A Massachusetts pub boasting about the "best clam chowder" is almost as bold as a Maine restaurant claiming to have the "best lobster roll." However, the folks at Captain Parker's Pub in West Yarmouth may just have the chops to back up their statement.
Their creamy clam concoction has consistently taken down the competition time and time again with accolades like the Triple Crown Chowder Championship, meaning they scored a blue ribbon in Boston, Cape Cod, and Newport competitions all in the same year.
But that's just the start. Captain Parker's has been featured on the Food Network's America's Best program, gotten a shout out from Rachel Ray's Best Eats in Town, and pulled down several regional titles including Best of Cape Cod & Islands and Best of New England - plus many other awards.
So What make's Captain Parker's chowder so special? First of all, they've been at it for decades. The pub opened in 1981, so they have had nearly 40 years to perfect their craft. Unlike some restaurants that focus on too many different things, Parker's has always been about the chowder.
According to their website, they "craft their chowder daily in small batches from the freshest ingredients, so it is consistently delicious." Sounds like a good plan.
And finally, a bowl of New England clam chowder is only as good as the oyster crackers that accompany it. Parker's gets theirs from the 200-year-old Westminster Bakery Co. in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Like Captain Parker's they focus their attention on doing one thing really well, baking their crackers with the same 7 simple ingredients since 1828.
After running on a take-out-only basis for several months, Captain Parker's is back open for dine-in service on their covered patio with new social distancing rules:
- They are only offering 9 tables
- Parties must be of 6 people or less
- Guests must wait in their cars until their table is ready
- No reservations. Seating is first-come-first-served
Each month, Captain Parker's Pub gives away a $50 gift card so you can come for a free dinner and judge their chowder for yourself. Click here, it's free to enter!