Clam Box Of Ipswich

Absolutely love this place. Always a stop when we come in from San Diego.

It's exactly what it should be, the quintessential New England clam shack!

I recently moved back up north from the Cape, and Clam Box is just as I remembered it! Ver carta

Best place to get native clams, scallops are fantastic. We come here every year when we visit and it's so consistently great.

A classic New England spot that’s all about fried seafood done right. The building itself is iconic, and the food lives up to the hype. Whether you’re getting the famous fried clams, scallops, or fish, everything is crispy, golden, and full of flavor. The portions are generous, and the laid-back vibe makes it perfect for a casual meal with family or friends. It’s the kind of place where you can taste the tradition in every bite—definitely worth the trip if you’re in the area.

By far, the best and freshest fried seafood ever experienced. My wife loves fried whole belly clams and is constantly seeking the best clam rolls. Our search is over! Even after we thought there was one in Rye Beach, New Hampshire, this one in Ipswich takes first place bar none. Her clam roll was perfection. My haddock sandwich, accompanied by onion rings and cole slaw was superior to any I have ever had. And we are nearly 80 years old. We will make this a regular destination from now on and it's only 20 miles from home. Go our of your way to experience the best fried seafood known to mankind. Ver carta

Then there was the "mini meal" which came with clams and onion rings. The breading on the onion rings was so thin that it fell apart when you tried to pick them up, let alone eat them. I asked for a to-go box for the leftover clams and onion rings and was given another flimsy paper plate and a brown paper bag. While I can overlook my dissatisfaction with the food to some extent, when you spend $100, you'd expect at least proper plates and to-go containers. Is that too much to ask? This place feels like another trendy spot that attracts a crowd solely because it’s “famous” (which, to be honest, is why we went), but it fails to deliver quality food and basic essentials.

My wife had heard great things about the Clam Box, so while we were in Gloucester, we decided to take a drive to Ipswich. It’s a charming, iconic spot with lots of people stopping by. The staff were really friendly, and the atmosphere was pleasant, but I was a bit let down by the fried clam strips, as they could have been more flavorful and cooked a bit longer. At least they were tender. My wife, who is quite knowledgeable about clams, really enjoyed them. Unfortunately, the onion rings also fell short; they lacked flavor, and the onions seemed slightly undercooked. The clam chowder had a nice taste, but it was more potato-heavy than clam-heavy. I really wanted to enjoy the place more.

This place has an interesting history of its first original fried clams. Every different restaurants has their own variations. This type of clams used, Ipswich is well-known for its sweet tasting clams. Little Neck clams commonly ordered as steamers, awesomely sweet and savory with hot melted butter. But fried clams with its good sized bellies still boast same sweet flavor and texture as those in steamed clams. An added plus, this restaurant offers gluten-free batter. Delicate without the heavy crunchiness. The fried scallops is very moist and delicious, very tender with juiciness locked into every bite. If you enjoyed little neck steamers, this is the place for sweet tasting fried belly cla... Ver carta