As I was planning my short food trip to the north, I did not have Bob’s Clam Hut on my agenda, but plans do change.  As I was talking about this trip to a friend of mine, he excitedly said I must stop in at Bob’s Clam Hut in Kittery, Maine.  I looked at my map and saw that it was just off I-95 on Route 1 in Maine, so I put it on the list.  It was easy to get to, taking exit 3, and I do love clams, and clam chowder.  Sitting right on Route 1, only a half mile off of I-95 sits this unimposing shack with a gravel parking lot.  I really didn’t think much about it, and wasn’t sure about the food, that all changed the moment I stepped into the building.

First of all, it does get busy in there, I mean packed with customers.  Second, they are fast with service and getting your order to you.  There is outdoor seating, but I was there in late October, so I decided to stay with indoor seating, where there is plenty of.  The folks who work there are friendly, friendly, and efficient, which is always a good sign.  I placed my order at the window, and it took about 10 or 15 minutes for the food to be ready.  All food is cooked to order, so it comes out fresh and hot.  No food sitting around waiting to get cold.

I had looked at the menu online beforehand and knew what I wanted.  I went with an order of clam chowder, to go along with an order of clams and scallops.  The clam chowder just hit differently there.  I’m not sure if it was because I was in Maine or just because it was the best clam chowder I had ever had.  You must understand, I’ve had clam chowder at countless places, I love the stuff.  So, when I say it’s the best I’ve had, I don’t say it lightly.  I mean it.  It was creamy, full of clams and potatoes, seasoned to perfection, and served at a perfect temperature.  I use it as my new marker for good clam chowder.

Then comes the clams and scallops.  There were fries under that mountain of clams and scallops as well, and they were tasty, but I was there for the clams and scallops.  If you are going to have the product in the name of the restaurant, then you had better be darn good at making that product.  I must tell you; the clams were beyond delicious.  They were flavorful, light, not greasy, and fresh.  You can tell, these are not the cheap frozen clams you get at a lot of restaurants that are chewy, overcooked, and just taste bad.  You can choose for just the strips, or the full belly clams.  Order either one, you won’t be disappointed.  It wasn’t just the clams that were mouthwatering, the scallops were just as good.  These scallops were sweet, large, with just a lite coating of seasoned flour.  You want the flavor of the scallops to shine through, and not be buried under heaving breading, and fried in old grease.  The folks at Bob’s sure do a fantastic job of letting the product shine, and not letting the flavors get lost in unnecessary seasoning and old oil.

There were so many other things I would have liked to try at Bob’s like lobster rolls, calamari, shrimp, fried fish, and their many sandwiches.  It may be about a thousand miles from where I live, but you can bet you life that I will return.  Bob’s has been around since 1956 serving up delicious food, and I hope they continue what they are doing for the next 200 years.  So, if you are ever in the area, heck if it’s a 50-mile detour, be sure to check out Bob’s Clam Hut.  You won’t be disappointed.

Website:Bob's Clam Hut
Address:315 US Route 1, Kittery, Maine 03904
Phone:(207)439-4233
Visited:October 18, 2023

Bob's Clam Hut