Feasting on Fisherman's Platters

Whether it’s hooked, dredged or caught in pots, we’re lucky to have amazing seafood at our beck and call. So, what better way to thank the hardworking fishermen and women than by eating lots and lots of what they catch. We sampled fisherman’s platters from across South County, and it’s just our opinion, but you should get out and try a few too.

Jim’s Dock
“These are the biggest scallops I’ve ever seen on a fisherman’s platter in my entire life, ” were the sentiments of one of our staff members. Between the flaky and succulent fish, big butterfly shrimp, whole belly clams and clam cakes (extra points), everything had just the right amount of batter while still maintaining its fresh taste. Even the tartar sauce stood out. It was not too heavy and had a nice sweetness to it. 1175 Succotash Road, Wakefield. 783-2050.

Champlin’s
Believe it or not, this fried fisherman’s platter was not as heavy as it looks. “I feel like I could still go swimming after,” said one of our staff members. We particularly liked how easy the fried shrimp were to eat, seeing as they did not have any tails. It was also a nice surprise to have both fried whole belly clams and clam strips to choose from. The fried fish was also very pleasing; the batter to fish ratio worked well, and the hand cut fries really topped it all off nicely. 256 Great Island Road, Narragansett. 783-3152.

Iggy’s
“My grandfather always said that a sign of good chowder is one that’s thick enough so you can stand your spoon up in it – this you certainly can,” said one of our staff members. This was the only platter that included clam chowder and we’re so glad it did, especially since we could taste the dill while chewing on the big pieces of clam. Even the scallops were tasty, even though they were bay scallops as opposed to their bigger sea scallop counterparts. 1157 Point Judith Road, Narragansett. 783-5608. 889 Oakland Beach Avenue, Warwick. 737-9459.

Finn’s Harborside
Isn’t it a nice change to appreciate seafood on a non-fried basis? Well this baked platter covered that base. With generous portions of lobster claws, large stuffed shrimp, stuffed mushrooms and stuffed fish, there was a little bit of everything for everyone. The stuffing really complemented the seafood. It was fresh and buttery. The scallops were also nice and meaty and maintained their texture. 38 Water Street, East Greenwich. 884-6363.