You can probably buy fried clams as good as I used to buy at Howard Johnson’s. When I find out where I can buy them I’ll let everybody know.
back when I was a young business traveler, I would go in there on all-you-can-eat fried clam night. If I eat that much fried food now, I am up all night — aging ain’t always fun.
The last time I ate at Howard Johnsons, I got the fried clams.
I was sick for 3 days.
GFS stores have the clams you are looking for.
The best fried clams! But their tartar sauce was also the very best!
As a boy growing up in New York, I loved Howard Johnson's fried clams.
But then I moved to New England in my 20s, and suddenly discovered REAL fried clams. Howard Johnson's fried clams were actually clam "strips" -- meaning not the whole clam.
But in New England, fried clams have "bellies" -- which are a whole different -- and infinitely superior -- culinary experience.
These are fried clam strips:
These are whole belly fried clams:
Clam strips are like little strips of breaded rubber compared to the succulent mouth-watering joy of whole belly fried clams.
Once you try the whole belly fried clams, you'll never go back.
As far as chain restaurants, some of the local Big Boys in the Detroit area do a decent job. They can be pricey, though.