Quahog Republic
Eating fresh New England seafood outside with a water view is one of life's greatest pleasures. And you can do it all at Quahog Republic in Onset.
The owners have a few spots down this way, but their original spot was really more of a Beach bar. And I think this place takes them back to their roots because it's really just fun and kitschy. There are seats inside, but the prime real estate here is definitely outside, so you can enjoy the sunshine and that gorgeous view of the water.
Erik Bevans met Tom Hughes while digging clams, and they went on to open a few different restaurants, including this one.
“It's a summer vibe, like you read about in some famous book. That's what Onset Beach is, and that's what the Quahog Republic in Onset Beach really brings.”
“It's a classic Beach bar.”
“We fit that kind of mold right in here. So it's really…simple. You can walk in in your bathing suits and….feel comfortable.”
The menu is…New England Coastal. It's that classic fish and chips… amazing chowder… lobster rolls, lobster rolls, lobster rolls. That's why people drive here.”
When you're outside with your friends by the water, you're going to want to hang around and have a few drinks. That means appetizers are mandatory.
I think the number one item here is Captain Tom's Seafood Platter.
“It's got a little bit of everything for everyone. We've got oysters, little necks, jumbo shrimp, lobster meat, all served with cocktail sauce, a little Mignonette. Our oysters and little necks are all from, like, literally right across the bay from us is where we get most of our stuff. “
“That’s what’s so amazing about that dish, or any of our raw bar dishes.”
A new item on the menu this year is what they're calling the Beach Balls. This is like a fusion cuisine of Italian and Caribbean. It's a meatball with crushed pineapple and a chipotle barbecue sauce.
“it's like that's a Carolina style, but adding the pineapple brings a super sweetness to it. That kind of rounds it off a little bit.”
“It's great to just have something quick, or share at the table or throw at your friends whatever you need to do. I don’t know”
I love clam chowder. I eat it year round. I don't wait for the summer… Those great big clams, potatoes, onions. And I think what makes this one a little different is they add bacon and thyme.
I think only in these parts could you pull this off. It's the Quahog and Quahog. Their famous Quahog chowder with a stuffed Quahog. It's served on the half shell. It's got garlic, onion, panko breadcrumbs. But I think what really makes it is the chorizo and the parmesan.
The Quahog is also featured in what they call the Poor Man's Surf and Turf.
“Our stuffed Quahog, first of all, are amazing. And then the hot dog is an all beef, quarter pound hot dog. It's massive.And you do it with a little butter toasted brioche bun. The combination of the two. It's a Poor Man's Surf and Turf. Exactly what it says. No frills about it.”
For the fish and chips here they do it a little differently
They coat it in corn flakes and almonds giving it that nice crunch against that flaky fresh white fish.
“For over 25 years we've been serving this. We used a beautiful fillet of cod. It's not just little chunks of it, you know, it's really the… beefy part of the fillet. We batter it with the corn flakes and almonds, so the corn flakes brings a little crunchiness and sweetness. And then the almonds kind of validate that, that crunchiness along the way too.”
“That one, by far, is my favorite.”
“I think the official food of New England summer is the lobster roll. Here. You can get it in four ounces, eight ounces, or the gigantic 12oz. They don't even put a knife to this lobster. They just pull it out, put it in that toasted buttered brioche roll a little bit of mayonnaise. No celery, just some lettuce, all designed so that you will focus on the taste of that delicious, sweet local lobster.”
The fish sandwich is massive with lettuce and tomatoes and that toasted brioche bun. It comes with butter and tartar sauce.
Really brings out that flavor of that fresh seafood.
If you look behind the bar, you'll see they do their own Bloody Mary infusion here. Very unusual.
It has sun dried tomatoes, peppers, and a ton of garlic. So when you taste that Bloody Mary, you know it is the real deal.
“Our whole motto is to live, give and relax. Live life to the fullest. Give back to your community and as always, relax. that's our real goal. And that's… kind of what the Quahog Republic is.“
There's nothing wrong with that. But I prefer my motto: eat, drink and have fun. And you can definitely do it at Quahog Republic in Onset.
