Jeff Heineman traipsed around New England trolling for tchotchkes for his new restaurant, Freddy’s Lobster & Clams, and it looks like he made some great catches.
His goal was to open a kitschy seafood shack, and a sneak peak of the interior indicates that he’s right on target. The restaurant, right next to his Grapeseed American Bistro & Wine Bar at 4865 Cordell Ave. in Bethesda, is opening on Tuesday.
A thatched roof swimming with illuminated plastic lobsters hangs above the back of the bar. Sitting on bright red stools, you’ll be able to choose among 12 beers on draft, plus 40 to 50 beers by the bottle. The dining room sports booths separated by reclaimed logs of wood. There are T-shirts for sale (Got Clams?), lots of nifty signs, lobster traps, and a menu that’s an ode to oil: fried clams, fried clam strips, fried clam roll, fried haddock, fried shrimp, fried calamari, French fries and onion rings. However, you can get grilled fish and un-fried fish cakes, plus a Portuguese steak, pork and clam stew, lobster stew, grilled sausages, and more. And save room for whoopie pie for dessert.
