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Woodman's of Essex has provided dining and catering since 1914. Specializing in seafood, Woodman's also ships to the customers' door.

What to Drink: Beverages, including beer and wine, are available from a separate bar.

Know Before You Go: Hit the ATM before arriving, as Woodman's is cash only.

According to local legend, this is where Lawrence "Chubby" Woodman invented the first fried clam back in 1916. Today this sprawling wooden shack with indoor booths and outdoor picnic tables is the place for seafood in the rough. Besides fried clams, you can tuck into clam chowder, lobster rolls, or the popular "down-river" lobster combo.

Whether or not Chubby Woodman really invented the fried clam nearly a century ago, this legendary clam shack can nonetheless lay claim to being "home of the fried clam." Today, with its setting beside the Essex River, the no frills bare-bones fast food joint is packed both inside and out all summer long. Out of season, however, things slow down and it can make for a nice escape from the city....

This "shack"-style Essex "classic" "allegedly invented" the fried clam – and though you "can't go wrong" with them here, it's a "go-to" for "generous portions" of any kind of seafood, including "excellent" lobster (in rolls and in the rough); loyalists shrug off the "tour-bus" crowds that "snake down the street", self-service and tabs that can seem "pricey", considering it's just plastic plates...

Woodman's of Essex is regarded as the birthplace of the fried clam. In business since 1914, they also offer unrivaled catering services. Enjoy fresh and delicious clambakes, chowder, mussels, lobster rolls, scallops and shrimp. Seafood lover or not, this award-winning place is a must-visit for a taste of New England authenticity.