Old Style Cape Cod Clam Shack on the Mainland

Located on the Cape Cod Canal in sight of the Sagamore Bridge, The Seafood Shanty is an old style Cape Cod clam shack that has been open seasonally since the late 1950s. When owners Johnny and Tish Economides bought it in 1992, The Seafood Shanty was born. In 2000, the original building was demolished and replaced with the current larger building. The expansion also included an outdoor patio area with picnic tables, umbrellas, and a great view of the Canal.

Fried clams and lobster rolls are the most popular menu items at the Shanty. The lobster salad, made with meat and just a little mayonnaise, is piled high over lettuce on a roll. Fried clams, clam strips, shrimp, scallops, and fish make up the other seafood offerings. Additionally, there’s a large selection of non-seafood items to please the many families that visit. These include 100% black Angus burgers, hot dogs, linguica, sausage, chicken, and roast beef sandwiches.

All of the seafood is sourced locally, delivered daily from Cape Fish and Lobster in Hyannis, and food is made to order. The Shanty features hand-cut onion rings and homemade clam chowder, tartar sauce, and coleslaw. Johnny and Tish believe their special family recipes, the fresh seafood, and adhering to the old-school philosophy of making food to order are the secrets to their success.

For dessert, Hood soft-serve ice cream is offered, along with sundaes, frappes, floats, and homemade ice cream sandwiches made with chocolate chip cookies.

The Shanty opens for the season in April and closes after Columbus Day. In April and after Labor Day, it’s open Thursday to Monday from 11 am to 7 pm. Summer hours are daily from 11 am to 8 pm.

Things to know: The Shanty is cash only. There’s an ATM on site. The patio has outdoor heaters for cool nights.

The Seafood Shanty
803 Scenic Hwy, Route 6
Bournedale, MA 02532
(508) 888-0040
www.TheSeafoodShantyCapeCod.com

Lauren Diggin is a South Shore-based writer and aspiring locavore. For her, seafood is right up there with chocolate, and there’s no better place to enjoy it than a clam shack.