idea; great food, quickly.

[joey2665]

Have have had Sawyers many times which are good but in all the years I have never tried Red Hill or Pop's. I know Pop's is now closed for the season, when does Red Hill close? I should be back in two weeks and would like to try them.

[barefootbay]

Originally Posted by Meredith AK

Stopped by on Monday afternoon for my annual fix of clams at the Red Hill Dari. There was a group of 9 in front of me and I thought I'd have to wait a long time to get my large clam strip plate.
Surprise to me, they announced my number first, so a total of 4 minutes and my order was ready. A big heaping plate full of clam strip goodness; crisp fries, tasty coleslaw. Clams were crisp, not greasy. I will be back again next year.
An even bigger surprise was only a few minutes later the large party of 9's order was ready as well. Someone in there has the right idea; great food, quickly.

There is no such thing as "clam strip goodness" ! Lol

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by barefootbay

There is no such thing as "clam strip goodness" ! Lol

Lol...quite right! But for someone that hates the bellies I can see the goodness factor...

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Hillcountry

Lol...quite right! But for someone that hates the bellies I can see the goodness factor...

Don't shoot me but I do prefer the stripes over the Bellies.

[RumGuy]

Having moved to Cape Cod, we have found the seafood here exceptional---but when it comes to fried clams, we still compare every plate to Pop's. Some here are quite good, but not Pop's good. If Pop's is reading this, please keep up the great work.