Although our original holiday weekend plans did not entail a trip out East, the beautiful weather, and a slight adjustment to the itinerary, brought us to our favorite road side slurping destination this past Sunday. One of the few places as eager as us to kick off the Summer 2012 season, Clam Bar had opened their shutters and sharpened their shucking knives, ready to attend to the shellfish craving needs of locals and visitors alike.

It was one of those quaint early spring days, when the air was a bit cooler than the bright shining sun caste it to be. So after a scenic bike ride along the harbors of the East Hampton Spring Bay area, we bundled up and headed down route 27, stopping a few miles short of Montauk, for our hearty crustacean fix.

With only plastic white table outdoor seating, and a long stretched open kitchen bar, this is the classic way to experience a summer day out in the East End of Long Island. As the sun shined bright, and Bruce Springstein playing in the background, we took seat at one of the few open tables, and soaked up the rays. The restaurant offers raw bar items such as local oysters on the half shell and shrimp cocktail, as well as steamers, mussels, and the classic lobster roll.

With a few beers to cheers to our opening day, we were ready to indulge in some of that local seafood goodness. Warming up, we began with their perfectly ratioed manhattan clam chowder and the special of the day, spicy crab and corn chowder. Next up, it was two orders of the big and fresh local oysters, Montauk Pearls. The briny finish, combined with the crisp ocean air sent us swimming straight into our final course of steamers and lobsters rolls.  The steamers were the largest we had ever seen. And although the waitress apologized for this atypical order, we could not have been happier with the obese like clam bellies. The lobster rolls, as always, were chunky, and delicious.

Although it was sad to head back west, leaving behind the ocean, and our favorite summer destination, we know the season has only just begun. Next time, it will be a Cyrils BBC to follow our seafood delights at Clam Bar.

Clam Bar
2025 Montauk Highway  Amagansett, NY 11930
(631) 267-6348