Any great fried clams in Newport?
 

I just booked a week this summer at J World Sailing School - this will be our first trip to Newport.

Our usual "guilty pleasure" when visiting the New England coast is fried clams. Anyplace to get realy good ones around Newport?

Let's see, without really giving it much thought, I can think of the following clam joints: Dockside Seafood, Thames St.and Flo's Clam Shack, across from First Beach. There are probably at least 8 more--you're coming to clam (quahog) heaven in RI!

Ditto Flo's clam shack. Also try Champlin's (in Point Judith) if you have time for a small excusion.

I think clam cakes are weird, pieces of goey dough with a clam stuffed inside. BUT, they are a RI tradition and should be tried if you haven't had one before.

Beware of Flo's. Order small and get more if it's good. It's been very good and very bad, and there's nothin worse then platefuls of very bad. And do walk the whole cliffwalk!

One more to look into: Anthony's in Middletown. They have good steamers too.

Good fried clams at Chopmist Charlie's just over the bridge in Jamestown. I have also had good fried clams at Christie's....touristy spot but good clams...

On Thames St., right in the center of Newport there's Salas's, which is pretty good. Sort of a shore-dinner hall ambiance with decent steamers, great fried clams and fresh fish. Another reliable restaurant is Yesterday's (not on Thames, but nearby). They have excellent local beer/ale, good pub-grub (owned and managed by the high-end The Place, which is just next door)and a solidly good menu.

If you do venture off away from Newport, I second the recommendation of Champlin's at Pt. Judith. Another highlight, just to watch all the boat traffic is having a drink at Castle Hill. It's the dreamiest, seaside-New England spot where you can sit in an Adirondak chair on a big green lawn right on a bluff overlooking the Bay, sip your beverage and watch the sunset as the J-boats, 12 meters and tall ships sail by. Ahhhhh...can I go there now?