This place is tricky to find but evidently this a good thing. "It keeps out the riffraff", so I was told by an old salty bar maid named "French". She eyeballed me with her one good eye as she muttered the words. Leading me to feel as if I was the "riffraff" of which she spoke. My friend and I were wearing shorts and flipflops as it was mid summer. Almost immediately I tripped on the uneven wooden floor planking and impaled my big toe with a 2 inch splinter. As I pulled it out I looked around at numerous rusty nails poking up. I considered myself lucky at that point. I would have split right then but it was so hard this place and now I'm in pain and bleeding. I just needed a drink!! Uncaringly, French offered up the daily special. "A good honest fisherman's drink and pay in advance", she barked. I gave her a 20 and she disappeared out the back somewhere. 25 minutes later later she reappears from dark staircase to the left and behind us and hands us 2 steamy wooden flagons topped with a writhing frothy head of foam. "2 Maggot Bhoonas", says she. Her 1/2 cocked smirk showing a snaggled golden tooth. It glimmered in the sickly candlelight. I scraped away most of the unidentified froth and obvious maggots and pounded the liquid part of the drink. To be fair. It wasn't as unpleasant as I thought it would be. Almost like a warm very salty & sour Mai Tai. Refreshing and quite warming because it was absolutely damp and cold inside. We paid our tab and we left. Myself, limping and toe bleeding. Never again to return. read more

I recently stumbled into the Drafty Clam as I was looking to put the finishing touches on a three-day bender. As she worked a chunk of seaweed out of her hair, the waitress recommended a cocktail known as the Briney Trawler, an intriguing blend of Clamato, pickle brine, and moonshine. I ordered another two rounds! It was delicious, and the doctors say that my blindness should only be temporary. I highly recommend sampling the clam brûlée. With burnt orangey skin and a soggy bottom, it's essential to any trip to Atlantic City. Warm and cozy inside, with a nice drafty veranda... and everyone, really everyone, is welcome. Come have a dram at the Drafty Clam! read more

I thought I was in for a treat when I walked in the door, but I quickly found myself at the mercy of the waitstaff. When I asked any question at all, they just stared at me with their one good eye until I backed down. That being said, the food completely changed my attitude. There have been times where drinking ham water has upset my stomach, but I couldn't get enough of it here! The split peas and innards were a nice touch. The bacon rasher wasn't very smokey, and that was OK with me (I don't like a super smokey bacon. I mean, who likes REALLY smokey bacon? Bacon shouldn't be smokey!!!!?!). I did get Maynard's glaze all over my face and neck (it's for experienced diners ONLY). I drank so much Dog's Blood that at one point I thought the waitress was coming on to me. It turns out she was belittling me in front of my peers. Outside of the food, I'm not sure I'd want to visit again. Sorry! read more

Quiet, simple spot nestled in one of the back alleys of the AC boardwalk. Our group randomly stumbled in for a late afternoon lunch and pick me up. After eating at the Rainforest Cafe for all our previous meals that weekend, we were pleasantly surprised by the lack of crowds and speedy seating. The menu is an eclectic and unfamiliar mix of Scottish and English pub fare and home cooking. We went with our waitresses' recommendations and shared a tureen of Ham Water, two orders of calamari, the Salty Sea Stew, and an unidentified foodstuff none of us touched, simply named 'Whiteish'. I hadn't thought of soups and stews as good for group sharing, but in the convivial atmosphere, the single spoon was all we needed. For drinks, we ordered a few basic beers and two of the specialty cocktails - the Briney Trawler and a Dog's Blood (recommended for anemia and scabies). The standout was by far the calamari - so, so delish. This would be 4 stars (if only for the calamari), but there were a few things wrong: - it was FREEZING here! Not sure how there was such a moist chill inside when outside it was 75 and sunny. bring a sweater! - there are almost zero vegetarian options. this is something important to me. even the drinks were garnished with shaved meat. seemed excessive. - the bathroom situation is just simply not hygienic. No sink; the floors appear to be covered in grout and sand. Also, they have a completely unecessary and unpleasant cold salt water bidet in the 3rd stall over. Not sure if this is intentional or just an error in the plumbing (most of which is handled by the waitstaff). Another thing is that this place specializes in boat repair - and it seems like this is where most of their business is coming from. I saw not one but two large boats docking off the rear during our meal. read more

Being from out of town, I wanted to experience some authentic Atlantic City "local flavor." The hotel concierge directed me to The Drafty Clam. I was not let down. The Calamari was some of the best I've ever had. Highly recommended. The Clam Basket was a bit salty, but what it lacked in flavor was made up for by sheer volume and value. The waitress aggressively pushed the ham water, which sounds repulsive and is a bit bizarre, but actually not bad. On the downside, the pub was a bit chilly and damp and smelled slightly fishy. Also, it was too loud, with the juke box inexplicably repeating Looking Glass's "Brandy" on endless loop. read more

I came here for a night cap and a wee snack after the casino. I asked one of the black jack dealers where the best place to get calamari was and he said "Why, everyone knows the best place around these parts to get some fishy bits is the Drafty Clam." Plus I'd heard they do a really great karaoke night on Mondays. Immediately upon seating myself at the bar, a one eyed man slid a cup of luke warm ham water my way. It was strange, but actually quite soothing. As I waited for my drink, aptly called "The Spray," (a mixture of gin, dry vermouth, clamato and salt water, garnished with seaweed) I browsed the karaoke book. Strangely the selection was very limited. They had a bunch of old folk songs with lines crossing them out and the only one without a line was "Brandy" by Looking Glass... which was oddly the only song I heard come out of the jukebox since I got there. The bar was slightly chilly and smelled faintly of mackerel but my seat was comfortable, despite being decorated by what appeared to be tiny shells. The restroom was clean, especially the sink, which looked brand new. I think they were using ocean water in the plumbing though, which is strange. The service was prompt... a little too prompt. Surprisingly I have to say, the calamari was fabulous as expected. Next time I'll bring a date, mostly to keep the other patrons from asking me to "clog" with them. Not sure what the obsession is with clogging there... read more

The Drafty Clam - Here's what a basic Tuesday eve looks like, now. - Irish Near Me - Atlantic City, New Jersey

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The owner referred to me as "that octoroon" who could "use a good pegging." I will not be coming back.

After eating here, my Purity Test score dropped ten points. I had never been threatened by a "bar wench" with a shucking knife before. When I asked where the ATM was, they kept pointing to an empty corner of the bar. There was no sink in the bathroom. read more

I did the "bob for apple in the briney" and I think I have a throat disease. Everything tastes like salt. The mint shandies and smelts were good though. Make sure to get a table in the rear, it's more comfortable there. read more

Normally, I'm not that picky about where I drink, but the bartender here was so unusual I just had to write a review. She kept coming on to me, shouting "Hells Bells, it's wetter than three salty mermaids south of the cape of good hope in here!" and spraying me with the soda dispenser. Then she told me I could only have a drink if I went downstairs and swabbed the belowdecks. I tried a couple of times and only ended up lost in a room full of old buttons and tommy guns. Did you know they have a cranberry bog in the backyard? I will definitely go again. read more

We came upon this gem after drinking cheap margaritas in the sun all day at Bally's Beach Bar . I am pretty sure we were trying to get to the train station for the return trip home. When I realized the train wasn't moving, I looked up and we were seated in a corner table here. Our server Bartolo went over the specials and we went with the appetizer sampler know as the "Toenailer". Not sure what those crunchy bits were, but it was seasoned well. I read a ton of reviews on the ham water here but opted instead for the angry anchor. Maybe it was all the tequila and the hot sun but the drink did not sit well. The only bathroom was unisex and had a strange symbol indicating such. It looked more like a unicorn throwing a grenade and I am not sure of the connection. But it served its purpose. ....all that being said I would probably return. read more