I hope to post some sort of report on my trip in the next couple of weeks, so you’ll be able to see the high and low points of my New England experience.

The Modern Diner in Pawtucket is fun and excellent, with a lot of old school classics as well as updated breakfast/lunch dishes.

We really enjoyed breakfast at Jiggers in East Greenwich. The place is an old diner car, and they serve johnnycakes–something that’s not always easy to find in those parts.

In East Providence, we enjoyed a place of pork with clams at O Dinis, a Portuguese restaurant. Lots of good seafood, Italian, and Portuguese cuisine in Providence.

In Maine, if you’re in Bar Harbor, try the blueberry pancakes at This Way Cafe. They were incredibly flavorful.

Though Boothbay Harbor is a tad touristy, it is very beautiful. If you find yourself there, try stopping in at the Lobster Dock for (of course) lobster, oysters, clams…. Nice views, too.

In Brattleboro we stopped for coffee, sweets, and delicious bread at Amy’s Bakery Arts Cafe. It’s right on Main St., so you can’t miss it.

Be sure to sift through recent threads on this site–Wandering Jew and Ralph Melton have posted travel reports, and I wish I had known about a couple of those places before my trip.

Suggestions for the drive down to Boston. Consider stopping in Portland, it’s well worth an afternoon of exploring and eating. So many good places for a town of its size. Hot Suppa serves a good breakfast and lunch # http://www.hotsuppa.com/lunch.html
Duckfat is delicious. # http://www.duckfat.com/
If you make it as far as Kennebunkport before stopping, The Ramp in Cape Porpoise is open year round, and you’ll get your water view if you still need one. (The Ramp is the bar for the fancier restaurant above, they share a kitchen). If haddock chowder is a special, don’t pass it up. # http://www.pier77restaurant.com/

I guess i am a lil late for the party here but… If you are going to drive from Newport to Clydes in Old Mystic you just have to stop here!! http://WWW.nordiclodge.com
This is by far the best all you can eat seafood restraunt in New England. My wife and I go there every year on our aniversary. The food is just spectacular and the atmoshere is even better!! From a fellow Texan, trust me you wont be disapointed I promise! It might seem a lil pricey but it is worth every penny! Eat as many lobsters as ya can. A man vs food thing! [;)]
 
When ya get to Clydes, give me a ring. I live 1 1/2 miles from there and you can tell me how great the Nordic Lodge was.  [:)]

Repeating myself, but since you asked – Johnny Adds on the way between Providence and Mystic Seaport is as good as it gets for fried clams.
 
Boston Breakfast – I had a great one at Mike’s City Diner.
 
Providence – they only come out a night, but Haven Brothers diner is a great experience.  Also, New York System Hot Dogs for dogs you won’t get in Texas. If you get a chance, take a drive out to Wrights Farm Restaurant in Harrisonville RI.  A huge restaurant that pretty much just serves baked chicken and does it extraordinarily well.

 Brown’s and Markey’s are 2 lobster pounds in Seabrook, NH, just off 95. Markey’s has a beer and liquor license, Brown’s is BYOB.
 They both have indoor/ outdoor seating and are great ‘lobster shack’ experiences.
 Frankly, the past few times we went to the Maine Diner, we felt it had slipped and was pricey.
 Route 1 south of Portland to Newburyport, Ma is kinda fun. It’s fairly easy access to interesting stuff and you get a good sense of the locale.

For fried clams, the Essex/Ipswich area of Mass. is prime.  The Clam Box in Ipswich is a huge Roadfood favorite, as is Woodman’s of Essex.  For a view, however, J.T. Farnham’s in Essex is your best bet: the rear overlooks a very attractive salt marsh.  And you’re looking for whole belly fried clams — don’t sell yourself short with mere strips in this neck o’ the woods!
 
Re: Boston, Durgin-Park really is a great place for real Yankee comfort food.  Yes, it is expensive and touristy — how could it not be? — but they do serve hard-to-find dishes like Indian pudding, Yankee pot roast, and prime ribs as big as your head.  Buffetbuster just visited last weekend, so they should have more food by the time you get there!  [;)]  Chris

Youngs Lobster Pound in Belfast is just what you are looking for – a nice deck on a small harbor, you pick out the lobster you want, they cook it for you, call out your name, and you can get it with all kinds of fixins – BYOB. We ate our anniversary dinner there on a perfect evening in late August about 10 years ago. If you have time to stop at Damarascotta be sure to look for the excellent local oysters – sorry, I don’t know any names there. 

While you are in Providence you might want to try one of the best pizzas in New England at Al Forno.

Cheers, John 

We really enjoyed breakfast at Jiggers in East Greenwich. The place is an old diner car, and they serve johnnycakes–something that’s not always easy to find in those parts.

You might want to http://www.roadfooddigest.com/post/2010/08/23/Jiggere28099s-Diner-of-East-Greenwich-RI-Closed-By-State.aspx call ahead.

Not that that’s what *I* would do.  [:I]

Oh, bummer! I really liked that place, too.

J
Sounds like a great trip.  As mentioned earlier mid October will be iffy for a lot of the lobster pounds.  Lincolnville Lobster Pound which is on the water will probably be open.  Don’t miss the Lobster Stew.  On the day you leave Lincolnville I have 3 suggestions.  Going South on RT1 the Booth Bay turn off is about 40 miles.  Downtown is about a 20 min ride from Rt1.  I would call ahead to see what pounds are open.  If you travel further South the Wells exit is about 125 miles.  You can stay on Rt1 (more scenic) or pick up Rt95 (faster).  In Wells you will find the Maine Diner.  No ocean view but very good food.  Be sure you order the chowder and pie.  My last suggestion would be the Clam Box in Ipswich MA.  These are the best fried clams on the North Shore of MA.  Seeing that the North Shore is the Fried Clam Capital of the World these would be the best fried clams in the World. Lincolnville to the Clam Box is about 175 miles.
 
 

 
(Leatha’s BBQ in Hattiesburg, MS…YUM!!!),  

Alright, I like you already!!!
 
You did a wonderful job of being very specific about what areas you will be visiting, what routes you will be taking and what you want (and don’t want) to eat.  I hope you get lots of excellent responses from those in the know. 
 
For a crab shack on the water, it is hard to beat Five Islands Lobster Company in Georgetown, Maine.  Go for the shore dinner and enjoy the spectacular view!
 
http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Reviews/5507/five-islands-lobster-company http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Reviews/5507/five-islands-lobster-company

Having just eaten there on Sunday, I can highly recommend The Friendly Toast for breakfast in Boston/Cambridge.
 
http://www.thefriendlytoast.net http://www.thefriendlytoast.net/

Not the shortest route, but consider getting from Brattleboro to Lincolnville via the White Mountains, Rte 302 through ME to either ME turnpike or rte 1.  Ultra scenic and you’ll be going through some neat Maine towns – I used to spend summers in the Sebago Lake / Long Lake area by Naples.  Save time for a wooden Chris-Craft speedboat ride on Long Lake if they’re still operating.

Between Providence and Mystic Seaport try to work in a stop at Johnny Ads in Old Saybrook for outstanding fried clams, chili dogs and most anything else on their menu.

We really enjoyed breakfast at Jiggers in East Greenwich. The place is an old diner car, and they serve johnnycakes–something that’s not always easy to find in those parts.

You might want to http://www.roadfooddigest.com/post/2010/08/23/Jiggere28099s-Diner-of-East-Greenwich-RI-Closed-By-State.aspx call ahead.

Not that that’s what *I* would do.  [:I]