This menu has all the classics. This trio of Jo's Wicked Good Chowda' is every bit as wicked good as it claims. The creamy New England is liquid butta', the Manhattan is a lighter tomato but no less enticing, and the Rhode Island Clear is a new and fast favorite for me. It's all the sea-salt-and-brine chowder minus the lactose intolerance.
Their appetizer special is a Deep Fried Night Smelt, with so many salty little fish you could fill up on that alone. The fish are fresh beyond all doubt, but the bellies do get a little soggy and soft.
It seems their specialty is clams. The Fried Clams are so fresh you feel like you just dug them up yourself. There's just enough breading to bring out the brine and just enough frying to keep the strips tender and the bellies soft, and they are just perfect.
There's whimsy on a typically traditional menu, and the Hokkaido Dog sticks out. A sturdy casing encases a mysterious mix of sweet Hokkaido scallop with a softer sausage that supports without overshadowing. Dressed like a regular dog with onions, mustard, and side of cole slaw, it tastes like a the east coast infused with California.
The server tells us that their Blondie won best dessert at some point, and I believe it. The perfect sphere of ice cream glows golden brown with caramel sauce, and the brown sugar bar beneath is all sorts of moist and rich.
I was apprehensive about Connie & Ted's, but I checked my attitude at the door. I see a glimpse of home on these walls, I taste the salty Cape on these plates, and I can feel the sea air mixing with every breathy bite. It's a lot ritzier than any clam shack I've seen, but in Socal, it's also better than anywhere else I've been.
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