Sage American Grill - New Haven, CT - May 31, 2009

Woo hoo! Great Connecticut style New England Clam Chowder. ChowderBoy celebrated his 5th birthday recently so his Auntie met us at the mall to buy 2000 Star Wars things and then we went to Sage American Grill.

What follows is the Tweet-review as it happened from a gorgeous deck overlooking the sound. Perfect weather. Just fantastic.

1. So far so good. Sunday afternoons, reggae on the sun deck. Only problem - have to go inside for a Bloody and cannot abandon kids.
2. ChowderBoy says it is 50,000. ChowderGirl says it is thin but good. We've charmed the waitress. Still no Bloody Mary.
3. Also, we ordered mini-lobster rolls which were tasty but I prefer my lobster recently yanked from the sea.
4. There will be a next time for sure. Tons of clams, nice deck, and great chowder.
5. Our waitress Carolyn was sweet.

Now that we're home and I have a bloody mary, I can discuss the whole thing more thoroughly. The deck was great - the only thing is that you must bring cash for drinks and if you want a Bloody, you have to go upstairs. Which is fine unless you plan to leave a 5 and 7 year old unattended. I managed to survive without one - though next time I will certainly try it.

The chowder came in pewter pots! With freshly made croutons instead of oyster crackers from Vermont. We ordered 2 cups and our waitress brought the kids their own (more than half full).



ChowderGirl immediately noted how thin it was. I suppose this is part of our introduction to the concept - drive south and the chowder gets thin. Not that it means BAD CHOWDER...but as New Englanders, we like things to stay the same. Always.

So the chowder was thin. And it had a LOT of celery in it (common in CT, I am learning). And...it wasn't as flavorful as I usually like. But the clams were just INSANE. Perfect. Gobs of them. With perfectly cooked potatoes.

We didn't rank it officially - I think perhaps our old system is outdated already.

Here are a few video reviews!

Chowder Girl and Padme review the chowder.


ChowderBoy reviews it on his new scale.

Chowder Today?

I have a huge urge to take the kids to Sage American Bar and Grill in New Haven for their well reviewed chowder. We're struggling just to get started moving though...

How many New Englanders does it take to change a light bulb?
What was wrong with the old one?

Schwepps Chowder Off

The kids got the nicest email back from Mike Martin over at Newport Waterfront about the Chowder-off next weekend. We're getting really geared up.

Busy weekend ahead today and possibly no time for chowder tasting but we may try and sneak in a bowl or two tomorrow.

Graziella's - Pocasset, MA - May 24, 2009

Well well well. Last year, Graziella's changed hands. Previously, Graziella's was the source of my thinking that we should reconsider this notion that we have to eat chowder whenever it is offered. Worst chowder in the history of the free world.

I have changed my mind. The new owners, aside from putting in new floors and a fresh coat of paint, also managed to make a chowder worthy of review and possibly even a repeat purchase.

Thickness: 8
Quantity of Clams: 7
Quality of Clams: 8
Seasonings: 7
Temperature: 8
Potato: 8
Freshness: 8
Buttery: 6

60/80 = C

We may have to re-evaluate our grading methods. The kids are starting to rank chowder on a scale of 0 to 56,000.

In other news, the house is open, we've been swimming (well, ChowderGirl has), we've had a bonfire, and I am on my second bloody mary of the day. As they say, Life is Good.

The Chart Room - Cataumet, MA - May 23, 2009

It's always worth confirming long-held opinions about places like the Chart Room and their chowder. The last time we had chowder there, we were exhausted, starving, and had just finished a race. The chowder was great.

And this time. Well, it was solid. It is fine. It's always fine. But the place is packed, overpriced, and filled with yahoos drinking mudslides and shrieking about their party boat.

Thickness: 7
Quantity of Clams: 7
Quality of Clams: 9
Buttery: 7
Temperature: 9
Seasonings: Rankings ranged from 0 to 6. Split the difference, 4.
Potato: 4 (too big and overcooked)
Freshness: 9

56/80 = C

ChowderDad and ChowderGrandpa are taking their job as "Fringe Chowder experts" seriously and ordered the haddock chowder. They both enjoyed it and it certainly hit the spot on a chilly Memorial Day weekend.


One thing I will never argue with the Chart Room is this. Their bloody marys are great. Always great. And always welcome. They can rip people off with $26 lobster rolls and merely acceptable mudslides. But the bloodies are great.

The Beach Cafe, Fairfield, CT, May 17, 2009

Thickness: 5
Clam Quantity: 4
Quality: 4
Buttery: 3
Seasoning: 5
Temperature: 9
Potatoes: 10
Freshness: 5
45/80 = F

Chowder Grandma said it was very good, different from New England Chowder and she is okay with that because she lived in Newport for 12 years. It's more like RI chowder. But that is not our gold standard, Grandma. So no go. Not classic, not good.

It was barely worth taking leftovers to the house for the rest of the gang.

Oh and it had PAPRIKA? WHAT THE????

The Mansion Clam House, Westport, CT, May 10, 2009, Mother's Day

We were all over the place with this ranking. Chowder Girl complained that the potatoes were mushy. ChowderBoy thought it wasn't hot enough. Chowder Mom was cranky about the quantity of clams. And Chowder Dad...well. Strangely, he thought $50 for 4 cups of chowder and a few bloody marys was too much. Strange, that.



I'm going to average the scores.

Freshness: 7.75
Quantity of clams: 6.25
Quality of Clams: 6
Potato: 5
Seasonings: 9
Butttery: 8
Temperature: 6.5
Thickness: 10
58.5/80 = C-

As a side note. When the bloody marys arrived, we were both giddy. Horseradish! Tons of it! At first taste it was great! Then second taste was a bit overwhelming. By the time we finished, we were both sad.

The Mermaid, Fairhaven, MA April 19, 2009

Buttery: 8
Thickness: 10
Quantity of clams: 8
Quality of clams: 7
Potato: 6
Seasonings: 9
Temperature: 8
Freshness: 9
65/80 = B-

We liked it quite a bit - the place was great and the chowder was very very solidly good. However, ChowderGrandma won't stop talking about it. AND, one major thing that is a big sell for everyone - it is a PERFECT location for a pre-bridge traffic jam. Stop in, rest from the first leg of the trip, soldier onward.

Also, the people who own the place were so damned nice it almost hurt.

A review of the rest of their menu is here, along with directions.

The Casino, Falmouth Heights, MA, April 18, 2009

Buttery: 5
Quantity: 4
Quality: 4
Thickness: 7
Temperature: 9
Potato: 9
Seasoning: 5
Freshness: 7
50/80 = F

I found being in the new Casino distracting. I much preferred it as a place for 18 year olds to drink and climb into random Whalers and go to Oak Bluffs for a packy run.

The Reef at Ash Creek, Fairfield, CT March 2009

Thickness: 8
Buttery: 8
Quality of Clams: 7
Quantity of Clams: 6
Potato: 7
Seasonings: 10
Freshness: 7
Temperature: 7
60/80 = A Solid C

After the long wait...it was decent enough. Nothing special.

British Beer Company, Falmouth Heights, MA, January 2, 2009

Thickness: 5
Buttery: 9
Quality of Clams: 7
Quantity of Clams: 4
Potato: 7
Seasonings: 9
Freshness: 8
Temperature: 7
60/80 = A solid C

The view was great. ChowderGirl really liked her chowder. However, the addition of more clams would have increased the score dramatically.

The Reef at Ash Creek, Fairfield, CT December 20, 2008

We went out in the middle of a snowstorm to get Chowder Dad Christmas gifts and stopped in for a bite to eat. The chowder was hidden from us as soon as they heard we had a journal and were expert chowder critics. Clearly, they were intimidated. We will get them next time!!!

Rory's - Darien, CT - Some Horrible Day Last Fall

21/80. It was terrible. Just awful and sad and made us cranky. Here's the exact quote:

"Awful!!! It had onions!!!! AWFUL BAD BAD EW!"

Chart Room, Cataumet, MA - July 26, 2008

Overall freshness 10
Quality of clams 9
Quantity of clams 8
Seasonings 8
Potato 8
Butteryness 10
Thickness 10
Temperature 10
73/80 = A-

Oh Chart Room. Why can't I quit you?

"Of course, being hungry after the Bassackwards and eating this chowder on the boat may be an advantage to it's ranking."

I've been eating Chart Room chowder for 25 years now and it is consistently great. Expensive. And crowded. And annoying. But the chowder is nearly perfect. I highly recommend eating it on the boat though.

Fishmonger Cafe, Woods Hole MA, July 25, 2008

Overall freshness 6
Quality of clams 5
Quantity of clams 2
Seasonings 0
Potato 2
Butteryness 0
Thickness 0
Temperature 3
18/80 = F----

"Pretty much has nothing to recommend it."

Nearly a year later, I feel a bit bad about this review. I used to love the Fishmonger and looking back, I feel like I should have some loyalty to the place but it really just wasn't good. The new owners haven't really kept up the standards of days past.

Elizabeth's in Fairhaven, MA, July 24, 2008

Overall freshness 8
Quality of clams 8
Quantity of clams6
Seasonings 3
Potato 6
Butteryness 3
Thickness 3
Temperature 8
46/80 = F

It was very think, seasoned lightly, even the addition of bacon didn't help it's cause.

Note: This was a long time ago, pulled the review from the journal today and have absolutely no recollection of the chowder. 'Nuff said.

Bobette's - Milford CT, 05/09/09

Now we're getting somewhere. Local chowder, summertime type stuff happening, and thou.

We read about Bobette's while preparing our trip to Newport in a few weeks for the Chowder Cook Off and to possibly pre-screen some local restaurants. They apparently won 2nd in the "Seafood category" in 2008. When we arrived, it seems clear that it was for their Mussel chowder. That might be enticing but we're clearly focused on clams right now and don't have time to mess around with too many variables.

The name Drive-In should have tipped me off to potential problem number one. No seating. Which might be no big deal if we lived in Milford and could have brought hot, fresh chowder home. We had to make do with eating outside on a dreary day and headed down to the harbor.

Who knew there would be a major disagreement with the judges? Here are the scores, in the order they were assessed.

Chowder Girl and Boy are eating the chowder at a picnic table.



Overall freshness 6
Quality of clams 6
Quantity of clams 2 (Chowder girl actually complains about this in a video I took but I can't edit it today...)
Seasonings 8
Potato 9
Butteryness 3
Thickness 5.

And then a protest occurs. Chowder Boy got quite angry at this statement and demanded that I make a second column for his own review "since she doesn't get it." And declared the thickness a ZERO.

Temperature N/A
Total: 39/70 = F

I have to say, I can't really argue with him, but this is very typical Connecticut style clam chowder. It's not our personal preference but I can see why it might be nice for some.

"Clams, not fresh, and not enough. Potatoes are absolutely perfectly good. Chowder boy says thickness is terrible. Seasonings were nice but there was an excess of celery which is a BIG problem for Chowder Girl."


It nearly gets worse though. We brought some home to Chowder Dad who was doing some work at home.

Overall freshness N/A
Quality of clams 6
Quantity of clams 7
Seasonings 7
Potato 9
Butteryness 6
Thickness 5
Temperature N/A
Total: 40/60 = F/D-

Here's the problem with Chowder Dad. He's kind of clueless. It leaves me wondering, does he know bad chowder when he eats it but can't get the nuances of good chowder?

Bobette's clam chowder was clearly very very good. No one spit it out or started crying. But I wouldn't make a special trip back for it.