4. Restaurants

Flo’s Clam Shack

4 Wave Ave, Middletown, RI, 02842
  • (401) 847-8141
  • Store is closed

Flo’s Clam Shack Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Visit below restaurant in Middletown for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 855 W Main Rd )
Applebee’s ( 349 W Main Rd )
Burger King ( 569 W Main Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Middletown for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 855 W Main Rd )
Applebee’s ( 349 W Main Rd )
Burger King ( 569 W Main Rd )

  • Richard R.

    What a classic little seaside restaurant. Located just across the street from Easton Beach on Easton Bay, it is a picture perfect place to kick back your sand covered feet while enjoying ocean views. Flo's began in Portsmouth back in 1936, but was destroyed by a hurricane two years later in 1938. After rebuilding in a new location, that restaurant was also destroyed by a different hurricane in 1991. Some luck huh? Again they rebuilt and also added this Middletown location in 1992. If you love the authentic beachy laid back feel, you're gonna love this place. Just outside the front doors is a counter that you can order from without coming inside. Once inside, there is adequate seating area on the first floor, but the money spot is up the narrow staircase to the second floor. You will find a bar surrounded by fish tanks to make for a cool drinking area. There is also a balcony for seating, but pointing due south towards the ocean is a bright and sunny seating atrium surrounded by glass. I could tell by it's construction that the glass is retractable to convert it into an open air balcony. We came on a rainy day, but I can only imagine how great it must be to see it when it is fully open. THE FOOD History aside, the food was great. It was our second eating experience while visiting Rhode Island and so far the most enjoyable. I ordered the seafood platter which consisted of the following: Fried Shrimp (2.75 stars) - Not exactly the delicious shrimp flavor I was expecting. They were okay but had a slight burned taste to them. Fried Calamari (2.75 stars) - Decent sized ringlets, but not very flavorful. Also they do not offer a flavorful dipping sauce other than tartar or plain marinara. Fried Cod (4 stars) - VERY good. Wonderful flavor and surprisingly juicy. Best fish I had while visiting RI. Fried Scallops (4 stars) - Delicious. the meat was tender and sweet. Fried Clam Strips (5 stars) - Large, tender and oh so good. I ordered them without the guts and unless you are hard core, I would highly advise you avoid the guts as well. Clam Cakes (4 stars) - Ever heard of these? Basically these are really large hush puppies with clam meat baked inside. Not bad, but I enjoyed the ones @ Iggy's much more. French Fries (4 stars) - Always a great compliment to a meal and these were pretty good. FINAL THOUGHTS All in all Flo's was a 3.5 star food experience. The clam strips would be my highest recommendation followed by the scallops and the cod. Bon appetite!

    (4)

  • Valerie S.

    I have always loved Flo's. It is a perfect beachy hangout! I have always gone with a group and had a great time. This last time, however, I went alone and sat in the raw bar, having clams on the half shell. Soooo good and the ambience was fabulous! I live in VA but always stop at Flo's when I am in Newport.

    (5)

  • Alanna B.

    BEST Fried Clams, Fried Oysters, and Lobster Roll I ever had!! Every trip we make to Newport, we must visit Flo's at a minimum of 3x per week. I've tried Anthony's Seafood down the street, and Flo's Clams, Oysters and Lobster Roll still beat Anthony's. Private lot in the back. Check hours because they are different depending no the month/season. Cash Only. You won't be disappointed. Flo's was featured two times on Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate" show. Also would recommend their Fried Fish too - YUM!!!

    (5)

  • Ed K.

    I ordered a clam roll platter. Was charged for a clam plate platter- $8 more. Explained I had ordered the clam roll platter, and was explained that I had ordered a platter. Both a clam roll and a clam plate- platter are posted menu items. Was brushed off and told it could not be re-run through the register. Not a busy day. Will not go back. Don't believe the hype.

    (1)

  • Lisa S.

    Basic over priced, fried seafood. Don't expect anything from bartender. Total grump! Tourist joint for sure. There are so many great places in the Newport area, this one can be skipped.

    (1)

  • Frank N.

    Cool place. Upstairs and downstairs. Upstairs has cool views. Order on the left hand side when you walk in. You get a lobstah that will buzz when your food is ready. The raw bar is upstairs, place your order, give name, they will yell out your name when ready. Delicious oysters, clams and I had a burger on the side....yum! Cash only!

    (5)

  • Brian S.

    Hurricanes beaches and bamboo Flo's is definitely a shack, a big shack but you can't mistake it's classic seafood shack feel. A very casual joint, people come from Easton Beach across the street to Flo's all wet, sandy and covered in seaweed. The shack has quite of bit of seating both inside and out and has several little side rooms where you can go. Not fine dining, you have a choice of sitting on stools, chairs or benches. Flo's can get insanely crowded during certain summer days and a whole lot of people take the food out. Flo's definitely has a unique feel to it and if you come in the back you enter through what looks to be a forest of bamboo. Once inside are lots of old photos, including some of the several hurricanes that destroyed the original Flo's. All kinds of interesting and tacky stuff to look at. You order at the counter and they give you this cool little plastic lobster that lights up when your order is ready. Yep, tacky as hell but fun. Then you go and get you own food and take it where ever you want. Simple and basic but it works very well. They have a wide variety of different seafood and fed you very well. The fisherman's platter is of course expensive but absolutely enormous. I really like all the food here but then I'm not really picky about seafood like this. Flo's is a classic seafood shack that has survived hurricanes, bad economies and everything else. It's been around in several forms for a long time and suspect it will continue to thrive. Some people won't like it because it is so shacky and casual. Plenty of other places in Newport to go if you want to be fawned over and catered to. Flo's is so successful because it is totally unpretentious and just goes about serving good seafood in a very cool shack.

    (5)

  • Sarah T.

    A must when on the beach and they allow dogs! Order the quahog and fired clam pint. Yum yum yum

    (4)

  • Brian F.

    Yes it is a tourist trap as it is in the heart of 1st Beach (Easton)..... Yes the lines are usually long and kind of a pain. Order fried food downstairs and broiled/raw upstairs..... Tip: Secure a table before your food. Yes the food is very good and very fresh. We were told they have there own dedicated fisherman.....Tip: Shrimp are not local but still dynamite. Yes the parking is horrible. Lot is small and hard to navigate when busy with a large vehicle.....Tip: Wait on street for .......and we go everytime we are in town. One of the best parts of the trip. Well worth the small inconveniences. Items we have had. 1. Lobster Roll.....very fresh but nothing fancy..plain cold meat on bed of lettuce on toasted roll...PURE! TIP: Get a side of melted butter. 2. Scallops....fried and nice light batter. 3. Prime Rib...Friday special, some of the best I have had. For 9.99 can't beat it. 4. Fish and Chips very good. Kid approved! 5. Scallops in Bacon....very good 6. Coconut Shrimp....very good CASH IS KING AT FLO'S! !!!

    (4)

  • Arun B.

    Lobster roll and fried shrimp were both on point. The stuffie was truly terrible so save yourself the grief. It came with an elastic band around the clam. Yikes.

    (4)

  • Lisa C.

    What do you all think the following cost at a self-serve, dive place? P.S. I loved the dive part. Anyhow, we had: 6 oysters (of the smallest I've ever seen) 12 fried whole clams (3.99 a pound (=12) at retail shops) 6 fried sea scallops with fries (about $6.00 retail) 1 Corona 1 Diet Coke Can you believe $66.00? I used to love Flo's in Middletown, but not so much any more. Bye-Bye Flo's. The seafood is indeed fresh, but the cooking is not as good and the prices are steep!

    (2)

  • Renee M.

    We were visiting and had heard of this place and since it was near the beach we would give it a try. The fried clams tasted liked fried dough with a piece of clam inside. The lobster roll was good but we found much better on our vacation (the McDonald's had one on the menu and tasted the same). The clam chowder was good, but again we found better. The ambience and location was great. My kids thought thought the lobster they give you as a buzzer when your food was ready was the highlight.

    (2)

  • kathy b.

    Very disappointed! Frozen French fries NO onion rings, and the whole belly clam roll had no flavor and the hot dog bun was soggy. IIF this had been my first whole belly clam roll it would have been my last. My spouse liked the crabby cake but would have liked a condiment for it like a garlic aioli or something. The use Kens steakhouse tarter sauce and cheap generic ketchup packets. Will not be going back there again.

    (1)

  • Bilal R.

    We were visiting RI on vacation, gave it a shot based on dcent yelp reviews. It is actually a shack but feels like a Giant Food Truck with a view, you will only realize this after the overall ambience sinks in. PROS: near easton beach, private parking behind the shack. Food is nothing to write home about but decent, definitely expensive for quality and quantity . Great view on the top floor but place is not as clean as it should be. Cons- atleast if the food is not great the view makes up for it for a bit, still the window glass need some cleaning since it gives a smudged view of the outside. My no=nonsense lobster roll platter unfortunately had a few shell pieces, what nonsense :p. Tips: rush in first to grab a table of your choice upstairs or downstairs since its self serving. Menus are already there at the table so come back to order at either counter-upstairs or downstairs. They will give you an illuminated lobster pager that lights up once your order is ready.

    (2)

  • Helen P.

    Came here opening day 2015 and lived the lobster roll platter! The bun was buttery and toasted and the lobster was chilled. The fries were awesome. The cole slaw was ok but definitely would go back if I am in the area again. Love the casual feel and the stuff on the menu seems amazing!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth U.

    Yum! My husband has been telling me about this place for years; he won't eat fried clams anywhere else. So when we arrived in Newport, it was the first place we went (after checking into our hotel.) The fried clams are really good. We got the fried clam platter: comes with French fries & coleslaw. Also got an order of the clamcakes - they're like savory zeppoles with clams inside! So good! We also had the Manhattan (red) clam chowder: tasty! There's no table service, and even though we had to wait in line for approx. 20 mins to order our food, it was easy to get a table afterward. Luckily we can walk here from our hotel - the parking lot is tiny!

    (4)

  • Peter K.

    A Newport staple for 75 years. And it's great to see all the history on the walls inside the place. Great seafood, and great view of the cliff-side mansions. Try the Rhode Island creations like stuffies (Stuffed Quahogs) and the Rhode Island style clam chowder which is neither New England or Manhattan.

    (5)

  • Trevor W.

    As a Harbor Tour employee, the question most asked of me is "Where is the best seafood in Newport?" If you're looking for a quick, fresh, fried seafood, this place is a must visit. One of my absolute favorite items is their fried clam strip roll. Its a giant, and i mean GIANT handful of crispy yet juicy fried clam strips on a big , buttery toasted hot dog roll. Oh and you get some delicious fries with it. Its by no means a fancy restaurant. Infact its more of a beach bum spot but don't let its appearance fool you.

    (5)

  • Nicholas C.

    Right from the start I should have known....ordered our food and drinks got handed a bottle of Walmart great value water...strike 1... Order came out and looked for the tartar sauce, found it...pre-packed Kens steakhouse tartar sauce... Strike 2... Had our meals 1/2 way through my clams got soggy, all food was extra salty, clam cakes a joke, nothing but over fried batter, and clam chowder should have been potato chowder...Strike 3...Maybe it was just a bad experience for me and my family or maybe a good quick food joint after being at beach all day but wouldn't come back or recommend.

    (1)

  • Alex A.

    Food was excellent, I ordered the lobster roll it was awesome came with fries and Cole slaw, mayo on the side. Also had the stuffed quahog it was amazing spicy but not too spicy, the clam cakes were great big pieces of clam in them. There is parking in the back, great spot would def go again

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    Great people great food and great service! I had the stuffed quahog (stuffie), clam cakes, and French fries...they were all awesome. The food is reasonably priced...only downside is they only take cash and you drink from a can. If you don't mind that get down and see Flo.

    (5)

  • Kim B.

    Location? 5 stars. It is on the beach. You can't get better than that! Food? 5 stars- the freshest seafood. Driving by, you smell it, and you just melt. You need it. Even if you don't like seafood, you will like this. And if not, the chicken fingers are 5/5 too. Atmosphere? 5 stars. I mean come on, its built like a boat, with boats in it. One word. AUTHENTIC! Service? 3 stars. You probably will have to wait for your food, and wait for your table. They give you fun little rocks to wait for your food at your table (if you can get one). But really, it's worth it. You can always take it to go and eat it at the beach. Coming from a Local, it may be touristy, but it's for a reason. It is that good.

    (5)

  • Brianna S.

    I loved Flo's!!! So did the party of four that I came with. This ain't a fancy place, after all, it is a shack. And that's fine by me! We got a handful of things off the menu to make the most of our trip, and split it. We dabbled with Flo's famous fried clams, clam strips, coconut shrimp, lobster rolls, and clam chowder. We definately ordered WAY too much food! But had fun finding room to chow it all down. It was all good, but I wasn't really impressed with tha 'chowda'... Was expecting gold medal quailty. But that's ok, the fried clams made up for it. We ordered a couple pitchers, grabbed a seat outside, and enjoyed a gorgeous summer day.

    (4)

  • Tom M.

    Practically impossible to find a fresher better fish n' chips throw in that they are 6.95 during lent and just go here not anywhere else. Flo is king and queen

    (5)

  • Robert J.

    Didn't hate it, just did not love it. I was disappointed with their stuffed quahogs. Too much filling, mostly bread. Clam chowder was ok. Lobster roll was pretty good, but really just fresh lobster on a roll with mayo and lemon on the side. I would maybe go back to try their whole belly fried clams one day, which would Probably be a better item to judge this place on. The ocean view is really nice. Pretty much self serve place, place order, pick up food, find a table. Was a little disappointed that the raw bar was not open when we went at around 2:00 pm on a Monday. Maybe this is because it is not their busy season yet. I wouldn't discourage people from going, just not my cup of chowda maybe.

    (2)

  • Dan D.

    I just pigged out on Flo's Famous Fried Clams Platter. The clams were unbelievable, the fries were good and the coleslaw as well. For 18.95 I was more than satisfied. This spot has a great view of beach 1. This is a cash only spot so be prepared, but it does have an ATM for those slackers or forgetful ones. I hope to return to this spot.

    (4)

  • JA S.

    Ordered the Fisherman Platter and found 4 clams.... it was loaded with calamari that I hate it's like rubber! Plus very greasy tonight. The clam chowder didn't have any clams it was all potato! Very very disappointed!

    (1)

  • Nancy G.

    returned tonight but was slightly disappointed because my husband wanted whole clams and they were out by 7:00. I got the same thing as before, and apparently was lucky that they would make it to go. ????

    (3)

  • Joseph R.

    Grease, dough, and overpriced. Shoul be named Clam Shaft cause thats what you get paying those prices for grease.

    (1)

  • Tim P.

    Great place for seafood. There's a deck, upstairs that overlooks the ocean. I had clamcakes, fried clams, clam chowder and a spicy stuffie. The food was great, the staff was great. It's definitely a place worth going to.

    (5)

  • Dav Q.

    Great atmosphere. Warming environment. Delicious food. Ordered the Friday night special prime rib for 9.95 which came in a generous portion. There is a downstairs for most fried food and upstairs is for the raw stuff. There is also a bar upstairs with friendly staff members.

    (5)

  • Norma L.

    Overpriced and tasteless other than the grease. For a $15 platter we got fried clams that were drowned in grease to the point I couldn't eat more than 6-7 of them. The coleslaw was pretty but tasteless and the only thing that was truly edible were the French fries. For the price- I'd definitely go someplace else. Especially since it was a take out counter where you had to fetch your own food

    (1)

  • Brinna D.

    Best fried clams I have ever had, and I spend my life in search of the best fried clams. Absolutely incredible. Cozy, too, inside and outside.

    (5)

  • Jo A.

    Ordered the lobster roll platter and it was seriously amazing. They give you so much lobster and it's just so freakking juicy and fresh. Surprisingly, the fries that come with it are just as delicious - crispy on the outside and tender on the inside with a great seasoning. Everything was well balanced. I don't suggest getting the raw stuff there though because it's extremely over-priced. I got 6 little neck clams and had to pay $13. I get a dozen from Anthony's for $7.95 and it tastes better there. I think Flo's has better cooked food but if you're looking for the raw stuff, go to Anthony's.

    (4)

  • Erica L.

    Great seafood shack. Another childhood memory for me. Great clam cakes and seafood. Small spot. Literally a "shack" but quick service and right across the street from a small beach where you can park or sit on the wall and enjoy the ocean breeze

    (5)

  • ImaYesfa N.

    This was my third visit to the restaurant- we were served $17 greasy old fried whole belly clams that were tough and cooked in old lard not edible at all. Also had some very expensive clams on the half shell and some shrimp cocktail that were imported from Vietnam. The creamy clam chowder was loaded with potatoes and hardly any clams. It was so bad I had to return the whole belly and ask for a refund- it should be packed with customers for the middle of summer. Only a few years ago the line went all the way into the parking lot. Now here it is the middle of August and there's no one at this restaurant. You can always tell a good restaurant because it will be packed 7 days a week. All I can say is it was sad and pathetic to see what was a good restaurant crumble and fall into a terrible horrible dining experience- very disappointing overpriced greasy old in edible seafood. Do yourself a favor if you're reading this and go elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Melissa F.

    Best clam roll I have had - hands down. I went here on a Monday afternoon and beat the crowd. When I left the line was long. I recommend going early to avoid the line but the line is totally worth it if you get stuck.

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Can not beat their fried shrimp and calamari, reasonably priced for great service and quality food. Lisa is one of the best bartenders I've met!! Made special virgin drinks for the kids and was very helpful when we first arrived. Definitely worth the trip.

    (5)

  • Randi L.

    The clam chowder was watery and hardly any clams . Worst chowder I have had in a long time. clam cakes were very salty.Thr exterior landscaping is overgrown and needs to be cleaned up. The interior dining room is dirty, needs painting and has some mildew in places. Never come back.

    (1)

  • Tony M.

    This place is crowded. The food??? If you like fried fish you are in the right place. There is no table service so SVP serve your self. This place is very old and pale in color

    (3)

  • Walter T.

    The line for Flo's goes out around the door. Eager to see what the great attraction was, we lined up. Flo's insists on cash only although prices were the same as credit card places. (I hope the IRS is checking them). Fried clam strips were crisp, but not as tasty as Anthony's up the street. Clam fritters were more pricey donuts - dough fritters with almost no clams. The chowder was tasty with the bacon. Clammy cakes were filling, but nothing special. The decor is full of Newport memorabilia. I left full, but not so impressed. I think there are better places to eat.

    (3)

  • Shawn G.

    Almost missed this place because it was only 3.5 stars, but we just finished a fantastic lunch. Sure most of it was fried, but what do you expect from a place with "shack" in the name. Great meal. We'll be back for sure!

    (5)

  • Leo B.

    This was our second time to Flo's-the last one was 6 years ago. We had high expectations for their stuffed Quahog, unfortunately they were out of stock. The clam cakes were really not "cakes" they were more like fried clam balls-more breading than clam. Our friends had the clam chowder-it seems like it was from a can-watery and not very creamery. Lobster roll was very good-with mayonnaise on the side.

    (2)

  • Darlene L.

    Love Flos. Try the seafood platter, you get to try a "lot" of everything (whole bellies, clam strips, shrimp, scallops, fish, calamari). We opted for extra clam strips instead of the scallops (we are not big scallop fans) and were not disappointed, the clam strips were the tastiest part of the platter. Only thing missing was the "crab cake" that was supposed to come with our platter ???... didn't realize it until we came home as we had so much to eat, but would have liked to try it. The side "cole slaw" leaves a lot to be desired... ewwwe... but overall, it was well worth it...... The the atmosphere and views are Newport's finest :) I gave this a 4 star because of my missing crab cake. Price was very good $30 total, and was plenty for two of us, took home most of it!

    (4)

  • Justin P.

    5 stars!!!! The seafood here is unbelievable! Best around! Cant go wrong with any item on the menu. Fried seafood is never greasy and is FRESH! Highly recommend the whole belly clams or the scallops or, if you want to try a little bit of everything, try the fishermans platter. Worth every penny! The fishermans platter is gi-normous and can be split between two people. The atmosphere is awesome. Order downstairs and then head upstairs for an open air dining room and an outdoor deck with some stool seating overlooking the beach and water. Upstairs they also have a raw bar, which i have yet to try, but it looks very fresh and doesnt smell which hints to me that it would be very good. Price is standard for seafood. Highly recommend! It gets very busy in season on the weekends so get there early. I find weekdays are best to go. Less busy.

    (5)

  • Russell H.

    Whole belly clam roll. Lobster roll. I could have eaten both in one sitting and been very happy. I decided to share instead.

    (3)

  • Christina L.

    Clam chowder - what a joke... watery water with potatos and there was NO clams. i will take canned clam chowder at anytime over Flo's!! pls bef you order, look around for other ppls chowder to see its water...... waste of $5 Clam cakes - I've never had clamcakes before, i was sure that it had clams in it. it was nice crunch fried dough with NO clams!! this was cheap $4 for 6. i still won't get it again! i wanted clams not dough!!! Lobster roll platter - what a disappoinment!!! The worst i ever had... the lobster had NO taste at all. they must cooked loster and left it in the water to drain all the taste... i like my lobster or any food little bit blend BUT this loster had NO taste whatsoever!!! NO taste!!! waste of $16 Clam bar sampler - 2 clams good. 2 oysters good. shrimp good. crablegs good but they dont even give you whole claw, only half claw.... how can i explain, i thought i will get 5/6 legs but only 3 very skinny legs, and one tiny bite of lobster meat. well it was $16, so maybe it was ok...??? Fried clams - i liked it! ;) Fried oysters - i liked it! ;) Fun location, liked outdoor upstairs....

    (3)

  • Astra K.

    I put one star only because u cant put half a star....a huge disappointment! And to think, this is where i went to eat for my birthday! Yuck! For TEN years i have dragged EVERYONE i know to Flos, but now, gross! Never again! The food was cooked in oil that should have been changed LONG ago, even though items were pale, they had dark burned specks all over them and tasted burned. Clam cakes that used to be SO GOOD also made in that same dirty oil, AND so over salted neither i, nor my son, who LIKES salty stuff, could eat one whole clam cake! And this god awful mess was the 27 dollar fisherman's platter! Since a great friend was taking me out to eat, my son and i pretended to be full and brought this all home in carryout containers, and we really did try a SECOND time to eat some of it, but just could NOT do it, then we offered it to our dog, who eats EVERYTHING and she left the whole container sitting in the middle of the floor and got back in her bed!!! SHAME ON YOU FLOS!!! Not only did you ruin my birthday, but now ppl i know think I'm some kind of idiot for telling them your food is good! Its not even EDIBLE anymore!!!

    (1)

  • Mandy D.

    Tradition: go to the beach, stop at Flo's after, eat a dozen clamcakes to my face on the drive home. If my stomach was big enough, I would totally eat ten dozen. These things are like crack. Also, their stuffies are wicked good, and freaking spicy. They hardly need any hot sauce. I still haven't tried the raw bar upstairs yet, but my friends and I made a pact to stop in there the next time we're in Newport.

    (4)

  • Sean G.

    Best lobster roll I have had this summer! Delicious fries decent slaw. Right at the beach. I took mine to go and ate on the water in Newport. Gorgeous. Only detection was oysters at raw bar weren't shucked too well. But a must visit!

    (4)

  • Jenna L.

    I like this place. Yes, it's touristy but the food is still good and the atmosphere is super chill. We got Flo's Fisherman's Platter, which pretty much comes with everything: fried clams, clam strips, calamari, shrimp, scallops, fish, and a clamcake. The clamcake is a local thing, and it's not really my favorite but you should give it a try anyway. It's kind of like a hush puppy, only more.. clammy. We tried the red chowder too, which is not really my thing either but was pretty good still. I'm a white chowder kind of person. By the end of the meal, we were completely stuffed. Overall, the food was good, and we could see the beach from the outdoor balcony which was pretty. No thrills in terms of the seating and paper plates/plastic utensils, but that's what makes this place great. Very homey, and unassuming. I'll be back, and will most likely bring visitors when they come as well!

    (4)

  • Jaci H.

    I love you Flo! My fiance, Adam, and I were here for the weekend and needed to find the freshest seafood and we found it here. First off, if you're going to park in this parking lot, please don't pull all the way in so you have to back out a million times awkwardly. We witnessed the worst drivers in history attempting to park here, perhaps they need a sign that says "WAIT UNTIL A CAR LEAVES BEFORE PULLING IN" seriously people, it isn't that hard. Flo's is the perfect seafood shack, although its definitely a giant shack with plenty of outdoor seating both downstairs and upstairs. Grab a menu, find a seat and be prepared to be amazing by their selection. Adam and I were so impressed with their seafood that we ate there the next day for lunch (we're crazy New Yorkers who are crazy for good seafood!) We tried pretty much everything and loved it all. The seafood platter is too big for one person, but great to share. They give you plenty of everything and its all good. - Crab Cakes = heaven on Earth, we ordered this two days in a row - Stuff quohog = definitely worth trying, its like mashed potatoes meets stuffing that's spicy. I had no idea what to expect, but I thought it was really tasty! - New England Clam Chowder - awesome with tons of clams in it - Fried Clams (w/ belly) - so good!!! So worth the price! - Fried Calamari - delicious and not rubbery. It will melt in your mouth - Fried shrimp - super tasty, medium size and fresh - Clam Cakes - not that big of a fan, it was pretty much bread, but I guess they're good for dipping in the soup... I needed to save room for everything else. - Fried fish - OMG this is so good. It was some of the best fried fish ever, we ordered this twice we loved it so much - Coconut Shrimp - very tasty with a nice sauce. and of course their fries and cole slaw are bangin' too. It was a feast of epic proportions on both days. Definitely remember that their portions are huge and seafood isn't all that great as left overs. So ordered less and go back for more if you want to prevent waste. Wish they had a better beer selection, but it was totally fine with normal domestic. Can you guys deliver to NYC? Pretty please? :)

    (5)

  • John S.

    My wife and I got away a few weeks ago, and stopped in for some dinner. We got two clam strip platters the are huge, one could have feed us both. Very good! Place was a little cold but it us a shack so bring a sweater!

    (5)

  • Sharon E.

    OMG.....We are Locals and ALWAYS go to Flo's and always recommend Flo's to Friends and Family. No one has ever been disappointed. Their Food is of the highest quality and there Service impeccable! How many restaurants that you know of that have such a high volume and consistently turn out Great food with a Smile from your server. Today was Very Special as it was their last day for the season and the servings were HUGH ! and Yes the oil had been changed this morning, because their seafood was light, crispy , and delicious. I do have to take a minute to give Kudos to our cocktail waitress Lisa and our food waitress Kim..........They always take the time from there busy busy schedule to come greet us. Not only do they greet us, we get a hug ! There is something Very Special about Flo's and it's not just the Food. It is going to be a long cold winter without you guys, but please know that we appreciated all you did for all of us Newportians this past Summer and await your return in the Spring. Love you Shay and Di

    (5)

  • Catherine M.

    Wish I could give a"0". Walked in and was told fried food is to be ordered at 1st floor window. Went upstairs for raw bar. Too damn confusing. How about a waitress who can deliver anything we want?! There's an idea.

    (1)

  • Laura S.

    Both upstairs and down are great. Upstairs, peel & eat shrimp and scallops & bacon. Downstairs, fried clams and lobster roll. All awesome - even the coleslaw (no mayo!) and fries. We went both before and after the Cliff Walk (gorgeous), and were welcomed back like old friends. Tip: clam cakes are good, but since they're more like bread/hush puppies save them to dip in the chowda.

    (5)

  • Vic O.

    I came here on a Memorial Day weekend with friends. Overall, I think that my meal satisfied my hunger, but could have been a better experience. First off, there is no wait staff; you must wait in line to place your table's order (I thought this was Flo's, a well-respected sea eatery, not McDonalds), and then wait until your lobster vibrates to signal that your food is ready. The restaurant itself was crowded and had loud and obnoxious young men and women drinking beer and stuffing their faces. The place as a whole is crammed and I swear I saw exposed electrical wires, which made me feel uncomfortable about the foundation. The stairs leading to the raw bar are dingy and small; I would not go up there. My meal was okay, but I did not appreciate the fried seafood as it robs the natural oceanic goodness from glorious sea creatures. As a pescetarian (I tell others I'm a vegetarian who eats fish since many do not know the term pescetarian), I think this dining experience was 2 stars worth and I would not come back. Fried food is not what the future Americans need, especially when on vacation. We need to preserve the natural delicates of the sea without using substandard cooking materials to create flavor. There was so much grease from my fried seafood on my plate that I was disgusted. Also, parking was limited since it was a holiday weekend. Parking throughout this area was also scarce.

    (2)

  • Esther T.

    Flo's was my plan for lunch when we arrived in Newport being that it's next door to our hotel, and it was good when I had it a few years ago. The staff is not the friendliest, but for a place like this I don't really care. We ordered 2 lobster rolls, fried clam strips, and New England clam chowder. Lobster rolls were mediocre. Had a lot of meat, but not a lot of flavor. Clam strips were awesome. Clam chowder wasn't the best, but ok. It's a cute little place for a quick lunch. It's not gonna blow your culinary mind.

    (4)

  • E W.

    Heard this was a great local place which was exactly what we wanted. Got a platter and it came over flowing with fried shrimp, cam strips, scallops, white fish etc. but it was sooooo greasy we couldn't even enjoy it. It's like they didn't let the fry basket drain before they put it in the plate. They don't take credit cards and you order at a window and find your own seat. 1 platter, 1 Greek salad and 2 cans of soda was just under $50.

    (1)

  • Barrett O.

    The clams cakes are amazing, clams sweet and so fresh and you must have the lobsta roll. Always great food.The only reason they don't get get 5 stars Is because they still only accept cash and you have to always go to the ATM and that's a pain in the b***. but speaking of butts there's no other reason why they don't get 5 stars because their food is awesome the service is great because they're fast it's fresh it's hot and it's always just to die for you gotta go you gotta have some no matter how far you gotta drive you gotta get it to Flo's

    (4)

  • Joe C.

    Make no bones about it, this place is a clam shack. The words "clam shack" are clearly in its name. And it's Flo's clam shack by the way. Her name is in there too. I was bummed out that my clam chowder didn't contain very many clams. Don't get me wrong. I liked it. The broth and the potatoes were both excellent but my bowl was desperately lacking in the clams department. I liked that although it was Rhode Island style chowder it actually was very hazy in color and packed a lot of flavor. Sometimes Rhode Island style ends up be just hot water. Maybe I got unlucky and got the bottom of the soup bowl with very few clams. Who knows. But I'm going to think twice before ordering clam chowder next time. I'll likely try some other item next time.

    (3)

  • T B.

    Raw chicken. Given its a seafood place I shouldn't have ordered chicken but it was raw inside. My friends has clam frittereea.... There were almost no clams. It was a fried dough ball. Fries we're yummy!

    (1)

  • Hugh M.

    Some of the food, like the fish and chips, is really solid. Other foods, like the clam cakes, are really lacking. Make sure you order the meals that actually contain seafood and you'll be fine. A lot of the choices are just fried dough. Very cool decor.

    (3)

  • Neil B.

    Go on Thursday for all you can eat crab. Otherwise, there are plenty of other places with better food.

    (2)

  • Thomas S.

    We were starving after our Cliff Side walk. So we decided to try Flo's Clam Shack. We saw the shack on a drive by earlier and thought it looked interesting. We ordered fried whole clams, fried calamari, creamy clam chowder, red clam chowder, clam balls, french fries, and cole slaw. We loved the whole clams, red clam chowder, and fries. However the creamy clam chowder was not creamy, more like watery. Calamari was average. Clam balls didn't have any clam taste. Cole slaw was bland. No in house made tarter sauce, just packaged commercial product. Flo's fried clams was great as advertised, but some of her other dishes need inprovement. Home make tarter sauce is a good start.

    (3)

  • Jamie K.

    Amazing food. So great in fact,.that you'll end up spending a ton of money. I can't remember what my girlfriend and I spent, but it was something ridiculous, like 25+ each. Will return in a heartbeat however!

    (4)

  • John L.

    We came here a couple times, once in the middle of summer and another time in the off season. It is night and day from the long lines in the summer vs. the off season. In the summer time the line stretched all along the boardwalk ramp to the beginning of the parking lot. While the fall it was walk up to the counter. No wait. With all the waiting in the summer time, it is still worth coming since their food is so good. My fiance and I always get the fried clams with the New England Clam Chowder. Worth the wait. The decor is very unique and with all kinds of fishing gear strung up and hanging from the ceiling. There is an upstairs and if you're lucky enough to snag an outside seat, there is a great view of Easton Bay. Would not hesitate to come back during the summer time and wait in line. On the bright side, while you wait, you get a cool looking lobster buzzer!

    (4)

  • Emily L.

    This review may not be too accurate because I had Flo's about 4 years ago when I visited Rhode Island for the first time. Let me just say that their clam chowder is the best I've ever had. I've been searching for some satisfaction in other chowders, but nothing comes close to Flo's Clam Chowder. SF's Boudin tastes like watery potato cream mush compared to Flo's chowder. And I ate Flo's chowder when it was warm.

    (5)

  • Chanel G.

    Great fish and chips

    (4)

  • Kate S.

    Forget what all the haters said...this place is awesome! Beautiful views, laid back vibe and relatively inexpensive all you can eat snow crabs on Thursday. Clams were fresh as were shrimp. The Manhattan clam chowder wasn't amazing, but was, by no means bad. Really nice employees, too! My fiancé and I will be stopping here on our way home from Nantucket. We still talk about this place!!

    (5)

  • Angel L.

    When my boyfriend and I started planning an East Coast adventure, I knew I had to try this place after seeing it on the Food Network. We arrived at Flo's after making our way into Middletown from Boston (this was the second stop on our trip). It was getting late and it was raining, but I was definitely excited! I ordered the clam roll with red chowder and my $3 bud light (regular price for domestic beer!). The clams were so sweet and crispy, i was in heaven! The fries were decent, and I thought the chowder was just ok. My boyfriend is not a fan of fried foods, so after trying a few bites of my roll, he made his way up to the raw bar and came back with 4 delicious looking fresh oysters. I have never had seafood so fresh and delicious! We both agreed that we definitely want to go back to Rhode Island, and I will be sure to make my way back to Flo's so I can get my fried clam fix, and my boyfriend can indulge in the fresh oysters!

    (4)

  • Jason T.

    Since there are no half stars i would give this place 3 1/2stars. My girlfriend and I traveled to RI to from NY to see the Taps headquarters and of course Flo's clam shack. The place itself is cozy with a lot of space and parking. Ok and now to the food. We ordered the clam chowder, the lobster roll, clam cakes, and of course the fried oysters. The food itself was good but a bit pricey. I myself enjoyed the fried oysters and being from NY and trying Marys fish camp in Manhattan the lobster roll disappointed me. I wished the lobster was already mixed up properly with the mayo and spices. The bread itself was small and not as great. But those who haven't tried Marys fish camps lobster roll will definitely enjoy this. This is a place definitely going with the family and enjoying good food and good people. Just like quahog in family guy.

    (3)

  • Cami R.

    Great dive with excellent food! A local resident recommended that we check out this place, and we were not disappointed. The clam cakes are amazing, as are the clam strips and "chowda." Portions are substantial. Not a huge drink selection, and the place is cash only. Perfect location, as you can walk from the beach and eat upstairs overlooking the ocean.

    (4)

  • Katherine D.

    Great spot for lunch! We were four very hungry people here for lunch. We shared the fishermen's plate and the lobster roll, the food was very good and great portions. The place is very rustic and casual; the service was fast and we left full and happy!

    (4)

  • Emily H.

    I went to Flo's for fried clams on a recent trip to Newport and loved basically everything about it. The food was terrific, the atmosphere was perfect for a seaside clam shack, there is parking available, and they give you buzzers shaped like lobsters while you wait for your food! Also, free cold water from a cooler up front.. Very important in my book! It's really the perfect spot to stop for lunch. Just be patient, as long lines make ordering take quite a while. Definitely follow their advice of grabbing a table first.

    (5)

  • Melissa D.

    The best dive shack ever! This is were you want grease, paper plates, patio furninture, buoys draped throughout the restaurant, and cheap seafood. If you want class, eat slowly, linens and the same seafood they get from the docks, then drive down to downtown thames. This is your quick pick me up with massive lines in the summer so be patient. However, while you wait, there is a waitress serving drinks! The menu is basically fried clams, fish, oysters, shrimp with french fries and coleslaw. If you want some shucking goodness, you have to head upstairs and order oysters, king crab, crab or lobster claws on the shell. Definitely come here for the whole belly clams and the oysters on the half shell. So fresh and not too much bread on the clams and descent size oysters. Either eat in and go upstairs to overlook the street or grab your food and munch on First Beach (away from the red tide, well it's everywhere..)

    (5)

  • Joe T.

    My wife brought me here for a quick get away for my birthday. She knows how much I enjoy fried clams. These were the best I've had in over 15 years. Very fresh and sweet. Very tender and not rubbery at all. We chose to make our order to so we could eat it across the street at the beach. Fries and slaw were also good. We enjoyed the chowders too. Red for my wife and white for me. Plenty of stock in both and neither were watery. I agree that the cash only sign needs to be posted in a better place. Would have given 5 stars but we were rushed to place our order even though no one else was in line. We'll be going back next summer.

    (4)

  • Sharlene C.

    ack typo on my part. calm should be clam and has totes been reviewed. how could i doubt the yelpers would not find such a gem.

    (5)

  • John K.

    Great clams, ok chowder but didn't get their specialty, fantastic location with balcony to eat on overlooking the beach. Get your fried fix here with a beer and watch the action around the beach.

    (4)

  • Robin B.

    We love Flo's and it's always a spot we visit when we go down to Easton's beach. Food is always great, and fresh. We usually get the clamcakes and chowder and it's always delicious and piping hot and prices are reasonable.

    (5)

  • Jeff W.

    Every time I get to go here I leave smiling from cheek to cheek. It's a Rhode Island treasure.

    (4)

  • Tom S.

    A real experience and not to be missed. Very tacky, lot's of fried food, quick service and a good view. It's a memory you'll appreciate. Clams and the lobster roll were both excellent. The crab balls are maybe to be avoided, even with the "over 30 million served" catch phase on the menu. They are breaded deep fried balls of crabish tasting bread. Watch your diet here!

    (5)

  • Adam W.

    Absolutely worth a stop in the Newport area. Tremendous seafood in a great setting with lots of personality. Must try items: Clam Cakes, Chowder and Calamari. The calamari is perfectly cooked and so fresh that it just melts in your mouth when consuming. The combo meals are perfect, too, as you can sample various items for a decent price.

    (4)

  • J R.

    Can't beat it for straight up New England seafood... the fried clam dish is a winner, however for less money (if i recall correctly, almost half) you can get the fried oyster dish, equally as good... and any new englander should know that a littleneck is about a 3rd the price of an oyster, so for me I felt like i was getting away with murder. Service... what service? You wait in line to order, then you go and sit down. From a restauarant standpoint, the owner of Flo's needs to take business management 101 and learn something about work flow. You have a liquor license, you have people waiting outside for 45 minutes to spend $12 on lunch, and yet the restaurant itself is EMPTY. Do you know how much revenue you are missing out on by not offering table service? Please god... please don't tell me this hasn't crossed your mind before... Anyways, typically i would wait the 45 minutes to order food, but there are plenty of times I said nope and went to the mooring or black pearl. Think about it...

    (3)

  • Laurie M.

    After trying the famed Anthony's last night (an unmemorable experience), I feel compelled to write a review for Flo's who over all my years remains to be the best fried seafood joint in the area. I have a hard time understanding why Flo's only has 3 1/2 stars...lines and parking can be a pain when newport is overloaded w tourists yes, but is that their fault? If we are talking fried seafood and clam cakes, Flo's wins hands down, the batter is delicious and crispy, and always fresh seafood. Been to this location and their other shack and both are deliciously consistent.

    (5)

  • Brent G.

    The fried clams are amazing for the first few bites. For me the regular fried clam platter was probably too much fried clam and if I had to do it again i would get the small. Still very good but probably too much fried food at once. Very crispy and tasty. Get the chowder too and dip the fried clams in the chowder. It's almost euphoric. We got there around noon and the place was rather empty but by the time we left, it had filled up nicely. I can see this place being a bit touristy but still a solid restaurant.

    (3)

  • jessica c.

    This place rocks!!! Love the decor, the staff and the clam cakes. Although I must say I usually go there to indulge on some of the best Mimosa's around. the upstairs raw bar is the place to be -- the bartenders have been working there for years -- and always recognize the regulars. Great little hole-in-the-wall in an otherwise wealthy neighborhood.

    (5)

  • Kevin T.

    Must get: - Fried clams (with bellies) - Clam strips (if you prefer no bellies) Clam chowder is good too (lighter than "normal"). Pass on the fried fish which is much better at Anthony's... also, skip the lobster roll (nothing special).

    (5)

  • Food C.

    They serve RI Clam Chowder which is my favorite. If you are looking for thin broth style Chowda this is your place! A true RI classic!

    (5)

  • Ester B.

    Their clam chowder was really bad. Never expected anything like that in New England. Potatoes were awful. Also they do not take credit cards - make sure you have plenty of cash - the place is not cheap.

    (1)

  • Kate K.

    One of our goals that weekend was to try as much clam chowder as possible. Flo's was our pick for a late afternoon snack. I only had a bite of the chowder, I didn't want any more. The broth tasted like it was made from skim milk and I didn't get a sense of clam in it at all. On the other hand, the fish in the fish 'n' chips plate was absolutely perfect. Juicy, flaky fish with a batter that, while heavy on the crunch, was very light in taste and texture. I also enjoyed the clam cakes. While the clam flavor was mild, the cakes were a delight to bite into and went well with the tartar sauce. The decor and atmosphere are casual New England Beach. I got a laugh out of the menu item "Two hot dogs and a bottle of Moet." Just perfect for a walk along the water. Worth checking out, but skip the chowda.

    (3)

  • Joseph D.

    Possibly the best fried clam strips I've ever had (and I eat a lot of clam strips). Beers are cheap, food is pretty fast if not a little pricey, but I'm guessing it's high quality stuff. The atmosphere inside and out is phenomenal. Very unique place, and a very diverse clientele. Old and young, couples and families. I'd give it five stars but the service was painfully slow.

    (4)

  • Mike D.

    Heard a lot about this place ...good scallops, shrimp and crab cake, however, the fried clams were an extreme disappointment. Rubber bands and these clams have a lot in common.

    (2)

  • Andrea C.

    We ate here on a vacation to Newport and loved the entire experience! It was great because we were really in the mood for a "lobster poundish" sort of place and this definitely fit the bill. We all shared the fried clams (amazing!!) and the fried oysters which were also delish! I also enjoyed a surprisingly tasty hot dog and a great cup of Cole slaw. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants to feel the ocean breezes and enjoy some great traditional seafood! The interior of the restaurant also has a wonderful ambiance (we felt like we were sitting in a real seafood shack) and we even got to sit out on the porch and marvel at the water view!

    (5)

  • Laur T.

    We were here specifically because I'm such a fan of raw bars and clam shacks! We stopped by after our visit to the mansions in New Port RI. They had quite a varied menu and my only regret is that I was not able to have a larger appetite. I think we got the fried clams, some raw platter and more food. I think I had 2 glasses of coke too :p Lovely laid back, chilled out kinda place.

    (4)

  • Gwen D.

    I like Flo's ! But must admit I only go there beginning or end of the summer. And I'm not a big fan of the raw bar,from what I hear they say its good. Fish and ships are good.

    (3)

  • K R.

    I go to Flo's for the fried calamari and fish sandwich. The calamari melts in your mouth. It's like butter. So tender/soft, the batter is nice and fluffy, and not overwhelming. The fish sandwich is by far my favorite. My one complaint is that they should deep fry the banana peppers also or give a bigger amount than just the little cup of them. I love banana peppers and can eat them by themself all day if I could without ending up in the hospital of severe heartburn. For the fish sandwich, there's huge portion of fish piping hot out of the fryer. The bun doesn't overwhelm the fish and the fish just hangs all out of the bun. The batter isn't overwhelming either. You can taste and see the fish. It is always a nice white color, flaky, and tastes super fresh. It's not ever over cooked. Add some tartar sauce and banana peppers, you have the best fish sandwich. The fish sandwich combo is a great deal too. You get the sandwich, fries, coleslaw and a beer, granted its just whatever cheap beer they have on tap anyways, it's still a good deal. Yes, service is a bit slow, but that's kind of what you get so I can't take anything away with that. I don't set my expectations very high for a clam shack when it comes to service. I personally have never had an issue. But then again I get to the beach at about 8:30am-9am to beat the crowds, head to Flo's about 11:30am have lunch and beat the crowd, then go back to the beach. But it is definitely worth the wait if it's packed.

    (5)

  • SD L.

    This is exactly the kind of place I would expect on the New England coast. It was a pleasure to find it so close to Newport RI. No-frills at its best. I had a clam strip roll, platter with fries and cole slaw. The word to use is shoveling, not eating. Exactly what I would want. I agree, the pre-packaged tartar sauce takes away a little charm, but I ate it! I ate it all.

    (4)

  • Erin D.

    Flo's is very fresh. I love their fried clams, the best!! Great clam cakes. Their chowder is a little thin, I like it creamier.

    (4)

  • Adam C.

    Oh Flo's you old overpriced shithole! This place is in a good location right near 1st beach, but they try to exploit that by way overcharging for simple fried seafood, like clam strips, clam cakes, fried scallops, etc. The food is decent, but how hard is it to make that type of shit anyway? Plus the place isn't anything to look at. This is the type of place that I'm pretty sure the management wouldn't be worried about a hurricane hitting it, because it'd probably look the same before and after. The Flo's in Portsmouth is better anyway.

    (2)

  • Keith S.

    The fried clams and clam cakes are amazing. Order at the window outside and the head upstairs for a table and get your beer from the bar. The loss of a star is for serving packaged tarter sauce. If you are not going to make your own at least put it in a dish that allows me to think you might have.

    (4)

  • Andrew W.

    very fried fairly expensive for what it is only one rest room causes long line!

    (3)

  • Chris K.

    I love it here. Great clamcakes, RI hot cheese, fish sandwich. These guys know how to use the deep fryer. Great inexpensive place to go during the summer when you need something greasy. Don't make the mistake of coming here and getting a salad- stick with the deep fryer and you won't be sorry. I will be visiting here quite a few times when they reopen for spring and summer

    (4)

  • Devin S.

    Good food for a decent price in a great town. The place may be a bit touristy but people come for a reason; the clams. I got a fried clam roll (whole not strips) and my girlfriend got the fish and chips. The clam roll was $10 without fries or $13 with fries, I opted for just the sandwich. The sandwich was pretty good. The clams were fried nicely and the bread was delicious. It would have been perfect but the clams were a little chewy. The fist and chips were $9 and they were fantastic. The fish was light and flaky not overly fried and the batter was not heavy at all. The fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Should I come back I think this may be my selection rather than the clams.The fries it came with were good as well. Not the greatest but they were crispy and not overly greasy.

    (3)

  • Gregory C.

    My Wife and I were recently visiting the Newport RI area and I just had to have my fill of fresh clams. I was leaning towards trying Flo's Clam Shack. After reading Robert M.'s review from 6/2/2011 we just had to try Flo's. It lived up to the comments of that reviewer. I do not eat fried food too often, however Flo's was excellent. My wife enjoyed the fish and chips and I had the Fisherman's platter - outstanding clams. Interesting ambiance and a great cross-section of customers. Simple straightforward food. Highly recommended. The fried fish and clams were outstanding.

    (5)

  • Stacee D.

    I know its a landmark in Newport, and the food was okay......I had the calamari which seemed a little more chewy to me than I have had it other places. My husband had the fried clams which he liked. It was just too much fried food for me, I dont think I will go back when I go back to Newport.

    (3)

  • Lark L.

    I did not eat here but I can tell you it is overrated! It looks all charming on the water on the website but is next to a few hotels/motels and not right on water. This place STINKS! Not like fish----like weird- dirty fish with Lysol all over it. Even eating outside you would smell it. Still after the smell in the parking lot I went to check out the menu but decided there was nothing that unique or special that could make me ignore the stench. I am cool with shacks and food but it can't be stinky and dirty.

    (1)

  • Susan C.

    Yay! i'm a fan. Despite the 45 minute wait to place an order, the food was pretty good. I had the #6 fresh fish sandwhich special comes with fries, soda or beer. My bf had the #1 special - fried clamcakes, a new england clam chowda, and a beer! Didnt like the stuffed quahogs as much because it was too spicy. For the price, the oceanview, and the clammy decor, Flo's is rated 4 clams in my book.

    (4)

  • Danielle W.

    I haven't been here in a while but when I lived in Boston, we would come down to Newport Beach at least once a year (yay warm water, boo red tide). This place has the best fish sandwich I ever had. The breading was perfect it all just melted in your mouth. Fantastic!!

    (5)

  • Anders B.

    if you're in Newport and it's summer, you simply must visit Flo's...

    (4)

  • Jeffrey P.

    I'm assuming that this is about as good as it gets when it comes to fried clams. The combo platters were enormous, and probably amount to more fried food than one person should eat, so I'd maybe go with an individual order over the combo. The fried clam dough balls were much better than I expected.

    (4)

  • Computer S.

    This is the reason why they were feature in the travel channel twice, but I wouldn't care for the lobster roll, the place smell like clam dumpster

    (2)

  • Ms. S.

    My fiance and I stopped here on a bike ride along the water yesterday. The food was excellent and worth the 20 minute wait in line outside of Flo's. But I do have one complaint. There was a waitress taking drink orders while we waited on line. When I asked her what the "Rhode Island Lunch hot cheese" was, she said "I don't know, I don't working the kitchen. She then giggled like a moron and never said "Let me find out for you". She just walked away. We got the fried clams (delicious), the lobster roll (best ever) and the Stuffed Quahog (darn good). The guys behind the window were super nice and the food came fast. Get rid of the ditsy waitress please!

    (4)

  • Jim G.

    BOOM! Man this place is awesome! Walk up ordering and absolutely honest seafood at reasonable prices. Right across the street from the beach and lacks the pretense of many other places in Newport. The bar upstairs serves a mean drink too that will enhance your hot summer day or evening. Go, my friends!

    (5)

  • ERICA O.

    Flo's has a raw bar, which made me happy. Their menu is that of a typical on the water to-go fast food place. Fried, burgers & dogs...not my thing but the raw bar I can get down with. I have to say the atmosphere is dingy but you know what your walking into and its almost like being in another time because it really needs updating but you almost want to ask yourself 'is this the feel they're shooting for'...who knows. Not bad, not great, cheap & sleezy, potential to be fun!

    (3)

  • Jeanne T.

    Whenever we're in Newport, which is annually now, I head for Flo's at least once. I know it's a tourist trap, but it's still good. Introduced my friend from San Francisco to Flo's yesterday. We had gone to a fancy restaurant the night before but didn't really enjoy it, so she was skeptical when I told her we were going to a clam shack for lunch the next day. She was charmed by the setting -- across the street from the beach. She was puzzled by having to order food outside and by the expensive price tag of our two lunches. I ordered the fried clams (what else to order at a clam shack?) and she went with the lobster roll. We skipped the french fries and doubled up on the cole slaw. Then we headed upstairs to find seats on the porch. She was hooked even before the food arrived. We sat by the waving American flag with full view of the water across the street. The breeze was blowing, boys were throwing a football below us -- it was the quintessential clam shack setting. We would have been happy up there without eating. I went down to get the food -- served on paper plates and plastic silverware. We loved it. The clams were fried to a crispy perfection, and her lobster roll was heaping with lobsters. She wanted to eat the lobster without the roll, but I insisted she have the complete lobster roll experience. She was glad she did. My only criticism, though mild, is the packaged tartar sauce. For the price, I think they should make their own or at least not give Heinz packages. Homemade tartar sauce, which is very easy to make, would make this a five-star place.

    (4)

  • Katrina M.

    I like this place. The clam roll is my favorite. I kinda get sick of it, though. Not the food; the people and the hassle. It's in a very touristy area with almost zero parking (there is a parking lot in the back, but it's very small, tight, and almost always full). Cash only, which really isn't a big deal because an ATM is located inside. You will stand in line for awhile to order (sometimes 10 min, sometimes more then 30, depending on the time of year), then wait awhile for your food before you can enjoy it's deliciousness. Come with friends, send one to order for everyone and the rest to find a place to sit. I don't want to tell people not to go, because it is excellent and reasonably priced, but I have to prepare myself for the nuisance. I will say if high-hassle is not your cup of tea, Anthony's Seafood will give you the same killer seafood, but without the incredibly cumbersome experience.

    (3)

  • Kate M.

    This is a great spot to hang out when you're in Newport (or Middletown). This is a place the locals hang out and enjoy the raw bar and beer upstairs in the bar. The King Crab and oysters are something to experience, but you can't pass up the clam cakes and fish and chips. The place is nautically decorated and a great place to hang out across from the beach. You can sit inside or outside on the deck. They take your order and give you a rock with a number in exchange. Great place for the kids too! Definately worth a visit when in Newport!

    (4)

  • Tiffany T.

    About a month ago, my hubby and I took the drive for the great crab deal on Thursdays. Moving here from Pittsburgh in January we were longing for the all you can eat crablegs that were served back home. What we found was beyond disappointing. We arrived inside the restaurant and headed directly upstairs. (As per the MANY online reviews I diligently poured over before going.) We barely got to the top before we noticed the huge line. I wouldn't have minded because hey, they probably love crab as much as I do, however, that was not the case. The problem was that there were few full tables and many empty ones. Huge lines, empty tables...... Can you say "servers"? Shell out (pun intended) the $2.15 per hour and get some servers to help out! So I'm already irritated but I'm maintaining my cool with visions of delicious crab dancing in my head. So it's our turn to order. Here's where things get really out of line. 1st. (Really no biggie if wasn't added to the rest of the list) I asked for 2 beers. She suggested a pitcher. I asked if there was a price difference and she said no? We'll be here a while so I said go ahead and give me the pitcher. She comes back with 2 beers. Whatever, again, no biggie- she was probably flustered because of the before mentioned huge line. 2.) We say we're here for the crab. She comes back with one paper basket of crab claws called rock crab. This was the big issue. First of all, we were expecting snow crab legs. I dunno, maybe because the website said "crabLEGS?) These claws were so hard to crack! Once you finally did make your way in to it, you find a meaningless piece of meat that you had to fight to tear away from the shell. I was beyond upset. I had such a difficult time eating them that I gave up midway through claw #3. My husband tried to be cool and keep forging through but even he eventually gave up. We angrily threw in the towel will 3 claws still in the basket. We brought the basket back to the lady (after standing in a line another 10 minutes) and the lady asked if we wanted more. We said absolutely not- they weren't good! Now you would think she would at least discount us on one of the crab meals since for "all you can eat crab x 2" we ate less than one basket of claws. I guess that was "All we could eat!" So we pondered whether we should just chalk the $35 up to an appetizer and head home with empty stomachs or stay and buy another dinner and go home full. I remembered the reviews about how good the hot food was so we begrudgingly headed downstairs and reordered. We told the lady behind the counter about our experience and she was very apologetic. She said she was new but that they were receiving a lot of complaints and that they would probably have to switch back to snow crab. She took our order and kindly threw in a free beer and stuffie. She is what took this review from a 1 to a 2! I thought the hot food was good, maybe a 3 but my hubby disagreed. He would have given it a 2 but he was still pretty mad. We weren't the only ones bugged by the rock crab, either. Sitting next to us was a group of about 8 people eating the crab while we ate our fish and stuffies. They were complaining the entire time. Since that experience, just about every week on Thursdays I call and ask what crab they have and so far it been rock every single time. I just feel like they just don't care about the customers here so I don't care to give them my business. SIDENOTE: We also thought the crab was terrible because it was served ice cold. I did some research and found out that it's a New England thing and that some places do serve them warm but I'm not holding THAT against them.

    (2)

  • Alan T.

    I overheard a bartender in downtown Newport, RI recommending this place to another customer. I took his advice and headed up the road to Flo's. This is easily one of the best "Clam Shacks" on the East Coast. If you're looking for great, fresh as can be seafood (mostly fried, though they have a raw bar upstairs), this is definitely the place to go. Much better than the places in downtown Newport and less than two miles away. We tried the fried haddock, clam strips, and clam cakes and all we fantastic. A huge meal for less than twenty bucks with great beach atmosphere and a view of the water from upstairs too. Don't miss it if you're in the area!

    (5)

  • eliza b.

    mmmmmmmmmm boy. second best clam strips in the world. i want do ridiculous things like take a bath in them, wear them as a hat, or put on a bikini and clamstrip wrestle some chick in a vat of them.

    (5)

  • Bouncy D.

    The food is mediocre, but the atmosphere is entertaining. Casual, loud + beachy.

    (2)

  • Jamey B.

    The raw oysters were pretty good and the lobster roll was solid. The beach shack ambience pushes this three to a four for me. Swift service and good seating options. Nice beach access almost across the street!

    (4)

  • Katie C.

    Super greasy, over priced, fried food. The location is alright as it overlooks the beach but it's really more of a tourist trap. For the best fried clams, go to Evelyn's Drive-In, Tiverton, RI.

    (3)

  • Jasmine R.

    Love, Love, Love it here. It's nothing fancy but it's priced reasonable and food is always delicious. My absolute favorite. The raw bar upstairs makes the whole experience worth it.

    (5)

  • Renee A.

    Being a Rhode Islander and a huge seafood fan, I love this place. The atmosphere is everything a typical clam shack should be, and the food is nothing short of yummy! The "creamy chowda" IS a bit watery and not exactly "creamy", but is still packed with plenty of clams and potatoes that make it delicious. Definitely would recommend it as a great place to go post-beach day.

    (4)

  • Andrew P.

    Steady stream of people, atmosphere very cool. Fried clams excellent. Clam cake light and fluffy (not a lot of clam). Chowder was thin, not very creamy, I have had much better. Firery Stuffie ( horrible) extremely dense stuffing not really cooked, unappetizing. Crab cake sandwich just not very good. If you ordered well you probably could have a good/great meal. We did not. I would go elsewhere if I have a chance.

    (3)

  • connie c.

    Great location but so so food Came here because it had outdoor seat and is dog friendly. Self service order at the counter. The lobster roll was not very good and clam chowder was ok. Nothing too impressive.

    (3)

  • Crystal W.

    Was really expecting more from RAVE reviews and TV shows, but nothing will ruin great seafood like Wet, Soggy batter!!! I'm happy to say we tried this but we won't be back! You can def get the same stuff somewhere else in RI!!

    (2)

  • John W.

    Loved this place! Classic, small, funky seafood shack. Long line when we arrived but worth the wait. Had lobster roll which was near perfect. Very tender, succulent cold lobster with a little bit of lettuce on a New England split-top roll, lightly toasted. A little bit of mayo from the plastic packet and it was delicious. Came with really good fries. My wife got the crabby cake sandwich that she liked quite a bit. She got the #8, which was a great deal. Only $6.95 for sandwich, fries AND a draft bud. Also split a half-pint of their famous fried clams. Seemed pricey at $20 but also very tender and very good. Cannot wait to go back. Make sure you bring cash, they don't take plastic. There is an ATM machine but the fee was $3.25! YUM.

    (4)

  • Tonya P.

    On a recent visit to Newport, we made our trek towards Middleton's Flo's Clam Shack reopened for the season on March 1, lucky for us it was March 3rd. So excited, it's a shanty seafood house across the street from the beach, providing a great atmosphere and lovely views. Walking in, so happy it was off season, because you have to walk up to the counter and order food, bar and raw bar are upstairs, so if you are from North Carolina, you don't know which way is up, just lead me to the bar. After I took my family's order, ten people, what a clusterfuck. Wouldn't be bad at all if I knew the drill and there weren't ten of us! Of course, fried clams were top of the list. She asked me did I want belly clams or strips, I was baffled, both girls in unison, "belly clams!" I ordered a large order for the table and we all devoured them! Tasty, tasty, tasty. I will probably dream of fried belly clams at Flo's. What really made our day special, well beside the fact that my nephew graduated from Officer Candidate School (Go, Navy)!! Eating crab in New England was on my mom's bucket list, so this is the only thing she requested when we went to Newport, so that's kind of cool, that she gets to cross one more thing off of her list of fun! So, word of advice, if it is peak season, go visit Flo early or late or be prepared for a CF and don't bring your whole fam damily. Flo- I can't wait to return! Of course the most useful tip for Yelpers CASH ONLY. There should be a Yelp banner on restaurants that are cash only.. I'm a genius! Yelp get on it!!

    (5)

  • Hayley M.

    Awesome! Went to Flo's on the fourth day of business of the 2013 season. I'm so glad we booked our trip when Flo's was open. It's a touristy spot, for sure, but it has good views and good food. What else do you need? We had the fried clams and lobster roll and split them. Both were wonderful. Fresh lobster meat and almost no mayo, that's all I want in a lobster roll. Also, CASH ONLY!

    (4)

  • Elena S.

    Come for the fresh seafood and the ocean breeze and you won't be disappointed. The lobster roll featured a generous portion of perfectly cooked lobster with very little mayo and a grilled bun. The fried clams (not strips) were also perfectly cooked-- crispy breading with tender and plump clam bellies. Add a little lemon and you're set! The best place for an affordable seafood meal in town.

    (5)

  • Tom W.

    Tourist trap. Everything is bland and can be had at numerous other places. Lobster roll is just ok, Brick Alley Pub is better. The clam cakes are legendary, somebody please tell me why? We won't be back. Fried, bland food lovers paradise.

    (2)

  • Ash C.

    Not good. Disappointed that this was the spot we chose for lunch on our last day in Newport - fried clams were way too much batter and hardly any clam. Chowder didn't have that thick creamy fresh flavor (and we ordered the "thick" version. Fried shrimp were too heavily breaded in some heavy bread crumbs that entirely masked the shrimp flavor (reminded me of the kind you buy in the frozen food section). Clam cakes had absolutely no clams in them! If your driving past... keep driving!

    (1)

  • Charel L.

    We tried this place for lunch after visiting the mansions. We ordered the belly clams and lobster roll. The cashier lady was skimpy with the water cups and made sure she gave us just one to share. The clams were big and the belly delicious, however the strip was inedibly chewy. Not worth the $15.95 price. The lobster roll was not dressed and over cooked. The meat tasted stale and smelled fishy. We couldn't keep quite as we were so looking forward to RI seafood and returned the lobster roll. The cashier working was not willing to take it back and acted like it was our fault. She then spoke to the chef and he rolled his eyes and accepted the return finally. Food at flo's has no love. They just throw everything together. I would stay clear of this place. We drove 45 minutes to iggys and had an amazing experience.

    (1)

  • Topher D.

    What's not to love about FLO's??? It's a dive bar and a clam shack combined with water-views. Try it!

    (4)

  • Leila H.

    wish i had heeded the reviews and gone elsewhere. all the food was ok, and cheap enough, but nothing worth going out for, and certainly not deserving as its placement as a clam shack institution. clam chowder was passable, fried clams were ok, clam cakes not recommended, and cole slaw fairly disgusting. the only good news was our 6.99 meal came with a beer!

    (1)

  • Robert S.

    This is a perfect summertime seafood spot. Usually when I come here, it's between visits to the beach, or watching live bands at ABC across the street. How busy it becomes only serves as evidence to how popular, and delicious, this clam shack is. My only reservations with Flo's are a) the lack of parking, which is an area-wide concern, and b) the fact that it is cash only (which is just annoying, in this 21st century, credit card swiping world we live in). Granted, it has been awhile since I've been here (aka last summer), so I can't give specifics about the food that I ordered... I do remember the lobster roll being fairly substantial (big pieces of lobster, not too much mayo), and some variety of fried fish being devoured with glee... Overall, pretty standard seafood shack fare, but above average quality.

    (4)

  • dan w.

    Do not expect Ipswich or Essex quality fried clams. These are greasier and the tails were tough. But the bellies were sweet and juicy- so the clam craving was satisfied. The fact that they use Ken's pre-packaged tartar sauce vs. homemade was a real no-no, but their coleslaw was pretty good. French fries were slightly above average frozen with the skins still on to give the appearance of fresh cut. I found the service to be quite friendly and efficient. They give you those wireless plastic lobsters which light up and vibrate when your order is ready. In the meanwhile you can look at the beach which is across the street.

    (3)

  • Karen J.

    As someone who loves clam cakes these were the worst. We couldn't find a clam in itl it was doughy and dense. The stuffed quahogs were way too spicy and the chowder a big eh!! A real tourist trap!!

    (1)

  • Robert D.

    Upstairs @ the raw bar is where it's at! Lisa is amazing at running the bar and makes everyone feel they are welcome and special. The littlenecks and oysters on half shell!

    (4)

  • Kayla Q.

    My boyfriend and I have been here a couple of times. We first went in the winter, which was great because no one was there and we could actually find a seat. There is nothing more uncomfortable than trying to find a place to sit with a tray full of food. The staff is friendly and they have adorable buzzers that tell you when your food is ready. The portion sized are huge which is good because it can be a little pricey. My boyfriend and I probably spend $30 on lunch for fried food- not my favorite thing to do. At least it was good. my advice is that people keep that in mind when ordering- you can always go order more. The atmosphere is perfect for such a place. I prefer this to its rival Anthony's simply for the decor and location. The food is good, the people are good, and they have some great raw bar deals on weekends. Warning- they do not accept credit cards but they do have an atm on site so you can pay just a little more for the banking fee on top of the high priced fried seafood.

    (3)

  • Ernest L.

    I used to stumble to Flo's after a few when I lived on down the street on Briarwood. Since then, I've moved to the other end of the state. But, I still come back here. It's really good food. Also, they give you beer with the combos. Clamcakes and chowder with a Budlight costs $6. Even Budlight is least $3 at any bar/restaurant ($4 with a cheap tip). I like to think of it as me paying $2 dollars for a very hearty, very tasty, very Rhode Island meal. That's a steal. When I used to eat beef, the Friday prime rib night was an pretty alright way to spend all of $10. They have an all-you-can-eat crab night too, but I do lobsters, not crabs.That's way too much effort for me. During the summer beach season, it does get very busy and the line can extend 30 people deep into the back parking lot. If you don't want to wait, CALL AHEAD for a takeout order. I've seen frustrated people, but more importantly, smart people call for a takeout order....while in line. They get to eat their food from stylish foam takeout containers and watch their former line-mates remain hungrily in line. Also, BRING CASH. As they do not do cards. However, there is an ATM onsite.

    (4)

  • Kate N.

    Clam cakes dunked in clam chowder. Pitchers of Bud Light, sitting on the outside deck, overlooking the waves crashing into shore. Frozen mojitos. Fish & Chips. All of these things and more at Flo's. Even a T-shirt that you can buy that says "Smack My Clam and Call me Flo!"... This place made our entire party happy. Would love to return and hang out on another summer afternoon. Deducting one star for Cash Only, but they did have an ATM on the premises.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    Not a bad clam shack,Lady at the counter is very nasty told the line that they had to go outside on a cold day and windy.I had the clam chowder soup (white)it was all right the clam platter was not bad I had better I don't think I will go back.

    (3)

  • Ashley P.

    Love. This. Place. Visited here over the weekend to indulge in my first clam cakes of the 2009 summer season! Delicious delicious delicious. Located directly across from 1st Beach, this conveniently situated windowed, take-out style restaurant is a must eat when visiting Newport, RI. Whether you are on the go or looking to sit down, this business caters to both needs. After ordering and taking my numbered rock (that's right, orders are called out by numbers, numbers that are painted onto rocks given out to customers as they pay for the purchase). . . I headed upstairs to the 2nd floor deck to scope out some prime seating. Great view of the park and beach across the way. It was until this summer that I discovered the to-die-for combination of clam cakes and a cold beer on a warm sunny day. The stuffed quahogs are a bit spicy for my liking, but the clam cakes are the perfect mixture of doughy, greasy, clammy goodness. Perhaps next time I'll order the Bottle of Moet & Two Gourmet Dogs for $50 ;-P

    (5)

  • Jennifer H.

    The only reason I am not giving Flo's 5 stars is because the service was pretty sub-par on my most recent visit. There was one person working the counter, and service taking orders was slow. Ok, and I am super picky about my tartar sauce, and while the Ken's sauce they give you is good enough, I would love for Flo's to mix up their own tartar concoction. (That is a subtle request.) Other than that, I crave Flo's on a regular basis. Every time I'm in Newport, I salivate for Flo's fried clams. They are just that good. I'll warn you: If Flo's is open, you will wait in line at this cash-only joint. They wisely recommend finding your table then hopping in line to place your order, and I would concur. Drop your beach bags (because Flo's is 10 times better after you've been sitting on the beach all day), at a table and head to the back of the line. Once you've placed your order, take your adorable lobster-shaped buzzer back to your table and check out the nautical-inspired decor while you wait for your number to be called. I have only had the Fisherman's Platter: whole clams, clam strips (delicious for strips), calamari rings (super tender), scallops (perfectly cooked), shrimp (so juicy), white fish filet and a clam cake. With fries. And cole slaw, which is actually the kind of slaw you eat because it's good. For like $18.99. You can't go wrong. They have Bass Ale on tap at the counter... as well as some watered-down American "beer." Cans of Coke products are under $2. The bar upstairs is always hopping. Oh, and don't worry about clearing your tray; someone will be along shortly to clear your table in preparation for the next patron. Flo's is an easy walk from Easton's Beach, and if you found beach parking, definitely take the walk. The Flo's parking lot (behind the restaurant on Wave Ave.) is pretty small and usually packed.

    (4)

  • Matt M.

    By far our favorite clam shack in the Northeast. Lisa, who tends bar, always remembers us, remembers what we drink, and treats us like we matter. It doesn't hurt that the fried seafood (downstairs) and raw bar (upstairs) are fresh and great quality.

    (5)

  • Phil C.

    Touristy and overrated? Yes and yes. (and a tourist trap that doesn't take credit cards) I tried the clam cakes and clam chowder. The cakes resemble a fritter of sorts with only one puny clam. It was pretty disappointing. The chowder was okay, but not quite my style. It's too watery and is similar to a San Fran clam chowder. I know that's the RI style but not really mine. A redeeming thing was that we had a nice view of the shore from the second floor balcony. If I have this place another shot, it would only be for fried clams and/or the lobster roll.

    (3)

  • Colin C.

    I went here for lunch on a Thursday. The meal was WAY overpriced. The clam platter was $18 and came with soggy, undercooked clams and a side of soggy fries and mediocre coleslaw. If you go here, spend an extra $7 and get the fisherman's platter, at least you get a lot of bad food. The atmosphere earns it two stars. Also, considering how busy it was the wait wasn't too long. If you want a better experience head to Anthony's.

    (2)

  • Jessica S.

    Went today before the beach for the raw bar. They have huge shrimp cocktail and strong rum punch. The bartender upstairs is always really nice too. I like to sit outside on the deck. Love the atmosphere here. Decided to come back for the prime rib special they have on fridays. Awesome deal for $10. I expected a small piece but it had to be 12-16oz. Good roasted potatoes and salad with really good dressing. I also got fried shrimp, love. The only thing I dont like here is the coleslaw. There is hardly any dressing on it and plain cabbage is ick. Staff is nice. I have been here many times and come here anytime I am in Newport

    (5)

  • Kameron S.

    I think this place would have gotten 4 stars if I actually liked clam cakes. I had their clam strips and they were pretty good. It is kind of hard to mess up clam strips though. I like the seating area outside. We usually hit this place up after beaching it at second beach. Parking is kind of a pain as the lot is small and always full. I dislike their battered fries, but the kids seem to like them. I think I will try something not fried the next time we visit!

    (3)

  • Jeffrey S.

    This is what a beach side shack is supposed to be like! Place your order outside while a partner secures a seat for you. (Not that confusing if you just read the sign or ASK! there's probably a line of people that already figured it out right there in front of you.) It has seating inside, outside and on an upper deck. Nothing fancy here, just good food. We had the chowder, stuffed quahog and lobster roll. My wife claimed her roll was the best she'd ever had and I would agree that it was so simple and delicious.

    (5)

  • Evan H.

    I went here about a week ago (mid-September 2013), and I am guessing that maybe the "A-Team" employees had already gone back to school. There were no fewer than three separate menus, one from which you could supposedly only order upstairs (what turned out to be a raw bar/alcohol bar), and two similar but slightly varied ones for the downstairs counter where you placed orders (one affixed to the counter, one hanging just inside the counter window, from the ceiling). I have no idea whether the upstairs and downstairs were owned separately, but it was clear that neither the upstairs nor the downstairs knew what the other could make, and further, that they did not communicate at all. We grabbed a couple seats upstairs, and as there were menus on the table, (incorrectly) assumed someone would wait on us. When no one came after a while, I went to the upstairs bar to order. The bartender informed me that the only food they sold upstairs was from the "raw bar," and everything else had to be purchased downstairs at the counter. Going to the counter downstairs, I tried to order items that were evidently a mixture of all three separate menus. The woman at the counter informed me that two of the three things I wanted to order were only available upstairs (to which I replied that the bartender upstairs said we could only purchase raw items [oysters, etc.] from her, and had to go downstairs for hot food). The woman at the counter replied that I was wrong. Huh?? The downstairs counter could get me clam chowder, but coconut shrimp were out of the question. So, too, evidently, was an order of crab cakes (two crab cakes), but I could order a crab cake sandwich instead. Again, huh? I admit I got a little snide here by asking why I could get a crab cake sandwich, but not two crab cakes: "Can I just have two crab cake sandwiches without the buns?" The woman replied "sorry, you can only order off of this menu here" (gesturing to the one affixed to the counter). Funny thing, that particular menu had an order of crab cakes listed. When I pointed at this, the woman backtracked and said it still couldn't be done, as an order of crab cakes wasn't on the menu hanging above the counter's window (indeed, it was NOT on that one). Finally, I settled for a #1 combo (cup of chowder, clam cakes, fries and slaw, plus a beer or soda) as well as a crab cake sandwich. 15 minutes later, I received (they don't deliver, I had to go to the pick-up counter) a cup of chowder, what were evidently three clam cakes (basically hush puppies, none of which had more than a couple tiny pieces of clam baked within), a can of coke, and a crab cake sandwich on a bed of spinach (weird in its own way...). No fries, no slaw. When I inquired (with a second woman who manned the pickup portion of the counter) as to where the fries and slaw were, she told me I hadn't ordered any. I replied that I ordered a #1 combo, to which the first lady (who had taken the order, and was listening in) replied that I had not ordered the combo. I argued that I in fact had ordered the #1 combo, to which the second woman replied that fries and slaw didn't come with the combo. I pointed to the menu hanging above the window, where it clearly stated fries and slaw came with the combo. The staff finally relented and said they would bring my fries to me in a few minutes (they did arrive, but the slaw remained MIA). Despite it all, the food was decent (greasy, but that is to be expected; also, it was all probably straight off of a Sysco truck, going straight from the freezer to the fryer), and the location was superb (great view of the ocean). But the customer service was something that you would see on a Saturday Night Live sketch. Long story short, unless this place gets its act together, don't waste your time.

    (1)

  • Robert M.

    I drank the cool-aid All I can say is WOW! Coming from down Texas way, we do not have many places like this. Yes, we have seafood (oysters, crab, shrimp), and it's really good stuff, just not this kind of really good stuff. I have been to a few places around RI, and usually stick with Iggy's. Not sure if that is good or bad, but I like them. But, I digress. So a friend of mine and I were in New Port and we asked around for a place to eat. We got the typical New Port response (places on Themes) while being forced to look up someones nose. Finally we got an outsider that had been there for about two years. The kind of person that would explore her environments. She looked left, looked right and then whispered, "go to Flo's." So I immediately looked it up on Yelp. There was Ashley P., and inspiration to us all, lavishing a 5 star rating on this place. So off we went. So there were to two big dumb Texans looking at the menu scratching our head. The lady looked at us and said, you gents look like you are pondering might hard on that there menu. OK, she only sounded like that in my head. Anyway, she suggested the Captains Platter. This is a $40.00 hunk of goodness. It was plenty for the two of us, which means probably good enough for three to four normal human beings. But being from Texas and all, it worked out just right. Anyway, this was melt in your mouth good. So I know this is going to be difficult for the Rhody's to get their heads around, but it is worth a 15 - 20 mile road trip. I know that usually takes planning for you, but it is worth it. Get your butt in gear and enjoy what the ocean and a deep fat fryer can do for your taste-buds.

    (5)

  • Ann K.

    i just love flo's, it really brings back good memories. i would knock off a star for lack of parking, huge long wait during summertime, and cash-only, but i just think this is such a fun, low-key, beach-vibe place that i can't really dock it. you order outside, then get a little lobster that vibrates when your food is ready :) the clam cakes and chowdah are so yummy and cheap. you can try the rhode island typical quahog (not my thing). love sitting outside on a nice day, but indoors is fun with fitting decor. you can look out onto first beach when sitting outside. ah, i miss this place. go and eat a clam cake for me ;)

    (5)

  • Derek H.

    Great location to have some real good seafood and watch the sunset. The food is great and the service is too. Definitely don't pass up on getting their world famous clams. Parking can get kind of tough though; their parking is in the back but it does get filled.

    (4)

  • Jordan W.

    The food was good but the experience wasn't. I went with a work friend and one of us had to hold the table while the other one waited in line to get food, for over an hour. So we didn't get to talk to each other. Very lame. All they need is a wait staff. and the place looked run down.

    (3)

  • Alexandra C.

    Average fish n chips and clam chowder. A little too much batter with their deep fried items. Cool, beachy atmosphere and location. Long wait. But fills you up with decent seafood at reasonable prices.

    (3)

  • B I.

    After reading numerous critics recommending this place, I was genuinely disappointed, and wish i read the Yelp reviews more closely. More below. Service - 3.5 There is no waiter service at this place. You order at the counter and you bring your own food. So it's hard to rate. The person at the kitchen was generally nice and the food was prepared quickly so in general I think the service is fine, but a waiter would probably be useful. Food - 1 Very disappointed with the food. I didn't try everything but i got the platter with a variety of sea food that they are famous for including fried clams, clam strips, fried calamari, shrimps and clam cakes. The food was generally bland and did not taste anything special. I trust the sea food was fresh, but how can one even distinguish since everything is fried to the bone. The food was like decent bar food, but not what i was expecting. Atmosphere - 5 This place is really nicely designed. It's old, wooden with ton of cool pictures and symbols throughout the shack. Outside there is an outside area isolated by bushes with an old boat next to it. The quaint look fits it well and is great. The view of the ocean is very nice and it's a wonderful place to grab a drink and relax. Value - 2 For the quality of food the prices are way too high. You are really paying for the atmosphere. For a restaurant, it should be the other way around. The only reason why this place is getting a 3 is because I tried only one platter. Maybe some other things on the menu are great and i just didn't try the best stuff. However, from what i tried (what they are famous for), I was not impressed.

    (3)

  • Alex F.

    On our way to Newport, we had to stop by Flo's which was our second option, since the first option was closed (seasonal) which in hindsight might have been good, since it was a DDD recommendation and we've not had very good luck with Mr. Fieri. Whew. Pay close attention to the GPS, because it's kinda hard to find. When you're making a sweeping right turn, look to your left and not watching for cars. You can't park in front, so go past the place and turn right to park in the lot. Go under the tropical luau thing to the window and place your order. Whew. So you take your rock with the number on it, find a seat and when the food comes, you forget about the weird arbor, the difficult parking, and the rock! Being indecisive, we ordered the fishermans platter, Rhode Island style chowder, and a stuffie (giant clam stuffed with a spicy bread crumbs and chopped clams...a New England staple). The fried food was HOT...fresh from the fryer and not the heat lamp. The chowder...awesome! Food was good, service was friendly, decor was nice. Very cool place to get some great food! Cash only!

    (4)

  • Kathryn D.

    Delicious lobster roll and the fries are awesome! Nice atmosphere. Not cheap especially at lunch though when there are other good deals to be had. Classic newport experience though! I would probably opt for Anthony's instead next time... No view of the water at Anthony's but better portion sizes for the money.

    (4)

  • Thien N.

    After reading raved reviews on yelp, we decided to end our day trip in Newport, RI at Flo's for dinner. We waited for about 20-30 minutes before we could order and was thoroughly disappointed with Flo's food. - The clam chowder was very watery, even if you get the creamy kind. Where is the cream??? - The Fisherman's Feast was huge in portion and enough to share between 3 people. However, the breading was stale on all of the seafood that it came with. The best thing about the feast as the scallops and shrimps, but there were only 2 of each. Other than that, the breading was greasy and stale and the seafood didn't taste so fresh. - Clamcakes - WHERE ARE THE CLAMS?? We ordered a dozen and found only about 1 clam in the whole dozen that's the size of an 1/8 of my pinky! IT's what they're famous for and I still don't know why. My friend ordered lobster roll and said it was pretty decent. Other than that, nothing to rave about. I felt like I was going to have a heart attack after eating at Flo's. I'd recommend skipping Flo's and dine on Thames Street instead.

    (2)

  • Kevin S.

    Note: CASH ONLY. We tried going here for dinner after two separate friends recommended it to us. First, we had trouble finding it because our navigation system had it on the other side of the street (not the restaurant's fault / no big deal). Then, we had to do parking-lot battle to wait for someone else coming out of the restaurant and getting in their car so we could get a place to park (again, not the restaurant's fault, but a reality you will have to face if going to eat here). Next, we went and got seated. First we noted the lack of air conditioning, and it was pretty darn hot today. Even so, we would have stayed if that was the only issue. Finally, we discovered the "CASH ONLY" note on the menu and said enough is enough, we're going someplace air conditioned that takes plastic. Seriously, who carries cash around anymore?

    (2)

  • Randi S.

    Being from a beachfront community in NY I have eaten in many seafood restaurants... We come here every year for a reason... The place looks like a dive but it is the best seafood restaurant in the area if you are not into "fancy" places.. You can come right off the beach and either sit upstairs on the deck or inside. The inside is decorated with numerous awards and interesting photographs . The food.... Top Choices after trying many things here The fish and chips are excellent,,, big piece of thick white fish Must have ... Fried scallops- the best!!!! Fried shrimp... Lightly fried- delicious Lobster roll- nice size chunks of lobster- no mayo- add your own Disappointments Clam chowder- too watery- go to The Black Pearl- its the best! Clam cakes- more like clam zeppole a small ball of fried dough with very little clams

    (4)

  • Katie T.

    Clam strips and fried clams were fresh and good. Lobster roll was good but a bit small for the price we paid. I would skip the fried clam cakes and chowda; tried the "stuffie"for the first time and was also unimpressed.

    (3)

  • Gina C.

    Concept is 5 out of 5. - Indiana jones ride-like waiting area decorated with bamboo and island picket fences make your wait less painful and somewhat amusing. -Paying at the window / bussing your own trays concept saves you on some tip buckaroos. - A flashing plastic lobster that will come alive when your order is ready. - That weird wavy mirror right outside the bathroom that makes everyone look 10 times stubbier. Way to increase ones ego ... after feasting on seafood! Funny. + another one. Food two out of five. - Clam cakes where it is 95% dough and 4% fried part and 1% clam. WHERE's THE CLAM. - "Creamy" clam chowder whose liquid consistency is akin to your milk, coffee... really?? where did the creamy go? - cole saw that tasted funky. I don't understand how colesaw can go wrong. - I do have to give credit though that their fries tasted good. But I mean, what restaurant can bomb fries? - Calamari- Good. Crispy breading outside, Juicy Squid meat. Good. - Lobster Roll ~ $15 for Lobster roll+ fries + Cole Saw. Small in proportion but looks OK. The Lobster roll had veggies inside too. It wasn't just meat and bread. - Raw seafood purchased and sold upstairs. One Oyster $1.75 Decent. - Well priced combos: Soda + 3 Crab Cakes + Clam Chowder = $7 (then again.. it didn't taste THAT good.) Flo's Clam Shack is A OK. Despite the clever concept, my experience here was still somewhat disappointing. What's a seafood restaurant when it doesn't serve good seafood?

    (3)

  • Bryan H.

    Good for fried seafood. I wasn't too impressed...fries not good either.

    (2)

  • Margaret Ann B.

    I've only been to Flo's once, so I should probably be less promiscuous with 5 stars, but.... We were fortunate enough to come when it wasn't crowded, so no wait at all; we sat on the upper porch overlooking the beach; and this is my favorite clam cake, even over Aunt Carrie's (but maybe only barely). Those who are unhappy with clam cakes are probably expecting something more like crab cakes - no, clam cakes are basically fried dough studded with bits o' clam. These are generous and the dough extraordinarily light. A stuffie is nice & spicy, also not jammed with clam meat, but tasty. Yes, these are definitely not Ipswich style fried clams, but damn tasty. I'm not going to order NE style clam chowder in RI - we had the red, which was less "red" than I've had but still good. Fries also great - big, skin-on. But it's the ambience that is at least as important. It's a rambling, shabby, laid-back clam shack, where you come to drink all day at the spectacular upstairs raw bar (I would love to come back for some oysters or cherrystones) or bring the family for after-beach meals. This is absolutely everything I could imagine looking for in a clam shack, and the memory of Flo's will sustain me, I think, on dreary February days.

    (5)

  • Nicole M.

    Best lobster roll and fried clams in the state! I also thought the girl "hostess" at the pick-up window was a nice touch. She was very friendly and her main focus was customer service.

    (5)

  • Nancy L.

    We had tons of food here....if I can just rate their fried clams, this would've been a 5-star review without hesitation. Those whole belly clams were definitely the best fried clams we've had for a very long time.... With that said, we also had raw oysters and shrimps (fresh, but not the best we've had), clam cakes (lots of dough and hardly any clams), and a fish & chips platter. All average tasting here, but fresh indeed. Few things to note: 1) The line for ordering can be very long. 2) Order all cooked items outside and the raw ones at the bar upstairs. 3) This place is CASH ONLY and self-seating; once you have paid for your food, you can find a seat anywhere and wait for your number to be called. 4) There's no waiter service, not even for water, so many ppl do not leave any tips. Worth a try since their fried clams are REALLY good and it's conveniently located by the beach. =)

    (4)

  • Daisy D.

    Food Network + trip to visit BFF = opportunity to go to Flo's. I ordered the fish & chips. Part of me regrets not trying the clam roll, but NE is beautiful & I don't think it will be difficult to convince the hubby to come back. The fish was definitely fresh; nice light breading that definitely was crispy. I understand why they choose not too, but I kind of wished they made their own tartar sauce.

    (3)

  • Alma C.

    The food is ok, it's more the lively kitchy atmosphere and the beautiful view of the water that's the draw in my opinion

    (3)

  • Carolina C.

    The lady that took our order in the cashier was very nice, but I found the fried seafood to be ok. I also had the creamy clam chowder and it had too much potatoes for my taste.

    (3)

  • Valerie S.

    Okay, I've been a longtime Flo's fan and came close to giving them 5 stars. They and Anthony's are neck and neck, and have different strengths. I've also seen them evolve over the years, and they are juuuust at the point where they are close to being too well known, too commercial - they aren't the little clam shack they used to be, they can't be - the crowds have come - and they do try to remain true but... It has been good and bad. Parking is more of a problem and there are long lines. On the other hand they have these cute lobster beepers for when your order is ready (although I'm kinda partial to the old painted rocks) and there's lots more outside seating in front than there used to be. On the food, I think the New England clam chowda wasn't as good this year as I remember, and the fries have gone down hill. However, the fried clams, the fried shrimp and the stuffies were as good as it gets. Whatever they use for breading is fantastic - not too bread-y but just so, so good.

    (4)

  • Susan R.

    Go for the raw oysters, fried clams, and ocean view. Skip: the lobster roll and quahogs. For $12.95 there is not enough lobster in there and lobster rolls are just soooo much better in Maine! Anthony's has better stuffies. Upstairs is great here- the raw bar has very fresh shellfish. I also wish they would make their own tarter sauce, but the cocktail sauce was good. AND I thank them for having Diet Root beer!

    (4)

  • lily q.

    Food was definitely decent- you are always pleasantly surprised to get a good salad in a place like this. Shellfish was fresh. Rum punch was good. I have to say that I found the choice of political stickers behind the bar a confusing choice if the goal is to make the customers feel relaxed and welcome. If the goal is to be arrogant and offensive to most of the patrons, then it makes perfect sense. I felt unwelcome because my politics are not the same as management's, I guess. Everyone has a right to their opinion- that's the point, I don't feel like theirs should be shoved down my throat while I'm trying to pay them to eat dinner. It was extraordinarily expensive for the type of place that it is. The way everything has to be ordered and the different menus for different areas and self seating is confusing and not helpfully explained by any staff or signs. I might go back to have a rum punch on the deck after a day at the beach...but probably not.

    (3)

  • Winifred X.

    definitely interesting decor and outside.. one drives around the block following a sign that says "parking in the back". plenty of parking spaces, and then walk through a bamboo garden to get to the island themed restaurant, definitely not what one expects of a shack by the beach type.. =) I hear the locals frequent this place, they were closed when we got here, will have to stop by and try it out next time.... I hear very fresh seafood!! Oh, no credit cards, CASH ONLY.

    (3)

  • Ashley B.

    Phenomenal lobster roll. And the fries are amazing as well. Really good views of the beach, too.

    (5)

  • Sharon S.

    This place is great! Excellent fish and chips! Good atmosphere friendly and reasonable price. Hit Flo's if you are in the area.

    (5)

  • Vanessa E.

    The food here was just awful. My kids ordered the burgers and would've been much happier with McDonald's or Wendy's. My husband and I had the seafood and it was greasy and disgusting. Don't waste your money here.

    (1)

  • Norma S.

    This restaurant is totally overrated and a tourist trap. For the quality of the food, the price was outrageous. Fast food would have been better. The lobster rolls did not seem fresh, the fried calamari and French fries seemed as if they were reheated. Lastly, the reception in the restaurant was abrupt and uncouth. Will never go back...please don't go, you will be disappointed.

    (1)

  • Barry J.

    It's a clam shack. win: Lobsta roll, clamcake meh: chowda was kinda sour svc: awsm Bonus: Their logo looks like the one from The Drunken Clam on Family Guy.

    (4)

  • Toni M.

    Today we had the pleasure not only of meeting brian and Cindy S, but of being driven by them around the Newport area and introduced to some of their favorite places. As we left the tender and walked up the ramp, Cindy was holding up a hand lettered sign saying YELP. It was so cute it made me laugh. We saw some of the elegant old mansions and some grand newer houses, classically beautiful bays, a favorite lighthouse whose photo I'd seen in brian's review and Purgatory Chasm, a serenely beautiful wooded area overhanging a chasm leading to the sea. Its somewhat forbidding name belies its lovely nature. An arched wooden bridge crosses the chasm and offers a wonderful vantage point for photos. Since brian takes and posts so many lovely photos and I'm so bad about posting ours, you'll probably see them on his review before you will mine. Honeysuckle was in bloom and the weather was warm enough you could even smell it from a yard or two away. After showing us the highlights, Cindy and brian introduced us to Flo's Clam Shack. We found a place in the lot and joined the line, which grew behind us. Flo's is funky and gloriously authentic, aside from the bamboo lining the walkway up from the parking lot. Inside, an array of nautical objects hangs from the ceiling. This place has been here a long time. It's cash only and the folks behind the counter suffer no fools. We were in luck to find them open. They close next week for the season. Since it would be my last opportunity I ordered a lobster roll platter. Alan ordered a clam platter, brian ordered fish and chips and Cindy ordered a small plate of clams. I also ordered a clam cake since it's a Rhode Island specialty. The difference between the platter and the plate is that a platter comes w/ fries and coleslaw and costs a couple of dollars more. After tasting the coleslaw I was sorry I hadn't ordered just the roll. The fries were OK but not necessary and neither was the coleslaw. The lobster roll was excellent. The clam cakes were disappointing. I could detect no clams and neither could Alan. It was just like fritters w/o the clams. Alan thought his clams were just OK. Some were undercooked. The fish and chips looked good. The atmosphere was cool and the view of the ocean was lovely. We were glad we experienced it, but meeting brian and Cindy and having them share their favorite spots w/ us far outshone the meal. 3.51 stars for lunch. 5 stars for the day.

    (4)

  • Richard A.

    If you are looking for a unique East Coast seafood experience look no further. Stop in at Flo's for the best whole belly clams, great clam chowda, fresh oysters on the half-shell and ice cold brew. I first experienced Flo's in the Fall of 1997 while I was stationed at the Naval Justice School in Newport and have been returning ever since. Flo's did not earn their reputation based on fancy napkins, plates or even decor. This dive-bar setting serves up great seafood on paper plates and beer in plastic cups--with a focuses on great taste and quality. A fun place to experience the bounty of the Atlantic!

    (5)

  • T. C.

    Absolutely the best fried whole belly clams on the market. The bellies are huge, and the batter is light and crispy. I have been to restaruants in NH, Maine, and massachusetts for fried clams and these are as good as it gets. On a side note, the french fries were crispy and the coleslaw was an OK compliment. I did not prefer the classic NE clam chowder, and the clam cakes were more like unsweetened donuts with a few pieces of clam in each cake. --I will not order either one again. Also, the fish and chips were very good. I hope you enjoy my pics.

    (5)

  • Craige M.

    The highlight was the crab claws. You order them by the pound at the upstairs raw bar, which doubles as a regular bar. I don't get that, but anyway, that's how it works. Everything else is ordered downstairs and if you want to eat upstairs, you listen for when your number is called and you take your painted rock down and carry up your heaping tray of food. The lobster roll has the mayo on the side, which, in theory, is nice, but come on. Do you go to a seafood shack for health food? (Hint: no.) Just whip up the lobster salad with the right amount of mayo and serve it already. What am I supposed to do with a side of mayo? Slather it on the bun somehow? It's not like I can dump out the lobster, mayo-ify the bun, and then rebuild the sandwich. So, although the lobster seemed nice and fresh, I let Jeff eat 9/10ths of that while I attacked the crab claws. We also got clam fritters. We ordered a dozen because hey, clams are small. As it turns out, when they are each inside a golf ball size clump of fried dough, they are not so small. They were good, for hush puppies with a hint of clam in the center. Jeff is always tempted by a clam chowder. It was Rhode Island style. Our friends' 5-year-old grabbed a spoon and dug into it as well. It definitely got her approval as well as his. He says it is lighter in color and consistency than a Manhattan clam chowder. I am by no means a quahog expert. Are they supposed to taste like spicy fritter batter? didn't taste anything seafoody in the one we got. It was definitely big and tasty, but like the clam fritters, it only had an essence of seafood. According to our friends who live there, $2.50 for a stuffie is a really good deal. (Maybe because it's just stuffing in a shell?) Is it just me or does stuffie sound perverted?

    (3)

  • Geralyn D.

    I got food poisoning from the fisherman's platter a few years ago. Full on food poisoning. My nephew ate a couple of clams off my plate and also got sick (not as bad as me since he didn't eat as many clams as I did.) They gave us our money back for the meal, but claimed we couldn't prove that we got sick on their food. Needless to say, I would never eat here again.

    (1)

  • Bermie H.

    There is no better way to eat seafood than to eat it FRIED and Flo's does a pretty good job of it. If you're looking to eat-in follow the directions on the sign and grab your seat first, figure out what you want, and send someone to get on line to order it. The outside smells like the South Street Seaport (when they had the fish market there) and Jones Beach mixed into one aroma but I wasn't put off by it. My wife and I shared a Fisherman Platter which comes with fried scallops, clams, clam strips, calamari, shrimp and a piece of fish. Yumyum. I also had a Lobster Roll which was delicious. The only disappointment were the Clamcakes. They looked like conch fritters but tasted like a knish? I could only tell there were clams inside because of the chewy neck. The website says there is plenty of parking on Wave Ave but the day I went I couldn't see how you could park on Wave without inhibiting the two way traffic. We got lucky and snatched a spot in the small parking lot.

    (4)

  • Ryan W.

    Couple of random thoughts on Flos.. - Ridiculous line at times, beware you will finally get to the front and realize they only take cash! You should have known better though, after all it is crudely scribbled on a paper plate that is wedged half way behind the order window, that you never see until you actually get up there... - You can go upstairs where you can order right from the bar and usually avoid the line! However... I'm pretty sure you can only order raw stuff up there, not all the fried goodies.. if you are here to raw dawg it though, head upstairs! - I see mixed reviews on the clam cakes... Some love them some hate... I am kinda on the hate side.. They were suspiciously cheap on the menu was my initial thought.. I was thinking "clam cakes? must be like crab cakes, but with clam!" That is not the case, they are kind of like hush puppies / fried dough balls with little mini nuggets of clam in them... Its like a treasure hunt trying to find the hidden clam nugget! These arent for clam lovers, just basically some cheap fried dough! - Fried Clam strips were the best I've ever had hands down. Very fresh, they clearly use the entire clam. They are what a clam strip should be. - dont waste your time with sides like fries and slaw they are just ok

    (3)

  • Kristen S.

    Kind of a mixed bag. We shared an order of clam strips, clam cakes, clam chowder and a lobster roll. (hey, I've since moved down south where clams aren't exactly easy to get.) The cakes were spectacular. a million times better than the ones we had at Anthony's. They were lighter and crisper. The clam cakes were also amazing- not too greasy and they tasted a lot fresher than your average diner clam strips. On to the bad: the clam chowder was a little watery and had a kind of funky flavor. It just wasn't for me. The lobster roll. Oh, the lobster roll. We split it in half and each took a bite at exactly the same time. There was a sickening crunch of shells. We picked the shards out of our mouth and at the same time, an off flavor developed. It didn't have that delicate buttery lobster flavor AT. ALL. I don't think i could put my finger on what the flavor was, but it was very, very off. We spit the rest out. The manager was understanding enough to ask if we wanted another or if we wanted something else. Honestly, we felt so ill at that point that we just wanted our money and wanted to leave. There was only one snarky comment about how she'd never heard of any complaints. So, apparently this was the only rancid, shell-filled lobster roll they;ve ever served, so you should be fine ordering it. :|

    (3)

  • Johanna Q.

    My husband and I have eaten several times at Flo's since we moved to Newport a few months ago. The food is really good - definitely try the fried oysters (some of the best fried oysters I've ever had!) and is sold at market price. The seafood is NOT frozen, but they do serve smaller portions and be warned it is CASH ONLY. The atmosphere is really fun; it is all old pictures of Newport and local memorabilia. The hours change in the winter and the crowds are really large in the summer but if you are looking for fresh simple seafood Flo's is a good choice. If you don't have cash, try Anthony's Seafood on Aquidneck Rd. They are also local and good.

    (4)

  • Randi C.

    Lobsta roll, fresh and delicious, needs no seasoning. Cole slaw delicious, not too mayo-y, and the fries are crispy and not greasy and amazing!

    (5)

  • Mac O.

    Flo's is a Newport institution, not to be missed. No visit to the area is complete without a trip to one of Flo's two locations, tho the view from this Middletown location can't be beat. My family and I have been eating at Flo's for over 30 years, when there was just one location, a tiny little, genuinely authentic SHACK on the beach serving their famously delicious clam cakes from a small window. It continues to deliver all these years later. As other posters have correctly pointed out, it ain't cheap and it ain't the Ritz. But it's the real deal. Until recently, everything in the entire joint basically was deep fried -- the addition of an upstairs raw bar lightened the menu a bit, offering oysters on the half shell, peel-and-eat JUMBO shrimp, and the likes. The raw bar doesn't open until 4 pm, however. My suggestion is to avoid the things on the menu that you could find elsewhere -- fried shrimp and scallops, etc. -- and stick with the items that Flo's does best and is famous for. These include the aforementioned clam cakes, delicious deep fried fritters with pieces of tasty, chewy clams scattered throughout; the fried clams -- I prefer the strips to the whole (not a fan of those clam bellies, tho others in my family adore the whole ones); the stuffed quahog -- Rhode Island's "state shellfish," stuffed with a spicy, sticky, tasty bread-and-quahog filling that builds with a slow burn; and the unfried lobstah roll, a golden-toasted bun chock full of huge chunks of real, sweet, fresh lobstah (leave the packet of mayo on the plate). The exception would be the calamari, which you can definitely find anywhere else, but Flo's is super fresh and incredibly tender. Platters are accompanied by french fries (not really necessary, in my opinion, and they take up valuable stomach real estate) and cole slaw (pretty average). Order a la carte to avoid the fillers. I think one of the only disappointing aspects about the food at Flo's is that it comes with Ken's (of bottled salad dressing fame) pre-made tartar sauce in plastic containers. A place like Flo's should make its own! However, as another poster stated, the food doesn't need a drop of it. A squeeze of fresh lemon will definitely suffice, altho I do enjoy dragging my clam strips and calamari through Flo's spicy, tangy cocktail sauce every few bites. The ambiance is classic beach kitsch, the service is efficient if brusque behind the counter, the prices are up there, and they accept CASH ONLY (come with a wad of it). At the height of tourist season in summer, it gets crowded and loud. But, as I said, no visit to the Newport area would be complete without a visit to Flo's! [15 Minutes of Fame: "The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Crunchy" (Chris Cosentino, fried clam roll; Beau MacMillan, fish 'n' chips)]

    (4)

  • Caroline L.

    Disappointed. This used to be a favorite spot of mine and friends/family to visit when in Newport (every summer!). The wait was always worth it. Over time it seems each visit the food was "not as good as it used to be". This time in late May we had out of town family and felt we couldn't pass up Flo's while touring Newport with them. Sad to say the "clam" chowder we ordered lacked much of any substance. Clear and white broth ordered but we received all "clear". "Clam" cakes were all batter. Huge disappointment. The only upside were the lobster rolls. Still, the price isn't cheap (tourist market price) for what you're getting. We'll head to Atlantic Beach Club (lunch menu is great) from now on. Went there in early May and the food was excellent. Nice view of the water. Indoor or outdoor seating also. Sad to say Flo's will no longer be visited by us while in Newport.

    (2)

  • Colleen M.

    You could quite possibly start a religion/cult based on this place. That is how serious fans of Flo's can be. Yes its old and yes the decor is tacky and yes they only take cash and yes its Newport prices for simple food but COME ON...this is the real deal. My husband and I recently stopped here for lunch after driving around Newport and we were starrrrrrving. There was a pretty decent line at the counter but that ended up being a good thing...more time to discuss what to order. I wanted the entire menu. Im not exaggerating. From clams to chowdah to stuffed quahogs (om nom nom) to lobstah rolls to grilled cheese, everything sounded amazing. However, knowing the huge portions (and our dinner plans later that night) we decided to order 2 favorite things and split it- fried clam strips and a stuffed quahog. We were handed our painted rock with order number and waited for the food to arrive. As soon as we saw the plate of fried clams, we were instantly glad we had decided to share. Imagine a large paper plate, COVERED in the most perfectly fried clam strips you have ever seen...stacked at least 3 inches high off the plate, served with tartar sauce and lemon wedges. The quahog was a decent size (although after tasting it, Im sure we could have managed to devour 1 quahog each) and served in the closed shell with a band holding it together. The clam strips were battered and fried to a crispy perfection and honestly, tartar sauce was the last thing on my mind. A few squeezes of lemon and I was good to go. The stuffed quahog (or clam for those of you who only know Quahog as the town on Family Guy) was amazing- incredibly well seasoned stuffing with tons of clam bits and the real kicker- chopped jalapenos. They do warn on the menu that it is spicy, but its an enjoyable heat. Between the two of us, we were absolutely stuffed and still had a good amount of clam strips left. You can either eat inside with the breeze blowing in from the many windows looking out towards Eastons Beach and the Atlantic Beach Club, but if youre looking for some extra sun, there are also some tables outside in front. Flo's is a MUST for anyone visiting the Newport area and in search of some real clam shack style seafood. There is another smaller location over in Portsmouth that seems to be visited more by the locals which in my opinion always makes for an entertaining RI experience.

    (5)

  • Jeannie H.

    I'm not a fan of fried seafood and usually go out of my way to avoid it but it does hit the spot on occasion. Frying clams only masks the deliciousness and freshness of the ingredients. However, instead of using small crappy clam bits, they used plump whole ones, which was appreciated. ATMOSPHERE - Not as shacky as the name would suggest. The interior was clean and surprisingly civilized. SERVICE - Long line that goes out the door and self serve. Paper plates, plastic tray, and plastic forks. FOOD - I would avoid getting the platter combos. Save room for clams, forget the piles of fries and slaw. They used whole clams that were judiciously battered, fried, and low on grease. The tubs of prepackaged tartar sauce were a little tacky. Tartar sauce isn't hard to make. I think they would have been better off coming up with a recipe that's unique to Flo's. The raw littlenecks were plump but not as sweet as I've had in the past. The creamy clam chowder was low on ingredients and runny. Overall, this was a decent dining experience and what you'd expect out of this type of eatery. This place is pretty good as fried seafood goes...it certainly beats the Barking Crab. If I were to come back, I'd order a pint of the fried clams and forget the rest.

    (3)

  • R P.

    Fried seafood in the semi-rough! Queue up outside ans send someone to find a table. The fisherman's platter is huge and can easily be shared by everyone! Everything is fresh and well prepared. The illuminated lobsters are a real treat. Find the parking lot out back, if there is space.

    (4)

  • Phillip G.

    We almost always stop at Flo's when in Newport. The food is generally really good. Most of it is fried, so it is hard to eat gluten-free. If you need gluten-free, go upstairs and order something baked from the raw bar. I had fresh striper, and couldn't believe how good it was. I think the web-site says it is cash only, but they did take a credit card at the raw bar.

    (3)

  • Jennifer R.

    There's this thing about convenience when you go out to eat. It's nice, having other people do shit for you. At this joint you have to find a dirty table to clean yourself, run downstairs to order somethings, upstairs for others and all so you can run back and retreive your oysters sitting in a sandy, briny puddle in a paper plate. It's a pain in the ass, to be frank, and after I finished fetching all my own food and clearing my table I gave them money. Who's the dummy here? At the end of the day it's ordinary food that you have to work way too hard for.

    (1)

  • Len L.

    As oil is used, food particles, high temperatures and repeated use lower the smoking point and eventually result in rancidity that gives your food off-flavors. The trick, of course, is to maximize the number of baskets of food the oil can cook before it breaks down. - See more at: restaurantbusinessonline… These people need to read this article Our fish and chips were rancid as were The clam cakes poor product real nasty.

    (1)

  • Rich S.

    I heard this place was great. It would be much better if they changed their oil once in a while.

    (2)

  • Nora G.

    Amazing stuffies. A well run operation considering the amount of people that come through here. Don't come here if you don't like fried food.

    (4)

  • Frank G.

    Totally awesome! My entire family of four absolutely loves this place. Food is the best! Can't wait to go back in August!

    (5)

  • Diane K.

    Parking: small, however more parking across the street near park. Dining: outside, lower and upper level seating. If the lines are long, have someone save a table while you order. Beware you may wait a while before ordering your "To Go" food. There's only one window therefore one person taking orders. However, definitely worth the wait! Food: almost everything we ordered was delicious. Don't come here if your are on a diet. Lots of fried seafood....see pictures. Clam cakes were crispy on the outside and inside was moist and sweet with bits of clams. It was delicious. Fried oyster was also sooooo good. Crispy batter covered the whole moist oyster. Cole slaw and seasoned fries were also good. Fisherman platter is good for 2 people...we couldn't finish it. For all that don't want fried food, the Lobster roll was not like most, didn't have the typical mayo dressing. However a mayo packet was given on the side for those that wants the mayo. There's also Greek salad.

    (4)

  • Amanda B.

    Flo's has been a favorite of mine since I don't even know when!! I grew up right down the road and during the summer it was always a favorite spot to go! You knew summer was here when Flo's opened their windows! They have the best clam cakes. PERIOD! I personally do not like the clam chowder, they have the broth. I like the creamy stick to your ribs kind so that is why I do not prefer it. The whole belly clams are the best!!! Really you need to get them and that is it!! Best meal ever. Tons of food so plan for a following lunch! They have a cool upstairs sitting area and outside picnic tables. Parking is scarce in the back. I recommend either coming right at opening or a late lunch. During father summer it's basically busy when open because of the beach right across the street. So good!!

    (5)

  • Laura V.

    I literally found a worm in the shell oyster. Do not Go here. The oysters were over priced and when I was done I noticed a long worm was sticking out of the shell oft oyster, very visible. I am so disgusted. Being a huge oyster lover I have never once run into the issue of a worm on my oyster

    (1)

  • Anna B.

    Awesome clam shack. Nice view, great food. Cute bamboo walk way. Confused as to why the location on this says Middletown it's definitely in Newport.

    (5)

  • Melissa M.

    Oh my gosh. All of the buzz is right! A lobster roll with no mayo - it was literally lobster meat on a roll. I got the platter. Very quick, and delicious. This is truly a hidden gem. The place itself is very cute and interesting.

    (5)

  • Jonny B.

    I love Flo's. I got my undergrad at Salve Regina and Flo's was my favorite post-beach, post-drinking, post-whatever else spot on Aquidneck. The decor is lame and funky as hell, the ordering system is casual and easy, and the food is fried, heavy and perfect. This place is far from flawless, but it has personality and awkward charm and will forever have a place in my heart. There's always a seabreeze going through the dingy seating and the memories I created here have shaped who I am. Mother. Fucking. Chowdah.

    (5)

  • Stan S.

    Flo's is the quintessential seaside seafood place, and its the real deal too not some place where there is the faux seashore stuff everywhere. It's actually across the street from the beach. I've gone here mostly on Fridays for the specials, so that may account for some of my comments. On Friday there is oddly enough also a prime rib special for the meat lovers. Its a big hunk of meat, but for those who are prime rib devotees be warned its well past the "rare" setting that I personally adhere to (and you don't get a choice). The seafood is why your here anyway and the seafood platter is best split between two people and the oysters are excellent and the chowder is better than average. There is a raw bar upstairs that serves up cold, sweet local oysters along with the usual adult beverages. My only fault with the place is the crazy system of ordering food and how they staff the place, they really need an efficiency expert to work on the staffing here, but then again I am sure the owners would just say thats the way we've always done it here.....

    (4)

  • Jean W.

    Loved the fresh fish sandwich & chips! The batter they use to fry the fish is delicious and crispy. Not sure what type of fish they use but it's perfectly cooked, flaky and very fresh. The bun is buttered which of course makes the sandwich even more delicious. Frozen lemonade is the perfect combo to the fish sand which on a hot day. The only negative here is that the line was really long (waited approx 1 hour) but the area where the line forms is shaded.

    (4)

  • Le B.

    Delicious and very fresh. We enjoyed food from both the fried food and the raw bar. Maybe a bit dusty, but it's at the beach which makes it all seem very acceptable. Nice to sit in the open air upstairs.

    (4)

  • Robert J.

    The lines long but moves quickly and well worth the wait. Once ordered it is a five minute wait for our food. We loved the fried clams! The lobster roll was super fresh with a buttered roll. The one down side is the small parking lot so be patient ;)

    (4)

  • Manuel C.

    After all the hype is was disappointed. The food was extremely oily and soggy. The crab cake were nothing but bread and resembled hush puppies. The plates were large and plentiful but not worth the price. Not a place I will return to.

    (1)

  • Florence R.

    Flo's is good, though I'm not so sure I'd feel the same way if I had to wait in the long lines that usually form on a busy weekend night. We had clam strips, crab cake and a clam roll which were all pretty tasty. I will say the food is fresh and tastes really good, but I'd say the downsides are the wait, cash only and the prices are a little high.

    (3)

  • Andie C.

    The lobster roll was great. I wish we had just stuck to that and the baked seafood. However, Flo's lost a star due to the pile of greasy seafood platter it served. We thought we would get a sampling of everything but it was just a mess. It should be served in different plates or paper towels between the layers. Otherwise the atmosphere was great and bartender was nice upstairs.

    (4)

  • Susan S.

    Sometimes you just get that craving for fried clams and when you do finding a little clam shack across from the beach is perfect! This is exactly what happened on our ride through Middletown and we just happened to stumble upon Flo's. We were greeted as we entered by a woman behind the counter. She informed us menus were on the table, but then you return to the counter to place orders and pick up food when ready. The atmosphere is very casual, but cute. We did not venture up to the second floor, but it appeared there is a deck for outdoor dining in the warmer weather. As we waited for our food many people came through the doors and the line became long at the counter. We assumed Flo's was a pretty popular place in the area. After reading the restaurant history on the back of the menu we learned Flo's has been in business for several decades and needed to rebuild a couple times after hurricanes. Our experience was good and we enjoyed the food. The clams hit the spot, but I cannot say they were the best clams I have ever had. The fries were hot, fresh, and crispy. Perhaps if it was the summer season and we were able to eat our meal out on the deck it would have made the entire experience even better. Flo's was decent and it satisfied our need for fried clams, but I don't feel as though I could give more than three stars after this visit. Parking is also a bit tricky. There is a lot out behind the building which is quite small. I'm sure it's a tough place to get into during the busy season.

    (3)

  • Fo D.

    Long wait for below average food. Prices are about average for the area. Spent about 60 something for Fishermans platter, oyster platter, and fish and chips. Food was soggy and not crispy at all. Looked like it was someone else's previous order they didn't want that they just gave to us. Incredibly rude staff. Would not recommend. Plenty of other options around town for fried seafood.

    (1)

  • Greg C.

    I was really excited about trying Flo's when I saw it was featured on the Food Network and other celebrity venues. Sadly I was a bit disappointed. Other than the raw bar, everything is fried, so be prepared for that. We tried their famous clam cakes, crabcakes, and Flo's Fried Clam Roll. We also tried the clear clam chowder and red clam chowder. Having had our fill of creamy New England Clam Chowder, we were excited to try something new. First, the two things they are famous for, the Fried clam roll and the clam cakes. Clam cakes is just another term for fritters. They were very doughy (not the worst I've had, but not the lightest either). There were little chunks of clam in the fritter, but for a world famous place, I expected more (like big chunks of clam!) The Clam Roll was good. It was basically a huge mound of fried clams on top of a bun. The clams were good, and if you love fried clams, you will like it (it was a bit much for me, as I don't eat a ton of fried food.) The crabcakes were not great. There was a lot of breading and not that much crab. The chowders were good, but not great. There was a lot of potato, a little clam, and nice broth. The same description holds for the red and clear. If you want a heap of fried food, Flo's is for you, I personally will not be lining up to get in again.

    (3)

  • Elle P.

    I came to know about Flo's through the Food Network ("The Best Thing I Ever Ate" -- Crunchy edition). It was bookmarked and ready for me to pull out whenever I should find myself in this part of Rhode Island for some reason. And wouldn't you know it, some months later, I'm actually here. Whenever my family and I come to a seaside town, there's only one meal that'll do and that's seafood! Flo has a divey feel to it, but it's way too nice and clean to be a true dive. If you're eating at Flo's: 1) Grab a table, look at the menu, and figure out what you want; 2) Order at the window; 3) Pay with CASH (they don't accept credit); 4) Grab your rock with a painted number and wait; 5) When your number is called, go back up to window to get your food; 6) CHOW DOWN!!!!! For a family of four, we ordered: 1) Fisherman's platter (highly recommended as it gives you an assortment of all kinds of fried goodness and it's a HUGE platter of food), 2) Two bowls of clam chowda (cream), 3) Two No-Nonsense lobster rolls, 4) Three cokes and a coffee Which all came to a hair under $65. A great deal for a seafood feast! Flo's really knows seafood. Everything we had was perfectly cooked. It's so easy to overcook seafood, but everything came out tender. The fried clams here are just absolutely great. I loved the clam strips, but my sister preferred the whole fried clams with the bellies. The calamari was one of the best that I've ever had. Like I said before, just perfectly cooked. Nice and tender with none of the rubberiness that can happen so easily. The batter on the fried seafood was light, delicate, and flaky, with a good crispy crunch. Not at all greasy. The fisherman's platter also came with scallops, shrimp, battered fish, and fries. The stars on the platter were definitely the clams and calamari. A side dish of cole slaw also came with the platter. Normally I hate cole slaw because of the over abundance of mayonnaise, but this cole slaw was nice and light. It was very nice to have as it cut the fried food taste from your mouth. The clam chowda comes in three varieties: plain broth, cream, and red. We got the cream because that's what we like. The cream chowda at Flo's is a much lighter chowda. Not as creamy and thick. It's a different style than what I'm used to in San Francisco. At first I was a bit disappointed, but the freshness and the beautiful quality of the chowda won me over. It's nothing but the pure essence of clams and some potatoes to give some heft. The chowda was perfectly salted. Usually chowders are too salty, but this wasn't. It was a great chowder to eat on a cold day and didn't leave you feeling heavy in your stomach. Even my father, who is difficult to please with clam chowder because he loves it so much, said that this was the best chowder he's ever had. The No-Nonsense lobster rolls were also really great. It's just a roll stuffed with fresh lobster meat. That's it. No mayo. No nothing. I loved it because I hate mayonnaise. (If you want mayo, they'll give you a packet.) Again, the lobster was perfectly cooked -- tender and sweet on a buttery crispy white rolls. Mmm. . . . Oh, Flo, you may look a little disheveled and worn out, but you know how to cook a pretty sweet meal of seafood. The way to my heart is through my stomach and you'll find me come a-courtin' again!

    (4)

  • Robert F.

    If there is a line, chances are it's good. if there is an outrageous line where you have to make several attempts to dine, chances are its pretty great. i was educated on what a real fried clam is when i came here. eating the clam with its whole belly is an experience. it makes the clams that i was used to look like crusty worms. thanks for spoiling me Flo. jerk.

    (4)

  • Kelli P.

    I love this place! It is as beachy as it gets and the food is so good! Beware! It is CASH only, which at times can be pretty inconvenient, but what do you expect from a place that has been devastated by multiple hurricanes in the past 20 plus years! I think I would only accept cash too! Flo's is right across from Easton's Beach and walking in there, even just pulling into the parking lot (which is small) makes you feel like you are in an island paradise. There is always a line at Flo's. That is just the way it is so I do not think it is worth bringing this place down a star just because it is always busy! The staff handles the crowds fairly well and things go by real quick. Downstairs is for the fried foods and upstairs is for the raw bar and the crab leg special! You must try the crab leg special! All you can eat crab legs for $11! Amazing! I could sit there for hours! The beer is nothing special... just the regular. It is self seating and counter ordering and when you are waiting for your food, you get these cute lobster shaped buzzers! Not a great place for big groups because you do not want to be that group of jerks that is taking up half the restaurant. They do have a deck to eat on, however, it is the most popular spot to eat and I have never had the pleasure of being out there! The food is good! My husband and I can get away with splitting one of their fried seafood platters because it is huge! Their hush puppies are amazing and their fried clams are as good as they come! They always have the biggest whole belly clams and they have such a great taste! If you are in the area, you must check out Flo's!

    (5)

  • Ryan M.

    Nothing beats the raw bar upstairs. On a sunny day the view of the beach is great, food could not be fresher. Oysters are top notch. Try the crab and clam cakes too. Forget the downstairs, eat at the raw bar upstairs.

    (5)

  • Liya M.

    Delicious and very reasonably priced, easy access across the street from Atlantic Beach Club and First Beach, parking in the back, fun and relaxing ambiance with ocean view. The Oyster Roll is my favorite.

    (4)

  • Kathryn B.

    Just classic. If you plan to eat there make sure you grab a table before hand because the place is usually packed. Everything on the menu is amazing. I ordered the Combo One with Three Clam-Cakes, Clam Chowda and a beer: perfect. The clam cakes a rich and doughy. They chowder is a but different from other varieties, some call it watery, but it has the most clam taste out of any chowder I've eaten. Our table split an order of Fish&Chips and Fried Clams as well which was plenty of food. We had a hard time finishing the french fries for all the other glorious fried food. If you're new, start off with the seafood sample platter. So worth it. There is a raw bar upstairs which I have yet to visit but no one comes back unhappy.

    (5)

  • JJ L.

    My kind of place. Fresh oysters, clams casino, scallops with bacon, fried clams (we did a lot of sharing) were excellent. The chowder was very good, but not the best of my trip, a little salty, but may be I was getting stuffed. Extremely friendly bar staff and customers. Giving a place 5 stars is VERY rare for me!

    (5)

  • Molly P.

    YES! It is very good. Varied menu, with lots for the kids, hot dogs and such. The clam fritters were pretty good. I had the Lobster Roll, OMG it was so darn good. All lobster, not butter or mayo, but they give you a side of mayo to add. OH SO GOOD! We also had some raw oysters, they were everything that is right and good in the world. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 because it was a bit confusing to order cooked food downstairs and raw bar upstairs. It took us some time to figure this out. Otherwise, great atmosphere, beach type place, good food, lots of locals and tourists alike. If I lived in the area it would be a place I frequented often.

    (4)

  • James R.

    Shack being the operative word. Great fried fishywish: clams, calamari, shrimps are all delicious. Service is democratic, atmos is unrefined and exceedingly pleasant, prices are reasonable. An institution.

    (4)

  • Robt. G.

    The real deal. A bit off the Newport beaten path and officially across the city line in Middeltown. They serve down to earth, simple, New England Seafood in a unassuming beach venue. Beach: good place to serve seafood. Nice menu of fried selections and a raw bar. Family and group friendly. Over the years, I've eaten here many times and they still have the spark. Yes it is busy at times: hint, folks keep coming back for the food.

    (4)

  • Ryan B.

    So the legend of Flo's is strong in New England. I have seen this place on Top 10 lists forever, but, when living in MA, never ventured that far south to try it out. There are some good things and bad things that evened this review toa solid 3 stars. Pros: - The clam cakes are the best I have ever had anywhere in New England. They are the perfect texture and flavor. I could live on these bits of doughy goodness. - The seafood, although deeply fried, tastes fresh. That is the key to any good seafood business. - It is right across the street from a beach and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean Cons: - The whole place looked and felt dirty. I know its a 'clam shack' and that is the vibe they are shooting for, but it just felt a little off. - They dont accept credit cards and don't clearly advertise this. They do however have a ATM on location for unsuspecting folks like myself. - Their sides (fries and coleslaw) were pretty sad and unappetizing. They also use little plastic packages of tartar sauce, which alwasy gives me a queasy feeling. All in all, I would eat here again if I was in the area but I wouldn't search it out.........except if I needed a clam cake fix.

    (3)

  • Leah P.

    Everything is fried - blech! The crabcake sandwich was loaded with iceberg lettuce and overall was pretty horrible. The coleslaw was basically indelible, maybe some of the worst I've had. After 75 yrs of business you'd think they'd get a clue and stop using styrofoam. I thought we were going to a RI classic and I left seriously disappointed.

    (1)

  • Sarah M.

    First time to Flo's...shared a lobster roll, small fried shrimp and a quahog. The lobster roll and the shrimp were great, but I was disappointed with the packaged tarter sauce. The quahog on the other-hand was very disappointing. It was all breeding and hardly any clam...I guess that's why it's only $2.50. Also, parking is a nightmare...had to drive around the block about 5 times in hopes that someone had left the tiny lot! I'll go back next time I'm in the area, but wouldn't make a special trip.

    (3)

  • Darren D.

    I have to agree with the previous reviewer - this would easily rate 5 stars if it were easier to buy the food. You have to order outside on the first floor if you want fried food...upstairs you can order baked or raw from the bar. Beyond that - the fried seafood is incredible. The fired clams were great, but my favorites were (in this order) the fried scallops and the fried cod - by FAR the best I've ever had. The clam cakes were ok, but maybe that's because I thought they were hushpuppies ;-). No trip to Newport is complete without a visit to Flo's!

    (4)

  • Dennis M.

    If you like fried seafood, you will like it here. Check out the furry fish. Never a disappoint if you can find a parking spot.

    (5)

  • Jimmy H.

    Along with Black Pearl, this is another "must have" joint whenever I visit Newport. The one that I usually get "Seafood Platter" is quite tasty. $15 for it may appear pricey, but it's market price. That's how much it usually costs at any clam shacks in New England. It's seasonal place so don't expect it to be open any seasons except summer.

    (4)

  • Shane R.

    This is one spot I can go to again and again in the summer time. Across the street from Easton beach, Flo's serves mouthwatering fresh seafood. Whether you're simply looking for a quick snack or a full meal, they know how to do it right. On occasion, when I'm not starving, I'll swing in and order the Number 1, which contains three fresh clam cakes, chowder (choice of creamy, red, or clear), and a can of soda or beer for $6.00! This serves as a nice light lunch on a sunny beach day. Also, the Lobster Rolls here are some of the best I've ever had. Thick chunks of whole fresh lobster claw lightly coated in mayonnaise poke out of a grilled hot dog bun for the perfect taste of summer.

    (4)

  • Susie T.

    Flo's has the most amazing setting, sat upstairs on the patio and after a long beach day, it was perfect! The food was amazing, clam strips and had clam cakes for the first time! A definite stop during a newport trip!

    (5)

  • Tammie P.

    Crab claws and lobster roll tasted frozen and defrosted. Only clam cakes were good - don't bother coming here.

    (1)

  • Arthur F. C.

    Why are so many people so excited about this place? The food quality is low, just take a look at their weird fried clam balls - they had no clam in them and taste like the floor of a taxi-cab. I placed a picture of them from my order back in May 2011 for you to see for yourself.

    (1)

  • John M.

    We always stop at Flo's when in Newport (usually atleast twice a year). There is always smiling faces from both the staff and the patrons. Tasty fresh seafood at reasonable prices. We love crab leg Thursday! We prefer to eat in when you can get a table, but the take-out is a good alternative when the window is open. Definitely worth a stop if you're a seafood lover!

    (5)

  • a b.

    Personally, I loved it. Wish I would have realized the raw bar was upstairs before I ordered, but still, my fish and chips was super delish.

    (4)

  • Kristy M.

    I have been to Flo's Clam Shack several times while in Newport. The Fisherman's platter is the best! Clam strips are amazing - honestly the only thing I would not recommend is the clam chowder. If you like raw seafood, the raw bar upstairs has great oysters, clams and shrimp cocktail -very fresh and delicious. You can also get a variety of fish dinners upstairs, such as striper or swordfish with vegetables and rice. The bartenders Lisa and Chris were super friendly and fun; if you're looking for a casual place with an ocean view to grab some good cocktails and seafood in Newport, this it!

    (5)

  • Andrew K.

    Food is okay, but Order taking was slow. Processing order was slow. No parking.

    (3)

  • Pappy C.

    Crazy little Shack with great crabs and good people. You can feel the sea breeze from the dinning area.

    (4)

  • Lindsay W.

    Flo's is fun. For just $5 you can get chowdah, clam cakes and a beer. Similar prices for burgers and other sandwiches. Expect to wait in a long line to order in the summer, but once you've paid, they're usually pretty quick to get your order ready. Flo's gets steady traffic in the off-months too.

    (4)

  • Fem M.

    Very limited parking and long wait in long. Nice view of the ocean on the 2nd floor. Clean place and lots of people eating here. Cute town atmosphere. Got a corona beer and barq's root beer for drink. Thankfully, lots of seating available. Holy crap though, the fried clams are delicious! A bit chewy though. The Lobsta Roll isn't that good. The creamy clam chowder wasn't very creamy or good. Don't get the fried clam roll, just get the fried clams alone.

    (4)

  • Xtina R.

    I have no idea what all these high ratings are about..this place is average at best! I stopped here yesterday, based on the Yelp reviews and 1 word- ICK. The line was super long and the food was tasteless and just bad. I am an avid Cape go-er, so maybe I'm just spoiled....but the clam chowder (creamy style, they give you the option) was so far from creamy, was all potato and no flavor...the stuffed quahog was the worst I've ever had, hard breaded spicy mess of a thing...If you have any taste in decent seafood, don't go here....go across the street to Anthony s or to the Cape :) The bartender was also super rude...this place is just not worth it.

    (1)

  • Courtney D.

    I. Love. Flo's. When I get to Newport w/ the fam & friends for a week or so I eat there 4 or 5 times if I can. The #1 all the way ... clam cakes, RI Chowda & a beer. One of the few places in Rhode Island where you can actually get RI clam chowder. If you don't know the difference, you're a fool. NE is not where it's at. And NY, don't even get me started, you're in Rhode Island after all!! Raw bar upstairs, all the way. They are great, even if I have to wait in those crazy touristy lines.

    (5)

  • Debbie M.

    Great food, great atmosphere, great prices.... I just wish there was waitresses.

    (5)

  • M B.

    The food here is awesome - and more than makes up for some awful service. The middle-aged woman who works the register is obnoxious, like for real. I go here for lunch almost every Friday in the summer with co-workers and like clockwork she never disappoints... The Fish Sandwich is so so good and the combo is such an amazing deal! There really is nothing like a Fish Sandwich combo on the deck overlooking the ocean on a sunny Friday afternoon at Flo's. The Clamcakes are equally good. Flo's is such a unique place and has a weird charm about it. Definitely recommended!

    (4)

  • Milena M.

    We had three different people tell us to come here when we were visiting RI from Brooklyn. The atmosphere was your usual clam shack but they give you a painted rock with a number on it corresponding to your order. Who doesn't love painted rocks? No rock, no food! The clams were really fresh but everything was a little heavy on the breading. I would recommend the soup because it's not a typical clam chowder, it's much lighter so you can really taste the clams. We sat upstairs and had a nice view of the streets and the boats that were passing by. I think that they need to invest in a larger parking lot though, we barely got in a spot and it was the only one left. A great place to go after walking around and exploring the mansions.

    (3)

  • Yumi S.

    I wouldn't care to go back, unfortunately. Did I expect too much? Nah, I just think it's over rated. Their clam chowder had more potatoes than clam, and lobster roll is better at Panera. Service is non-existing...if you're just craving seafood and don't mind something average, this is the place for you.

    (2)

  • Annemarie H.

    On vacation in Newport and made the trip to Flo's. I had the clam strip combo- it was ok. B/F got the clam belly combo- DELICIOUS!!!! If you are in Newport- go there but be ready for the wait!

    (5)

  • Luke R.

    Flo's is just great. Everything is fried. Nothing is healthy. Good-sized portions. Prices are wonderful.

    (3)

  • Chris W.

    Considering the location they have on a crowded street, Flo's manages to have a good original personality right from when you walk up their boardwalk through the tunnel of towering bamboo. For a first timer, their system is a bit confusing. I needed some schooling from others in line on how to order. Step one, get a table. Step two, order from the window downstairs - meals, anything fried, chowdas, sodas, I think really anything cooked. Step three, pay in cash only. Step four, return to your table and wait for your number to be called. Step five, go upstairs to the the raw bar/ drink bar for anything raw or drinks (although I think some beers are downstairs too). Once you work your way through the system you end up with some tasty fresh seafood. The chowders were very good. We tried one clear (RI style) and one RI red, both were very good. I like a place with a variety of chowders to choose from. We had a plate of raw oysters - very nice. I think they said they were from Maryland, which surprised me that they weren't more local, but they were good. We got an order of full belly clams and some slaw, very nice and fresh. And we got 2 of their famous "Flo's Fiery Stuffed Quahogs - ancient Portuguese recipe." I was really looking forward to these. They seemed to be their signature dish, but they were disappointing. Too bready, hardly any clam and not hot or fiery at all. I ate most of one, my husband had two bites and pushed it aside. Would I come back, sure, but hold the stuffed quahogs, please!

    (3)

  • Sarah A.

    Delish! We happened upon Flo's while driving around searching for a place to have dinner a few nights ago. We ended up liking the food so much we went back the next day for lunch. For our first meal at Flo's we had the small plate of fried clams, clam cakes and coleslaw. The fried clams were definitely the highlight of the meal. Melt-in-your- mouth delicious. None of that chewy consistency you sometimes get with fried clams. They were perfect and fresh out of the fryer. As someone mentioned below, they do come with Ken's pre-packaged tartar sauce, which I found to be quite good. The clam cakes were a little lacking in clam flavor but nice and hot and perfect in their consistency. The coleslaw was the only thing that was a bit below par. It was edible but could have used more mayo and seasoning. For our next trip we ordered up the fried clams again and the lobster roll. The clams...nom nom... so good. The lobster roll was nice (and reasonably priced at $12) but as someone else mentioned, the lobster meat and the mayo are not premixed. They just give you a little packet of mayo. I suppose this is great if you don't like a lot of mayo, but I personally a fan of the 'naise so this was a little annoying. Next time I will stick with the fried clams all the way. Other things to note: Cash only. Don't forget your rock which they give you at the counter. "NO ROCK! NO FOOD!" Bathrooms are unisex and kind of foul. In conclusion, GET THE FRIED CLAMS AND GET LOTS OF THEM!

    (4)

  • Mallory P.

    I was truly upset that the Flo's shack near the ocean was closed so the result was coming to the restaurant. I first heard about Flo's when I was watching "The best of Rhode Island" on the food network and I decided that this was the place to try...and so we did. Well, we ordered the STUFFED QUAHOG, CLAM CAKES, FRIED OYSTERS, LOBSTER ROLLS and CLAM CHOWDER. First of all I expected the QUAHOG to be super delicious but it was just alright. All the flour and spice overwhelmed the clam and I truly didn't taste too much of it. The CLAM CAKES where the same! They only give you 3 pieces and when I opened up the bag I was expecting to see something like crab cakes but they looked more like doughnut holes! It tasted more like hush puppies than it did clam cakes, and this really disappointed me. For the price of the clam cakes and fries combo, I would say that this is a rip off. Thankfully the fried oysters, lobster roll and the chowder were pretty good. The OYSTERS were really big and were nicely fried, although they could have been more golden. The LOBSTER ROLL was good because they really don't hold out on the lobster, but the only flaw was that it's not premixed with the mayo. They just give you a packet of mayo and you top it all off yourself. So it's really like they didn't put too much effort into it except to dice up the lobster for you, place a piece of lettuce and toast the bun. Mary's Fish Camp in the village is still much better and I don't even have to leave NY. The CLAM CHOWDER was good because it tasted homemade...and like my mom said, "it really tastes like it didn't come out of a can." My only problem with their chowder was that they kind of held out with the clam. There were more potatoes than there were clam inside. Also you have three choices, of which I only remember one, of how you want your chowder prepared and since I heard reviews of the chowder being a bit watery, I ordered it creamy, and guess what...it was still a little watery even though it was supposed to be creamy. If creamy is watery, I don't even want to know how the other two choices will be prepared. So I'm not going to discourage people to come here because It's really not that bad, but if you are to go then order something else. OH! AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CASH BECAUSE THEY DON'T ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS!!! Although, they have an atm in the corner.

    (3)

  • Rajah K.

    This place was awesome, food was great but not a real sit down and get served kinda place. They have a take out window out on the deck but they have indoor seating and when they call your number which you are issued painted on a rock you go up to the window to get your food. As long as your not counting calories I would recommend this place for sure. Fried seafood at it's best!!! Better be good considering it costs 4$ each way to get over the bridge to get there from CT!!! We will visit again i'm sure.

    (4)

  • Gina G.

    I'm really surprised by all the good reviews. As a disclaimer, I've only been once, and only sampled the main menu, not the raw bar. Newport has a lot of excellent restaurants. This isn't one of them. The location and casual feel make it somewhat appealing as a summer break from the beach, but that's where it ends. Bland fried food and chowder that tastes like Campbell's Chunky. It's edible, but considering the wonderful restaurants in Newport, it seems a shame to waste the time, money, and Calories on Flo's.

    (2)

  • R P.

    Fried seafood in the semi-rough! Queue up outside ans send someone to find a table. The fisherman's platter is huge and can easily be shared by everyone! Everything is fresh and well prepared. The illuminated lobsters are a real treat. Find the parking lot out back, if there is space.

    (4)

  • Phillip G.

    We almost always stop at Flo's when in Newport. The food is generally really good. Most of it is fried, so it is hard to eat gluten-free. If you need gluten-free, go upstairs and order something baked from the raw bar. I had fresh striper, and couldn't believe how good it was. I think the web-site says it is cash only, but they did take a credit card at the raw bar.

    (3)

  • Jennifer R.

    There's this thing about convenience when you go out to eat. It's nice, having other people do shit for you. At this joint you have to find a dirty table to clean yourself, run downstairs to order somethings, upstairs for others and all so you can run back and retreive your oysters sitting in a sandy, briny puddle in a paper plate. It's a pain in the ass, to be frank, and after I finished fetching all my own food and clearing my table I gave them money. Who's the dummy here? At the end of the day it's ordinary food that you have to work way too hard for.

    (1)

  • Diane K.

    Parking: small, however more parking across the street near park. Dining: outside, lower and upper level seating. If the lines are long, have someone save a table while you order. Beware you may wait a while before ordering your "To Go" food. There's only one window therefore one person taking orders. However, definitely worth the wait! Food: almost everything we ordered was delicious. Don't come here if your are on a diet. Lots of fried seafood....see pictures. Clam cakes were crispy on the outside and inside was moist and sweet with bits of clams. It was delicious. Fried oyster was also sooooo good. Crispy batter covered the whole moist oyster. Cole slaw and seasoned fries were also good. Fisherman platter is good for 2 people...we couldn't finish it. For all that don't want fried food, the Lobster roll was not like most, didn't have the typical mayo dressing. However a mayo packet was given on the side for those that wants the mayo. There's also Greek salad.

    (4)

  • Amanda B.

    Flo's has been a favorite of mine since I don't even know when!! I grew up right down the road and during the summer it was always a favorite spot to go! You knew summer was here when Flo's opened their windows! They have the best clam cakes. PERIOD! I personally do not like the clam chowder, they have the broth. I like the creamy stick to your ribs kind so that is why I do not prefer it. The whole belly clams are the best!!! Really you need to get them and that is it!! Best meal ever. Tons of food so plan for a following lunch! They have a cool upstairs sitting area and outside picnic tables. Parking is scarce in the back. I recommend either coming right at opening or a late lunch. During father summer it's basically busy when open because of the beach right across the street. So good!!

    (5)

  • Laura V.

    I literally found a worm in the shell oyster. Do not Go here. The oysters were over priced and when I was done I noticed a long worm was sticking out of the shell oft oyster, very visible. I am so disgusted. Being a huge oyster lover I have never once run into the issue of a worm on my oyster

    (1)

  • Anna B.

    Awesome clam shack. Nice view, great food. Cute bamboo walk way. Confused as to why the location on this says Middletown it's definitely in Newport.

    (5)

  • Melissa M.

    Oh my gosh. All of the buzz is right! A lobster roll with no mayo - it was literally lobster meat on a roll. I got the platter. Very quick, and delicious. This is truly a hidden gem. The place itself is very cute and interesting.

    (5)

  • Stan S.

    Flo's is the quintessential seaside seafood place, and its the real deal too not some place where there is the faux seashore stuff everywhere. It's actually across the street from the beach. I've gone here mostly on Fridays for the specials, so that may account for some of my comments. On Friday there is oddly enough also a prime rib special for the meat lovers. Its a big hunk of meat, but for those who are prime rib devotees be warned its well past the "rare" setting that I personally adhere to (and you don't get a choice). The seafood is why your here anyway and the seafood platter is best split between two people and the oysters are excellent and the chowder is better than average. There is a raw bar upstairs that serves up cold, sweet local oysters along with the usual adult beverages. My only fault with the place is the crazy system of ordering food and how they staff the place, they really need an efficiency expert to work on the staffing here, but then again I am sure the owners would just say thats the way we've always done it here.....

    (4)

  • Jean W.

    Loved the fresh fish sandwich & chips! The batter they use to fry the fish is delicious and crispy. Not sure what type of fish they use but it's perfectly cooked, flaky and very fresh. The bun is buttered which of course makes the sandwich even more delicious. Frozen lemonade is the perfect combo to the fish sand which on a hot day. The only negative here is that the line was really long (waited approx 1 hour) but the area where the line forms is shaded.

    (4)

  • Le B.

    Delicious and very fresh. We enjoyed food from both the fried food and the raw bar. Maybe a bit dusty, but it's at the beach which makes it all seem very acceptable. Nice to sit in the open air upstairs.

    (4)

  • Robert J.

    The lines long but moves quickly and well worth the wait. Once ordered it is a five minute wait for our food. We loved the fried clams! The lobster roll was super fresh with a buttered roll. The one down side is the small parking lot so be patient ;)

    (4)

  • Jonny B.

    I love Flo's. I got my undergrad at Salve Regina and Flo's was my favorite post-beach, post-drinking, post-whatever else spot on Aquidneck. The decor is lame and funky as hell, the ordering system is casual and easy, and the food is fried, heavy and perfect. This place is far from flawless, but it has personality and awkward charm and will forever have a place in my heart. There's always a seabreeze going through the dingy seating and the memories I created here have shaped who I am. Mother. Fucking. Chowdah.

    (5)

  • Susan S.

    Sometimes you just get that craving for fried clams and when you do finding a little clam shack across from the beach is perfect! This is exactly what happened on our ride through Middletown and we just happened to stumble upon Flo's. We were greeted as we entered by a woman behind the counter. She informed us menus were on the table, but then you return to the counter to place orders and pick up food when ready. The atmosphere is very casual, but cute. We did not venture up to the second floor, but it appeared there is a deck for outdoor dining in the warmer weather. As we waited for our food many people came through the doors and the line became long at the counter. We assumed Flo's was a pretty popular place in the area. After reading the restaurant history on the back of the menu we learned Flo's has been in business for several decades and needed to rebuild a couple times after hurricanes. Our experience was good and we enjoyed the food. The clams hit the spot, but I cannot say they were the best clams I have ever had. The fries were hot, fresh, and crispy. Perhaps if it was the summer season and we were able to eat our meal out on the deck it would have made the entire experience even better. Flo's was decent and it satisfied our need for fried clams, but I don't feel as though I could give more than three stars after this visit. Parking is also a bit tricky. There is a lot out behind the building which is quite small. I'm sure it's a tough place to get into during the busy season.

    (3)

  • Fo D.

    Long wait for below average food. Prices are about average for the area. Spent about 60 something for Fishermans platter, oyster platter, and fish and chips. Food was soggy and not crispy at all. Looked like it was someone else's previous order they didn't want that they just gave to us. Incredibly rude staff. Would not recommend. Plenty of other options around town for fried seafood.

    (1)

  • Greg C.

    I was really excited about trying Flo's when I saw it was featured on the Food Network and other celebrity venues. Sadly I was a bit disappointed. Other than the raw bar, everything is fried, so be prepared for that. We tried their famous clam cakes, crabcakes, and Flo's Fried Clam Roll. We also tried the clear clam chowder and red clam chowder. Having had our fill of creamy New England Clam Chowder, we were excited to try something new. First, the two things they are famous for, the Fried clam roll and the clam cakes. Clam cakes is just another term for fritters. They were very doughy (not the worst I've had, but not the lightest either). There were little chunks of clam in the fritter, but for a world famous place, I expected more (like big chunks of clam!) The Clam Roll was good. It was basically a huge mound of fried clams on top of a bun. The clams were good, and if you love fried clams, you will like it (it was a bit much for me, as I don't eat a ton of fried food.) The crabcakes were not great. There was a lot of breading and not that much crab. The chowders were good, but not great. There was a lot of potato, a little clam, and nice broth. The same description holds for the red and clear. If you want a heap of fried food, Flo's is for you, I personally will not be lining up to get in again.

    (3)

  • Richard R.

    What a classic little seaside restaurant. Located just across the street from Easton Beach on Easton Bay, it is a picture perfect place to kick back your sand covered feet while enjoying ocean views. Flo's began in Portsmouth back in 1936, but was destroyed by a hurricane two years later in 1938. After rebuilding in a new location, that restaurant was also destroyed by a different hurricane in 1991. Some luck huh? Again they rebuilt and also added this Middletown location in 1992. If you love the authentic beachy laid back feel, you're gonna love this place. Just outside the front doors is a counter that you can order from without coming inside. Once inside, there is adequate seating area on the first floor, but the money spot is up the narrow staircase to the second floor. You will find a bar surrounded by fish tanks to make for a cool drinking area. There is also a balcony for seating, but pointing due south towards the ocean is a bright and sunny seating atrium surrounded by glass. I could tell by it's construction that the glass is retractable to convert it into an open air balcony. We came on a rainy day, but I can only imagine how great it must be to see it when it is fully open. THE FOOD History aside, the food was great. It was our second eating experience while visiting Rhode Island and so far the most enjoyable. I ordered the seafood platter which consisted of the following: Fried Shrimp (2.75 stars) - Not exactly the delicious shrimp flavor I was expecting. They were okay but had a slight burned taste to them. Fried Calamari (2.75 stars) - Decent sized ringlets, but not very flavorful. Also they do not offer a flavorful dipping sauce other than tartar or plain marinara. Fried Cod (4 stars) - VERY good. Wonderful flavor and surprisingly juicy. Best fish I had while visiting RI. Fried Scallops (4 stars) - Delicious. the meat was tender and sweet. Fried Clam Strips (5 stars) - Large, tender and oh so good. I ordered them without the guts and unless you are hard core, I would highly advise you avoid the guts as well. Clam Cakes (4 stars) - Ever heard of these? Basically these are really large hush puppies with clam meat baked inside. Not bad, but I enjoyed the ones @ Iggy's much more. French Fries (4 stars) - Always a great compliment to a meal and these were pretty good. FINAL THOUGHTS All in all Flo's was a 3.5 star food experience. The clam strips would be my highest recommendation followed by the scallops and the cod. Bon appetite!

    (4)

  • Valerie S.

    I have always loved Flo's. It is a perfect beachy hangout! I have always gone with a group and had a great time. This last time, however, I went alone and sat in the raw bar, having clams on the half shell. Soooo good and the ambience was fabulous! I live in VA but always stop at Flo's when I am in Newport.

    (5)

  • Alanna B.

    BEST Fried Clams, Fried Oysters, and Lobster Roll I ever had!! Every trip we make to Newport, we must visit Flo's at a minimum of 3x per week. I've tried Anthony's Seafood down the street, and Flo's Clams, Oysters and Lobster Roll still beat Anthony's. Private lot in the back. Check hours because they are different depending no the month/season. Cash Only. You won't be disappointed. Flo's was featured two times on Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate" show. Also would recommend their Fried Fish too - YUM!!!

    (5)

  • Manuel C.

    After all the hype is was disappointed. The food was extremely oily and soggy. The crab cake were nothing but bread and resembled hush puppies. The plates were large and plentiful but not worth the price. Not a place I will return to.

    (1)

  • Florence R.

    Flo's is good, though I'm not so sure I'd feel the same way if I had to wait in the long lines that usually form on a busy weekend night. We had clam strips, crab cake and a clam roll which were all pretty tasty. I will say the food is fresh and tastes really good, but I'd say the downsides are the wait, cash only and the prices are a little high.

    (3)

  • Andie C.

    The lobster roll was great. I wish we had just stuck to that and the baked seafood. However, Flo's lost a star due to the pile of greasy seafood platter it served. We thought we would get a sampling of everything but it was just a mess. It should be served in different plates or paper towels between the layers. Otherwise the atmosphere was great and bartender was nice upstairs.

    (4)

  • Rich S.

    I heard this place was great. It would be much better if they changed their oil once in a while.

    (2)

  • Nora G.

    Amazing stuffies. A well run operation considering the amount of people that come through here. Don't come here if you don't like fried food.

    (4)

  • Frank G.

    Totally awesome! My entire family of four absolutely loves this place. Food is the best! Can't wait to go back in August!

    (5)

  • Ed K.

    I ordered a clam roll platter. Was charged for a clam plate platter- $8 more. Explained I had ordered the clam roll platter, and was explained that I had ordered a platter. Both a clam roll and a clam plate- platter are posted menu items. Was brushed off and told it could not be re-run through the register. Not a busy day. Will not go back. Don't believe the hype.

    (1)

  • Lisa S.

    Basic over priced, fried seafood. Don't expect anything from bartender. Total grump! Tourist joint for sure. There are so many great places in the Newport area, this one can be skipped.

    (1)

  • Frank N.

    Cool place. Upstairs and downstairs. Upstairs has cool views. Order on the left hand side when you walk in. You get a lobstah that will buzz when your food is ready. The raw bar is upstairs, place your order, give name, they will yell out your name when ready. Delicious oysters, clams and I had a burger on the side....yum! Cash only!

    (5)

  • Brian S.

    Hurricanes beaches and bamboo Flo's is definitely a shack, a big shack but you can't mistake it's classic seafood shack feel. A very casual joint, people come from Easton Beach across the street to Flo's all wet, sandy and covered in seaweed. The shack has quite of bit of seating both inside and out and has several little side rooms where you can go. Not fine dining, you have a choice of sitting on stools, chairs or benches. Flo's can get insanely crowded during certain summer days and a whole lot of people take the food out. Flo's definitely has a unique feel to it and if you come in the back you enter through what looks to be a forest of bamboo. Once inside are lots of old photos, including some of the several hurricanes that destroyed the original Flo's. All kinds of interesting and tacky stuff to look at. You order at the counter and they give you this cool little plastic lobster that lights up when your order is ready. Yep, tacky as hell but fun. Then you go and get you own food and take it where ever you want. Simple and basic but it works very well. They have a wide variety of different seafood and fed you very well. The fisherman's platter is of course expensive but absolutely enormous. I really like all the food here but then I'm not really picky about seafood like this. Flo's is a classic seafood shack that has survived hurricanes, bad economies and everything else. It's been around in several forms for a long time and suspect it will continue to thrive. Some people won't like it because it is so shacky and casual. Plenty of other places in Newport to go if you want to be fawned over and catered to. Flo's is so successful because it is totally unpretentious and just goes about serving good seafood in a very cool shack.

    (5)

  • Sarah T.

    A must when on the beach and they allow dogs! Order the quahog and fired clam pint. Yum yum yum

    (4)

  • Brian F.

    Yes it is a tourist trap as it is in the heart of 1st Beach (Easton)..... Yes the lines are usually long and kind of a pain. Order fried food downstairs and broiled/raw upstairs..... Tip: Secure a table before your food. Yes the food is very good and very fresh. We were told they have there own dedicated fisherman.....Tip: Shrimp are not local but still dynamite. Yes the parking is horrible. Lot is small and hard to navigate when busy with a large vehicle.....Tip: Wait on street for .......and we go everytime we are in town. One of the best parts of the trip. Well worth the small inconveniences. Items we have had. 1. Lobster Roll.....very fresh but nothing fancy..plain cold meat on bed of lettuce on toasted roll...PURE! TIP: Get a side of melted butter. 2. Scallops....fried and nice light batter. 3. Prime Rib...Friday special, some of the best I have had. For 9.99 can't beat it. 4. Fish and Chips very good. Kid approved! 5. Scallops in Bacon....very good 6. Coconut Shrimp....very good CASH IS KING AT FLO'S! !!!

    (4)

  • Arun B.

    Lobster roll and fried shrimp were both on point. The stuffie was truly terrible so save yourself the grief. It came with an elastic band around the clam. Yikes.

    (4)

  • Lisa C.

    What do you all think the following cost at a self-serve, dive place? P.S. I loved the dive part. Anyhow, we had: 6 oysters (of the smallest I've ever seen) 12 fried whole clams (3.99 a pound (=12) at retail shops) 6 fried sea scallops with fries (about $6.00 retail) 1 Corona 1 Diet Coke Can you believe $66.00? I used to love Flo's in Middletown, but not so much any more. Bye-Bye Flo's. The seafood is indeed fresh, but the cooking is not as good and the prices are steep!

    (2)

  • Renee M.

    We were visiting and had heard of this place and since it was near the beach we would give it a try. The fried clams tasted liked fried dough with a piece of clam inside. The lobster roll was good but we found much better on our vacation (the McDonald's had one on the menu and tasted the same). The clam chowder was good, but again we found better. The ambience and location was great. My kids thought thought the lobster they give you as a buzzer when your food was ready was the highlight.

    (2)

  • kathy b.

    Very disappointed! Frozen French fries NO onion rings, and the whole belly clam roll had no flavor and the hot dog bun was soggy. IIF this had been my first whole belly clam roll it would have been my last. My spouse liked the crabby cake but would have liked a condiment for it like a garlic aioli or something. The use Kens steakhouse tarter sauce and cheap generic ketchup packets. Will not be going back there again.

    (1)

  • Bilal R.

    We were visiting RI on vacation, gave it a shot based on dcent yelp reviews. It is actually a shack but feels like a Giant Food Truck with a view, you will only realize this after the overall ambience sinks in. PROS: near easton beach, private parking behind the shack. Food is nothing to write home about but decent, definitely expensive for quality and quantity . Great view on the top floor but place is not as clean as it should be. Cons- atleast if the food is not great the view makes up for it for a bit, still the window glass need some cleaning since it gives a smudged view of the outside. My no=nonsense lobster roll platter unfortunately had a few shell pieces, what nonsense :p. Tips: rush in first to grab a table of your choice upstairs or downstairs since its self serving. Menus are already there at the table so come back to order at either counter-upstairs or downstairs. They will give you an illuminated lobster pager that lights up once your order is ready.

    (2)

  • Helen P.

    Came here opening day 2015 and lived the lobster roll platter! The bun was buttery and toasted and the lobster was chilled. The fries were awesome. The cole slaw was ok but definitely would go back if I am in the area again. Love the casual feel and the stuff on the menu seems amazing!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth U.

    Yum! My husband has been telling me about this place for years; he won't eat fried clams anywhere else. So when we arrived in Newport, it was the first place we went (after checking into our hotel.) The fried clams are really good. We got the fried clam platter: comes with French fries & coleslaw. Also got an order of the clamcakes - they're like savory zeppoles with clams inside! So good! We also had the Manhattan (red) clam chowder: tasty! There's no table service, and even though we had to wait in line for approx. 20 mins to order our food, it was easy to get a table afterward. Luckily we can walk here from our hotel - the parking lot is tiny!

    (4)

  • Peter K.

    A Newport staple for 75 years. And it's great to see all the history on the walls inside the place. Great seafood, and great view of the cliff-side mansions. Try the Rhode Island creations like stuffies (Stuffed Quahogs) and the Rhode Island style clam chowder which is neither New England or Manhattan.

    (5)

  • Trevor W.

    As a Harbor Tour employee, the question most asked of me is "Where is the best seafood in Newport?" If you're looking for a quick, fresh, fried seafood, this place is a must visit. One of my absolute favorite items is their fried clam strip roll. Its a giant, and i mean GIANT handful of crispy yet juicy fried clam strips on a big , buttery toasted hot dog roll. Oh and you get some delicious fries with it. Its by no means a fancy restaurant. Infact its more of a beach bum spot but don't let its appearance fool you.

    (5)

  • Nicholas C.

    Right from the start I should have known....ordered our food and drinks got handed a bottle of Walmart great value water...strike 1... Order came out and looked for the tartar sauce, found it...pre-packed Kens steakhouse tartar sauce... Strike 2... Had our meals 1/2 way through my clams got soggy, all food was extra salty, clam cakes a joke, nothing but over fried batter, and clam chowder should have been potato chowder...Strike 3...Maybe it was just a bad experience for me and my family or maybe a good quick food joint after being at beach all day but wouldn't come back or recommend.

    (1)

  • Alex A.

    Food was excellent, I ordered the lobster roll it was awesome came with fries and Cole slaw, mayo on the side. Also had the stuffed quahog it was amazing spicy but not too spicy, the clam cakes were great big pieces of clam in them. There is parking in the back, great spot would def go again

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    Great people great food and great service! I had the stuffed quahog (stuffie), clam cakes, and French fries...they were all awesome. The food is reasonably priced...only downside is they only take cash and you drink from a can. If you don't mind that get down and see Flo.

    (5)

  • Kim B.

    Location? 5 stars. It is on the beach. You can't get better than that! Food? 5 stars- the freshest seafood. Driving by, you smell it, and you just melt. You need it. Even if you don't like seafood, you will like this. And if not, the chicken fingers are 5/5 too. Atmosphere? 5 stars. I mean come on, its built like a boat, with boats in it. One word. AUTHENTIC! Service? 3 stars. You probably will have to wait for your food, and wait for your table. They give you fun little rocks to wait for your food at your table (if you can get one). But really, it's worth it. You can always take it to go and eat it at the beach. Coming from a Local, it may be touristy, but it's for a reason. It is that good.

    (5)

  • Brianna S.

    I loved Flo's!!! So did the party of four that I came with. This ain't a fancy place, after all, it is a shack. And that's fine by me! We got a handful of things off the menu to make the most of our trip, and split it. We dabbled with Flo's famous fried clams, clam strips, coconut shrimp, lobster rolls, and clam chowder. We definately ordered WAY too much food! But had fun finding room to chow it all down. It was all good, but I wasn't really impressed with tha 'chowda'... Was expecting gold medal quailty. But that's ok, the fried clams made up for it. We ordered a couple pitchers, grabbed a seat outside, and enjoyed a gorgeous summer day.

    (4)

  • Tom M.

    Practically impossible to find a fresher better fish n' chips throw in that they are 6.95 during lent and just go here not anywhere else. Flo is king and queen

    (5)

  • Robert J.

    Didn't hate it, just did not love it. I was disappointed with their stuffed quahogs. Too much filling, mostly bread. Clam chowder was ok. Lobster roll was pretty good, but really just fresh lobster on a roll with mayo and lemon on the side. I would maybe go back to try their whole belly fried clams one day, which would Probably be a better item to judge this place on. The ocean view is really nice. Pretty much self serve place, place order, pick up food, find a table. Was a little disappointed that the raw bar was not open when we went at around 2:00 pm on a Monday. Maybe this is because it is not their busy season yet. I wouldn't discourage people from going, just not my cup of chowda maybe.

    (2)

  • Dan D.

    I just pigged out on Flo's Famous Fried Clams Platter. The clams were unbelievable, the fries were good and the coleslaw as well. For 18.95 I was more than satisfied. This spot has a great view of beach 1. This is a cash only spot so be prepared, but it does have an ATM for those slackers or forgetful ones. I hope to return to this spot.

    (4)

  • JA S.

    Ordered the Fisherman Platter and found 4 clams.... it was loaded with calamari that I hate it's like rubber! Plus very greasy tonight. The clam chowder didn't have any clams it was all potato! Very very disappointed!

    (1)

  • Nancy G.

    returned tonight but was slightly disappointed because my husband wanted whole clams and they were out by 7:00. I got the same thing as before, and apparently was lucky that they would make it to go. ????

    (3)

  • Joseph R.

    Grease, dough, and overpriced. Shoul be named Clam Shaft cause thats what you get paying those prices for grease.

    (1)

  • Tim P.

    Great place for seafood. There's a deck, upstairs that overlooks the ocean. I had clamcakes, fried clams, clam chowder and a spicy stuffie. The food was great, the staff was great. It's definitely a place worth going to.

    (5)

  • Dav Q.

    Great atmosphere. Warming environment. Delicious food. Ordered the Friday night special prime rib for 9.95 which came in a generous portion. There is a downstairs for most fried food and upstairs is for the raw stuff. There is also a bar upstairs with friendly staff members.

    (5)

  • Norma L.

    Overpriced and tasteless other than the grease. For a $15 platter we got fried clams that were drowned in grease to the point I couldn't eat more than 6-7 of them. The coleslaw was pretty but tasteless and the only thing that was truly edible were the French fries. For the price- I'd definitely go someplace else. Especially since it was a take out counter where you had to fetch your own food

    (1)

  • Brinna D.

    Best fried clams I have ever had, and I spend my life in search of the best fried clams. Absolutely incredible. Cozy, too, inside and outside.

    (5)

  • Jo A.

    Ordered the lobster roll platter and it was seriously amazing. They give you so much lobster and it's just so freakking juicy and fresh. Surprisingly, the fries that come with it are just as delicious - crispy on the outside and tender on the inside with a great seasoning. Everything was well balanced. I don't suggest getting the raw stuff there though because it's extremely over-priced. I got 6 little neck clams and had to pay $13. I get a dozen from Anthony's for $7.95 and it tastes better there. I think Flo's has better cooked food but if you're looking for the raw stuff, go to Anthony's.

    (4)

  • Erica L.

    Great seafood shack. Another childhood memory for me. Great clam cakes and seafood. Small spot. Literally a "shack" but quick service and right across the street from a small beach where you can park or sit on the wall and enjoy the ocean breeze

    (5)

  • ImaYesfa N.

    This was my third visit to the restaurant- we were served $17 greasy old fried whole belly clams that were tough and cooked in old lard not edible at all. Also had some very expensive clams on the half shell and some shrimp cocktail that were imported from Vietnam. The creamy clam chowder was loaded with potatoes and hardly any clams. It was so bad I had to return the whole belly and ask for a refund- it should be packed with customers for the middle of summer. Only a few years ago the line went all the way into the parking lot. Now here it is the middle of August and there's no one at this restaurant. You can always tell a good restaurant because it will be packed 7 days a week. All I can say is it was sad and pathetic to see what was a good restaurant crumble and fall into a terrible horrible dining experience- very disappointing overpriced greasy old in edible seafood. Do yourself a favor if you're reading this and go elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Melissa F.

    Best clam roll I have had - hands down. I went here on a Monday afternoon and beat the crowd. When I left the line was long. I recommend going early to avoid the line but the line is totally worth it if you get stuck.

    (5)

  • Len L.

    As oil is used, food particles, high temperatures and repeated use lower the smoking point and eventually result in rancidity that gives your food off-flavors. The trick, of course, is to maximize the number of baskets of food the oil can cook before it breaks down. - See more at: restaurantbusinessonline… These people need to read this article Our fish and chips were rancid as were The clam cakes poor product real nasty.

    (1)

  • Chris W.

    Can not beat their fried shrimp and calamari, reasonably priced for great service and quality food. Lisa is one of the best bartenders I've met!! Made special virgin drinks for the kids and was very helpful when we first arrived. Definitely worth the trip.

    (5)

  • Randi L.

    The clam chowder was watery and hardly any clams . Worst chowder I have had in a long time. clam cakes were very salty.Thr exterior landscaping is overgrown and needs to be cleaned up. The interior dining room is dirty, needs painting and has some mildew in places. Never come back.

    (1)

  • Tony M.

    This place is crowded. The food??? If you like fried fish you are in the right place. There is no table service so SVP serve your self. This place is very old and pale in color

    (3)

  • Walter T.

    The line for Flo's goes out around the door. Eager to see what the great attraction was, we lined up. Flo's insists on cash only although prices were the same as credit card places. (I hope the IRS is checking them). Fried clam strips were crisp, but not as tasty as Anthony's up the street. Clam fritters were more pricey donuts - dough fritters with almost no clams. The chowder was tasty with the bacon. Clammy cakes were filling, but nothing special. The decor is full of Newport memorabilia. I left full, but not so impressed. I think there are better places to eat.

    (3)

  • Shawn G.

    Almost missed this place because it was only 3.5 stars, but we just finished a fantastic lunch. Sure most of it was fried, but what do you expect from a place with "shack" in the name. Great meal. We'll be back for sure!

    (5)

  • Leo B.

    This was our second time to Flo's-the last one was 6 years ago. We had high expectations for their stuffed Quahog, unfortunately they were out of stock. The clam cakes were really not "cakes" they were more like fried clam balls-more breading than clam. Our friends had the clam chowder-it seems like it was from a can-watery and not very creamery. Lobster roll was very good-with mayonnaise on the side.

    (2)

  • Darlene L.

    Love Flos. Try the seafood platter, you get to try a "lot" of everything (whole bellies, clam strips, shrimp, scallops, fish, calamari). We opted for extra clam strips instead of the scallops (we are not big scallop fans) and were not disappointed, the clam strips were the tastiest part of the platter. Only thing missing was the "crab cake" that was supposed to come with our platter ???... didn't realize it until we came home as we had so much to eat, but would have liked to try it. The side "cole slaw" leaves a lot to be desired... ewwwe... but overall, it was well worth it...... The the atmosphere and views are Newport's finest :) I gave this a 4 star because of my missing crab cake. Price was very good $30 total, and was plenty for two of us, took home most of it!

    (4)

  • Justin P.

    5 stars!!!! The seafood here is unbelievable! Best around! Cant go wrong with any item on the menu. Fried seafood is never greasy and is FRESH! Highly recommend the whole belly clams or the scallops or, if you want to try a little bit of everything, try the fishermans platter. Worth every penny! The fishermans platter is gi-normous and can be split between two people. The atmosphere is awesome. Order downstairs and then head upstairs for an open air dining room and an outdoor deck with some stool seating overlooking the beach and water. Upstairs they also have a raw bar, which i have yet to try, but it looks very fresh and doesnt smell which hints to me that it would be very good. Price is standard for seafood. Highly recommend! It gets very busy in season on the weekends so get there early. I find weekdays are best to go. Less busy.

    (5)

  • Russell H.

    Whole belly clam roll. Lobster roll. I could have eaten both in one sitting and been very happy. I decided to share instead.

    (3)

  • Christina L.

    Clam chowder - what a joke... watery water with potatos and there was NO clams. i will take canned clam chowder at anytime over Flo's!! pls bef you order, look around for other ppls chowder to see its water...... waste of $5 Clam cakes - I've never had clamcakes before, i was sure that it had clams in it. it was nice crunch fried dough with NO clams!! this was cheap $4 for 6. i still won't get it again! i wanted clams not dough!!! Lobster roll platter - what a disappoinment!!! The worst i ever had... the lobster had NO taste at all. they must cooked loster and left it in the water to drain all the taste... i like my lobster or any food little bit blend BUT this loster had NO taste whatsoever!!! NO taste!!! waste of $16 Clam bar sampler - 2 clams good. 2 oysters good. shrimp good. crablegs good but they dont even give you whole claw, only half claw.... how can i explain, i thought i will get 5/6 legs but only 3 very skinny legs, and one tiny bite of lobster meat. well it was $16, so maybe it was ok...??? Fried clams - i liked it! ;) Fried oysters - i liked it! ;) Fun location, liked outdoor upstairs....

    (3)

  • Astra K.

    I put one star only because u cant put half a star....a huge disappointment! And to think, this is where i went to eat for my birthday! Yuck! For TEN years i have dragged EVERYONE i know to Flos, but now, gross! Never again! The food was cooked in oil that should have been changed LONG ago, even though items were pale, they had dark burned specks all over them and tasted burned. Clam cakes that used to be SO GOOD also made in that same dirty oil, AND so over salted neither i, nor my son, who LIKES salty stuff, could eat one whole clam cake! And this god awful mess was the 27 dollar fisherman's platter! Since a great friend was taking me out to eat, my son and i pretended to be full and brought this all home in carryout containers, and we really did try a SECOND time to eat some of it, but just could NOT do it, then we offered it to our dog, who eats EVERYTHING and she left the whole container sitting in the middle of the floor and got back in her bed!!! SHAME ON YOU FLOS!!! Not only did you ruin my birthday, but now ppl i know think I'm some kind of idiot for telling them your food is good! Its not even EDIBLE anymore!!!

    (1)

  • Mandy D.

    Tradition: go to the beach, stop at Flo's after, eat a dozen clamcakes to my face on the drive home. If my stomach was big enough, I would totally eat ten dozen. These things are like crack. Also, their stuffies are wicked good, and freaking spicy. They hardly need any hot sauce. I still haven't tried the raw bar upstairs yet, but my friends and I made a pact to stop in there the next time we're in Newport.

    (4)

  • Sean G.

    Best lobster roll I have had this summer! Delicious fries decent slaw. Right at the beach. I took mine to go and ate on the water in Newport. Gorgeous. Only detection was oysters at raw bar weren't shucked too well. But a must visit!

    (4)

  • Jenna L.

    I like this place. Yes, it's touristy but the food is still good and the atmosphere is super chill. We got Flo's Fisherman's Platter, which pretty much comes with everything: fried clams, clam strips, calamari, shrimp, scallops, fish, and a clamcake. The clamcake is a local thing, and it's not really my favorite but you should give it a try anyway. It's kind of like a hush puppy, only more.. clammy. We tried the red chowder too, which is not really my thing either but was pretty good still. I'm a white chowder kind of person. By the end of the meal, we were completely stuffed. Overall, the food was good, and we could see the beach from the outdoor balcony which was pretty. No thrills in terms of the seating and paper plates/plastic utensils, but that's what makes this place great. Very homey, and unassuming. I'll be back, and will most likely bring visitors when they come as well!

    (4)

  • Catherine M.

    Wish I could give a"0". Walked in and was told fried food is to be ordered at 1st floor window. Went upstairs for raw bar. Too damn confusing. How about a waitress who can deliver anything we want?! There's an idea.

    (1)

  • Laura S.

    Both upstairs and down are great. Upstairs, peel & eat shrimp and scallops & bacon. Downstairs, fried clams and lobster roll. All awesome - even the coleslaw (no mayo!) and fries. We went both before and after the Cliff Walk (gorgeous), and were welcomed back like old friends. Tip: clam cakes are good, but since they're more like bread/hush puppies save them to dip in the chowda.

    (5)

  • Emily L.

    This review may not be too accurate because I had Flo's about 4 years ago when I visited Rhode Island for the first time. Let me just say that their clam chowder is the best I've ever had. I've been searching for some satisfaction in other chowders, but nothing comes close to Flo's Clam Chowder. SF's Boudin tastes like watery potato cream mush compared to Flo's chowder. And I ate Flo's chowder when it was warm.

    (5)

  • Chanel G.

    Great fish and chips

    (4)

  • Jaci H.

    I love you Flo! My fiance, Adam, and I were here for the weekend and needed to find the freshest seafood and we found it here. First off, if you're going to park in this parking lot, please don't pull all the way in so you have to back out a million times awkwardly. We witnessed the worst drivers in history attempting to park here, perhaps they need a sign that says "WAIT UNTIL A CAR LEAVES BEFORE PULLING IN" seriously people, it isn't that hard. Flo's is the perfect seafood shack, although its definitely a giant shack with plenty of outdoor seating both downstairs and upstairs. Grab a menu, find a seat and be prepared to be amazing by their selection. Adam and I were so impressed with their seafood that we ate there the next day for lunch (we're crazy New Yorkers who are crazy for good seafood!) We tried pretty much everything and loved it all. The seafood platter is too big for one person, but great to share. They give you plenty of everything and its all good. - Crab Cakes = heaven on Earth, we ordered this two days in a row - Stuff quohog = definitely worth trying, its like mashed potatoes meets stuffing that's spicy. I had no idea what to expect, but I thought it was really tasty! - New England Clam Chowder - awesome with tons of clams in it - Fried Clams (w/ belly) - so good!!! So worth the price! - Fried Calamari - delicious and not rubbery. It will melt in your mouth - Fried shrimp - super tasty, medium size and fresh - Clam Cakes - not that big of a fan, it was pretty much bread, but I guess they're good for dipping in the soup... I needed to save room for everything else. - Fried fish - OMG this is so good. It was some of the best fried fish ever, we ordered this twice we loved it so much - Coconut Shrimp - very tasty with a nice sauce. and of course their fries and cole slaw are bangin' too. It was a feast of epic proportions on both days. Definitely remember that their portions are huge and seafood isn't all that great as left overs. So ordered less and go back for more if you want to prevent waste. Wish they had a better beer selection, but it was totally fine with normal domestic. Can you guys deliver to NYC? Pretty please? :)

    (5)

  • John S.

    My wife and I got away a few weeks ago, and stopped in for some dinner. We got two clam strip platters the are huge, one could have feed us both. Very good! Place was a little cold but it us a shack so bring a sweater!

    (5)

  • Sharon E.

    OMG.....We are Locals and ALWAYS go to Flo's and always recommend Flo's to Friends and Family. No one has ever been disappointed. Their Food is of the highest quality and there Service impeccable! How many restaurants that you know of that have such a high volume and consistently turn out Great food with a Smile from your server. Today was Very Special as it was their last day for the season and the servings were HUGH ! and Yes the oil had been changed this morning, because their seafood was light, crispy , and delicious. I do have to take a minute to give Kudos to our cocktail waitress Lisa and our food waitress Kim..........They always take the time from there busy busy schedule to come greet us. Not only do they greet us, we get a hug ! There is something Very Special about Flo's and it's not just the Food. It is going to be a long cold winter without you guys, but please know that we appreciated all you did for all of us Newportians this past Summer and await your return in the Spring. Love you Shay and Di

    (5)

  • Vic O.

    I came here on a Memorial Day weekend with friends. Overall, I think that my meal satisfied my hunger, but could have been a better experience. First off, there is no wait staff; you must wait in line to place your table's order (I thought this was Flo's, a well-respected sea eatery, not McDonalds), and then wait until your lobster vibrates to signal that your food is ready. The restaurant itself was crowded and had loud and obnoxious young men and women drinking beer and stuffing their faces. The place as a whole is crammed and I swear I saw exposed electrical wires, which made me feel uncomfortable about the foundation. The stairs leading to the raw bar are dingy and small; I would not go up there. My meal was okay, but I did not appreciate the fried seafood as it robs the natural oceanic goodness from glorious sea creatures. As a pescetarian (I tell others I'm a vegetarian who eats fish since many do not know the term pescetarian), I think this dining experience was 2 stars worth and I would not come back. Fried food is not what the future Americans need, especially when on vacation. We need to preserve the natural delicates of the sea without using substandard cooking materials to create flavor. There was so much grease from my fried seafood on my plate that I was disgusted. Also, parking was limited since it was a holiday weekend. Parking throughout this area was also scarce.

    (2)

  • Esther T.

    Flo's was my plan for lunch when we arrived in Newport being that it's next door to our hotel, and it was good when I had it a few years ago. The staff is not the friendliest, but for a place like this I don't really care. We ordered 2 lobster rolls, fried clam strips, and New England clam chowder. Lobster rolls were mediocre. Had a lot of meat, but not a lot of flavor. Clam strips were awesome. Clam chowder wasn't the best, but ok. It's a cute little place for a quick lunch. It's not gonna blow your culinary mind.

    (4)

  • E W.

    Heard this was a great local place which was exactly what we wanted. Got a platter and it came over flowing with fried shrimp, cam strips, scallops, white fish etc. but it was sooooo greasy we couldn't even enjoy it. It's like they didn't let the fry basket drain before they put it in the plate. They don't take credit cards and you order at a window and find your own seat. 1 platter, 1 Greek salad and 2 cans of soda was just under $50.

    (1)

  • Barrett O.

    The clams cakes are amazing, clams sweet and so fresh and you must have the lobsta roll. Always great food.The only reason they don't get get 5 stars Is because they still only accept cash and you have to always go to the ATM and that's a pain in the b***. but speaking of butts there's no other reason why they don't get 5 stars because their food is awesome the service is great because they're fast it's fresh it's hot and it's always just to die for you gotta go you gotta have some no matter how far you gotta drive you gotta get it to Flo's

    (4)

  • Joe C.

    Make no bones about it, this place is a clam shack. The words "clam shack" are clearly in its name. And it's Flo's clam shack by the way. Her name is in there too. I was bummed out that my clam chowder didn't contain very many clams. Don't get me wrong. I liked it. The broth and the potatoes were both excellent but my bowl was desperately lacking in the clams department. I liked that although it was Rhode Island style chowder it actually was very hazy in color and packed a lot of flavor. Sometimes Rhode Island style ends up be just hot water. Maybe I got unlucky and got the bottom of the soup bowl with very few clams. Who knows. But I'm going to think twice before ordering clam chowder next time. I'll likely try some other item next time.

    (3)

  • T B.

    Raw chicken. Given its a seafood place I shouldn't have ordered chicken but it was raw inside. My friends has clam frittereea.... There were almost no clams. It was a fried dough ball. Fries we're yummy!

    (1)

  • Hugh M.

    Some of the food, like the fish and chips, is really solid. Other foods, like the clam cakes, are really lacking. Make sure you order the meals that actually contain seafood and you'll be fine. A lot of the choices are just fried dough. Very cool decor.

    (3)

  • Neil B.

    Go on Thursday for all you can eat crab. Otherwise, there are plenty of other places with better food.

    (2)

  • Thomas S.

    We were starving after our Cliff Side walk. So we decided to try Flo's Clam Shack. We saw the shack on a drive by earlier and thought it looked interesting. We ordered fried whole clams, fried calamari, creamy clam chowder, red clam chowder, clam balls, french fries, and cole slaw. We loved the whole clams, red clam chowder, and fries. However the creamy clam chowder was not creamy, more like watery. Calamari was average. Clam balls didn't have any clam taste. Cole slaw was bland. No in house made tarter sauce, just packaged commercial product. Flo's fried clams was great as advertised, but some of her other dishes need inprovement. Home make tarter sauce is a good start.

    (3)

  • Jamie K.

    Amazing food. So great in fact,.that you'll end up spending a ton of money. I can't remember what my girlfriend and I spent, but it was something ridiculous, like 25+ each. Will return in a heartbeat however!

    (4)

  • John L.

    We came here a couple times, once in the middle of summer and another time in the off season. It is night and day from the long lines in the summer vs. the off season. In the summer time the line stretched all along the boardwalk ramp to the beginning of the parking lot. While the fall it was walk up to the counter. No wait. With all the waiting in the summer time, it is still worth coming since their food is so good. My fiance and I always get the fried clams with the New England Clam Chowder. Worth the wait. The decor is very unique and with all kinds of fishing gear strung up and hanging from the ceiling. There is an upstairs and if you're lucky enough to snag an outside seat, there is a great view of Easton Bay. Would not hesitate to come back during the summer time and wait in line. On the bright side, while you wait, you get a cool looking lobster buzzer!

    (4)

  • Kate S.

    Forget what all the haters said...this place is awesome! Beautiful views, laid back vibe and relatively inexpensive all you can eat snow crabs on Thursday. Clams were fresh as were shrimp. The Manhattan clam chowder wasn't amazing, but was, by no means bad. Really nice employees, too! My fiancé and I will be stopping here on our way home from Nantucket. We still talk about this place!!

    (5)

  • Jamey B.

    The raw oysters were pretty good and the lobster roll was solid. The beach shack ambience pushes this three to a four for me. Swift service and good seating options. Nice beach access almost across the street!

    (4)

  • Katie C.

    Super greasy, over priced, fried food. The location is alright as it overlooks the beach but it's really more of a tourist trap. For the best fried clams, go to Evelyn's Drive-In, Tiverton, RI.

    (3)

  • Jasmine R.

    Love, Love, Love it here. It's nothing fancy but it's priced reasonable and food is always delicious. My absolute favorite. The raw bar upstairs makes the whole experience worth it.

    (5)

  • Renee A.

    Being a Rhode Islander and a huge seafood fan, I love this place. The atmosphere is everything a typical clam shack should be, and the food is nothing short of yummy! The "creamy chowda" IS a bit watery and not exactly "creamy", but is still packed with plenty of clams and potatoes that make it delicious. Definitely would recommend it as a great place to go post-beach day.

    (4)

  • Andrew P.

    Steady stream of people, atmosphere very cool. Fried clams excellent. Clam cake light and fluffy (not a lot of clam). Chowder was thin, not very creamy, I have had much better. Firery Stuffie ( horrible) extremely dense stuffing not really cooked, unappetizing. Crab cake sandwich just not very good. If you ordered well you probably could have a good/great meal. We did not. I would go elsewhere if I have a chance.

    (3)

  • connie c.

    Great location but so so food Came here because it had outdoor seat and is dog friendly. Self service order at the counter. The lobster roll was not very good and clam chowder was ok. Nothing too impressive.

    (3)

  • Crystal W.

    Was really expecting more from RAVE reviews and TV shows, but nothing will ruin great seafood like Wet, Soggy batter!!! I'm happy to say we tried this but we won't be back! You can def get the same stuff somewhere else in RI!!

    (2)

  • John W.

    Loved this place! Classic, small, funky seafood shack. Long line when we arrived but worth the wait. Had lobster roll which was near perfect. Very tender, succulent cold lobster with a little bit of lettuce on a New England split-top roll, lightly toasted. A little bit of mayo from the plastic packet and it was delicious. Came with really good fries. My wife got the crabby cake sandwich that she liked quite a bit. She got the #8, which was a great deal. Only $6.95 for sandwich, fries AND a draft bud. Also split a half-pint of their famous fried clams. Seemed pricey at $20 but also very tender and very good. Cannot wait to go back. Make sure you bring cash, they don't take plastic. There is an ATM machine but the fee was $3.25! YUM.

    (4)

  • Tonya P.

    On a recent visit to Newport, we made our trek towards Middleton's Flo's Clam Shack reopened for the season on March 1, lucky for us it was March 3rd. So excited, it's a shanty seafood house across the street from the beach, providing a great atmosphere and lovely views. Walking in, so happy it was off season, because you have to walk up to the counter and order food, bar and raw bar are upstairs, so if you are from North Carolina, you don't know which way is up, just lead me to the bar. After I took my family's order, ten people, what a clusterfuck. Wouldn't be bad at all if I knew the drill and there weren't ten of us! Of course, fried clams were top of the list. She asked me did I want belly clams or strips, I was baffled, both girls in unison, "belly clams!" I ordered a large order for the table and we all devoured them! Tasty, tasty, tasty. I will probably dream of fried belly clams at Flo's. What really made our day special, well beside the fact that my nephew graduated from Officer Candidate School (Go, Navy)!! Eating crab in New England was on my mom's bucket list, so this is the only thing she requested when we went to Newport, so that's kind of cool, that she gets to cross one more thing off of her list of fun! So, word of advice, if it is peak season, go visit Flo early or late or be prepared for a CF and don't bring your whole fam damily. Flo- I can't wait to return! Of course the most useful tip for Yelpers CASH ONLY. There should be a Yelp banner on restaurants that are cash only.. I'm a genius! Yelp get on it!!

    (5)

  • Hayley M.

    Awesome! Went to Flo's on the fourth day of business of the 2013 season. I'm so glad we booked our trip when Flo's was open. It's a touristy spot, for sure, but it has good views and good food. What else do you need? We had the fried clams and lobster roll and split them. Both were wonderful. Fresh lobster meat and almost no mayo, that's all I want in a lobster roll. Also, CASH ONLY!

    (4)

  • Elena S.

    Come for the fresh seafood and the ocean breeze and you won't be disappointed. The lobster roll featured a generous portion of perfectly cooked lobster with very little mayo and a grilled bun. The fried clams (not strips) were also perfectly cooked-- crispy breading with tender and plump clam bellies. Add a little lemon and you're set! The best place for an affordable seafood meal in town.

    (5)

  • Tom W.

    Tourist trap. Everything is bland and can be had at numerous other places. Lobster roll is just ok, Brick Alley Pub is better. The clam cakes are legendary, somebody please tell me why? We won't be back. Fried, bland food lovers paradise.

    (2)

  • Charel L.

    We tried this place for lunch after visiting the mansions. We ordered the belly clams and lobster roll. The cashier lady was skimpy with the water cups and made sure she gave us just one to share. The clams were big and the belly delicious, however the strip was inedibly chewy. Not worth the $15.95 price. The lobster roll was not dressed and over cooked. The meat tasted stale and smelled fishy. We couldn't keep quite as we were so looking forward to RI seafood and returned the lobster roll. The cashier working was not willing to take it back and acted like it was our fault. She then spoke to the chef and he rolled his eyes and accepted the return finally. Food at flo's has no love. They just throw everything together. I would stay clear of this place. We drove 45 minutes to iggys and had an amazing experience.

    (1)

  • Topher D.

    What's not to love about FLO's??? It's a dive bar and a clam shack combined with water-views. Try it!

    (4)

  • Leila H.

    wish i had heeded the reviews and gone elsewhere. all the food was ok, and cheap enough, but nothing worth going out for, and certainly not deserving as its placement as a clam shack institution. clam chowder was passable, fried clams were ok, clam cakes not recommended, and cole slaw fairly disgusting. the only good news was our 6.99 meal came with a beer!

    (1)

  • Robert S.

    This is a perfect summertime seafood spot. Usually when I come here, it's between visits to the beach, or watching live bands at ABC across the street. How busy it becomes only serves as evidence to how popular, and delicious, this clam shack is. My only reservations with Flo's are a) the lack of parking, which is an area-wide concern, and b) the fact that it is cash only (which is just annoying, in this 21st century, credit card swiping world we live in). Granted, it has been awhile since I've been here (aka last summer), so I can't give specifics about the food that I ordered... I do remember the lobster roll being fairly substantial (big pieces of lobster, not too much mayo), and some variety of fried fish being devoured with glee... Overall, pretty standard seafood shack fare, but above average quality.

    (4)

  • dan w.

    Do not expect Ipswich or Essex quality fried clams. These are greasier and the tails were tough. But the bellies were sweet and juicy- so the clam craving was satisfied. The fact that they use Ken's pre-packaged tartar sauce vs. homemade was a real no-no, but their coleslaw was pretty good. French fries were slightly above average frozen with the skins still on to give the appearance of fresh cut. I found the service to be quite friendly and efficient. They give you those wireless plastic lobsters which light up and vibrate when your order is ready. In the meanwhile you can look at the beach which is across the street.

    (3)

  • Ash C.

    Not good. Disappointed that this was the spot we chose for lunch on our last day in Newport - fried clams were way too much batter and hardly any clam. Chowder didn't have that thick creamy fresh flavor (and we ordered the "thick" version. Fried shrimp were too heavily breaded in some heavy bread crumbs that entirely masked the shrimp flavor (reminded me of the kind you buy in the frozen food section). Clam cakes had absolutely no clams in them! If your driving past... keep driving!

    (1)

  • Karen J.

    As someone who loves clam cakes these were the worst. We couldn't find a clam in itl it was doughy and dense. The stuffed quahogs were way too spicy and the chowder a big eh!! A real tourist trap!!

    (1)

  • Robert D.

    Upstairs @ the raw bar is where it's at! Lisa is amazing at running the bar and makes everyone feel they are welcome and special. The littlenecks and oysters on half shell!

    (4)

  • Kayla Q.

    My boyfriend and I have been here a couple of times. We first went in the winter, which was great because no one was there and we could actually find a seat. There is nothing more uncomfortable than trying to find a place to sit with a tray full of food. The staff is friendly and they have adorable buzzers that tell you when your food is ready. The portion sized are huge which is good because it can be a little pricey. My boyfriend and I probably spend $30 on lunch for fried food- not my favorite thing to do. At least it was good. my advice is that people keep that in mind when ordering- you can always go order more. The atmosphere is perfect for such a place. I prefer this to its rival Anthony's simply for the decor and location. The food is good, the people are good, and they have some great raw bar deals on weekends. Warning- they do not accept credit cards but they do have an atm on site so you can pay just a little more for the banking fee on top of the high priced fried seafood.

    (3)

  • Ernest L.

    I used to stumble to Flo's after a few when I lived on down the street on Briarwood. Since then, I've moved to the other end of the state. But, I still come back here. It's really good food. Also, they give you beer with the combos. Clamcakes and chowder with a Budlight costs $6. Even Budlight is least $3 at any bar/restaurant ($4 with a cheap tip). I like to think of it as me paying $2 dollars for a very hearty, very tasty, very Rhode Island meal. That's a steal. When I used to eat beef, the Friday prime rib night was an pretty alright way to spend all of $10. They have an all-you-can-eat crab night too, but I do lobsters, not crabs.That's way too much effort for me. During the summer beach season, it does get very busy and the line can extend 30 people deep into the back parking lot. If you don't want to wait, CALL AHEAD for a takeout order. I've seen frustrated people, but more importantly, smart people call for a takeout order....while in line. They get to eat their food from stylish foam takeout containers and watch their former line-mates remain hungrily in line. Also, BRING CASH. As they do not do cards. However, there is an ATM onsite.

    (4)

  • Kate N.

    Clam cakes dunked in clam chowder. Pitchers of Bud Light, sitting on the outside deck, overlooking the waves crashing into shore. Frozen mojitos. Fish & Chips. All of these things and more at Flo's. Even a T-shirt that you can buy that says "Smack My Clam and Call me Flo!"... This place made our entire party happy. Would love to return and hang out on another summer afternoon. Deducting one star for Cash Only, but they did have an ATM on the premises.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    Not a bad clam shack,Lady at the counter is very nasty told the line that they had to go outside on a cold day and windy.I had the clam chowder soup (white)it was all right the clam platter was not bad I had better I don't think I will go back.

    (3)

  • Ashley P.

    Love. This. Place. Visited here over the weekend to indulge in my first clam cakes of the 2009 summer season! Delicious delicious delicious. Located directly across from 1st Beach, this conveniently situated windowed, take-out style restaurant is a must eat when visiting Newport, RI. Whether you are on the go or looking to sit down, this business caters to both needs. After ordering and taking my numbered rock (that's right, orders are called out by numbers, numbers that are painted onto rocks given out to customers as they pay for the purchase). . . I headed upstairs to the 2nd floor deck to scope out some prime seating. Great view of the park and beach across the way. It was until this summer that I discovered the to-die-for combination of clam cakes and a cold beer on a warm sunny day. The stuffed quahogs are a bit spicy for my liking, but the clam cakes are the perfect mixture of doughy, greasy, clammy goodness. Perhaps next time I'll order the Bottle of Moet & Two Gourmet Dogs for $50 ;-P

    (5)

  • Jessica S.

    Went today before the beach for the raw bar. They have huge shrimp cocktail and strong rum punch. The bartender upstairs is always really nice too. I like to sit outside on the deck. Love the atmosphere here. Decided to come back for the prime rib special they have on fridays. Awesome deal for $10. I expected a small piece but it had to be 12-16oz. Good roasted potatoes and salad with really good dressing. I also got fried shrimp, love. The only thing I dont like here is the coleslaw. There is hardly any dressing on it and plain cabbage is ick. Staff is nice. I have been here many times and come here anytime I am in Newport

    (5)

  • Kameron S.

    I think this place would have gotten 4 stars if I actually liked clam cakes. I had their clam strips and they were pretty good. It is kind of hard to mess up clam strips though. I like the seating area outside. We usually hit this place up after beaching it at second beach. Parking is kind of a pain as the lot is small and always full. I dislike their battered fries, but the kids seem to like them. I think I will try something not fried the next time we visit!

    (3)

  • Jennifer H.

    The only reason I am not giving Flo's 5 stars is because the service was pretty sub-par on my most recent visit. There was one person working the counter, and service taking orders was slow. Ok, and I am super picky about my tartar sauce, and while the Ken's sauce they give you is good enough, I would love for Flo's to mix up their own tartar concoction. (That is a subtle request.) Other than that, I crave Flo's on a regular basis. Every time I'm in Newport, I salivate for Flo's fried clams. They are just that good. I'll warn you: If Flo's is open, you will wait in line at this cash-only joint. They wisely recommend finding your table then hopping in line to place your order, and I would concur. Drop your beach bags (because Flo's is 10 times better after you've been sitting on the beach all day), at a table and head to the back of the line. Once you've placed your order, take your adorable lobster-shaped buzzer back to your table and check out the nautical-inspired decor while you wait for your number to be called. I have only had the Fisherman's Platter: whole clams, clam strips (delicious for strips), calamari rings (super tender), scallops (perfectly cooked), shrimp (so juicy), white fish filet and a clam cake. With fries. And cole slaw, which is actually the kind of slaw you eat because it's good. For like $18.99. You can't go wrong. They have Bass Ale on tap at the counter... as well as some watered-down American "beer." Cans of Coke products are under $2. The bar upstairs is always hopping. Oh, and don't worry about clearing your tray; someone will be along shortly to clear your table in preparation for the next patron. Flo's is an easy walk from Easton's Beach, and if you found beach parking, definitely take the walk. The Flo's parking lot (behind the restaurant on Wave Ave.) is pretty small and usually packed.

    (4)

  • Matt M.

    By far our favorite clam shack in the Northeast. Lisa, who tends bar, always remembers us, remembers what we drink, and treats us like we matter. It doesn't hurt that the fried seafood (downstairs) and raw bar (upstairs) are fresh and great quality.

    (5)

  • Phil C.

    Touristy and overrated? Yes and yes. (and a tourist trap that doesn't take credit cards) I tried the clam cakes and clam chowder. The cakes resemble a fritter of sorts with only one puny clam. It was pretty disappointing. The chowder was okay, but not quite my style. It's too watery and is similar to a San Fran clam chowder. I know that's the RI style but not really mine. A redeeming thing was that we had a nice view of the shore from the second floor balcony. If I have this place another shot, it would only be for fried clams and/or the lobster roll.

    (3)

  • Colin C.

    I went here for lunch on a Thursday. The meal was WAY overpriced. The clam platter was $18 and came with soggy, undercooked clams and a side of soggy fries and mediocre coleslaw. If you go here, spend an extra $7 and get the fisherman's platter, at least you get a lot of bad food. The atmosphere earns it two stars. Also, considering how busy it was the wait wasn't too long. If you want a better experience head to Anthony's.

    (2)

  • Evan H.

    I went here about a week ago (mid-September 2013), and I am guessing that maybe the "A-Team" employees had already gone back to school. There were no fewer than three separate menus, one from which you could supposedly only order upstairs (what turned out to be a raw bar/alcohol bar), and two similar but slightly varied ones for the downstairs counter where you placed orders (one affixed to the counter, one hanging just inside the counter window, from the ceiling). I have no idea whether the upstairs and downstairs were owned separately, but it was clear that neither the upstairs nor the downstairs knew what the other could make, and further, that they did not communicate at all. We grabbed a couple seats upstairs, and as there were menus on the table, (incorrectly) assumed someone would wait on us. When no one came after a while, I went to the upstairs bar to order. The bartender informed me that the only food they sold upstairs was from the "raw bar," and everything else had to be purchased downstairs at the counter. Going to the counter downstairs, I tried to order items that were evidently a mixture of all three separate menus. The woman at the counter informed me that two of the three things I wanted to order were only available upstairs (to which I replied that the bartender upstairs said we could only purchase raw items [oysters, etc.] from her, and had to go downstairs for hot food). The woman at the counter replied that I was wrong. Huh?? The downstairs counter could get me clam chowder, but coconut shrimp were out of the question. So, too, evidently, was an order of crab cakes (two crab cakes), but I could order a crab cake sandwich instead. Again, huh? I admit I got a little snide here by asking why I could get a crab cake sandwich, but not two crab cakes: "Can I just have two crab cake sandwiches without the buns?" The woman replied "sorry, you can only order off of this menu here" (gesturing to the one affixed to the counter). Funny thing, that particular menu had an order of crab cakes listed. When I pointed at this, the woman backtracked and said it still couldn't be done, as an order of crab cakes wasn't on the menu hanging above the counter's window (indeed, it was NOT on that one). Finally, I settled for a #1 combo (cup of chowder, clam cakes, fries and slaw, plus a beer or soda) as well as a crab cake sandwich. 15 minutes later, I received (they don't deliver, I had to go to the pick-up counter) a cup of chowder, what were evidently three clam cakes (basically hush puppies, none of which had more than a couple tiny pieces of clam baked within), a can of coke, and a crab cake sandwich on a bed of spinach (weird in its own way...). No fries, no slaw. When I inquired (with a second woman who manned the pickup portion of the counter) as to where the fries and slaw were, she told me I hadn't ordered any. I replied that I ordered a #1 combo, to which the first lady (who had taken the order, and was listening in) replied that I had not ordered the combo. I argued that I in fact had ordered the #1 combo, to which the second woman replied that fries and slaw didn't come with the combo. I pointed to the menu hanging above the window, where it clearly stated fries and slaw came with the combo. The staff finally relented and said they would bring my fries to me in a few minutes (they did arrive, but the slaw remained MIA). Despite it all, the food was decent (greasy, but that is to be expected; also, it was all probably straight off of a Sysco truck, going straight from the freezer to the fryer), and the location was superb (great view of the ocean). But the customer service was something that you would see on a Saturday Night Live sketch. Long story short, unless this place gets its act together, don't waste your time.

    (1)

  • Robert M.

    I drank the cool-aid All I can say is WOW! Coming from down Texas way, we do not have many places like this. Yes, we have seafood (oysters, crab, shrimp), and it's really good stuff, just not this kind of really good stuff. I have been to a few places around RI, and usually stick with Iggy's. Not sure if that is good or bad, but I like them. But, I digress. So a friend of mine and I were in New Port and we asked around for a place to eat. We got the typical New Port response (places on Themes) while being forced to look up someones nose. Finally we got an outsider that had been there for about two years. The kind of person that would explore her environments. She looked left, looked right and then whispered, "go to Flo's." So I immediately looked it up on Yelp. There was Ashley P., and inspiration to us all, lavishing a 5 star rating on this place. So off we went. So there were to two big dumb Texans looking at the menu scratching our head. The lady looked at us and said, you gents look like you are pondering might hard on that there menu. OK, she only sounded like that in my head. Anyway, she suggested the Captains Platter. This is a $40.00 hunk of goodness. It was plenty for the two of us, which means probably good enough for three to four normal human beings. But being from Texas and all, it worked out just right. Anyway, this was melt in your mouth good. So I know this is going to be difficult for the Rhody's to get their heads around, but it is worth a 15 - 20 mile road trip. I know that usually takes planning for you, but it is worth it. Get your butt in gear and enjoy what the ocean and a deep fat fryer can do for your taste-buds.

    (5)

  • Ann K.

    i just love flo's, it really brings back good memories. i would knock off a star for lack of parking, huge long wait during summertime, and cash-only, but i just think this is such a fun, low-key, beach-vibe place that i can't really dock it. you order outside, then get a little lobster that vibrates when your food is ready :) the clam cakes and chowdah are so yummy and cheap. you can try the rhode island typical quahog (not my thing). love sitting outside on a nice day, but indoors is fun with fitting decor. you can look out onto first beach when sitting outside. ah, i miss this place. go and eat a clam cake for me ;)

    (5)

  • Derek H.

    Great location to have some real good seafood and watch the sunset. The food is great and the service is too. Definitely don't pass up on getting their world famous clams. Parking can get kind of tough though; their parking is in the back but it does get filled.

    (4)

  • Jeffrey S.

    This is what a beach side shack is supposed to be like! Place your order outside while a partner secures a seat for you. (Not that confusing if you just read the sign or ASK! there's probably a line of people that already figured it out right there in front of you.) It has seating inside, outside and on an upper deck. Nothing fancy here, just good food. We had the chowder, stuffed quahog and lobster roll. My wife claimed her roll was the best she'd ever had and I would agree that it was so simple and delicious.

    (5)

  • B I.

    After reading numerous critics recommending this place, I was genuinely disappointed, and wish i read the Yelp reviews more closely. More below. Service - 3.5 There is no waiter service at this place. You order at the counter and you bring your own food. So it's hard to rate. The person at the kitchen was generally nice and the food was prepared quickly so in general I think the service is fine, but a waiter would probably be useful. Food - 1 Very disappointed with the food. I didn't try everything but i got the platter with a variety of sea food that they are famous for including fried clams, clam strips, fried calamari, shrimps and clam cakes. The food was generally bland and did not taste anything special. I trust the sea food was fresh, but how can one even distinguish since everything is fried to the bone. The food was like decent bar food, but not what i was expecting. Atmosphere - 5 This place is really nicely designed. It's old, wooden with ton of cool pictures and symbols throughout the shack. Outside there is an outside area isolated by bushes with an old boat next to it. The quaint look fits it well and is great. The view of the ocean is very nice and it's a wonderful place to grab a drink and relax. Value - 2 For the quality of food the prices are way too high. You are really paying for the atmosphere. For a restaurant, it should be the other way around. The only reason why this place is getting a 3 is because I tried only one platter. Maybe some other things on the menu are great and i just didn't try the best stuff. However, from what i tried (what they are famous for), I was not impressed.

    (3)

  • Alex F.

    On our way to Newport, we had to stop by Flo's which was our second option, since the first option was closed (seasonal) which in hindsight might have been good, since it was a DDD recommendation and we've not had very good luck with Mr. Fieri. Whew. Pay close attention to the GPS, because it's kinda hard to find. When you're making a sweeping right turn, look to your left and not watching for cars. You can't park in front, so go past the place and turn right to park in the lot. Go under the tropical luau thing to the window and place your order. Whew. So you take your rock with the number on it, find a seat and when the food comes, you forget about the weird arbor, the difficult parking, and the rock! Being indecisive, we ordered the fishermans platter, Rhode Island style chowder, and a stuffie (giant clam stuffed with a spicy bread crumbs and chopped clams...a New England staple). The fried food was HOT...fresh from the fryer and not the heat lamp. The chowder...awesome! Food was good, service was friendly, decor was nice. Very cool place to get some great food! Cash only!

    (4)

  • Kathryn D.

    Delicious lobster roll and the fries are awesome! Nice atmosphere. Not cheap especially at lunch though when there are other good deals to be had. Classic newport experience though! I would probably opt for Anthony's instead next time... No view of the water at Anthony's but better portion sizes for the money.

    (4)

  • Thien N.

    After reading raved reviews on yelp, we decided to end our day trip in Newport, RI at Flo's for dinner. We waited for about 20-30 minutes before we could order and was thoroughly disappointed with Flo's food. - The clam chowder was very watery, even if you get the creamy kind. Where is the cream??? - The Fisherman's Feast was huge in portion and enough to share between 3 people. However, the breading was stale on all of the seafood that it came with. The best thing about the feast as the scallops and shrimps, but there were only 2 of each. Other than that, the breading was greasy and stale and the seafood didn't taste so fresh. - Clamcakes - WHERE ARE THE CLAMS?? We ordered a dozen and found only about 1 clam in the whole dozen that's the size of an 1/8 of my pinky! IT's what they're famous for and I still don't know why. My friend ordered lobster roll and said it was pretty decent. Other than that, nothing to rave about. I felt like I was going to have a heart attack after eating at Flo's. I'd recommend skipping Flo's and dine on Thames Street instead.

    (2)

  • Kevin S.

    Note: CASH ONLY. We tried going here for dinner after two separate friends recommended it to us. First, we had trouble finding it because our navigation system had it on the other side of the street (not the restaurant's fault / no big deal). Then, we had to do parking-lot battle to wait for someone else coming out of the restaurant and getting in their car so we could get a place to park (again, not the restaurant's fault, but a reality you will have to face if going to eat here). Next, we went and got seated. First we noted the lack of air conditioning, and it was pretty darn hot today. Even so, we would have stayed if that was the only issue. Finally, we discovered the "CASH ONLY" note on the menu and said enough is enough, we're going someplace air conditioned that takes plastic. Seriously, who carries cash around anymore?

    (2)

  • Randi S.

    Being from a beachfront community in NY I have eaten in many seafood restaurants... We come here every year for a reason... The place looks like a dive but it is the best seafood restaurant in the area if you are not into "fancy" places.. You can come right off the beach and either sit upstairs on the deck or inside. The inside is decorated with numerous awards and interesting photographs . The food.... Top Choices after trying many things here The fish and chips are excellent,,, big piece of thick white fish Must have ... Fried scallops- the best!!!! Fried shrimp... Lightly fried- delicious Lobster roll- nice size chunks of lobster- no mayo- add your own Disappointments Clam chowder- too watery- go to The Black Pearl- its the best! Clam cakes- more like clam zeppole a small ball of fried dough with very little clams

    (4)

  • Katie T.

    Clam strips and fried clams were fresh and good. Lobster roll was good but a bit small for the price we paid. I would skip the fried clam cakes and chowda; tried the "stuffie"for the first time and was also unimpressed.

    (3)

  • Gina C.

    Concept is 5 out of 5. - Indiana jones ride-like waiting area decorated with bamboo and island picket fences make your wait less painful and somewhat amusing. -Paying at the window / bussing your own trays concept saves you on some tip buckaroos. - A flashing plastic lobster that will come alive when your order is ready. - That weird wavy mirror right outside the bathroom that makes everyone look 10 times stubbier. Way to increase ones ego ... after feasting on seafood! Funny. + another one. Food two out of five. - Clam cakes where it is 95% dough and 4% fried part and 1% clam. WHERE's THE CLAM. - "Creamy" clam chowder whose liquid consistency is akin to your milk, coffee... really?? where did the creamy go? - cole saw that tasted funky. I don't understand how colesaw can go wrong. - I do have to give credit though that their fries tasted good. But I mean, what restaurant can bomb fries? - Calamari- Good. Crispy breading outside, Juicy Squid meat. Good. - Lobster Roll ~ $15 for Lobster roll+ fries + Cole Saw. Small in proportion but looks OK. The Lobster roll had veggies inside too. It wasn't just meat and bread. - Raw seafood purchased and sold upstairs. One Oyster $1.75 Decent. - Well priced combos: Soda + 3 Crab Cakes + Clam Chowder = $7 (then again.. it didn't taste THAT good.) Flo's Clam Shack is A OK. Despite the clever concept, my experience here was still somewhat disappointing. What's a seafood restaurant when it doesn't serve good seafood?

    (3)

  • Bryan H.

    Good for fried seafood. I wasn't too impressed...fries not good either.

    (2)

  • Margaret Ann B.

    I've only been to Flo's once, so I should probably be less promiscuous with 5 stars, but.... We were fortunate enough to come when it wasn't crowded, so no wait at all; we sat on the upper porch overlooking the beach; and this is my favorite clam cake, even over Aunt Carrie's (but maybe only barely). Those who are unhappy with clam cakes are probably expecting something more like crab cakes - no, clam cakes are basically fried dough studded with bits o' clam. These are generous and the dough extraordinarily light. A stuffie is nice & spicy, also not jammed with clam meat, but tasty. Yes, these are definitely not Ipswich style fried clams, but damn tasty. I'm not going to order NE style clam chowder in RI - we had the red, which was less "red" than I've had but still good. Fries also great - big, skin-on. But it's the ambience that is at least as important. It's a rambling, shabby, laid-back clam shack, where you come to drink all day at the spectacular upstairs raw bar (I would love to come back for some oysters or cherrystones) or bring the family for after-beach meals. This is absolutely everything I could imagine looking for in a clam shack, and the memory of Flo's will sustain me, I think, on dreary February days.

    (5)

  • Nicole M.

    Best lobster roll and fried clams in the state! I also thought the girl "hostess" at the pick-up window was a nice touch. She was very friendly and her main focus was customer service.

    (5)

  • Nancy L.

    We had tons of food here....if I can just rate their fried clams, this would've been a 5-star review without hesitation. Those whole belly clams were definitely the best fried clams we've had for a very long time.... With that said, we also had raw oysters and shrimps (fresh, but not the best we've had), clam cakes (lots of dough and hardly any clams), and a fish & chips platter. All average tasting here, but fresh indeed. Few things to note: 1) The line for ordering can be very long. 2) Order all cooked items outside and the raw ones at the bar upstairs. 3) This place is CASH ONLY and self-seating; once you have paid for your food, you can find a seat anywhere and wait for your number to be called. 4) There's no waiter service, not even for water, so many ppl do not leave any tips. Worth a try since their fried clams are REALLY good and it's conveniently located by the beach. =)

    (4)

  • Daisy D.

    Food Network + trip to visit BFF = opportunity to go to Flo's. I ordered the fish & chips. Part of me regrets not trying the clam roll, but NE is beautiful & I don't think it will be difficult to convince the hubby to come back. The fish was definitely fresh; nice light breading that definitely was crispy. I understand why they choose not too, but I kind of wished they made their own tartar sauce.

    (3)

  • Alma C.

    The food is ok, it's more the lively kitchy atmosphere and the beautiful view of the water that's the draw in my opinion

    (3)

  • Carolina C.

    The lady that took our order in the cashier was very nice, but I found the fried seafood to be ok. I also had the creamy clam chowder and it had too much potatoes for my taste.

    (3)

  • Valerie S.

    Okay, I've been a longtime Flo's fan and came close to giving them 5 stars. They and Anthony's are neck and neck, and have different strengths. I've also seen them evolve over the years, and they are juuuust at the point where they are close to being too well known, too commercial - they aren't the little clam shack they used to be, they can't be - the crowds have come - and they do try to remain true but... It has been good and bad. Parking is more of a problem and there are long lines. On the other hand they have these cute lobster beepers for when your order is ready (although I'm kinda partial to the old painted rocks) and there's lots more outside seating in front than there used to be. On the food, I think the New England clam chowda wasn't as good this year as I remember, and the fries have gone down hill. However, the fried clams, the fried shrimp and the stuffies were as good as it gets. Whatever they use for breading is fantastic - not too bread-y but just so, so good.

    (4)

  • Susan R.

    Go for the raw oysters, fried clams, and ocean view. Skip: the lobster roll and quahogs. For $12.95 there is not enough lobster in there and lobster rolls are just soooo much better in Maine! Anthony's has better stuffies. Upstairs is great here- the raw bar has very fresh shellfish. I also wish they would make their own tarter sauce, but the cocktail sauce was good. AND I thank them for having Diet Root beer!

    (4)

  • lily q.

    Food was definitely decent- you are always pleasantly surprised to get a good salad in a place like this. Shellfish was fresh. Rum punch was good. I have to say that I found the choice of political stickers behind the bar a confusing choice if the goal is to make the customers feel relaxed and welcome. If the goal is to be arrogant and offensive to most of the patrons, then it makes perfect sense. I felt unwelcome because my politics are not the same as management's, I guess. Everyone has a right to their opinion- that's the point, I don't feel like theirs should be shoved down my throat while I'm trying to pay them to eat dinner. It was extraordinarily expensive for the type of place that it is. The way everything has to be ordered and the different menus for different areas and self seating is confusing and not helpfully explained by any staff or signs. I might go back to have a rum punch on the deck after a day at the beach...but probably not.

    (3)

  • Winifred X.

    definitely interesting decor and outside.. one drives around the block following a sign that says "parking in the back". plenty of parking spaces, and then walk through a bamboo garden to get to the island themed restaurant, definitely not what one expects of a shack by the beach type.. =) I hear the locals frequent this place, they were closed when we got here, will have to stop by and try it out next time.... I hear very fresh seafood!! Oh, no credit cards, CASH ONLY.

    (3)

  • Ashley B.

    Phenomenal lobster roll. And the fries are amazing as well. Really good views of the beach, too.

    (5)

  • Sharon S.

    This place is great! Excellent fish and chips! Good atmosphere friendly and reasonable price. Hit Flo's if you are in the area.

    (5)

  • Vanessa E.

    The food here was just awful. My kids ordered the burgers and would've been much happier with McDonald's or Wendy's. My husband and I had the seafood and it was greasy and disgusting. Don't waste your money here.

    (1)

  • Norma S.

    This restaurant is totally overrated and a tourist trap. For the quality of the food, the price was outrageous. Fast food would have been better. The lobster rolls did not seem fresh, the fried calamari and French fries seemed as if they were reheated. Lastly, the reception in the restaurant was abrupt and uncouth. Will never go back...please don't go, you will be disappointed.

    (1)

  • Barry J.

    It's a clam shack. win: Lobsta roll, clamcake meh: chowda was kinda sour svc: awsm Bonus: Their logo looks like the one from The Drunken Clam on Family Guy.

    (4)

  • Toni M.

    Today we had the pleasure not only of meeting brian and Cindy S, but of being driven by them around the Newport area and introduced to some of their favorite places. As we left the tender and walked up the ramp, Cindy was holding up a hand lettered sign saying YELP. It was so cute it made me laugh. We saw some of the elegant old mansions and some grand newer houses, classically beautiful bays, a favorite lighthouse whose photo I'd seen in brian's review and Purgatory Chasm, a serenely beautiful wooded area overhanging a chasm leading to the sea. Its somewhat forbidding name belies its lovely nature. An arched wooden bridge crosses the chasm and offers a wonderful vantage point for photos. Since brian takes and posts so many lovely photos and I'm so bad about posting ours, you'll probably see them on his review before you will mine. Honeysuckle was in bloom and the weather was warm enough you could even smell it from a yard or two away. After showing us the highlights, Cindy and brian introduced us to Flo's Clam Shack. We found a place in the lot and joined the line, which grew behind us. Flo's is funky and gloriously authentic, aside from the bamboo lining the walkway up from the parking lot. Inside, an array of nautical objects hangs from the ceiling. This place has been here a long time. It's cash only and the folks behind the counter suffer no fools. We were in luck to find them open. They close next week for the season. Since it would be my last opportunity I ordered a lobster roll platter. Alan ordered a clam platter, brian ordered fish and chips and Cindy ordered a small plate of clams. I also ordered a clam cake since it's a Rhode Island specialty. The difference between the platter and the plate is that a platter comes w/ fries and coleslaw and costs a couple of dollars more. After tasting the coleslaw I was sorry I hadn't ordered just the roll. The fries were OK but not necessary and neither was the coleslaw. The lobster roll was excellent. The clam cakes were disappointing. I could detect no clams and neither could Alan. It was just like fritters w/o the clams. Alan thought his clams were just OK. Some were undercooked. The fish and chips looked good. The atmosphere was cool and the view of the ocean was lovely. We were glad we experienced it, but meeting brian and Cindy and having them share their favorite spots w/ us far outshone the meal. 3.51 stars for lunch. 5 stars for the day.

    (4)

  • Richard A.

    If you are looking for a unique East Coast seafood experience look no further. Stop in at Flo's for the best whole belly clams, great clam chowda, fresh oysters on the half-shell and ice cold brew. I first experienced Flo's in the Fall of 1997 while I was stationed at the Naval Justice School in Newport and have been returning ever since. Flo's did not earn their reputation based on fancy napkins, plates or even decor. This dive-bar setting serves up great seafood on paper plates and beer in plastic cups--with a focuses on great taste and quality. A fun place to experience the bounty of the Atlantic!

    (5)

  • T. C.

    Absolutely the best fried whole belly clams on the market. The bellies are huge, and the batter is light and crispy. I have been to restaruants in NH, Maine, and massachusetts for fried clams and these are as good as it gets. On a side note, the french fries were crispy and the coleslaw was an OK compliment. I did not prefer the classic NE clam chowder, and the clam cakes were more like unsweetened donuts with a few pieces of clam in each cake. --I will not order either one again. Also, the fish and chips were very good. I hope you enjoy my pics.

    (5)

  • Craige M.

    The highlight was the crab claws. You order them by the pound at the upstairs raw bar, which doubles as a regular bar. I don't get that, but anyway, that's how it works. Everything else is ordered downstairs and if you want to eat upstairs, you listen for when your number is called and you take your painted rock down and carry up your heaping tray of food. The lobster roll has the mayo on the side, which, in theory, is nice, but come on. Do you go to a seafood shack for health food? (Hint: no.) Just whip up the lobster salad with the right amount of mayo and serve it already. What am I supposed to do with a side of mayo? Slather it on the bun somehow? It's not like I can dump out the lobster, mayo-ify the bun, and then rebuild the sandwich. So, although the lobster seemed nice and fresh, I let Jeff eat 9/10ths of that while I attacked the crab claws. We also got clam fritters. We ordered a dozen because hey, clams are small. As it turns out, when they are each inside a golf ball size clump of fried dough, they are not so small. They were good, for hush puppies with a hint of clam in the center. Jeff is always tempted by a clam chowder. It was Rhode Island style. Our friends' 5-year-old grabbed a spoon and dug into it as well. It definitely got her approval as well as his. He says it is lighter in color and consistency than a Manhattan clam chowder. I am by no means a quahog expert. Are they supposed to taste like spicy fritter batter? didn't taste anything seafoody in the one we got. It was definitely big and tasty, but like the clam fritters, it only had an essence of seafood. According to our friends who live there, $2.50 for a stuffie is a really good deal. (Maybe because it's just stuffing in a shell?) Is it just me or does stuffie sound perverted?

    (3)

  • Geralyn D.

    I got food poisoning from the fisherman's platter a few years ago. Full on food poisoning. My nephew ate a couple of clams off my plate and also got sick (not as bad as me since he didn't eat as many clams as I did.) They gave us our money back for the meal, but claimed we couldn't prove that we got sick on their food. Needless to say, I would never eat here again.

    (1)

  • Bermie H.

    There is no better way to eat seafood than to eat it FRIED and Flo's does a pretty good job of it. If you're looking to eat-in follow the directions on the sign and grab your seat first, figure out what you want, and send someone to get on line to order it. The outside smells like the South Street Seaport (when they had the fish market there) and Jones Beach mixed into one aroma but I wasn't put off by it. My wife and I shared a Fisherman Platter which comes with fried scallops, clams, clam strips, calamari, shrimp and a piece of fish. Yumyum. I also had a Lobster Roll which was delicious. The only disappointment were the Clamcakes. They looked like conch fritters but tasted like a knish? I could only tell there were clams inside because of the chewy neck. The website says there is plenty of parking on Wave Ave but the day I went I couldn't see how you could park on Wave without inhibiting the two way traffic. We got lucky and snatched a spot in the small parking lot.

    (4)

  • Ryan W.

    Couple of random thoughts on Flos.. - Ridiculous line at times, beware you will finally get to the front and realize they only take cash! You should have known better though, after all it is crudely scribbled on a paper plate that is wedged half way behind the order window, that you never see until you actually get up there... - You can go upstairs where you can order right from the bar and usually avoid the line! However... I'm pretty sure you can only order raw stuff up there, not all the fried goodies.. if you are here to raw dawg it though, head upstairs! - I see mixed reviews on the clam cakes... Some love them some hate... I am kinda on the hate side.. They were suspiciously cheap on the menu was my initial thought.. I was thinking "clam cakes? must be like crab cakes, but with clam!" That is not the case, they are kind of like hush puppies / fried dough balls with little mini nuggets of clam in them... Its like a treasure hunt trying to find the hidden clam nugget! These arent for clam lovers, just basically some cheap fried dough! - Fried Clam strips were the best I've ever had hands down. Very fresh, they clearly use the entire clam. They are what a clam strip should be. - dont waste your time with sides like fries and slaw they are just ok

    (3)

  • Kristen S.

    Kind of a mixed bag. We shared an order of clam strips, clam cakes, clam chowder and a lobster roll. (hey, I've since moved down south where clams aren't exactly easy to get.) The cakes were spectacular. a million times better than the ones we had at Anthony's. They were lighter and crisper. The clam cakes were also amazing- not too greasy and they tasted a lot fresher than your average diner clam strips. On to the bad: the clam chowder was a little watery and had a kind of funky flavor. It just wasn't for me. The lobster roll. Oh, the lobster roll. We split it in half and each took a bite at exactly the same time. There was a sickening crunch of shells. We picked the shards out of our mouth and at the same time, an off flavor developed. It didn't have that delicate buttery lobster flavor AT. ALL. I don't think i could put my finger on what the flavor was, but it was very, very off. We spit the rest out. The manager was understanding enough to ask if we wanted another or if we wanted something else. Honestly, we felt so ill at that point that we just wanted our money and wanted to leave. There was only one snarky comment about how she'd never heard of any complaints. So, apparently this was the only rancid, shell-filled lobster roll they;ve ever served, so you should be fine ordering it. :|

    (3)

  • Johanna Q.

    My husband and I have eaten several times at Flo's since we moved to Newport a few months ago. The food is really good - definitely try the fried oysters (some of the best fried oysters I've ever had!) and is sold at market price. The seafood is NOT frozen, but they do serve smaller portions and be warned it is CASH ONLY. The atmosphere is really fun; it is all old pictures of Newport and local memorabilia. The hours change in the winter and the crowds are really large in the summer but if you are looking for fresh simple seafood Flo's is a good choice. If you don't have cash, try Anthony's Seafood on Aquidneck Rd. They are also local and good.

    (4)

  • Randi C.

    Lobsta roll, fresh and delicious, needs no seasoning. Cole slaw delicious, not too mayo-y, and the fries are crispy and not greasy and amazing!

    (5)

  • Mac O.

    Flo's is a Newport institution, not to be missed. No visit to the area is complete without a trip to one of Flo's two locations, tho the view from this Middletown location can't be beat. My family and I have been eating at Flo's for over 30 years, when there was just one location, a tiny little, genuinely authentic SHACK on the beach serving their famously delicious clam cakes from a small window. It continues to deliver all these years later. As other posters have correctly pointed out, it ain't cheap and it ain't the Ritz. But it's the real deal. Until recently, everything in the entire joint basically was deep fried -- the addition of an upstairs raw bar lightened the menu a bit, offering oysters on the half shell, peel-and-eat JUMBO shrimp, and the likes. The raw bar doesn't open until 4 pm, however. My suggestion is to avoid the things on the menu that you could find elsewhere -- fried shrimp and scallops, etc. -- and stick with the items that Flo's does best and is famous for. These include the aforementioned clam cakes, delicious deep fried fritters with pieces of tasty, chewy clams scattered throughout; the fried clams -- I prefer the strips to the whole (not a fan of those clam bellies, tho others in my family adore the whole ones); the stuffed quahog -- Rhode Island's "state shellfish," stuffed with a spicy, sticky, tasty bread-and-quahog filling that builds with a slow burn; and the unfried lobstah roll, a golden-toasted bun chock full of huge chunks of real, sweet, fresh lobstah (leave the packet of mayo on the plate). The exception would be the calamari, which you can definitely find anywhere else, but Flo's is super fresh and incredibly tender. Platters are accompanied by french fries (not really necessary, in my opinion, and they take up valuable stomach real estate) and cole slaw (pretty average). Order a la carte to avoid the fillers. I think one of the only disappointing aspects about the food at Flo's is that it comes with Ken's (of bottled salad dressing fame) pre-made tartar sauce in plastic containers. A place like Flo's should make its own! However, as another poster stated, the food doesn't need a drop of it. A squeeze of fresh lemon will definitely suffice, altho I do enjoy dragging my clam strips and calamari through Flo's spicy, tangy cocktail sauce every few bites. The ambiance is classic beach kitsch, the service is efficient if brusque behind the counter, the prices are up there, and they accept CASH ONLY (come with a wad of it). At the height of tourist season in summer, it gets crowded and loud. But, as I said, no visit to the Newport area would be complete without a visit to Flo's! [15 Minutes of Fame: "The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Crunchy" (Chris Cosentino, fried clam roll; Beau MacMillan, fish 'n' chips)]

    (4)

  • Caroline L.

    Disappointed. This used to be a favorite spot of mine and friends/family to visit when in Newport (every summer!). The wait was always worth it. Over time it seems each visit the food was "not as good as it used to be". This time in late May we had out of town family and felt we couldn't pass up Flo's while touring Newport with them. Sad to say the "clam" chowder we ordered lacked much of any substance. Clear and white broth ordered but we received all "clear". "Clam" cakes were all batter. Huge disappointment. The only upside were the lobster rolls. Still, the price isn't cheap (tourist market price) for what you're getting. We'll head to Atlantic Beach Club (lunch menu is great) from now on. Went there in early May and the food was excellent. Nice view of the water. Indoor or outdoor seating also. Sad to say Flo's will no longer be visited by us while in Newport.

    (2)

  • Colleen M.

    You could quite possibly start a religion/cult based on this place. That is how serious fans of Flo's can be. Yes its old and yes the decor is tacky and yes they only take cash and yes its Newport prices for simple food but COME ON...this is the real deal. My husband and I recently stopped here for lunch after driving around Newport and we were starrrrrrving. There was a pretty decent line at the counter but that ended up being a good thing...more time to discuss what to order. I wanted the entire menu. Im not exaggerating. From clams to chowdah to stuffed quahogs (om nom nom) to lobstah rolls to grilled cheese, everything sounded amazing. However, knowing the huge portions (and our dinner plans later that night) we decided to order 2 favorite things and split it- fried clam strips and a stuffed quahog. We were handed our painted rock with order number and waited for the food to arrive. As soon as we saw the plate of fried clams, we were instantly glad we had decided to share. Imagine a large paper plate, COVERED in the most perfectly fried clam strips you have ever seen...stacked at least 3 inches high off the plate, served with tartar sauce and lemon wedges. The quahog was a decent size (although after tasting it, Im sure we could have managed to devour 1 quahog each) and served in the closed shell with a band holding it together. The clam strips were battered and fried to a crispy perfection and honestly, tartar sauce was the last thing on my mind. A few squeezes of lemon and I was good to go. The stuffed quahog (or clam for those of you who only know Quahog as the town on Family Guy) was amazing- incredibly well seasoned stuffing with tons of clam bits and the real kicker- chopped jalapenos. They do warn on the menu that it is spicy, but its an enjoyable heat. Between the two of us, we were absolutely stuffed and still had a good amount of clam strips left. You can either eat inside with the breeze blowing in from the many windows looking out towards Eastons Beach and the Atlantic Beach Club, but if youre looking for some extra sun, there are also some tables outside in front. Flo's is a MUST for anyone visiting the Newport area and in search of some real clam shack style seafood. There is another smaller location over in Portsmouth that seems to be visited more by the locals which in my opinion always makes for an entertaining RI experience.

    (5)

  • Jeannie H.

    I'm not a fan of fried seafood and usually go out of my way to avoid it but it does hit the spot on occasion. Frying clams only masks the deliciousness and freshness of the ingredients. However, instead of using small crappy clam bits, they used plump whole ones, which was appreciated. ATMOSPHERE - Not as shacky as the name would suggest. The interior was clean and surprisingly civilized. SERVICE - Long line that goes out the door and self serve. Paper plates, plastic tray, and plastic forks. FOOD - I would avoid getting the platter combos. Save room for clams, forget the piles of fries and slaw. They used whole clams that were judiciously battered, fried, and low on grease. The tubs of prepackaged tartar sauce were a little tacky. Tartar sauce isn't hard to make. I think they would have been better off coming up with a recipe that's unique to Flo's. The raw littlenecks were plump but not as sweet as I've had in the past. The creamy clam chowder was low on ingredients and runny. Overall, this was a decent dining experience and what you'd expect out of this type of eatery. This place is pretty good as fried seafood goes...it certainly beats the Barking Crab. If I were to come back, I'd order a pint of the fried clams and forget the rest.

    (3)

  • Elle P.

    I came to know about Flo's through the Food Network ("The Best Thing I Ever Ate" -- Crunchy edition). It was bookmarked and ready for me to pull out whenever I should find myself in this part of Rhode Island for some reason. And wouldn't you know it, some months later, I'm actually here. Whenever my family and I come to a seaside town, there's only one meal that'll do and that's seafood! Flo has a divey feel to it, but it's way too nice and clean to be a true dive. If you're eating at Flo's: 1) Grab a table, look at the menu, and figure out what you want; 2) Order at the window; 3) Pay with CASH (they don't accept credit); 4) Grab your rock with a painted number and wait; 5) When your number is called, go back up to window to get your food; 6) CHOW DOWN!!!!! For a family of four, we ordered: 1) Fisherman's platter (highly recommended as it gives you an assortment of all kinds of fried goodness and it's a HUGE platter of food), 2) Two bowls of clam chowda (cream), 3) Two No-Nonsense lobster rolls, 4) Three cokes and a coffee Which all came to a hair under $65. A great deal for a seafood feast! Flo's really knows seafood. Everything we had was perfectly cooked. It's so easy to overcook seafood, but everything came out tender. The fried clams here are just absolutely great. I loved the clam strips, but my sister preferred the whole fried clams with the bellies. The calamari was one of the best that I've ever had. Like I said before, just perfectly cooked. Nice and tender with none of the rubberiness that can happen so easily. The batter on the fried seafood was light, delicate, and flaky, with a good crispy crunch. Not at all greasy. The fisherman's platter also came with scallops, shrimp, battered fish, and fries. The stars on the platter were definitely the clams and calamari. A side dish of cole slaw also came with the platter. Normally I hate cole slaw because of the over abundance of mayonnaise, but this cole slaw was nice and light. It was very nice to have as it cut the fried food taste from your mouth. The clam chowda comes in three varieties: plain broth, cream, and red. We got the cream because that's what we like. The cream chowda at Flo's is a much lighter chowda. Not as creamy and thick. It's a different style than what I'm used to in San Francisco. At first I was a bit disappointed, but the freshness and the beautiful quality of the chowda won me over. It's nothing but the pure essence of clams and some potatoes to give some heft. The chowda was perfectly salted. Usually chowders are too salty, but this wasn't. It was a great chowder to eat on a cold day and didn't leave you feeling heavy in your stomach. Even my father, who is difficult to please with clam chowder because he loves it so much, said that this was the best chowder he's ever had. The No-Nonsense lobster rolls were also really great. It's just a roll stuffed with fresh lobster meat. That's it. No mayo. No nothing. I loved it because I hate mayonnaise. (If you want mayo, they'll give you a packet.) Again, the lobster was perfectly cooked -- tender and sweet on a buttery crispy white rolls. Mmm. . . . Oh, Flo, you may look a little disheveled and worn out, but you know how to cook a pretty sweet meal of seafood. The way to my heart is through my stomach and you'll find me come a-courtin' again!

    (4)

  • Robert F.

    If there is a line, chances are it's good. if there is an outrageous line where you have to make several attempts to dine, chances are its pretty great. i was educated on what a real fried clam is when i came here. eating the clam with its whole belly is an experience. it makes the clams that i was used to look like crusty worms. thanks for spoiling me Flo. jerk.

    (4)

  • Kelli P.

    I love this place! It is as beachy as it gets and the food is so good! Beware! It is CASH only, which at times can be pretty inconvenient, but what do you expect from a place that has been devastated by multiple hurricanes in the past 20 plus years! I think I would only accept cash too! Flo's is right across from Easton's Beach and walking in there, even just pulling into the parking lot (which is small) makes you feel like you are in an island paradise. There is always a line at Flo's. That is just the way it is so I do not think it is worth bringing this place down a star just because it is always busy! The staff handles the crowds fairly well and things go by real quick. Downstairs is for the fried foods and upstairs is for the raw bar and the crab leg special! You must try the crab leg special! All you can eat crab legs for $11! Amazing! I could sit there for hours! The beer is nothing special... just the regular. It is self seating and counter ordering and when you are waiting for your food, you get these cute lobster shaped buzzers! Not a great place for big groups because you do not want to be that group of jerks that is taking up half the restaurant. They do have a deck to eat on, however, it is the most popular spot to eat and I have never had the pleasure of being out there! The food is good! My husband and I can get away with splitting one of their fried seafood platters because it is huge! Their hush puppies are amazing and their fried clams are as good as they come! They always have the biggest whole belly clams and they have such a great taste! If you are in the area, you must check out Flo's!

    (5)

  • Ryan M.

    Nothing beats the raw bar upstairs. On a sunny day the view of the beach is great, food could not be fresher. Oysters are top notch. Try the crab and clam cakes too. Forget the downstairs, eat at the raw bar upstairs.

    (5)

  • Liya M.

    Delicious and very reasonably priced, easy access across the street from Atlantic Beach Club and First Beach, parking in the back, fun and relaxing ambiance with ocean view. The Oyster Roll is my favorite.

    (4)

  • Kathryn B.

    Just classic. If you plan to eat there make sure you grab a table before hand because the place is usually packed. Everything on the menu is amazing. I ordered the Combo One with Three Clam-Cakes, Clam Chowda and a beer: perfect. The clam cakes a rich and doughy. They chowder is a but different from other varieties, some call it watery, but it has the most clam taste out of any chowder I've eaten. Our table split an order of Fish&Chips and Fried Clams as well which was plenty of food. We had a hard time finishing the french fries for all the other glorious fried food. If you're new, start off with the seafood sample platter. So worth it. There is a raw bar upstairs which I have yet to visit but no one comes back unhappy.

    (5)

  • JJ L.

    My kind of place. Fresh oysters, clams casino, scallops with bacon, fried clams (we did a lot of sharing) were excellent. The chowder was very good, but not the best of my trip, a little salty, but may be I was getting stuffed. Extremely friendly bar staff and customers. Giving a place 5 stars is VERY rare for me!

    (5)

  • Jordan W.

    The food was good but the experience wasn't. I went with a work friend and one of us had to hold the table while the other one waited in line to get food, for over an hour. So we didn't get to talk to each other. Very lame. All they need is a wait staff. and the place looked run down.

    (3)

  • Alexandra C.

    Average fish n chips and clam chowder. A little too much batter with their deep fried items. Cool, beachy atmosphere and location. Long wait. But fills you up with decent seafood at reasonable prices.

    (3)

  • Molly P.

    YES! It is very good. Varied menu, with lots for the kids, hot dogs and such. The clam fritters were pretty good. I had the Lobster Roll, OMG it was so darn good. All lobster, not butter or mayo, but they give you a side of mayo to add. OH SO GOOD! We also had some raw oysters, they were everything that is right and good in the world. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 because it was a bit confusing to order cooked food downstairs and raw bar upstairs. It took us some time to figure this out. Otherwise, great atmosphere, beach type place, good food, lots of locals and tourists alike. If I lived in the area it would be a place I frequented often.

    (4)

  • James R.

    Shack being the operative word. Great fried fishywish: clams, calamari, shrimps are all delicious. Service is democratic, atmos is unrefined and exceedingly pleasant, prices are reasonable. An institution.

    (4)

  • Robt. G.

    The real deal. A bit off the Newport beaten path and officially across the city line in Middeltown. They serve down to earth, simple, New England Seafood in a unassuming beach venue. Beach: good place to serve seafood. Nice menu of fried selections and a raw bar. Family and group friendly. Over the years, I've eaten here many times and they still have the spark. Yes it is busy at times: hint, folks keep coming back for the food.

    (4)

  • Ryan B.

    So the legend of Flo's is strong in New England. I have seen this place on Top 10 lists forever, but, when living in MA, never ventured that far south to try it out. There are some good things and bad things that evened this review toa solid 3 stars. Pros: - The clam cakes are the best I have ever had anywhere in New England. They are the perfect texture and flavor. I could live on these bits of doughy goodness. - The seafood, although deeply fried, tastes fresh. That is the key to any good seafood business. - It is right across the street from a beach and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean Cons: - The whole place looked and felt dirty. I know its a 'clam shack' and that is the vibe they are shooting for, but it just felt a little off. - They dont accept credit cards and don't clearly advertise this. They do however have a ATM on location for unsuspecting folks like myself. - Their sides (fries and coleslaw) were pretty sad and unappetizing. They also use little plastic packages of tartar sauce, which alwasy gives me a queasy feeling. All in all, I would eat here again if I was in the area but I wouldn't search it out.........except if I needed a clam cake fix.

    (3)

  • Leah P.

    Everything is fried - blech! The crabcake sandwich was loaded with iceberg lettuce and overall was pretty horrible. The coleslaw was basically indelible, maybe some of the worst I've had. After 75 yrs of business you'd think they'd get a clue and stop using styrofoam. I thought we were going to a RI classic and I left seriously disappointed.

    (1)

  • Sarah M.

    First time to Flo's...shared a lobster roll, small fried shrimp and a quahog. The lobster roll and the shrimp were great, but I was disappointed with the packaged tarter sauce. The quahog on the other-hand was very disappointing. It was all breeding and hardly any clam...I guess that's why it's only $2.50. Also, parking is a nightmare...had to drive around the block about 5 times in hopes that someone had left the tiny lot! I'll go back next time I'm in the area, but wouldn't make a special trip.

    (3)

  • Darren D.

    I have to agree with the previous reviewer - this would easily rate 5 stars if it were easier to buy the food. You have to order outside on the first floor if you want fried food...upstairs you can order baked or raw from the bar. Beyond that - the fried seafood is incredible. The fired clams were great, but my favorites were (in this order) the fried scallops and the fried cod - by FAR the best I've ever had. The clam cakes were ok, but maybe that's because I thought they were hushpuppies ;-). No trip to Newport is complete without a visit to Flo's!

    (4)

  • Dennis M.

    If you like fried seafood, you will like it here. Check out the furry fish. Never a disappoint if you can find a parking spot.

    (5)

  • Jimmy H.

    Along with Black Pearl, this is another "must have" joint whenever I visit Newport. The one that I usually get "Seafood Platter" is quite tasty. $15 for it may appear pricey, but it's market price. That's how much it usually costs at any clam shacks in New England. It's seasonal place so don't expect it to be open any seasons except summer.

    (4)

  • Shane R.

    This is one spot I can go to again and again in the summer time. Across the street from Easton beach, Flo's serves mouthwatering fresh seafood. Whether you're simply looking for a quick snack or a full meal, they know how to do it right. On occasion, when I'm not starving, I'll swing in and order the Number 1, which contains three fresh clam cakes, chowder (choice of creamy, red, or clear), and a can of soda or beer for $6.00! This serves as a nice light lunch on a sunny beach day. Also, the Lobster Rolls here are some of the best I've ever had. Thick chunks of whole fresh lobster claw lightly coated in mayonnaise poke out of a grilled hot dog bun for the perfect taste of summer.

    (4)

  • Susie T.

    Flo's has the most amazing setting, sat upstairs on the patio and after a long beach day, it was perfect! The food was amazing, clam strips and had clam cakes for the first time! A definite stop during a newport trip!

    (5)

  • Tammie P.

    Crab claws and lobster roll tasted frozen and defrosted. Only clam cakes were good - don't bother coming here.

    (1)

  • Arthur F. C.

    Why are so many people so excited about this place? The food quality is low, just take a look at their weird fried clam balls - they had no clam in them and taste like the floor of a taxi-cab. I placed a picture of them from my order back in May 2011 for you to see for yourself.

    (1)

  • John M.

    We always stop at Flo's when in Newport (usually atleast twice a year). There is always smiling faces from both the staff and the patrons. Tasty fresh seafood at reasonable prices. We love crab leg Thursday! We prefer to eat in when you can get a table, but the take-out is a good alternative when the window is open. Definitely worth a stop if you're a seafood lover!

    (5)

  • a b.

    Personally, I loved it. Wish I would have realized the raw bar was upstairs before I ordered, but still, my fish and chips was super delish.

    (4)

  • Kristy M.

    I have been to Flo's Clam Shack several times while in Newport. The Fisherman's platter is the best! Clam strips are amazing - honestly the only thing I would not recommend is the clam chowder. If you like raw seafood, the raw bar upstairs has great oysters, clams and shrimp cocktail -very fresh and delicious. You can also get a variety of fish dinners upstairs, such as striper or swordfish with vegetables and rice. The bartenders Lisa and Chris were super friendly and fun; if you're looking for a casual place with an ocean view to grab some good cocktails and seafood in Newport, this it!

    (5)

  • Andrew K.

    Food is okay, but Order taking was slow. Processing order was slow. No parking.

    (3)

  • Pappy C.

    Crazy little Shack with great crabs and good people. You can feel the sea breeze from the dinning area.

    (4)

  • Lindsay W.

    Flo's is fun. For just $5 you can get chowdah, clam cakes and a beer. Similar prices for burgers and other sandwiches. Expect to wait in a long line to order in the summer, but once you've paid, they're usually pretty quick to get your order ready. Flo's gets steady traffic in the off-months too.

    (4)

  • Fem M.

    Very limited parking and long wait in long. Nice view of the ocean on the 2nd floor. Clean place and lots of people eating here. Cute town atmosphere. Got a corona beer and barq's root beer for drink. Thankfully, lots of seating available. Holy crap though, the fried clams are delicious! A bit chewy though. The Lobsta Roll isn't that good. The creamy clam chowder wasn't very creamy or good. Don't get the fried clam roll, just get the fried clams alone.

    (4)

  • Xtina R.

    I have no idea what all these high ratings are about..this place is average at best! I stopped here yesterday, based on the Yelp reviews and 1 word- ICK. The line was super long and the food was tasteless and just bad. I am an avid Cape go-er, so maybe I'm just spoiled....but the clam chowder (creamy style, they give you the option) was so far from creamy, was all potato and no flavor...the stuffed quahog was the worst I've ever had, hard breaded spicy mess of a thing...If you have any taste in decent seafood, don't go here....go across the street to Anthony s or to the Cape :) The bartender was also super rude...this place is just not worth it.

    (1)

  • Courtney D.

    I. Love. Flo's. When I get to Newport w/ the fam & friends for a week or so I eat there 4 or 5 times if I can. The #1 all the way ... clam cakes, RI Chowda & a beer. One of the few places in Rhode Island where you can actually get RI clam chowder. If you don't know the difference, you're a fool. NE is not where it's at. And NY, don't even get me started, you're in Rhode Island after all!! Raw bar upstairs, all the way. They are great, even if I have to wait in those crazy touristy lines.

    (5)

  • Debbie M.

    Great food, great atmosphere, great prices.... I just wish there was waitresses.

    (5)

  • M B.

    The food here is awesome - and more than makes up for some awful service. The middle-aged woman who works the register is obnoxious, like for real. I go here for lunch almost every Friday in the summer with co-workers and like clockwork she never disappoints... The Fish Sandwich is so so good and the combo is such an amazing deal! There really is nothing like a Fish Sandwich combo on the deck overlooking the ocean on a sunny Friday afternoon at Flo's. The Clamcakes are equally good. Flo's is such a unique place and has a weird charm about it. Definitely recommended!

    (4)

  • Milena M.

    We had three different people tell us to come here when we were visiting RI from Brooklyn. The atmosphere was your usual clam shack but they give you a painted rock with a number on it corresponding to your order. Who doesn't love painted rocks? No rock, no food! The clams were really fresh but everything was a little heavy on the breading. I would recommend the soup because it's not a typical clam chowder, it's much lighter so you can really taste the clams. We sat upstairs and had a nice view of the streets and the boats that were passing by. I think that they need to invest in a larger parking lot though, we barely got in a spot and it was the only one left. A great place to go after walking around and exploring the mansions.

    (3)

  • Yumi S.

    I wouldn't care to go back, unfortunately. Did I expect too much? Nah, I just think it's over rated. Their clam chowder had more potatoes than clam, and lobster roll is better at Panera. Service is non-existing...if you're just craving seafood and don't mind something average, this is the place for you.

    (2)

  • Annemarie H.

    On vacation in Newport and made the trip to Flo's. I had the clam strip combo- it was ok. B/F got the clam belly combo- DELICIOUS!!!! If you are in Newport- go there but be ready for the wait!

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Considering the location they have on a crowded street, Flo's manages to have a good original personality right from when you walk up their boardwalk through the tunnel of towering bamboo. For a first timer, their system is a bit confusing. I needed some schooling from others in line on how to order. Step one, get a table. Step two, order from the window downstairs - meals, anything fried, chowdas, sodas, I think really anything cooked. Step three, pay in cash only. Step four, return to your table and wait for your number to be called. Step five, go upstairs to the the raw bar/ drink bar for anything raw or drinks (although I think some beers are downstairs too). Once you work your way through the system you end up with some tasty fresh seafood. The chowders were very good. We tried one clear (RI style) and one RI red, both were very good. I like a place with a variety of chowders to choose from. We had a plate of raw oysters - very nice. I think they said they were from Maryland, which surprised me that they weren't more local, but they were good. We got an order of full belly clams and some slaw, very nice and fresh. And we got 2 of their famous "Flo's Fiery Stuffed Quahogs - ancient Portuguese recipe." I was really looking forward to these. They seemed to be their signature dish, but they were disappointing. Too bready, hardly any clam and not hot or fiery at all. I ate most of one, my husband had two bites and pushed it aside. Would I come back, sure, but hold the stuffed quahogs, please!

    (3)

  • Sarah A.

    Delish! We happened upon Flo's while driving around searching for a place to have dinner a few nights ago. We ended up liking the food so much we went back the next day for lunch. For our first meal at Flo's we had the small plate of fried clams, clam cakes and coleslaw. The fried clams were definitely the highlight of the meal. Melt-in-your- mouth delicious. None of that chewy consistency you sometimes get with fried clams. They were perfect and fresh out of the fryer. As someone mentioned below, they do come with Ken's pre-packaged tartar sauce, which I found to be quite good. The clam cakes were a little lacking in clam flavor but nice and hot and perfect in their consistency. The coleslaw was the only thing that was a bit below par. It was edible but could have used more mayo and seasoning. For our next trip we ordered up the fried clams again and the lobster roll. The clams...nom nom... so good. The lobster roll was nice (and reasonably priced at $12) but as someone else mentioned, the lobster meat and the mayo are not premixed. They just give you a little packet of mayo. I suppose this is great if you don't like a lot of mayo, but I personally a fan of the 'naise so this was a little annoying. Next time I will stick with the fried clams all the way. Other things to note: Cash only. Don't forget your rock which they give you at the counter. "NO ROCK! NO FOOD!" Bathrooms are unisex and kind of foul. In conclusion, GET THE FRIED CLAMS AND GET LOTS OF THEM!

    (4)

  • Mallory P.

    I was truly upset that the Flo's shack near the ocean was closed so the result was coming to the restaurant. I first heard about Flo's when I was watching "The best of Rhode Island" on the food network and I decided that this was the place to try...and so we did. Well, we ordered the STUFFED QUAHOG, CLAM CAKES, FRIED OYSTERS, LOBSTER ROLLS and CLAM CHOWDER. First of all I expected the QUAHOG to be super delicious but it was just alright. All the flour and spice overwhelmed the clam and I truly didn't taste too much of it. The CLAM CAKES where the same! They only give you 3 pieces and when I opened up the bag I was expecting to see something like crab cakes but they looked more like doughnut holes! It tasted more like hush puppies than it did clam cakes, and this really disappointed me. For the price of the clam cakes and fries combo, I would say that this is a rip off. Thankfully the fried oysters, lobster roll and the chowder were pretty good. The OYSTERS were really big and were nicely fried, although they could have been more golden. The LOBSTER ROLL was good because they really don't hold out on the lobster, but the only flaw was that it's not premixed with the mayo. They just give you a packet of mayo and you top it all off yourself. So it's really like they didn't put too much effort into it except to dice up the lobster for you, place a piece of lettuce and toast the bun. Mary's Fish Camp in the village is still much better and I don't even have to leave NY. The CLAM CHOWDER was good because it tasted homemade...and like my mom said, "it really tastes like it didn't come out of a can." My only problem with their chowder was that they kind of held out with the clam. There were more potatoes than there were clam inside. Also you have three choices, of which I only remember one, of how you want your chowder prepared and since I heard reviews of the chowder being a bit watery, I ordered it creamy, and guess what...it was still a little watery even though it was supposed to be creamy. If creamy is watery, I don't even want to know how the other two choices will be prepared. So I'm not going to discourage people to come here because It's really not that bad, but if you are to go then order something else. OH! AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CASH BECAUSE THEY DON'T ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS!!! Although, they have an atm in the corner.

    (3)

  • Luke R.

    Flo's is just great. Everything is fried. Nothing is healthy. Good-sized portions. Prices are wonderful.

    (3)

  • Kate K.

    One of our goals that weekend was to try as much clam chowder as possible. Flo's was our pick for a late afternoon snack. I only had a bite of the chowder, I didn't want any more. The broth tasted like it was made from skim milk and I didn't get a sense of clam in it at all. On the other hand, the fish in the fish 'n' chips plate was absolutely perfect. Juicy, flaky fish with a batter that, while heavy on the crunch, was very light in taste and texture. I also enjoyed the clam cakes. While the clam flavor was mild, the cakes were a delight to bite into and went well with the tartar sauce. The decor and atmosphere are casual New England Beach. I got a laugh out of the menu item "Two hot dogs and a bottle of Moet." Just perfect for a walk along the water. Worth checking out, but skip the chowda.

    (3)

  • Angel L.

    When my boyfriend and I started planning an East Coast adventure, I knew I had to try this place after seeing it on the Food Network. We arrived at Flo's after making our way into Middletown from Boston (this was the second stop on our trip). It was getting late and it was raining, but I was definitely excited! I ordered the clam roll with red chowder and my $3 bud light (regular price for domestic beer!). The clams were so sweet and crispy, i was in heaven! The fries were decent, and I thought the chowder was just ok. My boyfriend is not a fan of fried foods, so after trying a few bites of my roll, he made his way up to the raw bar and came back with 4 delicious looking fresh oysters. I have never had seafood so fresh and delicious! We both agreed that we definitely want to go back to Rhode Island, and I will be sure to make my way back to Flo's so I can get my fried clam fix, and my boyfriend can indulge in the fresh oysters!

    (4)

  • Jason T.

    Since there are no half stars i would give this place 3 1/2stars. My girlfriend and I traveled to RI to from NY to see the Taps headquarters and of course Flo's clam shack. The place itself is cozy with a lot of space and parking. Ok and now to the food. We ordered the clam chowder, the lobster roll, clam cakes, and of course the fried oysters. The food itself was good but a bit pricey. I myself enjoyed the fried oysters and being from NY and trying Marys fish camp in Manhattan the lobster roll disappointed me. I wished the lobster was already mixed up properly with the mayo and spices. The bread itself was small and not as great. But those who haven't tried Marys fish camps lobster roll will definitely enjoy this. This is a place definitely going with the family and enjoying good food and good people. Just like quahog in family guy.

    (3)

  • Cami R.

    Great dive with excellent food! A local resident recommended that we check out this place, and we were not disappointed. The clam cakes are amazing, as are the clam strips and "chowda." Portions are substantial. Not a huge drink selection, and the place is cash only. Perfect location, as you can walk from the beach and eat upstairs overlooking the ocean.

    (4)

  • Katherine D.

    Great spot for lunch! We were four very hungry people here for lunch. We shared the fishermen's plate and the lobster roll, the food was very good and great portions. The place is very rustic and casual; the service was fast and we left full and happy!

    (4)

  • Emily H.

    I went to Flo's for fried clams on a recent trip to Newport and loved basically everything about it. The food was terrific, the atmosphere was perfect for a seaside clam shack, there is parking available, and they give you buzzers shaped like lobsters while you wait for your food! Also, free cold water from a cooler up front.. Very important in my book! It's really the perfect spot to stop for lunch. Just be patient, as long lines make ordering take quite a while. Definitely follow their advice of grabbing a table first.

    (5)

  • Melissa D.

    The best dive shack ever! This is were you want grease, paper plates, patio furninture, buoys draped throughout the restaurant, and cheap seafood. If you want class, eat slowly, linens and the same seafood they get from the docks, then drive down to downtown thames. This is your quick pick me up with massive lines in the summer so be patient. However, while you wait, there is a waitress serving drinks! The menu is basically fried clams, fish, oysters, shrimp with french fries and coleslaw. If you want some shucking goodness, you have to head upstairs and order oysters, king crab, crab or lobster claws on the shell. Definitely come here for the whole belly clams and the oysters on the half shell. So fresh and not too much bread on the clams and descent size oysters. Either eat in and go upstairs to overlook the street or grab your food and munch on First Beach (away from the red tide, well it's everywhere..)

    (5)

  • Joe T.

    My wife brought me here for a quick get away for my birthday. She knows how much I enjoy fried clams. These were the best I've had in over 15 years. Very fresh and sweet. Very tender and not rubbery at all. We chose to make our order to so we could eat it across the street at the beach. Fries and slaw were also good. We enjoyed the chowders too. Red for my wife and white for me. Plenty of stock in both and neither were watery. I agree that the cash only sign needs to be posted in a better place. Would have given 5 stars but we were rushed to place our order even though no one else was in line. We'll be going back next summer.

    (4)

  • Sharlene C.

    ack typo on my part. calm should be clam and has totes been reviewed. how could i doubt the yelpers would not find such a gem.

    (5)

  • John K.

    Great clams, ok chowder but didn't get their specialty, fantastic location with balcony to eat on overlooking the beach. Get your fried fix here with a beer and watch the action around the beach.

    (4)

  • Robin B.

    We love Flo's and it's always a spot we visit when we go down to Easton's beach. Food is always great, and fresh. We usually get the clamcakes and chowder and it's always delicious and piping hot and prices are reasonable.

    (5)

  • Jeff W.

    Every time I get to go here I leave smiling from cheek to cheek. It's a Rhode Island treasure.

    (4)

  • Joseph D.

    Possibly the best fried clam strips I've ever had (and I eat a lot of clam strips). Beers are cheap, food is pretty fast if not a little pricey, but I'm guessing it's high quality stuff. The atmosphere inside and out is phenomenal. Very unique place, and a very diverse clientele. Old and young, couples and families. I'd give it five stars but the service was painfully slow.

    (4)

  • Mike D.

    Heard a lot about this place ...good scallops, shrimp and crab cake, however, the fried clams were an extreme disappointment. Rubber bands and these clams have a lot in common.

    (2)

  • J R.

    Can't beat it for straight up New England seafood... the fried clam dish is a winner, however for less money (if i recall correctly, almost half) you can get the fried oyster dish, equally as good... and any new englander should know that a littleneck is about a 3rd the price of an oyster, so for me I felt like i was getting away with murder. Service... what service? You wait in line to order, then you go and sit down. From a restauarant standpoint, the owner of Flo's needs to take business management 101 and learn something about work flow. You have a liquor license, you have people waiting outside for 45 minutes to spend $12 on lunch, and yet the restaurant itself is EMPTY. Do you know how much revenue you are missing out on by not offering table service? Please god... please don't tell me this hasn't crossed your mind before... Anyways, typically i would wait the 45 minutes to order food, but there are plenty of times I said nope and went to the mooring or black pearl. Think about it...

    (3)

  • Laurie M.

    After trying the famed Anthony's last night (an unmemorable experience), I feel compelled to write a review for Flo's who over all my years remains to be the best fried seafood joint in the area. I have a hard time understanding why Flo's only has 3 1/2 stars...lines and parking can be a pain when newport is overloaded w tourists yes, but is that their fault? If we are talking fried seafood and clam cakes, Flo's wins hands down, the batter is delicious and crispy, and always fresh seafood. Been to this location and their other shack and both are deliciously consistent.

    (5)

  • Brent G.

    The fried clams are amazing for the first few bites. For me the regular fried clam platter was probably too much fried clam and if I had to do it again i would get the small. Still very good but probably too much fried food at once. Very crispy and tasty. Get the chowder too and dip the fried clams in the chowder. It's almost euphoric. We got there around noon and the place was rather empty but by the time we left, it had filled up nicely. I can see this place being a bit touristy but still a solid restaurant.

    (3)

  • jessica c.

    This place rocks!!! Love the decor, the staff and the clam cakes. Although I must say I usually go there to indulge on some of the best Mimosa's around. the upstairs raw bar is the place to be -- the bartenders have been working there for years -- and always recognize the regulars. Great little hole-in-the-wall in an otherwise wealthy neighborhood.

    (5)

  • Kevin T.

    Must get: - Fried clams (with bellies) - Clam strips (if you prefer no bellies) Clam chowder is good too (lighter than "normal"). Pass on the fried fish which is much better at Anthony's... also, skip the lobster roll (nothing special).

    (5)

  • Food C.

    They serve RI Clam Chowder which is my favorite. If you are looking for thin broth style Chowda this is your place! A true RI classic!

    (5)

  • Ester B.

    Their clam chowder was really bad. Never expected anything like that in New England. Potatoes were awful. Also they do not take credit cards - make sure you have plenty of cash - the place is not cheap.

    (1)

  • Andrea C.

    We ate here on a vacation to Newport and loved the entire experience! It was great because we were really in the mood for a "lobster poundish" sort of place and this definitely fit the bill. We all shared the fried clams (amazing!!) and the fried oysters which were also delish! I also enjoyed a surprisingly tasty hot dog and a great cup of Cole slaw. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants to feel the ocean breezes and enjoy some great traditional seafood! The interior of the restaurant also has a wonderful ambiance (we felt like we were sitting in a real seafood shack) and we even got to sit out on the porch and marvel at the water view!

    (5)

  • Laur T.

    We were here specifically because I'm such a fan of raw bars and clam shacks! We stopped by after our visit to the mansions in New Port RI. They had quite a varied menu and my only regret is that I was not able to have a larger appetite. I think we got the fried clams, some raw platter and more food. I think I had 2 glasses of coke too :p Lovely laid back, chilled out kinda place.

    (4)

  • Gwen D.

    I like Flo's ! But must admit I only go there beginning or end of the summer. And I'm not a big fan of the raw bar,from what I hear they say its good. Fish and ships are good.

    (3)

  • K R.

    I go to Flo's for the fried calamari and fish sandwich. The calamari melts in your mouth. It's like butter. So tender/soft, the batter is nice and fluffy, and not overwhelming. The fish sandwich is by far my favorite. My one complaint is that they should deep fry the banana peppers also or give a bigger amount than just the little cup of them. I love banana peppers and can eat them by themself all day if I could without ending up in the hospital of severe heartburn. For the fish sandwich, there's huge portion of fish piping hot out of the fryer. The bun doesn't overwhelm the fish and the fish just hangs all out of the bun. The batter isn't overwhelming either. You can taste and see the fish. It is always a nice white color, flaky, and tastes super fresh. It's not ever over cooked. Add some tartar sauce and banana peppers, you have the best fish sandwich. The fish sandwich combo is a great deal too. You get the sandwich, fries, coleslaw and a beer, granted its just whatever cheap beer they have on tap anyways, it's still a good deal. Yes, service is a bit slow, but that's kind of what you get so I can't take anything away with that. I don't set my expectations very high for a clam shack when it comes to service. I personally have never had an issue. But then again I get to the beach at about 8:30am-9am to beat the crowds, head to Flo's about 11:30am have lunch and beat the crowd, then go back to the beach. But it is definitely worth the wait if it's packed.

    (5)

  • SD L.

    This is exactly the kind of place I would expect on the New England coast. It was a pleasure to find it so close to Newport RI. No-frills at its best. I had a clam strip roll, platter with fries and cole slaw. The word to use is shoveling, not eating. Exactly what I would want. I agree, the pre-packaged tartar sauce takes away a little charm, but I ate it! I ate it all.

    (4)

  • Erin D.

    Flo's is very fresh. I love their fried clams, the best!! Great clam cakes. Their chowder is a little thin, I like it creamier.

    (4)

  • Adam C.

    Oh Flo's you old overpriced shithole! This place is in a good location right near 1st beach, but they try to exploit that by way overcharging for simple fried seafood, like clam strips, clam cakes, fried scallops, etc. The food is decent, but how hard is it to make that type of shit anyway? Plus the place isn't anything to look at. This is the type of place that I'm pretty sure the management wouldn't be worried about a hurricane hitting it, because it'd probably look the same before and after. The Flo's in Portsmouth is better anyway.

    (2)

  • Keith S.

    The fried clams and clam cakes are amazing. Order at the window outside and the head upstairs for a table and get your beer from the bar. The loss of a star is for serving packaged tarter sauce. If you are not going to make your own at least put it in a dish that allows me to think you might have.

    (4)

  • Andrew W.

    very fried fairly expensive for what it is only one rest room causes long line!

    (3)

  • Rajah K.

    This place was awesome, food was great but not a real sit down and get served kinda place. They have a take out window out on the deck but they have indoor seating and when they call your number which you are issued painted on a rock you go up to the window to get your food. As long as your not counting calories I would recommend this place for sure. Fried seafood at it's best!!! Better be good considering it costs 4$ each way to get over the bridge to get there from CT!!! We will visit again i'm sure.

    (4)

  • Gina G.

    I'm really surprised by all the good reviews. As a disclaimer, I've only been once, and only sampled the main menu, not the raw bar. Newport has a lot of excellent restaurants. This isn't one of them. The location and casual feel make it somewhat appealing as a summer break from the beach, but that's where it ends. Bland fried food and chowder that tastes like Campbell's Chunky. It's edible, but considering the wonderful restaurants in Newport, it seems a shame to waste the time, money, and Calories on Flo's.

    (2)

  • Tom S.

    A real experience and not to be missed. Very tacky, lot's of fried food, quick service and a good view. It's a memory you'll appreciate. Clams and the lobster roll were both excellent. The crab balls are maybe to be avoided, even with the "over 30 million served" catch phase on the menu. They are breaded deep fried balls of crabish tasting bread. Watch your diet here!

    (5)

  • Adam W.

    Absolutely worth a stop in the Newport area. Tremendous seafood in a great setting with lots of personality. Must try items: Clam Cakes, Chowder and Calamari. The calamari is perfectly cooked and so fresh that it just melts in your mouth when consuming. The combo meals are perfect, too, as you can sample various items for a decent price.

    (4)

  • Chris K.

    I love it here. Great clamcakes, RI hot cheese, fish sandwich. These guys know how to use the deep fryer. Great inexpensive place to go during the summer when you need something greasy. Don't make the mistake of coming here and getting a salad- stick with the deep fryer and you won't be sorry. I will be visiting here quite a few times when they reopen for spring and summer

    (4)

  • Devin S.

    Good food for a decent price in a great town. The place may be a bit touristy but people come for a reason; the clams. I got a fried clam roll (whole not strips) and my girlfriend got the fish and chips. The clam roll was $10 without fries or $13 with fries, I opted for just the sandwich. The sandwich was pretty good. The clams were fried nicely and the bread was delicious. It would have been perfect but the clams were a little chewy. The fist and chips were $9 and they were fantastic. The fish was light and flaky not overly fried and the batter was not heavy at all. The fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Should I come back I think this may be my selection rather than the clams.The fries it came with were good as well. Not the greatest but they were crispy and not overly greasy.

    (3)

  • Gregory C.

    My Wife and I were recently visiting the Newport RI area and I just had to have my fill of fresh clams. I was leaning towards trying Flo's Clam Shack. After reading Robert M.'s review from 6/2/2011 we just had to try Flo's. It lived up to the comments of that reviewer. I do not eat fried food too often, however Flo's was excellent. My wife enjoyed the fish and chips and I had the Fisherman's platter - outstanding clams. Interesting ambiance and a great cross-section of customers. Simple straightforward food. Highly recommended. The fried fish and clams were outstanding.

    (5)

  • Stacee D.

    I know its a landmark in Newport, and the food was okay......I had the calamari which seemed a little more chewy to me than I have had it other places. My husband had the fried clams which he liked. It was just too much fried food for me, I dont think I will go back when I go back to Newport.

    (3)

  • Lark L.

    I did not eat here but I can tell you it is overrated! It looks all charming on the water on the website but is next to a few hotels/motels and not right on water. This place STINKS! Not like fish----like weird- dirty fish with Lysol all over it. Even eating outside you would smell it. Still after the smell in the parking lot I went to check out the menu but decided there was nothing that unique or special that could make me ignore the stench. I am cool with shacks and food but it can't be stinky and dirty.

    (1)

  • Susan C.

    Yay! i'm a fan. Despite the 45 minute wait to place an order, the food was pretty good. I had the #6 fresh fish sandwhich special comes with fries, soda or beer. My bf had the #1 special - fried clamcakes, a new england clam chowda, and a beer! Didnt like the stuffed quahogs as much because it was too spicy. For the price, the oceanview, and the clammy decor, Flo's is rated 4 clams in my book.

    (4)

  • Danielle W.

    I haven't been here in a while but when I lived in Boston, we would come down to Newport Beach at least once a year (yay warm water, boo red tide). This place has the best fish sandwich I ever had. The breading was perfect it all just melted in your mouth. Fantastic!!

    (5)

  • Anders B.

    if you're in Newport and it's summer, you simply must visit Flo's...

    (4)

  • Jeffrey P.

    I'm assuming that this is about as good as it gets when it comes to fried clams. The combo platters were enormous, and probably amount to more fried food than one person should eat, so I'd maybe go with an individual order over the combo. The fried clam dough balls were much better than I expected.

    (4)

  • Computer S.

    This is the reason why they were feature in the travel channel twice, but I wouldn't care for the lobster roll, the place smell like clam dumpster

    (2)

  • Ms. S.

    My fiance and I stopped here on a bike ride along the water yesterday. The food was excellent and worth the 20 minute wait in line outside of Flo's. But I do have one complaint. There was a waitress taking drink orders while we waited on line. When I asked her what the "Rhode Island Lunch hot cheese" was, she said "I don't know, I don't working the kitchen. She then giggled like a moron and never said "Let me find out for you". She just walked away. We got the fried clams (delicious), the lobster roll (best ever) and the Stuffed Quahog (darn good). The guys behind the window were super nice and the food came fast. Get rid of the ditsy waitress please!

    (4)

  • Jim G.

    BOOM! Man this place is awesome! Walk up ordering and absolutely honest seafood at reasonable prices. Right across the street from the beach and lacks the pretense of many other places in Newport. The bar upstairs serves a mean drink too that will enhance your hot summer day or evening. Go, my friends!

    (5)

  • Kate M.

    This is a great spot to hang out when you're in Newport (or Middletown). This is a place the locals hang out and enjoy the raw bar and beer upstairs in the bar. The King Crab and oysters are something to experience, but you can't pass up the clam cakes and fish and chips. The place is nautically decorated and a great place to hang out across from the beach. You can sit inside or outside on the deck. They take your order and give you a rock with a number in exchange. Great place for the kids too! Definately worth a visit when in Newport!

    (4)

  • Alan T.

    I overheard a bartender in downtown Newport, RI recommending this place to another customer. I took his advice and headed up the road to Flo's. This is easily one of the best "Clam Shacks" on the East Coast. If you're looking for great, fresh as can be seafood (mostly fried, though they have a raw bar upstairs), this is definitely the place to go. Much better than the places in downtown Newport and less than two miles away. We tried the fried haddock, clam strips, and clam cakes and all we fantastic. A huge meal for less than twenty bucks with great beach atmosphere and a view of the water from upstairs too. Don't miss it if you're in the area!

    (5)

  • Jeanne T.

    Whenever we're in Newport, which is annually now, I head for Flo's at least once. I know it's a tourist trap, but it's still good. Introduced my friend from San Francisco to Flo's yesterday. We had gone to a fancy restaurant the night before but didn't really enjoy it, so she was skeptical when I told her we were going to a clam shack for lunch the next day. She was charmed by the setting -- across the street from the beach. She was puzzled by having to order food outside and by the expensive price tag of our two lunches. I ordered the fried clams (what else to order at a clam shack?) and she went with the lobster roll. We skipped the french fries and doubled up on the cole slaw. Then we headed upstairs to find seats on the porch. She was hooked even before the food arrived. We sat by the waving American flag with full view of the water across the street. The breeze was blowing, boys were throwing a football below us -- it was the quintessential clam shack setting. We would have been happy up there without eating. I went down to get the food -- served on paper plates and plastic silverware. We loved it. The clams were fried to a crispy perfection, and her lobster roll was heaping with lobsters. She wanted to eat the lobster without the roll, but I insisted she have the complete lobster roll experience. She was glad she did. My only criticism, though mild, is the packaged tartar sauce. For the price, I think they should make their own or at least not give Heinz packages. Homemade tartar sauce, which is very easy to make, would make this a five-star place.

    (4)

  • ERICA O.

    Flo's has a raw bar, which made me happy. Their menu is that of a typical on the water to-go fast food place. Fried, burgers & dogs...not my thing but the raw bar I can get down with. I have to say the atmosphere is dingy but you know what your walking into and its almost like being in another time because it really needs updating but you almost want to ask yourself 'is this the feel they're shooting for'...who knows. Not bad, not great, cheap & sleezy, potential to be fun!

    (3)

  • Katrina M.

    I like this place. The clam roll is my favorite. I kinda get sick of it, though. Not the food; the people and the hassle. It's in a very touristy area with almost zero parking (there is a parking lot in the back, but it's very small, tight, and almost always full). Cash only, which really isn't a big deal because an ATM is located inside. You will stand in line for awhile to order (sometimes 10 min, sometimes more then 30, depending on the time of year), then wait awhile for your food before you can enjoy it's deliciousness. Come with friends, send one to order for everyone and the rest to find a place to sit. I don't want to tell people not to go, because it is excellent and reasonably priced, but I have to prepare myself for the nuisance. I will say if high-hassle is not your cup of tea, Anthony's Seafood will give you the same killer seafood, but without the incredibly cumbersome experience.

    (3)

  • Tiffany T.

    About a month ago, my hubby and I took the drive for the great crab deal on Thursdays. Moving here from Pittsburgh in January we were longing for the all you can eat crablegs that were served back home. What we found was beyond disappointing. We arrived inside the restaurant and headed directly upstairs. (As per the MANY online reviews I diligently poured over before going.) We barely got to the top before we noticed the huge line. I wouldn't have minded because hey, they probably love crab as much as I do, however, that was not the case. The problem was that there were few full tables and many empty ones. Huge lines, empty tables...... Can you say "servers"? Shell out (pun intended) the $2.15 per hour and get some servers to help out! So I'm already irritated but I'm maintaining my cool with visions of delicious crab dancing in my head. So it's our turn to order. Here's where things get really out of line. 1st. (Really no biggie if wasn't added to the rest of the list) I asked for 2 beers. She suggested a pitcher. I asked if there was a price difference and she said no? We'll be here a while so I said go ahead and give me the pitcher. She comes back with 2 beers. Whatever, again, no biggie- she was probably flustered because of the before mentioned huge line. 2.) We say we're here for the crab. She comes back with one paper basket of crab claws called rock crab. This was the big issue. First of all, we were expecting snow crab legs. I dunno, maybe because the website said "crabLEGS?) These claws were so hard to crack! Once you finally did make your way in to it, you find a meaningless piece of meat that you had to fight to tear away from the shell. I was beyond upset. I had such a difficult time eating them that I gave up midway through claw #3. My husband tried to be cool and keep forging through but even he eventually gave up. We angrily threw in the towel will 3 claws still in the basket. We brought the basket back to the lady (after standing in a line another 10 minutes) and the lady asked if we wanted more. We said absolutely not- they weren't good! Now you would think she would at least discount us on one of the crab meals since for "all you can eat crab x 2" we ate less than one basket of claws. I guess that was "All we could eat!" So we pondered whether we should just chalk the $35 up to an appetizer and head home with empty stomachs or stay and buy another dinner and go home full. I remembered the reviews about how good the hot food was so we begrudgingly headed downstairs and reordered. We told the lady behind the counter about our experience and she was very apologetic. She said she was new but that they were receiving a lot of complaints and that they would probably have to switch back to snow crab. She took our order and kindly threw in a free beer and stuffie. She is what took this review from a 1 to a 2! I thought the hot food was good, maybe a 3 but my hubby disagreed. He would have given it a 2 but he was still pretty mad. We weren't the only ones bugged by the rock crab, either. Sitting next to us was a group of about 8 people eating the crab while we ate our fish and stuffies. They were complaining the entire time. Since that experience, just about every week on Thursdays I call and ask what crab they have and so far it been rock every single time. I just feel like they just don't care about the customers here so I don't care to give them my business. SIDENOTE: We also thought the crab was terrible because it was served ice cold. I did some research and found out that it's a New England thing and that some places do serve them warm but I'm not holding THAT against them.

    (2)

  • eliza b.

    mmmmmmmmmm boy. second best clam strips in the world. i want do ridiculous things like take a bath in them, wear them as a hat, or put on a bikini and clamstrip wrestle some chick in a vat of them.

    (5)

  • Bouncy D.

    The food is mediocre, but the atmosphere is entertaining. Casual, loud + beachy.

    (2)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : No
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : No

Flo’s Clam Shack

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