the Simple and the Fabulous: Lobster Clambake in Sam's Chowder House

Birthday Lunch: Lobster Clambake in Sam's Chowder House

THE SIMPLE AND THE FABULOUS

Sam’s Chowder House’s Boston Clambake has become a sort of tradition for us. It all started several years ago when I decided to treat Ricardo to a Boston Clambake for his birthday. It was our first time ever trying this dish and we both felt in love with it. Jokingly Ricardo said that this should become his signature birthday dish, only to be eaten during his birthday. Here we are, many years later, and we’ve kept to that promise.

This year it was uniquely special since last year we were not able to have our clambake. We went to the restaurant, waited to be seated and ordered our drinks. When the waiter came back to take our order, and excitedly asked for the clambake, we were told that they had run out of lobster. Shocked we scrambled through the menu for an alternative and opted for paella. As wonderful as it was, the paella was no Boston Clambake. So yes, it has been two years in the making to taste the clambake again…
Luckily, it did not disappoint!

The celebration started with an order for half dozen of the sweetest blue point oysters we had every
tasted. Ricardo went ahead and order his gin martini, two olives, as usual, I opted for a healthier large
OJ.

The clambake included two cups of clam chowder, a whole lobster, clams, mussels, a hot sausage cut in half, potato, salad and corns. The food was cooked in garlic and wine sauce. I am a seafood lover, but that was still too much seafood for me. (I can't believe I used the phrase "too much.") I felt that I would not have lobster for a long while.

Sam's Chowder House is located on Highway CA-1 in Half Moon Bay near Pacifica. The restaurant is right next to a beach and has nice ocean view. It gets packed everyday. We went on a Tuesday, but there were still people waiting to be seated. So I suggest you to make reservation ahead.