The Winking Lizard chain offers seafood-filled clambake menus at 14 of its Cleveland locations starting in September through the last weekend of October. The locations alternate (check the website for the clambakes near you). Available after 3pm on Fridays and all day Saturday and Sunday, there are 5 different clambakes to choose from: a dozen steamed clams (“clams & clams”, $32), 12 oz of BBQ chicken breast(s) ($26), a 12 oz strip steak ($36), a half slab of St Louis ribs ($32), or two 4.5 oz lobster tails ($40). Each clambake comes with a cup of New England clam chowder, 1 dozen steamed clams, a baked potato or sweet potato, Latin street corn on the cob and garlic bread.
I met some friends in Peninsula to enjoy the clambake on a Sunday. Peninsula was very busy, because it was Peddler’s Day (an annual event held on Main Street in Peninsula, Ohio, featuring garage sales, local shops, galleries, and food). Also, the weather was gorgeous and lots of people were enjoying the Towpath. I was lucky to get a spot in the Winking Lizard parking lot. Two guys were leaving as I was turning around, so I waited until the truck left its parking spot and I slipped in after it. I then met my friends who had been on the wait list (they were quoted a 45-minute wait, but they were seated when I got there – and I was not late from our 12:30 meet time). We were seated in the bar, but there were also lots of families there. Our service could have been better. They already had their drinks (and it took a while to get my drink – which was served with my entree), but most egregiously I had to flag a server down after we got our food to ask for silverware (and it took a while to get someone’s attention). It almost got to the point where I was going to get up and grab the silverware myself – and I NEVER do that.
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Since this was the end of my 3 clambake weekend I chose the ribs. I’ve been known to go there just for ribs. The Winking Lizard’s ribs are great, and these were fantastic and a fun pairing with the clams. They also reheated really well the next day along with the baked potato. The clams were pretty good. Not chewy like Salty Mary’s. They weren’t amazingly tender, but they were just right. The clam chowder was fine. Some cups of chowder had more clams than others. The street corn was tasty (although I would have preferred just straight corn on the cob with butter) and the sauce covered the hint of overcooked dryness in the corn. I really enjoyed my cocktail, the Hocus Pocus, which featured 3 Olives grape vodka and grape and lemon juice. My one friend enjoyed her beer flight of three seasonal beers. Beer just goes nicely with a clambake.
Everyone else at the table ordered the twin lobster tails and enjoyed them. I have gotten the lobster tails in the past and enjoyed them. They are cut in half and broiled/grilled.
Contact info:
Winking Lizard clambakes
See website for dates and locations
