The late Ivar Haglund was one of Seattle's punniest men. "Keep clam," said the flounder of Seattle's most famous seafood chain. You'll need to heed his admonition to place your order at this open-air seafood bar tucked into the shadow of Acres of Clams, Ivar's original restaurant. If you arrive during peak lunch or evening periods, you're likely to find a milling mob around the counter. Periodically patrons are requested to place their orders, and the tide of humanity surges forward. Be patient. Your turn will come. Fish (cod) 'n' chips is the most popular, but you can also order halibut, salmon, scallops, oysters, clams, chicken or baby prawns. The cook takes a set of gray cardboard trays and fills them one by one. In the meantime, you order sides such as cole slaw, salad, soda and -- most famously -- the clam chowder, in either red or white. Ivar once said that a man needs his wife's permission for more than a single helping, but in this more egalitarian era you need only your own. When your food is ready, head for the tables and benches on the south side of the pier in good weather, though you're likely to share some of your fries with seagulls who've had decades of mooching melded into their genes. Otherwise, there's a heated tent with transparent sides adjacent to the bar.

Categories: Restaurants

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