A True Cape Experience
Fried clams on the picnic tables.
The Clam Shack
For those of you who want the true Cape Cod food experience, in Falmouth, we have the Clam Shack of Falmouth. It is located at the very end of Scranton Avenue at the entrance of Falmouth Harbor. It is Falmouth rustic dining at it’s best. It does not have a bar or even a liquor license, just coffee, tea, bottled water or a variety of soft drinks. You will not find fine china, napkins or elegant eating utensils. Your meal is served on a plastic tray, in a paper basket or plate. Plastic knives, forks and spoons are provided with paper napkins. The atmosphere is casual although shoes and shirts are required. It is literally a shack made of weathered boards. with fishing and lobstering artifacts hung from the rafters to add to the nautical surroundings. The menu is written on a chalk board.
Scallops
The specialty of the house are the “Plates”. They have clam (with or without the bellies), scallop, shrimp and fish & chips plates. the plates consist of an overflowing portion of the clams, shrimp,or scollops; fries and coleslaw. However, for those in your party, who do not want seafood, the kitchen also has wings and chicken tenders plates. Hamburgers, cheese burgers and franks are also offered.
What would an, on the water, Cape Cod restaurant be without lobster, clam and scrimp rolls? The Clam Shack has them all. In addition the clam chowder is excellent as are the onion rings. Your group has a choice of dining inside or out on the dock where the schooner Liberte is docked from the July fourth weekend to Labor Day weekend. Perhaps the best compliment to the tasty food is the view. One can sit at a wooden picnic tables and watch the activities on bustling Falmouth Harbor.
On nautical charts, the harbor is known as Falmouth Inner Harbor. It is mostly a man-made harbor with a mean low water depth of 10 feet. In 1907 an inlet was created through a barrier beach that divided a fresh water pond from Nantucket Sound. Engineers dredged and widened the harbor to give it the rectangular shape that it has today. This harbor is a wonderfully protected location for boaters to weather one of our legendary coastal storms.
Five marinas and many fishing boats are located along the harbor and the Island Queen ferry-boat to Martha’s Vineyard is docked on the eastern side. The Island Queen runs from early June through to Columbus Day.
Fishermen come from all over to use the harbor as a jumping-off location for fishing trips to the Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard sound inshore fishing grounds as well as offshore grounds. One of the best known local fishing fleets is the Patriot Party Boats that sail out of the harbor. They specialize in deep-sea fishing, bottom fishing and sport fishing. For more info: www.patriotpartyboats.com or call: 508-548-2626.
Harriet Beecher Stowe room
Cape Cod’s Roosevelt Room, B
While all of the bedchambers at the Palmer House have their own romantic charm suitable for relaxation after the most wonderful day of adventures sampling Cape Cod’s finest cuisine, we recommend the Harriet Beecher Stowe room, the Theodore Roosevelt room or the Emily Dickinson room. These rooms feature comfortable king beds, fireplaces, jetted tubs for a relaxing stay before and after your day.