Whole clams with belly...fried...
 

Are there any restaurants between Ocala and Leesburg that sell fried clams with the bellies?

Thank you.

The only restaurant I know and have been to is “Essex House Seafood” on Sr40 Pierson Fl, about one hour away heading to Daytona. Lobster Steamers, whole belly clams or strips, haddock flounder a hole in the wall but excellent
Reasonably priced for New England seafood in central Florida.

There is a restaurant in Celebration that serves them.

avoid the "lump" crab cakes
 

Whale's Tale Fish House Mount Dora, FL.All About the Sunshine State - Your Information Resource Hwy to Florida › listing › whales-ta...
Whale's tail fish house from allaboutthesunshinestate.com
Whale's Tale Fish House is located in the Golden Triangle Shopping Center at 2720 W Old US Hwy 441. in Mt Dora, Florida. ... Menu offers the best Clams, Maryland ...
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Essex Seafood 1360 W SR-40 Pierson Florida about a 90 minute drive . check there facebook page as times change . FYI CASH ONLY $$$$$$. not fancy basic but whole bellys

Sam's St John's in Summerfield would have them on Friday's. Not sure if they still do

I believe Lena’s has them. Being from Massachusetts it is hard to get clams away from Ipswich or Essex.

Ray Ray’s in Fruitland Park on Fridays.

Lena's Seafood Florida
18478 E hwy 40
Silver Springs

Menu lists whole clams (when available) so you may want to call ahead
(352)625-6489

Also, Dan’s Clam Stand on 44 in Crystal River is excellent! The owner use to be the chef at Burk’s in Plymouth, MA.

I, also am from the No. Shore of Ma. The Essex House in Pierson, FL. is owned by the brother whom owns Essex Seafood in Essex, Ma. IMHO, the food is better in FL, you get more, and the the price is about half for a whole belly clam plate. All seafood is imported from Essex, Ma. About 1 hour and 15 mins north of TV on Hywy 40. No ambiance. Simply the best. Clams, scollops, shrimp, haddock, lobster. They also have broiled seafood as well as fried. I go there once a month. Being a conisor of fried seafood, from N.E. nothing compares to this gem in the middle of the Ocala Forest.

Celebration has them , and the restaurant slips my mind…. They are awesome !

Lena’s, they are also Massachusetts natives. We love it there, and we’re from up north as well. They are only open in the fall/winter since they still have a place up north in the summer.

forget it? if you are looking for seafood in florida, forget it. I've tried and tried, and the conclusion from many of the seafood lovers like us, is the seafood here is awful....period...and so is the Chinese food also, just for good measure

Been to all the restaurants mentioned in the other posts, none come close to Essex (for me, just north if 466, it’s about 1 hr) in Pierson. They serve Ipswich clams, I am from Massachusetts and can guarantee that they are as good as any of the clam shacks in the Essex/Ipswich area.