The Barking Crab

For a city with perhaps the nation's highest expectations for clam chowder, Boston offers a pitiful few truly good renditions. Most versions have degenerated into blandness, with a texture that's either too watery or suspiciously sludgy. But it is still possible to grab a creamy, flavorful bowl. Although the service ought to be, on occasion, thrown back, the chowder at the Barking Crab actually tastes like clams and has the right amount of seasoning, with the added bonus of a water view and casual clam shack ambiance right at the edge of the Financial District.