Smitty&#x27;s Clam Bar

The Essential Seafood Restaurants of the Jersey Shore

"When you’ve spent a long day lounging at the beach or cruising along the back bays, you’re probably ready for a casual seafood feast and Smitty’s Clam Bar is an excellent option. Known for its popular clam offerings, this seasonal Somers Point seafood shack on the bay also offers other tempting seafood bites, such as fried clam strips, baked sea scallops, fried crab cakes, and creative daily specials." - Kristen Kwiatkowski

Where To Eat Down The Shore: Atlantic City To Cape May - New York - The Infatuation

"If the only reason you’ve ever found yourself in Somers Point is to buy liquor, you’re not alone. But another place worth making a trip for is Smitty’s. It’s a small shack right on the banks of the bay with bar seats that wrap around the perimeter, and on most days there’s about an hour or so wait. But if you bring a cooler with a few beers (yes, people really do this) and maybe a bag of chips to tide you over, it’ll be worth the wait for a bowl of clam chowder, baked scallops, and pretty much anything that’s been put through the deep fryer." - Sydney Mcelwee, Candis Mclean, Tonya Russell

Smitty’s Clam Bar Review - Somers Point - Philadelphia - The Infatuation

The Jersey Shore’s Top Restaurants - Eater NY

"Known as “Smitty’s” to locals for Smith’s dock nearby, the restaurant offers a whiteboard menu that changes daily depending on the catch, but its namesake bivalve can always be counted on, served waterside with a wait. BYOB." - Stefanie Tuder

Tahmia Welch

Google

Best clam fries I've had, fairly large portions I found difficult to eat, there is also the cast caveat, also BYOB, which isn't an issue.

Dolores A

Google

It's our traditional 1st visit of the season! It's the casual, laid back, vibe with good fresh seafood that does it for us! Love seeing the latest artistic drawings of the menus by local children who come to eat at the restaurant. We loved our usuals, served very hot & fresh every time. All the servers are friendly & quick to get the food out hot. We'll be seeing ya soon! (BYOB)

Melissa B.

Google

We all know that I dislike leaving negative ratings. However, this one deserved a negative. The fried seafood platter was HORRIBLE! Nothing on the plate was fresh...all frozen. I even asked the waitress if the crabcake was jumbo lump and she said yes. You can clearly see that it was not. I could have had a better dinner with Mortans Fish in the ACME isle.

Gerald Z

Google

We had lived in Somers Point many years ago and one of our fondest memories was visiting Smitty's throughout the summer months. Visiting today was a nostalgic and pleasant experience. There is no way we could remember what the food tasted like years ago, so we were tasting it for the first time again. The New England Clam Chowder was excellent - thick and rich - nice combo of ingredients. We also had one of the fish sandwiches of the day - Fried Cod. Will be visiting again soon.

Robby Heins

Google

I have been coming here all of my life and have had a great meal every single time I dine here. You cannot go wrong with some chowder (try the half and half) and an order of steamers.

Hale Richards

Google

1st time here. We'd heard a lot about it. All positive! The first thing I will tell you is that they are only open from 4:30 -9:30 PM and they're closed on Tuesdays. The second thing I will tell you is that they are perpetually packed! It is not at all uncommon for there to be a two hour wait. You can try the outdoor counter seating but that is packed as well. Parking is also something of an issue. The staff is amazing! Everyone had a smile and was very nice. Super efficient! It's controlled chaos for sure. I ordered a bowl of New England clam chowder that was delicious! The main course was fried shrimp and french fries. Both were excellent. I spoke to people who said they'd been coming here for 45 years and that everything they serve is wonderful. The prices are also very reasonable. All in all, 4 stars. One star off for the wait time and parking.

Johnny

Google

BYOB establishment. First come, first serve. Did not wait long to get seated, and the service was amazing and fast. The Swordfish with Soy sauce and ginger was amazing. My girlfriend ordered The Flounder and absolutely loved it. THE CLAMS WERE DELICIOUS!! Great views, food, and atmosphere. 10/10 recommend 👌

Donna Marie Berchtold

Google

Excellent experience. A beautiful evening by the water. BYOB and expect tonsit and relax for an hour outside with your family and friends before eating. Well known landmark for many years. Casual attire, relaxed atmosphere. Eat in or outside and the counter.great cod bite appetizers, and seafood over pasta. We all had something different...all very tasty

Rich W.

Yelp

Unusual food that's unusually good, at a very reasonable price. Probably the reason people are waiting in line so long.

Dolores A.

Yelp

It's our traditional 1st visit of the season! It's the casual, laid back, vibe with good fresh seafood that does it for us! Love seeing the latest artistic drawings of the menus by the local children who come to eat at the restaurant. We loved our usuals, served very hot & fresh every time. All the servers are friendly & quick to get the food out. We'll be seeing ya soon! (BYOB)

Elizabeth N.

Yelp

This is a family fav that is talked about 3 years after moving away. Grab your crayons, check out the specials and don't forget your appetite. From the amazing soup to the traditional seafood everyone is a fan of the clams! When headed to Ocean City don't cross that bridge without a stop at the Clam Bar!

J Z.

Yelp

What a great little place, it's not that fancy but I think that's why it's so good. It's BYOB, had the combination and clam chowder, so good.

Bill F.

Yelp

All good things must come to an end I guess. The amazing fried combo platter at The Clam Bar is now just overpriced and under portioned. Embarrassed by what I was served.

Christine C.

Yelp

Worth the stop! Checked this place out for a late lunch. The New England clam chowder was piping hot and filled with clams! We also tried the fried clam strip app and a fried shrimp po boy (a special). Fish was fresh, lightly breaded, and plentiful. Prices were very reasonable too for the quality and quantity! Service was quick and it appeared that everyone helped everyone with service. Cash only. The only thing that's missing is outdoor seating in the back, overlooking the marina!

Nadine S.

Yelp

I can't believe I didn't review this place when we discovered it last year. We liked it so much, we came back twice this past weekend! Every single thing we have had here has been great! Even the Seafood Rockefeller, that my partner tried, that I didn't think I would like - was great! Their steamers, soups, fried platters, casserole dishes, and even their key lime pie was great. Did I mention that the service is amazing? It is better than many fine dining restaurants!

Andrew F.

Yelp

Man is everything just better when you're a kid? Used to come here with my family growing up and absolutely loved it. I unfortunately can't say the same now. It was fine but nothing blew my socks off. Got the fried clam strips, little neck clams, cup of clam chowder and calamari. Like I said it's fine. The vibe is good we sat at the bar outside.

Lincoln P.

Yelp

I pulled up with the boys at clam bar and it failed to disappoint. I got the pizza burger and it was to die for. I also always have to purchase a big bowl of applesauce and I don't know how they make it so unbelievably delicious. Even though the restaurant was packed for Juneteenth the service was amazing rushing to clean and seat customers! I've been going to Clam Bar all my life and it keeps getting better. It's unexplainable the excellence of this facility !

Beanie F.

Yelp

Cute little clam bar with speedy, helpful service. Had the clam strips and the oyster poboy sandwich. Huge portions. Wish they served clam bellies but clam strips were nice (little bready but not overwhelmingly so). The oyster poboy was unreal, definitely get that if on the specials menu. Fries are great, skip the Cole slaw and ask for extra tartar sauce!

Sputnik S.

Yelp

Over the years, Smitty's has grown from a tiny little clam shack to a slightly LARGER clam shack. But don't let that fool you, the food is great, and reasonably priced. The ambience is exactly what you would expect from a clam shack. No nonsense, airy, breezy, friendly. It's a nice little joint, just off the causeway on the mainland.

Carrie S.

Yelp

This was our first time trying this cute little seafood shack. We were lucky to get the last two barstools for outside seating. Came here with no expectations and without reading reviews. I tried the steamers and the fried shrimp Parmesan platter with fries and coleslaw. I enjoyed it all. I thought the platter came with a lot of shrimp. The fries were thin and crispy. I definitely want to go back to try the clam chowder. Everyone was ordering it. They have both red and white. Just a few things - it's cash only and no alcohol. We saw some people with beer so they must allow byob.

Gwenn F.

Yelp

Great food and friendly staff. We love eating there! Kids always have fun on the dock also and sitting outside. Great atmosphere!

Naomi R.

Yelp

Under $40 for 3 drinks and 3 yummy meals. Win in our book! Definitely worth the hop off the highway on the drive to/from our yearly beach trip!

Teeghen H.

Yelp

Best fried i have EVER had!!!! The wasabi tuna was really good but the fries were unbeatable. Also, the service was super friendly and attentive. The seating area is surprisingly big! Very relaxed and casual.

Lizzy S.

Yelp

A no-frills spot by the sea for A+ fried seafood! Smitty's is our end of summer routine, grabbing a big old mash of fried fish, clams, and oysters to go, eating it on the car at the dog beach near by. They're always busy and popping but the wait isn't as long as they say and is well worth it!

Laura B.

Yelp

I've been coming to ocean city for years and this trip was my first time trying Smittys, it definitely won't be the last! We came around 5 pm on a Friday and the place was packed. I missed the memo about it being BYO and saw lots of other guests with coolers of beer to enjoy while they waited. Our party of 4 had about a 30 min wait before we got seated inside. The menu is pretty simple, you pick your type of fish, grilled or fried, and then how you want it prepared. We got a number of apps to try which were all really good, and then ordered the tuna dish with ginger/wasabi and the seafood combo with puttanesca sauce. Both came out pretty quickly and we're really delicious. I wish they had some other sides to choose from, but the fries and coleslaw were fine. Overall I'd definitely come back here and be prepared with my cooler next time for the wait!

Alice C.

Yelp

Usually love the food This time they still had things on board that they were out of and I was looking forward to after waiting an hour What my husband and I got we were disappointed with Service is always great Love the wait outside meeting people

Kristine P.

Yelp

My first and last time visiting this place. I just can't figure out why everyone loves this place so much. The steamed clams were over cooked , the steamed shrimp were chewy . Our platters were ok to say the least. The smell of the place was so bad.... I can deal with the seafood smell but there was other strange smell I just couldn't figure out, other guest noticed it as well. I can finally cross it off the list for good .

Megan Y.

Yelp

This place is absolutely the shore. Clam chowder is fantastic. There can be a bit of a wait so if you can go for early dinner, do. It's not fancy and seating is hit or miss, but you can't beat the food.

Gracie P.

Yelp

We absolutely love smitty's. Even on the days when there's a crazy wait for a table, the wait for takeout is only 15-20 minutes which is so nice when you're really craving some seafood. The clam chowder is a classic, both manhattan and new england are good. The clam strips are our absolute favorite. First time trying the calamari today and it was excellent, extremely tender squid and light breading with a standard marinara sauce. The staff is always nice and food comes out at a timely pace.

David B.

Yelp

Going there 25 yrs not good anymore smaller portions quality gone actually got sick ordered seafood combination 2shrimp 2 scallops burnt clams trips crab cake ? Just filling 2 small pieces of fish will not go back something is going on with the business do yourself and your family a favor go to the crab trap or oyster creek the only good thing was being able to bring in your own beer or wine we are Atlantic county resident locals

Gary L.

Yelp

Smitty's is an iconic kind of place. It has a unique setting by the bay that allows for a casual dining experience. I had the opportunity to dine at the outdoor counter surrounded by individual stools. The waitress working the counter was very attentive and concerned about the needs of the customer. She allowed us to preorder our main meal while we enjoyed our appetizers.(We were just a little early for the dinner specials) The New England Clam Chowder was piping hot and delicious. Our dinner specials (Seafood Rockefeller) were tasty with plenty of shrimp, scallops, and crab. The ratio of of spinach mixed with the seafood took away from what should have been the hero of the meal(the seafood). Overall, very satisfied and we will return. Loved sitting outside at the counter to dine.

Becky S.

Yelp

I really enjoy the New England AND Manhattan clam chowder. I have had it for several years and I will note that it is always better at the end of the summer season. Sometimes it is watery in the beginning of summer, but still delicious. Even on its worst day, this place has the best chowder in the area.

Steve S.

Yelp

I'm really thankful that the nearby sit down crab restaurant had a 90 minute wait. Because it made us say, "Well we can try out this clam bar place instead." I think that in the end when it comes to seafood, I prefer this atmosphere much better. It feels more authentic to me. We had a group of 8 people. Everyone loved their meals, even the kids. For the wife and I, my baked scallops were simply phenomenal in the butter sauce. Her crab cake was quite good as well. I mean it won't be mistaken for a Maryland style one anytime soon but it's really good in its own right. This will definitely be a regular stop on the way home for the family on our shore excursions.

Michael C.

Yelp

Don't tell anybody this place is great Somers Point Clam bar on the water. Come early get a seat out front and enjoy your meal, also inside seating available if the front stools are taken ordered half dozen raw top necks and two bowls of clam chowder hot, thick, loaded with clams, the best in south Jersey. Planning our next trip soon gotta try some fried fish platters or even a fish sandwich.

Mike S.

Yelp

Always good service an excellent food at the Clam Bar, along with the Beautiful views!

Heidi W.

Yelp

Been coming here for years - old time seaside goodness. The staff is great - food is great - try the New England chowder - its one of the best! Enjoy!

Shawn F.

Yelp

I haven't been to this place for about three years we come to Ocean City for the past 30 years. I don't think I'm going back The steamed little necks were dry as could be .. the braked combo in a puttanesca sauce was just a clump!of sauce over dry bland fish ...it was not appetizing.... the corn and crab soup was almost tasteless.My wife's salmon was drenched in a Dijon sauce. I hate to say it's, but this place is no better than a bad diner, slop joint ...very disappointing but that's OK, there are lots of places we can go to in Ocean City and nearby.

Julie E.

Yelp

For seafood lovers. Small, no frills, cash only restaurant on the water that is BYOB. Daily specials /menu are shared on white boards at the restaurant and on their Facebook page. You can choose your seafood and from a variety of sauces that it can be prepared in. The seafood was fresh and delicious - we tried the Mahi Mahi, flounder, shrimp, scallops, crab cake, and shrimp parmigiana. The sides are strictly applesauce, fries, coleslaw, and cold corn salad (it was a special side). Our waitress was friendly and on top of everything. If it's a beautiful night and your are going at typical dinner time- prepare to wait 20-45 minutes.

Adele L.

Yelp

Ive been eating at Smittys for over 17 years and never had a bad mea, until today. To start, what was advertised on their online menu was not what was available at the restaurant. Smittys is known for their cheesy fish casseroles and that's what I expected when I went there today. Instead the server said those are only available on certain nights, so I ordered Mahi in wine and olive oil off the one blackboard that was up. What I received was a piece of white fish so dry that it was curled up in the dish. I tasted it and it was completely bland. It was not edible I told the server and she asked if I want to replace it. One of the servers brought a new blackboard out and one it was another dish called Rockefeller and that was a fish dish that was supposed to come with cheese sauce. Instead they substituted the cheese sauce with white flour and that's exactly what it tasted like. Flour and fish. AWFUL, AND the casserole dish was 3/4 the size of their regular casserole dishes. I paid for it and left and after 17 years of eating there will probably will never go back because it's obvious they have a new person cooking, who has screwed up Smittys signature dishes.

Emily R.

Yelp

Wonderful local seafood bar that serves no frills, honest, and delicious food! Shared the little neck steamer clams, clam chowder, and fried flounder burger. The clams were nice and fresh, chowder had lots of clams and seasoned well, and the flounder burger was nice and crispy. Not overly expensive, nice low-key vibe. Sat out at the bar, which is first come first serve, but provided an authentic beach vibe.

Elise K.

Yelp

Smitty's has been a fave for my entire family for years. It's the perfect no frills, good food type of place. Prepare to tailgate/BYOB and wait for a table. My husband and I mostly prefer to sit on the outdoor bar and have our dinner (that is first come first serve though so it's tough to fight for a seat on a crowded night). Their steamers, chowder, and scallops are my absolute faves. Flounder is also very good. I'm glad to see they are back open after Covid, I didn't love when it was takeout only. I'll be back this summer for sure!

Pas A.

Yelp

I almost hate to review this place, it is that good. The quintessential hole-in-the-wall with great food! Check out the seafood casserole, that is the goto. Enjoy it by the water of the bay, as I prefer the outdoor counter seating. Be sure not to miss the fresh handmade cole slaw.

Gary M.

Yelp

We tried this place due to hearing about it. It is a VERY casual dining area. Also note it is ONLY cash so forget credit cards. There are some predictable dishes as well as some custom ones. The casserole in cheese sauce was excellent. The New England clam chowder soup also excellent. The only down side was the fried combination platter. The fish and scallops were awesome BUT the fried clam strips were so so. The REALLY disappointment was the crab cake. It was almost tasteless and dry. It was like buying a pre made cake in the supermarket. Overall not a bad choice for casual outing.

Enzyme2 E.

Yelp

A great "go to" for seafood and good prices. Don't be fooled by the calamari served in a paper tray. It's consistently some of the best calamari I have had.

Coco Q.

Yelp

The food here is so good!! The seafood mornay was to die for! I wish they had some other options for sides. It's a really great place for dinner. Casual and on the water.

Erika P.

Yelp

WOW ... Excellent Food, Service & Prices.. I can't wait to go back... We Got the Combo Platters & Couldn't even finish them.. Excellent Food !! 10 Stars for You all around!!!

David M.

Yelp

What the heck happened to this place? What a disappointment. Ordered a seafood blend with a lemon wine sauce. It could not have been more bland. Ahi tuna too well done. Tried to order grilled flounder. Only comes fried. Why? The only saving grace is the New England clam chowder. 4 people $100. Never again

Lee M.

Yelp

Some classics just don't change - well, maybe a little. As a nod to economics and nature lovers, paper straws are only provided upon request. Seafood classics are served quickly on no frills melamine plates and drinks are in paper cups. But the food is solid, delicious and fairly inexpensive. Nice to know that their fans still come prepared to enjoy the wait by bringing their coolers of wine and beer as they sit on the outside benches. Ambience is convivial as they sip their drinks and chat as seagulls swoop overhead and kids draw on the sidewalk with chalk.

Beth T.

Yelp

This place is highly overrated. The seafood is frozen and the clam chowder is no better than Campbell soup. What makes this place worth the wait is the freshly shucked clams. I wish they had oysters too. I enjoy sitting outside to eat at the bar rather than inside because it's not air conditioned and full of flies. Service is adequate.

Len S.

Yelp

The summer doesn't start until you have lunch at Smitty's ask the if you can't find the place. It's on the water next to smiths marina. The clam shell parking lot should tell you this is a seafood clam bar like no other. Open air dining at the bar or dine inside. Just be aware they do not have air conditioners. They do not open until 12:00 noon and they only take cash. Hit the atm before you go. The soups are great however it is 90 Degs today. Going with the tuna rare and the seafood salad. The salad has shrimps scallops calamari snow crab orzo Pasta and a special salad dressing. Add some iced tea and lunch is complete. It is a small place, while you dine you can watch them open the clams. Very busy place you may find people standing behind your waiting for you to finish. The pricing is good for seafood. It's not 4 or 5 stars dining but its a great place lunch. If your a friendly person will will love conversing with other people at the clam bar.

Gabriel B.

Yelp

Came here for the first time, probably close to 20 years ago and came back to visit last weekend. It's always been a local favorite but had to come from AC to get some. Everything was tasty, fresh and just how i remembered it. Here's what our group had. I had the steamed clams to start...amazing! So fresh and so flavorful, must have been soaking them all day. MUST GET! I ordered the baked combo dish (tilefish, shrimp & scallops). I must say it was probably the best dish I've ever tried there. The sauce was amazing! I think it's wasabi in truffle oil? SOOOO Good! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. The other dish our group had was the Seafood Tetrazini. I tried it and sooo good. It's in pasta creme sauce. A few others had the clams, which no doubt is the winner for obvious reasons. One other had the fried oysters platter which i didn't try but they raved about how good it was. FYI - BYOB and Cash Only.

Frederick D.

Yelp

Best fried seafood combination on the planet! Such a great vibe at this place No thrills decor with just great food

MissDevon C.

Yelp

n old favorite, steamers, half shell middle bed is, and halibut puttanesca yum yum simple consistent and always delicious.. don't forget BYOB

Mister F.

Yelp

THE ALL TIME BEST!!! I have been comming here for over 25 years and it is the best seafood, bar none. Everything is fresh. The clams & oysters are shucked when you order. The New England clam chowder, with lots of claims, is a must. The prices can't be beat. With its old shore ambience it is the choice for locals and in the know visitors alike. Go once and you will be back for more, for sure.

Michele F.

Yelp

It's the greatest casual fresh seafood place around! Sit at the counter and meet the locals and enjoy amazing clam chowder and fried scallops, stuffed baked potato and fabulous ahi tuna! It can be a long wait so either be prepared or snag counter seats.

Jared S.

Yelp

The calamari was bland and undercooked. The shrimp po boy was decent but the bread was hard as a rock.

Wendy L.

Yelp

We heard great things about this place so had to come try it during our stay in Ocean City. We came on a Wednesday night, just before the start of the summer busy season. At 7pm, the wait for 2 came out to be about 20-25 mins. Usually a wait like that goes by quickly, but I can't write this without mentioning the nuisance known as "no-see-ums" that basically swarmed around us wherever we went. Those buggers bothered me to the point where I contemplated leaving thou they were not present once we got seated inside. Just a warning for those planning on coming here in the future. For appetizers we ordered a half dozen raw topneck clams and a cup of the new england clam chowder. We really enjoyed both of these. For the entrees, we ordered the tuna platter with a side of fries & creamed corn and the baked seafood combo platter in the butter sauce with a side of fries & orzo pasta salad. The tuna platter was disappointing: for one thing, it was supposed to be cooked rare but came out well done. Also, the flavor was a bit intense and on the sour side. The baked seafood platter was much better but didn't taste like anything special. Overall, the food deserves a 3/5. Service was a 5/5: our server was super attentive and answered all of our questions with a smile and welcoming attitude. Although the food was a bit disappointing, we would like to come back to try other items.

The Essential Seafood Restaurants of the Jersey Shore

Where To Eat Down The Shore: Atlantic City To Cape May - New York - The Infatuation

Smitty’s Clam Bar Review - Somers Point - Philadelphia - The Infatuation

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