If you believe that a trip to a seafood joint isn't complete without an iconic taste of
New England, you're going to want to know which chains to head to and which ones to avoid altogether
Popular movie franchises are notorious for spawning an endless stream of merchandise
In the case of Forrest Gump, after it sprinted across theaters in 1994
it inspired a line of chain restaurants. Bubba Gump Shrimp Company invites fans of the film to
a banquet of Southern-style cuisine, primarily seafood, with on-the-nose names like Lieutenant
Dan's Surf and Turf and Mama Blue's Shrimp Gumbo. People call me Bubba
In terms of chowder, though, Bubba Gump's is sadly not Oscar-worthy. The texture teeters
between diluted clam juice and a gluey paste devoid of robust spices. Just imagine liquefied
mashed potatoes mixed with a boatload of salt, and you'll get the idea. As one disappointed
customer put it on Yelp. Even the waitress looked at me as she handed it and asked if I wanted a
different one. Longhorn Steakhouse specializes in Western-style beef, so a seafood dish on the menu
might arouse some skepticism. But this shrimp and lobster chowder has the potential to be enticing
It consists of a corn-based stew dolloped with chunky morsels of seafood and plenty of veggies
including diced bell pepper and scallions. Although it's a refreshing change of pace from
the New England style that tends to dominate menus, customers have been largely dissatisfied
by Longhorn's chowder. The biggest problem seems to be an excess of corn broth and a
relative dearth of shrimp and lobster. Longhorn could redeem itself by increasing the serving
sizes as well as by adding more seafood. Their chowder costs about $6, depending on the location
which isn't terribly unreasonable, but we'd expect a lot more at that price
The problem with the New England clam chowder at Red Lobster is a familiar one
The fishy morsels are outweighed by the floating pieces of potato, and when that happens, you're essentially left with just a loaded potato soup
As delicious as that could be, it's not chowder. What's more, if you're expecting a thick soup with hefty chunks
then you'll be sorely let down by the runny texture. The price comes in around $9 per cup
which is a bit much when you're essentially drinking a seafood-flavored smoothie
rather than a hearty broth. And the tepid flavor is underwhelming since it's made from whole cream
and butter. You could try to sop it up like gravy with some Cheddar Bay Biscuits, but choking this
chowder down when there's a sea of superior choices out there is awfully silly. You might
as well just tuck those biscuits in your doggy bag to savor them with something else later
Setting sail for Joe's Crab Shack promises a bounty of seafood dishes amidst glittering views
of the water. The menu, unsurprisingly, includes a classic New England clam chowder that's
similarly priced to Red Lobster though it a bit of a leg up in terms of consistency Still it far from the best of the best For one thing while the consistency isn as bad as Red Lobster it still clumpy A velvety broth b with clam chunks and potato is what you want but that not what you get from Joe
As one disappointed diner complained on TripAdvisor, the bowl of chowder had very little chowder in the bottom of the very shallow bowl
It was also devoid of clams. Goals tend to circle overhead in any boardwalk setting where
chowder is served, but we doubt that they're interested in sneaking a nibble from Joe's
Eat it, Joe's. Eat it, Joe's. Eat it, Joe's. Featuring tender crustaceans bathed in a corn puree along with a hint of bacon
the corn chowder and lump crab seems to be a popular pick at Bonefish Grill
Complementing a salad or a starter is a natural choice for this hearty stew
and the Bonefish staff will happily pour it into a cup or a bowl at your request
As for the price, it's a decent pick for the budget-conscious seeking a full seafood meal
without draining their bank accounts. Plus, it isn't too filling to eat before the main course
It's far from perfect, but Bonefish Grill offers a solid shake-up to the usual New England style
However, based on some online reviews, it's clear that this chowder has changed
and not for the better. Customers have complained that the current version is nothing like the
original recipe. For one thing, the milky base is missing the density needed to support the crab
chunks. And on top of that, the seasoning lacks any peppery fire bouncing off the creaminess
Overall, bonefish is an okay option, but you can definitely do better
With appetizers like crispy conch fritters, firecracker shrimp, and rum and coke wings
there's an island of difference between Bahama Breeze and its surf-and-turf compatriots
The Tropical Grill ignites many an appetite by embracing spicy, Caribbean-style cooking
That pretty much sums up the appeal of their Bahamian Seafood Chowder. It's a viscous stew teeming with spices swirling around large hunks of fish and diced vegetables
Doled out in two sizes, a small cup begins at about $5, depending on the location
Online reviews have praised the chowder's solid amount of fish and the seafood tasting
authentically meaty, but Bahama Breeze stumbles when it comes to the consistency. They nail the
inviting tone, but its hit-or-miss quality makes ordering this one a bit of a risk
It could be tepid or overly salty, so we can only recommend it if you like to live dangerously
Unlike the majority of big chains, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse serves its clam chowder in a bread
bowl. They'll also top it off with a stirring finish of minced parsley, plus crackers. In
In general, this family-friendly joint opts for tradition with this East Coast delicacy
While BJ's chowder is far from terrible, it doesn't exactly stand out from the crowd
It's certainly silky and smooth, and weighed down with a heavy hand of cream
However it lacks the clammy element that usually infuses the broth and it doesn have a whole lot of seasoning to go around The lukewarm temperature also adds to the generally generic taste For some diners though the store quality is a source of
comfort rather than contempt. That makes a certain amount of sense. After all, zapping a mug of
Campbell's in the microwave can definitely hit the spot. But when you can purchase a can like
that at the grocery store for just a few bucks, it's hard to justify paying triple at BJ's
That's too much, man! The Capitol Grill is notably more expensive than its sister establishments, like Red Lobster
Bahama Breeze, and Longhorn Steakhouse. But the atmosphere and cuisine are simply untouchable
and their clam chowder is definitely worth dipping into the finer side of the culinary world for
It's described on the menu as a New England favorite, seasoned with our own blend of spices
which sounds like any ordinary seafood soup. And yet, the simplicity is right on target
Customers who've tried it are consistently impressed, thanks to its creaminess, spot-on temperature, and the abundance of the shellfish in their bowl
Alas, the customer feedback hasn't been entirely positive. One reviewer on Yelp
for example, felt that the Capitol Grill overdid the heavy cream at the expense of the clam flavor
But unless you're really, really picky, then this chowder is tough to beat
With a sprawling menu, Claim Jumpers' burgers, salads, and succulent steaks are some of the
finest offerings in the chain restaurant world. And this saloon-inspired joint offers a clam
chowder that's good enough for New England. The sumptuous broth, speckled with diced celery and
onions, overflows with gigantic bergs of potato and premium clams. The ingredients blend but
never override each other. As one fan declared on Claim Jumpers' website
you will never have better clam chowder than this one. Another complimentary reviewer on TripAdvisor enjoyed the thick and hearty broth
which brought out the buttery tones from the base, along with the briny tang unleashed by
the shellfish. And we have to mention the generous serving size. It's not as heavy as a slab of steak
or meatloaf, but it should definitely hit the spot. Landry's Seafood House specializes in the
fiery zip of Gulf Coast cuisine. If you venture over to their evocative garden and kettle section
for salads and soups, you'll discover an exquisite example of true blue New England chowder
Diners who scrape down their bowls to catch every clammy tidbit are in for a feast
because the soup here is downright loaded. Landry's doesn't short you on the shellfish
nor does it skimp on the tender bacon crumbles and thick, hearty spuds
All credit goes to Landry's chefs. After all, if you can craft a chowder that residents of New
England crave, then you know you're on the right track. As a cup, it's just light enough to slurp
on with your appetizer, but won't infringe on any space for the steak that you might order later
Or you can go for the bowl if you're extra hungry or craving it as your primary course
And don forget to crumble on those Zesta crackers for some starchy crunch Ooh what just crunched As we move into the top three McCormick Schmicks dazzles with its mouth seaside chowder
A review of the now-shuttered New York outpost of this eatery on Gallo
touted the killer soup among this fine dining destination's stronger points. And they're not the only ones who were impressed
One thing's for sure, this New England clam chowder is silky through and through
It's also soupy in just the right way. Never congealed or watery. If you order it, you can expect to encounter the softest morsels of
shellfish in your bowl. The mollusks in there are little necks, a hard shell variety usually
consumed raw. As one satisfied customer declared on TripAdvisor, the New England clam chowder was some of the best that I have tasted
Plenty of clams and the soup was hot and thick. Good portion size too
Stunning views on land and sea have anchored Chart House in the fine dining world for over
60 years. And their New England clam chowder is a big reason why. You can choose between a small
cup or a large bowl that's authentic, rich, and chock-full of cubed potatoes and buttery mollusks
Elevating it further, Chart House provides a hunk of bread instead of oyster crackers
which fits their classy suit-and-tie environment. And we're not the only ones who love it
if the online reviews are any indication. As one of them put it on TripAdvisor
I recommend the clam chowder. It's as good as any I have ever had in New England
And another satisfied customer declared, We had a bowl of clam chowder, which was probably the best I've ever had
And a review on Gallo was also favorable, while noting, Charthouse New England clam chowder is a classic, rich in creamy flavor and studded with soft, salty clam bits
After launching as a fishmonger on the streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Legal Seafoods remains the uncontested big kahuna when it comes to chowder
This chain is an open book of accomplishments, with some of the freshest and most ethical catches around
And their bisque in particular is extraordinary. Presidents and diplomats alike have enjoyed this superb recipe
as it's been served at every American presidential inauguration since 1981. Legal Seafoods has also packaged its chowder for supermarket shelves
But it's not hard to see why tourists and locals alike flock to the restaurant to sample the real deal in all its glory
The savory taste is simply next level, and the mouthfeel is pure velvet
The clams are prominently mixed in, naturally enough. And where would we be without the silky puree of the potatoes
Not to mention, it's far from extravagant when compared to similarly priced big box versions
The iconic eatery's pledge is, If it isn't fresh, it isn't legal
And that statement is 100% true when it comes to the chowder. So dig in and fill your belly with the chowder that it craves
Get in my belly