Pop's Clam Shop Open for 2017
 

Like Pop, I got tired of seeing the "NOT OPEN" in the other Pop's thread, so I started this new one. As a non-fish eater, what would people recommend for me?

Haven't been there for a couple years but their chicken was delicious. Also
the French fries were tasty not greasy. I'm not a shellfish eater so burgers
and chicken are the choices for me, and both are very palatable. Enjoy!:)

My wife and children also do not eat seafood--they've said all the other choices have been good, especially the chicken fingers, which, according to my taste-sensitive wife, taste like they're made separately (not tainted by fish taste).

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Pops is tops
 

Boated over yesterday for clams and scallops
Both very fresh and delicious. Please support our local business people. Happy Memorial day all.

Rodeo Burger every time. If that's too much just a regular cheeseburger. A small onion ring is enough for 4 people to share. So good...

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm hungry already.

Can't get enough Pop's
 

Stopped in Saturday on our way through after attending our son's graduation.
Called ahead, (10 minutes +/-) Seafood/fisherman's platter was waiting for us when we arrived and it was gonzo by the time we pulled into WAM.

I can't speak about the non-seafood items but the seafood tastes so fresh and the portions are awesome. Worth every penny.

When we get fried seafood at other places we travel to we always find ourselves saying ...."Not as good as Pop's"

Why close so early on Sunday nights? We were there last night at 7:15 and the place was shut down. Tons of people in Alton bay, bike week plus everyone heading home should mean big business.

We ended up having to go to johnsons and waited a half hour for take out. The food window wasn't even busy. Not the best experience there...

What I posted on May 21st was not a fluke?
 

Thumbs down Not a good start for pops ?????

Went down to Alton last Sunday 5-21. Got there around 5:30 all set for some Scollops and Clams. The Menu board had all these RED TAGS over some item. That was to indicate they were not available, they had RUN OUT of everything you could do to prepare a Scollop or a Clam with.

Good Grief !
 

Enough.... I am begging you !

Red tags are the price you pay for freshness. This is nothing new. Go earlier next time.


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In all fairness the hours on the website do reflect a 7pm closing in May and June, my point is that they may want to consider staying open until 8 as I feel like they are missing out on a lot of business.

Just bummed we didn't get our Pop's fix :liplick:, and had to settle elsewhere....

Respectfully, I think a restaurant running out of what brings the customers in the first place is not good business practice.
Sounds like pops is as independent as they come and purposely, plans on selling out every day so he doesn't lose a nickel.
I won't drive an hour to be disappointed as there are many other great seafood places around that don't "run out" of their specialties.

I was disappointed last weekend. I love T-Bones Lazy Man Lobster and went their 6pm last Sunday the 4th and the place was fairly empty. Sat at the bar tried to order my meal and was told they were out of fresh lobster. :(

i never would go back food:(

why we close at 7pm on Sundays
 

We close at 7pm on sundays in the spring time. The majority of my employees are school aged kids. It is important to me that they get home at a reasonable time because they have school in the morning. We have had this policy for close to forty years now. I care about my "kids" and their education. They are far more important than a couple extra bucks I would have made being open one more hour.
pop's

No need to explain yourself to anyone! The product that you sell is fantastic! The way that you conduct your business is fantastic. Keep up the great work!


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I could not agree more!!
 

Bumble, thank you for this. I have "no dog in this hunt" but I could not agree more with your comment. This is a hard working guy doing the very best by his customers and employees. In my opinion, his approach makes a great deal of sense and he has been honest and fair in his replies. Thanks "Pops" !

Well said!
 

I hope this puts an end to these comments!

I dunno, I think it was a reasonable criticism and a reasonable response and, in the end, I'm more appreciative of Pop's knowing their philosophy (as well as the civil discourse).

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Good for you Pops
 

Keep doing what you're doing. Food and people are great. Your formula works.

Except when someone goes out of their way to "attempt" to experience this seafood phenom and is shut down by red flags...buy more seafood pops!

The posted hours are closing at 7pm. Not hard to understand why, especially since pops posted his reason.

Everything gone at 5:00 pm
 

Clams and Scolops

Yes you close at 7:00pm in the Spring. We arrived around 5:00pm that Sunday with still 2 hours to go.

If you were out a 5:00pm were you actually out 3:30, 4:00, 4:30????

I or no one here is questioning the quality of your Seafood, just the lack of it at a time in the day when we expect it to be available.

How does the cost of not buying another "bucket" of Clams or Scolops you did not order way against the Number of meals you did not sell? This also means Fries, Onion Rings and Drinks.

Before you Tell me to STOP, are these are not valid questions to be asked?

This is our 16th year of patronizing POPs. I don't think this matter will stop us from coming back.

WINNOCTURN

We have a pizza shop in our town that makes it's dough fresh every morning. When he runs out of dough he shuts down. They have been doing it this way for over 60 years. If you want their pizza you have to get your order in early or go somewhere else. He only has a half dozen toppings all fresh every day so if you want something on your pizza that he doesn't have you go somewhere else. He only takes cash except for large orders. This system works for him and you would be hard pressed to find a better pizza. He's not in business to get rich. He's in business to make great pizza and support his family and the community.

I don’t want to speak for pops, but I’ll give it a shot (in response to winnocturn).
Each week pops has to figure out exactly how much fresh seafood he needs. He bases that on several factors, such as sales history for that given week, and he probably even factors in the weather forecast. He can probably only get the fresh seafood (the good stuff that he is known for) delivered once or twice a week. So come Friday, his inventory is all he has until the following week. If he forecasts his sales incorrectly, he either runs out sooner than he hopes, or he is left with not-so-fresh inventory that he can’t sell the following week.
When he runs out, sure he could run down to Shaws or Hannaford, but then he wouldn’t be selling the stuff that people go there for. Not all clams/scallops are equal.

Pops is not unique in this situation. Every single retail or restaurant business operates the exact same way. What is unique (IMO) is that pops is not willing to sacrifice quality in order to stay open later.

Again, what I have posted is an educated guess, but I don’t think I am that far off.

After looking at his posted hours during May and June, he is closed Monday through Thursday so having excess at the end of Sunday night would mean it would end up frozen not fresh come time to use it.

Same with a cupcake company here in town. They are open until they run out. Sometimes that is only 2 or 3 hours and then they are closed until the next day.

You're making my stomach growl!!!!
 

Fresh fried seafood.....hand spun pizzas....and now cupcakes. You guys are killing me and its still two hours to lunch!!!!!

Cell Phone
 

It is none of my business, but if I was that worried about being disappointed, a cell phone call ahead to verify that what your are expecting when you arrive could be validated. :)

They must have been in a dead zone.:D

POP's Website
 

This is a copy of the website. Their phone number is listed.

Phone: (603) 875-6363

Real Website

http://www.popsclamshell.com/

Attachment 13046

L-O-L Skip, me too !

Me three
 

I just ate and I want a lobster roll from you know where!

You are correct!
 

See this link to another post that started this conversation, in particular #17:

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...ad.php?t=21904

That isn't their website. That is Google. Their website is listed half way down this picture. If you click on the link to their actual website and not Google it says they close at 7 on Sundays.

Hey, Skip. Good to read you.

Call ahead. What a novice idea.

Corect Website showing Now
 

Maybe they should ask Google to update their display? It's the FIRST THING your "EYE" sees when you search for their website.


7:00 PM closing would not have meant anything to me as I was there at 5:00 PM that Sunday. Did they actual run out at 3:00pm maybe?????

How do they buy their "CLAM STRIPS"? Fresh or Frozen? They were gone also.

Pretty sure pops answered this question in another thread. During spring hours he does not want to have seafood left over and either thrown out or used 4-5 days later when he reopens. I'll bet you'll almost never see this when summer hours (everyday) start.

See my Post #35 below
 

He did answer it and I referenced the other thread! Thanks for the confirmation.

Unless he plans on stocking horse-meat, I suggest it's time to stop beating this thread and let it die. Certainly the horse did long ago.

Ha !
 

I tried to accomplish that in Comment #19... trust you will have better luck !

Thank you for your efforts !

thanks for pic
 

thank you winnocturn for the picture of pops. Brought back a flood of memories when it was Andrew's... some of you may remember that.:) I won't raise the horse from the dead but I am going to get there this summer and hubby and I will feast on whatever is available! Happy Summer!:liplick:

Aye there yesterday. Heaping piles of fried clams and haddock for us, but saw another fellow with this. Rodeo burger:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...03a809ca1d.jpg


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On an Alton FB page, Pops announced that they are now open 7 days per week.
As a side note, someone asked if they served gluten-free batter, and he replied they do not.
Dave

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Extra gluten please!!

Does Pops take "plastic?"

No, but they do take personal checks. Even if you have to rewrite it because a friend of yours discovers after you've ordered that he, too, doesn't have cash. Take a guess how I know!

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Wow....
 

Is that a burger on a mountain of onion rings, or an 8" tall burger?

Try the chicken fingers!
 

I'm not a big seafood eater, either, but I do love the chicken fingers, onion rings, and french fries at Pop's. Oh, and try the cole slaw, too. :) Enjoy!

It's a double cheese burger with about 6" of onion rings and a BBQ sauce drizzle on top. Thing was very impressive and a huge meal for 7 bucks


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There is an ATM machine in the 'dining room'. First check to see if there is cash, at times it is empty!

The Rodeo Burger is my favorite!

As for paying by check, they take New Hampshire addressed checks.

Went over tonight after hitting W. Alton sandbar (and towing a family whose boat wouldn't stay running into the marina). AB are my favorite docks--calm, plenty of space--and Pop's never fails to disappoint!

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That bad, eh? 😆

I trust "Pop's never fails to NOT disappoint" ?
 

We sure feel that way !

Agreed.


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In my opinion, Pops has the best fried seafood in the lakes region.
Not greasy, flavorful and perfectly prepared.

Patiently Watching,There are many others who share your opinion !

Swung by Saturday for a small side of whole belly clams, wow! All I can say is wow! Excellent as always, cooked perfectly not greasy or over cooked! And the portion you get for $17 is bigger than any other takeout I've been to.
Will be a sad day when the season ends!!

Stopped in on Wed after hiking Mt Major and had the fisherman’s platter. I was a little hesitant as when I had the same last year it was overly breaded even though I asked for it to be lightly breaded. So I asked the same this time and I must say it was one of the best fisherman’s platters I have ever had. The quantity was excellent (two meals), quality of the seafood was great and the breading was light.

I add a photo of the current prices if anyone is interested, this was on Wed Aug 23rd 2017.

When do they close?

Next weekend.

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thanks for a great season!
 

We will be closed most of this week. We open Friday at 4pm. Saturday and Sunday 11:30-8,Monday 11:30-4. We run out of many popular menu items by Monday. We will reopen for the 2018 season on the first Saturday in May. I would like to thank all of our loyal customers for a busy season.
see you in the spring 2018.
Pop's

Hey Pops:

What do you do to occupy the rest of the year?

The last eight years I have worked at Berwick Academy. I am starting a new chapter in my life this year though. I am getting my guides license and starting a new business guiding ice fishing trips out on Winni.

Good luck in your new endeavor!


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