Best place for raw clams in Chicago?

Had some fresh raw clams for the first time in Boston and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on some options in the city. I'm assuming that most places that have oysters also have clams, so I'm assuming shaw's downtown. Anyone have any other recommendatins? Thanks.

Foodsnob,

FYI...Shaw's raw bar almost never has clams!

Haven't been there in a long time but you might call Davis Street Fish Market in Evanston.
We eat a lot of raw clams but I purchase at H-Mart and open myself.
My experience with Midwestern Raw Bars is that the product varies and too many times in the past I have had both clams and oysters that were not edible. So I stopped eating them in a restaurant and stopped purchasing oysters completely from any Midwestern source.
But doing this yourself requires a knowledge of Harvest Tags, how to tell if fresh and of course how to open with suitable protection i.e. mesh glove.-Dick

If you go the do-it-yourself route, Costco on weekends often has excellent vigorous cherrystones, dirt cheap. I always pick up a sack if I see them, eat them raw for several days, then steam them or drop them in soup once they start getting longer in the tooth. I've rarely, if ever, seen more than one or 2 goners in a bag after dozens of purchases.

Chinn's Crab House in Wheeling has excellent raw clams. My brother-in-law orders a dozen every time we go there and shares with those of us who always order the oysters and I'm starting to really like them.

Thanks, and I've also found out that Raw Bar has raw clams as well thanks to a pm. I find it odd that it's difficult to find establishments that serve raw clams. Oysters are obviously more popular but I can't be the only raw clam lover here.

I'd be careful at Raw Bar. I've had some not great experiences with their oysters.

ETA - I would hope that people would share suggestions on the boards rather than via PM.

Balsan also offers raw clams, and I've found the quality of their seafood to be impeccable. http://www.balsanrestaurant.com/menus/dinner.pdf

The new Greektown Mariano's has quite a large oyster bar which may have clams.

I bit lofty in the price range, but GT Fish and Oyster had some delicious raw clams while I was there 5 months ago. We had them for dessert.

imsscott wrote:Chinn's Crab House in Wheeling has excellent raw clams. My brother-in-law orders a dozen every time we go there and shares with those of us who always order the oysters and I'm starting to really like them.

Bob Chinn's Wheeling is one of the establishments that put me off raw clams and oysters in the Midwest.-Dick

annak wrote:The new Greektown Mariano's has quite a large oyster bar which may have clams.

Nope.