Woodman's of Essex

"Woodman’s of Essex has been slinging some of the best fried clams on earth since 1914. Don’t sleep on the excellent clam chowder, either. Woodman’s is also located on Rte. 133 (sensing a pattern?), but unlike the Clam Box and J.T. Farnham’s, it’s open year-round, which means you can get a basket of fried clams for Christmas (well, probably the day after)." - Tanya Edwards, Terrence Doyle

"Woodman’s of Essex has been around since 1914 and started serving fried clams two years later. While Woodman’s likes to say it’s the birthplace of the fried clam, the dish appeared on a menu at Boston’s Omni Parker House decades earlier, but Woodman’s certainly popularized and perfected it over the course of the last century. Another must-try at Woodman’s: the clam chowder. Open year-round. Woodman’s is open for indoor dining, outdoor dining, and takeout, and it is not requiring its customers to wear masks." - Terrence Doyle

"Woodman’s claims to have invented the fried clam as we know it today. That’s probably a bit bold, but that doesn’t detract from it being one of the finest seafood shacks in New England. Woodman’s is currently offering takeout, outdoor dining, and indoor dining." - Terrence Doyle

"It’s unclear if Woodman’s actually invented the fried clam; it’s not unclear whether Woodman’s has a perfect cup of clam chowder. Opinion is divided on whether New England clam chowder should be thick and creamy or thinner and more brothy (the right answer is thinner and more brothy.) Woodman’s clam chowder is decidedly in the more brothy camp. Grab a cup, and if you’re still hungry, grab some more fried clams. And again, sit outside and take in yet another breathtaking view of the Great Marsh." - Terrence Doyle

"Woodman’s of Essex (121 Main St., Essex), which is closed through Saturday, has been posting some updates on Facebook, including." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal