Good BBQ and other stuff in New England?

CTMike

Crane Beach in Ipswich is amazing, but get there early if you go. When done for the day go to Woodman’s in Essex for some of the best fried seafood you’ll ever have - but be prepared to wait in line. The craft beer truck in the parking helps with the wait. 

fishlessman

CTMike said:

Crane Beach in Ipswich is amazing, but get there early if you go. When done for the day go to Woodman’s in Essex for some of the best fried seafood you’ll ever have - but be prepared to wait in line. The craft beer truck in the parking helps with the wait. 

i grew up and live in the area and though ive always wanted to eat there, ive never gotten in that line. the beer truck has me rethinking that though, that must be something newer

CTMike

fishlessman said:

CTMike said:

Crane Beach in Ipswich is amazing, but get there early if you go. When done for the day go to Woodman’s in Essex for some of the best fried seafood you’ll ever have - but be prepared to wait in line. The craft beer truck in the parking helps with the wait. 

i grew up and live in the area and though ive always wanted to eat there, ive never gotten in that line. the beer truck has me rethinking that though, that must be something newer

In all fairness, the line moves pretty quickly - they have a very efficient system. Last time we went I think we were ticket number 785 and it was only around 2 PM. 

fishlessman

CTMike said:

fishlessman said:

CTMike said:

Crane Beach in Ipswich is amazing, but get there early if you go. When done for the day go to Woodman’s in Essex for some of the best fried seafood you’ll ever have - but be prepared to wait in line. The craft beer truck in the parking helps with the wait. 

i grew up and live in the area and though ive always wanted to eat there, ive never gotten in that line. the beer truck has me rethinking that though, that must be something newer

In all fairness, the line moves pretty quickly - they have a very efficient system. Last time we went I think we were ticket number 785 and it was only around 2 PM. 

if you are ever in the white mountian area, drive over the border to cornish maine, Bay Haven draws crowds from the seacoast an hour away.  bring an appetite or split a platter. kinda out of the way but really worth the drive

jtcBoynton

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

JohnInCarolina

jtcBoynton said:

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

And apple cider donuts!

Stormbringer

JohnInCarolina said:

jtcBoynton said:

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

And apple cider donuts!

These are a thing??? Outstanding.  

CTMike

JohnInCarolina said:

jtcBoynton said:

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

And apple cider donuts!

If you make it to southeastern CT, there’s a quaint little town called Mystic of Mystic Pizza fame. Also in Mystic is Clyde’s Cider Mill - advertised as the oldest steam powered cider mill in the country. It is very cool to stand there and watch the press work to make the cider. They also have various different types of hard cider, as well as apple cider donuts as John mentioned - they are killer. 

https://www.clydescidermill.com/

Stormbringer

I think we need longer than 3 weeks. Just need to be able to travel there without quarantining on the way in.

JohnInCarolina

Stormbringer said:

JohnInCarolina said:

jtcBoynton said:

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

And apple cider donuts!

These are a thing??? Outstanding.  

Oh, they’re real and they’re spectacular.

PigBeanUs

fishlessman said:

CTMike said:

Crane Beach in Ipswich is amazing, but get there early if you go. When done for the day go to Woodman’s in Essex for some of the best fried seafood you’ll ever have - but be prepared to wait in line. The craft beer truck in the parking helps with the wait. 

i grew up and live in the area and though ive always wanted to eat there, ive never gotten in that line. the beer truck has me rethinking that though, that must be something newer

If you are a tourist, or want "ambience" , then Woodman's is a great way to kill a couple/few hours.  Stand in line and jaw with the other tourists. Sign the guest book. Order, and then go outside to drink while you wait for them to call your number. overlooks a tidal marsh, water across the street

The clams are excellent, and yea, they are probably the inventor of the fired clam. So.  Why not

but I still think deep down inside that the Clam Box clams are better.  Woodman's serves them in the pint or quart containers, and they steam a little on the way to the table, the fried coating getting  little softer.  still crispy.

last time at the Clam Box, they served them in a boat.  so the steam escapes on the way to your table.   

Clam Box has been sold I think.  And I haven't been since the sale. And it really is just a parking lot and a non-descript interior.  Woodmans tilts more "casual date night" tourist trade. Calm box is for locals who want fried clams

If you go to Woodman's, consider a scallop plate and then a side of fried clams.  a pint (which doesn't doesn't like a lot).    We had to write a note and keep it in the glovebox because every time we went I convinced myself a pint wasn't enough, and we would get way too much food.  note said "combo plate, pint of clams"

i'm a moron.

EDIT:  this may be the dumbest, laziest article ever written on the subject.  a list of the bEsT fRiED cLAm pLAcEs iN nEW eNgLAnD!!!

um.  all 114 of them, and compiled by internet points.  useless

fishlessman

PigBeanUs said:

fishlessman said:

CTMike said:

Crane Beach in Ipswich is amazing, but get there early if you go. When done for the day go to Woodman’s in Essex for some of the best fried seafood you’ll ever have - but be prepared to wait in line. The craft beer truck in the parking helps with the wait. 

i grew up and live in the area and though ive always wanted to eat there, ive never gotten in that line. the beer truck has me rethinking that though, that must be something newer

If you are a tourist, or want "ambience" , then Woodman's is a great way to kill a couple/few hours.  Stand in line and jaw with the other tourists. Sign the guest book. Order, and then go outside to drink while you wait for them to call your number. overlooks a tidal marsh, water across the street

The clams are excellent, and yea, they are probably the inventor of the fired clam. So.  Why not

but I still think deep down inside that the Clam Box clams are better.  Woodman's serves them in the pint or quart containers, and they steam a little on the way to the table, the fried coating getting  little softer.  still crispy.

last time at the Clam Box, they served them in a boat.  so the steam escapes on the way to your table.   

Clam Box has been sold I think.  And I haven't been since the sale. And it really is just a parking lot and a non-descript interior.  Woodmans tilts more "casual date night" tourist trade. Calm box is for locals who want fried clams

If you go to Woodman's, consider a scallop plate and then a side of fried clams.  a pint (which doesn't doesn't like a lot).    We had to write a note and keep it in the glovebox because every time we went I convinced myself a pint wasn't enough, and we would get way too much food.  note said "combo plate, pint of clams"

i'm a moron.

EDIT:  this may be the dumbest, laziest article ever written on the subject.  a list of the bEsT fRiED cLAm pLAcEs iN nEW eNgLAnD!!!

um.  all 114 of them, and compiled by internet points.  useless

used to stop at the box from time to time but i enjoyed the upstairs deck and bar at the harborside in newburyport more.  nice scenic view and another place you needed to time the arrival to avoid the lines.

CornfedMA

@fishlessman you bring back some memories with harborside! My family roots are in Newbury and I spent a lot of time in that place growing up for everything from casual lunches to post funeral get togethers. Great place to day drink! Haven’t been in a couple years. 

CTMike

JohnInCarolina said:

Stormbringer said:

JohnInCarolina said:

jtcBoynton said:

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

And apple cider donuts!

These are a thing??? Outstanding.  

Oh, they’re real and they’re spectacular.

Teri Hatcher was something back then, not so much anymore. 

Stormbringer

JohnInCarolina said:

Stormbringer said:

JohnInCarolina said:

jtcBoynton said:

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

And apple cider donuts!

These are a thing??? Outstanding.  

Oh, they’re real and they’re spectacular.

SWMBO has just caught up with this thread and read about apple cider donuts. She was like ... 

CTMike

Stormbringer said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Stormbringer said:

JohnInCarolina said:

jtcBoynton said:

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

And apple cider donuts!

These are a thing??? Outstanding.  

Oh, they’re real and they’re spectacular.

SWMBO has just caught up with this thread and read about apple cider donuts. She was like ... 

If you decide to sample the cider donuts at Clyde’s Cider Mill let me know. I live about 4 miles away - you guys could come over after for some WFO pizza and bourbon.

JohnInCarolina

CTMike said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Stormbringer said:

JohnInCarolina said:

jtcBoynton said:

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

And apple cider donuts!

These are a thing??? Outstanding.  

Oh, they’re real and they’re spectacular.

Teri Hatcher was something back then, not so much anymore. 

Gravity always wins.

CTMike

JohnInCarolina said:

CTMike said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Stormbringer said:

JohnInCarolina said:

jtcBoynton said:

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

And apple cider donuts!

These are a thing??? Outstanding.  

Oh, they’re real and they’re spectacular.

Teri Hatcher was something back then, not so much anymore. 

Gravity always wins.

Especially when considering super massive black holes.

Stormbringer

CTMike said:

Stormbringer said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Stormbringer said:

JohnInCarolina said:

jtcBoynton said:

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

And apple cider donuts!

These are a thing??? Outstanding.  

Oh, they’re real and they’re spectacular.

SWMBO has just caught up with this thread and read about apple cider donuts. She was like ... 

If you decide to sample the cider donuts at Clyde’s Cider Mill let me know. I live about 4 miles away - you guys could come over after for some WFO pizza and bourbon.

That's very generous, thanks! We'll see if Clyde's Cider Mill makes the cut of places to visit. Given that they sell cider donuts, chances are high.  

Foghorn

My wife, a Cape Cod native, says you should go see the dunes around Provincetown - either by rental bike - or by guided 4 wheel drive vehicle.  

Also, there are great, short hikes all over the Cape including the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Fort Hill, and others.

CTMike

Stormbringer said:

CTMike said:

Stormbringer said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Stormbringer said:

JohnInCarolina said:

jtcBoynton said:

You are arriving in the peak of the apple season. Fresh apple cider.  

And apple cider donuts!

These are a thing??? Outstanding.  

Oh, they’re real and they’re spectacular.

SWMBO has just caught up with this thread and read about apple cider donuts. She was like ... 

If you decide to sample the cider donuts at Clyde’s Cider Mill let me know. I live about 4 miles away - you guys could come over after for some WFO pizza and bourbon.

That's very generous, thanks! We'll see if Clyde's Cider Mill makes the cut of places to visit. Given that they sell cider donuts, chances are high.  

Here’s a quick piece the local news did on Clyde’s a few years back:

https://youtu.be/5z1Tev4BJxo

Also, if you fancy donating money to indigenous peoples, the area hosts the 2nd and 3rd largest casinos in the country:

www.foxwoods.com and www.mohegansun.com - huge casinos, plenty of restaurants, concerts, etc.