I really don’t think we will ever attend this again. The Melody Tent is just not a great place for a food tasting venue. The crowd was out of control, ornery, and confused.

That might have been okay if the chowder was good but it really just wasn’t. Until Sunday, I never met a chowder I just didn’t like. But there we were, tasting and wrinkling our noses and trying to find the positive.

I will say 2 of the 9 tasted like Snow’s. I get that it was a competition for traditional chowder but traditional chowder can be seasoned. Or have lots of clams in it. Or not taste like crap.

So here’s the official review, based on yammering feedback from the family.

• Marshlands Restaurant – Okay at best. It wasn’t offensive but not memorable and not inventive in any way.
• British Beer Co. – I didn’t get any. ChowderGranddad said it was “fine”. There was a lot of “fine” going on at the Chowdah Fest.
• Buster’s Best Sandwiches – Tasted like Snow’s.
• Captain Parker’s – This is the clear winner, but not because it was great. More because it wasn’t bad comparatively speaking. It wouldn’t have ranked very well at the Newport Chowder-Off.
• Booster’s Bar and Grill – Chowder Grandma said “This chowder made me glad they didn’t fill it the whole way.” Keep in mind, the cup is like a shot glass. The woman didn’t even want to finish a SHOT GLASS WORTH.
• Tommy Doyle’s – Super hot, super thin, mildly decent potatoes. However, I am sure I would love to go have a pint there. And might even try the chowder again.
• Artie’s Cafe – I don’t even know how to discuss this without being horrible. I am sure it is decent enough chowder in small batches. Yeah, that’s it. If we ate it in the place, it would be good.
• Harry’s Blues Bar & Cajun – Tasted like potato soup.
• The Lobster Boat – ChowderGrandpa liked it enough to vote it #1. The rest of us were onto the FREE FOUR SEAS ICE CREAM by then.

There has been subsequent talk of never ever attending a chowder festival again. I don’t know that I would go that far but I am not convinced this is the right venue for us. It may not be fair to the restaurants.

Getting ready to taste.

ChowderBoy gives a thumbs up to Captain Parker’s.

ChowderGirl enjoyed herself and really, that is all that matters.