Author’s Note: With daylight savings time having finally arrived, the days are becoming shorter, darker and colder. The “winter is coming” trifecta. Just going outside becomes a chore, with frosty mornings, gray skies and early darkness . One way to fight “hibernation feelings” is to make plans to go out to eat (we can still pack on hibernation calories!); breakfast, lunch or dinner with any and everyone you can tolerate for an hour. Kidding aside, I suggest making dining plans at the place “we’ve been meaning to try,” but keep passing by (like that rhyme?). The cold weather months are also prime opportunities to dust off family soup and hearty stew recipes that fill the kitchen air with delicious scents. A solid combination of “places I’ve been meaning to try” and “hearty soups” is located along bustling Route 28 in Yarmouth in the middle of mini golf country. Look no further than Captain Parker’s Pub!
Award-winning Chowder at Captain Parker’s Pub
In this instance, advertising worked. I cannot recall if it was reading weekly editions of the Cape Cod Chronicle, daily e-news from the Cape Cod Times, listening to Ocean 104.7 or combing through a Cape Cod Guide book, but I learned about award-winning chowder at some pub named after a Captain in Yarmouth. Like many people, I love New England clam chowder. Thick and creamy; a balance of clams and potatoes, and maybe a dash of peppercorn to give it a kick. I’m so particular about chowder, a note exists on my iPhone dedicated to a list of restaurants (only a handful) where it reads, MUST ORDER CHOWDER. Captain Parker’s Pub was recently added to the list.
While the seed of checking out Captain Parker’s Pub was planted in my head, only a passing thought of “if I’m in the area, I’ll try to stop by,” was the plan to get there. Fortunately, the 2019 Cape Cod Mini Golf Masters cruised right through the heart of Yarmouth along Route 28 and the restaurant was just a few hundred feet away from our next destination, Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf. On that bright, sunny, warm birthday Friday, and in the midst of a mini golf bonanza, the crew descended upon Captain Parker’s Pub.
For over 30 years, Captain Parker’s Pub has served award-winning clam chowder overlooking Parker’s River. The restaurant building is enormous, with two expansive bar areas and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant has and promotes a local, fun feel, with the ceiling rafters lined with patches of fire and police departments from around the world – over 5,000 to be “exact.”
Upon glancing at the menu, it became abundantly clear that Captain Parker’s Pub is serious about their chowder. The menu reads, “World Famous, Thick and Creamy, Triple Crown Clam Chowder.” [You have my attention.] Below that introduction were the prices for a cup or a bowl; but further down is where it gets big time. There are quarts to go, and quarts of base to go. And the ultimate delicious surprise, they offer bread bowls for all soups! Somehow, I missed that and my bowl came out before I could switch to the higher caloric option. It is more common to see bread bowls on restaurant menus near ski resorts than local restaurants on Cape Cod. Big time indeed.
That first spoonful was better than advertised, with a bounty of fresh clams drowning in the steaming thick and creamy chowder. The potatoes were diced the same size as the clams. It was delicious and exceeded expectations. That should come as no surprise as Captain Parker’s Pub has participated in the Cape Cod Chowder Festival, Newport Chowder Cook Off, and the Boston Chowder Festival accumulating 14 first place trophies in the process. The restaurant and chowder have been featured in four Food Network programs including Rachel Ray’s 40 Dollars a Day. Okay okay, we get it, BIG time!
The family friendly restaurant is open year round, with plenty of big screen TVs to watch “the game” and some entertaining bartenders who make it hard to leave.
What’s your favorite meal at Captain Parker’s Pub?