Gerry Z.
Yelp
I cannot speak highly enough about this joint.
We did a search for fried clams after a disappointment elsewhere in Olympia and came across this icon of fine Southern/N'awlins flavor and hospitality. Whoah! There was so much more on the menu than those clams.
We had to try everything.
That means:
Sweet tea, clam chowder, fried okrah, fried pickles, hush puppies, fried corn, clam strips, fried chicken, red beans and rice, jambalaya, mac and cheese, cole slaw, sweet potato pie, pecan pie. They were sold out of the gumbo. There were more things we wanted to try, but that was far more than enough food for two of us and plenty of leftovers for four more meals at home. For about $100 including a grateful tip. This place is very reasonably priced. Way more food than the two of us wanted, but we wanted to try everything. Here's what we liked:
Every. Single. Thing.
Every. Single. Thing.
Every single thing was ridiculously good.
The sweet tea, wasn't too sweet and tasted like tea- I could actually differentiate the well balanced flavors.
The clam chowder.... I'm from New England, I'm proudly snobby and opinionated- this was awesome. Not all fancy with dill or sherry, but thick and creamy as it should be with plenty of clams and enough potato, the right flavor but with a slightly unique texture, almost like it was thickened with grits instead of flour or cornstarch. Appropriately served with the correct oyster crackers. Really solid chowdah. Wicked good.
Fried okrah. Not my thing...I wouldn't have ordered it but yes what a surprise! Turns out it IS my thing. Like everything that was fried the breading was delicate and scrumptious and not at all greasy- these were fantastic. I'd never tried such a thing before and was compulsively popping the tasty little happy textured morsel surprises into my mouth.
Clam strips. Whoah. These were not your typical little clam necks and clam bellies, nor were they fried to a crunchy crisp, this are bigger necks- clam strips were huge, fresh, and the batter was delicate. Somehow not as flavorful as other clam strips but tasty and seemed healthier with the depth of the deep fry oil and texture. Clam strips are one of my favorite things and it's hard to find good ones in the Northwest. These are good. Not great. But good.
Aside- we wondered if they used an air fryer for all their fried goods, as nothing was oily/greasy. Food seemed unusually light and healthy for fried food.
Fried chicken. OMG, the moisture and flavor of the chicken inside the delicate batter was ridiculously good. Wow.
Hush puppies. I had bad memories of this stuff from grade school. Little did I know they could be prepared so that the batter forms an exterior ball of delicate crunch while the interior was moist and tasty- almost like cake pops or something. Like the okrah, not something I would have ordered, but awesome surprise.
Red beans and rice. I was too full I couldn't try them. I had to prioritize.
Jambalaya. I was too full, I had the leftovers with leftover chowder for two full meals for myself. So I didn't have it fresh. There was plenty of sausage and shrimp and flavor on the dirty rice.
Mac and cheese. Great. Nothing exceptional but not overcooked, a bit al dente, with enough flavor. Comforting food like everything else here.
Cole slaw. Very good. Not too soaked in dressing. Clean healthy flavor.
Pecan pie. Very good. That said, ate it the next day. I couldn't have dessert I just rolled my stuffed body out of the
Anything else? Oh yeah- the corn. I don't know how they did it. The ear of corn on a stick weighed about two pounds, soaked in what? Flavored with what? I don't know. I overwhelmed myself with food. But I remember it was delicious.
The service was friendly. Obviously from the various reviews- the place is very popular and gets a big lunch rush. It's a good idea to bring a patient attitude. I came in with that attitude and came out fat and grateful.
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.
Take your gracious attitude, remember that things happen a bit slower in the South (this ain't a fast food drive through), it's worth waiting for, try everything I didn't try and let me know how it is.
(And this is just a couple doors down from remarkable cupcake shop.... it's amazing that we could get a parking spot at this little strip mall).