iggy's doughboys and chowder house

iggy’s is a wonderful place to satisfy a craving for clam cakes and chowder, but it also offers many other dishes. their doughboys made them famous and their clam shack sealed their presence in the hearts ofrhodeislanders. nonetheless, they continue to expand with a full restaurant, bar, and creamery. i highly recommend iggy’s boardwalk as a more relaxed dine-in alternative to the bustle of the clam shack that both serve the same fantastic seafood.

this is my favorite restaurant inrhodeisland and during a recent vacation i was able to finally go back. we gotrhodeisland chowder (clear) with crab cakes and a lobster roll. we were very full when we got done.

there is nothing like eating seafood right next to the water. the seafood just tastes fresher and all around more enjoyable. we wanted therhodeisland experience so we got the clear clam chowder, clam cakes, and the cinnamon doughboys. 

the clear clam chowder is a dream for those who are lactose intolerant but because of the lack of dairy, the clam flavor is much more pronounced. if you liked the white clam chowder because it helped neutralize the "fishiness," i do not recommend the clear chowder. 

the clam cakes will be a hit and miss. no matter how many clams they add to the batter, the clams inevitably sink towards the bottom. depending on how often they stir that batter and when they scoop your clam cake, you can bite into clam fritter goodness or sad fried dough. if you like fried dough, then get the doughboys with cinnamon and sugar. keep in mind, they are on the dense side. i wouldn't recommend ordering more than half a dozen with a full meal.

there’s no way to visitrhodeisland without eating the seafood in truerhodeisland fashion. iggy’s is one of those quaint new england clam shacks that we only dream about here in the south. at the oakland beach location, iggy’s sits on the beach and overlooks the narragansett bay. order your food, spread a blanket on the sand, and enjoy the sunset while chompin’ down on a few clam cakes and doughboys. iggy’s was founded in 1924.  the doughboy and chowder house in oakland beach is the oldest stand in rhode island. the beach stand was originally called gus’s until gaetano gravino purchased it in 1989.  it was renamed iggy’s after gravino’s nickname “ig”. iggy’s offers something for everyone, even non seafood lovers. sandwiches range from $2.49-$6.99; doughboys and clam cakes are $7.69 a dozen; red or white chowder is $5.59 a bowl; seafood platters, including fish and chips, fried clams and

this tourist trap is not worth the time. super long lines, hardly any clams in the clam cakes, chowder is weak. too crowded and loud. 7 seas on warwick neck is the only real clamshack left inrhodeisland

chowda and clamcakes. now the food! whenever i come to iggy's i have to get chowder & clam cakes ($7.49), and a stuffie ($2.59). these are my favorites and the chowder and clam cakes are what iggy's is famous for. the clam cakes are mostly doughy with a few pieces of clams. i prefer to dunk them into the chowder seeing as they are more like a side of dense fried bread than anything else. i get therhodeisland clam chowder mostly because i can't have dairy. the broth is simple with potatoes and small pieces of clams. my mom got the new england clam chowder. the main difference is the very thick cream based broth with noticeable thickening agents. the stuffie has all the right components, just needed to be cooked a bit longer, the stuffing was on the wet side.

all in all arhodeisland experience. views of the bay while you eat and enjoying each others company. food is not fancy or perfect, everything comes in styrofoam containers with plastic utensils, but you know what you are getting when you go. i'll avoid the lines in the summer and take advantage of the scenery when the crowds die down or when i feel like braving the line for a chance to enjoy the summer inrhodeisland.

iggy's in warwick serves up a lovely rendition of quahog stuffed and baked - perfect for washing down with a little bit of iggy's own root bear and/or localrhodeisland strawberry juice.

pretty solid. i grew up in the mid-atlantic region, spoiled by crab cakes as big as baseballs, made of huge mounds of shredded blue crab meat, with just the slightest amount of egg and breadcrumb to hold it together, shoved under a broiler till the outside is crisp and the inside is steaming hot.

so there was a hard lesson i had to learn about clam cakes inrhodeisland. here it is: clam cakes are mostly bread. that is how they come. there are some spices, a few chopped clams, but it's mostly bread. don't go in expecting lots of clams, or you will be disappointed. that's why they are cheap as hell, and the only reason that they worth getting is that you use them to soak up your chowder - which should have lots of clams.

with that in mind, iggy's clam cakes are good! they are cooked well, with a great golden-brown crust and fluffy doughy interior. the chowder is flavorful, and great on a rainy day - which we have many of here inrhodeisland. however, the clams in the chowder were a bit rubbery - which means they were in the pot too long. (and isn't it a bit heretical that they also offer red manhattan "chowder" up here in new england?)

the stuffed quahogs (stuffies) were okay, but a little bland and i think they could've used more time to cook - the stuffing was still pretty moist, and the top wasn't very crusted. also, maybe put some chorizo in there, guys, to boost the flavors up a notch?

the waterfront location on oakland beach also a nice destination to take friends who are visitingrhodeisland. on our visit, my wife and her friend both got fish and chips - the cod was fried up nicely, so that the flesh was moist and tender, protected by the great crust created by whatever batter they dip it in.

since i've been inrhodeisland, the name iggy's doughboys and chowderhouse has come up time and time again in my searches for good eats.