Antonio's

My father comes from New Bedford, Massachusetts, which is known for its Portuguese cuisine. And when it comes to Portuguese cuisine in New Bedford, there are few places better than Antonio's on Coggeshall Street just off I-195.

What you see here is the Little Neck Clams (Conquilha) and Shrimp (Camarão) in what is called the "Antonio Sauce", a stew-like tomato/garlic concoction with hints of saffron and lemon.

It's only an appetizer believe it or not, but with the complimentary bread and fried potato chips or french fries to sop up the sauce (which also comes on several other chicken and shrimp dishes), it's more than a meal in itself.

Outside of the food, the restaurant itself is lacking in frills: it's fairly old school just like the rest of the city it resides in. The wood paneled bar adjacent to the dining area can be seen in the final episode of the Discovery Channel series about Swordfish Fishermen: "Swords: Life on the Line". That probably tells you more than I could ever say; the seafood here is so fresh that you may just be able to meet the person who caught it having a beer a few feet away.

Meal: Little Neck and Shrimp Antonio's
Price: $16.97
Speed of Service: 15 minutes
Time of Day: 2 PM, Weekend