The Virginian-Pilot
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The dish Clam Strips
The cost $8.95
The eatery Surf Rider Restaurant, 928 Diamond Springs Road, 497-3534, www.surfridergroup.com
Why I liked it Sometimes some of the best seafood is old school - dishes that are retro in their appearance and flavor. These are uncomplicated and straightforward offerings that are often fried and, if garnished at all, come with a sprig of parsley and wedge of lemon. Their tastes often harken to a time of our childhood, or the childhood of our parents.
I started dinner at the Cypress Point Surf Rider with a cup of the she crab soup, $4.95; the thick, rich, creamy, crabby flavor prepared my taste buds for more seafood to come. It was a good primer for my entree, a generous platter filled with 9 ounces of Chincoteague clam strips.
They were plump, meaty and juicy, nestled in a traditional batter and fried golden brown and delicious. A slight salty taste from the source - the brackish waters on the Atlantic side of the Eastern Shore - played off the breading nicely. A mild cocktail sauce was delish for dipping.
The clam strips came with two hush puppies - golden globes with a crunchy exterior and moist, fragrant interior.
As a side, Surf Rider's signature steamed broccoli - a large bunch of the cruciferous vegetable cooked tender and sweet - is offered, along with a ramekin of housemade hollandaise sauce. Another option is the vegetables of the evening, which this night were corn and lima beans with mashed potatoes. Always a fan of broccoli, I opted for the former.
Surf Rider has six locations, three in Virginia Beach and one each in Chesapeake, Hampton and Norfolk. Visit www.surfridergroup.com for more information. There is a formerly affiliated Surf Rider, now operating independently and also in Virginia Beach, on Newtown Road.
Cheap Eats” is a new feature printed every other Sunday in the Virginia Beach Beacon. It highlights an affordable, delicious menu item at a Virginia Beach restaurant. E-mail suggestions to patrickevanshylton@gmail.com. For more restaurant tips, visit hamptonroads.com/restaurants and read the Pulse section Thursdays in The Virginian-Pilot.
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Haters
I've heard good things and bad things from Northerners about the south. One thing all those comments have in common is that they were all made IN THE SOUTH. Go home. I just moved up from North Carolina. I suggest all of you(Virginia Locals) embrace our longstanding policy of referring all yankees(Northeastern folk with funny accents) to Myrtle Beach via word of mouth or positive travel website comments(I try to put in one a week), and always pointing to the nearest highway headed north when giving directions to anywhere. "The sports bar? Just take a right on i85 and just keep going, you'll see it"
What kills me...
What kills me is that we have beautiful clams available right in our own back yard, and what do we use them for?? Clam Strips! One has not lived until he's eaten a whole belly clam. Being a New Englander, it saddens me to no end that, with the vast array of seafood available, that you cannot get whole belly clams here.
Clam Strips
Surf Rider is a great restaurant, terrific crab cakes. Clam strips, for anyone who is from New England, are a crime against humanity.
HenryB
we don't live in new england
we live in hampton roads. and one legacy of southeastern virginia is fried food. move back to new england if you don't like it.
Neither of the two "New
Neither of the two "New Englanders" say anything negative about an issue with the clams being fried or not. Just simply stating the WHOLE clam being served vs just strips. Fried whole clams are awesome. Perhaps you should get out of VA more often and try something new.
Wow
Nasty comment, southern neighborly love at its finest.
Can't wait to try the
Can't wait to try the "pealed shrimp" listed on the menu. Bet they really ring your bell!