After some disappointing restaurant experiences last summer, I'm trying to get some suggestions from you all. I know, chowder & fried clams are a cliche, but they are a must have when we visit the Cape. We have young kids so "fine dining" isn't really an option for us right now anyway. Thanks for your expert opinions! BTW, we'll be staying in the Mid-Cape area.

I have a lot of fond memories of Baxter's in Hyannis from my childhood. If it's still there . . . . Go!

Just returned tonight from a week in West Hyannisport, and our old favorite is still tops:
***** Cooke's
It's "eat in the rough," but the clam chowder and fried clams are really just superb. There are a few on the Cape - Hyannis and Orleans come to mind. Enjoy!

From Chowhound's New England Board:
JT's in Brewster is a super place for fresh fish in a casual atmosphere. Captain Frosty's in Dennis is fabulous for clam chowder and fried clams. Clancy's on Lower County (not Upper County Road) is super for seafood in a fun atmosphere.

try Sir Crickets in Orleans. It's a small fish & chips place with VERRRRY limited seating (2 tables by the window). Excellent chowder and fried seafood. Get it to go and drive to nearby Rock Harbor and dine al fresco.

By the way, if you go to Chowhound's web site & type Cape Cod in "search" you'll come up with a wealth of info.

enjoy your visit.

Best Clam Chowder in the world: Captain Parkers, West Yarmouth. Winner WCOD Cape Cod Chowder Fest; Boston Chowder Fest; Newport International Chowder Fest.

Winners of Best Mid-Cape Fried Clams June 05 Cape Cod Life magazine awards:
Gold: Captain Frosty's Dennis
Silver: Kream n Kone, West Dennis.

oh,oh. Don't get into the Kreme N Kone vs Captain Frosty's debate. It gets pretty nasty on the Cape. My preference are the clams at Capt. Frosty's.

Thanks all, great suggestions! I can feel my waist line expanding already!

A fav of ours for fried clams is Arnold's (Eastham or Orleans I think)

Menemsha Bite on Martha's vineyard - even the national magazines rave over them

Here's another vote for Arnold's, right on Rt. 6 in Eastham...

my absolute favorite chowder is at the Scargo Cafe in Dennis, close to Scargo Lake & Cape Playhouse & museum,
GREAT chowder!

Well the BEST chowder we had so far was in Chatham. A few like....... The Red Nun Bar & Grill.Pates Resturaunt , The Captains Table, Carmine's pizza, ...

The Wayside Inn and the Squire restaurant both have great chowder. The squire has great fried seafood.

We still love Kreme and kone in West Chatham for chowder and fried clams. The ownership has changed and the food has improved.

A couple good Cape Cod food threads of more recent vintage:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-cod-visit.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...cod-august.cfm

Best fried clams are at Liam's Beach Shack on Nauset Beach, E. Orleans, great shoestring onion rings too.

Kreme n' Cone all the way.

Emily, I'm glad to hear the Kream 'N Kone is under new and better management. I went a few years ago and found the place a mix of excellent and awful (good: seafood and o-rings excellent; bad: frozen blah fries, past-it cole slaw, very dirty food-strewn floors and nasty bathroom).

I did like Captain Frosty's in Dennis the one time I went a few years ago -- the place was clean (didn't venture to the bathrooms here, though, so can't say about them) and the food (seafood, o-rings, slaw) was excellent.

bachslunch, Kream N Kone is fresh as a daisy now! I am not a big fan of their fries but the coleslaw is delicious and the clam chowder is some of the best I've had. The guy makes it fresh with fresh clams. He isn't associated with the family that owns the other Kreme n Kone lookalikes. I hope you give it another try.