| Lately, it seems as if every time I turn around there's | | | | Lobster Roll. The Fried Clam Roll. Fried Ipswich Belly |
| a new Boston-themed restaurant opening up in | | | | Clams. Haddock Fish and Chips. I wonder what the |
| southwest Florida. | | | | items were that they ran out of? |
| Our melting pot of ethnic diversity apparently harbors | | | | The waiter took a drink order, and returned |
| a sizable contingent of starving transplants from | | | | practically immediately with our beverages. |
| places far North of here...people who talk funny, turn | | | | "I don't usually work lunch...but they got so busy |
| up their nose at Florida seafood, and ravenously long | | | | today that they called me in to help out," he told us. |
| for that hard-to-find, authentic, New England-style | | | | It seems that buzz is starting to spread. |
| cuisine. Cold water fish. Thick chowders. Steamed | | | | My dining partner ordered a glass of Pinot Noir. I |
| soft-shell clams. Corn on the cob. Maine lobster. | | | | went with a Guinness. |
| Portuguese sausage. | | | | For dinner, my guest ordered the Haddock Fish and |
| When I heard a new Boston-themed restaurant was | | | | Chips. I chose their New England Clam Chowder for a |
| opening up in Big John's plaza, utilizing the space which | | | | starter and the Ipswich Fried Clams as my main |
| formerly housed the Fitness Grille, I looked forward | | | | course. |
| to trying it out. | | | | The New England Clam Chowder arrived quickly, with |
| In February, an amateurish looking sign went up on | | | | a side of oyster crackers. It was an excellent |
| the building...Boston Pub and Grille. I stopped in to grab | | | | example of a traditional Cape Cod clam |
| a copy of the menu. It was crowded with standard | | | | chowder...creamy, but not too thick, just the way I |
| American fare of the burger and chicken variety. My | | | | like it. There are some who like their chowder thick |
| hopes were squandered. The only New England thing | | | | enough to stand up their spoon in the middle of it, |
| about this restaurant was the word Boston on the | | | | and on occasion I've tasted a good thick chowder. |
| sign. There may have been a token haddock dish and | | | | But I've never had a great thick chowder. The extra |
| some clam chowder...but the big dogs of northern | | | | thick texture usually comes at the expense of the |
| gastronomy were noticeably absent. Where were | | | | most important chowder facet: flavor. The New |
| the lobster rolls, the steamers, the fried scallops, the | | | | England Clam Chowder at Boston Pub and Grille had |
| clam fritters, the scrod? | | | | an excellent, briny, clam flavor. I'll take medium |
| I put the Boston Pub and Grille on the back burner of | | | | texture any day, as long as the flavor is there...but |
| my priority list, and moved on to other restaurants. | | | | it's a delicate balancing act, the flavor cannot be |
| But, the story did not end there. A couple months | | | | overdone. True clam chowder is about simplicity. |
| went by, and I began to see newspaper ads for the | | | | Cream, clams, pork fat, celery, onion, potatoes, |
| Boston Pub and Grille. "Watch All The Red Sox | | | | maybe a hint of thyme and black pepper. That's it. |
| Games Here! MLB Package" These advertisements | | | | The Boston Pub doesn't use my exact recipe, but it's |
| mentioned entrees not previously available on the | | | | pretty close and a nice variation. Keep it simple. |
| regular menu. Haddock Fish and Chips. Maine Lobster | | | | Ample time was allowed between courses, as we |
| Rolls. Ipswich Fried Clams. This little restaurant was | | | | mentioned we were not in any rush. |
| finally coming around, finding and effectively targeting | | | | The entrees looked excellent as they were placed |
| homesick northerners with the kinds of comfort food | | | | down before us. The decadent, fried, seafood |
| they can't resist. A small buzz passed along the Cape | | | | scented the air around us with the perfume of Main |
| Coral word-of-mouth infrastructure: "You've got to | | | | Street in Hyannis on a summer night. I patted myself |
| go try that Boston Pub and Grille". | | | | on the back for deciding to choose this restaurant to |
| The time had arrived for me to make my visit. | | | | review today. I should have come earlier. |
| It was a late lunch, and I easily found a parking spot | | | | My guest's Fried Haddock and Chips were piping hot. |
| directly in front of the restaurant. Now, in addition to | | | | The batter was lightly seasoned, crispy...perfectly |
| the one amateur looking sign above the main door, | | | | done. The haddock was moist. The crunchy, fried, |
| there are two others placed on the plaza sidewalk | | | | exterior provided the perfect counterpoint to the |
| directly outside the restaurant. The owners, Stan and | | | | clean, white, flavor of the delicate, flaky, fish. |
| Mary Nedoff, are both originally from Boston - and | | | | Yummy. |
| they've put enough ugly signs out in front of this | | | | The Ipswich Fried Clams were tempting to look at. |
| place to be certain you won't miss it. Don't get me | | | | What a rare treat in Southwest Florida...not many |
| wrong...when you're opening a new restaurant, | | | | places serve whole belly clams down south. I am |
| fighting for market share is tough. The past couple | | | | pleased to report that these were as sweet and |
| years have seen SW Florida saturated with new | | | | tender as any fried clams I've ever had from the |
| restaurants...and not all of them are doing well. As far | | | | coast of Maine to the tip of Provincetown. Fried, but |
| as I'm concerned, if it's working for you, then keep | | | | not greasy. Once again, excellent batter...that's how |
| at it...ugly signs, or not. | | | | you make a name for yourself in fried seafood. It's all |
| The restaurant is a lot more cozy on the inside than | | | | about the batter. I feel as though I should sing more |
| it looks from out front. An attractive bar, from which | | | | praises about the Ipswich clams, but I'm going to |
| to watch the Red Sox games, is directly to the left | | | | take a lesson from the chowder and keep it simple: |
| as you enter the restaurant. From there, it is a | | | | Job well done, Boston Pub. |
| straight and narrow shot to the back of the building, | | | | Both dishes were served with extra crispy, |
| past a couple high top tables and four or five comfy | | | | crinkle-cut, french fries and cole slaw. The fries are |
| booths. The interior is quaint, with a definite coastal | | | | just plain, lightly-seasoned, french fries...but that's all |
| New England theme. There are some Cape Cod signs | | | | these dishes call for. That's how they're served up |
| and maps. Nautical charts of the Massachusetts | | | | North. They provide a simple base for the rest of |
| shoreline. Framed magazine clippings documenting the | | | | the meal, without getting in the way of the subtle |
| ups and downs of the Kennedy family. Plenty of Red | | | | haddock and clam flavors. |
| Sox imagery, too. At the far end, beyond the last | | | | The cole slaw was sincere, as well. I've seen many a |
| booth, is a door exiting to their thirty-seat outdoor | | | | cole slaw turned into a travesty by well meaning, |
| dining patio. The Nedoff's have done a nice job with | | | | artistic, chefs in South Florida. Boston Pub and Grille |
| the space they have. | | | | scores extra points on the cole slaw by keeping it |
| As soon as we walked in, we were quickly and | | | | traditional. Cabbage, carrots, vinegar, and mayonnaise. |
| enthusiastically greeted by the bartender and a | | | | The end result is a cool and refreshing palate cleanser |
| member of the wait staff. | | | | offering balance against the heat of the fried food. If |
| "Grab a seat wherever you'd like, I'll be right over | | | | it ain't broke don't fix it. |
| with some menus." | | | | Allow me to proclaim, based on my one meal at |
| Most of the tables were still occupied by people | | | | Boston Pub and Grille, I heartily Recommend this |
| finishing lunch. We took the last booth on the far | | | | restaurant. |
| right. | | | | I am hoping they will do the right thing, and get |
| The Boston Pub and Grille must still be in transition | | | | those new, popular items onto their regular menu as |
| period, because the menus the young man with the | | | | soon as possible. I would go so far as to say that |
| Red Sox cap brought over were copies of the same | | | | success for this restaurant looks like it's in the |
| one that gave me the bad first impression. I had to | | | | direction of catering to Northern palates. Bring in |
| ask after their newer Boston-themed fare. | | | | some clam fritters... no one down here has them, and |
| "I thought I saw in the newspaper that you had | | | | we're growing tired of conch. Add steamed soft shell |
| some other menu items?" | | | | clams. Hell, do a New England style Lobster Bake. |
| "Oh yeah, we're out of a couple of them, so I didn't | | | | And, get Harpoon IPA onto your beer list. Expat New |
| even think to bring the other menu over." | | | | Englanders need a culinary oasis in Cape Coral. If you |
| Now, I never got to see what exactly what was on | | | | build it they will come. They're already here and |
| this other menu...but the few items the friendly | | | | looking ...all they need is a reason to come. And when |
| waiter rattled off and said they still offered were | | | | they do, I might be sorry I shared my good |
| exactly the kind of food I came here looking for. The | | | | experience...I've never been one for big crowds. |
