I don’t recall the name of the place, but the best I’ve ever had was on the wharf in San Francisco. There may well be places in New England that do it better, but if so, I’ve never been to them.
I’ve been informed that the true secret to good clam chowder is to use catch-of-the-day fresh clams, not the canned variety, so if you’re inland, you may be out of luck.
And I completely fail to understand why the Manhattanites think that the stuff they have is chowder.
I’m so very sorry to prove those of you who seem to be ( wrongly, of course ) favoring The Vineyard to be wrong. Those guys still think Kennedy knows how to drive. 
Now, you get yourself up onto the Cape Proppah, as they say up theah and hike up to Orleans and get to Katie’s. Now yah talking some fine Chowdah.
** K A T I E’ S **. Mah, but that’s fine chowdah. I’d drive HOURS out of my way for a bowl.
I have to admit though, as a close second, there’s a place called Gippetto’s up in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Might be the next town south of the Harbor, along the coast. FINE Chowdah, respectable-like. Still, not Katie’s.
Great. Now I’m hungry. Happy???
Cartooniverse
I would have to say the best clam chowder I have ever had is at a place called Kitty O’Shea’s in Beverly, MA. It is served in a breadbowl, and it is amazing. Although, I really like the chowder at Legal Seafood as well.
Hey, I’m from Beverly…Kitty’s has a good chowder? I’ll have to try it next time I’m home.
Also, I highly reccommend you check out Dube’s in Salem, if you’re from the area.
I completely agree, Snow’s is the best canned clam chowder I’ve had.
I also like their fish chowder. Or is it called seafood chowder? I can’t remember. Anyway, it’s made primarily with hake and is really yummy.
I prefer seafood bisque 
Two good bisques that come to mind are City Crab (NYC) and the Steam Room (Port Jefferson), the latter coming in the convenient and delicious breadbowl. There’s nothing more satisfying than looking down after lunch and seeing nothing but a table 
Growing up I always enjoyed Friendly’s New England clam chowder. My sister worked at Friendly’s as a teenager and claimed that it was Campbell’s Chunky clam chowder, but it always tasted 10 times better than Campbell’s, which I can only choke down if I eat it as 1 part soup, 1 part oyster crackers.
I generally prefer New England clam chowder over Manhattan clam chowder, mainly because I’m not big on veggies and New England clam chowder usually has more potatoes in it. Chowder is all about potatoes and clams as far as I’m concerned (although a few oyster crackers are nice too).
I am actually from the midwest, but I try to make it out to Beverly about once every month or so, because my best friend lives there. I love the chowder at Kitty’s, and I will have to make it out to Salem too to try Dube’s.
Well, just so you know, they only serve it on fridays, and you have to get there before about 6pm to be sure to get some, as they don’t make that much. But it’s spectacular.
I’ve yet to find a good canned chowder. I agree of the ones I’ve tried, Snow’s is best. There’s just something about canned potatoes, canned celery, canned veggies in general, that ruins it for me.
I’ve tried Mo’s frozen chowder; that’s edible but not great.
Recipes! Recipes!
Especially ones using fresh clams! (Easy to find where I live.)
Thanks,
Another
These have all be fun answers and thanks for the recipe! But seriously, for the world’s best, take Route 1 to Camden, Maine (heart of the mid-coast region) and head for the wharf area. Cappy’s clam chowder will make you weep at the memory. (Sniff…)
Well? We’re waiting…
(for the recipe)
Someone told me that Cappy’s had closed ?!?!?!? Is it possible? I hope not. Frankly I’d forgotten about eating chowder at Cappy’s because it usually involved copious amounts of Anchor Steam or Sam Adam’s beer as well, and one tends to forget the subtleties of a fine bowl of chowder. Many a night spent hiding out from the Rockport Workshops crowd, in Cappy’s.
There was a pool hall/bar/restaurant around the corner and closer to the wharf yet than Cappy’s that had a decent chowder too…but the name escapes me.
I know you’re looking for recipes, but mine is secret. The best I’ve had at a restaurant was at the Seamen’s Inne in Mystic, Connecticut. My father always swore that Durgin Park in Boston had the best, but I’ve never been there.
Bookbinders- the canned stuff is not as good as at the restaurant, but it never is, is it?
Rhode Island style, hands down. Water instead of milk. Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it. Here’s Dad’s recipe.
Dad’s clam chowder (Rhode Island style)
15-20 (or more) big quohogs
1/2 # salt pork
8 potatoes
2 big onions
Open clams and save juice. Drain clams over soup pot. Chop clams coarsely. Dice onions and potatoes. Cover potatoes to 1 inch of water. Slice salt pork thin and render in fry pan. Discard. Add clams and onions and cook in pork fat. Bring clam juice to boil in pot and skim. Add clams, onions, potatoes,water and bay leaf. Bring to boil. Reduce to simmer and cook just 15 min. (to cook potatoes) Important: allow to cool completely. Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning and reheat for best flavor.
Cartooniverse said
You really know how to ruin a girl’s holidays, don’t ya? I first ate at Cappy’s in 1978 when it was just a cafe. The last time was in about 1998 and I haven’t been back to Camden since then. Say it isn’t so!
Was it the “Salty Dog” or was that in Lincolnville?
watsonwil:
This would be Ivar’s Clam Chowder which lucky people all up and down the Pacific coast can get at Costco or sometimes Albertson’s (or at the I’var’s resturants in Washington). It comes in a pouch, not a can, and puts all cans to shame. You add milk or half and half, but this stuff’s so good, it’s even rich and creamy if you use 2%! Strangely enough, it’s what I’m having for dinner tonight.
A small vote for Mo’s in several locations on the central Oregon coast (Newport, Lincoln City, Devil’s Punch Bowl). Visited the coast this weekend and renewed my appreciation. Hot, thick and tasty.
(Ivar’s is pretty good, too.)
Gosh, I’m sorry !!! I didn’t mean to ruin your holiday. Here, have a cup of egg nog already. Sheeesh. I was just repeating what someone ELSE in this thread said. I hope Cappy’s is still there !!! I mean hey, why else GO to MAINE???/
I think you are correct, it was the Salty Dog. I think. Maybe.
Cartooniverse
Cmon! Somebody try Dad’s recipe! I can’t make it, no quohogs on the West Coast, just these tiny lil manila clams/pencil eraser thingies …