Originally Posted by MeredithMan
Some may recall my previous post from earlier this summer with the Lobster Roll Run-Off. This weekend we ended up doing the Fry Shack Face-Off...
Yesterday, we found ourselves in Moultonborough around lunch time and we realized we hadn't had our grease fix yet this summer, so we hit Red Hill Dairy for some fried clams. There were 3 of us, (wife, son, and me), so we got a pint of whole-belly clams, a large fry, order of onion rings, and 3 large diet cokes. Food came out quickly and was nice and hot. Everything was crispy and quite tasty. Total was about $57. Only "downside" is that they only take cash, (or checks).
Today, we had some errands in Gilford, so my son got the brainstorm to do a fried clam comparison with Sawyers, since that has historically been our fry shack "go-to". We never got to Sawyers last year, but the first thing we noticed when we walked in was the new decor. My wife said, "are we in the Denver Broncos dressing room from the 1970's?" Bright white walls with bright blue trim, bright orange tables, and garishly bright lights that burn your retina, (clear glass fixtures so you see the illuminated filament).
My son got the whole-belly clam roll, which came with fries. My wife and I got a 1/2 pint of whole-belly clams and order of fries, and we each got a diet coke. $60 for everything, so on par with Red Hill on price. Food was very slow in coming out. In fact, 2 groups who ordered after us got their food first. Fries were piping hot, but the clams were barely above room temp. and not crispy...almost soggy. It was if they had come out of the fryolator and had been sitting around for a while. Cole slaw was gross and tartar sauce was sicky sweet. On the plus side, they do take credit cards and they do have a soda fountain for refills.
Hands down, no contest, Red Hill Dairy won the Fry-Shack Face Off...
(I will say parenthetically that it's disappointing Sawyers has gone down hill. We traditionally have gone there once a summer since our kids were little for a fried clam fix...it will be a long time before we try it again)
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